Wizard: Start with Biological Transformation to Grind Experience novel Chapter 10

Chapter 10: 010: Talkative Goblin

Richard maintained an impassive expression, his words sharp and cutting: "You're just too naive, Chris. I was always a Black Wizard. Where's the betrayal in that?"

"What!!!" Chris was utterly stunned.

Unfortunately, Richard had no intention of elaborating further. He turned to the alchemist standing nearby and ordered, "Make him shut up."

The man, cold and expressionless like a machine devoid of thought, immediately craned his neck and opened his mouth. From within, a dark metallic tube extended outward. A faint 'pssh pssh pssh' sound was heard as puffs of pale purple gas erupted from the tube in rapid spurts.

The purple mist quickly enveloped Chris, whose eyes betrayed fear. Before he could utter another word, his eyelids drooped, and his body collapsed limply to one side.

Richard snorted disdainfully, sneering, "Hmph, a greedy idiot who actually believed in the nonsense of free miracles falling from the sky. How laughable..."

Before he could finish his sentence, his voice abruptly cut off. It seemed something had occurred. Richard's expression darkened, and he hastily pulled a vial of black liquid from his pocket and downed it in one gulp.

Then, an eerie scene unfolded.

Richard's left cheek began to ripple as though disturbed by an unseen force. Moments later, his entire face started to contort and deform.

Before long, a bizarre, unfamiliar face emerged suddenly on the left side of Richard's face.

Where his normal face should have been, a second, smaller face had grotesquely grown out. The sight was unnervingly strange, like some kind of horrifying parasitic entity clinging to him.

Richard's demeanor shifted at once, becoming reverent and submissive: "Master."

The grotesque face spoke: "How is the situation progressing?"

Richard forced a smile: "Quite smoothly. Thirteen specimens in total: ten..." _{fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓}

He briefly glanced at the unconscious Chris before continuing, "Eleven are alive. The other two resisted and were killed by me, but I've already preserved their corpses immediately. The bodies remain intact, and all their organs are in usable condition."

"Thirteen?" The face expressed mild doubt. "Weren't there supposed to be sixteen?"

Richard flinched visibly, hurriedly replying, "Three apprentices changed their minds at the last minute and didn't show up..."

"Didn't come?" The face's tone sharpened.

Richard quivered in fear, bowing deeply: "I will make up for the missing ones, Master."

The grotesque visage's tone softened slightly: "Sixteen specimens were promised, and sixteen must be provided. My experiment is calibrated for sixteen. Should you interfere with my work, you already know the consequences."

Richard's face turned ghostly pale, sweat streaming down his brow. "Y-Yes, Master..."

"That's enough. Once this is resolved, return to the academy quickly." With those parting words, the face gradually faded until it vanished completely, leaving Richard's left cheek to return to its normal state.

Several moments passed before Richard straightened himself up again. He cautiously touched his cheek to confirm the "person" had indeed departed. Only then did the tension lift from his expression.

"Ugh!"

He spat vehemently and swung a fist violently against the trunk of a nearby tree.

"Damn bastard. Don't let me get a chance. Sooner or later..."

He paused, seemingly remembering something, and quickly glanced toward the man standing next to him. After confirming that the man remained cold and blank-faced, he finally finished his thought aloud.

"Hmph. Mark my words—one day, I, Richard, will trample this damned world beneath my feet!"

...

Early the next morning, Lynch headed to the mission hut to submit his task. But before he reached it, he noticed messenger Ravens flying one after another into the Tower. Shortly thereafter, the anxious ringing of bells erupted from within.

Not long after, a large group of Black Robe Enforcers hurried out in a steady stream. Their faces were pale and tense as they mounted their witchcraft contraptions and swiftly flew toward the depths of the Forest without uttering a single word.

"Did something serious happen?"