Chapter 294: A World Made of Gears - 1
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 294: A World Made of Gears - 1
Qi Art and Standard Magic are skills. The defining feature of a skill is its universality. While proficiency may vary from person to person, anyone who learns and masters the same skill can produce a similar effect.
A Unique Magic, on the other hand, is just as its name implies: unique. It is a power born from one's background, upbringing, knowledge, and experiences—all coalesced by the sheer will to impose one's philosophy upon the world.
Just as no two people under the sun are identical, no two Unique Magic are the same.
The Signallers are a prime example. Even they, who grew up in the same space for years sharing the exact same experiences, possess different Unique Magic. Their powers may share the property of ‘synchronization,’ allowing them to transmit their thoughts, but the specific effects vary wildly.
In short, a Unique Magic is unique to its user.
“I see…! If you are the King of Humans, does that mean you can use any human's Unique Magic as if it were your own…!”
If only it were that simple.
I am the King of Humans. I can learn skills. Qi Art, Standard Magic, alchemy, and so on. I can master all the skills available to humanity and perform them within the realm of possibility.
But a Unique Magic is unique, so I cannot learn it.
I can only steal it.
Right now, I haven't manifested Maximilien's Unique Magic; I've merely created a backdoor to hijack it.
It might seem similar, but the difference is greater than one might think. The true master of the Unique Magic is, and always will be, the other person.
What if my target, wary of being robbed, retracts their Unique Magic? Then I can no longer use it. Since I can only steal a Unique Magic that is ‘currently active,’ I become powerless if they take countermeasures.
And that’s not all. Some Unique Magic create phenomena that are advantageous only to the user. Mage Marshal Prelvior’s mana amplification is a perfect example. If I were to steal her Unique Magic, all it would do is boost Prelvior’s mana. I’d just be doing her a favor.
Stealing a Unique Magic puts me in a difficult position if I’m discovered, yet the ability is riddled with conditions. Worse, the user always holds the initiative. For a hidden trump card befitting the King of Humans, its performance is rather lackluster.
However…
“You showed me a kindness, so I returned one. How about it? We're even now, aren't we?”
“Of course! Of course! Haha, thank you…! There’s no longer any need for doubt!”
Even if he weren’t the King of Humans, the ability to use another’s Unique Magic is itself of terrifying value! But there’s no way someone who can distort the very premise of a Unique Magic isn’t the King of Humans!
Maximilien was delighted, and I was satisfied. A warm atmosphere settled between us for a moment. But Historia, who had been suffering what amounted to torture just moments before, did not let her guard down.
“…Huey. We still don’t know why the Director needs you. You have to be careful.”
“You’re the one who needs to be careful. Last time you were tied up with ropes, and now you’re trapped in gears. Why do you keep getting bound like this? You have a thing for being restrained?”
Historia promptly smacked me in the back of the head. I read her intent, but it was too fast and sharp to dodge. The drug numbed the pain, but the sensation of my head whipping to the side was strange.
Historia stared down at the hand she’d hit me with and muttered.
“So you can hit the King of Humans.”
“You hit the King of Humans in the back of the head just to test that? You little shit. I’ll have you arrested for treason one of these days.”
“If I can hit you, then the Director can harm you too. Strange rumors follow him, so don’t let your guard down just because he seems friendly now.”
“You’re right. I just got stabbed in the back by a friend I trusted a moment ago.”
Separate from her desire to hit me, I could feel her concern, so I let it slide. I spoke to allay her worries.
“And as I’ve been saying, he is not my enemy.”
“Of course not! Why would I be hostile to the King of Humans? Quite the opposite! The Human Regime is filled with those who need the King of Humans! Myself included! I merely wish to ask for the King of Humans’ permission; I have no intention of harming you!”
“Well, I’m not happy about you torturing her, though.”
“That is the Major General’s fault. Did she not overstep her bounds in that situation? However, since the situation has changed, I will answer the Major General’s questions now!”
It seemed he was anxious I might dislike him. Without me even asking, Maximilien began to spill his objective.
“I wish to gift all of humanity with a more convenient body. Using gears!”
Gifting a more convenient body using gears? No matter how I thought about it, only one thing came to mind.
“Are you saying you want to perform human modification?”
“‘Modification’ has such a negative connotation. This is advancement! With my discoveries, the human body will take a great leap forward!”
Now that he was certain I was the King of Humans, there was no need to hide anything. He would have to reveal it eventually anyway. Having made his decision, Maximilien told me everything.
