How to Live as an Immortal Chapter 032

That's Not What I'm Saying

*

“It was probably the original plan to quickly suppress the situation as soon as Allen and Ito took action, right?”

“You noticed that too?”

By the time they escaped the mansion, it was clear that there were more people than necessary.

At that time, they thought everyone was Norman’s ally because they were surrounded from all sides.

“If only someone hadn’t rushed out, it would have ended quietly.”

“Sorry about that.”

“Still, it’s reassuring. It seems like Doby has made a proper friend. Although it’s different from the original plan, I won’t be stingy with the reward.”

Colin, who said this much, coughed dryly.

“Cough, cough.”

The sound of breathing that wouldn’t stop no matter how many times it was repeated.

As Colin was about to fall, unable to maintain his balance, Sarah quickly approached and supported him.

“It seems like you do have some chronic illness.”

“As long as I manage it well, it doesn’t affect my daily life.”

“Could it be that Doby is affected too?”

“It’s sad to say that it’s not impossible.”

It was a genetic disease, one with a family history.

However, compared to Colin, who was relatively well-off, Doby couldn’t take a single step outside.

“Why didn’t you modify Doby’s genes?”

This was a question that had been lingering since meeting Doby.

The fifth-generation gene-editing tool, ‘Gaius,’ discovered after the fourth-generation ‘Prime Editor,’ was capable of interspecies splicing.

The gene-editing technology available in modern society could be compared to alchemy.

Of course, the difficulty and cost were proportional, but Colin was the head of a large corporation. It was almost impossible for something he desired not to happen.

“It’s not that I didn’t do it. It’s because I did.”

“Because you did?”

“You know that the human gene pool has its limits, right?”

“Roughly.”

For example, let’s say someone wants to fly.

If they achieve that goal through genetic modification, they would naturally acquire a structure similar to that of birds.

They would undergo an evolutionary process where bone density decreases to make flying easier, and only the upper body’s muscle density becomes enlarged.

It was impossible to change while retaining human characteristics. After all, the human body structure was not suitable for flying.

Such side effects were most commonly seen in muscle and bone enhancement procedures.

To maintain the increased metabolism, one had to consume calories equivalent to twice that of an average person.

If the technological level had stopped at the agricultural society, one would have to eat all day, but in modern society, where food engineering has triumphed, consuming a calorie bar suffices.

In other words, humans have surpassed their limits, but they haven’t transcended the limits of being a living organism.

“Doby is in a similar situation.”

“What exactly were you aiming for? Did you want to create a superhuman beyond enhanced humans?”

“I wish it were that simple. I just wanted Doby to be born normal.”

“It sounds like you removed a genius ability.”

“You’re not wrong. Yes, since you’ll be with that child in the future, you have the right to know.”

Colin, who had calmed his breathing, looked at Ga-on with determination.

“Can you confidently say that all humans in this world are of the same species?”

“That’s a ridiculous question.”

Ga-on scratched his chin while answering nonchalantly. After all, he himself was an immortal.

“You may not know, but human evolution began hundreds of years ago.”

Somehow, Colin’s words couldn’t be dismissed. They were connected to the answers Ga-on had been seeking countless times.

“Dr. Linderman, who invented the ion drive, and Dr. Isabella, known as the mother of artificial intelligence, all had special abilities.”

“Isn’t it more unusual for someone of that caliber not to have any?”

“I’m talking about abilities that are not inherently allowed for the human species.”

“Are you saying they had supernatural abilities?”

“Yes. Individuals with manifested abilities, or meta-humans. That’s what we are called.”

Judging from the explanation, the ‘meta’ in meta-human likely means transcended.

“That’s quite an interesting story. If it’s true, that is.”

Even though he spoke as if uninterested, Ga-on’s heart was secretly pounding. The thought that there might be others like him, whom he hadn’t discovered yet, possibly nearby.

“It’s not a lie; it’s an undeniable truth. At one time, I was also part of that group.”

“Okay, let’s say there is a certain ability passed down through the family. But why would you go to the extent of eliminating it despite the side effects?”

If one were born with a truly special ability, wouldn’t preserving and maintaining it be the top priority?

As if reading Ga-on’s thoughts, Colin smiled bitterly. He hadn’t wanted to forcibly manipulate genes either.

However—

“Dissociative identity disorder accompanied by chronic headaches. And suffering from unexplained nervous breakdowns would change the story, wouldn’t it?”

“If normal life becomes impossible, it’s worth trying. But why did Doby fail?”

Despite Colin being a successful case.

“At that time, my father sought the help of a certain meta-human.”

“Then…”

Ga-on, who was about to ask why they didn’t seek help again, closed his mouth. The answer had already been heard just before.

“Dissociative identity disorder.”

“Yes, by the time I became an adult, my father had already become someone else. And he never returned, not even until he passed away.”

