Chapter 26
Chapter 26
Group Project (4)
“Ha.”
Professor Maizen Tiren let out a dry laugh at Baek Yu-seol’s words.
It was understandable.
Up until now, Baek Yu-seol might have managed to create better potions by slightly altering a few ingredients, but this time was different.
Creating a potion with the same effectiveness, but even stronger, using completely different ingredients and conditions?
The key ingredient of the Tiren Point Potion was the shell of an Atarix Spider.
The Atarix Spider had a unique habit of shedding its shell to create an egg for its offspring, resulting in the shell being packed with incredible nutrients.
T h i s w as c o p i ed f r o m k i n g m t l . o r g
That was the basis for the Tiren Point Potion, an energy supplement.
However, making an energy supplement with the tail of a Firemane Lizard seemed utterly ridiculous.
Professor Maizen Tiren smirked and said.
“…That’s interesting. Creating a Tiren Point Potion with those ingredients. Even I, the inventor of the potion, didn’t know that.”
“Of course. This is a recipe developed by our team.”
At those words, all members of Group 12 looked shocked, especially Aiselle. Her expression seemed to say, ‘What is this madman talking about?’
Clap! One of the alchemists from the Alchemy Castle clapped his hands. With a face full of interest, he looked back and forth between Professor Maizen and Baek Yu-seol.
“As an alchemist, one experiences all sorts of rare and precious events, but this is truly fascinating. I find this situation very intriguing. An alchemist must always keep all possibilities open. What do you think? How about we proceed without disqualifying them?”
T h i s w a s c op ie d f r o m k i ng m t l . o r g
The other two alchemists from the Alchemy Castle nodded, finding the situation amusing. Although Professor Maizen didn’t like giving Baek Yu-seol a chance, he decided that the outcome wouldn’t change and nodded.
If Baek Yu-seol failed here, it would only bring him more disgrace.
“Very well. The time limit is one hour. Complete the Tiren Point Potion within that time. Oh, and Baek Yu-seol, don’t get confused? It’s the Tiren Point Potion, not the D Vitality Potion.”
“Of course. Unlike you, Professor, I have a good memory.”
“…Yes. Then, shall we start?”
Professor Maizen immediately swung his staff, not giving Baek Yu-seol any more time to think.
Numbers appeared on the blackboard, and a countdown from one hour began.
In that instant, the eyes of all the students changed as they reached for their experimental equipment.
…Except for those in Baek Yu-seol’s group.
“Are you out of your mind?!”
Aiselle immediately scolded him in a low voice. Malivan also spoke timidly.
“Y-Yu-seol… No matter how you look at it, this is too much. Sometimes, you have to swallow your pride and yield… How can we do something impossible…”
The young members were full of worry. Baek Yu-seol chuckled and said.
“Just trust me and follow my instructions exactly. Can you do that?”
“…Well, since it’s come to this, we have no choice.”
Aiselle, realizing there was no time to argue, spoke resignedly. Baek Yu-seol also didn’t want to waste time.
“The Atarix Spider’s shell is packed with nutrients to lay eggs. The Firemane Lizard’s tail has a similar organ. This blood vessel.”
He pulled out a thick blood vessel from the lizard’s tail. Unlike humans, creatures that naturally handled mana had thick blood vessels, which were often treated as valuable magical materials by mages and alchemists.
“The Alraker tribe in the southern desert uses these blood vessels to nourish their chiefs. They have shown a lifespan increase of about 5 to 10 years.”
“Oh… Right. I researched the Alraker tribe before.”
Th is w a s c o p i ed fr o m ki n g m tl . o r g
“Hmm? Oh, right.”
“So, I know a bit about Alraker processing… Can I take care of this?”
“Go ahead.”
Malivan proved to be much smarter than expected. After all, he was destined to become a genius inventor in the future. Baek Yu-seol was convinced.
