> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://gimicworks.ghost.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Cost of Life Extension — Chapter 2 - URL: https://gimicworks.ghost.io/the-cost-of-life-extension-chapter-1-2/ - Published: 2026-10-03T14:45:17.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-04T17:04:49.000Z - Author: Gimic The dim depths. A cold current brushed against her skin. She let herself drift with it, neither strong nor weak, until she could no longer tell which way was up and which way was down. Every so often, bubbles rose with a hollow gurgle and vanished. (...baseline readings of overall physical condition acquired...) (...Grandma Ryuna... Mom said...) (...removal of microthrombi confirmed...) (...we will now proceed with [the life-extension oath](#tpb-note-001-life-extension-oath)...) Countless bubbles rose around her. Blue. Red. Yellow. Colors of every kind, each carrying its own warmth, filled the water. (...vascular endothelial rejuvenation... cardiovascular stress test...) (...Ryuna... [the Phase Two treatment period](#tpb-note-002-phase-two)...) (...hepatic function... renal function... molecular repair of intervertebral discs...) (...It’s all right... now close your eyes...) An eternity passed in an instant, and every moment of the past became one before her eyes. (...blood-brain barrier repair... glial-system repair complete...) (...What am I supposed to do...? All by myself...) (...initiating [second neuronal procedure](#tpb-note-003-second-neuronal-procedure)... beginning staged withdrawal...) (Your life is worth living.) “Darling...” Her eyes flew open. It took several seconds for the scene before her to connect with the meaning: a hospital room. A catheter attached to her left hand. Medical equipment surrounding her. And a pink ball staring back at her. That, too, connected with something in her memory. “Lulu...” “Yes. Did you sleep well?” “Yes... I feel fine...” She felt neither overslept nor sleep-deprived. More like she had dozed off without noticing and awakened at exactly the right moment. “What time is it?” She tried to sit up and look for a clock, but her body would not cooperate. “Eight in the morning. You still can’t manage on your own.” At Lulu’s words, the arm of a [care robot](#tpb-note-004-care-robot) moved in and supported Ryuna. “...How long has it been?” “Twenty days. You’ll now enter approximately ten days of rehabilitation.” “I see...” She slowly lay back down. Taking a deep breath, she rested the back of her left hand against her forehead. When she closed her eyes, she could feel warmth where her skin touched. Not just her hand. Her cheeks. Her earlobes. Even the tips of her toes felt warm. She opened her eyes again. There, in front of her, was her own unfamiliar left hand, without a single wrinkle. “After breakfast, you have an examination scheduled. Please let me know when you’re finished.” Only a few days earlier, it had been just her and Lulu in the room. Now that she could sit up, however, several humanoid [nursing robot](#tpb-note-005-nursing-robot)s had begun coming and going. “I can’t eat all this...” Breakfast was toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, grilled tomato, and yogurt. “Just start with whatever you can manage.” Encouraged by Lulu’s gentle voice, Ryuna took a small taste of the yogurt. Something deep inside her body seemed to have been stirred, and somehow, she found it surprisingly easy to finish everything. Not long after she swallowed the last bite, the same nursing robot from earlier came in to clear the dishes. Ryuna sat on the edge of the bed, clasped her hands over her knees, and looked around for a while. “...Lulu. Where’s the bathroom?” “Out the door and to the left down the corridor.” “I’m allowed to leave the room?” “Yes.” She stood. Strength flowed into both legs. There was no ache in her hip joints, no fear at being without her cane. The door seemed to rush toward her in an instant. Outside, the corridor had [the atmosphere of a large hospital ward](#tpb-note-006-hospital-ward). Nursing robots moved equipment and meals back and forth, and voices drifted from other rooms as people talked. There was a wash kit beside the restroom sink, so after using the toilet, she cleaned herself up. The mirror reflected a version of herself she had not seen anywhere but in her own mind for more than half a century. [Her twenty-something self](#tpb-note-010-ryuna-mirror). “Fifteen minutes elapsed.” At Lulu’s announcement, [Ryuna slowed the treadmill](#tpb-note-011-ryuna-running). She bent forward with her hands on her knees, breathing hard as sweat dripped from her forehead. “How far?” “One point five kilometers.” “That’s amazing!” “It is below the average for women in their twenties, but it is Ryuna’s [best recorded performance](#tpb-note-007-best-recorded-performance) from that period.” “...Oh.” “Next, you have an appointment in the counseling room. You are scheduled to receive information regarding your life after discharge.” “Huh... Did they approve what I asked for?” Ryuna wiped the sweat from her face with the towel around her neck. “Yes. That had already been finalized before the procedure. As requested, you have been approved for residence in the United States and admission to the Department of Medicine within the School of Bioengineering at Alderwick University.” “Medicine?” “Yes. The medical school Ryuna once attended no longer exists. Modern medicine is now primarily concerned with ethical questions regarding how medical intervention ought to be practiced. Specific treatment technologies are handled as engineering disciplines, such as genetic engineering and cellular engineering.” “What? Then what about [medical license](#tpb-note-008-medical-license)s?” “Medical licenses