Home/The Peaceful Academy Life of a Magic Potion Professor/ch25

Chapter 25

"So that's how it is."

"..."

Their professor, who had been unusual from the very first day, had recently done the unimaginable—and now she'd casually brought them news that was hard to believe.

"..."

It was something they'd never even imagined, so they didn't know how to react.

"S-so... we're having a courage test—no, a courage match? Against the swordsmanship class?"

Peter finally managed to squeeze out his voice.

"Yes."

Lamiya answered calmly. Once the words were out, the children began to murmur.

"A courage match..."

"Against the swordsmanship class?"

"Whoa..."

Their expressions were already clouded with worry. Lamiya added further explanation.

"Whether you want to compete is your choice. You're the ones at the center of this, so if you don't want to, you don't have to. It's not mandatory—it's exactly what I said: a proposal."

Vassen, a student who'd kept quiet until now, raised his hand. Lamiya nodded, granting him permission.

"Why... a courage match of all things?"

It was what the children were most curious about. The swordsmanship class clearly seemed to have the advantage—why insist on this particular event? Lamiya spoke in a flat voice.

"If it were an event requiring physical ability, I wouldn't have even brought it up to you. This is a matter of mentality. I thought you had a fair chance."

Do... we? The children tilted their heads. What exactly made it a fair chance? They didn't know themselves, but since their professor said so, it didn't seem entirely baseless. And having come this far, it was hard to refuse out of wounded pride.

"So if we win, what do we get?"

"A victory over the swordsmanship class. What more do you need?"

"..."

That meant a great deal. It was an opportunity to repay all the humiliation they'd suffered. Of course, Lamiya had more concrete thoughts about the reward for winning—she planned to reveal it once they won, so they wouldn't dwell on pointless worries.

"Then I'll proceed assuming there are no objections."

In the subsequent anonymous majority vote, with a few exceptions, everyone was in favor. But it wasn't enthusiastic—more like participating reluctantly because they didn't want to avoid the challenge. Some even harbored resentment toward Lamiya for creating this situation.

"The match will take place at night, one week from now."

After announcing the schedule, Lamiya began class as usual. But the magical potions students' minds were restless.

---

"What a pointless waste..."

Loki walked with a swagger, his tie half-undone and both hands shoved in his uniform pockets. He was on his way to meet Olga and Jacqueline at the campus fountain. Since the incident with Professor Lamiya, he'd been quietly attending class, but his pride was thoroughly bruised and his insides constantly churned with frustration. He wanted to throw it all away—school and everything else. But his family wouldn't allow it. At the very least, he needed a Mariposa Academy diploma. He had to protect his mother too... When he'd been assigned to the magical potions class after everyone else had been eliminated, his father had warned him.

"Everything's just annoying."

If that professor really could kick him out of the school... back then, he'd thought he was going to die... As Loki tried to suppress his boiling anger, someone called out to him.

"Hey! Arista bastard!"

Who dared... Loki whipped his head toward the source. It was the swordsmanship students—the same ones who, during last week's physical education class, had relentlessly aimed at their faces alongside Prince Raymond. They approached Loki.

"Did you hear? How we're going to crush you."

"A courage match, of all things... I heard your professor proposed it. Is she insane?"

"Surely... you don't actually think you can win?"

The swordsmanship students sneered.

"At least you've got some pride left, not backing down—but no one in their right mind would think they could win, right? You're just being dragged into it."

"Aww. Still, I'll praise you for your courage."

Bombarded by these unexpected words, Loki's fist clenched involuntarily.

"Oh, you want to throw a punch?"

"Wow~. Go ahead, then. If you think you can win."

The swordsmanship student shoved his smug face right up to Loki's, as if daring him. Loki kept his mouth shut, ignored them, and walked on. The swordsmanship students laughed at his retreating back.

"Good luck, Arista bastard!"

"Hey, we've got to win this match."

Olga and Jacqueline's eyes went wide at Loki's declaration the moment they met. His eyes burned with a rage fiercer than they'd ever seen.

"By any means necessary."

Overwhelmed by his terrifying intensity, Olga and Jacqueline swallowed hard and nodded.

