Chapter 99
Students gathered in the large lecture hall that could accommodate hundreds. The joint class that had been postponed due to the Dark Mage's invasion was finally about to begin in earnest.
This was the second time all first-years gathered in one place since the entrance exam. Back then the atmosphere was chaotic with applicants included, but now there was an appropriate level of tension.
More than half the students were seated with group members they had formed in advance. Whenever someone entered the lecture hall, they busily discussed among themselves in whispers.
Sion's face could be seen after a long time. She had been observing early from a corner in the very back, resting her chin.
Does she still remember wanting to fight me during the entrance exam?
I sincerely hope she had forgotten amid her busy academy life. I had no intention of fighting, after all.
Several students around me whispered about how they could bring Sion, who sat alone, into their group.
As expected, students who ranked first and second in each department received the most attention.
Unfortunately, Magic Department top seat Luna wasn't here. Though I had greatly hoped she would participate in this class, there was no news, perhaps due to significant aftereffects.
The lecture hall door opened and a group of students entered. Some familiar faces were mixed in.
Three women and one man. It was Cecil's group including Trisha. They looked around once then took seats at a front desk.
Like other students, they chatted among themselves for a while. Then, Trisha suddenly turned around and surveyed the lecture hall.
And loudly shouted, "Damian!"
She discovered me and waved. Her vision was quite good to spot me among a crowd.
Cecil and her group members all turned and looked up at me.
They muttered something among themselves but I couldn't hear from being too far away.
As Trisha's voice drew attention, dozens of other students glanced at my face.
I took out my notebook and pretended to read, hiding my face.
***
Cecil spoke disinterestedly, "That guy?"
Though far away, they easily recognized Damian. Thanks to his distinct physical characteristics, no additional explanation was needed.
"Yes!"
"You became close because of the Drama Club?"
"No! He joined the Art Club."
"Strange. How did you become close in such a short time when you have no overlap?"
"Don't even ask, Sis. He persistently approached me first wanting to be friends."
Cecil didn't seem to fully believe Trisha's words.
"Sure, sure. He must have followed you around a lot."
She dismissed it with an amused smile and turned her attention to her book.
Bertrand cut in with an objection, "Are you really close? He's been hiding his face without even giving you a proper greeting.”
Trisha slightly furrowed her brow and said, "He hates getting attention, that's why."
Despite Bertrand's efforts to become closer, Trisha consistently used formal speech with him, her peer.
He had even known her before Damian. While Trisha would initiate greetings with Damian, she wasn't even at the stage of casual conversation with Bertrand yet.
Bertrand agonized over what he had missed seeing Trisha's serious reaction.
Just then, as class time approached, an elderly professor entered through the door.
The noisy lecture hall immediately quieted at the professor's appearance.
Though he had white hair and beard, and kindly wrinkles on his face suggesting imminent retirement, his straight back and powerful gait prevented any sense of frailty.
He stood before the platform, briefly surveyed the students, and cleared his throat.
"Ahem. Well, though I see some empty seats, I trust no one is absent. There wouldn't be any fools late to the first class. You must all be busy adjusting to Eternia. So am I. It hasn't even been a full day since I returned from the North."
Unlike his age, his voice carried power. Thanks to that, even students in the back row had each word driven into their ears.
"Let me introduce myself. I am Magic Department Professor Rakam. Specifically, I deal with barrier techniques and defensive magic."
He smiled after examining the students' expressions. He walked sideways as if taking a stroll with his hands behind his back as he continued.
"Looking at your expressions, some friends seem confused. I know what you're thinking. They said it was an alchemy class, but suddenly a magic professor appeared—was the information wrong? No, your research was correct. This is a class about alchemy. It has little to do with magic.
"If that’s the case, you must be wondering why we gathered all first-years from every department just for alchemy. What the hell does damn alchemy have to do with combat techniques and magic and magic engineering. I know well what image of alchemy is ingrained in your minds. Thanks to quacks selling 'rejuvenation potions' to noble ladies greatly elevating alchemy's status."
Some students laughed. “Rejuvenation potions” could be found anywhere on the continent. This was one of the representative scam items of quack alchemists.
"Let me ask you several things. Are there any students who know all the names of the continent's top 10 sword masters? Raise your hands if you do."
