Home/The Peaceful Academy Life of a Magic Potion Professor/ch14

Chapter 14

"...Pardon?"

Akira's tone wavered almost imperceptibly. Lamiya flipped through her textbook and answered calmly.

"It's fine. Even if you get them wrong."

Lamiya felt his gaze linger on her for a moment.

"...Understood."

Akira smiled a rather unpleasant smirk instead. As if he had no objection at all. Watching the two of them, Loki swallowed hard.

As the lesson progressed, Lamiya's assessment of Akira Sorin was: "A psycho with a good head on his shoulders." He answered most of the questions she posed correctly. Not bad for someone who'd been absent for quite some time. He didn't seem like the type to have studied the textbook on his own, so his family must have hired a private tutor.

Lamiya held off on making any final judgment about Akira. She prided herself on having encountered many different kinds of psychos throughout her life, but she wasn't the type to figure someone out after just one meeting. She was more cautious than she appeared.

---

A few days later, a crowd of students gathered noisily in front of the notice board in the Academy corridor.

"Finally, the day we go home!"

Both male and female students were excited about the day they could return to their families. The last weekend of every month—on this day, those who could go home did so, and those who lived too far could freely go out. It was called "Going-Out Day." It meant they could even visit other cities or take short trips. Everyone was busy chatting about what they'd do this time.

"I'm just staying in the dormitory this time."

Peter said to Media, who was staring at the notice board. Unlike the other students, their expressions were grave, as if they were detached from the world. Media's expression was especially dark.

"You know that's not an option."

"Still, just this once, you could say you need to study for exams..."

She shook her head.

"My younger siblings are waiting for me."

Media clasped her trembling hands tightly together. She absolutely hated this day—the one day a month that everyone else looked forward to.

---

After finishing her work, Lamiya headed to the Headmaster's office.

Knock, knock.

Benjamin came out to greet her.

"Welcome, Professor Lamiya. What brings you to the Headmaster's office?"

As Lamiya was about to answer, Kamirgold's voice came from behind the door.

"Ah, I asked her for something. Professor, come in."

Benjamin opened the door without suspicion. Once Lamiya was seated on the sofa, he quietly left the office.

"A sharp fellow. That's why I like him."

Kamirgold sat across from Lamiya. With an expression of understanding, he offered words of encouragement.

"It seems the request I made isn't going well, is it? Don't worry. It's not just you. Even now, if you think you can't do it, you can give up. I swear on my honor that the memory magic has no side effects."

But the purpose of Lamiya's visit was different from what he'd assumed.

"I didn't know how to contact Lord Blanchard."

"Garyu? Ah, you want to examine his eyes further. I can contact him for you."

Lamiya shook her head.

"That's not it—I just need you to tell him to come pick up the potion."

Kamirgold blinked, momentarily unable to comprehend her words. Then his expression shifted to one of obvious bewilderment—a complete reversal from moments before.

"Wait... hold on... you're saying you've completed the potion?"

"Yes."

Compared to the astonished Kamirgold, Lamiya was perfectly calm.

"You're certain you remember what potion I asked for?"

Lamiya nodded.

"A potion to change eye color. Isn't that right?"

"That... in just five days?"

Kamirgold couldn't believe it. But he quickly regained his composure. Many had claimed to have found a solution—but ultimately all had failed. Whether she'd succeeded could be verified directly.

"Very well. I'll send him to your laboratory tonight."

---

That night, Garyu and Kamirgold made their way to the faculty laboratory via routes rarely used by professors and students.

"She completed it two days early, you said, when she'd promised a week..."

Garyu, his entire body wrapped in a black robe and blindfold, sounded like he had no expectations whatsoever.

"How did you find her when you met?"

In response to Kamirgold's question, Garyu recalled his first meeting with Lamiya. Long silver hair, violet eyes, and pale skin. She'd given the impression of having no color—yet there was something indefinable about her. Her glasses seemed to make her appear more distinct, if anything.

"...I wasn't particularly interested. But she didn't seem like the boasting type."

Kamirgold nodded in agreement.

"I thought the same. I asked her because I saw potential during the hiring process."

He'd already heard that explanation. But Garyu thought his own problem was incomparable to a faculty examination—after all, the doctors who had set that exam had already failed. Sensing his thoughts, Kamirgold raised his voice slightly to change the mood.

