Even though accepting the second stage cleansing would definitely be more beneficial than merely the first stage cleansing, Mario didn't accept it simply because he knew— the greater the debt, the higher the interest.
'...Besides, the second stage cleansing wasn't necessary.' He thought while briefly glancing at Nathan. 'At least not now.'
Ding~
The elevator doors slid open with a low, muted sound. Nathan walked out first, followed by the AI woman, and then Mario.
The moment he stepped out of the elevator, Mario was greeted by another long hallway, with double doors lining both sides at precise, repetitive intervals.
He paused for a brief moment, his gaze lingering on the familiar sight, before moving again and following behind the AI woman and the middle-aged man.
They walked for a while in silence before stopping in front of one particular door.
The AI woman moved past the middle-aged man and scanned something beside the door. With a soft mechanical sound, the door slid open sideways, and they all stepped inside.
Inside was the same white room, but unlike before, it wasn't empty. The space was lined with machines resembling capsules, their smooth surfaces wrapped in thick wires that ran along the walls. AI humans moved throughout the room, pressing buttons and adjusting panels beside the machines with precise, practiced motions.
Above them, a wide stretch of glass was embedded in the wall, its surface opaque from Mario's side—concealing whatever lay beyond.
Through the glass panels of each capsule, Mario could see that some were empty, while others contained a single youth each. Every one of them appeared to be asleep, their bodies suspended and submerged in a transparent liquid that blurred their outlines.
They walked toward an empty capsule machine.
Nathan lowered his head slightly and spoke in a respectful tone. "Sir, I will take my leave now. And if you ever happen to meet Sir Arthur… please mention my name."
Mario put on his usual mask, then stopped the middle-aged man before he could bow any further and replied with politeness and respect in his voice, "I'll do that, sir. And please, there's no need for you to bow."
"Thank you." Nathan smiled, visibly reassured. He then turned to the AI woman beside him and said in a serious tone, "Make sure to stay by Sir's side and ensure he is fine while sleeping inside."
The AI woman lowered her head slightly and replied, [As you command.]
Hearing her response, Nathan nodded, clearly pleased. He bowed once more toward Mario before finally turning and leaving.
As Nathan disappeared from view, Mario unconsciously let out a quiet breath of relief.
'…How exhausting.'
The conversation had only lasted a short while, yet even so, he still felt drained.
He shook his head lightly, then turned toward the AI woman and asked, "How long would it take?"
[It depends, sir, on the level of impurities within your body. Most require three days. The shortest recorded duration is one and a half days, while the longest extends to five days,] she replied in the same familiar soft yet emotionless voice.
Mario was slightly surprised by that. In the latest simulation, the longest time recorded before him had been an entire week—until he surpassed it, lasting a full week and three days.
Knowing the academy's opening was only a week away, Mario gave a calm instruction. "If I'm not finished by the day of enrollment, wake me."
[As you command, sir.]
"How should I begin, then?"
[Sir, please remove your shirt and the weighted bracelets on your limbs, then stand near that machine.] As she spoke, she gestured toward the empty capsule to the side.
Mario followed her instructions, stepping closer to the capsule. He removed his shirt and the weighted bracelets from his wrists and ankles—each weighing 10 kg—and placed them neatly to the side.
The AI woman walked up to the machine and pressed several buttons on its side. With a soft hiss of steam and a faint mechanical sound, the capsule opened.
She retrieved several thin tubes connected to the capsule, each tipped with a fine needle, along with an oxygen mask, before approaching Mario.
[Sir, please extend both of your arms forward,] she instructed.
Mario complied, watching as she steadily inserted the needles into the veins of both his arms. She then moved closer, piercing both of his shoulders, crouched down to do the same to his legs, and finally repeated the process on his torso before carefully placing the oxygen mask over his face.
[Sir, please enter.]
Without a word, Mario stepped into the capsule. He watched as she pressed something again on the side panel, and the capsule door slid shut.
He remained still, waiting.
