The Wizard Has A Biochip

A few hours later...

I slowly closed the last book.

I let out a long sigh and rubbed my eyes for a few seconds.

[Beep!]

[Content recorded.]

[Volumes added to the database.]

[Indexing complete.]

[Knowledge available for immediate consultation.]

I leaned back in my chair.

The information automatically organized itself within my mind.

Without this biochip, I would have been completely lost.

Just to finish reading those six volumes, an ordinary student would probably need several months.

To truly understand all of the content...

Perhaps more than a year.

I had done it in a single afternoon.

I couldn’t help but think of Lina.

At this very moment...

She was probably sitting in front of those same books.

Frantically turning page after page.

Trying to memorize formulas.

Memorizing runes.

Understanding mechanisms.

She must be tearing her hair out trying to read everything as fast as possible...

I closed my eyes for a moment.

—Biochip.

—Based on the books I received from Master Totil...

—List some useful inventions that could be built using this knowledge.

[Beep!]

A list began to fill the screen.

[Projects compatible with the user’s current knowledge]

[1. Arcane Night Vision Goggles]

[Uses a small photosensitive crystal and light amplification runes to allow vision in dark environments while consuming only a minimal amount of mana.]

[2. Explosive Fire Crystal]

[Stores compressed fire-element mana inside a stabilized crystal. When activated or shattered, it releases a localized explosion of flames.]

[3. Permanent Runic Lantern]

[A small portable artifact capable of providing constant illumination for several months before requiring a recharge.]

[4. Heating Stone]

[Keeps containers or small spaces warm through a low-power thermal rune.]

[Ideal for dormitories and kitchens.]

[5. Refrigeration Crystal]

[The opposite device of the Heating Stone.]

[Used to preserve food and alchemical ingredients.]

[6. Runic Engraving Pen]

[A tool capable of assisting beginners in precisely engraving simple runes onto wood or metal.]

[7. Basic Magic Lock]

[Opens only when it receives a previously registered mana signature.]

Luminous Bracelet

A bracelet that automatically produces light whenever it detects dark surroundings.

.

.

And many others.

.

.

.

I continued scrolling through the extensive list.

It seemed endless.

Hundreds of small projects appeared before my eyes.

None of them were absurdly powerful.

But every single one was extremely useful.

That alone would be enough to make a lot of money...

My finger stopped on one particular project.

[Explosive Fire Crystal.]

[Beep!]

The holographic screen changed completely.

A three-dimensional image appeared before me.

At the center was a red crystal roughly the size of a thumb.

Its many internal layers could be seen thanks to the transparent model.

[Project: Explosive Fire Crystal]

[Category: Single-use offensive artifact.]

[Objective: Store high-density fire-element energy for instantaneous release upon activation.]

[The three-dimensional model rotated slowly.]

Small glowing points highlighted each layer.

[Internal Structure]

[Common mana crystal core.]

[First layer of compression runes.]

[Second layer of thermal stabilization.]

[Third layer containing a programmed rupture rune.]

[Heat-resistant outer coating.]

New information appeared.

[Required Materials]

[1 high-quality common Mana Crystal.]

[Volcanic Ruby Powder.]

[Salamander Essence (low purity).]

[Heat-resistant runic ink.]

[Refined copper and iron alloy for the outer coating.]

[Stabilizing magical resin.]

Then came the tools.

[Required Tools]

[Runic engraving workbench.]

[Precision magnifying glass.]

[Fine runic chisel.]

[Engraving hammer.]

[Low-temperature magical furnace.]

[Precision tweezers.]

[Mana flow meter.]

The projection displayed a small simulation.

The crystal was thrown at a target.

Upon impact...

The runes shattered.

The compressed energy escaped instantly.

An explosion of fire approximately three meters in diameter engulfed everything around it.

The damage wasn’t weak, but it also wasn’t powerful enough to destroy large creatures.

However, it was certainly capable of severely injuring anyone caught within the flames without protection or resistance.

Not bad...

But another conclusion quickly came to mind.

I closed the projection.

It’s no use.

Even possessing all this knowledge...

I still needed a laboratory.

I needed to buy tools.

I needed to acquire materials.

All of that cost money.

