Bad Born Blood Chapter 281

281
I looked at the metal box in Kashura’s maintenance room.

Mushir al-Kashra had his limbs temporarily attached to his metal box.

Kirik, kkik.

The sight of the metal box with the prosthetic limbs and arms attached was quite funny, as it looked like a cheap toy.

-You’re not going to kill me? That’s funny.

Kashura, with his limbs attached, stood up awkwardly and spoke to me.

At present, Mushir Al-Kashra did not have a finished armored vehicle. All he had was a half-destroyed armored vehicle and spare parts.

“If you don’t chase me, there’s no reason to kill me.”

-But you hate me. Isn’t that enough of a reason to kill someone?

I blinked my eyes dryly.

“So you want me to kill you?”

-That’s not it. Let’s talk frankly.

Kashura fiddled with the arm attached to the metal box. He carefully checked the connection by folding each finger one by one.

-There are two reasons why you are keeping me alive. First, because after giving up your brain, the next target for me is Kinuan… … .

He looked at me, trailing off.

I frowned. Despite my displeasure, Kashura continued speaking.

-… … The second is because I said I could investigate Giselle Custoria’s whereabouts.

“You know the reason, right? So?”

-I can investigate Giselle Custoria’s whereabouts for you, but there is a price to pay.

“The price? Is it not enough to just spare your life?”

Kashura opened the cover of the metal box.

Inside the metal box were four glass containers containing brains, surrounded by a complex network of circuits, cables, and tubes carrying liquids.

That horrible form was the essence of what constitutes the present Mushir al-Qashra.

-In my capacity, the optimal thinking pattern is four brains. Two are interchangeable depending on the situation, one for hacking and network access, and the other for combat.

When I heard that, I searched my memories.

‘hmm.’

It seemed like my memory retrieval speed had slowed down compared to before. It was only recently that I had brain surgery, so that was to be expected. In fact, I should be thankful that there were no particular problems with my functions at the moment.

Kashura said that there is a secret race in this universe called the Regnators, the Overlords.

“You said that I had to ‘consume’ to connect to Regnator’s server.”

I muttered and stroked my chin. It took quite a bit of concentration to recall a minor memory. I hope this is… … a temporary phenomenon.

-We need a lot of brains from top-level hackers. One will die every second. The spares I have right now are not enough.

“It seems that it is difficult to investigate right now.”

-To be precise, it is possible.

I raised my head. I felt my lips go dry.

An idea also came to my mind. So I… … looked at the guy with immediate contempt.

-If you have Barbara’s brain, I think that child could last a long time in the Regnator’s network.

Kashura blurted out the exact same thoughts that had occurred to me.

“You… … want to get your hands on my daughter’s brain too?”

-I don’t really need Barbara’s brain. If I wanted it, I would have gotten it a long time ago. This is a suggestion just for you.

I felt a slight trembling from the tips of my fingers due to emotional disturbance.

‘What Kashura said is true. It’s a suggestion for me.’

I closed my eyes.

Where did Kashura become a monster that went astray? Or, as Ilay said, did he never have a human mind from the beginning?

– You and Barbara probably don’t have a very friendly relationship. You could become enemies in the future. Wasn’t the reason you joined hands with Barbara to find Giselle Custoria?

“… … That’s right.”

There was no reason for me not to give Barbara to Kashura here.

Barbara is a disturbing, unstable, and uncomfortable being. Using her as a sacrifice to find Giselle? It’s a brilliant plan.

-I want to have a close working relationship with you. The unification failed, but you and I have something in common. We can understand each other’s thoughts. Even if there is no physical connection.

I was so angry I thought I was going crazy. I understood Kashura’s thoughts.

Family and friends meant nothing to Kashura. She felt no connection with normal relationships.

‘Unity.’

Connecting the brain. What closer relationship and bond can there be than that?

To Kashura, the unified brain is a family, a lover, and another self. To him, the only other people who have meaning are at best candidates for unification.

… … But Mushir Al-Kashra feels a very strong affinity with me.

Kashura came close to uniting with me, but failed.

I won the bet, so I didn’t kill Kashura and chose ‘cooperation’.

Although it is not a physical connection, it is a similar unity relationship.

The feelings and bond that Kashura feels for me are probably no different from what most people feel towards their family or lovers.

There was a change inside me, too. The physiological aversion I had toward Kashura was diminishing.

I also gradually stopped hating Mushir Al-Kashra. I became curious about that strange being.

I will probably continue to interact with Kashura and maintain a relationship. As time goes by, I might even consider him a friend. Kashura will sometimes help me out with devotion.

… … I see that kind of future.

I will never be able to hate or dislike Kashura.

‘That monster who tells me to consume my daughter’s brain… … .’

I closed my eyes and opened them.

Crunch! Crunch!

My hands were squeezing the brains out of the glass container of Kashura, the squishy flesh squished between my fingers.

-Oh, was it my mistake?

There was a noise in Kashura’s voice.

Ugh!

I swung my hand that was squeezing the brain and broke the brain container next to it. Kashura also seemed to be momentarily shocked and his limbs trembled for a moment.

“It’s not… … a mistake. I’m attracted to you. I’m sure of it. I’m willing to have you do my brain surgery.”

Kashura was left with two brains.

The continuity of consciousness is important to Kashura’s ego and personality. Kashura will not even get a full sleep. His brain will rest alternately, and he will always be conscious.

