Supporting Characters in the Game are Obsessed – Chapter 20

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
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If you were to ask what the essence of cyberpunk was, many would undoubtedly say “implant surgery.”

“Implant.”

A dental surgery technique.

But in this world, it held a slightly different meaning.

It referred to any surgery intended to modify the body, regardless of the purpose.

Implant surgeries were generally divided into two categories.

If biologically derived materials, created through artificial cultivation, were used, it was classified as “Bioware.”

And if materials like metal were used to chrome the body, it was defined as “Cyberware.”

Implants were already a part of everyday life in this world.

To what extent? It was common to see cases where most of the body had been replaced through implant surgery.

An example of Bioware was Bill, who had made himself younger, and an example of Cyberware was Drek, who had replaced most of his body with chrome.

Drek.

A dwarf.

Honestly, I had seen on NCB24 news that the average height of dwarves was increasing.

But even so, implant surgery was essential for a dwarf to reach a height of 2 meters.

On a personal note, he didn’t look like a “dwarf” at all.

This wasn’t a discriminatory statement.
It was simply the truth.

The neatly tied gray beard was perhaps his only dwarven characteristic.

He was also skilled in net hacking and a renowned implant surgery specialist,
but those weren’t dwarven traits, so I’ll move on.

He was undeniably skilled.

As far as I knew, he had performed implant surgery on himself, except for the impossible parts.

His skill was evident without anyone having to say it.

I had also benefited greatly from his surgical expertise.

Implant surgery was essential for me, who had problems with physical functions like stamina and recovery.

I only received the most basic level of implants.

I hadn’t replaced entire body parts with cyberware, like artificial arms or legs.

It wasn’t that I hadn’t considered it.
There were a few reasons why I absolutely couldn’t.

Honestly, if I had known this beforehand, I wouldn’t have even received the minor implant surgeries I had.

The long recovery period?

That was one reason.

I had spent a whole month bedridden before.

But more than that,

“D-Doc! Please!”

“If you move, it’ll hurt more, so just stay still.”

“Gyaaaaaah!!”

A scream echoed.

A man’s pained cry resonated from the operating room (torture chamber).

Drek’s workshop, an implant specialist clinic.
I trembled with fear in the waiting room of the lobby.

Cyberware surgery meant replacing parts of the body with machines.

Therefore, thorough maintenance and management were essential.

One problem was that cyberware was connected to the body’s nerves to take over the replaced body part’s function.

That’s right.

Cyberware also needed to be connected to nerves.

How should I put it?

Every cyberware checkup, like scaling, felt several times more painful than dental nerve treatment.

Hmm.

I should run away now.

I thought coldly.

It wasn’t just that Drek’s place was far from mine.

To be completely honest, I had been ignoring Drek’s requests because I was afraid of the checkups. This was about 90% of the reason.

Right… Today wasn’t the day.

I tried to get up.

But before I could even stand, the tightly closed door swung open.

Drek’s bright face appeared.

Drops of liquid, either blood or electrolyte fluid, were splattered on his face.

His eyes met mine from behind his dark cybernetic sunglasses.

Seeing my hesitant posture before I could stand up, Drek grinned widely.

His gold-plated teeth were impressive.

“Haha, sorry, sorry. I didn’t know you’d be here already. Anyway, I’m done, so come on in.”

“…….”

It was too late to run.

As I was being dragged away by Drek, my arms held tightly, I realized something.

Perhaps Drek, who had come to my house, had been pretending to be angry.

That way, I wouldn’t resist.

…I should have realized it then and ran away.

But my fate was sealed.

My limp feet were dragged across the floor as I followed Drek’s movements.

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Drek’s workshop was always clean, no matter when I visited.

Was it natural, considering this was a “clinic”?

Drek was washing his hands on one side of the wall.

I lowered my head slightly.

I could see my arms and legs already bound.

I tried to exert some force, but they wouldn’t budge.

There was nothing I could do now that I was here.

Drek’s workshop was located in “South Pillar,” a Mid-District area. It was in the opposite direction of my house.

However, even though it was in the Mid-District, there was a slight difference from other Mid-District areas.

It was right next to “Cloud Park,” an industrial area.

Cloud Park was voted the most avoided area by citizens last year.

Because of this, many people considered this area to be practically the same as the Lower District.

I had once asked Drek,

Why did he choose this place?

He wasn’t lacking in rent money or qualifications, and he had enough credits to move to the Upper District.

Drek had replied,

‘Huuuh…, sniff. You’ll know once you try it. I’ve been all over Neon City, and the air here is the best. The metallic scent is exquisite. It makes me feel alive.’

It was a very dwarven, and utterly insane, answer.

Even a 2-meter tall dwarf was still a dwarf.

…He was a good person, though.

He had dragged me to his workshop like this out of concern for my neglecting cyberware maintenance.

Still, I didn’t like pain.

A sudden question popped into my head.

