Removing The Conditioning Implants

Sario connected to the planetary information network of Joel through the space station. It was an information network more advanced than Earth’s internet.

What we wanted to find was a medical machine capable of removing the Conditioning Implants embedded in the backs of our necks. In a civilization this advanced, rental medical machines were apparently available, along with services that leased them to visiting spacecraft.

However, the rental fees were expensive. After looking into it, we discovered that renting one cost approximately 1.5 million Crebits per day. Nevertheless, we needed it, so Sario applied to rent one.

The following day, a medical machine was delivered to our Small Spacecraft. The maintenance robots received it and installed it in the multipurpose compartment.

Looking at the medical machine, which resembled an oxygen capsule, I couldn’t help worrying whether it was really safe.

“You’re sure this thing isn’t going to explode or anything?”

“It’ll be fine. The Dwarf Race has reached Civilization Level D, so their technology is trustworthy.”

Sario decided to try it first. After entering various pieces of information, he stripped off his upper clothing and climbed into the medical machine. Once the capsule’s door closed, the machine began its examination.

When the examination was complete, the operation to remove the Conditioning Implant embedded in the back of Sario’s neck began. Several robotic arms moved inside the medical machine, making an incision in the anesthetized Sario’s body and extracting the Conditioning Implant.

The operation was successful, and Sario emerged safely from the medical machine. We had known about these medical machines beforehand, which was why we hadn’t asked Zorofienne of the Celestial Gods to remove our implants as one of our wishes.

“You’re next, Zen.”

I also stripped off my upper clothing and entered the medical machine. After an examination lasting about fifteen minutes, I suddenly lost consciousness. Apparently, I had been given an anesthetic. By the time I regained consciousness, the operation was over, and I crawled out of the machine.

When I touched my neck, I felt something resembling an adhesive bandage covering the spot. However, the lump caused by the Conditioning Implant was gone. Relieved, I looked toward Sario, only to find him studying the examination results with a serious expression.

“Is something wrong?”

“It’s about the Antibody-Immunity Nanomachines and Internal-Regulation Nanomachines the goblins gave us. Apparently, they were extremely low-performance models.”

That didn’t mean much to me.

“Just how bad are they?”

“If we don’t replace them within three years, they might start having harmful effects on our bodies.”

“Th-that’s serious! Can’t we replace them with new ones here?”

“It seems Joel only has nanomachines designed for the Dwarf Race. I think we should have them replaced in a civilization with more advanced medical technology.”

I was worried, but if Sario thought that was the best course of action, I supposed I would have to trust him.

“Next, we need to get you citizenship in the Space Alliance, Zen.”

“Would not having citizenship cause any problems?”

According to Sario, not having citizenship would be inconvenient because I wouldn’t be able to open an interstellar bank account. Some planets allowed people without identification to open accounts that could only be used locally, but apparently, the money in those accounts could be confiscated if they were left inactive.

I also wouldn’t be able to obtain various licenses. That included the Second-Class Spacecraft Pilot’s License required to operate our Small Spacecraft.

“So, how do I obtain citizenship?”

Apparently, there were several ways to obtain citizenship. One involved securing formal employment with a corporation registered in a nation belonging to the Space Alliance. After working properly for six months, I could obtain provisional citizenship and then take an examination to qualify for full Space Alliance citizenship. Another option was to work for a specified period on a frontier planet or space colony that was actively recruiting new citizens.

“There’s another way. If you register with the Dragon-Slayer Rangers Guild and hunt monsters on the planet Chiratia, you can earn citizenship.”

Apparently, Chiratia was a planet where biological weapons known as monsters roamed freely. There was a system under which people who hunted monsters there and demonstrated sufficient ability could obtain citizenship.

The Dragon-Slayer Rangers Guild operated this program to recruit talented individuals and acquire valuable monster materials.

“Hold on. Don’t you need identification to join the Dragon-Slayer Rangers Guild?”

“Not if you take and pass a test proving your abilities. But you do need someone to vouch for you.”

Apparently, simply joining the Dragon-Slayer Rangers Guild didn’t grant official identification, so members without citizenship still couldn’t open interstellar bank accounts and the like.

“Well, I managed to defeat a Space Jellyfish, so I should be all right. What do you think we should do first?”

“Let’s go to Chiratia.”

“Aren’t we going to your home planet?”

Sario sighed.

“I’d like to, but making a long-distance voyage in this ship is impossible.”

Apparently, reaching Sario’s home planet would require traveling 270 light-years. Our Small Spacecraft needed a complete overhaul after traveling just sixty light-years.

The Small Spacecraft had originally been built for interplanetary operations, so using it for interstellar voyages was fundamentally beyond its intended purpose.

“In that case, we’ll either have to get ourselves a proper interstellar spacecraft or buy tickets from a travel company. I wonder how many Crebits an interstellar spacecraft would cost.”

“Even a small secondhand spacecraft equipped with a Trans-Spacetime Jump Field Generator would cost several hundred billion Crebits. If you don’t mind a dilapidated old ship without one, you could get it for several billion.”

“Those prices aren’t even in the same league!”

“That’s because Trans-Spacetime Jump Field Generators are incredibly expensive.”

That made me curious about how much the Trans-Spacetime Jump Field Generator we had brought aboard our Small Spacecraft was worth. When I asked Sario, he estimated that if we could repair it, it might be worth around six hundred billion Crebits.

“I’m starting to think we should sell it.”

“We can’t! We might never get our hands on another Trans-Spacetime Jump Field Generator.”

Apparently, even having enough money didn’t guarantee that we could purchase a Trans-Spacetime Jump Field Generator. For that reason, Sario wanted to reserve selling ours as an absolute last resort.

In the end, we decided to head for Chiratia. Before that, however, I wanted to register with the Dragon-Slayer Rangers Guild. The guild had a branch inside the space station, and Sario had apparently registered there.

Sario and I went to the Dragon-Slayer Rangers Guild branch. Since applicants without identification needed a guarantor, Sario had agreed to serve as mine.

The only occupants of the branch were a robot at the reception desk and a heavily bearded dwarf. The dwarf sat in his chair looking thoroughly bored. It was the robot that attended to us.

“How may I assist you?”

“I’d like to register as a Dragon-Slayer Ranger.”

“Do you have any documents proving your identity?”

“No, but Sario here will act as my guarantor.”

“Understood. In that case, we will conduct a test to determine whether you possess the skills required to become a Dragon-Slayer Ranger. Are there any types of equipment or spacecraft you specialize in?”

I had defeated monsters using Mobile Armor and a Space Machine Gun. Since my Particle Shot was still unrefined, I told the robot that Mobile Armor and Space Machine Guns were my specialties. It replied that my abilities would be evaluated using a simulator.

I was escorted to a simulator machine and instructed to get inside. It resembled the simulator I had trained with aboard the goblin ship, but this one was considerably more advanced.

After I defeated Space Sea Angels, Space Jellyfish, and other monsters in the simulator, the reception robot confirmed that I possessed the necessary abilities.

“Next, you must learn the Dragon-Slayer Rangers Guild’s regulations. Which method would you prefer?”

Not understanding what it meant, I looked toward Sario.

“Please use Information-Transfer Nanomachines.”

“That method costs ten thousand Crebits. Is that acceptable?”

Once Sario agreed, I was injected with Information-Transfer Nanomachines containing the Dragon-Slayer Rangers Guild’s regulations and the general knowledge of the Space Alliance. My head immediately began spinning, but the sensation subsided after about five minutes. I then confirmed that the guild’s regulations and the Space Alliance’s general knowledge had been transferred into my memory.