Home/The Peaceful Academy Life of a Magic Potion Professor/ch26

Chapter 26

The magical potions students swallowed hard as they learned the potion recipes Lamiya taught them. The low-grade calming potion wasn't the end of it. Lamiya said there was still much to learn, and that they needed to master it quickly before she could move on to the next step.

As the day of the match drew nearer, the students gradually lost their composure and began to feel frightened. Unable to contain their nerves, those who successfully brewed the low-grade calming potion started consuming it themselves. Its effect lasted only about thirty minutes, but it proved highly effective for steadying their nerves before a critical moment.

Those who failed to brew the potion clung desperately to the recipe. There was also a psychological pressure—the fear of becoming the biggest coward in the magical potions class.

But the greatest calming agent for the magical potions students was their professor.

"Just do it."

Lamiya said as always. She'd started this whole thing, yet she spoke as if it had nothing to do with her—her dry demeanor was both deflating and irritating. And she was their professor!

At first they were angry, but looking at the lesson content, they could see she was trying to help in her own way. Considering that she'd taught midterm material to an empty classroom when they'd all boycotted class, she was being remarkably cooperative.

Seeing her like that helped them regain some composure. How could she remain so utterly unmoved? Like someone who'd weathered every storm.

Unaware of the students' thoughts, Lamiya herself had her own questions.

"Ah, that."

She called Peter over after class to get some answers.

What she wanted to know was about the physical education incident. Why did the students, who defied her so easily, just take it quietly from the others?

Peter looked down, rolled his eyes a few times, and answered.

"...Because we're the magical potions class."

"What do you mean?"

Lamiya pressed. Peter carefully explained.

"Professor, you know how the magical potions subject is treated, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Being assigned to the magical potions class at Mariposa Academy... is practically proof that you're a failure, that you lack talent. I don't know if other academies have magical potions departments, but here, that's how it is. Most students aimed for the swordsmanship or magic departments. Both... require innate talent. They're not fields that can be overcome by effort alone."

"Because of magical power."

"Exactly. At Mariposa Academy, the swordsmanship class trains prospective knights. To become a Sword Master, the highest rank, you need exceptional physical ability and the ability to sense magical power. The magic class is even stricter—you need to not only sense magical power but possess a certain amount of it, and your internal capacity must be large enough to contain it."

"So? That's not what I'm asking."

Lamiya knew the level of talent required for swordsmanship and magic. But Peter shook his head.

"I wish it were just about talent or not, but it's not that simple. As I said, being in the magical potions class is like the Academy itself certifying that we're inferior... and more importantly, we... we envy what those students are studying. We dreamed of becoming knights, mages—and seeing others learn that right beside us... it's not as easy as it sounds."

"So... the idea that they're somehow superior is embedded in you unconsciously."

Lamiya couldn't fully understand, but she accepted that they had their own circumstances.

"One more thing. The swordsmanship and magic classes aren't the only options. You didn't have to come to magical potions—so why were you assigned here?"

Peter, who had choked up for a moment, regained his composure and answered.

"For the swordsmanship and magic classes, talent alone—regardless of social status—can get you in, and your career path after graduation is guaranteed. But for subjects like history or administration, that's not the case. A lot of nobles study them as general education—they're useful for running their households. But for commoners like us, it's more realistic to learn magical potions, open a shop after graduation, or get a job at a research institute."

"Then what about the nobles who ended up in the magical potions class?"

Lamiya thought of Loki and Akira from the ducal house.

"As far as I know... either their grades were very poor... or they caused some incident... or their family abandoned them and doesn't care what they do... something like that."

"I see. Thank you for telling me."

Lamiya's gaze grew contemplative. Peter thought there was something sad about that look.

---

"Professor Lamiya, I've been meaning to ask—what is this?"

Next to Lamiya, who was sitting with her legs crossed, sat a plump raccoon, slowly swishing its tail.

"As you can see, it's a raccoon."

Lamiya answered while looking at a medical chart. Garyu's eyebrow twitched at her flat response.

"I know it's a raccoon. I'm asking why it's here."

She lowered the chart and let out a rare sigh.

"Your guess is as good as mine. How about you take it, Lord Blanchard?"

Her expression was one of utter annoyance. As if understanding her words, the raccoon clung tightly to Lamiya's leg and shot Garyu a hostile look. Oh, really?

"Seems like this one wants to stay with you, Professor."

