Chapter 24
Boo, what's so great about guys who copied the assignment?
Apologize before I tell Karnarov!
S-sorry...
I was wrong.
Now they were completely demoralized.
At this rate, they might even turn into diligent students because of this incident!
If there are more diligent students, I won't be able to use any tricks!
I looked at Robert.
Is he trying to get himself killed?
Robert?
You're telling me to keep this crap up for several more weeks?
Hahaha...
Whatever.
All I have to do is flip the table.
I took a staff out of my inventory.
Casting...
One thing I learned while working on the assignment.
—Ziiing.
Bulletbulletbulletbulletbulletbulletbullet.
Once you've cast the magic circle once, you can fire the attack just by saying the next line.
Of course, the power drops a bit, but you can just make up for it with mana.
Disperse.
Waaah! The runner-up's gone crazy!!!
Run awayyyy!!!
It's minimum power, so even if it hits, it'll only sting, you idiots.
I said to Aris while watching the students flee in panic.
Sigh. Let's go eat.
Well, they can suffer a little more.
It's not like it doesn't help, honestly.
Hmm. Seems you're shy. Not used to this sort of fame, are you?
Robert interpreted my sudden action however he wanted.
Oh, right.
Here. Aris, Robert, take these. I bought them, but I don't really have anyone to give them to.
I don't really want to give them to Karnarov.
If he hadn't dumped that assignment bomb on me, I might have considered it.
What I took out of my inventory was a thermos.
And a pretty high-end one at that.
I grabbed the most expensive-looking one at the supermarket.
Aris was happy even though she didn't know what it was.
Wow! Thank you!
Be careful, it's got hot tea in it.
A silver thermos was handed over to each of them.
They're the only ones here I can really call friends.
Aris seemed to have gone around making friends here and there, but I had no particular reason to do that.
So these two were the only friends I had to give gifts to.
Though one of them is a little questionable as a friend.
Hmph. I don't usually accept gifts from commoners, but I'll make a special exception.
Does it hurt you to give an answer that isn't so predictable?
What does that mean?
To think he could talk like that so naturally without even realizing it.
That's scary in its own way.
I took out another thermos and explained it roughly.
Press here to open it, then put your mouth to it and drink. Cleaning is just water and detergent... do we even have detergent here?
Hmm. A water bottle in an interesting shape. Having a lid would make it easy to carry.
After popping the lid open, Robert said.
It was a device that opened on a hinge when you released the lock and pressed the mouthpiece.
Quite intricate... and it doesn't leak? Which smith made this? You've got a fascinating thing here.
It's factory-made, you brat.
If I had to name the manufacturer, it's Chuil Industries Co., Ltd.
The tea inside is valuable too.
It's green tea.
It's a bit rare here.
It even sells for 5,000 won a box at the supermarket.
...5,000 won! A number as huge as 5,000!
Aris was shocked.
I should stop teasing her.
She's really amazed.
Still, it's a pretty good item at 5,000 won for ten tea bags.
Hmm. It does have a fascinating aroma.
Ah, it's hot...! I've never had tea like this before...! Though it smells amazing! So that was what you were brewing this morning!
Aris sipped the tea and said.
As expected, Yumia is amazing!
This could be sold commercially. Impressive. It's hot, so I'll have to let it cool before drinking it.
Be careful not to drink too much, or you won't be able to sleep at night.
...It even has a stimulant effect? That's pretty good.
It seems like it could be used as military supplies too! Yumia's food has so many fascinating things!
Hmm.
The reaction is way better than I expected.
Should I bring in coffee later too?
I had once seen stimulant candy at the school market.
It felt like something you'd eat because you needed it, even though it tasted awful.
It seemed like it would be pretty popular with professors who stayed up all night a lot.
It's not like I'm especially grateful, but next time I'll be a little more accommodating.
Robert said it in a tsundere way and took his leave.
He didn't even ask how to use it before leaving.
I should explain now.
Ah, and there's something unusual about this water bottle.
What? Besides not leaking and opening like this, there's more?
Aris looked interested.
Yeah. If you put a drink or water in this bottle, it can keep it hot for more than two days.
...Whaaat!? Really!?
Is that really something to be that surprised about?
Of course! Magical tools like this would at least cost gold coins! I can't accept something like this!
Aris shook her head furiously and tried to hand the thermos back to me.
I pushed away the thermos, which had suddenly become an absurdly expensive magic tool, and said.
No, this isn't a magic tool.
But isn't it expensive!?
No? It probably doesn't even cost as much as one meal at our school. Just take it. Think of it as a gift from a friend.
Aris didn't seem fully convinced, but she accepted it for now.
Mm... okay. I don't know where you get things like this, but I'll treasure it.
No, if it breaks, just throw it away.
Then I heard a voice from behind.
A beautiful voice reminiscent of a harp.
You've got something interesting. Can I see it too?
Blue eyes and watery hair flowing like waves.
It was Potion Studies professor Isabel.
P-Professor!?
I-it's been a while.
Isabel had taught me magic and even given me mana potions.
Unlike Karnarov, she's a good person.
Are you on your way back after turning in your assignment?
Huh? Yes.