“The bones and muscles of a human move in a very mechanical way from fixed positions. Just like gears! So, what if we were to replace them with gears that perform the same function, but are far stronger and more powerful! Wouldn't the human body be much improved?”
I’d heard this nonsense before and ignored it, but it still sounded just as crazy the second time.
“From the looks of it, you’ve already succeeded.”
“I have the power to manipulate gears. Therefore, the gears I’ve placed inside my body move with great power and organic fluidity. However, that makes it a special case applicable only to me. To gift this technology to all of humanity… I need the King of Humans, with his power restored.”
I knew he was insane from the moment I read his thoughts, but he was far crazier than I’d anticipated. He genuinely believed that modifying the human race was better from a utilitarian standpoint.
Historia’s face twisted in disgust. It was the face of someone utterly repulsed by madness. I could fully sympathize with her; Maximilien’s argument was radical and extreme.
So I played along enthusiastically.
“Indeed. Humans are tool-using creatures. There's no reason those tools must be limited to the outside of the body. A tool that functions from within could be incredibly efficient.”
“Exactly! I knew you would understand!”
“Is it even possible? Everyone’s body structure is different.”
“What do you think I was doing in the Military State? Over the past twenty years, I have gathered significant data through countless trials and errors. Barring some very unusual cases, any human can be advanced!”
I decided not to ask who his test subjects were or what kind of trials and errors he’d conducted.
In any case, there was some logic to Maximilien’s claim. His limbs were filled with gears instead of bones and muscles. By controlling those gears with his Unique Magic, Maximilien had achieved superhuman movement and durability.
And he wanted to generously grant that to other humans.
“It sounds pretty good, now that I hear it. How did other people react?”
As if he’d been waiting for the question, Maximilien grumbled.
“That is the problem. Most reject my proposal out of some vague sense of repulsion. Even decorated veterans living with permanent disabilities! They would clearly be better off, yet finding those who willingly accept is like plucking a star from the sky! How foolish to refuse progress out of baseless fear!”
He wanted to gift this to all of humanity, but he had no confidence in his ability to persuade them. Using coercive means was also difficult, as adjusting the body with gears required the subject’s active cooperation.
“Oh. That’s a shame.”
“That is why I need the King of Humans! Once you awaken as the true King of Humans, you will be able to solve this!”
By empathizing with him, I elicited a positive response. It was all the easier since he already held me in such high regard. I chatted amicably with Maximilien, as if we were old friends.
As our conversation flowed smoothly, my other, actual old friend gripped my shoulder tightly.
“Huey. I don’t think you should go…”
“Ah, come on!”
Why does she keep touching me from behind? Don’t stand behind me. It triggers a primal fear.
I irritably shrugged my shoulder. Historia staggered. She hadn’t expected me to react so forcefully.
“Ugh…”
No, it wasn’t just that. If Historia had been in normal condition, she wouldn’t have budged even if I’d kicked her with all my might. Her limbs, which had just been tested to their elastic limits, were still not back to normal. She was in enough pain to be affected by my simple shrug.
I bowed my head toward the trembling Historia and spoke irritably.
“I keep telling you. He’s not my enemy. And even if he were, what could you do? You can’t even control your own limbs, so what are you planning to do?”
“…”
“While we're at it, why don't you try 'advancing' too?”
I placed a hand on her shoulder and whispered in a swaggering tone. Something pierced deep into her heart, and Historia flinched.
Unable to find the right words, Historia bit her lip and lowered her head. I snorted once and approached Maximilien.
“I accept. Let’s shake on it and get out of here quickly. If we drag this on any longer, Shei-ssi might arrive.”
“Speaking of which, who is that boy? He expressed a blind hatred for The Human Regime, and I was at a loss because I couldn’t place him at all.”
“Who cares? I just met him in prison.”
I extended my hand and walked toward Maximilien. He reached out his own hand in return. Once the distance closed, we would shake hands.
Ah, right. I might not get an answer after the handshake, so I should ask one thing before that.
“Ah, Mr. Maximilien. I have one question for you.”
“What is it?”
I asked casually as I walked, so as not to arouse any suspicion.
“I heard this from Shei-ssi, but do you know what the King of Sins is?”
Maximilien answered without any particular suspicion.
“The King of Sins? What is that? Sin is a phantom created by humans, not a beast, is it not? How can a king exist for something that does not exist?”
“Right? That’s what I thought, too.”
I just asked on the off chance.
According to my mind-reading, the keyword ‘King of Sins’ didn’t exist in his memory. But Warforger Maximilien was a high-ranking executive in The Human Regime. I prodded him, thinking he might be able to form new connections around a word he’d never heard.
