As I stepped out of the classroom, a cool breeze carried fallen leaves in the air under the clear blue sky.
Looking at the midday sun high above, I smiled.
'It's about ti.'
In one hand, I held my just-received grade report.
No, no.
Let's think positively.
If I hadn't returned late from the gathering the previous day, I wouldn't have even been able to take the exam.
The only thing I should regret is that I forgot today was the day of the exam.
'Fortunately, the evaluation for the afternoon lecture is scheduled for next week.'
To be honest, I had assud that since the next week's evaluation was for Silbec's lecture in the afternoon, there would naturally be an evaluation for the morning lecture as well.
With so many hectic things happening lately, it seems I completely lost track of things.
Recently, I've been getting a stronger sense of Adrias's personality.
'After all, Adrias is the one in control of the body.'
Even if I were to put the sa content in my mind about Kim Jinho's mories coming to Adrias, it doesn't an Adrias becos Kim Jinho in any way.
'Tomorrow is Interdiate Herbalism. Fortunately, it's a subject I'm confident in.'
I was well aware that Professor Beoban, the professor of Herbalism, held negative sentints towards .
But since it was an evaluation that all the students would be taking, I couldn't single-handedly manipulate it.
...That's definitely the case.
Contrary to my expectation that I wouldn't be able to manipulate the evaluation, I burst into laughter at the scene that unfolded before .
'Why is no one here?'
The Herbalism class was clearly scheduled for the afternoon.
I didn't have any thoughts about the evaluation until I was inford about it on the day itself, so I entered the classroom on ti without thinking much.
But there was no one there except for a mo on the blackboard stating that the evaluation would take place in the outdoor plaza.
After reading the mo, I quickly rushed to the plaza, where I saw nurous experint stations and herbalism students conducting experints, with other students passing by and observing.
"What is this?"
Unknowingly, I muttered to myself and pushed my way through the crowd to get inside.
I happened to see Professor Beoban's back, so I imdiately approached him.
"Professor."
"Hmm? Ah, Adrias-kun. Why are you so late?"
"Late? I arrived at the classroom on ti."
"I clearly inford everyone about the evaluation location and ti on the magic tablet. Didn't you check it?"
This bastard.
Is he targeting ?
Unfortunately, I didn't have a Magic Tablet.
As an artifact, the purchase of a Magic Tablet was optional, unlike essential items such as textbooks.
This ant that it cost quite a bit, which in turn ant that the impoverished Adrias couldn't afford one.
"Please explain the evaluation and its details since I don't have a Magic Tablet, Professor."
"Oh, you're a noble and yet you don't have a tablet? How interesting."
What is he trying to do?
He's clearly trying to make a fool out of .
Hurry up and explain the evaluation.
As I sent a silent pressure with my gaze, one of the professor's assistants who was standing beside him approached and explained.
"I will explain. Recently, Professor Beoban invented a new potion through his own abilities."
"Hmm!"
So he acted all high and mighty just because he accomplished sothing himself?
I don't like what he's doing.
"This evaluation will involve analyzing the potion created by Professor Beoban. Each experint station has a sample of the potion created by the professor. You need to determine the ingredients and ratios used in the potion. Conversations and interactions with other students are strictly prohibited, and the ti limit is until 8 p.m. today. You only need to write down the parts you were able to figure out on the exam paper."
"Now, even though you're a bit late, go and give it a try."
"Understood."
Suppressing any personal emotions, I headed towards an empty experint station.
But why does this have to be done outdoors?
Of course, it doesn't matter to where I do it, but I was a little concerned about the onlookers.
"Now that all our herbalism students have gathered, the student who just arrived is the famous Adrias Cromwell. He's not only created a new potion, but also defeated a dark mage. He's a talented student."
As I stood at the experint station, trying to examine the potion that Beoban had made, he suddenly started introducing as if he were a clown.
'What is he trying to do?'
Beoban, you...
You've got now, haven't you?
It seems that Beoban thinks I just tagged along and took credit for the potion made by and Lucia.
So he's openly trying to humiliate ?
"Now, let's see how this amazing student completes the herbalism evaluation in record ti. Although I don't expect any student to pass this evaluation perfectly, Adrias is an exception. I'm really looking forward to it!"
Ignoring my expression of disbelief, Beoban continued to babble.
Then, many students passing by stopped and looked at , murmuring among themselves.
'Stay calm.'
Do you think I'll be shaken by this?
Honestly, I was a little shaken.
But in a good way.
'I must discover the secrets of this potion.
No matter what, I made up my mind to uncover the potion piece by piece within the given ti fra.
.
.
.
.
It seed that the intention of conducting the evaluation outdoors was not solely to humiliate . Right next to us was a magic ingredient shop, so the students were free to purchase the ingredients and use them for experints with the permission of the assistants. Of course, all the costs were provided by the Academy.
'This one... it's an awakening potion.'
It didn't take long for to determine the effectiveness of the potion once I started the experint. The potion created by Beoban was, in modern terms, a high-caffeine beverage. By comparing its color, chemical reactions, and intensity of effects to items in the ga, I could quickly identify what it was.
'But for a professor's appearance, he did manage to create sothing.'
I diligently mixed it with other ingredients, shook it, and observed the reaction. Fortunately, I found a similar reaction to one of the items I had considered beforehand and imdiately made a note of it.
'Interdiate Boost Potion. I used this quite frequently in the ga.'
Although it had fewer uses than healing and regeneration potions, I occasionally used this potion. Moreover, the grade was higher than expected, which surprised .
