Greenblood (1)
There were no life support devices or surgical tools in the space, which was dedicated solely to magitech engineering. When Taylor pointed that out, Allen responded calmly.
"I asked Rolf to procure them. I even hired a doctor."
"A quack?"
"He said he has fifteen years of experience, so he's past the quack stage. In this line of work, anyone without skill or who's a total fraud gets a bullet in the head instead of pay."
Taylor nodded in agreement. Even a quack who had survived this long couldn't be dismissed. They lacked formal certification, but they could be considered specialists.
"That guy must have some pride. How'd you get him to let you assist?"
"He frowned at first, but when I explained the patient's condition, he said it was impossible alone. He was actually glad to skip the hassle of hiring someone else."
"So when's the surgery?"
"Today."
"What? Don't keep it to yourself—tell me too."
"I meant to tell you yesterday, but you were asleep, so I planned to do it later and forgot. The magitechwear's been delivered there, so just bring your body."
Taylor shut his mouth. Mentioning sleep meant he'd been out of it mentally. It was his own karma—what could he do?
The clinic Rolf had recommended was near his bar. The entire clean two-story building was an illegal procedure spot.
"Call me Ulpa."
A female dwarf with fluorescent red hair, short stature, and a sturdy build greeted them.
"Did your brother send you? Siblings with the same tastes, huh."
"Don't say they're the same—say my brother copied me. No more chit-chat; lie down. You hit the bathroom already?"
"What about the surgical consent form? Not that there is one."
"Old timer. You don't ask for official medical paperwork in a place like this. Looks like you lived it up a bit in your youth. Alright, anesthesia starting."
Ulpa attached the oxygen respirator and other life support gear, then began the anesthesia immediately.
"Count to ten out loud."
"One, two, th······."
The anesthesia worked perfectly. Ulpa checked the vital signs, nodded in satisfaction, and donned her gear.
She fitted the precision surgical prosthetic, Hippocrates, over his good arm. When she wiggled her fingers, the mechanical ones mirrored her exactly.
Allen stared at Hippocrates, reminded of Nobak Clinic.
"What's up? Oh, fascinated by this? As a magitech engineer, you know what it is."
"I've used one before."
The difference was, back then they'd stripped magitechwear from a corpse; now they were implanting it to save a life.
"Let's get started. You confident?"
"Confidence isn't the issue. It has to be done."
Allen rubbed his eyelids. For today, he'd filled the hacking sections with Star Letters and hadn't touched the automatons.
As he slowly drew up mana, Ulpa frowned at Taylor's legs.
"Swap the legs first? It's worse up close. Necrosis wouldn't be surprising—how's this old timer still kicking?"
The answer was mana control. Taylor's training method had produced truly exceptional control. Allen might surpass him after seeing more of the world, but for now, Taylor was number one.
"The connection site's wrecked, and tissue's all clumped on. Rip it off, and the Mana Heart'll freak out."
"I'll hack the Mana Heart and send fake feedback like legs are attached. Replace from the extremities in order."
"Can you hold out during surgery? I don't know hacking, but I hear it guzzles mana."
"Don't worry about that."
"Gotta trust the guy paying."
Allen's eyes hacked Taylor's artificial Mana Heart, soothing the damaged mana circuits and falsifying signals from the legs.
Once the flow stabilized, he tapped his shoulder as the signal. Ulpa wordlessly activated the bone-cutting saw.
Gaga-gak!
The chilling sound filled the operating room just from hearing it. The sight was brutal too, but Allen never looked away.
He couldn't find it no matter how hard he searched at sea, but now it was right in front of him. Far better circumstances.
Taylor ripped off the oxygen respirator upon waking. His body overflowed with strength; such devices were just annoyances.
He lifted his head slightly and looked around. Allen and Ulpa were leaning against the wall, asleep.
Only after confirming that did he survey the room. A round mirror hung above the operating table.
'Left it here to check upon waking.'
His legs, arms, and torso skin were taut, revealing the outlines of densely packed muscles.
'Artificial muscles and synthetic skin.'
Clenching his fist brought back the vigor of his youth. For the first time in ages, the world felt worth living in.
Whoever truly meant to die? It was all self-brainwashing due to circumstances.
The mirror showed his wrinkled face and slightly upturned mouth. Just like before.
'This is fitting. Wrinkles are traces of my years—no shame.'
As he set the mirror aside, a small memo slipped off.
Just wake up. Don't go anywhere.
Unfamiliar handwriting—must be the doctor's. Taylor yanked off the attached cables and stood.
Then he realized he was standing on two feet. No awkwardness despite years without a wheelchair.
Taylor's gaze naturally turned to Allen.