More than half raised their hands.
"Next, how about those who know about the 4 great archmages?"
This time most students raised their hands.
"Then the 3 great magic engineers?"
A similar number raised their hands.
"Seems you've read biographies diligently. Then let me ask. Has anyone ever heard of sages who reached the master level in alchemy?"
Only three students raised their hands.
"See this. You have no interest in alchemy. You just think if you need something from alchemy, you can buy someone else's creation with money. You know nothing about how alchemy affects the world. You consider efforts to directly understand alchemy's principles a waste of time. Even Alchemy Department students."
The lecture hall's atmosphere sank as if cold water had been poured.
"Alchemy isn't potion manufacturing studies. It's a field of understanding and integrating the circulation principles of the material realm that constitutes humans, nature, and the universe. Though different in texture from magic studies and magic engineering, what it pursues is ultimately the same."
At the professor's signal, two assistants standing by the door climbed onto the platform carrying a human-height scroll.
They hung it high on the wall and cut the knot to unroll the scroll.
It was a map of the Grace Mountains including Eternia.
"What do you think is the beginning and end of alchemy? Most would think it's in books. Truth isn't in parchment. Truth is in roadside dandelions, in gentle breezes, and even in cow dung. The sages were originally not alchemists but travelers. They grasped truth not through theory but through their bodies."
Rakam finally revealed this class' true purpose.
"You need to realize what alchemy is. Not with your heads, but with your bodies. So, you will embark on a pilgrimage for a week to learn alchemy's basics."
The lecture hall buzzed.
One student raised their hand high.
When the professor permitted, a male student asked a question, "By pilgrimage, do you mean we just need to go on a trip?"
"You could think of it that way. You can freely pack food, potions, and other items."
Then he tapped a part of the map displayed behind him with his pointer.
"Following the Eternia River that crosses the Grace Mountains downstream, there's a primeval forest region called Soderton. Thanks to Grace Mountain's mana carried by river water and fertile soil accumulating for tens of thousands of years, plus spirits occupying it for a long time, a unique circulatory system unlike anywhere else has formed there. The Soderton primeval forest is your destination. Any other questions?"
About twenty students raised their hands simultaneously. The professor pointed and took questions.
"Do we complete the objective just by visiting there? What are the grading criteria?"
"You need to visit Soderton's center. Just adapt well there. We have ways to measure adaptation levels so don't worry. You'll get very good scores just for setting foot in Soderton. But it's not as easy a place as you might think. I guarantee it. Half of you will be spat back out after entering. To make the goal more concrete, this class' purpose is 'incorporation into the circulatory system.'"
Damian felt strange hearing the professor's words. Zverev too was both an alchemist and traveler, and his recipes repeatedly emphasized the importance of circulatory systems and strongly criticized mainstream alchemy schools that excluded their existence.
Another student continued with questions, "I heard rewards would be given to students achieving the best results. Can you tell us about that reward?"
"Ah, yes, let me tell you about that. Among you, there will surely be those not satisfied with just going on a pilgrimage to Soderton and returning. Those who want to stand at the highest position."
It was words targeting students aiming for top rank.
"A unique mana field spreads through Soderton's central region. There are mysterious ores and herbs not yet properly researched, and above all, the strongest phantasmal beast in this world lives there. That phantasmal beast dominates Soderton's circulatory system. You could say it's close to an indigenous god."
The professor took out a steel box from his inner pocket. From it, he removed a finger-sized glass bottle and showed it to the students.
"Originally it should be delivered secretly, but since rumors have spread as they have, I'll reveal the reward. If you bring that great phantasmal beast's horn, along with giving the highest grade for this class, as a reward for great contribution to alchemy research, I'll award this potion."
Damian, sitting quietly in the back listening to the professor's words, found it strange seeing the stirring among students. Everyone except himself seemed to know about that potion.
"It takes over ten years just to produce this one bottle. Even then, since one person monopolizes the recipe, you need heavenly luck to obtain it. This truly contains the essence of alchemy because one potion can dominate a human soul. Though not completely."
The lecture hall of hundreds became so quiet—not even breathing could be heard.
"To first place, I will award this 'Love Potion’."