Th is w a s c o p i e d f r o m k i n g m tl. o r g
“And we will dry this mistletoe using the desert’s unique mana discharge drying method. Anyone know how to do that?”
“It’s the So-Gong drying method, right? I learned it while traveling with my father. I can dry these blood vessels in about 5 minutes.”
“Uh… yeah. That’s right.”
Kasahun also knew about it. Baek Yu-seol just read it out from the Bulbul Glasses.
‘What’s going on.’
Feeling suspicious, he tried explaining the processing of another ingredient, and this time, Aiselle slowly responded.
“…I’ll take care of that.”
“Do you know how to do it?”
“Yes. It’s something I read in a book.”
The knowledge related to the Tiren Point Potion B-Type was scattered in the brains of these three members.
‘Could it be…?’
T h i s w a s co p i e d f r o m ki ng m t l . o r g
Baek Yu-seol had a sudden realization, but he didn’t have time to think about it. They had already spent over 15 minutes processing and explaining the ingredients.
“From now on, mix according to the instructions.”
Just as they were about to start, Aiselle asked one last question.
“Is this solution mixing method something you just came up with?”
He felt a jolt but nodded because he had no other answer.
“Essentially.”
Aiselle didn’t ask further questions after that, and Baek Yu-seol clapped his hands lightly.
“Let’s begin.”
As Group 12 finally started synthesizing the potion, the alchemists from the Alchemy Castle watched with keen interest.
“These young ones possess some unique knowledge.”
For professional alchemists from the Alchemy Castle, this might be basic knowledge, but it was rare for teenage students at a magic school to have such knowledge.
“Indeed… This is interesting.”
Th i s w as c o p i e d f r o m k i n g mtl .o r g
They paid no attention to the other groups. Some groups even performed unique reprocessing techniques, but it didn’t catch their eyes.
“We’ve finished, Group 3.”
“Good job. Well done.”
As 30 minutes passed, then 40 minutes, a few excellent groups already presented completed Tiren Point Potions. They were almost perfect, scoring over 90 out of 100.
This year’s freshmen were exceptionally outstanding.
But even so, the alchemists were not looking at the other students. They didn’t have time to.
“Oh, indeed…”
With only 10 minutes left, the other 11 groups had all completed their potions. The alchemists were still focused on Group 12.
Gradually, the potion they were making was taking shape.
By now, Maizen Tiren was starting to feel uneasy. Group 12’s potion was turning out far better than expected.
‘What is that… Where did they get that recipe from?’
Looking at the level of each manufacturing process, it could honestly be said to be poor. Not only were their skills in drawing alchemical circles lacking, but their tool-handling skills were also those of beginners.
However, all four members of Group 12 divided their roles, wasting not a single second, and continuously produced results.
Even Baek Yu-seol, who was leading the experiment, didn’t expect this at all.
‘What’s with these guys? Why are they so good?’
Baek Yu-seol, who didn’t know much about the original story and could barely remember protagonist-level characters like Aiselle, had no way of recalling such minor stories.
But Flame, watching the scene, knew.
The current members of Group 12 had successfully created a similar version of the Tiren Point Potion B-Type in the ‘original romance fantasy’ without Baek Yu-seol.
Of course, it was similar but ultimately a failure. Due to the time limit, they couldn’t complete it, and they failed to find the proper mixing method.
‘But how do they know that recipe…?’
Flame recalled the ‘original romance fantasy.’
Aiselle, who had brought the wrong materials because Maizen Tiren had purposefully not informed her, was desperate but tried to make the Tiren Point Potion with what she had. She managed a passable B-Type.
…However, it was only ‘passable.’ Maizen Tiren, although surprised, disqualified Aiselle due to the incomplete potion and later took her unfinished potion to his lab for separate research.
That’s how the Tiren Point Potion B-Type was completed.
In other words, it was an invention that future Aiselle created, which Professor Maizen Tiren stole.
‘But they made that?’
Bubble… Pop!