A minute later, a transparent liquid began to rise slowly from the bottom of the capsule. Almost another minute passed before Mario was fully submerged. Soon after, a faintly strange-smelling air seeped through the oxygen mask.
Drowsiness crept over him, subtle but insistent. He didn't resist—he closed his eyes and let himself drift into sleep.
—
Time passed.
Mario was still inside the capsule, submerged in the liquid from before. The liquid was no longer transparent—dark hues swirled through it, impurities from his body expelled slowly over days.
The liquid began draining from below. Moments later, the capsule was empty.
Mario woke to a strange, piercing smell seeping through the oxygen mask on his face. He frowned, briefly disoriented, before remembering where he was.
The capsule door opened slowly. Outside stood the same AI woman, waiting.
She stepped forward, removing the oxygen mask and the needles from his body before handing him his white shirt and weighted bracelets. Then she stepped back, giving him space.
Mario took the shirt from her and slipped it on. Though he had been submerged in liquid, he was dry and clean—defying what one would expect. Still, a faint, unusual scent lingered, and he wrinkled his nose in mild displeasure.
He then fastened the weighted bracelets around his wrists and ankles, noticing that each felt surprisingly loose.
Not dwelling on it, he turned to the AI woman and asked, "How long has it been?"
[Sir, you have had the longest cleansing duration recorded, lasting almost seven days.]
"So… am I done?" Mario asked, scanning his body. Despite still wearing the weighted bracelets, he felt an unusual sense of lightness.
[Yes, sir. Your muscles and veins have been fully cleansed,] she replied in the same tone.
Mario nodded slightly, his eyes sweeping across the room. All of the capsules were now empty. He noticed two identical-looking youths—a woman and a man—both appearing to have just finished, like him.
After a brief glance, Mario put on his usual mask and inclined his head slightly toward the AI woman. In his usual polite tone, he said, "Please convey my gratitude to Sir Nathan."
[I'll pass the message as you command.]
Mario walked out, the AI woman following. He headed toward the elevator and pressed the button for the ground floor. Just as the doors were about to close—
"Wait!" A voice rang out from the hallway.
Mario glanced up, his finger pausing over the close button.
The same identical-looking youths from earlier appeared, accompanied by a man with a stiff expression—clearly another AI human. Both stepped into the elevator with the AI man.
The young man spoke first. "Thanks."
Mario nodded in acknowledgment and pressed the close button.
The elevator ascended slowly, silence settling over the group.
Ding~
The doors opened. Mario stepped out first, heading toward the other elevator, the siblings following behind. Both AI humans went to their own destinations.
***
After reaching his unit, Mario immediately headed toward the bed and took out some spare clothes from the paper bag beside the long briefcase.
He went straight to the bathroom afterward, uncomfortable with the strange smell clinging to his body.
Mario washed himself repeatedly with fragrant soap, over and over. Yet something felt… different. Pausing, he rinsed off the soap and stepped toward the bathroom mirror, completely naked.
His reflection immediately caught his attention. The skin on his face had tightened, sharpening his jawline. It was smooth, free from the pimples and freckles that had once marked him.
He shifted his gaze to his abdomen. The muscles there were more defined and pronounced. His shoulders had grown refined as well, the contours of the muscles now visible and sleek.
Even his hands, usually marked with knife scars from two years of fish cleaning, were clear—smooth, unblemished.
Stepping back, he examined his body overall. He seemed slightly taller, though he had already been tall before the cleansing.
Mario's physique had transformed into a lean, muscular form, every muscle defined and precise.
'So… that's why I felt lighter earlier,' realization dawned on him.
He shook his head and sniffed himself. The strange smell lingered, prompting a frown as he returned to the shower to wash again.
Almost an hour later, Mario emerged, satisfied. He tossed his worn clothes into the trash, not planning to wear them again.
Still not feeling tired—after nearly seven days of sleep—he sat on the bed, took the book he had forgotten to return to the library from the small table, leaned back against the headboard, and began to read.