So Beoban is more capable than he appears. He didn't acquire the professor title for nothing.
'If I do well, I might be able to figure it out before 8 p.m.'
Now that I had identified the type of potion, the list of ingredients was complete. I just needed to find the mixing ratios, which, of course, was the most challenging part. However, there were still over five hours left.
'Beoban bastard, I will definitely figure it out.'
My determination was ignited like never before, and no one could stop . In a situation where everyone was watching, I boldly gathered the ingredients specifically for the Interdiate Boost Potion and began searching for the mixing ratios.
"Ahem, Adrias, right?"
As expected, Beoban imdiately approached my experint table. I continued my experint without even turning my head, answering him.
"Yes, Professor?"
"Well..."
Beoban rambled for a while, unable to ask how I had figured out the ingredients. Eventually, he said, "You... It's good to see you working hard. You may be heading down the wrong path, but keep up the good work."
What? Now he's openly praising ? Is he trying to provoke ?
The wrong path is the one you're taking, you bastard.
"Yes, I will do my best. You must be tired from supervising. Are you resting over there in the shade?"
...
I could feel Beoban's rough breath in response to my blatant disregard. Nevertheless, I didn't give him any attention and continued to focus on finding the mixing ratios.
After a while, I sensed that Beoban was still standing next to my experint table, watching .
What? He's still here?
"Professor, are you still here?"
When I ignored him once again, Beoban's face reddened, and he abruptly turned his head and moved to another spot, seemingly avoiding the shade I had ntioned earlier.
I really want to punch him in the face.
As ti passed, it was already 5 p.m., and the afternoon lectures were ending, causing the students to co out for an early dinner.
'It's almost done.'
Talent is truly frightening. Although the sample potion provided played a role, it took only a few hours for , gifted in potion-making ability, to find the mixing ratios for the Interdiate Boost Potion.
"Just a few more attempts..."
"Professor, I'm done."
My thoughts were interrupted as soone raised their hand and spoke.
Seeing the owner of that drowsy voice, I couldn't help but let out a wry smile.
'Lucia, is that you?'
Despite the ssy snacks and crumbs scattered on her experint table, which had nothing to do with the experint itself, there was a potion of the sa color as Beoban's potion.
"Are you done already?"
"Yes, can I go now?"
"Um, if you could write down the list of ingredients used and the mixing ratios on the exam paper, you can go," he said.
"Here you go," Lucia replied, walking over and submitting her exam paper without hesitation.
As she walked away, our eyes t, and she smiled, her tired eyes forming crescents.
"Senior, I won this ti," she said.
With that, she left without a trace.
After her departure, the students who had been observing started praising Lucia Everlast, echoing throughout the area.
"But hey, isn't this Adrias guy the co-creator of potions with Lucia?"
"That's right."
"Then why is he still struggling?"
"Hey, no matter what, don't compare him to Lucia Everlast. She's a genius. Can you compare a genius to anyone?"
Faint voices reached my ears, and unknowingly, my eyes followed Lucia's back.
When I first t her, I felt like I could never catch up to her, let alone compete with her.
But now, the emotion I felt was resentnt.
Ironically, I was feeling a sense of competition towards her.
"Adrias, my boy," I chuckled inwardly. Then I refocused on my experint, making an effort to concentrate.
If I had co on ti, could I have beaten her?
No, no. Focus on the task at hand.
Ti passed, and about 30 minutes had elapsed since Lucia left.
"That's it."
Finally, I found the mixing ratios.
I wrote down the discovered ratios on the exam paper and stood up from my seat.
"Are you going to buy ingredients?"
A nearby assistant asked as they saw .
"No, I'm done."
"Done? Uh, congratulations then."
The assistant seed taken aback and blurted out words that didn't fit the situation at all.
And with my statent that I had found the solution, it seed that even Burbank had heard , looking at with surprised eyes.
"You, you really found the solution?" he asked.
"Yes, here it is."
As I handed him the exam paper, Beoban alternated between disbelief and looking at the potion and the paper.
I guess he looks like a toad catching its prey.
"I-I can't believe it was you."
"You saw it."
"It's u-unbelievable."
What is he saying?
Anyway, I calmly turned away, leaving two hours of the allotted ti remaining for the evaluation.
The students who had been observing , as well as the students participating in the evaluation, looked at with eyes full of astonishnt.
I could also hear a few comnts from the onlookers.
That's right! Praise like you praise Lucia!
"Well, as expected. It's not a lie that he invented a potion."
"Adrias does seem to have so talent. God is indeed fair."
Why am I not admired like Lucia?
Still, it felt satisfying to have demonstrated my abilities.
"Well then, Professor, enjoy yourself, or rather, thank you for your hard work."
I slipped up a little in my words, but Beoban was too busy burying his face in my exam paper to pay attention.
It doesn't matter anyway, as the only things written on the paper are the nas of the ingredients and the mixing ratios.
With a satisfied heart, I was about to leave my seat when suddenly, the crowd began to stir, and soone erged from among them.
"Professor Beoban!"
He seed to be an upperclassman compared to , and he ran towards Burbank with a deeply aggrieved expression.
"Professor, how can you do this?"
"Hmm? Garulf, what's the matter with you?"
"What's the matter? Right now, right now, the potion here! Isn't it the one I made? And on top of using it for the evaluation, you claim that you made it!"
"Oh my! What nonsense! So many people are listening, won't there be misunderstandings?"
Oh?
This is getting interesting.
I stopped my steps to leave and smiled.
Since I was already on the receiving end of Beoban's actions earlier, why not play along and relieve this student's sense of injustice?
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