The Wizard's Biological Chip Can Process Everything-Chapter 34: Teachers! Should I pay or not?

—Looks like you picked up a child to raise.

—Have you turned into a mother?

He adjusted the hat on his head, looking at Marcelina with a mischievous smile.

The way he said it made it seem like this was a recurring joke between them.

Marcelina, contrary to what I expected, didn’t explode as usual.

Her attitude changed in a surprising way.

Like a child trying to impress her father, she straightened up and pulled Oliver to her side.

He looked happy, but didn’t dare to utter a word.

She seemed almost proud, as if she were presenting the boy like a trophy.

—I’ve already made a contract with him! Now he is my personal apprentice! Hurry! Finish the procedures for him!

She pulled a stack of forms from the heavy bag she carried and handed them to the old man. He looked at the yellow papers and raised an eyebrow.

—A Sun? Well... I expected nothing less.

The old man then took out a pair of gold-rimmed glasses and placed them on his nose.

He seemed to examine every detail of the parchment as he asked,

—So, Oliver! Are you willing to become Marcelina’s personal apprentice?

The boy looked at Marcelina with a mixture of reverence and fear.

—I accept, he replied in a low, almost inaudible voice.

—Good! The old man wrote something on the yellow parchment with a firm gesture, then handed Oliver a set of clothes, some books, and a potion containing a shimmering liquid.

—These are yours. Hold them! Marcelina said with an authority that left no room for hesitation. Oliver obeyed silently, holding the items as if they were relics.

After that, Marcelina spoke with the old man about other topics, and then left together with Oliver.

As soon as she disappeared, the old man let out a heavy sigh, leaning against the table.

His eyes turned toward us, and his expression grew more serious.

— Welcome to the Sun Mountain Tower.

—This is where you will live for about five years.

—Of course, that time may vary depending on what happens in the magical community of this world.

He stood up and walked toward one of the shelves filled with books and scrolls.

His fingers slid over the leather spines as he murmured,

—Where is it... as if searching for something specific.

Suddenly, he stopped and took a deep breath, as though deciding to change his approach.

Turning partially, he said aloud,

—Umbiril, where is the technological prototype that Mage Miguel designed last week?

—The one used to select teachers for students who still don’t have a registration.

At the mention of the word technological, I frowned.

That was to be expected.

The mages of this world are like scientists of a higher level.

Although they follow very different paths from those I knew in my previous world, they still share the same essence of pursuing knowledge, blending it with magic.

Before I could delve deeper into those thoughts, something caught my attention.

In the air, a creature began to manifest.

It was a small being that looked like a gnome, but it had a peculiar aura.

He wore green clothes, a hat adorned with a four-leaf clover symbol, and a rainbow shone beneath his feet, as if he were stepping on solid light to float.

—Sorry, master, said the sprite in an apologetic tone.

—I was using it to run some tests.

The old man returned to his chair, clasped his hands on the table, and fixed the sprite with a stern gaze.

—Bring it here. I need to choose the teachers for these children.

The sprite nodded obediently and disappeared into the air.

Seconds later, he reappeared with a strange device floating at his side.

The object was a tangle of wires and colored lights, all connected to a glowing triangle that seemed to serve as its energy source.

The sprite gently guided the object to float over the old man’s table.

The old man examined it for a moment before lifting his eyes toward us.

—There are two methods for choosing a teacher.

—The first method is the simplest: this completely random device will, by chance, select the teacher who will be your mentor.

—This method is absolutely free.

His voice, though calm, carried a hint of provocation, as if he knew the word random would not please most of us.

—Excuse me, great mage... a timid voice broke in, trembling.

—Will it depend on my luck? What if I end up with a teacher who doesn’t match me or, worse, one who can’t teach me?

The old man smiled slightly, adjusting the hat on his head.

—Ah? he chuckled.

—There is also another method.

—You may choose your own teachers.

—Here with me is a list containing brief profiles of various teachers and their requirements.

—Everything so that you can make your choice.

—Of course, if you choose this method, you will need to pay with a magic crystal!

Murmurs among us began to grow.

The old man, noticing the discomfort, raised his voice to calm the group.

—No matter which method you choose, but know this: once you decide who your teacher will be, you will never be able to change!

He cast a firm look at the acolyte who had asked the question earlier.

—Understood?

—Yes, sir! the boy replied quickly, almost stammering.

The mage then declared,

—Next, I will call names. Each of you will step forward and tell me your choice. Understood?

A heavy silence fell.

Wallace, beside me, whispered worriedly,

—And now? How should we choose?

I knew Wallace came from a humble family, but even so, they had managed to gather some resources.

I answered pragmatically.

—Paying is definitely better than not paying! That’s just common sense!

—You still have some magic crystals left, right? I asked, intrigued.

He sighed. — I only have one magic crystal saved.

—My family sacrificed five thousand soldiers just to obtain two magic crystals!

—If I spend this one, I’ll be risking everything.

His words made me pause.

My own pockets suddenly felt heavy, though not for the same reason.

I had obtained a few crystals from Charles by a stroke of luck, but now I understood their true value.

The price of these crystals is far higher than I ever imagined...

That explains why they were so scarce on the useless islands we came from.

Here, they are worth even more!

I looked at Wallace and shrugged.

—This is a decision only you can make.

He nodded, still reluctant, as the old man called the first name.

—James!

With messy hair, he took a hesitant step forward.

—Which method do you choose? the old man asked.

— I... I don’t have any magic crystals saved... Can I pay on credit? I’m a fourth-grade acolyte! James said, his expression pleading.

The old man raised an eyebrow. — Not a bad aptitude, indeed. A pity, however... rules are rules!

James swallowed hard and had no choice.

The old man activated the device before him.

The triangle at its center glowed intensely, sending energy through the wires connected to the apparatus.

A blue magic circle began to form in the air, pulsing like a living heart.

— James, step forward!

The boy approached with nervous steps.

— Now, I need a drop of your blood. Raise your arm for me.

James obeyed, lifting his hand.

The old man touched his palm with a finger, and James flinched slightly, as if an ant had bitten his skin.

A drop of blood was drawn and placed at the center of the floating circle.

The blue of the circle glowed, but soon began to shift to red.

Names started appearing inside the circle, flashing rapidly until the device let out a troubling whistle, as if it were about to fail.

Suddenly, one name stopped spinning and remained fixed at the center.

— James! Your mentor will be Gael, the old man announced.

He then handed the boy a set of acolyte robes, an identity badge, a crystalline potion, and a scroll.

— Here are the instructions for your elemental meditation technique, your room number, and the key.

—Good luck.

The old man snapped his fingers, and a strong golden light illuminated the room for a moment.

Out of nowhere, a male figure appeared in the air, dressed in an impeccably tailored suit that fit his body perfectly.

He floated a few centimeters above the ground, motionless and expressionless.

— Follow this servant of light, said the old man, his voice full of authority. — He will take you to meet your mentor.

James, with slumped shoulders and a vacant look, followed the floating creature, which moved silently like an illuminated shadow, passing through the great doors.

The old man didn’t even watch James leave.

He simply snapped his fingers again and shouted firmly,

— Next! Wallace!

Wallace took a deep breath, clearly nervous.

In a quick motion, he pulled a shimmering magic crystal from his robes and extended it to the old man.

— I want to choose my own mentor!

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