Chapter 93
My life as a cadet was nearing its end.
I had spent four intense years. The youthful look on the other cadets' faces had almost completely disappeared. The same was true for me when I looked in the mirror.
A lot had happened.
I had faced death multiple times. Thinking back on it, it was a wonder I was still alive.
Swoooosh.
I let the shower water run over me. My mind was clear today.
'Next year, I'll be an Imperial Guard.'
After finishing my shower, I stood in front of the mirror again. Surgical scars and battlefield wounds were etched into my body like tattoos.
Compared to four years ago, my body had grown significantly. My physical development was reaching its peak. My shoulders had broadened, and my torso had solidified.
'I trained to survive, but this body will be discarded.'
Flesh and blood had their limits. Even now, in combat, I had to protect my biological parts—my vulnerabilities.
'If I want to get stronger, I need to replace my body with a full-body prosthetic.'
That way, I wouldn’t have to constantly worry about dying from minor attacks.
The combat prosthetics used by the Imperial Guard offered overwhelming defensive capabilities. It was essentially like wearing battle gear at all times.
'Abandoning my flesh.'
I blinked. In the Empire, there were plenty of people who wanted a full-body prosthetic but couldn't afford one.
Yet, there were also those who rejected the idea. Even among the nobility, some chose to keep their biological bodies, enduring social disdain and personal disadvantages.
'But there's no reason for me not to transition to a full-body prosthetic.'
The benefits of making the switch were immense. Nobles who properly maintained their prosthetic bodies could live for nearly two hundred years—twice the average biological lifespan. Aside from the brain, they were immune to diseases and injuries, and any damaged parts could simply be replaced.
The decline in physical ability due to aging was also significantly reduced.
Most chose to adjust their appearance with age, typically settling at a middle-aged look—one that exuded both dignity and experience. Being too young or too old often led to being disregarded.
'The brain’s aging is unavoidable, though…'
A person with a full-body prosthetic was, for all intents and purposes, immortal—until their mind collapsed.
…I, too, would break free from the confines of flesh and blood.
Vrrrrr.
I stepped out of the shower room. Warm air blasted from the door’s vents, drying off any remaining moisture.
Shff.
Dressed in my Imperial Guard cadet uniform, I stepped out of my room. The hallway was filled with the sound of footsteps.
"Hey."
"Haven’t seen you around much lately."
"Well, yeah."
The hallway was filled with cadets from my cohort. Normally, due to differing mission schedules, it was rare to see so many of them at once. But today, most were in the dormitory.
As if we had all agreed beforehand, we walked in the same direction. Familiar faces joined one by one. It had been a long time since our entire class gathered like this.
I would march alongside these people, shoulder to shoulder, across the battlefield. Decades from now, I wondered how many of us would still be alive.
Those who survived until then would occasionally reminisce about those left behind—Claude Lamones, Felix Eigen… Someday, perhaps even Ilay and I would become mere figures of the past.
Step, step.
We left the cadet dormitory and headed toward the Imperial Guard headquarters. The active-duty guards watched us with sharp, scrutinizing eyes.
“Hey, Luka.”
Ilay, who had arrived ahead of us, waved at me. After exchanging greetings with some of our peers, he came to stand beside me.
“Back from another mission?”
I asked him. He could have taken a day to rest, but he was as diligent as ever.
“What else would I do? I’ve already lost my shot at being the top cadet, but I might as well keep going.”
The top rank of this cohort was already decided—it was me. Eliminating Rick Silva Núñez had earned me that title. Even if a cadet completed all their assigned missions flawlessly, it was nearly impossible to achieve the same level of merit.
‘I wonder how much stronger Ilay has gotten.’
I wanted to test myself against him—properly, not just in a spar, but in real combat.
The memories of the underground fortress in Arcane were still vivid. Back then, I had completely overpowered him.
“Are you Lukaus Custoria?”
A stranger from the Imperial Guard stepped in front of Ilay and me.
“Yes, I am.”
As I answered, I examined his uniform. His rank wasn’t visible just from his attire.
Whirr.
Accessing the upper network with my Overseer privileges, I pulled up his service record.
‘Vice Centurion of the 10th Centuria, Arakan Phelideas.’
In other words, the 10th Vice Centurion. Phelideas was one of the prominent military families. There were cadets from the Phelideas family among my peers as well.
“And you must be Ilay. I’ve heard a lot about you. I am Arakan Phelideas, Vice Centurion of the 10th Centuria.”
The 10th Centuria was the lowest-ranking unit within the Imperial Guard. However, within such a unit, a Centurion was equivalent to a top cadet among students. He was one of the few who might one day become Commander of the Imperial Guard.
‘If he’s a 10th Vice Centurion, he’s probably only three or four cohorts ahead of us. He must be here to establish some connections.’
It meant that we had now become part of the Imperial Guard community.
"One of you two will probably be my successor. Considering both the timing for my promotion and your abilities, you two are the most suitable candidates. For now, as for my lieutenant… Ilay Carthica, you're the right choice."
I, who had been listening beside him, interrupted.
"I’m not any less capable than Ilay."
Hmm, the moment I said it, I realized I might have sounded too defensive.
