novelraw Chapter 188
Chapter 188
Chapter 188
The afternoon of the festival’s second day.
Miyu woke up from bed with a refreshed face for the first time in a while. As soon as she opened her eyes, she met mine and flinched in surprise.
“Ah, Aaron? You’ve been here the whole time?”
“Yeah.”
“What time is it now?”
“It’s 4 p.m.”
“I–I slept that long?”
“Yeah.”
“And you’ve been here the whole time?”
“Yeah.”
Because I was worried.
Her body had changed down to the cellular level, so I wondered if something might happen to her while she slept. When I said that out loud, Miyu looked as if she felt guilty.
“Ugh… Y–You didn’t have to… My body’s fine. In fact, thanks to using your cells, I’m much healthier than before.”
“That’s something we can’t know for sure.”
“I–It’s true though…”
Saying that, Miyu quietly climbed down from the bed and connected her tail to the computer next to it. The computer immediately began analyzing her biometric data and, in an instant, produced a report.
Miyu showed it to me and emphasized once more.
“L–Look. I’m completely healthy.”
“Hmm. Not sure though.”
Sure, the report said everything was normal, but isn’t it possible there are hidden issues these kinds of facilities can’t detect?
When I asked that—
“H–Hospitals are a no…”
“Why’s that?”
Didn’t she also visit the hospital room when Silence was hospitalized?
When I asked that, Miyu replied:
“V–Visiting is fine, but I hate people touching my body…”
“…Alright. Got it.”
Miyu then explained in detail how she’d been treated in the research facility she was trapped in as a child.
Listening to her explanation, I understood.
Maybe being examined in a hospital would trigger that trauma.
Well, actually.
Strictly speaking, I was also forbidden by family policy(?) from going to a regular hospital. Even when my arm was once severed, I called my attending physician for treatment instead.
The reason was obvious. Because I—Aaron Stingray—was a human weapon created by the Stingray. My DNA information itself was classified.
‘Well, it’s not like they could easily replicate me even if they did find out… but still, it’s better to be cautious.’
In other words, it was another reminder of Miyu’s genius that she could so easily create a clone of me.
Anyway.
Since half of Miyu’s body was now made of my cells, it would be dangerous for her to go to an ordinary hospital as well. I’d have to find her a separate attending physician.
‘I’ll have to ask Maria about it later.’
Adding that to my to-do list, I went straight to the main point.
“Miyu. Could you take a look at this?”
“Uh… A m–module?”
“I’d like you to check it and evaluate whether it’s usable.”
“Hmm…”
The combat modules I’d drawn from the prize box last night. Among them, the [Vitality Enhancement] module was blatant sexual harassment, so I’d set it aside separately.
Miyu inserted the modules into the computer, checked them, and began reading the flood of information that popped up. Then, as if she’d figured something out, she nodded deeply and answered.
“F–First, the [Mantis Blade]… I’d rather make it myself. The structure’s so clumsy that even though it’s Lv.3, its performance won’t meet its output level. And the [Cure] module might be useful for ordinary Adaptees, but it’s a tight fit for Aaron’s setup…”
“What about adding it to the backup setup?”
“E–Even then, its compatibility with other modules is too poor. But if I tweak the code a little with a program I developed, it should fit perfectly for Raina.”
“Hm.”
Her evaluation of the modules was pretty much the same as mine. But the suggestion to give [Cure] to Raina was a bit unexpected.
Would she even be able to use it well?
“What about the last one?”
“The [Mana Reservoir]… Could you look at this?”
As she said that, Miyu tapped at the keyboard and pulled up a new screen on the monitor. A tacky advertisement image appeared, titled:
Mystic Module [Lv.4 Mana Reservoir].
“T–This is a product whose manufacturer went bankrupt over 100 years ago and was discontinued… Where did you even find it?”
“100 years ago?”
“I–I don’t mean it’s bad. If anything, I should say it’s amazing… or maybe it’s sparked my curiosity…”
Then Miyu began explaining.
