Home/The Peaceful Academy Life of a Magic Potion Professor/ch23

Chapter 23

Lamiya said nothing, simply watching Media's tears in silence. It was quite some time before the crying subsided. After a while, Media calmed down enough to wipe her face with the handkerchief Lamiya had given her—it now looked thoroughly saturated.

"I thought I just had to hold on a little longer until graduation..."

Media began speaking calmly about herself.

Is she going to tell me all of this?

Lamiya thought it wasn't necessary for her to share everything just because she was a professor, but Media insisted. She spoke steadily about her mother's early death, her father's violence, and the time she'd endured with her siblings. Though her voice wavered at times, having already cried her fill, she quickly regained her composure. It had been a long story—one she hadn't even fully shared with Peter—but after telling it, she felt lighter.

Lamiya, having nothing particular to say, simply listened. She sensed she should offer some kind of encouraging words, but didn't know what they should be.

"Thank you again for listening to me today, Professor."

Fortunately, Media seemed satisfied with just being heard.

"I will never forget this kindness. I'll definitely repay you!"

Her eyes were swollen, but she smiled brightly. Lamiya felt a sudden curiosity.

"Have you thought about what you want to do after graduation?"

If she was planning to become independent after graduating, she must have some future plans.

Media was about to answer right away, but paused to think before replying.

"Honestly, I was ready to do anything as long as I could get out of that house. Since I'm graduating from the magical potions department, I thought the fastest way would be to work at a pharmacy, save up, and eventually open my own shop..."

Lamiya recalled Media's grades in her mind. They weren't bad, but they weren't at a level where she could run a shop. She had no intention of making graduation easy—magical potions was a difficult and dangerous discipline the deeper you delved into it.

"Then you'll have to study hard. My exams won't be easy."

"Ah! Professor!"

Media flinched, then her eyes sparkled as if remembering something.

"The healing potion you gave me last time was amazing! I've bought potions before, but nothing compared to that. I thought, 'So this is what a true expert's work looks like.' I'm going to work really hard from now on."

"If that's the case... then good."

Lamiya wrapped up the conversation, saying she'd see her in class. Media left the laboratory with a cheerful expression despite her swollen eyes. Her mood had changed so quickly—children were fascinating.

Lamiya bit into one of the macarons Media had given her. It was very sweet.

Squeak.

At that moment, she heard an unexpected sound at her feet. Looking down, it was the raccoon she'd treated last time. The creature was fully healed, but showed no intention of leaving. She absolutely despised taking care of anything. She had enough on her plate—what did she need to look after someone else for? Sigh... how am I going to get rid of this thing? Lamiya shook her head.

---

"Thank you as always for the delicious food."

As Lamiya smiled slightly and greeted him, the head chef flexed his burly arm and gave a thumbs up.

"As expected, only Professor Lamiya truly appreciates my skills."

"I'm sure everyone feels that way."

In high spirits from the satisfying meal, Lamiya showered him with praise. After all, since they'd become acquainted, the head chef had not only recommended dishes, but also shared useful information—how to eat properly, good restaurants near the Academy, and more. He always made sure to sneak an extra piece or two of the best items, which greatly contributed to her happiness. That he'd become more at ease with her was an added bonus. Between Garyu's restaurant introduction and the head chef's tips, Lamiya was discovering just how many delicious things there were in the world.

"It's been about... three months since you came to the Academy, hasn't it? I've been hearing stories about you every day—it's been quite eventful. But lately, things seem to have settled down."

Now that she thought about it, ever since Media's situation was resolved, it had been relatively quiet. The number of well-behaved students had grown to two, which wasn't bad. Akira Sorin, too—whatever he was thinking, nothing had happened.

"I suppose so."

She was about to nod when—

"Professor Lamiya!"

Someone came running urgently from the cafeteria entrance, calling her name. It was Peter, a third-year. Class should have just started... Lamiya instinctively knew something had happened.

"Professor, it's terrible! The swordsmanship students—"

Swordsmanship?

Lamiya ran with Peter to where the incident had occurred—the Academy field. There, the swordsmanship class and the magical potions class were gathered, the atmosphere tense and hostile. But as they drew closer, the scene seemed odd. The swordsmanship students looked triumphant, while the magical potions students stood with their heads bowed, being scolded.

