“Let’s hurry up and try potion making too!”
“……”
“Hurry!”
Sparkle!
Professor Huain was staring at Sion’s face with shining eyes.
Sion felt pressured by that gaze.
It felt like a younger cousin begging for attention.
Sion closed his eyes for a moment and steeled his determination.
‘This time, I must absolutely fail.’
The cause of the failure was unknown, but presumably it was because of the last part of the chant, when he shouted ‘polishing.’
The magic recorded in the ‘Magic Encyclopedia’ only required shouting the name to activate it.
‘This time, I won’t say the skill name at all.’
Taking a deep breath, Sion gathered his mana.
Just a moment ago he had succeeded in one go, but this time he would definitely fail.
With that mindset, he began the chant.
“…O energy of nature, pure essence…”
“Ah! You’re already getting it wrong!”
“Create a new substance here!”
Despite Professor Huain’s correction, Sion continued the chant until the end.
‘This time I’ll definitely fail.’
He omitted or changed several parts of the words.
In his mind, he imagined not succeeding but instead visualized the mana bursting out.
In fact, he didn’t even say the magic name in the end, so it was clear he would fail—
Woosh!
“……!”
Against Sion’s wishes, the mana suddenly burst forth!
Geometric patterns spun wildly as herbs and magic stones coalesced.
They mingled with the water and were sucked into the empty vial.
‘No way….’
In an instant, the empty vial filled with bright red liquid.
It was a healing potion that could be created using 1st Circle Magic ‘Potion Making.’
A make-shift magic was manifested without even remembering the magic name.
“Wow!! I’ve never seen such a lab rat during my time as a professor!!”
“……”
“Fantastic! It’s truly amazing!”
Professor Huain’s eyes were wider than Sion had ever seen.
Jumping up and down with glee, Professor Huain held the healing potion Sion made, which swayed in her hand.
…It resembled an excited child clutching a glass of tomato juice.
‘Thanks to the Magic Encyclopedia’s modifications, I shouldn’t be able to fail…?’
Like a cat landing perfectly no matter how high it is thrown.
Sion’s magic had the ridiculous ability to manifest 100% no matter how clumsily it was cast.
It was likely due to the ability of the ‘Magic Encyclopedia’ he possessed…
That overpowered capability was indeed keeping Sion tethered down.
“Sion! You clearly have a talent for Alchemy Magic!”
“…No, I don’t think that’s the case.”
“What!? If you don’t have talent, then what about everyone else? It’s an open path for you in Alchemy Magic!”
“I’m sorry, but I’m not so sure yet…”
“Ah! Listen to me!”
Professor Huain continued her explanation.
“What do you think is the advantage of the Alchemy Magic Department?”
“Well, I’m not really sure…”
“That’s overwhelming money!”
“…!”
Sion’s ears perked up.
You can’t buy happiness with money.
But if you can’t buy happiness with money, then it might be worth considering if you’re lacking money.
It was a famous saying, but Sion agreed with it.
‘If I enter a department that earns a lot of money… it’s definitely a gain.’
What ‘a department that earns money’ means is quite nuanced.
It suggests that employment paths are open, that it deals with promising industries, and that the department can be supported at the university and national level.
Especially for Sion, it felt like a sore spot.
‘The department I attended in my past life… wasn’t exactly friendly with money.’
Sion had come from a natural sciences university.
Naturally, the research funding was only a pittance compared to the engineering department…
Thanks to that, Sion’s supervising professor had to hop around various events and conferences to secure funding.
Of course, Sion, who had to fill in for him, had a hard time as well.
“Among my proud research students, there are those who have sold original recipes or turned them into potions for a big hit!”
“……!”
“Sion, you can definitely do that too. So come to the Alchemy Magic Department! I’ll push you hard!”
With arms crossed and a self-satisfied grin, Professor Huain spoke confidently.
Sion’s eyes wavered at her persuasive presentation.
‘Yeah, I do need money…’
Whether in a modern or medieval fantasy world, money is important.
Sion was worried that if she couldn’t raise enough money by the next semester, she might not be able to continue attending school.
It was difficult not to be swayed by her words.
“Now, take my hand!”
“……”
“Hurry!”
Sticking her hand out as if to shake, Professor Huain urged him on.
Sion instinctively reached out.
Well, as long as he could earn money in the Alchemy Magic Department…
Squelch.
‘…Squelch?’
Was this sensation in his hand always that soft and warm?
Sion’s hazy vision gradually returned to normal.
What came into view was… a giant figure.