Unfortunately, Doby had to receive incomplete treatment. The reason for Colin’s particular fondness for him might be a defense mechanism stemming from guilt.

“Judging by your detailed explanation, you must want something.”

“I’m glad we can communicate. Yes, the reason I candidly shared my circumstances with you is to make a request.”

Baek Ga-on.

In Sarah’s report, he was like a talking beast. If what she saw and heard was true, he could be compared to famous troubleshooters.

And he was also Doby’s friend.

There couldn’t be a more suitable person.

“Find a meta-human who can treat Doby.”

“What’s the deadline?”

“I won’t set any limits.”

“I can’t guarantee anything.”

Meta-human.

Even Ga-on, who had lived for over three hundred years, was hearing the term for the first time. Undoubtedly, the city government or an even larger organization was personally controlling the information.

“I’m not asking you to do it immediately. Just remember it, as a troubleshooter like you will have a chance to contact them someday.”

“You casually assign a heavy responsibility. I’ll take it for now.”

Having Doby bedridden wasn’t something Ga-on was particularly pleased about either.

Moreover, whether sooner or later, he would have to make contact. It was an opportunity to learn about his origins.

“And as for Allen, you can get him from Miss Siri. You’ll need him if you want to settle things quietly.”

“Siri?”

Colin momentarily wore a dumbfounded expression, but Ga-on responded by waving his hand.

“Then I’ll be going. Handle the aftermath yourself.”

*

It wasn’t long before Allen Howard, the chief technology officer of Maximum Noise, lost all his positions and faced the stern punishment of the judicial system.

The death of his close associate, Miyata Ito, could be found as a single line in gossip magazines.

It was an incident that could shake the foundation of a large corporation, but no media outlet delved deeply into it.

There were just too many incidents and accidents to cover in Seed Colony.

For Doby, it might have felt like a storm had passed, but from the outside, it was just a trivial happening.

It was mostly seen as an extension of internal housekeeping. It wasn’t surprising. Colin had personally intervened. Some didn’t even realize that a series of disturbances had occurred.

On the other hand, it was somewhat disheartening.

It meant that the truth of the world was also being buried in this manner. Just as the truth about meta-humans hadn’t surfaced until now.

‘It’s not something I should worry about.’

It wasn’t a problem that could be solved by worrying about it. The world went on as it did, whether it festered or burst.

The focus should be on the future.

Yes, it was time to devote all efforts to gathering technical grounds to hide the fact that he was immortal.

It seemed that Doby felt the same way.

“Thank you so much, Shinshin. Thanks to you, both Sarah and I are safe.”

“No need for thanks. I did it for the money.”

“I realized a lot from this incident. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say I had forgotten. Even if my father is the chairman of a large corporation, ultimately, I’m the only one who can protect myself.”

Doby, who had returned to Lost Saga, had a somewhat serious expression.

“Your determination is commendable, but there’s nothing you can do.”

“Even with this body, there’s one thing I can do, right?”

“Don’t tell me…”

“I think I can be a diver. I’ve already inserted the slot. Fortunately, the rejection reaction is minimal.”

Divers, who use their brains as computational devices to navigate the swirling sea of information.

Peeking into secrets that others want to hide was an action that created both crisis and value. It wasn’t a field that a third-generation chaebol could easily jump into.

“Chairman Colin surprisingly allowed it.”

“Since I’ve never been outside, this side feels more comfortable. It’s not much different from being connected to Lost Saga.”

Unfortunately, being a diver was a profession where talent was crucial.

Disabling protections, designing bypass routes, and decrypting data weren’t things one could master just by being taught.

Whether Doby’s impression would remain a fleeting delusion or turn into a lasting truth would require more observation—

“Don’t overdo it.”

If Colin’s words were true, Doby was teetering on the edge. If not only physical ailments but also mental ones developed, it would be uncontrollable.

“Of course, Lost Saga always comes first for me.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Even after experiencing a crisis, was Doby still Doby? Seeing his nonchalant demeanor made Ga-on think he might be worrying unnecessarily.

“Let’s enjoy the present. After all, life is only once.”

*

After logging out of Lost Saga, Ga-on removed the connector. Having confirmed that Doby was doing well, it was now time to attend to personal matters.

This request was complicatedly intertwined, requiring a roundabout approach, but it wasn’t without its advantages. Doby, Sarah, and even Colin, the clients were diverse and interconnected.

As a result, the efficiency was considerable. It was only natural that several stages of the planned process could be skipped.

At that moment, a new message arrived on his device.

The sender was a capsule hotel.

The content stated that an android named Sarah was waiting at the entrance.

When he went outside, not expecting the call, turquoise hair bloomed vividly before his eyes.

“You’ve arrived.”

“Miss Siri.”