"I don’t have the skills to handle a wild horse like you," Arakan said, baring his teeth in a fierce grin. "You need a superior who can firmly keep you in check. I, on the other hand, prefer a lieutenant who moves on their own as long as I hold the reins."
Hearing that, Ilay chuckled and patted my shoulder.
"That’s definitely my specialty. See, Luka? You need to tone down your temper a bit. It’ll make climbing the ranks easier."
As frustrating as it was, Arakan's insight was correct. I also preferred a superior who could convince me of their strength.
"I feel like I’ve taken up too much of your time. You should get going. Today is an important day for you."
With a dramatic flick of his coat, Arakan stepped aside.
We continued walking and soon arrived at one of the annex buildings of the headquarters. The structure, designed with sharp geometric lines, appeared simple at first glance, yet its grandeur was undeniable.
‘Armament Exhibition Hall.’
The Empire was generally straightforward in its naming, but military facilities were particularly direct. Just from the name, it was clear what this place was for.
We entered the exhibition hall. From the outside, it looked dimly lit, but as soon as we stepped in, the interior brightened. The lights hadn’t suddenly turned on—it was the result of anti-glare particles floating like a curtain near the entrance, making it difficult to observe the inside from outside.
"Ah, the soon-to-be Imperial Guards have arrived."
From the entrance hallway, Hemillas greeted us. He was standing with four other guards.
Hemillas scanned the cadets entering the building and nodded.
"As you all know, this is a top-class security facility of the Empire. Just in case, if anyone has a recording device on, turn it off now."
The area fell silent. Thankfully, no one was foolish enough to disobey.
"This will be the first and last time I guide you so kindly."
With a smirk, Hemillas turned his back to us and continued walking. He stopped in front of the first exhibition room.
"This is Bestia, one of the early general-purpose combat prosthetics from the founding days of the Imperial Guard."
Beyond the glass, a full-body prosthetic hung wide open, headless. Its intricate components were tangled together in a complex network. Though it was nothing more than a collection of mechanical parts, it gave off the unsettling impression of a dissected human body.
Next to Bestia, detailed specifications were densely written. It might have been cutting-edge in its time, but by today’s standards, it was little more than a mass-produced model.
Hemillas slowly introduced the combat prosthetics that had shaped the history of the Imperial Guard.
"You are the Empire’s elite soldiers. Different from all others."
He occasionally mixed in remarks meant to bolster the pride of the Imperial Guard cadets.
"We don’t just use top-tier full-body prosthetics—we also use the best combat prosthetics."
We were unlike ordinary soldiers. That much was true. No matter the cost, we were equipped with the finest gear and prosthetics available.
"And this is Caligo, the current-generation general-purpose combat prosthetic of the Imperial Guard."
The cadets stopped in front of Caligo for a long while. Hemillas, as if giving us time, leaned against a wall and chatted with the other guards.
Caligo was designed primarily for survival and defense, allowing its user to continue missions even after sustaining severe damage.
‘The auxiliary nervous system that was attached to Juppe’s prosthetic is included as a standard feature.’
…In other words, to kill a guard using Caligo, you had to destroy their head completely. Until then, they would persist in combat with the help of numerous auxiliary functions. In many ways, it was the epitome of what a combat prosthetic should be.
We moved past Caligo. After passing through another door in the hallway, the ceiling ahead of us suddenly stretched to twice its previous height.
Vrrrmmm.
The sound of ventilation systems rumbled through the metal walls and floors. The deeper we walked inside, the louder the pounding in my chest became.
The symbol of the Imperial Guard revealed itself before us.
‘Full-armor prosthetic Legion.’
The Legions stood behind glass, as if imprisoned. Their helmets were hollow, empty of any glow from within.
Though similar in appearance, each Legion had subtle differences. I focused on the one I was most familiar with.
‘Melee-specialized Legion, model name: Hector.’
I had seen it before. It was the Legion that had fought against the Holy Knights of Corite.
Compared to other Legions, Hector had higher output and superior defense. Its structure and functionality were also simplified, making it more reliable. It was the most durable and rugged Legion available.
I glanced to the side and saw Ilay intently studying another model.
‘Lightweight Legion, Achilleus.’
Standing beside him, I also turned my gaze toward Achilleus.
"They call it lightweight, but it’s actually a versatile model. High mobility means being able to adapt flexibly to any situation."
Ilay spoke as if explaining things to me. He seemed particularly drawn to Achilleus. I had to agree—it suited him well.
In fact, Hector and Achilleus together made up half of the Imperial Guard’s Legion units. While Hector was specialized for melee combat, it still belonged to the category of general-purpose Legions that could be used in a variety of situations.
I continued examining the other Legions.
‘Remote-specialized Legion, Heracles.’
It was a Legion designed for artillery and sniping. Its shoulders and sides were equipped with additional mounts to carry heavy cannons, and its legs were noticeably thicker than the others. On top of that, in emergency situations, stabilizers would deploy from its legs, anchoring it firmly to the ground.
‘For a ranged model, it’s even bulkier than Hector.’
