The Wizard Has A Biochip

Chapter 23: The book is mine, hehehe...

—What are you waiting for?

—Those books are yours now.

I didn’t wait for a second command.

I walked over to the workbench and carefully stacked all the volumes in my arms. They were heavy—far heavier than they looked. Each cover was thick, reinforced with leather and metal plates at the corners.

As I adjusted the weight, a conclusion came naturally.

It’s exactly as I imagined...

He has no intention of teaching us step by step.

He simply provides knowledge.

The rest... depends on the student.

Even though I had already expected this, I couldn’t help feeling a slight disappointment.

I looked up at the master.

—Master Totil...

—Yes?

—When are you actually going to teach us how to build something?

For a moment, silence filled the room.

Then...

—HAHAHAHAHAHA!!

The dwarf placed his massive hand on his stomach as he laughed so loudly that several tools vibrated across the workbenches.

His long beard shook along with his booming laughter.

After a few seconds, he took a deep breath.

—Boy...

He pointed to the stack of books in my arms.

—Everything you need to know to get started is right there.

His smile vanished.

—From this point on...

—Everything depends solely on your own effort.

He walked toward me.

He stopped directly in front of me.

Then his eyes met mine.

There was an overwhelming seriousness in his gaze.

—Listen carefully to what I’m about to tell you.

My body instinctively straightened.

—Forget the life you had before entering the Tower.

—Never expect help from anyone...

—Or any magical creature...

—For free.

—Because that...

He paused briefly.

—Will be your downfall.

I swallowed hard.

Before I realized it, a chill ran down my spine.

Those words didn’t sound like advice.

They sounded like experience.

Experience earned in the worst possible way.

Silence lingered for a few seconds.

Then...

Totil smiled again.

—Hahaha!

He slapped one hand against the workbench.

—There’s still one book left.

—The most important one of all.

Lina and I exchanged a glance.

Neither of us said a word.

The dwarf returned to the old dust-covered chest.

He began rummaging through its contents.

Parts.

Papers.

Screws.

Old books.

Tools.

After a few moments, he frowned.

—Strange...

He walked over to another workbench.

He opened several drawers.

Nothing.

He scratched his beard.

Then he raised a hand.

—Miny Try~~

Tiny green particles appeared in the air.

At their center, a small creature about forty centimeters tall appeared.

It was a leprechaun.

He wore an elegant dark green suit.

Shiny black shoes.

A hat adorned with a golden four-leaf clover.

He floated calmly in the air.

He looked at me first.

Then at Lina.

Finally, he turned his attention to the dwarf.

He politely removed his hat.

—You called for me, Master Totil?

Totil crossed his arms.

—Miny...

—Where’s the book on the Second-Level Meditation Technique for Acolytes?

The leprechaun blinked.

—Second level?

—That’s right.

—The one with the blue cover?

Totil shook his head.

—No.

—The gray one.

—With gold trim.

The little creature placed a hand on his chin.

—Hmm...

—Isn’t it in the chest?

—If it were, I wouldn’t have called you.

—Is it in one of the drawers?

—I already looked.

The leprechaun began thinking seriously.

Suddenly, his eyes widened.

—Ah!

—Now I remember!

Totil raised an eyebrow.

—Where?

—I lent it to Archivist Bronn so he could make a copy...

—He returned it...

—And I stored it in Suspended Vault Number Seven.

Totil let out a sigh.

—Finally.

—Just wait a moment!

The leprechaun vanished in an explosion of tiny green leaves.

Meanwhile...

My heart began to race.

A Second-Level Meditation Technique...

Finally.

Up until that moment, I had only been using the technique adapted by the biochip based on the First-Level Meditation Technique.

But that had its limits.

Without a superior technique, I would never be able to officially break through to the second stage of the acolyte rank.

Money.

Prestige.

Knowledge.

All of those were important.

But personal strength...

That was the true life insurance policy in this world.

A few seconds later...

Pop~~

The leprechaun reappeared, holding a single book.

It was thin.

Its cover was dark gray.

Golden runes stretched across its entire surface.

He handed it to Totil.

—Here it is, Master.

—Thank you.

The little creature bowed and disappeared once again.

Totil held the book carefully.

Then he looked back at us.

—This...

—Isn’t an engineering book.

—It contains a Second-Level Meditation Technique.

—Any acolyte who completely masters this technique will be able to break through to the Second Level...

—Provided they possess sufficient talent.

Lina took a deep breath.

So did I.

Then Totil smiled.

A dangerously amused smile.

—Obviously...

He spun the book between his fingers.

—This knowledge won’t come free.

I looked at Lina.

She looked back at me.

