How much knowledge does one need to become a Tech-Priest?
Omega isn't sure yet, but judging by the formulas and knowledge that pop out of the books as he flips through them, he could go back and become a doctor right now.
Imagine scattering all this knowledge across tens of thousands of religious and philosophical books, and then having one person learn it all through self-study.
Genius is no longer enough to describe such a person.
Praise the omnissiah! He brought me out of the cultivation pod, gave me a brain that never forgets, and an indestructible body.
Another half month passed, and Omega, now familiar with his surroundings, was going to do something important today—corner Sage Lauster.
What for? To ask for money!
Who knows how Omega has been living this past month?
Thirsty, he drank purified water; hungry, he ate starch sticks.
It got to the point where Omega, during one bathroom break, had a sudden thought: he felt like what went in was not much different from what came out.
There was also a certain scheming "Oil Girl" who tried to lure him into the laboratory with various baits.
He couldn't care less if others could tolerate it; he certainly couldn't.
Early in the morning, Omega was fully equipped, carrying his large axe, striding confidently towards the data hub.
The data hub was as busy as it had been a month ago, and upon seeing Omega, the more lively Priests already playfully greeted him.
"Good morning, Tech-Priest Omega."
"Good morning, Sage Randy."
"Ready to serve the omnissiah so soon, Tech-Priest Omega?"
"I think using child labor is something the omnissiah wouldn't want to see, Sage Higgins." Omega replied jokingly, making several people nearby burst into laughter.
"Tech-Priest Omega is truly humorous. I look forward to working with you in the future."
"Me too."
Every Priest had their own tasks, and after a few playful remarks with Omega, they all returned to their work.
Omega shamelessly stood at the doorway, axe a head taller than him, ensuring that everyone entering and exiting could see him.
Soon, the person he was waiting for appeared—Sage Lauster.
"Hmm? Why are you standing here?"
"Good morning, Sage Lauster, I have something to discuss with you."
"What could you possibly want from me?"
Sage Lauster's steps did not falter for a moment, and Omega followed half a step behind him.
"It's like this, Sage, I have something I'd like to consult you about."
Sage Lauster impatiently said, "Don't beat around the bush, my time is limited!"
Omega immediately blurted out what he wanted to say: "Sage, I want to ask, as a Tech-Priest myself, do I get a salary?"
"..."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the previously noisy data hub immediately fell silent.
Lauster somewhat doubted his ears and asked uncertainly, "What did you just say?"
Omega, who was psychologically prepared, did not flinch from the atmosphere. For the sake of adding some industrial sweetener to his starch sticks, and for a change of clothes, he went all out.
"I want to ask, as a Tech-Priest, how much is my monthly salary?"
Omega saw several Priests who enjoyed a good show already connecting their data cables to each other, communicating in binary language privately.
Omega also understood the meaning conveyed by Sage Lauster's incredulous gaze:
You freeloader, how can you say such a shameless thing?
Omega remained silent, merely propping his mechanical axe, then used the bionic limb on his back to smooth the wrinkles on his red robe.
This made Sage Lauster's face twitch.
"Priest?"
"Hmm."
"Heh!"
"Future!"
"You also know!"
"I can take out a loan!"
"..."
"What a talent…" A certain Priest who enjoyed the show couldn't help but exclaim.
Lauster never expected that, even after having a mechanical heart, he could still experience the sensation of his blood pressure soaring.
"No loans!"
"Then what about living expenses?"
"None!"
"..."
"Sage, let's calm down and analyze this rationally."
"Are you saying I'm not rational!?"
"Sage, this body of mine needs sufficient nutrition to develop faster. The sooner it matures, the sooner I can perform my duties, which is actively beneficial to the Temple."
"..."
"Similarly, living in the Mechanical Temple inevitably involves contact with Priests, apprentices, and workers. Although I cannot yet be considered a full Priest, in the eyes of those outside the Temple, there is no difference. Therefore, my personal attire and appearance also represent the image of the Priests and the Mechanical Temple."
"..."
"So I need money to meet my physical and living needs. This request is reasonable and consistent with the interests of the Temple and yourself, Sage."
"..."
"Well-reasoned and brilliant!" A certain Sage who enjoyed the show.