A lot of money.

I sighed.

Then I began thinking about something else.

Master Totil...

My gaze returned to the books.

If I show up tomorrow claiming I’ve already read everything...

Then build a functional artifact...

And afterward start producing dozens of devices...

What will he think?

The answer came immediately.

That there is something deeply wrong with me.

It would be better to keep acting like any other apprentice.

Perhaps...

In about seven months.

That would be a plausible amount of time for an apprentice to begin producing consistent results.

.

.

.

.

Several weeks passed.

.

.

.

My days were spent practicing the meditation technique and making occasional visits to the Arena of Death.

Thanks to the betting...

My pouch had finally reached an amount I never would have imagined possessing not long ago.

2,000 magic crystals.

It was a small fortune for a Level 1 acolyte.

That’s enough.

Earning crystals was addictive.

Every fight felt like an opportunity.

But there was one scene I never forgot.

Misty.

I still remembered perfectly the absurd ease with which she had subdued me when I climbed up to the VIP stands of the Arena of Death.

On that occasion...

I hadn’t even been able to react.

The memory cooled any enthusiasm I felt.

Money attracts attention.

And attention attracts powerful people.

Powerful people might simply decide that my crystals belong to them.

Two thousand is enough for now.

...

That day, I had a different objective.

I needed a laboratory.

A place where I could build my own devices.

Before heading to the commercial district, I went to the floor reserved for laboratories.

I walked through nearly the entire corridor.

Door after door.

Plaque after plaque.

Every one of them was occupied.

Some bore inscriptions displaying the owner’s name.

Others were protected by access runes.

Not a single one was available.

Just as I was about to give up, a young man dressed in the traditional robes of an alchemist approached one of the doors.

Before he went inside, I spoke.

—Excuse me.

He turned his head.

—Yes?

—Do you know where I could buy or rent a laboratory?

He smiled knowingly.

—That’s difficult.

—Every laboratory here already has an owner.

I looked down the corridor again.

—I figured as much.

He thought for a few seconds.

—But there is one possibility.

—What is it?

—The commercial district.

—Some acolytes spend practically their entire fortune setting up a laboratory.

—Then they simply fail to produce anything truly useful that can be sold.

—When that happens...

—They usually sell everything to recover part of their losses.

That made perfect sense.

—Thank you.

—Good luck.

I said goodbye and headed straight for the commercial district.

...

As always...

The place was bustling with activity.

Merchants shouted out their offers.

Acolytes bargained over ingredients.

There were even people offering live monsters locked inside small cages.

My plan was simple.

Find a good spot.

Start announcing that I was looking for an engineering laboratory.

Maybe someone would show up.

But before that...

I spotted a familiar face.

Eduard.

He was talking to a customer.

As soon as he finished the deal, he looked up and recognized me.

A smile immediately spread across his face.

—Well, well...

He opened his arms.

—If it isn’t my favorite customer.

I walked over with a laugh.

—Every customer is your favorite customer.

Eduard lowered his voice slightly.

—Back looking for some fun again?

—Fresh stock arrived yesterday.

—Top quality.

—I’m sure you’ll like it.

I shook my head.

—Not today.

—No?

—Actually...

—I wanted to ask about Ruby.

Eduard’s smile faded.

He remained silent for a few seconds before answering.

—I see...

—A few hours after you spent time with Ruby...

—A mage showed up.

—He said he was looking for some... ingredients... for an experiment.

—When he saw Ruby...

—He took her away.

I fell silent.

Then I asked,

—Did she ever come back?

He slowly shook his head.

—No.

—Since that day...

—I’ve never heard anything about her again.

A heavy weight settled in my chest.

Ruby was a slave, but I genuinely liked her.

Eduard discreetly glanced around.

Then he stepped a little closer.

He spoke almost in a whisper.

—George...

I tilted my head.

He continued in a low voice.

—Ruby is probably dead.

—Mages perform brutal experiments.

—Very few people survive after being taken away like that.

I remained completely silent.

After a few moments...

I let out a long sigh.

I lowered my gaze.

I slowly shook my head.

—I understand...

It was an answer I had already expected.

Even so...

Hearing it still hurt.

...

1423 Words

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