Ch.206The Road to Becarium (3)

“Ah, come lie down here.”

Following the old craftsman’s guidance, we each chose from numerous chairs and reclined in comfortable positions.

Well… should I say reclined… or sat… As I lay on the chair-cum-bed tilted at that peculiar angle like in a dentist’s office, a scanner above our heads began to descend, and soon a red detection laser emerged, thoroughly scanning our bodies.

“Ssssip…haaaa…”

There were several craftsmen in the shop, but every one of them was marinated in cigarette smoke, and their hands were equipped with all sorts of cybernetic devices, creating the illusion that they had scissors and syringes attached to their hands.

Zzzzzzt…

[Scan complete.]

[Displaying results on monitor.]

As soon as the scan results appeared on the monitor, the craftsmen squinted their artificial eyes while examining the screen.

“Well, well… all naturals. This’ll be a pleasure to work on after so long. So, what are you looking for?”

“Hmm… I’m a wandering knight, do you have any stronger and more durable implants?”

“Ah. A frontline profession, I see. Just wait a moment.”

After I said that, the craftsman nearest to me took out a tablet, swiped through several screens, and then selected something appropriate, displaying a holographic window for me to see.

[Subdermal Armor] [Detection Eyes] [Hardened Skin] [Organ Coating] [Bio Muscles] [Vital Monitor] [Joint Enhancer] [Reinforced Endoskeleton] [Reinforced Exoskeleton] [Communication Link] [Synthetic Armor] [Shield] [Reaction Speed Amplifier] [Neural Network Protector]

“There are so many!”

I was momentarily shocked to see a total of 14 implants listed in a row.

Would all these implants really go into my body?

“Would you like me to explain?”

“…Please do.”

“Subdermal Armor, Hardened Skin, Shield, Bio Muscles, Detection Eyes, and Vital Monitor are self-explanatory, so I won’t bother explaining those. The Endoskeleton attaches to your bones to strengthen them, while the Exoskeleton reinforces from outside the skin. Both increase your strength, and if you implant both at once, the effect doubles.”

“What about the Joint Enhancer and Synthetic Armor?”

“Ah, the Joint Enhancer prevents your joints from being destroyed or severed, and amplifies their power. You’ll be able to break through reinforced concrete walls even without aura. The Synthetic Armor attaches to your skin… think of it like attaching metal plates to your body. We’re not entirely sure of the material… aura-conductive material or something? Anyway, it can’t hurt to have it.”

“Hmm. Then what about the Communication Link and Organ Coating?”

“The Communication Link is like putting a radio or smartphone in your head. It’s a convenient device that lets you make calls just by thinking. The Organ Coating covers all your organs with a special membrane that reacts to blood, allowing you to continue fighting even after being stabbed multiple times in vital areas like the liver or heart. A dream come true for frontliners, right?”

“That’s certainly true… Then what about the Reaction Speed Amplifier and Neural Network Protector?”

“The Reaction Speed Amplifier will take some time to adapt to. It’s exclusively for aura users, developed to help dodge supersonic objects. And the Neural Network Protector shields your nerves from poisons. It won’t protect against physical attacks, but it effectively filters out poisons applied to blades or mixed into alcohol or tea. Since you’re an aura user, you probably wouldn’t be affected by ordinary poisons anyway… but it’s insurance.”

“Each one is an excellent item. Berkman’s judgment was correct.”

“Huh?”

“Oh, I mean that dwarf lying over there. He’s my companion.”

“Ah, I see. Perhaps we should put up a sign saying our shop is dwarf-approved.”

The craftsmen chuckled at that, and soon we spent 200 gold coins for implants for our entire party.

It was the first time I truly understood what it meant when they said adventurers walk around with enough money to buy a castle.

Especially since dozens of gold coins would literally be going inside my body.

“Now we’ll start the anesthesia. Sleep well.”

“I’m an aura user. Will anesthesia even work on me?”

“This is specially made for aura users. It’s so potent that a normal person would foam at the mouth and die just from being pricked by the needle.”

“And you’re giving this to me?”

“Yes. It’s working well.”

*

“Urrrgh…”

“Get up slowly. The surgery went well. Young folks really do recover quickly from anything.”

“How… how much time has passed?”

“Your other companions didn’t have many implants, but you had quite a lot. A day has passed. It’s now 10:20 in the morning.”

“Ugh…”

My eyes feel dry.

My heartbeat feels constricted, and there’s an uncomfortable tightness like rubber bands filling my insides.

