SWNOVELXO Chapter / 267화. α (16)
“There’s a severe shortage of troops!”
The story goes back to the time of the Great War.
To be more specific, at the moment when the real Satellite Beings descended, and many warriors of the native planet died under their assault.
As mentioned before, during this period, the Alphauri natives were barely holding the front lines, burdened by deep despair.
Suddenly appearing Beta Species were surprisingly skilled in combat.
– Grrr! Roar!
– Swoosh!
– “Damn monsters, they’re too fast for our magic to hit!”
– “It’s over for us. How can we face such a disaster…”
Alphauri mages were continuously dying while their homes were being invaded.
Thanks to the efforts of the so-called Great Mages, a group that constituted the top 1%, they were barely staying alive.
If this defeat continued, what if they were pushed back not just to the lower levels but all the way to the nuclear zones deep underwater, leading to the extinction of their fragile race?
But during this dark moment for the Alphauri, something miraculous happened.
– “Could this guy be a prodigy?”
In a nurturing facility in the deep sea, an extraordinary genius was born who hunted a whale over thirty times his own size.
– “How can such a genius exist!”
His green form possessed astonishing talent that would leave anyone’s jaw dropped.
Any scholar, familiar even a little with Magic Studies, would easily recognize this fact.
He had an immense internal energy that could be mistaken for a debilitating illness.
Moreover, he demonstrated remarkable skill by deftly utilizing that energy like untangling a thin thread.
If he was already this perceptive at such a young age, producing high-level mages with just basic training would be a piece of cake!
With a decent intelligence level, any young person could surpass expectations and become a Great Mage of the new era.
How could the victims of the Great War not rejoice in the presence of such a genius?
– “I hope this little fellow has the understanding ability to keep up with the city’s lessons.”
Vibrant, positive hues flowed through his veins.
Foam bubbling inside him like champagne.
Also, it was evident he had been well-fed, boasting a uniquely stocky silhouette.
This robust weakling with the aforementioned physical traits, specifically some Orange Wealthy Person, immediately announced the emergence of a genius in his homeland after visiting the nurturing facility.
However…
– “Huh? Is that you…?”
– “Hello. Today, I’m wearing completely new skin, but since you recognize me, I see you must have heard my voice before.”
A few hours later.
What unfolded here was an unexpected scene for the Orange Wealthy Person.
– “Anyway, where is that genius infant you mentioned over the communication?”
– “I assume by now he’s packing up at the nurturing facility. But surely, you didn’t come all the way to this humble place just for that little kid?”
– “Oh, what are you talking about? The deep sea region is our last bastion for the Alphauri. Besides, with the Great War breaking out, all concepts have been turned upside down. Is there really a need to mix personal matters with this?”
14 hours later.
The Orange Wealthy Person met alone with an unfamiliar figure near his residence.
The exterior of this figure was so transparent that the flow of water could be seen through it.
In stark contrast, its insides had been mysteriously painted with a rainbow of colors, showcasing peculiar organs like a flamboyantly colorful liver and heart typical of planetary fellows.
– “Why do you look at me like that? Ah, do you fancy the skin I’m wearing today? If so, I can give you a similar surgery for a bit of money…”
The guest was none other than the notorious Body Modification Freak.
The counterpart functioned as the advisor to the nation’s leader.
In any other case, such a trivial being would be hard to find in this deep-sea region.
But how long had it been since the announcement of the genius’s emergence? Who would have thought a high noble would visit so willingly?
– “Thanks for the offer, but I’m quite fond of the skin I was born with.”
– “Oh really?”
– “Hmm.”
– “In any case, it’s a precious mission. I will be personally escorting the newcomers to the fostering facility with these tentacles. So please gather them for me.”
The wealthy person expressed a brief inquiry at the advisor’s unexpected appearance.
– “Wait, are you saying you are the one transporting the fosterlings?”
But the other person replied in a feminine tone.
