Chapter 424
Chapter 424
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 424
Chapter Title: Second Command (3)
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After undressing, Shirone walked down a long tunnel. Gas sprayed forcefully from cracks in the walls, sterilizing his body.
Just in case there were any suspicious intentions hidden within, Shirone held his breath and made it through the relatively short tunnel.
Entering the next chamber revealed a large cave.
Sunlight twinkled through countless holes in the ceiling, reminiscent of the stars in the night sky.
After gazing at the ceiling for a moment, Shirone lowered his head and focused on the strange thing before him.
“What is this?”
A huge, gel-type liquid was sitting there like a lump of pudding.
As Shirone hesitated, unsure of how to use it, an old man's voice came from the ceiling.
“It's a procedure to coat your sterilized body. Just pass straight through it.”
“Hmm.”
Shirone first sent his drone flying toward the entrance, then took a deep breath and plunged into the gel.
It was slippery like actual pudding, so walking wasn't difficult.
However, the sensation was incredibly strange. A slight blush crept onto his face as sensitive areas were stimulated.
The next room was a warm space bathed in red light.
The gel on his body dried in an instant, perfectly coating Shirone's entire body.
“Aha, so that's how it works.”
The 99.99 percent sterilization was complete.
* * *
Arriving in the final room, Shirone was surprised to see numerous people moving about.
Liquids of various colors bubbled in over ten glass tubes, flowing in all directions through hoses.
On the tables were glass instruments needed for experiments and various parts of unknown creatures, displayed with blood still drying on them.
People in white coats moved about busily, and the bald man from the entrance was waiting with a growling expression, holding Shirone's and Plu's clothes.
Commander Racies, wearing a red cape that suited her aura, approached with a seductive smile.
Since everyone except him was clothed, Shirone felt a little embarrassed, but he wasn't so inexperienced in the field as to show weakness during a mission.
“Where are we?”
As he asked, trying to act nonchalant, Racies changed the subject with a knowing smile in her eyes.
“What do you think of the Norr's sterilization system? Perfect, isn't it?”
It truly was, so Shirone readily admitted it.
“Yes. It's quite systematic.”
Just then, the opposite door opened, and Plu came in.
“Ugh.”
He barely managed to stifle the sound that almost escaped him.
Plu, on the other hand, seemed unbothered even in a place bustling with people and began to survey her surroundings.
Then she spotted Shirone and strode over to him.
“You got here fast. Anything happen?”
“Ah, no.”
Plu's gaze dropped to Shirone's lower half.
Being a mage, he was still holding onto his Kubrick, as expected.
‘Well, if he can't even manage this, he's just a kid.’
In fact, Shirone had also flatly refused their request to remove his ring.
However, he didn't check Plu's hand.
Of course, it wouldn't have mattered if he did… but he wanted to trust her.
Only after confirming Shirone was safe did Plu carefully examine the equipment around them.
‘A biology lab. What on earth are they researching here?’
The sight of scholars rushing to dissect the organs of nameless creatures on the tables overlapped with the scene from the laboratory in the Magic Association's basement.
If this was the source of the bloody scent from Racies's perfume, it meant she was also a resident here.
There would be no reason for her to stay long enough for the smell of blood to cling to her just to measure Spirit Force.
‘Hmm, this is definitely suspicious.’
Racies approached Plu.
“My apologies. You were quite surprised, weren't you? I should have been more considerate of a woman. But this is the only laboratory connected to the sterilization room. We need uncontaminated body hair and blood.”
Plu confidently stuck one leg out to the side and placed her right hand on her hip.
She couldn't have been unaware that Racies had done it on purpose.
“It's a physical examination, so it can't be helped. But for someone who says that, aren't you a bit too bundled up?”
Racies laughed cheerfully.
“Hohoho! I'm a commander, after all. Just wait a little. We'll finish up soon and give you your clothes.”
A woman holding a syringe came over and drew blood from Shirone and Plu in turn. Beside them, two people collected their body hair.
Racies was satisfied with their composed demeanor.
