Home/The Peaceful Academy Life of a Magic Potion Professor/ch12

Chapter 12

It was the first time Lamiya had ever seen a jewel eye with her own eyes. That was only natural—she was looking at a legend that appeared perhaps once in a thousand years. Why had it remained unknown until now? Questions flooded her mind, but Lamiya quickly regained her composure. It was extraordinary, but that was all. What mattered was the request.

"Can you see right now?"

"...?"

"Can you see at this moment?"

"...That's all you have to say?"

"What do you mean?"

Lamiya asked dryly, as if she didn't understand the question. The man's eyes lit up with interest as he pointed to the table and chairs across from Lamiya's desk. He could see, apparently.

"May I sit?"

"Yes."

The man sat down, looking relieved, without putting his blindfold back on. Lamiya, following Benjamin's example, set out tea for the guest.

"Tastes... good."

She'd clearly brewed it quite carelessly, yet the tea was far superior to the fine teas he'd been drinking all along. Mariposa Academy must treat its people well... to this extent?

"Please explain your request in detail."

He'd consulted many healers, mages, potion-makers, and even shamans over the years, but this was the first time he was speaking about his eyes directly. Until now, Kamirgold had handled everything. The man chose his words carefully, wondering where to begin.

"My name is Garyu. Garyu Blanchard."

The surname indicated he was of noble birth. And he possessed the handsome features befitting his station. Though Lamiya had been too focused on his jewel eyes to notice at first, he had long platinum-blond hair reaching his waist, flawless skin, and a tall stature of about 185 centimeters—a rare combination of features.

"The jewel eyes manifested when I came of age at seventeen. My parents, upon learning of it, immediately concealed the fact. Can you guess why?"

It made perfect sense. Lamiya answered.

"The jewel eyes are said to appear only once in a thousand years, and they possess legendary power—power that belongs to both divine and magical forces. And... I've heard that consuming jewel eyes can give the incurably ill a new life, and grant the healthy power enough to overturn the world."

Garyu nodded with a stern expression.

"Correct. It's a power too dangerous for any individual to possess. My parents sought help from Kamirgold, the Headmaster here, and hid me in the temple. They spread rumors that I'd lost my sight but gained powerful divine power in return."

"Then..."

As if answering her unspoken question, Garyu removed his robe entirely. Beneath it was a priest's vestment adorned with pure white and gold, bearing the temple's emblems. His platinum hair and jewel eyes combined to create an indescribable nobility and beauty.

"Yes. I wear this blindfold to block my magical power and play the role of a priest."

His voice carried a note of self-derision.

"That blindfold... can you see through it when wearing it?"

Lamiya continued with her questions.

"No, because I don't open my eyes while wearing it. However, I can sense my surroundings through my magical power, so going out isn't difficult. Though it was a struggle at first."

"Is it possible to block magical power with just a blindfold?"

"My father worked very hard on it. It was made through dozens of high-level mages. Even so, it's not perfect, which is why I had no choice but to become a priest to avoid suspicion."

"I see."

Lamiya nodded calmly. Now Garyu began explaining the request itself.

"So it's because of this 'suspicion' that I've come to you. After spending ten years like this, I've found that more and more people are growing needlessly curious about what's under the blindfold. No matter how much I'm a priest, divine power keeps emanating endlessly—and very pure divine power at that. Some even play tricks, hoping I'll remove the blindfold. They may not suspect jewel eyes, but the surest way to avoid suspicion now is for me to open my eyes."

If he could hide the jewel eyes while keeping his eyes open, he could avoid suspicion... Even if he possessed enormous magical power, people would simply accept him as someone with great magical ability. He'd even be able to move freely outside. As far as Lamiya could see, it was the best solution in every way.

"Ridiculously, everyone has failed so far. No potion, no magic, has worked."

Garyu laughed bitterly. Lamiya, who had been listening silently, spoke.

"May I examine the jewel eyes directly?"

"...Yes."

He nodded. Lamiya rose from her seat and quietly moved to Garyu's side. Carefully, she tilted his head back slightly. A myriad of colors sparkled within his eyes like jewels, harmoniously shimmering. Her violet eyes observed them intently.

"Just a moment."

Lamiya retrieved sanitary gloves and a cotton swab from her desk drawer and returned. With one gloved hand, she opened Garyu's eye a little wider.

"Don't be startled."

She gently touched his eye with the swab, then withdrew it, taking out a small, long vial from her pocket, placing the sample inside, and sealing it. She repeated this process several times. Garyu had only ever received examinations where people stared intently at his eyes with fear and tension—this was the first time anyone had made direct contact with his eyes. But he didn't expect this young woman, the youngest of all he'd met, to actually succeed. He didn't want to get his hopes up only to be disappointed again.

