The Wizard Has A Biochip

—There is no need to keep looking.

The deep voice of Viscount Probel broke the silence.

—The same thing happened when I killed these creatures before.

He took a white handkerchief from his pocket, carefully wiped the blade covered in dark blood, and sheathed it once more.

His calm demeanor showed that this scene was nothing new to him.

I continued staring at the corpse.

Or rather...

What was left of it.

—So there really is a self-disintegration mechanism...

I slowly walked closer.

Only a skeleton remained on the ground.

A thin trail of white smoke was still rising from between the bones.

I knelt down.

I picked up one of the front bones.

It was absurdly light.

Dry.

Fragile.

Its entire surface was covered with tiny cracks.

It felt like wood that had completely dried out.

I squeezed a little harder.

Crack...

The bone simply crumbled into powder between my fingers.

I watched the white dust slowly slipping through my hand.

It was then...

That my eyes caught something strange.

Hm?

I tilted my head.

Mixed with the powder were extremely fine filaments.

They looked like tiny reddish veins.

Almost invisible.

If I hadn’t been paying such close attention...

I would never have noticed them.

At that very moment...

The Biochip reacted.

[Warning.]

[The biological parasite is absorbing life energy.]

[Phenomenon identified as a magical disease - High-Level Necrophagous Parasite.]

[Immediate recommendation: Do not remain too close.]

My expression changed instantly.

Without a second thought...

I violently shook my hand, flinging all the powder away.

Immediately afterward...

I channeled particles of magical energy through my palm.

A thin layer of light enveloped my skin.

I used it to eliminate any possible residue that might have remained.

—What happened?

Lurdot quickly approached.

His gaze shifted back and forth between my hand and the skeleton.

I took a deep breath.

—Don’t touch those bones.

I immediately pointed at the skeleton.

—There’s something alive inside them.

Everyone took several steps back.

It was at that exact moment...

Sssshhh!

The bones began to vibrate.

Red veins appeared all over their surface.

They spread through the cracks like roots growing beneath the earth.

More and more vessels emerged.

Then...

Tiny holes began appearing in nearly every bone.

As though those veins had been hidden inside them the entire time.

I watched without moving.

Then...

The veins began intertwining.

They crossed over one another.

They grew rapidly.

Within just a few seconds...

A small creature took shape.

It resembled the previous lizard.

However...

It was much smaller.

Its body was completely red.

Made entirely of pulsating flesh and blood vessels.

It had no eyes.

No mouth.

No scales.

Only four extremely muscular legs.

A grotesque creature.

And utterly unnatural.

Whoosh!

It disappeared.

I couldn’t even fully follow its movement.

All I saw...

Was a red streak cutting through the forest.

—Chase that creature!

A low voice came from behind the Viscount.

I glanced over discreetly.

It was that same figure once again, covered by a long gray robe.

Ever since we had left the city...

That individual had never strayed far from Probel.

He spoke little.

He observed a great deal.

The Viscount immediately raised his sword.

—Pursue it!

—That creature is certainly connected to the phenomenon of the withering forest!

The orders were carried out immediately.

The Black Iron Guards rushed forward.

But, interestingly...

They kept the Viscount exactly at the center of the formation.

Protecting him from every direction.

The gray-robed figure ran right behind him.

I watched carefully.

Interesting...

I discreetly activated the Biochip.

—Scan that man.

A few seconds later...

The results appeared.

[STATUS]

[Name: Unknown]

[Level: Acolyte II]

[Sex: Male]

[Race: Werewolf]

[BODY STATUS]

[Strength: 3.5]

[Agility: 2.5]

[Vitality: 3.9]

[Mana: 6.5]

My eyes narrowed.

A Second-Level Acolyte...

Although the robe completely concealed his appearance...

His body...

His height...

His build...

Everything indicated someone relatively strong.

Who exactly are you...?

Before I could think any further...

Lurdot sighed.