"I'm not cut out to be a good owner."

Lamiya removed her glasses and set them on the table, rubbing her brow with a tired gesture. Garyu rested one arm on the chair's armrest and propped his chin on his hand, watching her.

"Haven't you been in charge of the magical potions class for quite a while? Kamirgold said you're the longest-lasting professor they've had."

Lamiya lowered her sharp gaze.

"I'm not sure. Perhaps children are just as complex as adults—I'm finding them hard to understand."

Ah, of course I wouldn't understand. She'd had no parents, never attended school, never learned anything systematically. It was unreasonable to place herself on the same level.

"Is this about the match against the swordsmanship class? I heard you chose a courage test."

Lamiya nodded.

"Yes."

Garyu, still propping his chin, narrowed his eyes as he watched her.

"Are you worried?"

He sensed she wasn't her usual self. She seemed tense, like she hadn't been sleeping well.

Lamiya put her glasses back on.

"Am I? Hmm... I thought I'd just accept whatever outcome came, but maybe deep down I was hoping we'd win."

"You're their professor—isn't that only natural?"

"Is it?"

Lamiya tilted her head in puzzlement.

"...What?"

Garyu paused briefly, then spoke.

"When did you say the courage match is?"

---

Pant... pant...

A nightmare. Lamiya sat up and caught her breath. She reached for the handkerchief on the bedside table. Her body was drenched in sweat. She wiped her damp face. She'd thought she was getting better, but it always came back just when she'd started to forget.

"Hah..."

She had a rough idea of the cause. Lamiya laughed bitterly.

"Did I unconsciously feel some kinship with the word 'abandoned'?"

Ever since she'd asked Peter why the magical potions students were so timid and heard his answer, her condition had been poor.

Lamiya sat with her knees together, covering her face with both hands for a long while. Then she took a calming herb from the drawer and lit it. As the smoke rose and she began to calm down, she finally let out a proper breath.

"Calm down... this isn't the past."

She repeated in a small voice. Even though she was satisfied with her current life, why couldn't she shake these nightmares?

---

The day of the courage match. The swordsmanship and magical potions students, along with Professors Karon and Lamiya, climbed the mountain behind Mariposa Academy. There, they found a deep cave of unknown origin—the venue for the courage match. Since the place had been unknown even to the students, they were all on edge.

Originally, the match was to be held in the old school building, but that had changed...

"A friendly competition between departments shouldn't be just a simple courage test—that would be boring."

...thanks to Headmaster Kamirgold, who had interjected. The scale of the event had grown, leading them all the way to the old cave in the mountains. He'd also volunteered as referee for the sake of fairness. From Lamiya's perspective, it wasn't a bad thing—it would prevent disputes over the outcome.

Professor Karon, clearly not even entertaining the thought of losing, seemed focused on making a good impression on the Headmaster. If it was that obvious even to her, it must have been plain to everyone else.

"I couldn't possibly miss out on something this amusing."

Lamiya raised an eyebrow at Kamirgold. Beside him, Benjamin laughed awkwardly. She then turned her gaze to the magical potions students. Facing the cave itself, fear had set in—they looked terrified. The Headmaster's presence only added to their tension.

The swordsmanship students, while somewhat stiff, appeared confident. From Lamiya's view, the magical potions students' fear seemed to make them feel relatively superior.

"Scared?"

She spoke quietly, but all the magical potions students turned to look at her.

"..."

"..."

They were scared. Of course they were. The venue had changed to a darker, more foreboding place, and the Headmaster had suddenly shown up to referee. It was immensely stressful.

"There's nothing to be scared of—it's no big deal."

It seemed like an attempt to encourage them, but unfortunately, the students didn't share her sentiment. Their faces said: You don't seem scared at all, Professor... But she ignored them and continued.

"Think about everything you've endured just because you're the magical potions class."

"!"

"Compared to all that, going into a cave for a while doesn't seem so bad, does it? And you've endured it for over a year."

The students' eyes shook violently. They'd never thought of it that way. They'd only thought that if they lost this match, they'd face even more humiliation than before—so they couldn't afford to lose.

"Having endured that, why be afraid of this?"

At Lamiya's flat, steady voice, the magical potions students gradually regained their composure. They realized that the pain had become so routine they'd stopped noticing it—that the reality they'd endured was far scarier than a little darkness.

Back   Next