My senses were as sharp as walking on needles, and all sorts of communications from the bazaar were mixing into a roaring noise in my head.

My joints were stiff like bearings without grease, and my spine was as painful as if all the discs had ruptured.

“Urrrgh…”

“Don’t even dream of combat for a while. Not just combat, but any vigorous movement should be avoided. Otherwise, the implants might shift from their positions, and we might have to amputate your limbs.”

“Hehehe… I’ll pass on that.”

I moved my body very carefully.

All my bodily sensations were amplified, and I felt like one wrong move of a finger could break it due to the enhanced reaction speed.

“Mirror… Do you have a mirror?”

“Here it is. Take a look slowly.”

“…What’s this?”

I couldn’t help but be surprised at my body.

It wasn’t simply because metal pieces were attached to my body.

My body had transformed into that of a full-grown adult.

“I’ve… grown taller?”

“Yes. While we were at it, we expanded your growth plates to their limit. How does it feel to be 220cm tall?”

“Huh…”

Just yesterday, I was around 170cm, but now 220cm? That’s nearly a 50cm increase.

“I didn’t know I could grow this much.”

“Nobody does. Now you won’t be treated like a minor anywhere you go.”

“Hmm…”

As I felt my transformed body, I realized that I could no longer wear the armor I had been wearing.

When I looked around at the craftsmen, they answered as if they’d been waiting for me to ask.

“We left your armor with your wife.”

“I see. But these clothes…”

“We picked something suitable for you. By the way, you won’t need plate armor anymore. Even without it, your bare body now has several times the defense of plate armor.”

“…”

Hearing that, I gently scratched the back of my arm.

Scriiitch…

It made a sound that was unbelievable for bare skin. It was more like scratching a solid oak rod.

I knew it was because of the Hardened Skin implant, but after having soft, supple skin all my life, suddenly encountering hardened skin was quite disconcerting.

Would I have to live with this body for the rest of my life… I was beginning to understand, if only slightly, those who went mad from implants.

“I guess I’ll need new clothes then.”

“Well, don’t be too discouraged. You’re not that big, really. Gold-rank adventurers include giants over 5 meters tall. You’re quite modest in comparison.”

“…The possibilities of humanity!”

Saying that, I left the shop wearing clothes that reeked of oil and metal.

Walking awkwardly like a child who had just undergone circumcision diminished the dignity of a knight, but it was better than face-planting on the ground due to lack of control.

Outside, my wife was waiting for me.

“Master.”

“Raisha.”

I embraced my wife very carefully.

Although my skin had hardened, I could still feel her soft touch, which was fortunate.

“I’ve prepared new clothes for you. In ivory and burgundy, your favorite colors.”

“That sounds wonderful. Let’s go to the airship.”

“Yes, Master.”

Raisha rubbed her cheek against my hand as she answered.

Sometimes I wonder if I actually married a dog beastkin.

Where did that initial aloofness go?

Well, it didn’t matter anyway.

When I arrived at the airship, I was greeted by the brigade commander with eyes painted red.

“Welcome, Lord Victor.”

“Changed your eyes?”

“Yes. I switched to red to add some intimidation. They can detect infrared too. It seems you’ve changed your eyes as well?”

“Yeah. Found a good place. Are all the soldiers on board?”

“Yes. There was a bit of commotion when some soldiers got inappropriate implants without knowing better.”

“Inappropriate implants?”

“Would you believe someone implanted a 50cm phallus?”

“No.”

“Neither did I. Oh, and the clothes your wife ordered are in the captain’s quarters.”

“Hmm.”

After finishing our conversation, I boarded the Sky Warden with the brigade commander and my wife.

[Lord Victor has boarded! Start the engines! Begin takeoff procedures!]

-All personnel! Remain at your stations until takeoff procedures are complete!-

As radio transmissions and alert sounds began to exchange, I entered the captain’s quarters and carefully put on the ivory and burgundy clothes with trembling hands.

The long coat certainly matched my new height, making me look unmistakably noble.

If I were any other minor, my youthful face would have given me away, but since I had aged prematurely from 240 hours of hard labor per week at the rough docks, anyone who didn’t know me would think I was an experienced nobleman.

“How do I look? Does it suit me?”

“I’ll go wash up. Please wait for me in bed, Master.”

“What?”

Before I could say anything, my wife wore an ecstatic expression and entered the bathroom.

Raisha, what are you saying…

Washing up…? Why?