Chapter 267 (a 16)
"We're drastically short on manpower!"
The story now returns to the era of the Great War. More precisely, to the mont when the real inhabitants of the satellite began to descend, and their assault resulted in the deaths of countless warriors from the main planet. As already ntioned once, around this ti, the people of Alphauri's main planet were barely holding the front lines, burdened by despair. This was because the Beta Planet species, who had suddenly appeared, were all remarkably skilled in combat.
ooooo-aa!ooooo-!Damn monsters, they're too fast—my magic won't even land a hit!We're finished. How are we supposed to fight against a disaster like that...
The mages of Alphauri kept dying relentlessly, and their holands were being invaded at the sa ti. Only barely surviving thanks to the efforts of the top 1% group known as the Archmages. If they continued suffering such crushing defeats, soday they might be pushed not just to the lower layers but all the way to the core regions deep under the sea — and the weaker species could face total extinction.
But at the very mont darkness cast its shadow over the future of the Alphauri people,
strangely enough, from the deepest trenches of that despairing history, a beacon of hope erged.
Could this guy really not be a Mana Disease patient?
In a deep-sea nursery, an extraordinary genius was born who hunted whales over thirty tis their own size.
Is there really such a prodigy!
The green one was born with talent so astonishing it left jaws dropped. And anyone with even a slight knowledge of magical studies could easily recognize this fact.
An enormous internal energy so vast it could be mistaken for a patient whose mana is leaking uncontrollably. Along with the skill to delicately wield it as if weaving thin threads at their ends. Though still young, if their senses are already at this level, it would be easy to train them into a high-ranking mage with just basic education! If their intelligence supports it to so extent, they could easily outclass most young adults and beco a great archmage of the new era.
How could the victims of the great war not rejoice in the presence of such a prodigy?I can only hope this little compatriot has the understanding to keep up with the city's lessons.
Blood vessels flowing with pignt of a positive hue. Inside the body, bubbles rise like champagne. Along with a distinct, well-fed, bulky silhouette.
A lower-tier powerhouse with the following physical features: an orange-colored magnate imdiately reported the ergence of the prodigy to his nation after visiting the nursery.
But...
Hmm? You are...Hello. Today I'm wearing completely new skin, but since you still recognize , I guess you must have heard my voice before.
A few hours later. What unfolded here was a scene the orange one could never have imagined.
Anyway, where is that genius newborn you ntioned over the communication?By now, they're probably packing their things at the nursery. But surely, you didn't co all the way to this shabby place just because of that little child?Oh, what are you saying? The deep-sea waters are the last stronghold for us Alphauri. Besides, with the great war raging and all kinds of things turned upside down, is there really any need to separate personal matters?
Fourteen hours later. The orange magnate had a private eting near his residence with an unfamiliar individual. The surface of this person's body was so transparent that the flow of water could be seen through it. In contrast, their internal organs appeared strange and bizarre—painted in vivid, colorful hues on the liver, heart, and other parts—making them stand out among the planet's inhabitants.
Why do you look at like that? Ah, could it be that you envy the skin I'm wearing today? If so, for a small fee, I could perform the surgery for you as well...
The visitor's true identity was that of the infamous body-modifying eccentric. He served as an aide to the head of this nation. Normally, individuals like him were rarely seen in such a trivial deep-sea territory. But it hadn't even been long since the prodigy's ergence was announced, so could it be that such a high-ranking noble would co here willingly?
I appreciate your offer, but I'm quite fond of the skin I was born with.Is that so?Hmm.Anyway, this is an important order. I will personally escort the new recruits to the training facility with this tentacle. Please gather them for .
The magnate expressed a brief question upon the arrival of the leader's aide.
No, are you saying that you are the one transporting the new recruits to the training facility this ti?
But the other person replied with a feminine deanor.
To be honest, it's a hassle, but what can a worker do when the higher-ups order it?Ah...Well, I guess everyone's been a bit on edge since that first training facility incident, though.The first training facility? Did sothing happen there recently?Hm? News must be slow here, huh? Then what did you think was the reason for the sudden need for reinforcents? Those cunning Beta beings seem to have caught onto our plans. Not long ago, there was an incident where a whale heading to a mid-level education facility was ambushed and all the children were killed.Huh. That's right.So these days, our leader is deeply worried. Talent in magical studies is already scarce. From now on, it seems they want to assign top-tier personnel like to preserve the students as much as possible.You sure do like to call yourself "top-tier" so casually...
In truth, he hadn't wanted to co all the way down to the lower layers either—but orders were orders from above, so he had no choice but to show up. Who wouldn't believe him, when he grumbled about the job with such an obvious air of annoyance?
Anyway, I understand. I'll contact the director of my daycare and tell him to finish preparing the child right away. Just wait here for a mont.
This was a ti of chaos, brought on by the Upper Layer War. And as with most wars, it wasn't just the enemy forces—there were countless security concerns to manage, including a spike in cris committed by panicked citizens.
To be blunt. This orange rich man was busy. So even when a high-ranking Alphauri made a surprise visit, he didn't think much of it at the ti and simply handed over the prodigy, as dictated by the nation's orders. And just like that, the orphan from the deep sea was loaded onto soone else's cart and taken away.
***
We're short on manpower.
Soone's words repeated like a parrot. This is the dilemma faced by a certain marine species in these tis.
However, another prodigy representing the era, █, predicted that this problem would drag on for a bit longer.
Not just now, but we might be short of manpower for eternity to co.What?The troops I'm talking about are simply obedient beings who follow the orders of the state to eliminate enemies and remain loyal. But what if they teach magic to the civilians?Hmm.They're lower-class people, but in the end, they possess intelligence and reason just like us. If they hold the weapon of magic in their hands, will they really obey the ruling class's commands?...Will we continue to treat them like obedient livestock—like crucian carp, dead fish, turtles, or white whales?
