How to Live as an Immortal - Chapter 279
Only Noblemtl
How to Live Immortally Episode 279
279 It’s been a long time since I heard such a good story
“That’s where it went wrong.”
It was only recently that Alice learned of the overall situation. That is, until she passed on the technique and Kenji ascended to the position of swordsman―
“I didn’t know, because until a few months ago, I was in a position similar to retirement, excluded from my main job. Teaching that child was just a pastime.”
But that was Taku’s plan. To put a more complete Kenji in his grasp and swing it around.
“What’s more vicious is that before deploying them to a project, they not only brainwash them and hypnotize them into forgetting their real names and origins, but they even change their devices so that they forget who they really are.”
It was a complete violation of human rights.
It was just funny that the children who survived didn’t even know that and placed absolute trust in Miyauchi-gumi. It was literally an enlarged version of Stockholm syndrome.
“Kenji too. I thought I was introduced to a promising kid, but it was all a carefully planned scheme.”
“Then, why did Mr. Genji suddenly kill Taku?”
“It could be because a series of measures were lifted at once, or there could be another reason. Either way, it is certain that he realized the unfair reality shortly after becoming a swordsman.”
“When you said you wanted to find Mr. Genji last time, was it to find out the truth?”
“Yes, I wanted to see it with my own eyes.”
I think I understand the general situation. But what I don’t understand is―
“How could you, a member of the Punishment Unit, not know that the Miyauchi-gumi was carrying out the Insanity Project?”
It’s not that the Mars Defense Forces are lax in their surveillance just because they can only intervene in matters that affect the fate of Mars.
No, because only limited activities are possible, there is an aspect of gathering information in a paranoid manner. So that we can respond immediately if any incident occurs.
“… … .”
Suddenly, as if to replace Alice’s answer, a wind blowing from the seaside sweeps across the terrace.
“Mr. Gaon, when do you think I enlisted?”
“It’s been about 50 years since I took care of the dragon head, so as soon as I became an adult?”
“Haha, that’s too bad. The correct answer is from birth, right?”
It is said quite cheerfully, but it cannot be light to declare that one was drafted against one’s will. It would mean that one was born not out of love but out of necessity.
That’s not a human life.
It is clearly the life of a tool.
Alice, who had a somewhat sad expression on her face, smiled and quietly recited.
“A new paradigm brought about by World War III.”
Superhuman training.
Now it has branched out into many branches, but in the beginning it was all about haphazard genetic manipulation. Without a doubt, there was something beyond enhanced humans.
“It’s like the infinite monkey theorem.”
The theory that if an infinite number of monkeys type infinitely, they will eventually be able to write Shakespeare’s plays. This was also an example of how the probability of success and the number of attempts are proportional to each other.
Therefore, it is inevitable that a heterogeneous protein mass is synthesized in a laboratory flask.
It was the moment when the monkey completed Shakespeare’s play.
“That’s me. It wasn’t perfect in every way, unlike the plan.”
Half success, half failure.
We reached a conclusion, but we could not deduce the cause. It was a result based purely on chance.
In the end, the research, which had not achieved any significant results and had only poured in a huge amount of money, came to a miserable and vain end.
During that process, the unexpected incident of Gye-reuk and Aris was immediately deployed to the scene.
One of the four major dark forces, Miyauchi-gumi.
The goal was one: to infiltrate it and snatch information that wasn’t recorded on the computer.
To put it bluntly, it was Humint.
At the time, she was 7 or 8 years old. It was a daunting request for a girl whose life had been spent in the lab.
But to the innocent child who didn’t even know that he was an outcast, everything was new, and each step he took was exciting.
Fortunately, I have a lot of talent―
“I think I caught the eye of the squad leader.”
Hobuki Zenya.
He was a giant who laid the foundation of the Miyauchi-gumi with his bare hands. Surprisingly, he saw through Alice’s true identity right away. However, he did not cast her out, but took care of her. Like his own daughter.
Sometimes it even provided trivial information.
When I was young, I dismissed it as a grown man talking without knowing the value of the cards he had, but now that I look back on it―
“I guess you felt sorry for him.”
I dare say that Zenya must have been disillusioned with the espionage warfare that even involved children. So, he must have done a favor to the girl who had been recognized for her merits so that she could live in a slightly better world.
The evidence was the continued strange relationship between the two mismatched people, the yakuza and the military.
“I learned a lot from the captain of the squadron. Swordsmanship, culture, common sense, and beliefs have all become my foundation today.”
Thanks to Zenya, he was considered useful and was able to rise in rank without being discarded. However, survival did not always lead to happiness.
“I was finally given another mission.”
That was the assassination of Yongdu, the leader of the Longying clan. It was the third anniversary of Zhenya’s eternal sleep.
“It was no different from saying that I should risk my life to become a member of the same clan, but I came back.”