Loki wasn't the only one this happened to. After the match was arranged, the swordsmanship students constantly picked fights with the magical potions students—as if trying to break their spirits from the start. But as the saying goes, too much is worse than too little—or that a cornered mouse will bite the cat. The mounting stress and pressure erupted into a burning desire for victory. They instinctively felt that winning was the only way out of this situation.

"Are they giving them mental training on their own?"

Instead of becoming despondent, the children's anger blazed. Lamiya nodded, thinking it wasn't bad.

---

"Um... Professor."

Media raised her hand and spoke.

"Yes."

"...The lesson plan is different..."

Lamiya glanced at the textbook briefly, then continued writing on the blackboard.

"Ah, so it is."

"...Pardon?"

The children stirred. Only after writing the entire brewing method for a potion she called "Low-Grade Calming Potion" did Lamiya turn to face them.

"Surprising. You actually knew what the lesson plan was."

She'd thought they wouldn't care what she taught.

This potion was her own method of assistance. The swordsmanship students would undoubtedly come armed with some means of defense—practice swords or otherwise. Their physically trained bodies could also serve as weapons. So the magical potions students needed to be equipped accordingly. But had she miscalculated?

"I thought you'd be interested?"

"..."

Lamiya tilted her head slightly, then turned back to the blackboard.

"Not interested? Then I'll go back to the original plan..."

She picked up the eraser and moved to wipe the board.

"Ah!"

The children hurriedly stopped her.

"We like it! That one!"

"We're really interested!"

"Ah... please don't, Professor!"

Even Loki seemed restless. Lamiya, who'd been about to erase it, turned back to face them with her usual flat expression.

Fearing she might change her mind, the children tensed up. It was the best classroom attitude they'd shown since coming to Mariposa Academy.

"Really? That's good. Shall we begin?"

This time, Peter raised his hand.

"What is it?"

"Professor, I've heard of calming potions, but this is my first time hearing of a low-grade one... it's not in the textbook."

"Ah."

Lamiya let out an exclamation as if she'd forgotten.

"I made it."

"Pardon?"

Made... what? The students doubted their ears.

"The calming potion is too difficult for you, who lack the basic foundation—and if you fail and consume it improperly, the side effects are unknown. It's a potion that even graduating students would hesitate to attempt. Since you don't even know the material from second year... I adapted it so beginners can brew it easily."

"So... you're saying you developed a new magical potion?"

Lamiya nodded as if it were nothing. Her gesture and expression seemed to say, "So what?" The students were speechless.

"But the effect doesn't last long. A normal calming potion lasts four to five hours, and by the time its potency fades, the calming effect blends naturally. This one lasts about thirty minutes, so once it wears off, your pulse will quicken again. Of course, if you're not startled, that won't matter."

"But."

Akira Sorin, who'd been quiet since being called a third-rate psycho, spoke up in a low voice. His incongruously wicked, feigned smile remained.

"What about side effects?"

"!"

The children's expressions shifted from surprise to alarm.

"Does a potion developed by you have no side effects? Based on animal testing alone, it seems a bit risky for us to consume."

But Lamiya was utterly unfazed.

"There are no toxic ingredients that would cause side effects, so don't worry about that. I've tested it on a human."

There was no reason to tell the children if the potion was dangerous—it would only jeopardize her position as professor. No matter what the Headmaster said about not firing her, if the students were to fall critically ill from a potion she'd taught them, that would be a different story. But Akira didn't give up easily.

"Who was it? This person."

Akira believed Lamiya was lying—that she was just bluffing to reassure the children and show off her skills. His red eyes flashed as if to devour her.

Lamiya didn't understand why he was so curious, but she answered anyway.

"Me."

"...What?"

Akira Sorin's pupils shook violently. Was this the second time? Lamiya pushed up her glasses with her finger and met his gaze.

"I experimented on myself. Exactly thirty-five times."

"!"

"Not a single failure. No side effects appeared."

The children's mouths dropped open in shock. Even Akira was struck silent this time.

For Lamiya, this was a potion she had the Headmaster's permission to teach.

"Shall we begin the lesson?"

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