"I second Tech-Priest Omega's statement." A certain "Oil Girl" who enjoyed the show.
"Now, just recalling the days of gnawing on starch sticks makes my stomach hurt."
"Stomach ache? Cut it out. Weak flesh only hinders our pursuit of knowledge."
Sage Lauster replied coldly, "That makes sense, but I don't like it."
"Alright, Sage." Omega replied helplessly, then turned around.
Just as Lauster thought the other party was leaving, he saw Omega merely leaning his mechanical axe against the wall before turning back, walking up to him. Just as he was about to tell Omega to get lost, he saw Omega plop down on the ground and hug his leg.
It startled him so much that if his modified brain hadn't reacted in microseconds, realizing Omega's actions posed no danger, he wouldn't have stopped his automatically activating weapons, nor would he have been hugged by Omega.
Unaware that he had just walked past the gates of hell, Omega's heart had already died. He was about to face social death, but he wouldn't regret it; starch sticks with water were simply too terrifying for a soul from the 2K era.
"Sage! Give me a chance! I just want some living expenses!"
"Let go of me!"
"You promised!"
"Let…"
"No, I won't let go until you agree!"
"Electric shock!"
"Ah…"
The outcome was good. Omega got the job he had longed for: piece-rate, daily pay, and included lunch—a good job that many workers in the 2K era couldn't get their hands on.
The next day, Adept Riya once again led Omega out of the Mechanical Temple, through the slave workers' residential area, and to the Mechanical Temple's warehouse district. Along the way, people constantly bowed and observed.
After all, even the slave workers, who were accustomed to seeing Priests who had modified themselves in all sorts of strange ways—some with three arms and four legs, some with wheels on their legs, some with long mechanical tentacles, and so on—had never seen one so short.
"Little Tech-Priest Omega, this is where you'll be working." Riya said, pointing to a row of Tech-Priests bowing before various weapons such as lasguns, hellguns, hot-shot lasguns, and laser cannons.
Omega thought: Indeed, a man's knees are worth gold.
"Father Jacob!"
"Adept Riya."
What a bright metal forehead!
"Father Jacob, I've brought Tech-Priest Omega."
"Oh, so this is the rumored Little Tech-Priest Omega, tsk tsk tsk."
That's right, Omega had become famous. Because of his childlike crying and his actual age, the Priests who enjoyed the show bestowed upon him the nickname "Little Priest," and the video data spread throughout the communication network of hundreds of Priests in the Mechanical Temple.
"Greetings, Sage Jacob." Omega greeted expressionlessly; of course, with his mask on, others couldn't see his face.
As for why he wore a purification mask despite not fearing "low" radiation, it was because of the toxic fumes from the factory and "rad-dust." Omega intended to keep his original lungs for a few more years.
"Haha, greetings, Little Priest. Come with me."
What exactly was Omega's job? It was to "bless" newly produced weapons.
It's quite normal for a "Priest" with such a theological degree to "consecrate" or "bless" weapons.
Machines have life, they have souls. To ensure every newborn machine operates normally, to ensure every newborn machine spirit is pleased and does not malfunction, and to ensure every human weapon can resist the corrosive corruption of Warp evil forces.
According to the Adeptus Mechanicus scriptures and rituals, it is essential for a Tech-Priest to bless and consecrate new machinery.
Although Omega was not yet a complete Priest, his status as a Priest could not be denied by anyone, giving him the legal right to bestow blessings according to the Adeptus Mechanicus.
Under the guidance of Father Jacob, he received the necessary tools for blessing: a board, pliers, a screwdriver, a spray bottle, holy oil, a bell, an incense burner, and a ritual text. He was also assigned an empty workbench.
Omega arranged his tools, lit the incense burner, held his breath, and with focused attention, opened the item called a "text," which was actually a maintenance manual, and began to read.
Lasgun — Imperial standard laser gun, the longest-serving, most widely distributed, and most numerous weapon in the Imperium of Man, the nightmare of Xenos, and the favorite of the Astra Militarum grunts.
Weight: 2.3 kg
Length: 90cm
Power Pack Type: 19 Megathules (provides 150 standard shots) (rechargeable)
Firing Modes: Single shot, full auto