“I've studied your magic before. It's a system that mixes the spirit of the Norr and the knowledge of the Mecha. But in my opinion, you two are definitely closer to the Norr.”
Plu, who had been watching the dissection of a large chunk of flesh, turned her head to Racies.
“On what grounds do you say that?”
“Because you understand the meaninglessness of the physical body. The Norr are a race immersed in the spiritual world. Here, there are countless naked and dismembered bodies. In truth, the human body, when dismantled, is nothing more than a collection of functions. What's truly important is contained in here.”
Racies tapped her own head.
“But the Mecha failed to understand that. Even as they happily melted iron, hammered it out, and created strange things. In truth, biological experiments are the same. But those bastards detested it and ostracized the Norr, calling them primitive.”
Shirone could guess from what point the animosity between the Mecha and the Norr had begun.
“Sample collection is complete.”
When the procedure was finished, the bald man brought them their clothes. His expression was sour, as if he was annoyed at having to play the servant.
Shirone asked.
“When do we measure our Spirit Force?”
“We're about to start. Now, look at this.”
The Norr scholars dipped a portion of the blood and body hair collected from the two into a blue liquid.
As it bubbled up and turned into a thick, light-green liquid, Racies pointed to an elixir separator and spoke.
“It's a medicine passed down through the Norr's secret traditions. When you mix green, yellow, and white elixirs in a specific ratio and fuse them with a creature's cells, it creates a substance that reveals its biological disposition. If you neutralize this in distilled water and cast magic, you can determine your affinity.”
“Hoh, so that's how it is.”
Plu came closer, propped her chin on her hand, and watched.
It was her first time seeing a biological experiment that used elixirs.
“There's no need to feel pressured. A low affinity doesn't mean your skills are lacking. In short, you can think of it as an evaluation of your potential for magic.”
Potential.
For Shirone and Plu, who were still new to the magical society, it was a topic that never left their minds.
Moreover, it was a measurement method impossible in the real world, so apart from the mission, they couldn't hide their inner desire to know.
“Should we do it now?”
“No. According to tradition, new recruits must have their affinity measured in front of the Norr people. If it's done in private, it could cause talk later. Your rank will be determined by the percentage, and if you train hard, promotion is possible.”
Shirone and Plu went outside.
Not everyone, but most of those who worked at the command headquarters were gathered in an open lot.
In the center of the lot, two drums for holding liquid were set up, and a glass tube connected to the bottom curved up from under the ground, rising to a height of ten meters.
While they were looking at the device, the bald man came over, struggling to carry two 20-liter containers.
It was the liquid containing Shirone's and Plu's biological disposition.
When he poured it into the drums, a silver liquid that had been sitting in the underground glass tube rose to a level of exactly zero.
Racies shouted from a platform.
“We will now begin the tradition of welcoming our new members!”
All the Norr people turned to look at her.
“I guarantee there will be no deception in this Spirit Force measurement. Furthermore, their positions will be decided based on today's results. Now, let the affinity measurement begin.”
“I'll go first.”
Plu rolled up her sleeves and walked to the device, where the waiting bald man explained the measurement method.
“Place both hands in the drum and prepare your mind to cast magic. The pressure of the liquid will then change, and the level in the glass tube will rise.”
“Hmm, so I just need to enter the Spirit Zone?”
Staring intently as Plu dipped her hands into the liquid, the bald man, perhaps recalling all his trouble so far, sneered and said.
“For your information, my affinity is 16 percent.”
“So?”
“That's a figure that puts me in the top 20 percent of the Norr. It means that no matter how pathetic your magic is, it's potential that decides your position. So you'd better struggle as hard as you can. It'll be tough for you if you become my subordinate.”
The bald man leaned in close and whispered.
“Hehe, I saw you earlier. You were a real knockout.”
Plu's eyes narrowed.
‘Meaninglessness of the physical body, my ass.’
She hadn't believed it from the start, but Racies's words had consistently carried a feeling of trying to sugarcoat or hide something.
Biological experiments, the nature of the human body... no matter how plausible the words sounded, in the end, humans were still humans.
