Chapter 31

Chapter 4: Eyelid (4)

***

The professor, having regained his composure, decided to remain calm.

‘Perhaps I’ve become too complacent because I’ve had too many good things happen lately. It feels like my edge has dulled.’

Right, the wizard. Of course, it’s disgusting. The way he treats me like a hydrant that spouts experimental subjects, and the way he talks about it so casually to the subject himself. This is severe psychopathy.

But if they were benevolent wizards who didn’t use me as an experimental subject... what would have happened?

Ultimately, my body would still end up with the same injuries. To prevent infection, the infection agent needs to cause wounds that would prompt the body to repair itself.

In any case, the inevitable result is that severed body parts are produced. And, of course, they are of no use to me.

‘Even if I can’t make a deal with someone who wants something useless to me, showing hostility and instilling fear! How foolish of me, Professor, how complacent I’ve been!’

I need to change my thinking from now on. Just as I don’t complain when they take my hair, I’ll let them take my wrists and ankles. After all, I can’t feel anything due to the anesthetic and the damaged spine.

In exchange, I’ll win their favor.

‘I’ll cooperate with the experiments and show a compliant attitude to lower their guard. Although it’s not for my benefit, the royal wizards, the best talents of a nation, are studying the relationship between infection agents and the human body. There must be knowledge that can help treat my body among them!’

The only rule in this game that I can trust.

There is no problem without a solution. After all, the game is designed to be cleared.

There must be a key hidden somewhere in this miserable situation to escape it.

Until I find it, I’ll follow your orders, Isaac.

***

=====

- Speed Wagon: Hey, Professor. I looked into what you asked.

- Professor: How did it go?

- Speed Wagon: Nothing. Isaac Mandelius, 6th Tier, Lead Flow School, no records in the known NPCs.

- Professor: Okay, thanks.

- Jokass: Still there?

- Professor: Yeah, they’re cutting off my limbs.

- Jokass: Ugh, I don’t want to see that. Keep the screen off. We’ll talk when it’s over.

- Soy Sauce Guy: I want to see, turn it on a bit.

- Take a Look: How far gone is your head to choose to watch that?

- Professor: I’ll put it up as a popup at the top of the chat room. If you want to see, agree to view it and come in. Call me when you can help.

- Soy Sauce Guy: Sure thing~

=====

“It’s not there. No records...”

This is a bit, no, very surprising.

Of course, wizards are the top priority to avoid, but meeting them as allies on the battlefield is different.

Especially in World 3, where large-scale battles with the Mutes often occur, all the players who have passed through have found every wizard who has shown their face on the battlefield, where they can be found, what magic they use, and how to make them allies.

When a full-scale war starts, all the knights, wizards, and soldiers in the country are mobilized. Whether they are research wizards or apprentices, everyone is involved. Resistance? When the city in front of you falls yesterday and the city next to you falls a few hours ago, there’s no room for resistance. If you want to live, you either help out or run.

In any case, once the war starts, they are exposed in some way. And exposed wizards are all picked out and thoroughly investigated by players eager to recruit wizards.

So, if there’s no data on a 6th Tier wizard from the Lead Flow School? It’s obvious.

‘Isaac Mandelius dies before the full-scale war starts.’

A character who is naturally destined to die without my intervention. This is very important information. Because Isaac is a 6th Tier wizard.

‘A 6th Tier wizard can only be killed by a being that is bound to appear in the story. This is a problem. There’s no guarantee that this being will only kill Isaac and leave the rest alone.’

In other words, this Mandelius mansion will become a dangerous area in the near future.

The professor organized his tasks in his mind.

First, to gain the wizards’ favor and make them let their guard down. When I have some leeway, I’ll look for a way to heal my body.

Second, to escape before the being that can kill a 6th Tier wizard arrives.

Third, to find a way to earn 1.1 million shillings.

‘Damn, it’s really tight.’

Ultimately, the goal I must not forget. The remaining debt of 1.1 million shillings.

With 25 in-game days left, there’s still some time, but given the current situation, it’s hard to say how much time I have. With fewer viewers, it’s hard to expect support, so I need to find a way to earn a lot of money in the game and also find a way to escape as soon as possible.

***

Mandelius Manor, Day 4 of confinement.

Click, creak!

The sound of the lock opening and the heavy iron door creaking signals the start of the day.

“Professor, it’s morning... time.”

“Ah, Nila. Good morning~”

Over the past three days, the professor has done his best to get along with the wizards. It wasn’t that difficult. Even without being restrained, the professor knew that if he left this place, he would become a Mute soon. So, being left free was the same as being bound.

The professor was extremely cooperative with the research, emphasizing this point, and as a result, he gained some limited freedom. Although he is still in a bathtub filled with anesthetic, the chains are gone.

“Oh, you seem full of energy today? Hmm... just in case, how many fingers...”

Nila, the wizard who brought breakfast, waved two fingers in front of my eyes.

“Two. Why do you keep asking about numbers?”

“Oh, that? I’m checking whether the being I’m talking to is the human professor or a Mute who has taken over the professor’s body. Especially since some of the infection agents in Professor’s body originate from that ‘white monster,’ there’s a good chance that the Mute will retain high intelligence even after transformation.”

After transformation? Are they already discussing me as a research subject after I’m fully infected?

“The white one... Ah, could it be?”

[Your blood is a feast.]

‘Back then, did he release the infection agent through the cut on my cheek?’

He said he wanted my blood, so it’s a plausible theory. He didn’t seem like the type to carry me around.

“Do you have any idea?”

“Well, the thing is... the creature wanted my blood and cut my face.”

“Eeeh?!

Nila was very surprised and quickly started recording on a piece of parchment she brought from behind.

“Why are you telling me this now?”

“Well, you didn’t ask, and it’s not that special. It’s just a monster wanting to drink some blood, you know.”

“It’s important! According to Knight Charlotte’s testimony, the queen of the Mutes can pass on the characteristics of a strong human body to her offspring by consuming it!”

‘Oh, they’ve made a lot of progress in their research? They know a lot more than the general 124 years of knowledge.’

It seems that in this world, the cities fell much faster, which heightened people’s sense of crisis and led to these changes.

“We are most concerned about that. Although we defeated the creature, it escaped with the white spear, which was soaked in Knight Charlotte’s blood. If their claims are true, we might see a lot of Mutes with powers similar to Sir Agate...”

‘No, that’s impossible.’

In the last battle, Turan suffered devastating losses, but ultimately, they retreated. During the cleanup, they would have purified those who could be purified and cremated the rest, so the queen would be starving.

‘What good is genetic information without resources?’

In other words, the Mutes now have a half-finished blueprint, but they lack the materials to produce soldiers according to that blueprint. Even if they had enough materials, it’s not easy to create a high-level entity with Charlotte’s combat power.

‘In this world, I don’t have to worry about a Mute army that darkens the horizon.’

This is why the early game is so important. Winning a single battle can change the overall flow.

‘But wait. Edelorna took Charlotte’s blood, but she also took a bit of mine. She seemed to like me quite a bit.’

“Hey, Nila.”

“Yes?”

“Is there a possibility that the queen could produce Mutes based on my blood?”

“Well... if what you say is true, the white monster must have been interested in you, so it’s possible that the queen received the information from your blood.”

“Oh, I see.”

Mutes with my characteristics... I hope they produce as many as possible. It would be amusing. A Mute army that crumbles like cookies.

“Anyway, is there anything else you’re hiding? Any other unusual things?”

“I haven’t hidden anything...”

Nila, who had been looking at me suspiciously, lifted my ankle apologetically. It was time to do her job, and all the unnecessary talk was over.

“Then, today’s treatment...