As I observed the progress of the holograms in the virtual lab, I realized my patience was starting to wear thin. The incessant cycle of trial and error was impressive, but the delay was frustrating.
I sighed deeply before asking, "Based on the current progress, what’s the estimated ti to complete the task?"
["Approximately 20 hours."]
My brow furrowed imdiately, and my voice ca out sharper: "What? Why is it taking so long?"
The response ca quickly: ["The codes beco more complex as the acolyte progresses, but that’s the least of it. The biggest factor increasing the ti is calculating possible variables and finding ways to bypass them with maximum efficiency."]
There was a brief pause before the lab continued: ["If your body were digital, you could reach level 3 in just five hours. However, since you have a flesh-and-blood body, there are limitations. For instance, writing more than one code per day into your heart could result in complete collapse."]
The lab’s words made sense, even if they were hard to accept. I crossed my arms and reflected. "I can’t ignore the limitations of my flesh, no matter how annoying they are."
After pondering for a few seconds, I made a decision. "Keep working in the background, but now disable the virtual lab."
["Beep."]
The digital world around began to crumble. Within seconds, the void was replaced by the familiar setting of my room. I was back, seated in my chair.
I glanced at the window, where the moonlight had replaced the sunlight from hours ago. Night had fallen, and the quiet of the mont was interrupted only by an unexpected sound from my stomach.
"Growwlll~~"
Instinctively, I placed my hand over my defined abdon, feeling the firm muscles that reflected my physical discipline. "I’m hungry," I muttered, more to myself than to anyone else. "I’d better head to the cafeteria for dinner before going to bed. Tomorrow’s going to be a busy day, and I need to be prepared."
I rose from my chair and walked to the door of my room. When I turned the knob, I heard the characteristic "click" sound and then pushed the door open, stepping into the silent corridor illuminated by the soft glow of small light bubbles—or whatever they were.
Before I could take my first step toward the cafeteria, I heard the sound of another door opening in the hallway. It was identical to the sound of my own doorknob turning, but this ti it ca from the room directly across from mine.
As the door opened, a peculiar figure erged. It was a girl—or rather, a young woman who resembled a doll. She was small, perhaps a bit shorter than Professor Miguel, and wore a white dress along with the rest of the acolyte uniform.
Her face was so perfect, so symtrical, it bordered on unreal. Her skin was white as porcelain, and her large, bright eyes had an unsettling depth, almost as if she had been designed to both charm and unsettle. Her hair, in impeccable blue curls, looked hand-painted, and in her delicate hands, she held a small teddy bear.
For a mont, I stood still, frowning in confusion. It was impossible not to feel that sothing was… off. But before I could think further about it, she flashed a radiant smile, like that of a display doll.
"Hello, neighbor! Are you a new Acolyte? I’m Mary!" Her voice was sweet, almost lodic, but there was sothing slightly chanical about her tone, sothing I couldn’t imdiately pinpoint.
Regaining my composure, I stepped forward and extended my hand, maintaining the elegance of a nobleman I had learned from the other Tyler’s mories. "Hello, Mary. My na is Tyler. Tyler Rustel."
She extended her hand as well, and I noticed she wore delicate white gloves, as immaculate as the rest of her appearance. Without hesitation, I took her hand and lightly kissed it, as if greeting a lady of high esteem. For a brief mont, her pale skin seed to blush, taking on a faint reddish hue.
"What a gentleman you are! I see you co from a noble and well-educated family." Her tone was full of admiration, but her smile carried a hint of mischief.
I smiled back, with the sa confidence she expected. "In my family, I am the noblest," I replied, with a slight nod of my head. Then, without hesitation, I continued, "Mary, may I ask you a question? Of course, only if it wouldn’t trouble you."
She tilted her head slightly, holding the bear with both hands and gently rocking it from side to side. There was sothing curious in her gaze, as if she already knew what I was about to say.
"Let guess," she said with a light, sowhat enigmatic laugh. "You’re curious about my body, aren’t you? Hahaha… It’s always that."