"Lord Blanchard. Would you imbue this water with your magical power?"

What Lamiya held out was a beaker filled with water. Imbue water with magical power? Had such a method of potion-making ever been seen before? Garyu started to ask why, but seeing her utterly serious gaze, he complied without protest. Strangely, his magical power dissolved smoothly into the water. Lamiya sealed the beaker tightly and placed it on her desk.

"That's all. Would you come back in... about a week?"

"...A week?"

Garyu eyed Lamiya suspiciously—she'd named the shortest timeframe of any specialist he'd consulted.

"Yes. Would you prefer sooner?"

Lamiya answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world. What was this reaction? Garyu decided to follow her lead for now.

"...No. I understand. I'll return in a week. Ah, your name..."

Lamiya realized she'd never introduced herself.

"My apologies. I'm Professor Lamiya, magical potions instructor."

"I'll remember it."

---

The fact that Loki had been defeated by the new magical potions professor was an open secret among the students. Jacqueline and Olga hadn't spread the rumor, but they flinched at the mere mention of Lamiya's name, and Peter was the only student who conversed with her. The fact that his face no longer bore small wounds only confirmed it.

"How... is that possible?"

It was a question everyone must have been asking. She hadn't summoned parents, hadn't complained to the Headmaster, hadn't imposed disciplinary action—how had such a frail-looking professor managed to defeat Loki?

"She was never ordinary from the very first day, but..."

The students' gazes were filled with curiosity. And those who had been forced to miss class against their will felt their hostility toward Lamiya diminish slightly. The same went for those who had been victimized by Loki.

"Today's lesson will cover..."

As Lamiya was about to begin, a student raised his hand. It was a male student named Vassen.

"What is it?"

"Um... will you be offering makeup lessons for the material we missed while we weren't attending class?"

It was a topic Lamiya herself had been pondering until recently.

"No."

"...Pardon?"

The classroom began to stir. Naturally, since they hadn't attended, they'd expected some kind of makeup session.

Lamiya couldn't understand how students who hadn't even paid attention during regular classes could make such a request.

"Who was it that was absent without excuse?"

"..."

The classroom fell into instantaneous silence.

"I have no recollection of receiving any prior notice that anyone wouldn't be attending. Why should I sacrifice my personal time for makeup lessons?"

Vassen—though she didn't raise her voice—had a calm, flat tone that was somehow more frightening. Lamiya flipped through her textbook and continued.

"Study the material you missed on your own, and ask questions if you have any."

The students were annoyed but had nothing to say. Those who cared at all about their grades flipped through their textbooks with irritation. Lamiya, unresponsive, checked an announcement tucked into her attendance book.

"Starting tomorrow, a student named Akira Sorin, who hasn't been attending class, will be joining us. It's been two months, so be kind when they return. Now, shall we begin."

"..."

...What's this?

Lamiya sensed a strange heaviness settle over the classroom. Was it because of the makeup lesson discussion earlier? No, it was different from that. It was a familiar feeling. This was...

Fear?

Was it because of that student who would be attending from tomorrow?

Hmm...

Without asking the students, Lamiya proceeded with the lesson. The topic—"Potion for Preserving Food Freshness"—was an interesting one, yet the atmosphere remained heavy throughout the class.

"That's all for today."

When class ended, the students packed their bags and headed to their next lesson, held in the greenhouse. Aside from magical potions, Lamiya also taught basic botany, basic zoology, foundational magical energy, and other required major courses and electives—all essential for understanding magical potions as a discipline.

Lamiya also packed her materials for her next class with the second-years.

"Professor Lamiya."

Peter approached the lectern with Media. Lamiya assumed it was about makeup lessons.

"Is this about the makeup lessons?"

Peter shook his head. Up close, he looked worried. Media beside him wasn't much different. Lamiya stopped organizing her things and pushed up her glasses with her finger.

"What is it?"

"Professor, is it true that Akira Sorin will be coming back starting tomorrow?"

Lamiya nodded.

"Yes. Why?"

Peter and Media's eyes began to waver. Seeing their unusual reaction, Lamiya's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Professor, be careful of that one."

Peter's expression was deeply serious.

"Does she bully other children like Loki did?"

"It's not on that level!"

Media said urgently. Peter leaned close to Lamiya's ear and whispered cautiously, as if afraid someone might overhear.

"That one's a psycho."

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