The Wizard Has A Biochip

Chapter 5: Helena, you’re really sweet... Wait, are they hanging someone? What kind of shitty school is this?

~~Rumble...

The sound echoed so loudly that I couldn’t help but grimace.

I placed a hand on my stomach.

—Yeah...

—I guess someone’s hungry.

The previous George’s memories quickly pointed me in the right direction.

Without thinking much about it, I slipped a hand into the pocket of my leather trousers.

My fingers found a small silver key.

I pulled it out.

Walked over to the bedroom door.

Inserted the key into the lock.

~~Click.

The lock disengaged.

I slowly pushed the door open.

The moment I stepped outside, a long stone corridor stretched out before me.

On both sides were dozens of identical doors.

Each bore a small number engraved on a metal plaque.

The acolytes’ rooms.

The corridor was already fairly busy.

Some students emerged yawning.

Others walked by carrying stacks of books.

Nearly all of them had deep dark circles under their eyes.

It was obvious they had spent the entire night studying.

Two young men walked past me, speaking in low voices.

—I finally managed to memorize the alphabet...

—And were you able to write a sentence?

The other let out a heavy sigh.

—Not even close.

—Those magical words are way too long.

—I always mess up one of the symbols.

—At least you can already form words.

Farther ahead, two girls walked side by side.

One of them looked utterly exhausted.

—I spent three hours trying to write "absorption," and I still got it wrong.

Her friend merely shook her head.

—The Tower really doesn’t go easy on newcomers.

Completely ignoring the conversations around me...

I closed the door behind me.

Turned the key once more.

~~Click.

I slipped it back into my pocket.

I was about to continue down the corridor when I heard another door opening.

I looked up.

Directly across from me.

The door to the opposite room slowly opened.

A girl stepped out.

She was short.

She had long, straight black hair.

Her yellow eyes possessed a very distinctive gleam.

Her skin was remarkably pale.

Her rosy lips stood out delicately against the rest of her face.

Tucked beneath her right arm was a thick book.

The moment she saw me...

She stopped walking.

Our eyes met.

She raised one eyebrow.

Then asked in a gentle voice.

—Have you given up on taking your own life?

The question was so direct that I remained silent for a few seconds.

I looked her up and down.

She really was beautiful.

Delicate.

Almost fragile—perfect for being raped.

Damn, do these thoughts of dominating women still follow me from my previous world? Because, aside from the technology, I unfortunately also have some character flaws.

Personally, I’m a bit of a degenerate.

I took a calm breath.

Then I answered.

—Yes.

I smiled faintly.

—After thinking it over... drinking poison didn’t make much sense.

She remained silent.

I continued.

—Besides...

I shrugged.

—Even if everything goes wrong here, I can still go back home and live as a noble.

—That’s already better than the reality of many people in this world.

She stared at me for several seconds.

Then...

—Hahaha...

A soft laugh escaped her lips.

—You finally sound like someone with some common sense.

She turned to close her bedroom door.

As I watched her movements...

The previous George’s memories surfaced naturally.

Her name was Helena.

She came from the same kingdom as I did.

She possessed three-star magical talent, just like me.

But her true strength was something else.

She learned unbelievably fast.

And...

She was also one of the few people who genuinely spoke with the previous George.

Despite all of his flaws.

She had never completely abandoned him.

In fact...

She had been one of the very few people who had tried to stop him from committing suicide.

After closing the door, Helena looked back at me.

This time, her smile faded.

She sighed.

—I really thought you were dead, you know.

I looked at her.

—Sorry for making you worry.

She crossed her arms.

—Worry? Ahahaha, I was thinking about breaking into your room and looting it.

I lowered my head slightly.

—So you’re a scavenger thief?

She stayed silent for a few seconds.

Then shook her head.

—Well, everyone has their weaknesses.

—But killing yourself over books...

—That’s a whole different story.

I let out a small laugh.

—It does sound ridiculous now that I think about it.

—Good.

She answered immediately.

—Because dying over not being able to learn an alphabet would be one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen.

I smiled.

—I agree.

She watched me for a few seconds.

Her gaze seemed to be searching for something in my face.

Then she spoke.

—You’re different today.

—Different?

—Calmer.

More...

She thought for a moment.

—...humble.

I smiled naturally.

—Maybe almost dying changes people a little.

We then began walking side by side down the corridor.

A few minutes later...

A sign pointing toward the bathrooms appeared along one of the side hallways.

I stopped walking.

—Go on ahead.

I pointed down the corridor.

—I just woke up.

—I’m going to wash my face first.

Helena simply nodded.

—All right.

—I’ll meet you in the dining hall.

Then she turned and continued walking.

I watched her small figure disappear down the corridor.

Then headed toward the bathroom.

As soon as I entered the men’s bathroom, I walked straight to one of the stone sinks.