“Hey, Drek.”

“What?”

I calmly asked Drek, who was preparing something with his back turned.

“I have a question.”

“Haha, go ahead.”

“Honestly, don’t you think general anesthesia is more appropriate than local anesthesia for this level of pain? I’m right, aren’t I?”

I thought I wasn’t wrong. It was logically sound.

“Haha, well…”

With a short laugh, Drek looked at me.

“You’re right, but it’s different in Neon City. There are many clinics that steal organs while patients are under anesthesia.”

Drek slowly approached me.

His huge hands were already full of various maintenance tools I couldn’t identify.
Even his hands themselves were maintenance tools made of cyberware.

In short, it was terrifying.

“So, there’s an unspoken rule. Minimal anesthesia for simple surgeries or checkups.”

Hmm.

But what did that have to do with me?

“…Wait, then it doesn’t apply to me, right? You know I trust you, right? We’re companions! Let’s just do general anesthesia.”

“Haha! Shiun… Shiun.”

Why the unsettling laugh again?

His gray beard swayed repeatedly with his hearty laughter.

“Someone with a weak body like you would suffer from the aftereffects of general anesthesia. Just endure it ‘a little’.”

Drek, Drek, what are you talking about…?
It’s not ‘a little.’

Suddenly, peaceful classical music started playing in my ears.

[I sympathize and will play classical music for the mental well-being of human Lee Shiun.]

Eve, Eve…

Memories from my time in Korea resurfaced.

…The dentist.

The classical music.

And the furious whirring of the drill.

Ugh, my head.

I seriously felt like I was getting PTSD.

…Hoo, okay.

Let’s assess the situation calmly.

Where did I get implant surgery again?

All my joints, like wrists, ankles, and knees.
And my skeletal system, like my spine.

All close to nerves.

“…….”

I was fucked.

No, pull yourself together.

Find something you can do in this situation.

“Wait, Catherine! Andrea! They need checkups too!”

I couldn’t die alone.

“I sent a message to Catherine when I brought you here. She said she’ll come tomorrow. Andrea already came and got hers done.”

…Ha.

Was this unavoidable fate?

“…Well, I guess there’s nothing I can do.”

I decided to accept my fate.

Drek’s large shadow loomed over me.

“Oh, and.”

“What now?”

If he wasn’t deliberately prolonging my mental suffering, I’d rather he just get it over with.

“While we’re at it, let’s add another implant.”

“No, wait a minute, doc…!”

That’s a no-go.

I focused on putting all my emotions into my voice.

I must survive!

“I told you last time when I called, you know my constitution. I have to be bedridden for a while after surgery.”

“Hahaha! Don’t worry about that.”

It’s my body.

How can I not worry?

Clatter, Drek dumped the tools he was holding onto a small tray next to me.

The gleaming, menacing instruments caught my eye.

“Don’t worry, I have a solution. Someone asked me to do this for you.”

“?”

Who would make such a crazy request?

Catherine? Andrea?

Or—

…Honestly, too many people came to mind.
Someone from Monolith?

Or maybe No Answer…

Too many people (and other races) worried about me.

It was nice that they cared about my weak body and the pain I suffered. I was grateful.
But I didn’t want them to show their concern this way.

“It won’t put too much strain on your body.”

Drek pulled out a luxurious mechanical storage box from somewhere. It looked thick and sturdy, with a secure lock.

After Drek entered a simple authentication procedure, the storage box slowly opened.
White cold air seeped out.

What was that?

Silver… muscles?

It looked like small muscle tissues, resembling both cyberware and bioware.

“It’s a new product from ‘Black Monolith,’ not even on the market yet.”

“Did it pass clinical trials?”

“It looks small and ordinary, but its efficiency is said to be double that of existing artificial muscles.”

Did it pass clinical trials or not?

Why wouldn’t he answer my question?

“I’ll install it between your muscles. It’ll hurt a bit until it settles, but it’ll be fine.”

I’m the one getting surgery.

I didn’t know why he was deciding if it would be “fine.”

I didn’t understand what he was saying.

I only heard that it would be very painful.

“The person who requested it also sent this for you to use. That’s why I said not to worry.”

Drek took out another object from the storage box.

It looked like a small “ampoule.”

…That was…

I knew it because I used it often in the past.
A therapeutic product containing nano-robots.

I had a few at home for emergencies.

Judging by the red design, it seemed to be a top-of-the-line product.

“I have to consider the sender’s good intentions.”

“Can’t you consider my opinion too?”

“Haha, now, don’t move.”

I’m tied up, how can I move?

I regretted it once again.

I should have run away while I was still in the waiting room.

“It’s just a simple checkup and surgery. Relax.”

“D-don’t come closer…!”

Don’t come near me!

I screamed silently.

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“…I wonder if he received it well.”

“Boss, about this time—”

“Ah, I’ll check later.”

Someone else laughed silently.

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