Since Heracles already sacrificed mobility, it compensated by reinforcing its armor even further, opting for sheer defense instead of evasive maneuvers.
I scanned the other Legion models as well.
The cadets around me were staring at them with excitement. Legions were an object of admiration.
‘But…’
Legions were different from other weapons.
‘Legions erode the mind.’
By now, I understood that well. Among all the cadets here, no one grasped the true nature of Legions better than I did.
Akies Victima combat techniques and Legions—
At their core, there was no real difference. That’s why they couldn’t coexist. Both pushed the human brain to its limits, over and over, until it broke.
Even the great Kinuan was dying from the aftereffects of Akies Victima. And Hemillas had warned me to be wary of Legions.
I shook myself from my thoughts as a member of the Imperial Guard approached me.
"Luka, the Commander is calling for you."
The guard informed me. Ilay glanced at me briefly.
It wasn’t unusual for me to be called out like this. No one considered it special treatment anymore—I was the adopted son of the Commander of the Imperial Guard.
And unofficially, I was also the leader of my cadet cohort. If someone needed to gather or relay information to my class, it was natural to go through me.
Hemillas, who had summoned me, silently led the way into a separate lounge within the exhibition hall. I followed him inside.
Creak. Thud.
The door closed behind us.
"I need to talk to you about Bao Zakanan, Luka," Hemillas said as he took a seat.
‘Bao Zakanan.’
The man suspected of orchestrating Nikolaos' assassination.
But was this really the place to discuss such matters? There were four Imperial Guards standing around us.
As I hesitated, Hemillas spoke again, his tone serious.
"You can trust them."
Since it was Hemillas speaking, it couldn’t be a lie.
‘Then, do these Imperial Guards here owe their loyalty to Hemillas more than to the Empire?’
I felt strange. I couldn’t decide whether to be pleased or angry. These were guards who had served the Empire for at least a dozen years, some for decades. And yet, they would keep secrets for Hemillas, who wasn’t even from their family.
"…Did you cover up Ilay’s transgressions because you weren’t loyal to the Empire? You and he have spent years together, and yet, we—who have spent decades rolling through battlefields together—share an even deeper bond with each other than you two do, not less."
Ah, I see. My eyes widened.
I was still inexperienced. Grace’s words resurfaced in my mind. I was young. That truth had just struck me with overwhelming clarity.
Hemillas must have had many more "Ilays" of his own—comrades who shared dangerous secrets and could be trusted.
"I’ll speak openly. Are you aware of the reckless actions Ilay and I took at the Arcane Fortress?"
"Considering the circumstances, it’s obvious. That much is within my discretion to overlook. Your intent wasn’t rebellion against the Empire. And frankly, you two are too valuable to be discarded for something like that."
I lightly bit my lower lip and flicked it away. I barely restrained the self-destructive urge to chew my lips raw until they bled. Our desperate struggle suddenly felt like nothing more than childish mischief.
"Bringing up Bao Zakanan in this setting—can I take it to mean that you intend to invoke the authority of the Imperial Guard?"
"The Custoria family attempted to handle it on their own, but they found no clear solution. We plan to gather evidence proving Bao Zakanan’s collusion with terrorists and formally arrest him. That way, it becomes an official matter."
Hemillas had broken the balance. He was using public power for a private matter.
"I’ll overstep my place and say something."
"I’m already used to your overstepping, so go ahead."
At Hemillas’ remark, one of the other guards gave a low chuckle, shoulders barely shifting.
"Barbara’s information could be false. And Barbara has already reported to the Empire that Bao Zakanan is a traitor—perhaps the higher-ups are deliberately leaving him in place as part of some larger plan. If we interfere, we might disrupt that plan. Are you willing to take that risk and continue investigating Bao Zakanan?"
The Imperial Family was already fully aware of the Custoria family’s movements. I had reported it myself. And even without my report, it was highly likely they already knew.
‘End it here, Hemillas. You’re a wise man. This much effort should be enough to satisfy Nikolaos.’
I desperately wanted Hemillas to stop.
"You’re absolutely right. An excellent insight. If I were to honestly report to the higher-ups that I’m investigating Nikolaos’ death… they would tell me to stop. If someone as high-ranking as Bao Zakanan is a traitor yet hasn’t been purged, then it’s safe to assume there’s another plan at play—one that I’m unaware of, operating beneath the surface."
It seemed my reasoning was getting through to him.
"In that case…"
"Luka, Nikolaos was my son."
With just that single sentence, Hemillas overrode everything.
I closed my mouth. His son had died. I could never fully grasp the depth of that grief. And since Hemillas was not someone who openly displayed his emotions, it was even harder to tell.
He had been holding himself back all this time. He must have been restraining an overwhelming urge to tear through the Empire in search of answers. If he had used his full authority and intelligence network, he would have tracked down everyone involved long ago.
But he hadn’t. Because he was the Commander of the Imperial Guard. He understood the Empire’s tangled complexities even better than I did.
"If you were to die like Nikolaos, I would act the same way."
Hemillas added those words. I wanted to believe they were true.
"If there’s anything I can do, I will help."
There was no other way I could respond.
…An Overseer can do nothing but watch.