Bad Born Blood Chapter 347

347
Table.

Illai put the terminal down on the table.

Wheein.

As the terminal’s holographic lens opened, light rose in a grid pattern.

The grid of light narrowed down and soon transformed into a high-density holographic screen.

Three pictures appeared on the screen.

I opened my eyes half-heartedly and looked at the three photos.

One of the three photos looked familiar. I tried to recall it.

‘It’s still not easy to quickly recall the past.’

The regenerated brain felt strangely different from before. It felt like finding a book in a library with a different layout.

The way they treated my brain was groundbreaking.

It is close to designing a complete brain based on a damaged brain, and then carving out the overgrown brain and connecting the nervous system to fit that design.

No matter how sophisticated the technology is, the brain’s structure is subtly different.

‘But it’s amazing that there is continuity of self.’

I don’t feel like I’m not me. I am me now. It’s thanks to the mental imprint of the mental transference period.

“… … Ilay, can you live with Francek’s brain?”

I recalled the memory and asked another question.

Even though I regenerated my own brain, it felt somewhat foreign. Someone else’s brain would feel even more foreign.

‘Ilay said that he had completely adapted to Francesque’s brain and that he felt no foreignness. But that was a lie.’

I realized this after using the mind transfer device. No matter how similarly decorated it was, it felt like moving into a different house.

“Luka, I am less sensitive to human emotions than you. I am a person who is suited to the Empire, and I am the type that can withstand both the full-body and the Legion. Above all, if you continue to recognize me as Ile Kartika… … the collapse of the ego will not occur easily. Instead, let’s talk about what we were talking about before.”

I put my hand on one of the holographic photos.

“I’ve seen this before in Noel Mulizka’s memories. A fleet of bizarre organic beings.”

Noel Mulizka only cooperated with the Emperor after seeing the foreign fleet threatening the Empire’s survival.

I stared at the photo. The ship’s appearance, still made of flesh, was extremely repulsive. I instinctively felt a sense of rejection.

“No one knows the identity of this ‘foreign enemy’ yet. However, the Three Kingdoms fled to the Niger planetary system where the planet Novas is located to avoid this enemy. According to the records, it seems that no attack was successful.”

“What about the rest of the pictures?”

The other photo was of a spaceship floating in space, but it looked different.

The ship’s exterior in the second photo was stretched out like a blade. Around it, dark energy flowed. It looked like a cosmic blade forged by God.

“This is a picture of an enemy that a priest on the side of Korra observed in the past. It looks like a sword of judgment created by some transcendent being. It is awe-inspiring. The funny thing is that the enemy that Korra observed, who has little faith, was a fleet made of blood and flesh. In general, the appearance of an enemy observed by humans is reminiscent of an army of hell according to the cultural memory and universal symbolism of humanity.”

“Does it look different depending on the observer?”

“Perhaps they spread out a cognitive distortion curtain on a ship-by-ship basis. It’s to instill fear before the battle. The amygdala of humans who directly observe an external enemy becomes abnormally hyperactive. In the case of the faint-hearted, it’s enough to drive them mad.”

“This is a physical photograph. So even if cognitive distortion occurs, shouldn’t the equipment capture it correctly?”

Even after saying that, I felt like saying “Oh no.” Illei laughed bitterly.

“Are you an idiot? You’ve experienced that cognitive distortion affects machines too. You’ll need more rehabilitation.”

Cognitive distortion caused by Force abilities also fooled cybernetic prosthetics and surveillance equipment.

I looked at the last photo in a daze. It didn’t seem to have any symbolic meaning.

Parts of the ship were visible, made of machine metal. The surface was entangled with machines, but the seams were so smooth that they were almost blurry. It was the culmination of highly refined technology.

‘It’s still unidentified, but I don’t feel scared or uncomfortable.’

I looked up from looking at the photo.

“Is this also an external appearance?”

“This is probably the most realistic and objective picture. The observer of this picture is Mushir Al-Kashra. He was a monster beyond the category of living beings, and he was not afraid of anything. In a sense, he was a man of perfect spirit.”

“Is this the photo that Kashura observed in Bern?”

Illai nodded.

I pulled out a book from the remodeled library of memories and pointed to it with precision. Mushir Al-Kashra and I had been to the outskirts of the Niger planetary system.

The 11th planet, Bern, Bern is the outermost planet in the Niger system where we reside.

‘Kashura observed the planet Bern with intellectual curiosity, as if he was having fun.’

Mushir al-Kashra must have known of the existence of external enemies. Furthermore, external enemies must have been one of his main subjects of study.

Some of the external enemies were observed in Bern. It was a chilling fact.

“… … Humanity is not completely free from external enemies.”

“But they are not entering the Niger system. No, I don’t know if they are not going to or they can’t… … but for now, they are safe. But no one knows how long this safety will last. Their approach may not be in our lifetimes, but centuries from now, but it is true that we must prepare now. Once they move, it will be too late.”

The flight of humanity that began in the era of Noel Mulizka is not yet over.