Professor Shabrina had wedged herself between Sion and Professor Huain.
So what he was holding onto right now, which was so big and soft, was……
………Huh?
“W-What? I’m so sorry!”
“Hehe, it’s nothing. I was just a bit surprised; it seems to be a mistake, so I’ll let it be.”
Professor Shabrina adjusted her outfit while chuckling.
Then she turned around and looked at Professor Huain.
“Professor, as I said earlier… it’s now class time, isn’t it?”
“Eh?! Ah, I know. I got a bit too excited…”
“Seriously~ If you keep ignoring my words, it’s going to be a problem… Could you follow me for a moment?”
“W-What!? No, I’m sorry! I was mistaken, so please… Ugh!!”
Schlurp—
Professor Shabrina lightly grabbed Professor Huain’s hand and began to walk.
The small and frail Professor Huain couldn’t help but be dragged along.
The two professors headed straight for the front door of the classroom.
Just after that.
—Aaaahhh!!! W-What, that Maaaaan!!
“……What was that?”
The students’ movements came to an abrupt stop at the scream coming from beyond the wall.
Were they committing some horrific torture?
As the terrified students gazed only at the front door, a creak!
Finally, the scream abruptly stopped, and the door opened.
“Hoho, I’m sorry. I just stepped out of the classroom for a moment. Professor Huain also needs to apologize properly.”
“…I’m sorry. I was wrong.”
In an instant, a disheveled-looking Professor Huain bent at a 90-degree angle to plead for forgiveness.
“Oh my? You should be saying that to the students, not me.”
“T-That’s right… I’m sorry.”
“Although there was a slight commotion, let’s all refocus and learn Alchemy Magic! Because your time is precious~.”
With a soft smile resting on her still-squinty face, Professor Shabrina.
The students could not even ask what the previous scream was about.
…They just thought that they should not make Professor Shabrina angry.
*
About two hours later.
“Good job! This time, the lab rats were quite useful!”
Chic!
With arms crossed, Professor Huain wore a pleased smile.
The class had ended with great success.
The reason she could smile like this…
“Geivolg Rodenburg, Serenne Camilea, Hegen Brental, and… Sion. Feel free to rejoice. You all have a talent for Alchemy Magic!”
Four students, including Sion, had successfully manifested 1st Circle Alchemy Magic during class.
“To those who succeeded in the magic, if you have no schedule further, you’re welcome to visit my research room! I have various things I’d like to show you next.”
“Ohhhh….”
“Now, unless you have any further questions for Professor Huain, I will end the class here. Those students who have been called should follow Professor Huain if you have no other schedule~.”
Professor Shabrina smiled brightly.
There were no additional questions, and the class was concluded.
Sion got up from his seat and approached Professor Huain.
Following behind him was Geivolg.
“Hahaha! Good job, Sion.”
“…Geivolg. You have talent in Alchemy Magic, don’t you?”
“Hmm?”
At Sion’s words, Geivolg scratched his chin.
“Well, it’s not exactly talent… it’s the power of pre-study!”
“…Pre-study?”
“Before coming to the academy, I had a court mage as a tutor and learned magic of various attributes up to about the 1st Circle!”
Chic!
Geivolg raised his index finger to explain.
…Indeed, Geivolg often got forgotten due to his friendly demeanor, but he was a prince from a small country.
If he had received pre-study from a court mage, it made sense that he could also perform Alchemy Magic.
‘Now that I think about it, he was a top student, right?’
Despite his always cheerful personality and appearance that made him seem distant from studying, Geivolg was one of the top admittees in the Academy’s Magic Department.
Even if he was one level below the top student, it meant he had the skill level of the second-best in the Magic Department.
Then the top student…
Squeeze.
When he felt a tug on his sleeve and turned his head.
Serenne was looking up at Sion.
Speaking of the devil, she was one of the top students.
“Sion, let’s go together.”
“Are you also interested in Alchemy Magic, Serenne?”
“…No, not really.”
“Really? Have you studied Alchemy Magic before?”
“Yeah, I learned it through books.”
“Oh, I see….”
Serenne didn’t let go of Sion’s sleeve and clung tightly to him.
“Tch, like you learned through pre-study anyway.”
“……Huh?”
At the sharp voice behind her, she turned around.
A chubby male student was glaring at Sion.
Is he talking about me?
“…Me?”
“Yeah! I’m talking about you, dirty commoner. Acting like it’s your first time trying this out.”
“Not really….”
“Don’t play dumb! You’re filthy, just like a commoner.”