At that moment...

We looked like mortal enemies.

Totil flashed a broad grin.

—Very well.

—Place your bids.

Lina spoke first.

—Two hundred magical crystals.

I answered immediately.

—Two hundred and fifty.

—Three hundred.

—Three hundred and twenty.

—Three hundred and fifty.

—Four hundred.

She stared at me.

I took a deep breath.

—Four hundred and fifty magical crystals.

The laboratory fell silent.

Lina clenched her fists.

It was obvious she wanted that book.

After a few seconds, she spoke through gritted teeth.

—I can offer more.

—But the funds my family is sending won’t arrive until next month.

Totil slowly nodded.

—Then the situation is simple.

He raised the book.

—Whoever brings the money first...

—Gets the book first.

I smiled.

I raised my hand.

—Master.

—Yes?

—The money is in my room.

—May I go get it quickly?

Totil made a dismissive gesture.

—Go ahead.

I didn’t even wait to hear the rest.

I dashed toward the door.

Before stepping through it, I looked back.

I met Lina’s gaze.

I smiled.

Then I winked.

She closed her eyes for a moment and let out a long sigh.

—How irritating.

She already knew.

Even if her family could offer more money later...

She couldn’t win a race against someone who already had the crystals in hand.

I sprinted through the Tower’s corridors, took the elevator up, entered the dormitory, and retrieved the 450 magical crystals from a hidden compartment where I had stored my savings.

Naturally, before leaving my room, I placed the books on the desk where I would study them later.

A few minutes later, I returned to the laboratory. I wasn’t out of breath because I had practiced the Vital Energy Technique, and my body possessed decent stamina.

I carefully placed the leather pouch on the workbench.

The crystals clinked as they struck one another.

Totil opened the pouch.

He quickly checked its contents.

He nodded in satisfaction.

—Four hundred and fifty.

He closed the pouch and put it away.

Then he extended the book toward me.

—Congratulations, George Gil.

—The Second-Level Arcane Meditation Technique for Acolytes now belongs to you.

I accepted the volume with both hands.

That purchase had consumed nearly half of all the savings I had accumulated.

But I didn’t feel the slightest regret.

Master Totil put away the pouch containing the magical crystals without showing the slightest emotion.

Then he simply let out a weary sigh.

Without another word, he turned his back on us and walked over to the large workbench where he had left the partially dismantled mechanism.

He picked up a small precision wrench.

Adjusted one gear.

Then another.

It was as though our presence had already ceased to exist.

As he worked, he spoke without even looking back.

—You’re both dismissed.

—Come back only when you have results.

—I don’t want to hear excuses.

—I want results.

—It can be a functional device created by the two of you.

—Or a breakthrough to the Second Level of Acolyte.

—Either one is acceptable.

—But bring me something that proves you didn’t waste my time.

Lina and I exchanged a brief glance.

Then we answered in unison.

—Yes, Master!

Totil merely raised one hand, indicating that he had heard us.

We were already heading toward the door when Lina stopped.

She took a deep breath before asking respectfully.

—Master Totil...

The dwarf continued working.

—Hm?

—Is there another copy of the Second-Level Meditation Technique?

—Or any way to obtain it through you?

Totil didn’t even pause his work.

He continued adjusting the mechanism as he answered.

—No.

Lina’s shoulders slumped slightly.

—But that doesn’t mean you’re out of options.

—Use whatever devices you manage to build.

—Sell them.

—Or use the crystals your family sends you.

—Then find another teacher.

Lina lifted her head again.

Totil continued.

—It won’t be difficult to find someone willing to sell a meditation technique for a few extra crystals.

He smiled faintly.

—Especially teachers from fields that don’t depend as heavily on personal strength.

—Blacksmithing...

—Herbalism...

—Mining...

—There’s always someone interested in increasing their income.

—Just don’t expect a discount.

The tension Lina had been carrying disappeared.

—Thank you very much for the advice, Master.

Totil simply waved a hand, dismissing any further formalities.

We didn’t linger any longer.

We left the enormous laboratory.

As soon as the heavy metal door closed behind us, the corridor became silent once more.

For a while, we walked side by side.

Neither of us spoke.

Until Lina finally broke the silence.

—You were lucky.

—You happened to have exactly the right amount of crystals at exactly the right time.

I nodded.

—It was luck...

—But it was also preparation.

She turned toward the opposite corridor.

—See you later, George.

—See you later, Lina.

I watched as she calmly walked down the Tower’s corridor until she disappeared from sight.

The moment she was gone...

My expression changed completely.

I clutched the book against my chest.

Now.

I need to digitize this immediately.

...

1641 Words