The Wizard's Biological Chip Can Process Everything-Chapter 14: In a world that respects strength, only the strongest have privileges.
Ever since the news spread that I had massacred Charles’s group, everyone’s attitude toward me changed.
Should I say this is a world that respects the strong?
It had been two days since the incident, and rumors about the fight ran wild among the young nobles.
They said I had fought five at once.
They said I had won while smiling.
To them, that smile had become a nightmare.
When the servants brought Charles and the members of his pathetic gang back, they could barely stand.
Charles, struggling even to speak, locked himself in his room and began treating his wounds with expensive medicine.
His pride must have hurt more than his broken bones.
As for the other nobles, the change was even more interesting.
The contempt I had felt on the ship vanished like mist at dawn.
Now, when they crossed paths with me, they slightly lowered their heads.
There was respect in their eyes.
Or perhaps fear.
— Hi, Eduard, do you want to play with me?
The sweet voice pulled me from my thoughts.
I turned my head and found a young noblewoman who lived in a room near mine.
Her name was Liz.
She wore a short dress with thin straps resting on her shoulders.
Long stockings wrapped around her pale legs, further highlighting the delicacy of her movements.
She smiled naturally, but there was intention in that gaze.
In this world, strength was synonymous with value.
And I had proven mine.
The atmosphere in the carriage and the corridors was different now.
No one dared provoke me.
On the contrary, several invitations began to appear.
— Thank you, but at the moment I’m not in the mood.
I replied in a polite tone.
The truth was that I was still recovering from the previous night with that red-haired mermaid; she drained every last drop from my balls.
— Oh, I should have invited you at another time, not now.
She laughed softly.
— I’ll invite you again another time.
— Alice and a few others are interested as well.
Liz lifted her skirt slightly and made an impeccable curtsy before walking away.
I watched her leave, feeling the curious stares around me.
Now that everyone treated me well, I should have felt satisfied.
But there was a bitter taste to it all.
Then an exaggeratedly dramatic voice echoed behind me.
— Haha... what was that I just saw?
— How many times has my little pupil Eduard been invited today?
I smiled even before turning around.
— I wanted you, Emily.
— How about stopping by my room later?
I approached her with a provocative smile.
— Besides, don’t you want to avoid me so you won’t be isolated?
— Aren’t you afraid of that anymore?
I looked into her blue eyes as she stepped closer.
Emily maintained a relaxed posture, but there was intelligence behind that gaze.
— Sorry, Eduard.
— But the answer is still no.
She crossed her arms naturally.
— You’re the hot topic of the camp right now.
— Many girls are interested in you.
— That Liz wasn’t bad.
— I bet that if you really wanted to, you could win her over in three days.
She laughed, amused by my expression.
— Besides, congratulations on your successful revenge.
With a light movement of her hand, she tossed a bottle in my direction.
I caught it in the air.
The cold glass touched my fingers firmly.
I accepted her rejection.
But deep down, I was beginning to desire her more and more.
Naturally, I did not let it show.
I removed the cork stopper from the bottle.
A fruity aroma, mixed with a light touch of alcohol, spread through the air.
I inhaled deeply, almost by instinct.
— Apple wine.
— It’s been months since I last drank this.
— Correct.
Emily opened her own bottle.
— It’s my group’s specialty.
— It wasn’t easy to hide it until now.
She raised the bottle toward me.
— To my little friend Eduard.
— Cheers.
— Cheers.
Our bottles touched, producing a clear and pleasant sound.
I took a sip and felt the warmth slide down my throat.
— And also... thank you.
I spoke sincerely.
Emily possessed the strength of a Preparatory Knight.
If she had wanted to, she could have crushed Charles easily — after all, her speed was high.
But she did not do that.
Instead, she strengthened me in secret.
She hid our closeness so that Charles would provoke me, thinking I was isolated on that ship.
She prepared the entire stage so that I could carry out my own revenge.
That way, my pride remained intact — and if for some reason I had lost, she would not have lost anything.
Realizing that, I understood how meticulous she was.
Emily knew how to manipulate situations.
And above all, she knew how to take care of other people’s feelings without them even noticing.
She was far smarter than she let on.
— You don’t need to say thank you.
— We’re all members of the same group.
— How could I close my eyes while you were being bullied by those idiots?
Emily laughed right after.
She brought the bottle to her lips and drank all the apple wine in a single gulp, as if it were just water.
I watched as her throat moved smoothly while she swallowed.
— What a pity...
She turned the empty bottle upside down.
— We’re in a remote area of the ocean.
— It’s been a long time since we passed through large cities.
— Even sweets and drinks are becoming rare.
There was a faint regret in her voice.
She was probably remembering the taste of the wine and lamenting that there was no more.
Then her eyes suddenly lit up.
— Right! Let’s organize a banquet.
— It will be for our group.
— I’ve named it the Dark Sea Alliance.
She tilted her head slightly.