Yep.
Type 1 format, huh. Karnarov really pays a lot of attention once he's the grade advisor.
Huh.
Especially for the top student and you, he seems to have gone full homework-bomb mode. We don't normally assign this much even in the accelerated magic-vessel course...
This is a lot, right?
I knew it.
There were quite a lot of assignments.
If you included the magic circle exercises, it was even more.
Normally, aside from me, nobody gives you this much.
Pardon?
I've been betrayed.
Still, it seemed there was a reason.
I tend to assign a lot so you'll do a lot and improve a lot! Of course, I don't expect everyone to finish it all!
Was Karnarov giving them out with this same kind of feeling?
And I actually did all of that?
Still, there are some kids who do everything, and those kids all score high on exams.
Those kids...
Hmm? Some of them are in my lab. This place is better than most magic towers, you know. Especially during this period when Karnarov and I are here.
For some reason, a chill ran down my spine.
Why?
Isabel turned her deep blue eyes on me.
She looked me over carefully and opened her mouth in admiration.
Oh, your mana has increased quite a bit? You had so little mana that I gave you that potion on purpose. I hope it helped.
It helped a lot.
Really, a ton.
The first floor was easy, but if I hadn't had mana, I'd definitely have had to fight in close quarters.
Then I wouldn't have been able to meet the speedrun conditions.
Come to think of it, inventory came from the speedrun rewards.
Isabel is basically the mother of my inventory.
Then could I have just one of those bottles too? I'm personally interested.
Of course, I should give you one.
In fact, I was the one looking around to give one away.
I handed over the thermos I'd been using for demonstration.
This one was new too, so it was fine.
Her eyes shone.
Oh-ho. What a very unusual structure. It's quite complex... and there are a lot of materials I don't know.
Judging by the mana it emitted, it looked like she had used some kind of magic.
So professor-level people can just use magic without even words or a staff.
No-chant casting is pretty impressive.
So this is to block heat from going in and out, right?
You figured it out really fast.
We have something similar too. Of course, for insulation we use mana-bearing materials to block it completely.
Then isn't it unnecessary?
Not really, because that stuff is ridiculously expensive. It's not portable either, so I've been wishing I had one of these. I'll use it well, okay?
Isabel looked through her potion bag and said.
Then she picked out a few potions and handed them over.
When I checked, there were five of them.
I can't just take something like this for free. Take them. They're quite valuable.
They glowed much bluer and were smaller than the ones I got last time.
Your mana capacity isn't very large, so I couldn't give you anything above the lowest grade.
She poked the area around my solar plexus.
Then she drew a small circle.
The circle was quite small, even compared to my body.
You've grown enough now to handle mid-grade ones. Don't take more than three a day.
What happens if I take more than three?
It also doubles as doping... so maybe it'd strain your heart? It might burst?
I shouldn't take it then.
Three won't be nearly enough, so don't worry.
Then that's fine.
She rummaged through her bag.
Hmm... I don't have anything else to give. I used up all my elixirs this time...
She looked like she was disappointed she couldn't give me anything else.
I don't carry cash, so I couldn't give you much pocket money last time, but it's a relief to see you've been earning your own.
I don't have any right now, though.
Well, now you'll have a way to earn money, so don't worry.
Pardon?
Money?
Money??
You know Potion Studies starts this Friday, right?
Yep.
You need some knowledge of herbs before you can make potions.
So I heard it starts a few weeks later than Herbology.
Isabel said cheerfully.
You can take the potions you make in class and sell them at the school market!
What?
So some students work day jobs to make a little money before they enroll.
Then they hold out until Potion Studies opens and make money with that. Their skills improve too, so it's a two-for-one deal.
What...!
You can farm potions for money?
Of course, only potions that are made well and pass inspection are allowed.
Isabel thought for a moment and then said.
She seemed to be wondering whether I could pass inspection.
Still, with your talent, you could make them right away! Even better if you have a feel for manipulating natural mana!
Natural mana? That's no big deal.
I was confident.
I remembered the bean Shila gave me in the eastern forest.
I should practice growing it diligently.
After all, true money farming begins with effort.
Hah! I'm going to be late for a meeting! Do your best!!!
After checking the time, Isabel ran off.
We decided to head back to the dorm too.
We had no other classes besides Karnarov's repair class later.
I'll just sleep after that.
By the way, what made you give a gift to a friend for once?
Huh? Ah, yeah. He is my friend, after all.
After all?
Aris tilted her head in confusion.
But shouldn't you tell him how to use it? Otherwise he'll end up drinking hot tea...
Huh? Why would I tell him? He left without asking.
What?
My petty revenge.
Take that.
***
Aaaah, it's hotttt!!!
A little while after repair class ended, Robert's scream echoed through the A-rank dorm.
You let your guard down, comrade.
You thought it'd have cooled down by then, huh?
Uh, uhh...
The proper way to use it is to ram it right into your body.
Why would I tell you?
You'll figure it out and use it properly anyway.
Ah.
I guess I should tell him about the insulation feature.
That'd be hard for him to figure out on his own.
Then someone knocked on the door.
Professor Karnarov is looking for you.