The superiors were impressed by her abilities and gave her a position in the disciplinary unit, but―
“I was treated like nothing more than a sharp knife. From the military’s perspective, a half-superhuman like me was nothing more than a time bomb that could explode at any moment.”
She was an extraordinary Alice from birth. As a superior who has a corner of the world, it would be very reluctant to give her full authority. You never know when she might rebel.
“So, you’re saying that you personally cannot receive assistance from the military?”
“In a way, you could say that it’s similar to how I was looking for someone like Mr. Gaon.”
Her fate changed thanks to the hand that Zenya once extended to Alice.
However, the Miyauchi-gumi, which was supposed to inherit Zenya’s spirit, was going backwards.
A change that Alice, who has received grace, can never overlook.
“So that’s why you were crying that Miyauchi-gumi had become complacent.”
“yes.”
“Hey, old man, it’s been a while since I’ve heard such a good story. I didn’t know you had such a special attachment to Miyauchi-gumi.”
Aris wanted to preserve the last good that Zenya, the leader of the squadron, had tried to protect.
The Insanity Project is an extension of this, as it causes me to tremble and not tolerate the existence of child soldiers.
When it came to Kenji, it was clear that he was projecting his childhood self.
“As you know, as long as Miyauchi-gumi returns to its original state, I don’t care what happens to my position. I’m starting to find the position of swordsman annoying.”
“Nobita, did you get infected by that gentleman?”
“Maybe so.”
Alice slowly closes the distance between them and touches their buttocks. Then, she secretly wraps her arms around his.
“Anyway, instead of listening to Ryoichi’s gossip, why don’t you make some constructive plans? Didn’t you say you’d compensate me if things were resolved amicably?”
Alice, who was laughing wickedly, moved her hand to her chest. Playing a mean prank was a bonus.
“I think I can give you something that you can’t.”
It was natural that when a man and a woman got together, a spark would appear―
“Don’t act so fresh, you stink.”
Unfortunately, the receiver side had poor sensitivity.
“Haha, is this the mouth that says such mean things?”
Gaon clenched his fists as he was struck with an eerie sound. Despite his friendly tone, his evil power rivaled that of a Roland gorilla.
“That’s too much for a joke. If it weren’t for me, your lips would’ve been ripped off with the skin on them.”
“In the first place, the only one who would say such nonsense to a lady would be Mr. Gaon, right?”
“Lady… … .”
“What?”
At that moment, when Aris, who had become serious, asked again, Gaon shut his mouth. There was a reason why he hesitated in front of the reward Aris had offered.
The ideals she pursues are worthy of praise―
“Your wish will not come true. The problem lies not only with Miyauchi-gumi, but also with you.”
“yes……?”
“The more I talked to you, the more uncomfortable I felt, but now I understand. Didn’t you notice? You said it all with your own mouth. And yet you didn’t realize it, which is interesting in its own way.”
No, are you trying to ignore it? Gaon smiled bitterly and grabbed both of Aris’ hands.
Left hand and right hand.
“You have to give up one of the two. That way you can move forward.”
Alice tilts her head at the enigmatic words.
“What does that mean?”
“I can’t explain it any further because it’s something that only makes sense if you realize it.”
Aris pinched her mouth again, which was spitting out meaningful words without conveying anything clearly.
* * *
A night with bright moonlight shining through the fusuma.
After a week of hardships, Nobita came up to the surface, purified himself, knelt down in front of the altar, and soon clapped his hands together.
The object of honor is a memorial tablet.
They were the spirits of our ancestors.
The Okamoto family has always gone through a process of making their work public. This is a kind of ritual that shows how the techniques passed down from their ancestors have developed in later generations.
He carefully takes out the two swords and places them in front of him as if making an offering.
It is longer than a dagger, but shorter than a longsword. It was calculated to be easy to carry, but its original function was not omitted.
“It is a masterpiece that is more than enough to decorate my end.”
You could say it set the soul on fire. Perhaps, no matter how many years pass, a work like this will never be reproduced again.
The material, the timing, the passion—everything was in sync.
match.
As Nobita finished praying and was about to get up from his seat to collect his twin swords, a shadow appeared behind him.
Nobita turned his head in surprise, but all he could hear was the sound of insects croaking.
Was he worn out from the repeated hammering, or was he―
“Who’s there?”
It was a meaningless question. If there really was someone, I wouldn’t answer. If there wasn’t, it was the same. How could I hear the answer when there was no one to answer?
But it is also absurd that an android is wandering around the mansion that only he owns at this time.
Nobita took a step forward to check, but before he could get very far, he had to stop as if he had been struck by lightning.
Standing across from me was a familiar silhouette.
A single lily, its noble appearance evokes countless thoughts in those who see it.
Although he couldn’t see the face because of the shadows, the scent that reminded him of cherry blossoms belonged to only one person he knew.
“… …Aris?”