Home/The Peaceful Academy Life of a Magic Potion Professor/ch18

Chapter 18

"So now he's switched to insects."

Lamiya muttered in a tone devoid of any emotion. She pulled a potion from her pocket and sprinkled it on the floor. Just as before, it burst into flames and turned to ash in an instant. Simply throwing them in the trash would risk the eggs inside hatching, so this thorough method was preferable. Lamiya fetched a broom and dustpan and swept away even the ashes.

"Please come in."

Garyu, entering the laboratory, was thoroughly bewildered by the situation.

"I'd appreciate an explanation for... this."

"Ah, just some students playing pranks. Don't mind it."

Lamiya said casually.

"Pranks? Students leaving cockroaches at a professor's laboratory...? Isn't this crossing a line?"

"Personally... I prefer this over dead animal carcasses."

"...What?"

To Garyu, Lamiya seemed completely unfazed by the gruesome and revolting sight. He even felt embarrassed for making such a fuss himself.

"Are children these days... like this?"

He didn't remember it being like that in his time. All he recalled was being too busy practicing swordsmanship to think of anything else. Cockroaches at a professor's laboratory? All that effort just to startle someone? Terrify them? Garyu shook his head. He couldn't understand it at all. Come to think of it... wasn't this the class that had driven away a string of professors? Garyu recalled the Academy gossip he'd heard through Kamirgold—and the reason Lamiya had been hired in the first place.

This isn't going to be easy.

If the students had tried the same tactics on Lamiya, judging by her reaction, they'd failed miserably.

"I'm not sure—I haven't been a professor long. Have a seat over there."

Lamiya indicated the chair across from her desk. Her attitude showed no concern for what had just happened. Garyu sat down. Glancing to the side, he noticed a raccoon sleeping in the corner for reasons unknown.

Snore, snore.

Garyu wasn't the type to take interest in others' affairs, but somehow it bothered him. He was about to ask when Lamiya got straight to the point.

"Has anything unusual happened?"

Judging by his piercing blue eyes, nothing major seemed amiss. Garyu nodded.

"I've been following your instructions—two drops a day. The color's been maintained perfectly. No pain, no discoloration... to be honest, it's flawless."

"Good to hear."

Lamiya calmly recorded the examination notes. Garyu watched her quietly.

"May I take a closer look at your eyes?"

"Go ahead."

At his consent, Lamiya rose and moved beside him. Garyu removed his robe and tilted his head back to give her a better view. His long platinum-blond hair, reaching his waist, flowed down with a lustrous sheen. Lamiya examined his eyes up close. There was no sign of the jewel eyes showing through the blue, no cracks in the irises.

"This might feel cold."

Lamiya took a potion from the drawer and administered a drop into each of Garyu's eyes. Instantly, the perfect blue eyes reverted to their original jewel eye state. No abnormalities were visible in the jewel eyes either—they were exactly as she'd first seen them. Lamiya then applied the potion she'd made for him, and the blue eyes returned.

"No side effects. Fortunately."

Lamiya returned to her seat. Garyu was curious about what she'd just done.

"What was that potion you put in my eyes?"

"It's a reversal potion that restores the original eye color. I needed to check whether the jewel eyes themselves had any abnormalities."

"Even if there were abnormalities, I wouldn't care. I hate those eyes anyway."

His expression was one of utter disgust.

"Now that the jewel eyes have manifested... in my opinion, Lord Blanchard, you need to regard them as your own eyes. If something happens to the jewel eyes, it could affect not just your magical power but your vision as well."

"Hah. These cursed eyes have never done me any good."

He'd said he was a priest, hadn't he? Lamiya knew the image of a priest quite differently from what Garyu presented, but she supposed times had changed.

Garyu let out a deep sigh.

"Just make sure the reversal potion doesn't leak out. It would be quite dangerous for me."

"Don't worry. I only prepare a very small amount when you visit."

Lamiya tossed the nearly empty vial into the fireplace. It went up in flames with a soft fwoosh, leaving no trace.

"That's... quite an extreme method."

Ignoring his reaction, Lamiya took out another vial from the drawer.

"This is the additional eye drop. Come before it runs out. Take care on your way back."

Garyu's face brightened. He carefully tucked the vial into his pocket. Still, it didn't feel real—that he could walk around outside with his eyes open like this.

"Professor Lamiya."

"...?"

Lamiya looked at him quizzically, having expected him to leave. Meeting her violet eyes, Garyu hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Thank you."

What was so difficult about those words? Getting them out had been hard, but once spoken, the rest came more easily.

