Chapter 100
I immediately became suspicious upon hearing that explanation.
The essence of alchemy, long production time, and limited production volume due to exclusive recipe.
It was a typical quack alchemist's repertoire.
There are three major potions often heard about when learning alchemy basics. Rejuvenation potion, love potion, and mage-making potion.
Though countless alchemists dedicated their lives to research, they had never emerged in the world and likely never would. In other words, they were like alchemy's ideals. Something to pursue but never reach.
Even alchemy introduction books consistently emphasized that such potions didn't exist.
Saying a single potion could dominate souls was an exaggeration.
An Alchemy Department student seemed to share my thoughts and raised their hand to address the professor.
"Pardon my rudeness, but Professor, it seems you're trying to sell us snake oil."
Seeing the students' eyes clouded with greed, Professor Rakam gave a hearty laugh.
"Good observation. Haha, look at their eyes. This is why alchemy quacks fleece noble ladies. Isn't it? If a single potion could dominate human souls, why would I give such an amazing thing to you? I should use it myself."
Most Alchemy Department students burst out laughing.
Professor Rakam was playing with the students' hearts.
"There are potions that slow aging but none that make you younger, potions that assist mana operation but none that give magical ability. This is the same. Drinking this potion won't make anyone fall in love. It merely nurtures feelings that already exist. Making emotions deeper. Creating a shortcut where there was a roundabout path."
Some muttered in apparent disappointment.
"However, this is certainly the closest existing potion to the 'love potion' that appears only in myths."
Rakam added that the potion's effects varied greatly by person and lasted only two to three months.
Though that might be desperately needed by some, it wasn't an appealing reward to me.
Even if love was gained through tricks, maintaining it ultimately depended on the person. If qualifications were lacking, one would eventually be abandoned no matter what they did. I had already experienced this.
Of course, being a valuable item, using it for sale or exchange could bring great profit. If I obtained the potion, I planned to sell it for a high price.
Just then, Rakam gestured to his assistants as if telling them to bring something.
"Well, let's cut the chat and draw groups now."
The assistants placed a magical box in front of the platform.
The lecture hall was covered in murmurs mixing expectation and excitement.
"As you all know, Alchemy Department students will be group leaders for this class. Other departments will have important roles later so keep complaints to yourselves. Students from departments other than Alchemy will draw lots from this box. You'll be grouped with the leader whose name you draw."
During the preparation period, all rosters and group charts would be public, turning private one day before practical training begins.
Recruiting and expelling group members would be decided at the Alchemy Department leader's discretion.
As assistants called twenty names at a time, students came forward and drew one paper from the box. After Trisha, Cecil, Sion, Lilith, and all the others I knew finished drawing, my turn finally approached.
I put my hand in the box and drew one paper, checking the name written there.
Though it seemed familiar, I couldn't quite remember exactly who it was.
[Iris Semela]
After the assistants recorded all group rosters, Rakam reminded them of the class objective once more.
"Your goal is to respect the circulatory system and incorporate into it. Though you can change members as you wish, know that following the draw results has fewer point penalties. Find your own optimal methods to prepare, and ask assistants if you have questions. That's all."
To aim for first place or top grades, it was advantageous to replace all group members with compatible people, especially since the penalties weren't severe enough to seriously affect rankings. However, in mid-tier levels, small points made big differences, so going without penalties was advantageous for aiming for upper-middle rankings.
The class concluded for now.
Now it was time to enter into fierce group reorganization.
As soon as the professor left, the lecture hall became as noisy as a marketplace.
People shouted names loudly trying to confirm group members and leaders, and a great migration occurred within the lecture hall.
And a woman's gentle voice brushed past my ears.
"Who drew Iris...?"
***
"Damian? There were several people talking about you around me. Seeing you like this, I'm really really glad."
Orange-tinted hair. Iris gave the impression of a noble family's only daughter. From her tone and impression, she seemed so gentle and considerate that she'd likely stay up all night listening to even a stranger's troubles.
"People talked about me?"
"Yes, I don't know the details, it’s just something I happened to overheard. They say you were in Wiesel with Professor Silveryn."
Another male student drawn into the same group cut in.
"Do you remember me?"