still exist. Naturally, a license is required to perform medical practice. It can also be obtained through the Department of Medicine.” “A lot really has changed, hasn’t it? Between then and now. Right... The world I knew was [a hundred years ago](#tpb-note-009-hundred-years-ago). Of course it’s different.” She tossed the used towel into the collection bin and headed for the counseling room. The moment she entered, the counseling AI spoke. “How are you feeling?” “Pretty good. I’m getting used to things.” “How is your memory from before the life-extension procedure? Who did you spend your final days with?” “My whole family got together and threw me a birthday party.” “I’m glad to hear that. Do you have any concerns about your new life?” “...I don’t know. Maybe I don’t feel anything yet. It still doesn’t feel real.” “Our support will continue after you leave this facility. Please contact us at any time.” This was already her eighth counseling session, and every one of them had been filled with the same inconsequential conversation. They were probably checking for discrepancies between her present personality and memories and those from before the procedure. Even so, boring was boring. “How much longer until I can leave?” “Your recovery has been proceeding smoothly. You are scheduled for discharge the day after tomorrow.” “And after that I’m on my own?” “Your new residence has already been prepared. We will escort you there.” “That helps. I don’t have a penny to my name.” “We can provide support for your living expenses for the time being after discharge. Please don’t worry.” “Thank you.” There were countless things she wanted to ask. But every one of them was about herself. And no matter how many questions she asked, the answers could only be found inside her. Ryuna gently pulled Lulu into her arms, then left the room. ## The Life-Extension Oath The final confirmation of consent conducted by the Bureau of Bioidentity before the life-extension procedure. By the time this day arrives, both the individual and the AI agent registered as their representative have already received extensive explanations regarding the procedure itself, the individual’s post-extension life plan, the rules that apply to life-extended persons, and other relevant matters. All necessary decisions have also been made in advance. ## The Phase Two Treatment Period The life-extension procedure is divided into four phases. **Phase One:** Restoration of basic functions in the aged body **Phase Two:** Large-scale rejuvenation of the entire body **Phase Three:** Neurological and sensory adjustment **Phase Four:** Adaptation to daily life Rather than rebuilding every cell and tissue from scratch, structures such as bones, tendons, cartilage, blood vessels, and skin are repaired while preserving their existing framework—for example, by correcting collagen cross-linking and mineral structure. ## Second Neuronal Procedure Rather than replacing the neurons themselves, the procedure focuses on DNA and mitochondrial repair, restoration of protein homeostasis, removal of cellular waste, epigenetic rejuvenation, and similar processes. Patterns of neural activity are compared before and after treatment to monitor for any unexpected changes in memory-related networks. ## Care Robot An assistive arm installed beside the bed. It is linked to Lulu, allowing her to operate it whenever necessary. ## Nursing Robot Performs nursing tasks such as measuring blood pressure and pulse, drawing blood, and serving meals. A dedicated nursing robot is not actually necessary, but one is deployed to help preserve the patient’s sense of social interaction and prevent the treatment environment from becoming completely isolated. ## The Atmosphere of a Large Hospital Ward Ryuna is not actually staying in a large hospital. Sounds of everyday activity are played and background robots are placed around the facility solely to help preserve the patient’s sense of social engagement. Because life-extended individuals are assigned a new social identity after discharge, the treatment facility is designed to operate without human personnel becoming involved. ## Best Recorded Performance This is a comparison with Ryuna’s treadmill records from when she used to go to the gym. As the numbers make fairly obvious, she was not a track athlete, so Lulu is not comparing her performance with any official athletic record. ## Medical License A license required for those involved in the design and development of AI-based medical systems, as well as those responsible for supervising treatment performed by AI. Humans no longer perform surgery with their own hands, but anatomy courses using bioloids are still conducted in order to deepen students’ understanding of human anatomy and medical procedures. ## A Hundred Years Ago Ryuna spent her twenties at the same university. At the time, departments such as bioengineering and genetic engineering existed under a traditional **School of Medicine**. Today, that relationship has been reversed: the **Department of Medicine** is now housed within the **School of Bioengineering**. ## Ryuna ![Ryuna seeing her rejuvenated reflection in the mirror](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ff/75/ff75e0d7-62cf-4b76-a127-e0db9c58d6b1/content/images/2026/10/Ryuna_in_the_mirror-1.webp) Ryuna’s hair is not rejuvenated, so it remains white. Its pigmentation will be restored before she is discharged. ## Ryuna ![Ryuna running on a treadmill during rehabilitation](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ff/75/ff75e0d7-62cf-4b76-a127-e0db9c58d6b1/content/images/2026/10/Ryuna_running-1.webp) To shift her motor control from the habits of an elderly body to those of a young one, the rehabilitation program includes extensive physical training.