'So much to teach him.'
Ideally, he'd learn slowly, but given Allen's intellect, that wouldn't happen. He'd absorb it like a sponge on steroids.
Allen would grow frighteningly fast.
'I'll be the umbrella to weather that brief storm.'
Never thought I'd get this sentimental. Taylor trailed off. Moments later, his eyes sharpened coldly on Allen.
'Depth 2? Nah, Depth 3 at least to keep up. Where'd this kid come from...'
Greenblood (1)
The center of some warehouse was packed with magitech equipment and automaton wreckage. It seemed like a workshop, but incongruously, the corner held barbells, dumbbells, and other workout gear.
A hulking bodybuilder figure stood there, but the long grooves in his skin and occasional blue glow beneath betrayed a body of magitechwear.
His face mismatched the taut physique: a white-haired old man. He bellowed at the figure lying down.
"Faster. A bit more—last one. Really the end. Final set!"
"Guhhh... "
Allen finished the bench press barely, sweat beading on his forehead. His arms dangled limply like strings.
"Gotta work out harder. See this? 20kg barbell, no plates."
"... "
Allen was too exhausted to speak. He caught his breath staring at the ceiling, then asked Taylor, who was putting away the gear.
"Will it work?"
"Mana Excess Syndrome always left you weak. Still, gotta do it."
Determination gleamed in Taylor's artificial eyes. Modern magitechwear was so refined it mirrored mental states perfectly. Conversely, it meant faking calm anytime.
"Don't go thinking weird stuff again."
"I wasn't... "
"Hey!"
"Magitech engineering isn't weird."
"Always sneaking that in... But it works. You could barely do five at first; now ten. Remember: explorers need every option. Monsters won't go easy 'cause you're weak!"
It hit home. Allen reflected on his excuses for skipping workouts due to his frail body.
Basic physical training started to toughen his flesh against mana damage. Monster talk was just a bonus.
Anyway, following Taylor's guidance improved his sleep and made mornings feel lighter.
After showering, Allen sat across from Taylor at the table.
"How's the body?"
"Someone oiled it perfectly—moves smooth. Not peak, but Depth 2 to 2.5 easy."
"Limited budget for magitechwear. Earn from expeditions, upgrade to higher lines—you'll get stronger."
"Never imagined full-body overhaul in old age... Tougher body's good for me."
"Of course, from now on, we'll settle accounts one by one."
"Music to my ears."
Taylor agreed readily. The debts to Allen were priceless; he had no intent to mooch shamelessly.
In a world where money bought lives, true sincerity was priceless.
Dementia gone, he wouldn't forget that warmth. The brain expansion's side effects vanished with the magitechwear swap.
Soothing his growling stomach, Allen brought up the factory.
"What about Greenblood?"
"Wondered when you'd ask. Labyrinth's risky enough; those leeches make it hell. Coincidence, fine—but intentional? I'd sleep like a baby after handling it."
Body fixed, his gruff speech unchanged. Not pain-induced aggression—his default.
"Focus forward, clean up the rear. So when do we start?"
"Easy. Hot-blooded's fine, but gauge intent first. If they targeted us, revenge needs care. C'mon, place to go—up you get."
"Where?"
"More fun not knowing, right? Treat everything from now as lessons."
Narrow two-lane roads, buildings crammed impossibly close, streets shadowed despite daytime, drunks staggering.
Far worse security than Breaker's area. Gunfire bursts nearby added credibility.
"Where's this?"
Maze City was still expanding megacity. Administrative control lagged in many spots.
Taylor wordlessly bent scrap metal and tossed it into an alley. Footsteps fled fast.
"Dongbang Town. Precisely, Dongbang First Town. Planned for foreign workers' housing, but as you see now."
"No security?"
"Gangs, growing slums—too many reasons to explain. But y'know? Thugs itching to kill cops play nice fixing sewers. Yeah, can't hold their shit either. Hilarious bastards."
"Why 'Dongbang Continent'? West across the sea from Saldos Federation."
Taylor paused, staring at Allen curiously.
"Genius engineers couldn't slap you and still lack common sense? You're biased as hell."
Allen just nodded. No interest beyond magitech—no reason to look it up.
"Originally one continent: West, East. Crossed the sea—another continent. Name stuck. Most don't know their capital anyway."
"Interesting."
"Interesting my ass—eyes say bored. Runes, Stars, or bust? Send runes to your girlfriend later."
As Allen shrugged, they entered a rundown apartment. Shoved trash aside, walked dim hall.
Many doors, scant life. Taylor stopped at a rusty one, knocked rhythmically. A voice from inside:
"No rent money. Scram!"
"Order up—"