Before I could respond, her tone shifted slightly, becoming darker. "I look like a rag doll, don’t I? But in reality, I’m a 20-year-old woman. Unfortunately, I learned the hard way that you should never accept anything free from a mage."
Those last words hit like an unexpected blow. Her initial sweetness seed to have been replaced by sothing much heavier. As she spoke, she moved the bear closer to her chest, hugging it tightly, and her eyes—though still bright—now held a profound lancholy.
"So professors here in this tower, when they lack test subjects for their experints, seek out random students in the tower and offer things students usually need, like magic crystals or potions… But in exchange, they ask for collaboration in an experint. Of course, they hide the truth to so extent so as not to scare the student."
My thoughts couldn’t help but brim with arrogance. "Well… that’s not my problem. Unlike those losers, I’m destined for greatness." I smiled inwardly, already certain that I would never fall for such an obvious trap, but to maintain appearances, I nodded as if I deeply understood.
"I’m really hungry right now," I said, changing the subject. "I haven’t eaten anything since I arrived at the tower. Today is my first day. Could you tell where the cafeteria is?"
Upon hearing my question, Mary’s expression softened, and she seed happy to help. "It’s late now, and I was just about to head there myself. Shall we go together?"
"Of course, no problem," I replied, closing the door to my room and slipping the key into the inner pocket of my robe.
She took the lead, her small, almost silent footsteps echoing softly in the corridor. As we walked, Mary began to talk, as if to fill the silence. "Luckily, we can eat as much as we want here. There’s chicken, beef, snake at, duck at… and many other types of food."
As I listened, my mind began to imagine the feast awaiting us. But then, she added sothing that caught my attention. "However, if you have magic crystals, there’s a separate area just for the wealthy. There, you can order magical food that helps strengthen the body."
I laughed sowhat awkwardly. "I’m broke! Hahaha. I spent all my crystals paying the tower fees and choosing my professor."
Mary turned to , surprised. "I just arrived recently too, about ten days ago, but since I didn’t have any crystals, I was assigned randomly…" Her tone grew bitter for a mont, but she quickly smiled again, as if pushing away unpleasant thoughts. "Tyler, which professor did you choose? Was it Marcelina? I heard she turned a student into a vampire last year!"
I froze for a second. "Marcelina, that woman is a nace…" I thought to myself before answering. "No! You’ve got it wrong. I chose Miguel!"
Mary stopped for a mont and turned to , her eyes shining with surprise. Since she was so small, she had to look up to et my gaze. "Wow! You want to beco a magical engineer?"
She seed genuinely impressed. "Man… you’re really confident?"
My confidence wavered for a mont. "Is engineering hard to learn?" I asked, trying to maintain my composure.
Mary sighed and crossed her arms. "Not only is it extrely hard, but your professor will definitely send you to attend public classes involving engineering mastery. If you don’t have a good mory and strong deductive abilities, you’ll be lost. Besides, studying engineering requires a massive amount of resources and ingredients. People who don’t co from wealthy families rarely choose this path!"
As she spoke, she played with her blue curls, as if it were a habitual gesture. Then, she smiled with a bit more hope and added, "But if you manage to survive, you’ll beco a rich Acolyte… After all, everyone wants a chanical arm, a golem, a balloon, a motorized bow and arrow, or things like that."
Since I had entered Miguel’s lab earlier, I had already envisioned such a scenario. Fortunately, I have my digital lab.
...
1685 words
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Hello, dear readers!
We’ve reached the incredible milestone of 51 chapters! 🎉
I want to express my deepest gratitude to all of you who have been following this journey and imrsing yourselves in this world with . Every read, comnt, power stone, and gift you send is the fuel that keeps motivated to create and improve this story.
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Additionally, I want to make it clear that you are an essential part of this journey. When the book reaches its conclusion, I plan to write a special section with the nas of the readers who interacted the most—whether by comnting, donating power stones, sending gifts, or simply supporting in any way. I want everyone to know that this book wouldn’t be the sa without you.
Thank you so much for being part of this adventure. I can’t wait to continue exploring this story with all of you!
With gratitude,
[WOODD - Author of books in the [WE]
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