"Causing a disturbance during class—is this how you teach the magical potions department?"

It was Professor Karon. Lamiya recalled that the third-year magical potions students had physical education on their schedule—a class for building basic fitness, taught by Professor Karon from the swordsmanship department. It seemed an incident had occurred during the combined class. But the atmosphere...

"This isn't the first time, is it?"

"...No."

Peter's voice sounded strained, as if he was holding something back. Lamiya was puzzled.

"They're so bold with me, but here they're like this. Do they pick and choose their targets?"

Just looking at the temperaments of Loki, Akira, Olga, and Jacqueline—they weren't the type to be pushed around by other classes. The other students weren't either.

"It's... a little different."

Peter seemed to have more to say, but Lamiya decided to sort out the situation first. As they approached, Professor Karon's voice grew clearer.

"The magical potions class's caliber is obvious. It's enough to see who their current professor is—it's a waste of breath."

"Professor Karon, do we really have to take class with them? Heh."

"We can't keep up with the lesson plan because they're on a different level. Heh heh."

Like a chorus, the swordsmanship students' grating voices filled the gaps. Professor Karon, far from stopping them, was siding with them.

"You can tell a student's level by their professor. Comparing the magical potions class to the swordsmanship class is absurd to begin with. Does she even know this is happening?"

"Yes. I do."

The low, flat voice—one they'd never expected to hear here—made Professor Karon and the students whip their heads around. They looked genuinely surprised, as if they hadn't thought she'd actually appear.

"Pro-Professor Lamiya."

"You were so engrossed you didn't even notice me approaching—must have been a serious matter."

"!"

Karon's face turned red. For no reason, he raised his voice at Peter, who was beside Lamiya.

"Who allowed you to leave class without permission?"

Peter bowed his head and said nothing. Lamiya answered in his stead.

"From what I heard, my name was being mentioned—seems serious enough that I, as the professor in charge, should know about it."

Karon's face grew even redder. The sight of Lamiya's utterly expressionless face only irritated him further. Lamiya glanced at him indifferently and asked.

"What exactly happened?"

Her gaze was directed at the students. But the answer came from Professor Karon.

"I was just reminding them of their place, since they didn't know it."

"That still doesn't tell me anything. Can someone explain properly? But wait... what happened to your faces?"

The magical potions students were covered in dirt, with bloody noses and bruises everywhere—a complete mess. The swordsmanship students, by contrast, looked as clean as if they'd just walked onto the field.

Lamiya kept her gaze fixed on the magical potions students. Eventually, Peter spoke up.

"We played dodgeball during class, divided by class."

Dodgeball by class? Lamiya thought she'd misheard. They'd pitted the swordsmanship class against the magical potions class? Then... of course the swordsmanship class would win. Was this even a lesson?

What followed was even worse.

"From what I know... hitting the face is against the rules, but the swordsmanship students deliberately aimed for our faces."

That explained the state of their faces. Since they were physically outmatched, the magical potions students could hardly hit a single swordsmanship student.

"And?"

"Huh? Ah, so when we told them to stop, they said they didn't want to, that this was where we belonged... that we should be grateful just to have class with the swordsmanship students..."

She could guess the rest. Judging by the swordsmanship students' expressions, there wasn't a trace of remorse.

"Cold as it may be, they're right."

Karon chimed in.

"Everyone knows that the magical potions department is where failed mage candidates end up, don't they? In every way, the swordsmanship class is superior. Knowing one's place in advance wouldn't hurt the magical potions students either."

At his words, the swordsmanship students snickered.

"We're going to become knights after graduation—it's not the same as you lot who might open some commoner's pharmacy."

"We don't use potions anyway—we get treated by priests or mages."

How could any proper lesson take place in this atmosphere? Benjamin must have known about this... Lamiya wondered, but then understood. They must have kept it quiet. The magical potions students wouldn't have gone to Benjamin, and as long as Karon and the swordsmanship class stayed silent, nothing would leak out. Looking at the magical potions students, they could only clench their fists and tremble without a word. It was remarkable that Peter had told her.

Listening quietly, Lamiya asked flatly.

"Where are the knights here?"

At her offhand remark, the magical potions students—who had been cowering—stared in shock.

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