‘There’s definitely something more to this.’
Plu set her thoughts aside and focused on the measurement.
Because if her potential was lower than this bald guy's, who was flaring his nostrils as if he'd gained some precious memory, she'd really want to die.
“I'm starting.”
As Plu's eyes widened and she entered the Spirit Zone, the liquid began to bubble, and the level in the glass tube shot up.
“Woooooah!”
Gasps of astonishment erupted from the crowd.
Their gazes were fixed on a point well over two meters high.
“T-Twenty…”
Affinity: 28 percent.
Murmurs could be heard from all around.
An affinity of 28 percent was high enough to be among the top executives in the Norr command.
It was the kind of talent that could make her a powerful figure in just a few years, even if she started learning ancient magic now.
The bald man, who had been staring up at the glass tube with his mouth agape, slowly turned his head toward Plu.
Plu, who had been waiting with a slight smile, patted the bald man on the shoulder and said.
“Well then, I'll be in your care from now on, my subordinate.”
“Ah, no, that's, I mean…”
“Don't worry. I'm not curious about your body, baldy. Not that there's anything to see, of course, hoho!”
Leaving the bald man blushing to the top of his head, Plu returned to her spot.
Shirone greeted her with a high five.
‘That’s Plu for you.’
The top graduate of the Royal Magic Academy.
A future archmage who had reached the official 8th Grade at only twenty-two; in terms of talent alone, she was one of the best in the kingdom.
“Do well. Show them what you've really got.”
As Shirone walked to the measurement device, the murmuring that had started because of Plu instantly died down.
The Light of Sector 73, the symbol of the rebellion.
This was the moment his true face would be laid bare.
“Hoo.”
Shirone steadied his breath and placed his hands in the liquid.
As the tense atmosphere weighed down on his heart, he focused his eyes and entered the Spirit Zone.
*Fwoom!*
The liquid in the drum didn't just boil—it erupted like a fountain, splashing everywhere.
“Huh? Huh-huh-huh-huh?”
The Norr people made strange noises as they threw their heads back.
It was a height of over four meters.
“No way…”
Affinity: 42 percent.
In all of Norr history, such a high number had never been seen or heard of.
“Wh-What? Is it broken?”
Every Norr person knew that was impossible.
Unlike the malfunctioning technology of the Mecha, the reactions of substances did not lie.
The reason they still wanted to deny the result was that Shirone's number far surpassed that of the current commander, Racies.
Racies silently furrowed her brow.
‘42 percent? Is that even a possible number?’
If he wasn't going to learn ancient magic, 42 percent might just be a number.
But when it came to affinity for magic—that is, talent—he was a prodigy beyond compare.
The bald man shouted furiously.
“There's something wrong with this! How can it be 42 percent? That's not a realistically possible number!”
A few Norr people agreed with him.
They were Racies's close associates, people who would be in a disadvantageous position if her power were to weaken.
“That's right! No, even if 42 percent is true, for Shirone who doesn't know ancient magic, it's just potential! We can't accept it!”
“Our commander is Racies!”
With his hands still in the liquid, Shirone licked his lips.
Honestly, even he hadn't expected such a high number.
But he wasn't foolish enough to give up this sudden opportunity just to save Racies's face.
As if asking for her agreement, he looked back, and Plu raised the corners of her mouth and gave him a thumbs-up.
“Let it rip.”
Turning his head back, Shirone unleashed the Immortal Function with all his might.
The level in the glass tube began to rise rapidly.
70 percent. 80 percent. 90 percent.
“Huh-huh? Huh-huh-huh-huh?”
The Norr people's heads tilted back completely vertically.
Finally, *BOOM!* The glass tube burst, and the silver liquid scattered brilliantly.
It was just as Shirone had expected.
The Immortal Function, which spread one's consciousness throughout the entire world, could not be measured by a mere standard like affinity.
“Hoo, is it over now?”
No one spoke a word.
In the minds of everyone looking at him, only one thought was rising.
Nephilim.
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