Sigh, no clues after all. Can’t be helped. It was something the Regressor saw in a previous timeline, and I didn’t even know of its existence until I read her mind. To be honest, I’m still half-doubting it. But since the Regressor said she saw it herself, I can’t just dismiss it.
Haa, how do I find out more? Stick to the Regressor like glue and dig for clues? That’s dangerous, too. To live a long life, I need to stay away from the Regressor.
‘The King of Sins, what a strange phrase. It can’t be nonsense. But why is the King of Humans asking me about it? If the King of Sins truly exists, wouldn’t it be none other than the King of Humans himself? He should know better than anyone, shouldn’t he?’
Did I reveal too interesting a piece of information? Maximilien’s thoughts grew complicated. I’d better shake his hand quickly before he gets any funny ideas. I quickened my pace.
At that moment, Azzy flickered into Maximilien’s vision. Having hidden from the commotion, she slowly emerged as the fight seemed to be ending. The Dog King was now clearly in Maximilien’s line of sight.
‘The dog. The wolf. Kings of two beasts, alike yet different. Therefore, only the Dog King… could find the King of Humans. That's what He said.’
Click. A gear turned in his mind. His train of thought shifted. Realizing something, his excitement instantly cooled, replaced by a wary gaze directed at me.
‘Why did he insist on a handshake?’
Because I need to grab your hand.
‘My body is filled with gears, and they move by my Unique Magic.’
Which is why you can’t retract your Unique Magic. Your body moves by it; without it, your body would stop.
‘He can use my Unique Magic.’
And if I were to make your Unique Magic run wild on the gears in your body… you might just explode.
‘Danger…!’
Just before our hands met, I heard the sound of gears twisting.
Crrrack. Maximilien’s arm rotated 180 degrees. It wasn’t just his outstretched hand; his entire arm twisted and folded backward, a sight so grotesque it looked less like a human and more like a machine wearing human skin.
Wow, impressive. As expected of a gear artisan. Quick on the uptake. And his arm moved the instant he made the decision. He didn’t become one of the Six Generals by playing card games.
Maximilien, Head of The Human Regime’s Military State branch.
I had gained a clue, but in turn, I had given him one.
I gave a little wave with my now-empty hand.
“…Should I take this to mean you don’t want to join me?”
Maximilien glared at me and answered stiffly.
“Not at all. It’s just…”
“Just what? A handshake is a time-honored sign of friendship. It means you choose to grasp another’s hand instead of a weapon. Is there a reason you refused?”
“…I have my reasons. Let’s just talk.”
“Reasons? Have you suddenly come to distrust me? That’s the only explanation that makes sense.”
Maximilien fell silent. He had a reason, but he couldn’t possibly say it.
Because he was afraid. Just like any other ordinary person.
“You were scared, weren’t you? That I might harm you.”
Slipping into the opening, my sharp words pierced Maximilien’s contradiction.
“You were scared because I could destroy your body, so you pushed me away out of some vague sense of repulsion, didn’t you?”
Maximilien wanted every human to ‘become superior’ like him. He wanted them to implant gears in their bodies to control their flesh with far greater efficiency.
As the King of Humans, I cannot ignore a human’s wish. Just as the Beast King represents the collective will of a species, I too respect the desire of the person before me.
Provided, of course, that there is nothing wrong with that desire.
“Advancement? How can you speak of advancement when you're just the same as them! You, the people who rejected you—you're all just terrified animals!”
Even Maximilien—one of the Military State’s Six Generals, a mage with a Unique Magic, and a brilliant alchemist.
Before me, he was just an ordinary man.
Maximilien’s body trembled. The gears embedded within him spun furiously, idling at a ferocious speed. The overflowing power seemed ready to burst at any moment.
As he trembled with shame and rage, I exposed the truth.
“As the King of Humans, I can assure you of one thing: you are not special in the slightest! You've put a few gears in your body, but you're still just an ordinary man! And there's no way an ordinary man like you could ever change the entire human race!”
Maximilien reached out with his right hand and swept aside his cloak, revealing a body that looked as if it were clothed in gears.
The gears attached to his body spun violently, the metal heating up from the friction. His thoughts accelerated as if overclocked, and a blast of hot air, like a great exhalation, erupted from his body.
“You think a Divine is a pushover? Hahaha! Not a chance!”
My sneer was drowned out by a clatter of machinery. By the time I turned my head, a Steel Beetle had crept up on me, bringing a massive saw blade down upon my head.