Chapter 36
Afternoon elective: Alchemy class.
Since the first class started during her probation, Sigrin was finally attending.
The class had about ten students, fewer than other electives.
Sigrin was reading the table of contents of the Basic Alchemy textbook when the professor arrived.
Huh?
She looked exactly like Professor Diranmidel.
Same freckles, but with a livelier demeanor.
Twins? They were that similar.
“Ooh, a new friend today? Nice to meet you, I’m Hiranmidel Herbka.”
Judging by the surname, she was definitely related to Professor Diranmidel.
“Hello, I’m Sigrin.”
“Hm~”
Hiranmidel scanned Sigrin from head to toe.
“I thought everyone would attend the first class, but someone skipped due to probation.”
“Did I miss a lot?”
“Luckily, no. The first class was just chit-chat. Listen hard from now on~”
Since afternoon electives weren’t core classes, they seemed more relaxed.
If it were Professor Diranmidel, she’d have covered critical content from day one, making it hard to catch up.
“Let’s start now that the last student introduced herself!”
Hiranmidel shouted, not even opening her textbook.
“All alchemy starts with potion-making. Name a potion you know!”
“Healing potion.”
“Ether potion?”
“Speed potion!”
Hiranmidel’s gaze landed on Sigrin, who spoke reflexively.
“Chesed potion.”
Chesed potion was a strong poison favored by her family.
Not well-known, it slipped out in a rush.
“Ho…? Correct! Good job. Potions have a wide range—used for healing, attacking, or enhancing support abilities.”
Hiranmidel twirled chalk and flipped through the textbook.
“Hm, cramming info isn’t as effective as hands-on practice.”
She paused at a page.
“Go to the back of the textbook.”
Pages flipped all around.
The back listed lower-grade potions.
“This semester’s goal: make five perfect potions!”
“Teacher, what about basics like material selection or elemental combination? Just make them?”
“It’s in the textbook! Ask me if you’re lost~ You take Item Studies as a core class, right? They cover material basics there.”
“What about potion materials…?”
“You’ll have to get those yourselves. Most lower-grade potion materials are in the beginner hunting grounds, so gather them during raid time~”
Her teaching style was the opposite of Professor Diranmidel’s.
Diranmidel explained theory in detail before practice and provided materials.
Sigrin jotted a brief note and flipped pages.
Huh?
A potion caught her eye.
- Pacify Potion (Lower-Grade)
Drains energy and deals heavy damage to a beast’s body without killing it.
Wait?
Isn’t this a last-hit potion?
Sigrin’s heart raced.
Plans formed in her mind.
She might avoid failing!
Curious, she approached Hiranmidel, who was polishing a weapon.
“Got a question?”
“Teacher, does a potion retain its effects if turned into gas?”
“What… What for?”
“Just curious.”
Hiranmidel burst out laughing.
“Never heard that question before.”
After a moment’s thought, she explained kindly.
“It depends on the potion. Some only evaporate water, while others can gasify the solution itself.”
“Really?”
“State changes are mid-level potion studies… If you’re curious, check potion books at the Sereb Library.”
“Thank you.”
✦ ✦ ✦
“Search Paper for Mid-Level Potion Studies, Potion State Changes, Potions, Mid-Level Alchemy.”
Right after class, Sigrin went to the Sereb Library.
Assistant Angel was visible in the distance, working as a librarian.
“What’s got you looking for mid-level alchemy books?”
“How to gasify the Pacify Potion.”
“…Fresh off probation and already diligent. Why do you want to know about potion gasification?”
“For the last raid at the Cardia Hunting Grounds.”
“…!”
Since Sigrin lacked the stamina to feed potions to beasts individually, she likely planned to trap them and use gas.
Angel had felt bad about Sigrin’s unfair probation and harsh penalties and considered intervening.
She’d planned to explain Sigrin’s situation to the professors, but Sigrin vehemently refused.
From her fight with Luca, Angel noticed Sigrin showed immense potential when cornered.
It was pitiful yet funny that the most spirited student was treated like a delinquent.
Chuckling, Angel wrote the Search Paper.
“Potion gasification is in All About Potion Applications. That’s enough.”
“Thank you.”
“Lucky you. Pacify Potion is one of the easier ones to gasify.”
“Huh?”
“Heat it and collect the gas, and you can use it. Tell me if you need equipment. I’ll lend it.”
“…Thank you so much!”
Sigrin hopped after the Search Paper Angel gave her.
✦ ✦ ✦
Assistant Angel was right.
The Pacify Potion was one of the potions that could produce gas with just heating.
- Pacify Potion Materials
Spirit Sprout Dewdrops: 10g
Lower-Grade Fairy Powder: 100g
Water Elemental Orbs: 5
Distilled Water: 200ml
But… how do I get the materials?
It was one hurdle after another.
Banned from two raid sessions, she couldn’t enter the hunting grounds.
While Sigrin agonized, a female student ran up and grabbed her hand.
“Sigrin, really, is there nothing you need done? I’m getting anxious with no tasks…”
It was Wearin.
Thanks to Sigrin visiting her brother during probation, Cardin escaped bullying.
Strangely, in that short time with Sigrin, he’d grown stronger, and rumors spread that Cardin joined Sigrin’s faction.
This relieved Wearin’s anxieties, letting her sleep soundly.
Having received such a huge favor with no tasks in return made her uneasy.
She feared Sigrin might later demand something bigger.
So, Wearin kept asking if there was anything to do.
“Tasks?”
“Yes, you haven’t given me orders since helping my brother. You didn’t even take money.”
“Oh!”
Sigrin smiled brightly and grabbed Wearin’s hands.
“There is something!”