NOVEL NEXT chapter 24
24 – Body Modification (3)
“Ah, you’ve come… I see.”
The doctor’s face was gradually hardening.
…It’s understandable. I was startled when I stood in front of the mirror too.
“Have you not properly rested? Your complexion looks pale.”
“Rest… I did sleep like a log, but that’s…”
I glanced to the side.
Behind the helmet, there was flowing hair.
Black hair that seemed to have drained my vitality, with a shine to it.
I began to think it wasn’t just an illusion.
“If you’re very tired, it’s better to postpone the surgery.
Depending on your body condition, the implant might not settle properly.”
“My body is fine. I’m not tired.
The surgery will proceed as scheduled today.”
“Well, your face looks noticeably thinner. What exactly have you been up to?”
I didn’t want to say that I had jumped at the tempting comrade leaning against the wall, tempting me as the bed was broken.
I especially didn’t want to admit that I lost my senses to the seductive movement of his eyes while nibbling at the edge of his clothes.
The initial reluctance from just five days ago seemed to have vanished, and now I couldn’t confess that my body shivered every time we touched.
“It’s personal… matters.”
“For now – come in and have a seat.”
“I need to explain the procedure to you.”
Thanks to Illia’s diligent massage, I didn’t feel too tired, but I couldn’t escape the suspicious glances.
“The body part you will be receiving today is the LRL-10 model for body transplantation. We will cleanly cut the legs with a laser cutter and then connect the adapter. After that, we will install the requested connection on the back of your neck. It will be connected to the spinal nerves.”
“I’ve heard about the possibility of rejection…”
Sometimes, very rarely.
There were information articles circulating about cases where the procedure failed, causing tissue necrosis and oozing. Some cases were reported and then disappeared without a trace, or were silently deleted. But living in a city where such things had become so common for already ten years, it didn’t seem strange anymore.
“That’s why your physical condition is important. Surgery that involves removing a part of the body is naturally risky, with the risk of excessive bleeding. To prevent that, we will use general anesthesia and hemostatic agents in large quantities. But if your body is suffering from severe fatigue, recovery will be delayed and neutralizing the drugs will be difficult. That’s when rejection occurs, and additional procedures will cost you-“
“Hmm.”
I found myself listening attentively, surprised by how candid and detailed the explanation was. It seems like it’s not a procedure that can be taken lightly from the start.
“So, implant surgery is usually recommended for those who have abnormalities in their bodies,
or who develop disabilities due to physical defects.
Modifying oneself by cutting off healthy parts is a heavy burden on the brain.”
“What about those who undergo full-body modifications?”
“It’s my personal opinion, but they’ve lost their minds.
It will be difficult for them to maintain their sanity.
No matter how advanced the technology is, it can never be as sophisticated as the electrical stimulation provided by the pure flesh.
Because of the slight numbness in sensation, when they seek intense stimulation, accidents happen.
Surely, wanting that level of modification…?”
He shook his head.
I also didn’t view them in a particularly positive light.
Occasionally, mercenaries affiliated with the corporations… or perhaps better called ambiguous weapons, would appear, turning the surroundings into chaos.
Apart from corporations, mercenaries under Gearhead were particularly famous for that.
Gearhead was an expert, whether it was for good or bad, in turning the surroundings into rubble.
“I once suffered a penetrating injury to my knee.
That’s why I’m planning to replace my leg.”
“A penetrating knee injury? If it’s not too impolite, may I…?”
“You can take a look.”
As he blinked and stared at my knee, his expression twisted.
Seemingly unable to believe it, he glanced at me as if I were invisible, then closed his eyes for a moment.
“I’m sorry. Turning the X-ray on and off is still not familiar to me.”
“Have you ever seen a skeleton?”
“Well, that too, but the condition of your knees is more serious than I thought. To put it bluntly, it’s like they’ve turned into mops.”
He chuckled.
Is it that bad?
Well… considering it’s a leg that has been rolling along unchanged for ten years without any intervention, it was undoubtedly bound to happen.
The result of enduring the pain, sometimes taking painkillers when it got severe, was the expression on the doctor’s face right in front of me.
“Why did you not come until it reached this point? What on earth have you been doing?”
“I had other places to spend money on.”
“I know you’ve been a mercenary for quite a long time. During that period, didn’t you even have time to replace your legs?”
Turning my head slightly, I glanced at Ilia, who was silently listening to the conversation between me and the doctor.
“…Well, I understand for now. I can’t say much about your choices. However, I can only say that it must have been really, really painful.”
He cleared his throat and sat down on the chair by the desk, diligently entering something for a moment. Then, he turned to me and looked into my eyes.
“But still, you answer questions well, and your eyes are clear.”
“I will proceed with the surgery.”
“How long will it take, doctor?”
“The incision won’t take long. It’ll be done in a snap.
However, connecting the nerve and adapter parts, and installing the connection, if it’s risky, is a process –
But you don’t have to worry too much. Trust my hands.”
The hand that was shown after removing the glove was white.
It was quite impressive to see it getting longer with a blue light.
“After that, the adapter, do you see it? We will connect the leg here.
It’s safest to ask the implantor for detachment and replacement with other products.
Sometimes people try to save money by doing it themselves,
But accidents can happen and end up costing more.”
The expression that nodded along with the chilling warning was frightening.
