Bad Born Blood - Chapter 18



Only Noblemtl

018

“It’s like sealing the self you want to protect and keeping it inside. Even ordinary people who haven’t received any mental control training sometimes lose their memories or have their personalities split due to some kind of shock. In our case, we do it consciously.”

Ilay explained it in detail. My expression got even worse.

The theory is understandable, but it didn’t seem like it could actually be done. The mind is not divided into easily distinguishable parts like the body. It’s like a liquid that breaks down and mixes with the slightest loss of control.

“That’s possible… … . Damn, you’re saying that because it’s possible.”

I sighed.

“Luka, when we smile, our brain thinks we are happy even though we are not. Our brain is dumber than we think. If we try to fool it, we can fool it. Psychological tests can only see the surface level of consciousness that is revealed on the outside.”

“So what do you do?”

Illai paused for a moment and then said.

“You brainwash yourself into thinking that you are a loyal soldier to the empire, and you pattern your behavior and thoughts. You live your life pretending to be a loyal soldier. Then, the ego of a loyal soldier in your superficial consciousness really starts to overwrite it. What started out as fake becomes real. Because the brain thinks by following our actions.”

Repeated acting affects the mind so that the brain perceives the character played as real.

When I heard it, it sounded more plausible than I thought. It didn’t seem impossible.

“What are the points to watch out for?”

“If you maintain that false self for a long time, it becomes increasingly difficult to separate it, and your original self sinks deep into your subconscious. It’s like a box submerged in the ocean that rusts and cannot be opened. Even if it were to be opened, it would be mixed with the false self and would be impossible to separate.”

“Even if you call them fake and real, they are both real, so that’s probably true.”

Ilay nodded in agreement to what I said.

“As expected, you understand quickly.”

“Where did you learn this?”

“From books and data from other countries. In particular, Bellato has many interesting old records. Records of humans from the time they lived on Earth.”

It was worth it. The last remaining human descendants on Earth were the Bellato Federation.

“Luka, I have been following in my father’s footsteps for the past two months before the screening. I am the most loyal soldier I know. Every morning, when I wake up, I say a prayer of thanksgiving, mentioning the names of all the emperors… … .”

Ilay explained his method. After listening to him, I thought for a moment. It didn’t seem as difficult as I thought.

‘There’s no need to follow others.’

I can just act as my past self. Because back then, I got high scores on the psychological test.

He harbored no suspicions toward the Empire, and was filled with hostility toward any seditious remarks…

My mouth felt sour for no reason. I felt once again that I had changed a lot.

“Thanks for the advice.”

“Not at all. I don’t know what you’re doing, but be careful, Luca.”

“I never thought the day would come when I would hear something like this from you.”

A sigh came out naturally.

“Unlike me, you are not a noble, so you have no background to protect you. You have to be more careful than me.”

It wasn’t sarcasm. Ilay was really worried about me.

Even though the psychological test was rigged, Illei was able to resolve it somehow because she came from a prestigious family.

But I’m finished. I’ll be left on the street with my limbs taken away, and I might even be dragged to a place that doesn’t even show up on the map and forced to work until I die.

I turned my back to Ilay and waved my hand in greeting without answering.

* * *

It didn’t take long for me to build my external self. I just had to project my past self. Even if it was my past, it wasn’t all that different from my current self.

Even if you take a psychological test now, your score won’t be that low.

‘The problem is that my scores in the past were too high.’

My superiors will see my low score and judge it as a precursor to subversive thinking.

I was the first to cut off contact with Ilay. Ilay also knew why, so he didn’t bother to contact me. Ilay was the most anti-imperial type of person I knew.

However, I must not forget my meeting and training with Kinuan. I tried not to be influenced by him. Fortunately, Kinuan did not mention what happened at the orphanage. He treated me normally as if it had never happened.

Kinuan often took me down to the lower areas, mostly for training. Today was no exception.

“Luka, you have 20 seconds. Subdue everyone inside.”

Kinuan spoke in front of a deserted building in the lower district. He did not provide any further explanation.

OMG.

I raised the output of the limbs and body to a suitable level. The slight vibrations of the machine were transmitted to the living parts.

Rattling.

The doorknob at the entrance to the building didn’t turn. It was locked from the inside. But that didn’t matter to me.

Wood crack!

The strength of my body even tears through sheet metal. I twisted the handle and broke the lock. At the same time, I kicked the door to secure my view.

Okay, let’s start now.

I pushed my concentration to the limit. I was slamming every bit of information I could see into my brain, like a dry sponge sucking up water.

When humans focus, their field of vision narrows. However, I have widened my field of vision and increased my concentration. This is the expansion of sensory perception unique to the Archieus combat technique.

Stinging, stinging.

I was already starting to get a headache.

‘The gang’s office.’

The gang was sitting in a shabby old office. A video of a man and a woman having sex was playing on the wall display, and data chips were rolling around underneath.

There were three gangsters sitting around the table, absorbed in card gambling, one gangster lying on the bed with his eyes clouded over as if he was high on drugs, another guy watching a sex video on the torn up sofa, and there were also sounds in the bathroom.

I had some idea that there would be a gang. Even before I opened the door, I could faintly smell gunpowder and the bitter smell of energy weapons.

Not even a second has passed.

My observations are done. Next is the insight. And then I make a judgment.

I looked at the gang’s appearance, atmosphere, and weapon status to determine the level of danger and set priorities. Soon, I was done organizing my thoughts.

I released my fighting reflexes, which had been suppressed like a taut bowstring. I was trained to react to any threat.

Bam!

I bent down and kicked the ground. The concrete floor I was standing on shattered and shattered.

The distance between me and the shotgun-wielding gangsters was closing.