– “To be honest, it’s annoying, but since my superiors instructed me to do it, what can a mere worker do?”
– “Ah…”
– “Well, it seems everyone has become sensitive ever since the first fostering facility incident.”
– “The first fostering facility? Has there been any recent incidents there?”
– “Huh? Are you not up-to-date on the news? Then what do you think could be the sudden need for reinforcements? Those devious Beta species might have caught wind of our plans. Recently, there was an incident where whales heading to a mid-level education facility were ambushed, and all the kids were killed.”
– “Whoa, really?”
– “So, our leader has been deeply troubled lately. It’s already rare to find someone talented in Magic Studies. From now on, it seems he’s determined to use top-notch resources to preserve the students as much as possible.”
– “So you refer to yourself as top-notch…”
The advisor himself didn’t wish to delve this low, but here he was, forced to answer to higher-ups.
As he voiced his grievances with a hint of annoyance, who would believe him?
– “Anyway, I understand. I’ll contact my nurturing director and tell them to prepare the child immediately. Please wait here for a moment.”
This period was when the Satellite Wars were in turmoil.
And during wartime, besides the enemy, there were also numerous issues to handle as panic-stricken citizens engaged in all sorts of crimes concerning public safety.
To put it bluntly.
This Orange Wealthy Person was busy.
Therefore, despite the shocking visit from a high-ranking Alphauri, he currently felt nothing amiss and simply handed off the genius due to his title.
Thus, the orphan from the deep sea was taken away in someone else’s cart.
*
“We’re short on manpower.”
Like a parrot repeating, this was someone’s complaint faced by a marine being society.
However, there was another talent representing the era.
■▒ predicted that this issue would linger a bit longer.
– “Not only now but possibly eternally short in the future.”
– “What?”
– “What I mean by manpower is simply obedient beings that eradicate enemies and are loyal per the nation’s orders. But if we teach magic to civilians like this…”
– “Hmm.”
– “Even those from lower classes possess intelligence and reasoning, just like us. Will they obey the ruling class while wielding the weapon of Magic Studies?”
– “…”
– “Will they still act like well-behaved livestock such as blowfish, dead fish, turtles, and blue whales?”
Of course, a rebellion wouldn’t happen immediately.
The ever-changing Skin Freak Wizard was highly alert about the people’s political participation in the future.
This side had no intention of sharing power with the citizens, passed down through generations.
Besides, it wouldn’t even need to be through the masses.
Calculating the military power index of the nation where the genius was born, they always ranked around third or fourth.
Thus, if after the Great War, as things remained chaotic, the superpowers attempted to selfishly claim dominance, the concept of the nation itself could be swallowed and disappear.
A complete crisis.
– “In any case, I believe all our problems can be united under the issue of manpower.”
Neither did he want to face rebellion from the lower class children nor the invasion from the upper class.
The quirky wizard ■▒ argued that it was vital for them to take action first to prevent such negative scenarios.
The story that follows was the author’s main point.
– “But don’t worry. I have a great idea.”
In a spacious room.
The national powers sitting around focused on the scholar’s assertion.
– “Honestly, among the highest nobles, is there anyone who doesn’t know about us having spies planted in the Eastern Sea nations?”
– “Ahem.”
– “Hmm.”
– “I don’t see why you suddenly brought up such confidential matters here.”
– “Let me explain.”
– “…”
– “The cherished disciples I’ve cultivated in my lab are currently soldiers snatched away by the Magic Tower, and there are a few spies I’ve planted there years ago.”
– “Long introduction.”
– “Yes. Well, to get straight to the point, I have devised a perfect method to create perfect troops by stealing high-level magic principles from there.”
A flicker of irritation passed through the quirky scholar as he was interrupted in the middle.
However, he maintained composure and continued the conversation.
– “Again, I emphasize, this really is a method to create ‘perfect’ troops.”
– “Hmm.”
– “Even if you raise salaries and fill pockets, ultimately, intellectuals like mages often stew in their own foolish thoughts, don’t you think?”