With a proper alchemical reaction, a small glass bottle filled with purple liquid was created.
Tiren Point Potion B-Type.
It had finally been completed.
“Oh…”
“Let’s see, I’ll verify it immediately.”
“Oh, come on. You know you’re no match for me when it comes to analysis.”
“Mm…”
One alchemist from the Alchemy Castle stepped forward and placed his hand on the potion. Alchemical circles spun from his palm and pierced through the potion from bottom to top.
Th i s w a s co pi e d f r om k in g m t l . o r g
“Hmm, hmm. Hmm… I see. Mixing it this way… It’s very unique and creative. Impressive.”
“Well, how is it?”
The alchemist opened his eyes and grabbed another group’s completed potion from the nearby table. It was made with Maizen Tiren’s recipe and was the most perfect one here, but…
“Indeed! Although it’s still incomplete and overconsumes ingredients, this can be fixed later. This one…”
The alchemist glanced at Maizen Tiren and concluded.
Th i s w a s c o p i e d fr o m k i n g mt l. o r g
“It’s far better than Professor Maizen Tiren’s potion.”
At those words, Professor Maizen Tiren bit his lip.
‘Have they lost their minds? What nonsense is this!’
How could his invention be inferior to a potion hastily made by students? It was an unbelievably tasteless and oblivious joke.
“Let me see that!”
“Sure. You should check it yourself.”
The alchemists handed the potion over to Maizen without hesitation. She was forced to show a shocked expression.
‘What the…!’
The potion undoubtedly applied the technique of extracting nutrients from monsters and converting them into human vitality, a unique Maizen Tiren technique.
In other words, there was no doubt about calling it Tiren Point Potion B-Type.
T h i s w as co p i e d f r o m k i n g m t l . o rg
‘How did they…!’
Even the Tiren Point Potion took years of research to invent. It wasn’t something that could be completed with just any ingredients.
She couldn’t believe it. She couldn’t accept it.
How could her hard-earned result, achieved after years of effort, be outdone by an on-the-spot creation?
It was absurd. Professor Maizen Tiren’s eyes turned red as if blood vessels were about to burst.
“This is…”
T h i s w a s c op i e d f r om k in g mt l.o r g
She wanted to scold them. She felt she had to vent her anger.
But she couldn’t.
“This deserves more than an A+. It’s a level of creativity beyond what a student could think of.”
“Oh, come on. In my day, we made things far better than this.”
“Tsk tsk. By today’s standards, this is impressive!”
“Well, that’s true. He he.”
Since the alchemists from the Alchemy Castle were showering praise, Maizen had no choice but to shut her mouth.
There were plenty of excuses to dock their scores.
‘Disqualified for not preparing the original materials properly.’
‘Disqualified for not creating the original assignment.’
‘Just disqualified.’
As the supervising professor, Maizen had countless ways to unfairly dock their scores… but doing so in front of the alchemists from the Alchemy Castle would be incredibly rude.
That was unthinkable.
“Ha, looks like Professor Maizen should be the one being evaluated, not the students! They’ve made a better potion!”
“Hahaha! Don’t be angry. Just a joke.”
“How about it, Professor Maizen? You taught them well! Your student researched your potion and came up with such an excellent result.”
Everyone knew. The alchemists from the Alchemy Castle also knew that Professor Maizen often gave a hard time to students he didn’t like.
That’s why they were teasing her.
‘Now that you’ve been humiliated, you should come to your senses, right?’
Though she felt humiliated and furious to the point where her eyes were bloodshot, Maizen clenched her jaw and endured it.
“…Group 12, you pass.”
Finally, her reluctant words of approval fell.
“Ahhh…”
“Whew…”
“We did it…”
Aiselle and the students collapsed into their seats as if they had fainted. Meanwhile, only Baek Yu-seol was confidently shaking his potion, as if he had known it would turn out this way.
[Professor Maizen Tiren’s Dark Mage Corruption Progress has increased.]
End of Chapter