Chapter 202
Ragnata was loading a pistol while seated in her wheelchair. She was grinning slyly, and the table was scattered with various firearms.
"Think about it, Luka. At first, we had to consciously correct even the simplest kicks and punches, refining every single movement. But after repeating and mastering those motions, we could throw punches and kicks without thinking, without losing form. That’s how we internalize techniques."
"It sounds convincing, but aren't kicks and ballistic prediction on completely different levels?"
I muttered as I loosened up my body. I could feel my nervous system heating up.
"Don't make excuses. What about our physical abilities? Can we really be placed on the same level as ordinary humans? You've enhanced your nervous system and equipped prosthetics. We’re superhumans, capable of feats that natural humans couldn't even dream of. So throw away those fixed ideas and get creative."
Ragnata finished loading the pistol and aimed it at me.
"Shit… This feels insane…"
"Since the technological singularity, human imagination has never been able to keep pace with the speed of technological progress. People set their own limits with their feeble imaginations and refused to surpass them. Only madness—indifferent to common sense and danger—has ever shattered those limits. That’s what advancement is."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. Just skip the boring lecture and pull the damn trig—"
My eyes widened. My focus sharpened to the point where I could even see the cracks in Ragnata’s fingernails.
Ting!
I deflected the bullet aimed at my forehead with the back of my hand. This was an absolutely insane training method. Even the Imperial Guard wouldn’t do something this reckless. A single mistake would mean death.
‘Even in the Imperial Guard, when practicing ballistic control techniques, we used simulations. Pain tolerance training also relied on virtual signals instead of actual physical damage.’
Cadets in the Imperial Guard were valuable assets, and most of them were from noble families. Losing one in training, rather than in actual combat, would be an enormous loss.
Regardless, the principle behind this insane training was simple.
‘Repeatedly mastering advanced applications until they become part of my foundational skills.’
If I repeated it enough times, I would be able to execute the technique without thinking. In theory, it made sense. But I still wasn’t sure if something like ballistic prediction could truly be internalized through repetition.
Still, if Ragnata said it was possible, I had no choice but to believe her.
Click.
Ragnata maneuvered her wheelchair and switched firearms. She was feeding every possible variable into my body.
Pit!
I squinted as a deflected bullet grazed my cheek. My calculations had been off.
"Your focus is slipping, Luka. Every single one of our movements requires a massive amount of physical computation. But we bypass that process, executing them effortlessly without any computational burden. It’s only possible because we've become accustomed to it. Just like you learn to run once you get used to walking, what do you think the next step is after internalizing ballistic prediction?"
As she spoke, Ragnata pulled the trigger again. But something was off—the muzzle was pointed in the wrong direction.
A chill ran down my spine. My eyes widened.
Ting!
Ragnata had aimed at the floor. A ricochet shot.
Kang!
The bullet bounced off the floor and came flying toward my side. I deflected it with my elbow.
"Hmm, close one. That’s it for today. Any more, and you'd really die."
Ragnata twirled the rifle around as if none of this was a big deal.
'If I push myself any further, my brain might take damage.'
I never wanted to go through the experience of my brain frying again.
As I tidied up the training room, I glanced at Ragnata. A woman weakened by age.
'No matter how strong someone is, they all wither in the end.'
I parted my lips, wanting to ask how she felt. It wasn’t mockery—it was genuine curiosity.
'The feeling of watching the power you built over a lifetime slip through your fingers like sand.'
I didn’t think I could endure it. The mere thought that the day would come sent a shiver down my spine. It made me question the meaning of all this training if everything would eventually fade anyway.
'I'm not afraid of death.'
But I was afraid of losing the strength that sustained me. Without power, I was worthless. People only acknowledged and accepted someone like me because I was strong.
'Ragnata, are you not afraid?'
There was no trace of fear in Ragnata’s words or actions. Was she hiding it, or did she truly not feel it?
My lips felt dry.
"What are you staring at so intently? Got something to say? Ask anything—except a confession."
Snapping out of my thoughts, I smirked and pushed her wheelchair.
"I got rejected before I could even confess, so forget it."
"How dull."
* * *
‘You’d pay more attention to a stray cat you picked up off the street than this.’
Every time Jafa’s harsh words came to mind, I made a point of visiting Boyan’s room. He was under my responsibility, so I had to keep an eye on him.
As expected of a Crawler, Boyan had already recovered and returned to his daily routine. It was hard to believe he had been half-dead after taking a beating from me.
"Studying, huh? I’ll come back later."
I glanced at the hologram and books spread out on Boyan’s desk.
"Ah, no. It’s fine. I was just taking a break."
I took a quick look at the text on the hologram and in the books. It seemed fairly difficult.
"Hmm, uh… well. How’s studying going?"
Even I found my question pathetic. But I had thought it through before asking.
"I’m not sure yet. I think I’ll know after taking the test."
So he had an exam coming up. I wasn’t planning to stay long, so I didn’t sit down.
"Well, you’re smart and hardworking, so you’ll be fine. Let me know if you need anything. Jafa will handle most things for you."
"I’m already receiving great support. Almost to the point where I don’t need anything more. And also…"
"And? Don’t keep me in suspense—just say it."
"I don’t know if I should say this, but… Luka, your face has brightened up a lot lately. You used to look really gloomy before."