I turned the faucet.

Cold water began flowing steadily.

I leaned forward, cupped some water in my hands, and washed my face.

The sensation was refreshing.

I slowly lifted my head.

Mounted on the wall in front of me was a polished metal mirror.

It wasn’t perfect, but it reflected my image clearly enough.

I stopped to examine myself.

The young man in the reflection was thin.

His black hair was short, shaved on the sides, while a slightly raised quiff gave his face a naturally arrogant expression.

His eyes were black.

His nose was long.

Near his right eye was a small old scar.

I ran my fingers over it.

—Not bad...

I tilted my head slightly.

—If this body puts on a few pounds of muscle... and this jawline becomes a little more defined...

—I’ll end up looking like a villain.

It was at that exact moment that the bathroom’s tranquility vanished.

The door was thrown open violently.

—Hahaha!

—Move it already!

—Today’s collection day!

Five young men entered, laughing loudly.

Their leader walked at the front.

He was a boy with striking red hair.

His arms were thick for someone his age.

His broad shoulders revealed years of physical training.

The previous George’s memories recognized his face immediately.

Eduard Von.

The son of a prestigious and renowned family of knights.

One of the physically strongest students among the new acolytes.

Without slowing his pace, he shoved another boy walking in front of him.

—Aaah!

The boy fell to the floor.

His glasses flew several meters before striking the stone tiles.

~~Crack.

One of the lenses shattered.

The boy blindly reached for them.

He was extremely thin.

His blond hair was messy.

Eduard stopped in front of him.

Crossed his arms.

—Well?

His voice was cold.

—Today’s the deadline, Ethan.

—Where are my five magic crystals?

Ethan slowly raised his head.

His eyes were already welling up with tears.

—I...

—I still couldn’t get them...

Eduard frowned.

—Couldn’t get them?

—You borrowed them two weeks ago.

—You promised to pay me back today.

Ethan clenched his fists.

—I just need a few more days...

—I swear I’ll pay you back.

—Just a little more time.

Eduard took a step forward.

—Time?

He smiled.

—Do you think I hand out crystals out of charity?

Ethan began to tremble.

—Please...

—I needed to buy study materials...

—If I didn’t study...

The sentence ended with a scream.

~~Thump!

The kick slammed into his abdomen.

He rolled across the floor, coughing.

Another blow struck his shoulder.

Then another.

Eduard didn’t seem to be in any hurry.

Each kick was accompanied by an expression of utter contempt.

—Five crystals.

—You can’t even pay back that much?

Ethan tried to shield his head with his arms.

—P-Please...

—I can do it...

—I just...

Another kick.

This time to the face.

I heard a sharp crack.

~~Crack!

The boy spat out blood.

Two teeth clattered onto the stone floor.

Eduard wiped his foot against the ground.

Then spat beside Ethan.

—Pathetic.

One of the boys behind him laughed.

Then placed a hand on the rope hanging from his waist.

His eyes lit up.

—Boss...

He slowly pulled out the rope.

—How about we hang this bastard?

—If he can’t pay...

—At least he can serve as an example to everyone else.

Eduard immediately turned his head.

His expression hardened.

—Are you insane?

The boy blinked.

—Huh?

—Killing isn’t allowed inside the Tower.

Eduard pointed a finger at him.

—Are you trying to drag me into punishment too?

—The rules were made by mages.

—I’d have to be an idiot to break them.

The lackey quickly raised both hands.

—Easy, Boss.

—You misunderstood.

Eduard remained silent.

The boy smiled.

—We don’t have to kill him directly.

He stepped a little closer.

Spoke in a low voice.

—What if we beat him so badly...

He looked at Ethan lying on the floor.

—...that he decides to do it himself?

The bathroom fell silent for a few seconds.

Eduard simply stared at his subordinate.

Without answering.

On the floor...

Ethan was crying.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

His broken glasses remained scattered across the floor.

Then his eyes met mine.

He slowly reached out one hand.

His voice came out weakly.

—P-Please...

He swallowed blood.

—Help me...

My entire body tensed.

Instinctively, I assessed the situation.

Five opponents.

Even without having the biochip analyze Eduard’s body, it was obvious he was already physically superior to me.

The biochip could provide tremendous assistance by identifying weak points and openings.

But not muscles.

Not speed.

Not enough strength to take on an entire gang.

If I intervened...

The chances of ending up beside Ethan were enormous.

And since I’m not an idiot, I slowly lowered my gaze.

Pretended I hadn’t heard him.

Turned around.

And quickly walked toward the exit.

Behind me, I heard a laugh.

Eduard.

—See?

His voice dripped with cruel mockery.

—No one’s going to save you.

I kept walking.

Without looking back, I headed straight for the dining hall.

...

1747 Words