-I’m glad the bond between us isn’t just my imagination. I hate unrequited love.

Kashura said calmly.

“That’s why I can’t acknowledge your existence. If I were to acknowledge you… … .”

My voice is shaking.

-It’s okay, Luca. Acknowledge me and break free from the shackles of being born human. The poor talk about the value of being born human and living within the human framework. That’s the case of those who can’t transcend humanity…

I couldn’t listen any longer. I kicked the glass container at the bottom with my foot and crushed my brain.

Kwajik!

The limbs that were clinging roughly to the metal box were shaking. He stretched out his prosthetic hand with difficulty and grabbed my ankle.

… … There is only one brain left. If you destroy it, the phantom called ‘Mushir Al-Kashra’ will disappear from this universe.

-Poor, fragile, I wish you good luck in your future.

Kashura neither begged me to spare her life nor cursed me.

These are words and actions that still go beyond human thought and emotion.

I had no qualms about acknowledging the existence of Mushir Al-Kashra.

He has neither genuine malice nor warm goodwill. Nor is he a rigid and rational machine.

Mushir al-Kashra was simply Mushir al-Kashra.

“There is only one reason why I am killing you.”

-I know. It’s scary. I understand you.

It was a tone of voice that seemed to be urging me. I began to curse.

‘… … Later, I will volunteer to join the union.’

From now on, I will need someone called Mushir Al-Kashra. So at the last moment, I will become that guy.

This is the intuition of Aki’s Victory and the possibility of the future.

Ugh!

My hands finally moved, and I broke off the branch of possibility here.

Mushir al-Kashra is gone.

* * *

The spaceship that Illei and Barbara came on was an Imperial military cargo ship.

I stared at the Legion loaded into the cargo hold. The Legion containing Illei’s brain was sitting there, limp, like an android with its power cut off.

‘Artificial sleep.’

Illei’s brain has severed all contact with the Legion and entered an artificial sleep. Any further activity would result in brain damage.

‘I need to get into a humanoid body as soon as possible.’

Ilay needs to regain her mind in a humanoid body. She needs to perceive the world in human form and engage in human behaviors such as eating and drinking in order for her brain to maintain her personality and self.

This is also why prosthetics imitate and mimic the human body to an unnecessary degree.

‘No matter how hard you try, most people’s personalities will gradually collapse. After all, the whole body is not a human body.’

I sat down and drank the liquid through a straw. The texture was unpleasantly thick and the taste was strange, almost disgusting, but it was rich in nutrients.

“In the end, he killed Mushir al-Kashra.”

A cheerful voice was heard from behind. It must be Barbara, in her full body, walking towards me.

“When deciding on a body type, do you take age into account?”

I looked at Barbara’s full-body prosthesis, scolding her. She was using a dedicated full-body prosthesis. The bright orange hair from her physical days was still there, as a symbol, even in the full-body prosthesis.

‘But the appearance of a child… … .’

Barbara had a younger appearance than her Academy days, looking at most ten years old.

“The appearance of a girl is helpful in many ways. It also has the effect of calming down the opponent’s aggression and making them let their guard down.”

“It’s counterproductive for me. Seeing your hypocrisy makes me sick.”

“It’s attractive when a handsome man spits out mean words. I guess Giselle fell for that side of you too? Oh, wait a minute, it’s asteroid belt so it’s difficult to navigate.”

Barbara’s pupils glowed for a moment, and the spaceship’s path changed. Barbara was linked to this spaceship.

“And about your birth… … .”

Barbara seemed to have noticed already. She answered without even listening to what I was saying.

“Oh, you’re Mushir Al-Kashra’s daughter? That’s an interesting fact. It’s worth coming all the way here.”

Like father, like daughter, I guess. Barbara seemed to be having fun, but she didn’t seem to have any feelings for her family.

“Even if that’s true, I didn’t know you would come too. Even if it was Giselle’s request, you wouldn’t risk your life for me.”

“Ilay made a funny suggestion. That fox of Kartika is no ordinary one. This time, I was surprised too. I almost got into trouble.”

Barbara put her finger to her lips and smiled darkly.

“proposal?”

“Ugh, I hate being teased, Luca. Anyway, I’m not joking, I’m seriously serious this time. My plans with Giselle are going awry. And you’re volunteering to go to the Emperor?”

I put my fingers on my hips. Barbara could have taken control of the spaceship. Of course, that would have blown her head off.

“By the way, Mushir Al-Kashra said to use your brain.”

“What, so what? Be thankful?”

Barbara looked at me, tilting her head.

“… … No, it’s okay.”

“I will go into seclusion as soon as I return to Novas. I do not wish to be killed by the Emperor. I have no intention of dying until Giselle returns. So do not expect any help from me in the future.”

Barbara sat down on her seat and rested her chin on her hand.

“What about the ‘Sword of the Empire’? It’s your organization.”

“Ask Ilei Kartika. I told you earlier, right? I received Ilei’s offer. So, where should I start? Hmm. Listen, Ilei Kartika… … has practically been controlling half of the ‘Imperial Sword’ organization. I didn’t even know that. If things had continued like this, I would have been the first to be taken advantage of.”

I sighed and closed my eyes. I had no idea where to start looking back on the past.

… …fu*k, Ilay Kartika.