“A–As you already know, mana acts as a deadly poison to ordinary humans.”
When mana condenses beyond a certain level, Otherworld Transformation occurs and reality becomes corroded; likewise, mana erodes human cells and transforms them into something from another world.
It’s similar to radioactive substances—twisting and destroying cellular DNA, causing mental derangement in the brain, and ultimately resulting in mutations.
The difference between mana and radiation is that, while most cases of radiation exposure end in death, mana transforms a person into a being close to the Otherworld… namely, a [Mystic].
“T–That’s why Adaptees have to step in to fight [Mystics].”
Through modules, sweat glands release substances similar to ‘Anti-rain,’ mana-blocking shielding membranes are implanted beneath the skin, and real-time removal of mana-transformed cells is performed using nanomachines.
“Of course, trace amounts of mana can instead have a stimulating effect like caffeine, so they even sell things like ‘Mana-fed Duck Meat (contains 30% real duck meat)!’ on the market… but in my opinion, that’s all pseudoscience.”
“Probably.”
Strictly speaking, even Evangeline constantly releases small amounts of mana from her body, so it wasn’t exactly a good idea for her to live alongside humans.
Still, she controls it herself, Anti-rain falls in this city, employees get regular checkups… and besides, she’s cute—what can you do. Just endure it.
Anyway.
This is why Adaptees try to max out their mana resistance specs as much as their abilities allow, even if they neglect their weapon specs a bit.
That’s how terrifying a substance ‘mana’ is. And the [Mana Reservoir] module I’d obtained this time was something that could solve that concern in one go… so Miyu explained.
“P–Please take another look at this ad.”
[Lv.4 Mana Reservoir]
-----
Zero Mana Worries!
Why can wizards and witches remain free from mana intoxication even while having human bodies? It’s thanks to their mana circuits!
Our P161 Corporation’s [Mana Reservoir] module installs artificial mana circuits and circles into your body using the essence of a wizard!
Low Replacement Rate!
Comprehensive Output Level 4!
Expensive Mystic Module? No no! Super cheap!
Maybe you’ll even be able to use magic?
[Information]
[Mana Reservoir] safely collects the mana that enters the body and stores it safely in the reservoir.
Using P161 Corporation’s patented technology, the stored mana can be used as an auxiliary battery to power your cyberware.
-----
“A tacky flyer.”
When I first drew the [Mana Reservoir], I really liked it, but after seeing that advertisement my trust in it dropped sharply. Like looking at an infomercial for some miracle mat.
But whether I thought so or not, Miyu continued her explanation.
“A–Aaron, your current module setup consumes a massive amount of energy. Among them, [Techblade] is especially severe. Because of that, when you use [Techblade], the output of other cyberware and modules drops to about 20% for a while. Basically, a power-saving mode.”
“I see.”
“‘I see,’ you say… You didn’t know?”
“I didn’t know the exact numbers.”
I’d just thought, ‘I’m tired,’ and left it at that.
I’d never thought deeply about specific numbers or phenomena. For me, [Techblade] was a kind of ultimate move, and I just assumed it was normal to feel exhausted after using an ultimate move.
“Uh… T–That’s true. Anyway, with this [Mana Reservoir], it’ll help solve that energy shortage problem.”
“So it’s a good item?”
“It’s more than good! Amazing! Of course, that’s limited to you, Aaron…”
“Just for me? What does that mean?”
“Originally, [Mana Reservoir] had some flaws when used by ordinary Adaptees… Have you ever heard of ‘P161 Corporation’?”
“No.”
“I–I don’t know much either, but they say it was an incredible company.”
P161 Corporation.
It was an unfamiliar name, so I searched it up on the internet; apparently it was a megacorp that had gone bankrupt long before Aaron Stingray was even born.
They’d produced many modules with highly innovative technology, but oddly enough each one had some crucial flaw, and in the end they were overtaken by rival corporations like Stingray and Militech, becoming nothing but dust in history.