— Do you want to join?
I smiled.
— Of course.
— It would be my pleasure.
Sometimes, survival depends more on connections than on swords.
A few hours later.
It was already deep into the night.
The sky was covered in bright stars, as if someone had spilled silver dust over the dark mantle of the world.
The light reflected on the sea and the ship’s deck, creating a soft glow.
Inside a reserved room, young nobles gathered in small groups.
Laughter echoed through the space.
After months traveling together, many had formed genuine bonds.
— Come on, Eduard.
Emily held my arm naturally.
— I’ll introduce you to everyone.
She pointed to a young man with an upright posture.
— This is Vintom, descendant of Viscount Eren.
Vintom approached with an open smile.
— Nice to meet you.
— I’ve heard a lot about you destroying Charles.
I extended my hand.
— The pleasure is mine.
I shook his hand firmly.
There was no hostility there.
Only respect.
— These are the sisters Sophia and Bruna.
— They’re your admirers.
I turned and found two identical young women standing before me.
Emerald-green eyes shone under the lamplight.
Both blushed at the same time.
— It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lord Eduard.
Their voices were practically identical.
I placed a hand over my chest and bowed slightly.
— The pleasure is all mine, lovely ladies.
— It is an honor to meet you.
Their blush deepened before they nearly ran off, embarrassed.
Vintom appeared beside me with wide eyes.
— Eduard! You’re blessed!
— They both seem interested in you!
— They’re twins!
He gestured exaggeratedly, clearly envious.
— Hahaha... I can’t deny they’re beautiful.
I watched him with a faintly amused smile, but I wasn’t interested.
I doubt any of these girls could provide me with an experience intense enough to make me pass out the way that mermaid had so easily done before.
Meanwhile, Emily sighed as she watched us talking like that.
She looked away, as if it had nothing to do with her.
After all, she was a girl.
I turned back to her.
— All right.
— I believe that with supplies starting to run low, you have another objective in organizing this banquet.
— It’s not just to celebrate my revenge against Charles.
Emily stared at me for a moment.
— It’s good that you noticed.
The faint smile disappeared.
In its place came a serious expression.
Cold.
Calculating.
She walked to the center of the room.
With a silver spoon, she lightly tapped against a glass cup.
— Ting~~
The crystalline sound echoed through the space.
Conversations gradually died down.
All eyes turned toward her.
Emily lifted her chin, naturally assuming a position of leadership.
— Ladies and gentlemen.
— Forgive the interruption, but I ask for your attention.
— First of all!
— I would like to welcome a new comrade who has joined us!
— He is Eduard!
Emily announced loudly.
Right after, she began to applaud.
And the sound spread like a wave.
— Applause!!
— Applause!!
— Applause!!
Clapping echoed throughout the room, accompanied by whistles and excited voices.
For a moment, I felt every gaze upon me.
I stepped forward and made a noble salute, placing my hand over my chest and inclining my torso slightly.
The recognition was warm.
Very different from the looks of contempt days ago.
Emily raised her hand, and the applause gradually ceased.
Silence spread with surprising speed.
— This small alliance was created to ensure that each acolyte of our Dark Sea Alliance reaches the academy safely and becomes a respected Lord Mage.
She walked slowly as she spoke.
— And now, companions, problems have arisen.
— It is time for us to work together.
The smile vanished from her face.
Her tone grew grave.
The lightness of the banquet evaporated.
— And we are about to enter the bloodiest and most terrible part of this journey.
— This is the final stage of the voyage.
— And also the most dangerous.
"Bloodiest and most terrible?"
A chill ran down my spine.
Immediately, I searched my memories.
The information stored by the Biochip surfaced clearly.
The continent we were on was vast and fragmented.
Kingdoms and duchies were scattered like loose pieces on a board.
The Dark Sea Alliance came from the southeastern corner.
We were one of the first groups of students sent to the academy.
Our route had gone north, crossing various territories, until we reached the northern limits of the continent.
And now... the sea before us.
A forbidden zone.
Infested with sea beasts.
A place even the cruelest pirates avoided.
The name echoed in my mind like an omen.
Waters of Death.
— With the protection of the servants and the mages, we will definitely pass through this!
A tall young man declared, trying to sound confident.
A few murmurs of agreement followed.
Emily turned her head toward him.
— Correct.
— With the protection of the Lord Mages and the servants, our chances are high.
She paused briefly.
— But if they fail...
The silence deepened.
— We will meet death.
She let the words fall one by one.
— It could be me.
— It could be you.
— Do you want to experience that outcome?
— Definitely not!
The young man replied, his face flushed red before sitting down.
Emily nodded.
— Our goal is to reach the Magus Academy beyond the Waters of Death.
— To become respected magi.
— But the cruel selection begins now.
She took a deep breath.
— According to the information my father obtained, there have always been large numbers of casualties in the Waters of Death with every group of travelers.
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