—Let’s go.

—We can’t fall behind.

I nodded.

I deliberately slowed my pace to keep up with the old man.

As we ran...

I asked quietly.

—That creature...

—Do you have any theories?

Lurdot kept his eyes fixed on the direction of the pursuit.

—It seems to be some kind of parasite.

His expression turned serious.

—Judging by its characteristics, the main organism probably possesses strength equivalent to that of a Third-Level Acolyte.

He paused briefly.

—Perhaps... even an Official Mage.

I remained silent.

No.

That doesn’t seem right.

According to the Biochip’s calculations...

The newly formed creature was indeed dangerous.

But... the main organism was still within the limits of an acolyte.

If an Official Mage-level organism were hidden within this forest...

The Biochip would certainly have issued a far more severe warning.

There was only one conclusion I could reach.

I breathed slowly.

Even so...

This was already troublesome enough.

I smiled bitterly.

What absurdly bad luck...

I chose an investigation mission... and ended up finding something with strength close to that of a Third-Level Acolyte.

I subtly shook my head.

At that moment...

I felt genuinely relieved that I hadn’t investigated this forest alone months ago.

Unlike the protagonists of the novels from my former world...

I didn’t awaken miraculous powers in critical moments.

If I made a mistake...

I would simply die.

Without a second chance.

—Stay alert!

One of the acolytes shouted from up ahead.

—We’re going even deeper!

—I can sense enormous amounts of negative energy in the air!

I began to notice it as well.

The very atmosphere seemed heavier.

Breathing became difficult.

Completely dead trees surrounded us on every side.

It was like walking through a vast cemetery.

A few minutes later...

The soldiers came to an abrupt halt.

—It disappeared!

One of the Black Iron Guards pointed at the ground.

—I’m certain!

—The red creature stopped right here... and simply vanished.

The Viscount drew his sword once again.

—Defensive formation!

The Guards immediately formed a circle around the acolytes.

Shields facing outward.

Spears pointed in every direction.

Ready for any ambush.

Lurdot slowly looked around.

Then he took a deep breath.

—We’ve arrived.

His tone was firm.

—This is the heart of the withering forest.

He subtly rubbed his nose.

—The spell I prepared can finally be used.

I watched attentively.

Lurdot knelt on the completely dead ground.

He brought both hands together.

He closed his eyes.

Then he began his incantation.

—The forest answers!

His voice echoed through the silent woods.

—The forest is furious!

A gentle green light began to envelop his body.

—The forest takes its revenge... and its judge has arrived!

The magical energy became increasingly intense.

—Reveal to me the location of the one who causes your pain!

Zummm...

A powerful wave of magical energy particles imbued with the Nature element spread out in every direction.

The dead trees swayed gently.

Even the dry leaves scattered across the ground began to tremble.

I observed everything closely.

This was a detection spell...

And an extremely refined one.

Unlike my technological methods...

It used nature itself as its source of information.

It was practically impossible to hide completely from it.

The minutes passed slowly.

Not a single person spoke.

Then...

The nearby undergrowth rustled.

A small field mouse came scurrying out.

It ran straight toward Lurdot.

It climbed up his robes.

Scaled his shoulder.

Then approached his ear.

It truly seemed to be whispering something to him.

Lurdot slowly opened his eyes.

He smiled.

—We found it.

He immediately stood up.

—Follow me.

Without hesitating...

He began walking, guided by the little mouse.

We all followed him.

A few minutes later...

We arrived before a gigantic, completely dried-out oak tree.

Its trunk was so wide that five men would have struggled to wrap their arms around it.

Lurdot pointed directly at it.

—Move this tree.

Everyone looked at him.

—According to my magic, there is a tunnel hidden directly beneath it.

At that moment, I felt a faint chill run down my spine.

My instincts told me that everything we had faced so far...

Was merely the entrance to something far more dangerous hidden beneath that dying forest.

...

1363 Words