If even Boyan noticed, then others probably had as well. Jafa and the others had probably been whispering and laughing about it behind my back. Ugh, that pissed me off for some reason.
There were several reasons for my improved state. I had fought enough battles to satisfy my aggression, and having Ragnata as an advisor gave me a sense of psychological stability. There was also the expectation that I’d gain even more information once I made contact with Ilay.
I reached out and lightly patted Boyan’s head.
"You’ve got a sharp eye."
With that brief exchange, I left Boyan’s room. I didn’t want to take up the time of someone diligently studying.
* * *
As Valek’s memories were being extracted, my daily life repeated itself in a routine fashion. Of course, it didn’t feel routine when I had to deflect and dodge Ragnata’s bullets.
-Analysis phase is complete. As expected of an Akies Victima user, extracting information wasn’t easy. But we’ll be done within two weeks at the latest.
I checked the message from Jafa. So Valek’s memory extraction would be finished within two weeks. That left me with plenty of time before my meeting with Ilay.
I was walking down the hallway when I suddenly stopped.
‘Boyan?’
Boyan was walking toward me. As a Crawler, he had highly sensitive senses. And yet, he seemed so distracted that he didn’t even notice me standing right in front of him.
"Uh… Ah, Luka, Luka."
Boyan finally recognized me and looked flustered. He seemed extremely haggard, his eyes dull and unfocused.
"Hey, did someone mess with you again…?"
"N-No! Absolutely not! The rumors have spread so much that no one even dares to touch me anymore."
Boyan forced out his words, scraping together whatever energy he had left. I shrugged my arms and shoulders.
"Well, that’s a relief, then. So why do you look so drained?"
"The e-exam was harder than I expected. I guess I was more nervous than I thought since it was the first day."
"You can't expect to fill your belly with just one bite."
I replied casually, but for some reason, Boyan’s slumped shoulders as he walked back to his room kept bothering me.
‘What if…’
I hoped my concerns were unfounded.
That’s why I started lingering around the first-floor lobby or hallways around the time Boyan returned to the building. Today, I sipped on a drink from a distance, quietly observing him.
Day by day, his shoulders drooped lower. His expression darkened more and more. It had reached a point where I could no longer dismiss it as just a child struggling with school. I knew exactly when someone made that kind of face.
‘A hopeless situation.’
I had expected Boyan to eventually hit a wall of despair. But the timing was far too soon.
Beep.
I touched my earpiece and opened a comm line. Soon, Jafa’s voice came through.
-Hmm, what’s the occasion for you calling first?
"I need to talk to you for a bit."
-If you come up to my office now, I can make as much time as you need, hoyot.
"No, it’s not something that requires a face-to-face meeting. It’s about Boyan."
Jafa fell silent, as if something had also crossed her mind.
-Go ahead.
"Can a Crawler realistically keep up with other species in academics and education?"
-Hoyoyoyo… To put it bluntly, it’s extremely difficult. Boyan is considered academically capable for a Crawler. But the key phrase here is ‘for a Crawler.’
"But I don’t see a real intelligence gap. So where exactly does the difference come from?"
-It’s a matter of temperament. Crawlers have the brains of hunters and warriors. Even if Boyan is an exceptional case, his academic performance will inevitably fall below the average of other species. No matter how much intellectual curiosity he has, his learning ability can’t keep up. It’s like trying to run while wearing heavy shackles.
That word again—temperament.
"Boyan’s school is full of elite prodigies from the upper class, so the difference must feel even more pronounced. You expected this, didn’t you?"
-I hoped I was wrong. Anyone could see he’s a bright kid. But even Boyan himself probably didn’t expect the gap to be this wide.
I ended the call with Jafa.
"Hah…"
A deep sigh escaped from within me.
‘My temperament and talent happened to align. That’s the case for most people—because temperament and talent usually go hand in hand.’
But sometimes, exceptions like this existed.
‘In those cases, people usually compromise with reality.’
If Boyan wanted, I was willing to teach him how to fight.
‘…But if he chooses the life of a warrior, then everything he struggled so hard to crawl his way up to would be meaningless. It would be a rejection of everything he’s lived for.’
It was a difficult situation.
I slowly got up and headed to the floor where Boyan’s room was. Since it was the guest quarters floor, the hallway was silent.
Bang!
A deafening crash erupted from Boyan’s room, followed by the continuous sound of furniture being smashed. Overcome with frustration, Boyan was venting his emotions in the only way he could.
‘Even if he weren’t a Crawler, anyone would react like this in his situation.’
I leaned against the hallway wall and waited. After about five minutes, the destruction finally came to a stop.
I hesitated in front of Boyan’s door. Should I go in or not?
"Khk… Kk, ah, ah… Aaaah, krrraaaah…"
His strangled cries seeped through the door.
Even if I opened it, I had no idea how I should face him. I had no practical advice to offer, and while I was good at sarcasm, I was utterly useless at emotional comfort.
I stood there in silence before eventually turning on my heels and walking away.
I knew this was the coward’s way out.
But if I opened that door and tried to talk to him, I would only hurt him even more. That’s just the kind of person I was—
Damn it. That was just another excuse.
So what the hell was I supposed to do? I didn’t have the luxury to dwell on this. I was about to face Ilay. And beyond him, there might be the Empire itself.
Where in all that was there room for me to worry about Boyan?