Of course, a rebellion wouldn't break out imdiately. But the eccentric mage, who changed skins daily, was highly wary of the people's political involvent that would co in the future. This side had no intention whatsoever of sharing the power handed down from their ancestors with the citizens.
Moreover, even without a crowd uprising, this sea nation where the genius of the deep was born has always ranked around 3rd or 4th place when calculating military strength—a sowhat ambiguous position. So if, after the Great War ended, one of the superpowers tried to push for selfish unification again during the unsettled tis, the very concept of this nation could have been swallowed whole and disappeared.
A complete crisis.
Anyway, I believe all our problems boil down to a shortage of manpower.
I don't want to be overthrown by those beneath , and I equally hate being invaded by those above.
The eccentric mage █ insisted that they must take action first to prevent such negative outcos. What follows now is the core of that individual's argunt.
But don't worry. I have a good idea.
Inside a vast room, national power figures gathered around their seats, focusing intently on the scholar's claim.
Honestly, among the highest-ranking nobles, is there anyone who doesn't know that we've planted spies in the Eastern Sea territory?Ahem.Hmm.I don't understand why you suddenly brought up such a sensitive topic in a setting like this.Allow to explain....The disciples I've carefully raised in my laboratory have now been drafted as soldiers into the Eastern "Magic Tower" and have beco part of their ranks. And besides them, we've had several spies planted there over the past few years as well.The introduction is long.Yes, well... to get straight to the point, I have stolen various high-level magical principles from there and devised a technology to create a perfect military force.
Annoyed for a brief mont by the interruption, the eccentric scholar felt a flicker of displeasure. However, he didn't let it show and continued the conversation without pause.
Let emphasize again—this is the creation of truly perfect soldiers.Hmm.No matter how much you raise their pay and stuff their pockets, aren't intellectuals like mages the type to constantly entertain foolish thoughts to suit their own tastes anyway?...So, this ti, let's just get rid of all those inefficient biological soldiers.
The speaker imdiately made a claim to the powerful people of the country.
Shall we try replacing them with machines?
In this mid-century era, and ahead of so genius mage, they're aiming for a proxy war using artificial robots.
The internal and external mana compounds produced by our lungs can already be replicated in laboratories. We have all the machinery needed to simulate respiration prepared. Now, all I need from you is the 'brain' to insert into that system.A brain?Magic is activated through the mind and magical power, after all.?Now that I've laid all the groundwork, it's a bit embarrassing to say this, but the truth is that creating a truly sophisticated intelligence comparable to a real magician—that is, a proper computational system—is impossible at the mont.
A calm voice continues.
What I'm saying is, we currently have no luxury whatsoever to build a usable artificial intelligence from scratch....Then let's use the natural materials this planet has given us. By combining the brainwashing magic stolen from the Magic Tower with my modification techniques, we can create a perfect sorcerer that faithfully follows only the input commands!
As befitting an Alphauri of noble blood, the eccentric sorcerer carefully avoided blunt expressions, speaking in the most roundabout way possible. Of course, despite being accustod to such mannerisms, everyone present quickly grasped the true aning behind his words.
You an to turn the living mind of a wizard... into a lifeless machine?
Whether it's possible or not, the claim sohow sounds unsettling.
Yes! Unlike us, machines have incredibly long lifespans and are extrely durable. This makes them perfect for rapidly building up military strength!
But the researcher with the thick skin convinced the capitalists. He had a relaxed attitude. This side had experience in securing budgets for large-scale research several tis in the past.
Moreover, this project will be the savior that eliminates all your fears. Feeling uneasy, are you?Explain in detail.Fear?
Swish.
The leader seated in the high position narrows their eyes at .
There's been a lot of worry about rebellion ever since the knowledge of magic was spread around, right?...Patriotic education, hostage plans—no matter what kind of fuss you make, in the end, those concepts that aren't even magic won't be enough to control an ard crowd......But now, you can relax!...If only I had this new type of magic I planned I could control a specific person's thoughts for life. Why? Our brains, which have lost their shells and are left alone, beco extrely vulnerable to all external stimuli.Hmm.Their temperant is completely different from that of a mage who still has their tentacles and flesh. They can hardly resist another's magic.You sound quite confident.Well then, did you really think I'd speak in a place like this without even conducting animal trials?...The basic tests have already been completed. At this point, let reveal one single issue and advantage.
The eccentric scholar, noticing the attention now focused on them, moved their main tentacle with satisfaction.
Unfortunately, only organisms that have undergone preliminary processing of the brain from a very young age can be converted into devices.What?We can't cram it in once the brain is fully developed. Hmm... if we use an underdeveloped mage, we'll run into different malfunctions, so we'll have to wait until the organism reaches its pri—which adds another layer of hassle.Then.Anyway, since everyone here has already gone through secondary sexual characteristics, none of you will ever beco the sacrifices. So how sweet must the ergence of this technology be for the rulers of this era, hmm?
Swish.
He spread all his tentacles wide open—a gesture of surrender resembling the pattern of a certain planet's symbol, signaling clearly that he had no intention of secretly drawing a magic circle.
Now that the explanation is over, decide.
What followed was a rather gentle tone.
Please grant permission. Allow to know the magical power records of every poor infant born in this country from now on, and dare let use their blossoming talents for the future of this nation. My dream is only for our country to remain the final ruler of this planet.
Swish.
The leader's eye rolled in the opposite direction once more. The royal bloodline's innate magic confird that every word of the speaker was true. Soon, the indifferent yet greedy voice of a sea creature flowed through the castle.
Then let it be so.
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