The Wizard's Biological Chip Can Process Everything-Chapter 44: An immense ravine, I hope I don’t get lost in this underground place.
As we moved away from the corridor, the sound of the boy’s sobs faded, and the smell of the explosion was left behind.
It didn’t take long before we stopped in front of a structure that caught my attention.
An elevator cabin made of steel.
The cabin was a spectacle of magical engineering.
Its walls gleamed with a faint silvery sheen, reinforced by bronze plates.
At the top of the cabin, gears of various sizes meshed together, spinning in perfect synchronization, while thick chains descended into a shaft that disappeared into the floor.
"Sufffff~~~"
At the center of the cabin, an engine glowed intensely, releasing blue smoke that dissipated into the air with an ethereal shimmer.
Charlotte stopped in front of the cabin where the engine was and said, almost proudly,
—This cabin was built by our senior, Mateo. He built it alone after studying for only two years.
I looked at her for a moment, then stepped closer, observing the structure more carefully. Silently, I gave a mental command to the biochip.
—Biochip, scan this cabin and project the engine’s internal design for me.
["Beep!"]
Before my eyes, the biochip’s interface was projected.
["Internal engine operation"]
["The operator initiates the process by feeding the boiler with a blue crystal-shaped item."]
["The liquid inside the boiler is heated until it reaches boiling point, generating pressurized steam."] 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
["A decorative pressure gauge, with numbers engraved on a copper frame, displays the steam levels."]
["The pressurized steam is channeled into the piston cylinders."]
["As the steam enters, it pushes the pistons in alternating movements, activating the crank system and the master gear."]
["The rotation of the master gear turns the main pulley."]
["Depending on the direction of the control lever, the pulley winds or unwinds the rope, moving the elevator cabin up or down."]
["The centrifugal governor automatically adjusts the openings of the steam valves based on the engine’s speed, ensuring smooth and safe cabin movement."]
["If the speed exceeds the safe limit, the governor partially closes the valves, reducing pressure."]
—Interesting, I murmured, crossing my arms and looking at Charlotte.
—How many magic crystals did he earn for building this?
Charlotte, who had been admiring the elevator cabin, paused and turned toward me. She thought for a moment before answering.
—I don’t know... I didn’t have the courage to ask Mateo.
—After all, no one likes telling others how rich they are, right?
I gave a slight nod but kept watching her.
It didn’t seem like a complete answer, but before I could press further, she grabbed the lever on the side of the cabin and pulled it.
"Suuuuufffff~~~"
The engine vibrated softly, releasing another wave of glowing blue smoke, and the gears began to spin.
The cabin trembled for a moment before starting to pull the elevator.
Charlotte, noticing my still-unsatisfied expression, smiled differently this time.
It wasn’t the casual smile from before, but something more ambitious, almost greedy, like someone dreaming of swimming in mountains of gold.
—But...
—If we were hired to build an elevator like this, the price would easily be thousands of magic crystals.
My eyes widened and I nearly shouted.
Holy shit!
I’m going to get very rich.
As soon as the elevator arrived, my brow immediately furrowed, and the feeling from a few seconds ago vanished.
The cabin doors opened, and I was hit by a strong smell of damp earth mixed with sweat.
Inside, a group of burly miners occupied almost the entire space, each one seeming bigger than the last.
Their tower uniforms, which must once have been as white as the one I wore, were now stained gray, brown, and with darker blotches whose origin I preferred not to imagine.
Pickaxes and shovels were firmly gripped in their calloused hands or hung on their backs, their tips still coated with mineral residue.
Overstuffed backpacks, filled with tools and chunks of ore, competed for space with the miners’ sweaty bodies.
As soon as the miners stepped out of the elevator, completely ignoring Charlotte and me, we were left standing before the empty but thoroughly filthy cabin.
Charlotte adjusted the steampunk goggles resting on her head, sliding them over her eyes before stepping into the elevator in front of me.
—Those guys who just left, they’re students too. Everyone you’ll meet here is a student.
I stood there for a moment before stepping in, letting the elevator doors slowly close behind me.
I leaned against the metal wall, crossing my arms casually.
I felt my arm muscles press against the fabric of my robe, highlighting the muscles I had worked so hard to build through breathing-technique training.
Ignoring me, Charlotte turned and began pressing the elevator buttons.
—I think I understand the school’s situation, but... common metals and ores like steel, iron, and bronze —the kind of thing my father could easily obtain— shouldn’t be so valuable that people would work themselves to death in these mines. Unless these mines are full of...
Charlotte interrupted me, finishing the thought as the elevator began descending with a slight jolt.
—Different materials.
—Those common metals, like steel, you can buy in bulk in the commercial district here in the Tower.
—But magical materials? That’s a whole different story. They’re used in practically every field of the magical world.
She pushed the glasses up from her face with her index finger, as if emphasizing her next point.
—There are metals here that conduct magical energy, like mithral, for example, or rare alloys that react to enchantments. Without even mentioning the crystals. Some are used as pure energy sources, whether for mechanical contraptions or to be refined and turned into runes or enchanted items.
—The jewelers here are quite famous for working with these materials.
I listened carefully as I absorbed the information.
—I see... And where can I learn more about these items?
The elevator trembled slightly, signaling that we were approaching our destination.
Charlotte shrugged, as if the answer were obvious.
—Well, you can learn in public classes or spend hours in the library.
—Of course, there’s always the option of buying knowledge directly from other students. As long as you have money, of course, you’ll find what you’re looking for around here.
Money... that was exactly what I didn’t have.
I was practically broke, and the idea of buying knowledge felt as distant as the rare ore Charlotte had been talking about.
Before leaving the cabin, she shook her boot, knocking off the dirt that had accumulated inside the elevator, then cast me a sidelong glance.
—Before trying to do anything, become magically literate.
—Take public classes on the language of magic and study in your free time.
—Once you can read and understand it, you’ll have access to everything.
—After all, almost everything in this Tower, without exception, is written in the language of magic.
Hearing that, I simply nodded and stepped out of the cabin as it opened.
When I looked at the ravine, I was stunned by the sight before me.
It was an immense, deep abyss, its walls filled with acolytes scattered everywhere, working like ants in search of ore.
"Pick~~"
"Pick~~"
"Pick~~"
"Pick~~"
The constant sound of pickaxes echoed, reverberating against the rocks like a distant drum.
Some miners were tied at the waist with ropes, hanging in precarious positions, while others, more daring or desperate, balanced themselves on improvised planks that creaked with every movement.
In certain areas, torches mounted on the stone walls cast a flickering yellow light, indicating that those acolytes had not yet learned light spells.
In other spots, much rarer ones, magical light orbs floated, illuminating small groups working tirelessly.
The contrast between the soft glow of the orbs and the immense darkness of the ravine made the scene even more surreal.
—Holy shit! This place is huge!
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1305 Words
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Power Stones Campaign.
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3000 Power Stones = 8 extra Chapters that day.