“Oh, oh, oh!”

From the gang’s perspective, it would seem as if I had come as soon as the door opened. His thinking was a temporary blank. He couldn’t even make a final judgment, so he couldn’t enter a combat stance.

Kang!

I flicked the gun barrel with my finger, causing it to shoot upward. My arm holding the gun went up as well, and my chest opened up.

Crunch!

My fist struck the gangster’s chest. Under his skin, a shock-absorbing gel replaced the dermis. I had expected this from the moment I saw his pectoral muscles, which looked like they were filled with water.

But it didn’t absorb the full impact of my fist. His back bent like a shrimp.

The gangster’s eyes rolled back and he lost consciousness. However, he was able to hold the gun tightly thanks to the locked mechanical fingers.

Kkwaduk!

I twisted the gang’s fingers and turned them over. The fingers that had gone beyond their range of motion snapped with a crash.

Whirl!

I grabbed the falling shotgun and aimed it to the right. I knew where the enemy was without even looking. I could see all the circumstances in my head. The surroundings and the enemies were clearly visible in a three-dimensional map in my brain.

There were no variables because there was no gang that was moving properly yet.

A change occurred in my right arm as I recognized the shotgun. There was a mechanical click at my elbow, and the joint felt stiff as if it had been under-oiled.

Taang!

I fired the shotgun with one hand without any hesitation. My right arm, with its joints locked, completely withstood the recoil. This is why expensive, high-end bodies are better even with the same output. Small auxiliary functions are secretly helpful.

Kiing!

The shotgun shell bounced beautifully, a wisp of heat scattering along its trajectory.

“Kuaaaah! My sooooooooo-!!”

A shrill scream spread. Only after I fired did my eyes confirm my target.

The bullet I shot blew off the hand of the gangster lying on the bed. Flesh and blood splattered out, probably because it was a living part. The white bone was pitifully exposed in the cut of the wrist where it had burst.

“What, what! What the hell! What the hell!”

Only now did the gang react. Two people had already been hit.

bang!

It took three seconds for the first shot to come in my direction. The gangster who was watching the pornographic video pulled the trigger too late. He hadn’t even pulled up his pants yet, so his ugly lower body was clearly visible.

“Blood, damage? I’m going crazy! I’m going crazy!”

The gangster who had been shooting was startled and pulled the trigger again and again.

I tilted my head back to avoid the bullets and looked at the guy with a cold gaze. Everything was so pitiful. I never thought those who make a living through violence could be this complacent.

Even the bullets I fired in a panic missed me even when I was still. There was no need to dodge. What kind of nonsensical shooting is this?

I returned fire. He’s wearing a chest protector, so he won’t die.

bang!

The gang was hit by a shotgun and flew to the wall display. The woman’s screams were lost in the noise as the display shattered.

With this, all the gun-wielding gangsters were defeated. The rest were armed with knives and electric batons. Naturally, they were shaking when they saw me with a shotgun.

Looking at those idiots, I even thought it was a waste of bullets.

“If you don’t want to break the limbs you bought by saving up pennies, knock yourself out.”

The gangster with the electric baton hesitated and then hit his chin. The rest of the gang picked up the dropped electric batons without saying a word and followed suit. They fell down one by one, emitting acrid smoke.

The farce was over. I stared at the bathroom for the last time.

‘All that remains is the suspicious noise in the bathroom… … .’

I frowned. As soon as I focused on it, I could tell that the sounds and smells inside were foreign. The woman’s faint moans and… … an unfamiliar smell entered my head, stimulating my imagination.

“Those fucking kids… … .”

Now I was showing considerable patience. I wanted to stomp on the heads of any gangsters who came my way at any moment.

Squeak.

I opened the bathroom door.

A woman wearing rags and rags was shivering. The chains connecting her to the shackles were firmly fixed to the wall, and there were traces of nosebleeds that had flowed and dried on her nose. The marks and stench of old love affairs were stuck to her legs and feet.

Ugh.

I ground my teeth. The bathroom door handle I was holding broke.

Kaang!

I grabbed the chains that were nailed to the wall and ripped them off. They were rusted in places, showing how long they had been there.

I saw the woman. Her cognitive abilities were significantly impaired. She couldn’t even speak properly. She ran away to the corner of the bathtub like a wild animal and just let out a dull moan.

“Good job, good boy. Took about 12 seconds.”

Kinuan came in late and spoke. I answered without even looking at him.

“Why can’t we just kill all these kids?”

Kinuan narrowed his eyes as he looked at the state of the bathroom. He too discovered a naked woman.

“Even those who are like strays have their own roles to play. We are outsiders. We must not interfere too much and disrupt the order of this world.”

“What kind of thugs are these… … .”

I was talking and then I closed my mouth. My head was too hot. I wasn’t in a cool state. I needed to cool down.

“There are many people in the world who are unable to protect themselves, and this woman is no exception. This is what happens when you have no strength. Don’t you know this well?”

Kinuan took off his upper garment and covered the woman’s shoulders as he spoke. For a moment, a flash of emotion flashed through his pupils.

‘Is this the woman Kinuan knows?’

It could have been my imagination. How could someone who knew someone be so calm when they were in this situation?

The woman suffered miserably because she had no strength. I didn’t want to live like that either, so I struggled desperately and came this far.

Normally, I would have despised such a woman. She was a fool who failed to seize the opportunity the Empire had given her.

But now that I’ve seen her up close, I can’t blame her at all. I feel pity for her and… … I feel angry at the absurd structure of this society.

I’m confused. My mind, which had been focused on passing the psychological examination, is now disorganized.

“I will go out first.”

I threw down the shotgun and went outside.