"I should have said this last time, but I was so rushed I couldn't properly thank you. I truly... didn't expect success. I don't know how else to put it. Thanks to you, I can freely go outside now. From the bottom of my heart, thank you."

Garyu rose from his seat and bowed deeply.

"Ah... yes."

Lamiya didn't know how to respond. Having rarely received such sincere and courteous gratitude, she stood frozen as if turned to stone.

Garyu had gathered through their few meetings that she was not a talkative person except when discussing magical potions. So her lack of reaction didn't bother him. Instead, his expression had grown much softer, as if a weight had been lifted.

"With that said, is there anything you wish for?"

"If that's the case... the Headmaster already said..."

As Lamiya reminded him that Kamirgold had told her to think of a reward, Garyu shook his head.

"Kamirgold may give you a reward, but I can't just let it go at that. This is ultimately my matter. What you did was akin to saving my life. So I want to grant whatever you truly desire."

Hmm... Lamiya thought it over. She now had no fear of being let go from Mariposa Academy, so she had no particular wishes. Besides, a professor's salary was far more than what ordinary people earned—she might not live like a noble, but she lacked for nothing in her daily life. As long as her basic needs were met, money held little interest for her. The same went for clothes and jewelry—they were no different to her than pebbles on the roadside.

At that moment, Lamiya's eyes fell on the cafeteria menu tucked among the papers on her desk. An idea struck her.

"Then... take me to the most delicious restaurant in the capital."

"...What?"

Garyu thought he'd misheard. A restaurant? Haha, he must have heard wrong.

"Could you say that again?"

Lamiya repeated clearly.

"Take me to the most delicious restaurant in the capital."

Garyu's ears had been accurate. With a hesitant look, he confirmed her intention once more.

"...So Professor Lamiya's wish is for me to buy you a meal?"

"Yes."

He couldn't believe it. Did she even understand what she'd done?

"Hold on—I believe I mentioned how important what you did was. It's akin to saving my life... and you're saying you want to settle that with a single meal?"

"Eating delicious food is very important to me."

Lamiya said with conviction and seriousness. Somehow, he couldn't argue with her. She didn't strike him as particularly gluttonous or food-obsessed... but Garyu decided to accept it.

"R-right. A wish should be granted according to what the person wants. Very well. When would be good?"

Lamiya checked the calendar on her desk. Professors were free to leave the Academy, but with a regular teaching schedule, their free time was limited to evenings.

"The Academy has a day once a month when students can freely go out. Since there are no classes that day, lunch would be ideal."

"Then let's do that."

He'd spoken briskly, but Garyu's mind was more troubled than ever. Was this really alright? More importantly... the most delicious restaurant in the capital... where on earth was that?

---

"Media, are you alright?"

"...Huh? Of course I am."

Startled out of her daze by Peter's voice, Media snapped back to attention. The two were walking along a path within the Academy grounds.

"Want to sit for a bit?"

Peter pointed to a bench at the edge of the path. Media nodded.

"Sure."

They sat side by side, silently gazing at the well-maintained greenery along the walkway.

"Tomorrow is... Going-Out Day, isn't it?"

"Yeah..."

As the day approached, Media's expression grew increasingly somber. Peter was one of the few who knew why. Media's father was... a terrible person. A drunk who raised his hands to his children without hesitation—that kind of garbage. But Media had two younger siblings waiting for her, so she returned home every time. And when she came back, bruises often marked her body beneath her clothes, which she desperately tried to hide with long sleeves—though she couldn't hide them from Peter's eyes.

"You've been looking really unwell lately. Is something wrong?"

"No..."

Media shook her head glumly. Peter had noticed for some time that she hadn't been herself. Still, she was the strong friend who bravely went home, saying she was the only one who could protect her siblings. Having lost her mother early, she'd taken on the mother's role and earned a scholarship to Mariposa Academy. She'd studied hard for her siblings, for her future. But lately she'd been growing increasingly depressed and withdrawn. Even when asked, she wouldn't say anything—as if it were some taboo. Not even to her childhood friend.

Still, Peter wanted to help Media. She'd been the only one who fought back and comforted him when Loki targeted him.

"Media, how about talking to Professor Lamiya?"

Peter's ability to live a normal Academy life now was thanks to her. He'd told Media everything about what had happened to him. Learning the truth, she'd been deeply shocked.

"Professor... Lamiya?"

Seeing Media's interest, Peter encouraged her.

"Yeah. If you're honest with Professor Lamiya, I'm sure she'll help."

Media hesitated for a moment, then lowered her head again.

"No. No one can help with this. All I'd do is burden someone with something they can't handle. I just need to... hold on a little longer."

If only she could endure... somehow, things would work out.

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