"Who knows? Maybe she'll find some possibility."

Saying this, they entered the laboratory building.

Knock, knock.

"Yes. Come in."

As they opened the door, Lamiya was busily setting up the table. She was wearing the potion-making gown she usually wore while researching.

The potion-making gown, like potion-making gloves, was protective clothing for experiments. When handling poisons or dangerous substances, injuries could occur, so wearing it was advisable. Lamiya always wore a gown during experiments—black ones, since white showed every splash and was hard to clean.

"So this is Professor Lamiya's laboratory."

Kamirgold scanned the room with interest. Each professor's laboratory reflected their distinct tastes, which made for interesting sightseeing.

Garyu, who followed behind, had already visited before, so he sat down with a bored expression.

"You've completed the potion?"

He got straight to the point, having no expectations and no desire to waste time. Instead of answering, Lamiya took a small vial of liquid from the drawer and placed it on the table.

Kamirgold, who had been looking around and sat down belatedly, didn't mind at all that Lamiya hadn't offered them tea. His only interest was the potion before them. The liquid had a shimmering black color—yet it emitted enough light to be clearly visible even in darkness.

Kamirgold picked up the vial and brought it close to his eyes. Honestly, it was striking and beautiful. Strong magical power emanated from it.

"This is it?"

"Yes."

Lamiya answered his question.

"Let me see too."

Garyu pushed back his black robe and removed his blindfold. Powerful energy began to emanate from him. Kamirgold, unaware that he'd already removed the blindfold before, spoke to Lamiya.

"Don't worry. Garyu minimizes the power of his jewel eyes enough that outsiders outside the Academy won't notice. Besides, I've installed a magic circle around the laboratory to conceal magical energy since you accepted the request, so there's no risk of detection."

"I see."

Lamiya, in truth, wasn't particularly concerned about whether the secret leaked or not. After all, if she failed, her memories would be erased anyway—what did it matter?

Garyu, meanwhile, stared intently at the liquid in the vial. Honestly, it looked like nothing special. He'd encountered far more mystical and magnificent magic and potions through countless specialists.

Without much hope, he picked up the vial and opened the lid. Because the jewel eyes' power possessed both divine and magical properties, even a poison wouldn't affect him. So there was no need to worry about side effects.

"Whether it's a success or failure, I'll know once I drink it."

No lengthy explanations were necessary. The result would prove everything.

As Garyu pulled out the stopper and brought the vial to his lips—

"Wait!"

Lamiya stopped him urgently.

"Why?"

He frowned slightly at the interruption. But instead of apologizing, Lamiya took the vial from his hand.

"This potion isn't meant to be drunk."

"Not meant to be drunk?"

Kamirgold asked. Lamiya pulled a dropper from the pocket of her black gown.

"You apply it directly into the eyes."

"!"

"You're saying you put a potion directly into the eyes?"

Neither Garyu nor Kamirgold had ever heard of eye-drop potions. Since potions weren't a preferred field, their development lagged behind. But fundamentally, people avoided putting things in their eyes. That was why, until now, potions in the Frontera Empire had only been of two types: drinkable or topical.

"Yes. It might be difficult to apply yourself at first, so I'll assist you."

Lamiya rose from her seat. Kamirgold and Garyu exchanged glances. They weren't in a position to be picky. They had no expectations of success, but at least this new approach might yield some new clue. Garyu nodded as if resolved.

Lamiya picked up the vial containing the black liquid and stood beside him.

"No matter what tricks you try, they're meaningless before these eyes—so best not to waste your thoughts."

"Tilt your head back and open your eyes wide."

Though reluctant, Garyu followed her instructions. Lamiya put on sanitary gloves and filled the dropper with the liquid. She gently held his eyelid open with her fingers and let a single drop of the black liquid fall from the dropper.

Drip.

She repeated the same process for the other eye.

Drip.

Garyu felt a cool and strange sensation spreading through his eyes.

"Please blink a few times."

He followed her words, opening and closing his eyes.

"Now open your eyes."

Garyu slowly raised his eyelids. Lamiya and Kamirgold watched only his eyes. And the moment his eyes were fully open—

"!"

Lamiya clenched her fist, and Kamirgold shot up from his seat. Even seeing it directly, he couldn't believe it—how could this be!

The jewel eyes were gone. In their place were only brilliant, piercing blue eyes.

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