“Here, if you look, there’s even a story that one of the decisive reasons for P161 Corporation’s bankruptcy was the Mystic Module, [Mana Reservoir], made from the essence of wizards.”
“Why’s that?”
“T–They say it was because the mana-to-energy conversion rate was far too good.”
The idea of using stored mana as a battery to power other modules and cyberware was good, but even a little mana produced too much energy, damaging other internal equipment.
Sometimes an Adaptee couldn’t handle the energy and exploded, dying in the process.
“Older modules had low power consumption because their performance was lower. The ‘Lv.4’ number attached to [Mana Reservoir] is also different from today’s standards. The standards were looser and more clumsy… A–Anyway, an Adaptee like Aaron who uses high-level Mystic Modules like [Techblade] can use it without any problem.”
“Because I use a lot of energy.”
“That’s right!”
Miyu nodded vigorously.
After that, Miyu’s eyes sparkled as she enthusiastically talked about how powerful the modules made by the 100-year-old company ‘P161 Corporation’ had been, and how their groundbreaking ideas contributed to the current development of modules.
I too found myself interested, since this was information not even in the original, and listened closely to her story.
After excitedly talking one-sidedly for about an hour or two, Miyu finally came to her senses and blushed.
“S–Sorry. I talked too much.”
“No, it was an interesting story. But we should probably head back now.”
More time had passed than I’d thought. As much as I wanted to stay with her a little longer, that wasn’t possible.
I got up from my seat.
My body felt a bit stiff from sitting so long, but since I was so healthy it was no real problem.
“Are you returning to work?”
“No. I plan to rest today. First, I’ll deliver this module to Raina.”
“O–Oh, I see.”
I showed her the [Cure] module as I spoke. But Miyu looked disappointed. She clearly didn’t want to be apart from me.
I couldn’t possibly fail to notice that, so I made her a suggestion.
“How about you come too and help with Raina’s module setup? Afterwards, we could have dinner together.”
“C–Can I really!?”
“Of course.”
At my words, Miyu smiled brightly.
Her golden eyes sparkled with joy. As usual, I patted her small head.
* * *
Time passed.
I thought Raina would be in the Student Council Room, but when I contacted them, they said she’d gone to the festival grounds.
Since we couldn’t reach her by call, Miyu and I decided to look for Raina ourselves on the first and second floors while also enjoying the last of the festival.
“Come to think of it, the fireworks show…”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
As I comforted her and we wandered around, my sensors picked up Raina’s signal. She seemed to be in a hallway of a restricted area with Silence.
From that alone, I could more or less guess what kind of mood the two of them were in.
‘Ah, so that’s the situation.’
I couldn’t miss out on such a juicy episode.
Miyu and I hid in the hallway and secretly watched them. Before long, we coincidentally ran into Iri and she joined our little group, and so we eavesdropped on Silence and Raina’s conversation.
-What is it you wanted to say?
-Senior, you’re not someone who’s oblivious. You already know what I’m about to say.
-……
-Please at least say something.
-Is it what I think it is?
-Yes, it is.
-Haa.
Oh. It had properly begun.
The two stared at each other for a while in silence, exchanging strange looks. Even in the quiet, the atmosphere grew heavier and warmer, rising to a climax.
And finally, when the tension reached its peak, Raina, unable to hold it back any longer, confessed her heart first.
-I like you, Senior. Please go out with me.
Oh my.
I heard Miyu mutter unconsciously. If I’d been alone, I probably would’ve let out a similar exclamation without thinking.
Now, it was the climax.
Silence—the one I cherished like a younger brother—what kind of answer would he give? Would a couple finally be born among the Special Class members? Holding my breath, I watched that historic moment.
“…Mr. Chairman?”
Iri, who had stuck close by my side, opened her mouth. She glanced at me, lips twitching as if she wanted to say something.
“…?”
A faint smell of alcohol.
Iri’s violet eyes sparkled.
Her white skin was tinged with pink.
For some reason—
Maybe it was just my imagination, but… her expression strangely resembled Raina’s.
Uh… what’s up with her.