Ch.379The Cradle of Superhumanism. City of Lorentia (2)

# Transhumanism

Transhumanism refers to the ideology that views the human body as weak and seeks to augment, enhance, or replace the body through technology and science.

Like many such ideologies, it has constantly faced criticism for being merely theoretical. Even now, when body augmentation has become commonplace as a matter of personal preference, the fundamental concept of “modifying one’s natural body with alien technology” remains so extreme that debates around transhumanism never cease.

The biggest criticism is that this “evolution of humans through technology” doesn’t just spring from nowhere—it costs a lot of money. Even without artificial replacements, humans in this world can use the power of Aura through sheer belief, making technology and science less essential.

This largely explains why modern humanity still generally remains in a quasi-medieval state despite having recovered the technological capabilities of the Imperial era. Surprisingly, technology doesn’t play as significant a role in human life as one might expect.

While it would be inconvenient if refrigeration equipment like refrigerators and air conditioners, or transportation means like trains and vehicles disappeared, beyond these necessities, “advanced” technologies rarely impact daily life.

Even Parsifal’s navy, which operates modernized patrol ships, still extensively uses antiquated battleships as their “main naval force,” showing how lukewarm humanity’s progress through warfare—something humans supposedly love—has been.

In truth, there’s no need to elaborate so much. All criticism of transhumanism can be summed up in one question:

*—Is there any guarantee that augmented humans are truly better?—*

Of course, strength, endurance, and durability are certainly “augmented” and “enhanced,” but more fundamentally, there hasn’t been the kind of dramatic change that could truly be called “human evolution.”

Unless the power balance becomes so extreme that non-augmented humans have no way to counter augmented ones, it makes little difference among Aura users whether their opponent is made of machinery or flesh and blood.

Veteran adventurers can turn dangerous war machines—weapons that could cause massacres if dropped in the middle of a city—into mincemeat with just a sword. Before Aura, which draws on the power of one’s soul and mind, iron and flesh are cut just the same, except perhaps for low-ranking adventurers.

If one had to make a distinction, it would be like comparing soft tofu to firm tofu.

“Ascension through technology. Quite an ambitious dream.”

And the lengthy explanation above stemmed entirely from Viktor’s own thoughts.

Though he hadn’t seen many augmented humans in his life, reviewing the memories of the old Imperial era that had flowed into him during his unification with Saburo made the limitations of transhumanism clear.

Even if one changes the body, the mind remains unchanged, resulting in people simply causing greater accidents with their stronger bodies. Without changing the mind, humans cannot fundamentally change—yet they keep taking knives to innocent flesh, which is truly lamentable.

If transhumanism had truly been correct, humanity would have all ascended to machines and be communicating in binary code by the Imperial era.

Viktor suddenly wondered what society would look like if transhumanism dominated it completely.

A society built around enhanced bodies would be too cruel to those with weak flesh.

Even manual labor would prioritize those with mechanical bodies. Pure humans would be unable to get jobs because they couldn’t enhance their bodies, and without money, they couldn’t enhance their bodies—thus forever remaining outside mainstream society, cursing their weak flesh while mired in poverty and oppression.

“A terrible dystopia indeed.”

“Hmm?”

“Nothing. By the way, how long did they say it would take to repair the ship?”

“About a week, it seems. Cities with advanced technology are definitely convenient. Everything gets done quickly.”

“True enough.”

Viktor gazed at the Sky Warden docked at the massive repair facility while enjoying tea with Simon.

Despite his criticisms, Viktor couldn’t deny the fundamental premise of transhumanism—”human evolution through technology.”

Just as bronze is considered better than stone tools, and iron better than bronze, the sweet physical superiority offered by mechanical augmentations would tempt anyone, assuming equal power.

Even Viktor, the Sun God himself, had implanted augmentations throughout his body, so he wasn’t in a position to freely criticize.

Being able to handle rough treatment without a single wound, amplifying or dampening sensations, choosing whether to feel pain, immediately knowing when something malfunctions, not worrying about diseases like cancer or skin conditions, and not having to fret about sunburns or scars—these were undeniable benefits.

While Aura users might be equally vulnerable to each other regardless of their physical composition, this meant that augmented humans had the advantage over those who couldn’t use Aura. To harness the power of soul, belief, will, and determination, one had to not just step into death but fully immerse in it—and ordinary people typically die when they do so.

Viktor himself had his spine crushed while being mangled alive by a Yeti, while the elf sisters and Raisha had their limbs pulverized in fierce battles with troll hordes before they could use Aura.

Considering that all Aura users had similar near-death experiences, one couldn’t blame ordinary people for taking the opportunity to upgrade to “stronger bodies” if they lacked the courage for such ordeals.

In the worst case, they might not even awaken and would simply join Viktor in the afterlife. One couldn’t fault them for choosing the safer path.

*

“My lord, the leader of Lorentina City has arrived.”

“Let him in.”

Quite impudently, the mayor of this city had kept the Iron Walker party, including Viktor, “waiting.”

This was an unimaginable disrespect from a mere mortal, but Viktor had to hold his tongue upon hearing that the mayor’s wife was in labor.

Childbirth… the meaning behind that word is not trivial. Especially for the cursed Walker couple.

Soon the door opened, and the mayor, who had replaced his jaw with machinery, appeared before Simon and Viktor, who were tilting their teacups. He immediately knelt.

“Your Majesty. Please forgive my disrespect.”

“Rise, leader of Lorentina. I have heard of your circumstances. Your wife being in labor is an unavoidable matter.”

“Thank you for your understanding of my situation.”

The mayor rose awkwardly and bowed his head again.

Regardless of the circumstances, a mortal making a god wait—especially one who came as a guest—was not a matter to be easily overlooked.

*SLAP!*

*CRASH!*

As if to prove this point, Viktor “lightly” slapped his face, sending the mayor flying exactly 12.42 meters and tumbling 3.2 times.

Viktor had held back considerably, but given the fundamental difference in their stature, this outcome was unavoidable.

Knowing that the mechanical jaw would prevent the mayor’s jaw from dislocating, Viktor had shown “mercy” in his strike.

“Urgh…”

The honor guard promptly supported him, and their commander handed him a potion.

The mayor received it with trembling hands, drank it, rubbed his jaw, and returned to Viktor.

“With this, your judgment is complete. Does anyone object to my verdict?”

“No, Your Majesty!” they answered in unison.

“Good.”

Having sinned against a god, punishment was necessary.

If one were to ask whether getting slapped by a god was an appropriate punishment—yes, it was. The god had decreed it, so how could mortals argue?

Viktor had personally carried out the sentence, so if anyone whispered that the mayor’s punishment was insufficient or excessive, they would be insulting the judgment of the Sun’s master and disregarding the punishment executed by humanity’s lord.

In short, it would be blasphemy.

Anyone with even a modicum of sense would not object to this punishment, and indeed, the honor guard responded accordingly.

“Are you alright?”

“My ears are a bit numb… but I took the potion, so I’ll be fine. Thank you for your mercy.”

“Now guide us. I have come here to evaluate your achievements and accomplishments. You must show me the culmination of transhumanism built through technology and science over countless ages.”

“It is an honor to introduce our city to the Sun God, the Master of Humanity, and the First Emperor of the Victorian Empire, Your Majesty.”

The mayor, head bowed, carefully turned and began walking.

The Iron Walker party followed, and thus Lorentina City finally came under the gaze of the Sun.