“It’s funny. Other countries know this too. And yet… … they’re fighting like this?”

“Because that’s the nature of humanity. We’re stupid and ugly.”

Ilay declared with cloudy eyes. Ilay’s humanity will not be easily broken.

‘Because Illei’s standards for humans are infinitely low.’

Because there are no expectations, the standards for human behavior are also low.

Even if Elley sees inhuman acts, he won’t cry out, “How can a human do that!” Instead, he’ll laugh at himself for doing such things because he’s human.

But it’s really funny.

… … Of all the people I have seen, the one who cares the most about the well-being of the empire and the safety of its people is Ilay Kartika. Even to the point of sacrificing himself.

‘Illai is moving for the future of the empire.’

It is a task that is difficult for a single human being to handle.

I feel intense emotions and am vulnerable to emotional punishment. Ile is carrying out responsibilities and duties that someone like me would not be able to endure.

Ilay came to the same conclusion as Noel Mulizka: the empire must be strong, ignoring petty tragedies and grievances while building national power and preparing for the future.

“I didn’t know you loved the Empire so much. I never knew you were such a great patriot.”

Illei chuckled. The tense atmosphere seemed to break down in an instant.

“Patriot? No kidding. It’s not like that. Luca, the more I learn about this universe, the more I can’t help but believe in strange beings.”

Illei spread out both hands and raised them like scales.

“A strange being?”

“The transcendent being commonly referred to as ‘God.’ Ah, that is an anti-imperial statement.”

“It’s not like you’ve been acting unstable for just one or two days.”

And I too am one of those who have been tainted by Ilay’s uneasiness.

“So I studied while thinking. I also became interested in religion. Do you know about ‘Pascal’s Wager’? Oh, you don’t have to answer. I’m asking because I know you don’t know anyway.”

Illai laughed heartily.

Well, I had forgotten for a while. This kid has been annoying since his cadet days.

Ilay continued her explanation.

“In simple terms, there is nothing to lose by believing in the afterlife and God. You have to believe to get what you pay for. If there is no afterlife, then that’s it. If there is an afterlife, then you will benefit from believing in it and preparing for it while you are alive.”

I tilted my head.

“What does that have to do with you now?”

“I had a question, so I looked into various religions, including the Decembe religion of Kora. I synthesized them to come up with a universal afterlife that I would most likely go to when I die. The most important thing was the balance between good and bad deeds, and ‘karma.’”

I opened my eyes wide. Ilay’s approach was monstrous.

Illai continued talking without paying any attention.

“The universality of good and evil varies from region to region and era to era. However, saving life is generally considered a noble and absolute good. Luca, I have saved more people than I have killed.”

Illei lowered his right hand as if tipping the scales.

“… … Are you crazy?”

This is all I had to say.

“Lillian Ramones may not have gone to Hell, but I have done many things that would have put me at the very bottom of Hell. I thought that to offset this evil, I would have to save all the people of the Empire.”

Ilay’s smile is cold. I shut my eyes tightly.

“So you want to die and go to the afterlife with Lillian Ramones?”

“If there is an afterlife, then yes. If there isn’t, then there’s nothing I can do about it. I will die as a good person, similar to Lillian. Not too noble, either. Lillian… wasn’t a saint.”

I bit my lower lip.

The color of my emotions now is clear. It’s like a sticky blue paint dripping down the wall. We call this emotion sadness.

“Then why did you face Kashura to save me? That’s not saving the empire.”

“Saving you is worth going through hell for me.”

I felt more obsession with Ilay than emotion. He was more obsessed with me than Ivan.

There is something more than just friendship.

A woman comes to mind.

‘Lillian Ramones.’

Her end came to mind vividly. I felt like vomiting. Not because the scene was cruel.

Illei sighed as he saw my expression. He smiled with his mouth, but his eyebrows were furrowed in a sad manner.

“I saved you by shooting Lillian. You have to be as valuable as Lillian. You have to be. Do you understand? You have to be valuable to me, Luca.”

This is the end of flawed logic.

I felt disgusted and sorry for Ilay. The great friendship and devotion he had shown me over the years was a kind of obsession.

In order for Illei not to regret his decision to shoot Lillian, Luca must be ‘as precious as Lillian’. Otherwise, it would have been better for Illei if they all died on the spot.

Even after a long time, Ilay could not escape the memory of that day. This was a curse left by Lillian. And it was also proof that Ilay was still a human like me.

At least as long as Lillian’s curse remains, Illai will not become a machine.

“… … So, whether it’s this world or the empire, I’ll do whatever it takes, so just live happily. Then I won’t have any regrets.”

Ilay reached out and asked me to shake his hand.

Even if Ilay’s friendship is obsessive, my friendship is not obsessive.

“Well, I’ll try.”

I nodded as I shook Ilay’s hand. Let’s pretend to live happily for the guy. I’m sure Giselle would want that too.

But there is just one last thing that must be done.

… … It is the disciple’s duty to surpass his master.