His hair was glossy as if dipped in oil. His parting was so angular and precise, it gave an almost obsessive impression.
Iris smiled awkwardly and said, "Ah... haha. What was your name? I don't think I've heard your introduction yet..."
"Oh... really? I'm Lysander. Magic Department."
"Very nice to meet you."
Our attention focused on the remaining person.
The quite large and robust man spoke to me without introduction, "You're the archmage's disciple?"
"..."
When everyone maintained silence, only then did he introduce himself.
"Ah ah, I'm Polson, first son of the Imperial Orlo Duke family. Combat Department, and since my father is the Imperial Finance Minister, I think you've heard enough about us."
When the words Imperial Finance Minister were mentioned, Iris' face momentarily stiffened.
Polson spoke to Iris, "I remember you received the prince's invitation too. Since you're first in Alchemy. We met once at the entrance ceremony reception, correct?"
Iris traced her memory for a moment.
"Did we? Ah... with Prince Franz beside..."
"I was talking about Count Crow beside the prince, don't you remember?"
"Ah, ah! I remember. Oh my, that was you!"
Iris' voice rose with excitement.
They exchanged a few more words about the reception.
When Polson mentioned the prince, Iris' voice tone became somewhat elevated.
Thanks to the keywords of entrance ceremony reception and prince, a bond seemed to have already formed between them.
At this, oily-haired Lysander also tried to squeeze in.
"I was there too... though you don't seem to remember. Nice to meet you."
Iris' face brightened.
"Wow, our group got such a good assignment. Three people who went to the reception? Plus... Professor Silveryn's disciple too."
Lysander added flatteringly, "The key is that the Alchemy Department's top seat is our leader."
Top seat. No wonder something felt off since she started talking about the reception with that Polson fellow.
Iris waved her hands and showed modesty.
"Ah, no. Even being the top seat... I still have much to work on."
Though Iris seemed to view me favorably, I felt a strange sense of discomfort.
Apparently, I was the only one feeling this discomfort. All three showed subtle confidence in their expressions when the reception talk came up.
From what I heard, she was the top seat of the Alchemy Department, but would she really have no interest in the phantasmal beast's horn? If she aimed for that, she would need to form a team with formidable members.
While we were exchanging introductions, various sounds could be heard from other groups in the lecture hall.
"Sorry, we need a spirit summoner."
"We have a group we already planned so you'll have to leave."
"We don't need two Magic Engineering Department students."
Other groups were ruthlessly restructuring.
Right then I could sense it.
I might not be able to stay with these people until the end.
Though it was too early to confirm, I should prepare myself mentally.
While thinking quietly, Polson tapped my shoulder with his finger and said, "Hey, help me make separate contact with Professor Silveryn later."
"..."
I stared blankly at Polson's face.
Who is he to speak in a commanding tone as if a hierarchy has already been established?
Polson added, "What’s with that expression? Being an intermediary for the Orlo family would benefit you. Think about it carefully."
I wasn’t sure if my recent battles had made my personality violent or if this guy was just naturally deserving of a beating. Either way, I couldn't start a fight out of nowhere so I had to moderately hide my anger.
Silveryn had advised before. There would be quite a few troubles due to classism early in the semester. I shouldn't deal with such things emotionally.
Soon after, Iris jumped in with a forced smile.
"Wait, let's save personal talk for later. We need to prepare for circulatory system practice first."
***
Professor Rakam sipped tea in his office while basking in the sunlight. His body felt lighter after leaving the North's gray scenery.
Just then, an assistant knocked and entered.
"Here are the reorganized group charts."
"Ah ah, give them here."
He scanned the roster once and smiled with satisfaction.
"Going well."
It would be faster to find groups that hadn't changed than those that had.
Students who were expelled and couldn't belong to groups were starting to appear.
Though this circulatory system class was designed to cultivate cooperation and adaptability, it had another purpose.
That was breaking in new students.
He couldn't help but smile thinking of their shocked faces when receiving upside-down grade cards.
Students who thought highly of themselves would be unexpectedly thrown to the bottom of this class.
They wouldn't dream that the more thoroughly they prepared, the lower grades they would record.
Looking at past grade statistics, the type that achieved the best grades was always the same. It was students who were expelled and thrown into the circulatory system without a group.