The Wizard Has A Biochip

Ruby seemed quite satisfied with my concern.

She gracefully turned around in front of me, and the intense red of her clothes contrasted with the pale skin beneath the cavern’s dim lighting.

In that dark and damp environment, she really stood out.

Then, with that theatrical manner I already knew very well, she raised her chin.

— I like this place. I think I’ll take a bath here.

She pointed toward the small lake.

— Therefore, my dear consort will have to stand guard for me.

I narrowed my eyes.

— Are you serious?

— Naturally.

Ruby began removing some of her clothes.

— Wait!

She stopped immediately and glared at me irritably.

— What?

I pointed toward the lake.

— What if this water is poisoned?

She blinked.

— Or contaminated with some strange pathogen? We’re in the underground world. We know practically nothing about the origin of this water.

Ruby crossed her arms.

— You’re ruining the fun.

— I’d rather ruin your bath than discover that you just dove into some water full of magical parasites.

She snorted angrily, but accepted the logic of my words.

I walked to the edge of the lake and knelt down.

A few small ripples spread across the surface whenever a drop fell from the cavern ceiling.

But appearance didn’t mean safety.

— Biochip, analyze this water.

[Beep!]

[Command received.]

[Initiating analysis.]

[Surface sampling completed.]

[Depth sampling: in progress.]

[Predominant composition:]

[Water: 97.84%.]

[Dissolved minerals: 1.73%.]

[Natural organic compounds: 0.31%.]

[Other elements: 0.12%.]

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[Searching for toxins.]

[Searching for magical poisons.]

[Searching for pathogenic agents.]

[Searching for parasites.]

[Searching for hostile microscopic organisms.]

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[Result.]

[Known toxins: not detected.]

[Magical poisons: not detected.]

[Dangerous pathogens: not detected.]

[Parasites capable of infecting human organisms: not detected.]

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[Conclusion: water suitable for bodily contact.]

I finally relaxed.

— It’s safe.

Ruby tilted her head.

— See? I told you there was no problem.

— You had no way of knowing.

— But I was right.

— That doesn’t make your decision intelligent.

She stuck her tongue out at me.

— Boring.

I shook my head, but couldn’t help smiling.

I had already learned that arguing with Ruby about things like this was practically useless.

— I’ll stay farther away.

I climbed onto the Giant King Shark and settled myself on its enormous clay body.

— Don’t take too long, consort.

— I won’t.

The golem began advancing slowly, carrying me toward an area a little farther from the edge of the lake.

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POV: Rogue Chameleon of the Underground World.

If an ordinary human entered that place, they probably would have already screamed in terror.

That cavern was a nightmare.

The black walls were covered in damp moss. Giant stalactites hung from the ceiling like fangs. Water slowly trickled down the rocks, while the silence was interrupted only by the distant sound of some creature moving through the tunnels.

For me, however, that was simply home.

I had been born in that world.

I was an Underground Rogue Chameleon.

My ability to alter the coloration of my skin and conceal my presence had allowed me to survive for many years.

But that day...

I encountered something that made no sense.

A woman.

She was completely at ease.

As she walked toward the lake, she hummed a small melody as if she were in a sunny garden on the surface.

She didn’t seem to care about the darkness or the possible creatures.

I watched as she left her red clothes near the shore and slowly entered the water.

First, she put one foot in.

Then she stepped in up to her legs.

Then she submerged herself.

Splash!

The water spread out.

I remained motionless.

My eyes widened.

That didn’t fit with anything I knew.

The underground world was a land of blood, hunger, and survival.

Nothing here was supposed to be beautiful.

Much less peaceful.

I had learned about the surface through books I had found and stories told by travelers.

They spoke of blue skies.

Forests.

Cities illuminated by sunlight.

People living freely.

I never believed them.

In my mind, all of that was nothing more than propaganda.

The surface was ruled by the terrible human mages.

How could humans live freely under their rule?

Those stories had to be lies.

Tales invented to deceive ignorant creatures like me.

But that woman...

She seemed exactly like the stories described.

Beautiful and seductive, she was truly hot, perfect for being a baby-making machine.

I watched for a few seconds.

Then my caution overcame my curiosity.

I began crawling across the ceiling.

My body was flexible.

My claws found small protrusions in the stone.

Even when I passed through an area covered in slippery moss, I made practically no sound.

I moved like a spider.

Until I finally reached a spot near the edge of the lake.

The woman had gotten out of the water.

She was sitting on a rock and slowly squeezing the water out of her hair.

Her long dark hair covered part of her body, leaving only a few outlines visible.

I looked away for a moment.

Not because I was embarrassed.

It was simply... Strange and very beautiful.

I had never seen a human like that before. She was different from everything I had ever known or seen.

I continued observing.

Then my eyes found the red clothes left near the shore.

I approached carefully.

I searched for a bag.

But I found nothing.

Then I searched for a weapon, potions, or magical crystals.

I frowned.

Is she really an acolyte?

If she was an acolyte, where was her equipment?

An idea came to my mind.

Maybe she wasn’t an acolyte.

Maybe she was merely a companion.

A lover.

If that were the case...

My life could change.

There were merchants in the city of DarkGem who would pay a great deal for a human with those qualities and that beauty of the surface.

Perhaps enough money for me to finally abandon that miserable existence.

I could buy food.

A shelter.

Maybe even live without having to spend my days running through the tunnels after anything I could eat.

But there was a problem.

The man who had left earlier was definitely an acolyte.

And that gigantic golem...

I could never fight it.

If he were nearby, I would be dead before I even realized it.

But he had left.

And that woman had not demonstrated any special abilities.

Perhaps I had found an opportunity.

I waited.

A few more minutes.

When I finally decided to act, I slowly removed a small leather pouch attached to my waist.

I opened it.

I took out a small green snake.

It fit perfectly in the palm of my hand.

I brought it close to the stone.

— Go.

The small animal crawled silently.

It climbed up the stone.

Then it advanced toward the woman.

She didn’t notice.

When it got close enough...

Bite!~~

— Ah!

The woman was startled.

It was my opportunity.

I dashed forward.

My body emerged from the darkness like a bolt of lightning.

In an instant, I was behind her.

One of my folded blades was positioned near the woman’s neck while my other hand held her arm.

The venomous snake had bitten her leg and injected a tranquilizing poison.

She seemed to be having difficulty remaining standing.

My plan was working.

I held her body to prevent her from falling into the water.

Then a man’s voice echoed through the cavern.

— You’d better hold her tightly.

My entire body froze.

— If you mark or injure her skin, you’ll suffer a painful and agonizing death.

My blood ran cold.

Slowly, I turned my head.

The man was there.

He had returned.

And he was leaning against the back of the enormous golem.

The Golem remained beneath him.

Its gigantic body seemed to fill a large portion of the tunnel.

With every meter it slid forward, the ground vibrated.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

I immediately backed away.

I pulled the woman with me and placed my body behind her.

My blade returned to her neck.

She was my only protection.

My only bargaining chip.

— Don’t move!

My voice echoed through the cavern.

I expected to see anger, hatred, or fear.

Any normal reaction.

But the man simply smiled.

That made me even more nervous.

He didn’t even seem particularly interested in saving that woman.

On the contrary...

He seemed to be enjoying himself.

My heart began beating faster.

Why was he so calm?

If that woman really was important to him, he should have been desperate.

He should have threatened my life.

As if he were waiting for something.

I pressed my blade against the woman.

— Your life is in my hands!

— Don’t do anything rash!

....

1337 Words

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