I quickly nodded my head and then entered something else before getting up from the seat.
“Well then, do you have any further questions?”
[How long will it take to recover after the procedure?]
Ilia opened her mouth with a distorted voice.
There was a slight noise mixed in, but it was not difficult to understand… but.
I wonder if she asked the question because she cared about me.
“Ah, um… Your voice is quite scary.
Anyway, it’s best to rest as long as possible.
If you have the leisure, I suggest you try moving your toes and slightly bending and stretching your knees for a week to get accustomed to the sensations.
You shouldn’t move for at least a day, so you’ll have to stay in our recovery room.”
[Understood.]
Resting for a long time is good.
Taking a month-long vacation seemed like a good decision.
During that time, it would be nice to go around and get used to the feeling in my legs.
And it would be a good opportunity to meet Matthew as well.
I still couldn’t forgive him for giving me that damn nickname.
As I stood up from my seat, preparing to stand on my own two feet –
“Gah?!”
I was struck by a sharp pain.
No, I almost fell.
“It would be better for you to have the surgery.”
“N, yes, I think that’s what I should do.
Thank you, Ilia.”
Thanks to the hand that firmly held my crumbling body, I regained my balance,
and the body that silently approached me naturally wrapped its arms around my shoulders.
“The operating room is this way.
Shall I move Mr. Taehyuk here?”
Implanter Gominjun gestured as he opened the door.
However, for some reason, Ilyria didn’t move.
Instead, she turned her head towards me, as if trying to meet my gaze.
“Help me get there. While under anesthesia… I’ll be waiting.”
With that ‘command,’ the guy finally took a step forward.
As grateful as I am for his loyalty, yesterday’s appearance is undoubtedly…
[A message has arrived from Tanaka Haru. Would you like to delete it?]
“We’ve already discussed that story. Just keep it all in one place.
Anyway, since he’s the one handling the requests, it’s better to comply.
Understand?”
Although he claims to have no emotions.
Whether it’s making facial expressions, tempting me,
…or expressing severe resentment towards Haru.
They all seem to have a human-like feeling.
After spending a long time with me, perhaps he has become capable of showing reactions closer to humans.
Thinking deeply about it with a gun or a calculating mind was a difficult task.
Especially, the simple aspect of succumbing to temptation needed correction.
“Consider it answered.”
Although the silent gaze felt a bit awkward, seeing him faithfully supporting me towards the operating room indicated that he heard me, at least for now.
As he said, among the causes of stress, a considerable part was due to Chiwa, no, Haru…
In this line of work as a mercenary, there was no avoiding encounters with him.
I had to familiarize myself with the content of the message I was sending, even if it was just roughly.
That way, it wouldn’t bark loudly.
“Yes, just turn your head this way.
Androids, would you please wait outside the operating room for sanitation purposes?
…Could you deliver that message for me?”
The people I’ve been meeting lately all seemed to be quick-witted, which was a good thing.
I turned my gaze away and nodded slightly, and Ilyana bowed her head before opening the door and leaving.
Let’s stop thinking that there’s something missing in her back view.
If blood rushed to the lower body when the legs were severed, it would be troublesome.
“Now, here’s the general anesthetic, and the hemostatic agent we’ll be using today. It’s quite a lot, isn’t it?
The surgical fees and rental of the treatment room are already included in the amount, so you can rest assured.”
The product she showed me as a hemostatic agent looked familiar.
I was worried I might get injured, so I put it in the emergency kit in my backpack and ended up seeing it here.
In a way, it was reassuring.
At least it meant they were using verified items.
“So, are you ready?”
“…I’m not sure how it would feel to have my leg blown off.”
“In the past, many people felt painful when touching prosthetics because they couldn’t feel anything.
Without separate settings, it’s less than real flesh and blood, but you can still feel it enough, so don’t worry.”
“Separate settings?”
Loading the ampoule into the syringe and loading it felt slightly eerie.
When it was aimed at my throat, goosebumps instantly appeared.
“Though it’s illegal, there are occasional individuals who forcibly release the limits of the sensory sensors.
… Those who stroll through the sensory street or work there commonly use this device.
Of course, it’s advisable not to. It can lead to fainting and even brain damage if severe.”
Is the sharpness of the words increasing every time a warning is given because of the personality?
Or does it feel that way because a gun is pointed at the throat?
My body began to tremble.
“I’ll administer an anesthetic injection. Do you have anything else to say?”
“It’s a bit frightening.”
“If you count numbers, it will be less frightening. How about counting backward from ten?”
Breathing was becoming rough.
Even though I knew I had to calm down, the sensation of the cold iron against my face and neck, with the face so close, was not something I could easily get used to.
But, summoning courage, I opened my mouth.
“Ten – “
The needle pierced my throat.
“Ouch?!”
“Now close your eyes and keep counting.”
The doctor immediately removed the gun and the sight of him busily pressing something started.
I wonder when he put the gloves back on?
Why is the droid suddenly coming into the room? Is it a surgical assistant?
“Huh,”
First, while counting, he closed his eyes once, then opened them again.
Something felt strange in his body.
He was definitely lying down. But now… sitting, right?
“Oh, good. The surgery was successfully completed. Well done.”
He closed his eyes again, then opened them.
Bandages were wrapped around his legs, and the clothes he was wearing were gone.
What is this?