I’m Not Doing This With A Friend

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Upon arriving at Professor George's lab, I found a note stuck in the gap between the door while trying to knock.

〈I'm away for a while, so please go inside first.〉

‘I guess you were waiting.'

Had I forgotten to come tomorrow, it would have been a disaster.

I sighed in relief and opened the door to the lab. Inside the lab was warmer than I expected.

Did he raise the temperature beforehand?

…There's no way that Professor George would do that.

I shook my head shaking off a ridiculous delusion. Then I began to look around the laboratory.

This wasn't the first time I've been to Professor George's lab, but I've never seen it openly because I've been with him every time.

Herbs scattered all over the desk. Even the things around it that seem unorganized.

"I've seen this before…?"

It was a landscape similar to my private herbal laboratory in the Count's house.

It felt like my intimacy with Professor George increased by 0.1%.

There were countless drawers storing herbs on the wall. I was curious, but I didn't touch it, since it's already visible.

It's not like I'm going through the drawers?

As I was looking around the lab, something caught my eye.

It was Professor George's one-piece glasses.

"Oh…"

I was overwhelmed by intense worries and impulses at the moment. There seemed to be voices of angels and demons from both sides urging me.

No way, Leen.

ㅡIf Professor George caught you doing that, what face was he going to make? Pretend you didn't see it!

No, just do it.

ㅡHow does Professor George know what you did? Even if he knew, he'll only have doubts, does he have any evidence? Look at those glasses. Isn't it tempting? If you hold it like this, will you still tremble before going to bed?

I weighed the choices, listening to both opinions.

The decision didn't take long, the devil's triumph. This was the part I couldn't stand.

When I made the decision, I felt at ease.

Without hesitation, I reached out and picked up the one-piece glasses.

And Then…

I began to diligently put fingerprints on his glasses. Oh, I'm having so much fun. As expected, it's a good thing I did it.

Thinking of Professor George, who would be embarrassed when he wore glasses without knowing anything, felt as if the accumulated emotions had been washed away.

This was the price for the sin of making group assignments like a meal!

It's the crime of asking for efficacy by bringing all kinds of herbs as if testing me!

Lastly, the crime of trying to seduce me to keep me under after graduation!

It was when I was concentrating with a gloomy smile.

"Oh, no. You should put oil on your hands before doing that."

Suddenly, I heard a laughing voice from behind, and I froze as I was.

Far from the sound of footsteps, I didn't hear the door opening.

Am I going to get Professor George's cold gaze now…?

What should I do with that awkward atmosphere? What if he tells me to work for him after graduation using this as an excuse?

While imagining things in my head, I realized something and held on to hope.

If I think about it carefully, that person ‘advised’ that it would be better to put oil on my hands instead of my dry hands.

Come to think of it, this voice. It was a familiar voice.

A gentle, strict voice that makes me sleepy when I listen to it.

No way, don't tell me…!

I turned my head fast enough to make a snapping sound and looked at where the voice came from.

As expected, it was that person…

"Arcandus!"

The smile on his face as he met my gaze slowly disappeared. Those blank stares, I couldn't believe it.

"Leen…?"

"Yes! It's me, Leen!"

For a brief moment of surprise, a smile appeared on my lips.

Light brown hair that looks blonde at first glance with slightly squinty eyes.

Except for the fact that he looked a little older, he didn't look any different from the one in my memory.

"It's been a while. You were a young man back then, but now you're almost an old man."

"…Sorry. I'm sorry, Leen. You grew so much that I didn't recognize you at once. A kid that used to be that small has already grown up like this?"

Arcandus covered his gaping mouth. His eyes were filled with surprise and affection as he looked at me.

"It's understandable. I'm growing up that you can't recognize me anymore, and it's been more than five years since I've seen you, Arcandus."

He's the teacher who taught me alchemy.

Although he was only doing what my mother paid for…

Still, I was grateful for him who helped me study for a cure when my parents got sick and patted me on the back even when my parents died.

"I never imagined I'd meet you in a place like this."

Arcandus looked at me with a grim look and said,

"Me too…"

As I was about to say I was surprised, I remembered the time I got separated from Arcandus and handed over an apology.

It's been on my mind ever since we separated, it's been bothering me.

"I was really sorry, back then, I was so shocked that my parents died…"

When my parents died…

After their funeral, I entrusted myself to my aunt's house.

We separated without being able to give him a proper word of farewell, and couldn't even thank him.