“Uhmm….”
Hearing the sharp slander after a long time reminded Sion of Estroja.
Now that I think about it, was this guy one of the followers beside Estroja?
“Wait a minute! That remark can’t be overlooked.”
“…U-Um, Professor?”
Clump, clump.
Professor Huain walked up to Hegen Brental.
The innocent face she had shown in class was nowhere to be seen.
Now, her sharp gaze felt like a cold wind prickling at them.
“Do you think I’m unable to distinguish whether the students have done pre-study or not?”
“Y-Yes? N-No, that’s not what I….”
“The dimension is different from you, who barely memorizes to cast magic. Sion has completed shortened incantations, cast without a chant, and even produced a perfect outcome even when he tangled the incantation!”
As she pointed at Sion, Professor Huain was exuding passion.
Hegen Brental’s shoulders shrank even more.
“If it were up to me, I would want to throw you out right now… but I’ll let it slide this once. You should consider it an honor to come to my research room.”
“Th-Thank you, Professor….”
“There won’t be a next time… Hmph, what a spectacle. Everyone, go.”
With her hair flowing behind her, Professor Huain strode forward.
“I’ll let you all enjoy the honor of visiting my research room.”
“…Yes!”
“Be careful not to miss out.”
Thus, Serenne, Sion, Geivolg, and Hegen Brental.
The four followed behind the hurrying Professor Huain.
‘I wonder what Professor Huain’s research room will feel like?’
Professor Ronda Magret’s research room had no graduate students and was empty, while
Professor Lunia’s hut was… messier than one could imagine.
The one I found at least felt like “a proper research room” was Professor Noias’ lab.
“We’ve arrived! Now, come in!”
With a loud shout, the door opened.
Once inside…
“…Wow.”
Sion gasped at the sight of the research room’s interior.
‘This is pure fantasy itself, right?’
The busy people in lab coats were moving around.
Various chemical supplies, of course, and modern equipment dazzled his eyes.
It was large and diverse to the point that he was curious about what it was used for.
“Hohoho! Feel free to look a bit longer, my lab rats.”
Perhaps she was pleased by the students’ reactions, her smile showed no signs of fading.
Even Sion, who was accustomed to the university’s graduate level, was surprised; how much more for the other students.
…The only one who maintained a neutral expression was Serenne, who looked a bit tired.
“Now, step further inside. There are some devices I’d like to show you to my lab rats—”
“Uh, the door opened… let’s run… run… cough!”
Thud!
Someone who was trying to pass next to Professor Huain collapsed onto the floor.
A man who looked like a zombie.
Serenne’s grip on Sion’s sleeve tightened.
“…P-Professor? Who is this person…?”
“Hm, no need to worry about that. Hey! Anyone come out!”
Clap, clap!
With two claps, everyone who had been busy immediately turned to face Professor Huain.
It was like a command that said, ‘Pay attention if I clap twice.’
“Can you clean this guy up? Let’s have him chill in the break room for about an hour.”
“…Um, Professor.”
“What is it?”
“That person hasn’t seen sunlight for weeks already, so they’ve gone out of their mind…”
As he spoke, the face of the collapsed graduate student was covered in dark circles.
He muttered things like ‘sunlight… sunlight… missed it…’ in a hoarse voice, which looked scary.
However, Professor Huain didn’t blink an eye and replied.
“A potion will solve it adequately!”
“…Uh?”
“Just give him some potion. And the lab rat here… I mean Sion’s ‘Ultra Energizer Maximum Power Cookie’ should fix him up.”
“B-but still….”
“Now, hurry up! Or are you opposing me?”
“I-I’m sorry!”
Swish!
As soon as he mentioned the reduction of research funding, the graduate student took off with a companion.
Sion looked at their retreating figures.
Professor Huain smiled brightly as if nothing had happened.
“Just a little commotion. Don’t worry too much. It’s always like this.”
“……Is that so?”
“Of course! Ah, you over there. Could you close the door for me?”
“Y-Yes….”
Creeeak—bang!
For some reason, the door to the professor’s research room felt heavy.
As it gave a bang sound, it closed shut.
With a click of the ominous lock came in after.
“Well then, I’ll show you more of the inside of the research room. Follow me.”
“…….”
“Now hurry up.”
A dangerous glint began dancing in Professor Huain’s eyes.
…A bead of sweat trickled down Sion’s spine.
The senses of Sion, who had been a graduate student, screamed.
This professor was the most dangerous among all the professors he had seen so far.
