The Mech Touch

something similar to their work?

Yet as much as mech designers valued the sanctity of their design philosophies, they valued their lives even more!

What was the use of hoarding all of their knowledge if they couldn ’t leverage them into improving their lives?

Everyone knew that the Big Two and the first-rate superstates held an oligopoly on high-grade life-prolonging treatments.
While it was easy enough for someone wealthy to extend their lives by a hundred years, any step further than that could only be exchanged from one of those four powerful entities!

”Secrets are valuable, Mr.
Larkinson. ” The professor continued.
”The MTA recognizes that fact.
Therefore, we have a very sophisticated remuneration scheme in place.
The greater your contribution, the more merits you receive.
You are doing every mech designer in the galaxy a huge favor if you illuminate a better way to design a mech.
Many of the older generation see it as a way to leave a legacy behind. ”

”I see. ”

The MTA essentially established a market for trade secrets.
As long as the price was right, mech designers were more than willing to give away their secrets for an opportunity to extend their lives!

”As a newly-advanced Journeyman, we won ’t ask you to reveal your methods or anything too sensitive.
For now, we merely want you to describe your design philosophy in more detail so that we can develop a more precise understanding of your specialty.
We will maintain utmost confidentiality of everything you reveal in this office. ”

The professor didn ’t phrase his words as a request, which was a very clever wordplay on his part.
It sounded as if it was already a given that Ves would comply!

Ves smiled at the professor.
”Okay.
I trust the MTA.
I haven ’t revealed the premise of my design philosophy to anyone, not even my subordinate mech designer.
It ’s very controversial. ”

”The MTA has encountered many different design philosophies, some of which are really unusual.
Regardless of how eccentric your design philosophy sounds, we will never judge you for that.
Plenty of mech designers with unusual design philosophies have gone on to advance to Master and made the impossible into the possible! ”

”Alright..
here goes then. ” Ves sighed and took a deep breath.
”As you already know, I describe my specialization as metaphysical man-machine symbiosis.
The central premise of my design philosophy is that I believe there is more to mechs than mechs.
They are different from bots in that they are intricately tied to their human mech pilots! ”

”That is true.
Is that where the symbiosis comes from? ”

”Yes! ” Ves adopted an impassioned expression.
”Humans are powerful! When they combine their strengths with mechs, they contribute much more than their thoughts and their decision-making! What happens on a technical level is not the extent of what happens when a mech pilot interfaces with a mech! Instead, they empower each other! ”

The professor frowned a little.
”In what way? ”

”Ah, that ’s where the metaphysical part of my design philosophy comes in! While most mech designers focus on the technical performance of their mechs, I believe that there is much more to improve! It is an attribute that is intricately tied to the mech pilots of the mechs! ”

”And that is? ”

”Divinity! ”

”…Divinity? ” The professor questioned.

”Yes! Divinity! Godhood! ” Ves raved.
”It wasn ’t until I visited the Ylvaine Protectorate and experienced their wonderful faith that I finally realized the truth! The metaphysical component of my design philosophy stands for divinity! ”

The professor remained silent while Ves elaborated on his point.

”When I founded my company, I decided to call it the Living mech Corporation.
This name expresses my belief that mechs can be more than lifeless objects! They ’re different from a hammer or a pistol! Although they are built rather than grown, I believe the man-machine connection facilitates a symbiotic relationship between the mech and the mech pilot that allow the both of them to acquire each other ’s traits! ”

”That is..
a remarkable assumption. ” The professor frowned.
”While it is proven that the minds of mech pilots gradually adjusts the longer they interface with a mech, I have never heard of mechs adjusting in response to being piloted. ”

”That is because it can ’t be measured! It all happens on a metaphysical level! Don ’t you see, professor? Mechs are capable of coming alive because they receive the worship of their mech pilots! This is the secret to Ylvainan transcendence! Although ordinary worship isn ’t very effective because of all the barriers in the way, the man-machine connection skips most of that! By connecting the mind of a mech pilot directly with the systems of a mech, they share an extremely close connection! My design philosophy believes that as long as mechs are designed in a certain fashion, they can capture the worship of the mech pilots and come alive under their control as gods! ”

”This.. ”

”Just think of the potential! ” Ves exuberantly yelled.
”As long as I succeed, mech design will undergo a pivotal transformation! No longer will I be regarded as someone who designs mechs! Instead, I ’ll become known as a designer of gods! My creations may look like machines, but hidden inside is beating the metaphysical hearts of gods! This is my ultimate aspiration! This is the future of mech design! Countless people will worship my new gods! In exchange, my gods will fight on behalf of their worshippers! No ordinary mech will be able to withstand the might of my gods! Not even god pilots will be able to withstand the flood of mass-produced gods! ”

The professor didn ’t bother to hide his astonishment.

This was exactly what Ves wanted to see! Even if he was releasing a torrent of nonsense from his mouth, he sincerely believed in this vision due to donning a mask!

Ves deliberately chose to describe his design philosophy in this manner because he wanted to exploit the MTA ’s biases.

While the Association may claim to be open-minded, as a very science and research-focused organization, they did not take well to religion and superstition!

One of the most surefire ways to drive a mech designer crazy was to invoke unverifiable beliefs!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc..
), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible.

Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.