As I watched the progress of the holograms in the virtual laboratory, I realized my patience was starting to wear thin.
The relentless cycle of trial and error was impressive, but the delay was frustrating.
I sighed deeply before asking.
—Based on the current progress, what is the estimated ti to complete the task?
["Approximately 20 hours."]
My brow imdiately furrowed, and my voice ca out sharper.
—What? Why is it taking so long?
["The codes beco more complex as the acolyte advances, but that is the lesser factor. The biggest factor increasing the ti is calculating possible variables and finding ways to circumvent them with maximum efficiency."]
["If your body were digital, you could reach level 3 in just five hours. However, since you have a body of flesh and bone, there are limitations. For example, writing more than one code per day in your heart could result in total collapse."]
The laboratory’s words made sense, even if they were hard to accept.
I cannot ignore the limitations of my flesh, no matter how irritating they are.
After reflecting for a few seconds, I made a decision.
—Continue working in the background, but deactivate the virtual laboratory for now.
["Beep."]
The digital world around began to crumble.
Within seconds, the void was replaced by the familiar scenery of my room.
I was back, sitting in my chair.
I looked toward the window, where moonlight had replaced the sunlight from hours ago.
Night had fallen, and the silence of the mont was broken only by an unexpected sound coming from my stomach.
"Rrrrr~~"
Instinctively, I placed my hand over my defined abdon, feeling the firm muscles that reflected my physical discipline.
I’m hungry.
I’d better go have dinner in the cafeteria before sleeping.
Tomorrow will be a busy day, and I need to be prepared.
I stood up from the chair and walked to my bedroom door.
When I turned the doorknob, I heard the characteristic click, then pushed it open, stepping into the silent corridor illuminated by the soft glow of small bubbles of light—or whatever they were.
Before I could take my first step toward the cafeteria, I heard the sound of another door opening in the corridor.
It was identical to the sound of my own doorknob turning, but this ti it ca from the door across from mine.
When the door opened, a peculiar figure appeared.
It was a girl—or rather, a young woman who looked like a doll.
She was small, perhaps a little shorter than Professor Miguel, and wore an acolyte’s uniform.
Her face was so perfect, so symtrical, that it bordered on unreal.
Her skin was white as cloth, and her large, bright eyes had an unsettling depth.
Her hair, with flawless 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... wrong.
But before I could think more about it, she flashed a radiant smile, like that of a display doll.
—Hello, neighbor! Are you a new Acolyte? I’m Helena! Her voice was sweet, almost lodic, but there was sothing slightly chanical in her tone—sothing I couldn’t imdiately identify.
Regaining my composure, I stepped forward and extended my hand, maintaining the elegance of a nobleman learned from the mories of the other Eduard.
—Hello, Helena. My na is Eduard. Eduard Edson.
She also extended her hand, 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 most noble, I replied, giving a slight nod. Then, without hesitation, I continued.
—Helena, may I ask you a question? Of course—only if it wouldn’t bother you.
She tilted her head slightly, holding the bear with both hands and gently swaying 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, 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 for free from a mage.
Those last words sounded like an unexpected blow.
Her initial sweetness seed to have been replaced by sothing much heavier.
As she spoke, she pulled the bear closer to her chest, hugging it tightly, and her eyes—though still bright—now held a deep lancholy.
—So professors here in this tower, when they don’t have test subjects for their experints, look for random students in the tower and offer things students usually need, like magical crystals or potions... But in return, they ask for collaboration in an experint. Of course, they hide the truth to so extent so they don’t scare the student.
My thoughts couldn’t help but overflow with arrogance.
Well... that’s not my problem.
Unlike those losers, I am destined for greatness.
I smiled inwardly, already certain that I would never fall into such an obvious trap, but to keep up appearances, I nodded as if I understood deeply.
—I’m very 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?
Hearing my question, Helena’s expression softened, and she seed happy to help.
—It’s already late, and I was just about to go there. Shall we go together?
—Sure, no problem, I replied, closing my room door and slipping the key into my inner pocket.
She took the lead, her small, almost silent steps echoing softly in the corridor.
—Fortunately, we can eat as much as we want here. There’s chicken, beef, snake at, duck at... and many other kinds of food.
As I listened, my mind began to imagine the feast waiting for us.
But then she added sothing that caught my attention.
—However, if you have magic crystals, there’s a separate area only for the rich. There, you can order magical food that helps strengthen the body.
I laughed a bit awkwardly.
—I’m broke! Hahaha. I spent all my crystals paying the tower fees and choosing my professor.
Helena turned toward .
—I also arrived recently, about 10 days ago, but since I had no crystals, I was assigned randomly... Her tone turned bitter for a mont, but she quickly smiled again, as if pushing unpleasant thoughts away.
—Eduard, which professor did you choose? Was it Marcelina? I heard she turned a student into a vampire last year!
Marcelina... that woman is a threat, I thought to myself before answering.
—No! I chose Miguel!
Helena 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 magic engineer?
She seed genuinely impressed.
—Man... you’re really confident, aren’t you?
My confidence wavered for a mont.
—Is engineering hard to learn? I asked, trying to keep my composure.
Helena sighed and crossed her arms.
—Not only is it extrely difficult, but your professor will certainly send you to attend public classes involving mastery of engineering.
—If you don’t have a good mory and strong deductive skills, you’ll be lost.
—Besides, studying engineering requires a huge 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 laboratory before, I had already imagined such a scenario. Fortunately, I have my biochip.
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1411 Words
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