– “…”
– “So, let’s eliminate inefficient biological soldiers altogether and…”
He advocated boldly to those with the nation’s power.
– “Let’s attempt a mechanical replacement!”
In this mid-technology era, aiming for a proxy war utilizing artificial robots—what a bold claim to make.
– “We can create something like inner-external mana amalgamations in our lab—breathing simulations are already set up. All we need is the ‘brain’ to insert there.”
– “Brain?”
– “Magic is activated by mind and mana.”
– “?”
– “Um… This may sound embarrassing with all the groundwork laid out, but honestly producing a level of intelligence that rivals a true mage… So quickly establishing a proper computational system is currently impossible.”
His calm voice continued.
– “At present, we simply do not have the resources to produce any usable artificial intelligence from scratch.”
– “…”
– “So let’s use the natural materials our planet provides. By combining the brainwashing magic stolen from the Magic Tower and my modification techniques, we can craft splendid sorcerers who only follow the pre-programmed values!”
Being a purebred Alphauri, the quirky wizard carefully avoided blunt expressions, trying to soften his words.
Of course, everyone present, despite being accustomed to such wording, could easily grasp the truth of the statements.
– “You mean to say you will turn the brains of living mages into dead mechanisms?”
Whether it was capable or not was secondary, but something about this suggestion felt distinctly unsettling.
– “Yes! Machines differ from us in that they have extraordinarily long lifespans and are durable. They are perfect for building up military strength quickly!”
However, the thick-skinned researcher persuaded the financiers.
He maintained a relaxed demeanor.
Having successfully secured large-scale research funding multiple times in the past, he was accustomed to it.
– “Moreover, this project plan is your savior from all fears. Are you feeling uneasy?”
– “Elaborate further.”
– “Unease?”
Swish.
The leader sitting at a high position rubbed his eyes skeptically.
– “With the knowledge of Magic Studies being revealed, everyone has been anxious about uprisings, right?”
– “…”
– “Patriotism education, hostage strategies—no matter what chaos we faced, ultimately, we couldn’t control an armed populace with those concepts…”
– “…”
– “But now you can rest easy!”
– “…”
– “With this new witchcraft I designed, it’s possible to control the mindset of specific individuals for a lifetime. Why? Because our minds, with the shells gone, become extremely vulnerable to external stimuli.”
– “Hmm.”
– “We differ fundamentally from mages with both tentacles and flesh. We practically cannot resist someone else’s magic.”
– “Such confidence you have.”
– “Well, when I make a statement in such a venue, would you think I haven’t even run animal experiments?”
– “…”
– “Preliminary checks have already been conducted. Now, I’ll briefly reveal one problem and one advantage.”
The quirky scholar, satisfied seeing all eyes on him, moved his main tentacle.
– “Unfortunately, only individuals who underwent preliminary treatment from a very young age will be eligible for the transformation process.”
– “What?”
– “It’s impossible to cram fully developed adults later on. Hmm… Using immature mages leads to other issues; thus, we will have to wait for that being’s prime.”
– “So, in other words…”
– “In any case, all of you at this table, having completed secondary gender characteristics, shall not be among the victims. For the current generation of power holders, how sweet a technology has emerged!”
Swish.
It spread all of its tentacles wide open.
An expression of surrender, implying there was no intention to draw magic circles in secret, similar to a specific planet.
– “The explanation is through; now it’s time to decide.”
What followed was a noticeably gentle tone.
– “Please grant me permission. From now on, allow me to access the magic records of all the poor infants in this nation, and allow me to use their talents proudly for the future of this country. My dream is solely that our nation remains the ultimate conqueror of this planet.”
Swish.
Again the leader’s eyes rolled in the opposite direction.
As if the unique magic of royal bloodline was validating the author’s statements as entirely truthful.
In no time, a calm yet greedy voice of a marine being resonated within the castle.
– “Let it be so.”