Chapter 107

The afternoon brings Alchemy 2. For some reason, the Mage Course area exudes a suspicious ambiance. This atmosphere feels rather similar to a horror movie from my past life—it feels as though they are intentionally staging the sketchiness. Just as I am thinking that I won’t ever get used to this vibe, Benjamin calls out to me. Yes, it’s Lion-maru. His blonde hair is standing on end. Indeed, he looks like the type who would be the drummer for a metal band. His hair wasn’t standing up quite this much during homeroom this morning. Does he just have incredibly unruly hair, or does he have a habit of scratching his head?

“Patience, the Alchemy 2 class is in this room.”

Inside, medium-sized tables are set up just like in a pharmacy classroom, and there is a kiln at the back.

“Sit here.” He pats the chair next to the very last table by the window. As expected, this seems to be Benjamin’s designated seat.

“Lord Benjamin, you are well-accustomed to alchemy, aren’t you? I am a little anxious.”

Benjamin lets out a hearty laugh.

“Well, it would be a problem if I wasn’t accustomed to it despite being in the Alchemy Club. But pharmacy is difficult. I mainly specialize in fire, you see. I can use a tiny bit of earth as well, but water seems more advantageous for pharmacy. Patience, you received a passing grade for the low-grade recovery potion, right? Would you mind teaching me the knack for it sometime?”

If he can teach me alchemy in return, that sounds like a fair trade.

“Yes, as long as it is within the scope of my understanding, I would be glad to.”

While the two of us are talking about tutoring each other, Bryce and Andrew look in from the hallway, their eyes filled with envy.

“Must be nice. I couldn’t get a passing grade for the low-grade recovery potion in pharmacy either. Won’t you teach me as well?”

Bryce, who steps into the classroom and honestly asks to be taught, is perfectly fine, but Andrew is a thoroughly complicated boy. He sprints from the hallway straight to Bryce’s side and shouts:

“Bryce! Have you forgotten our vow to improve ourselves together through friendly rivalry?!”

Wait, is this a boys’ love development? Though I am a connoisseur of beautiful boys, fourteen years old is barely safe. My heart is thumping, but it seems I am mistaken.

“Andrew, please stop phrasing things in a way that causes misunderstandings. That was merely what we said when we joined the Magic Club—‘Let’s work hard together!’”

Wait, this is the Alchemy 2 classroom, right?

“Why are you guys even here when you haven’t skipped a grade in alchemy?”

Exactly as I thought.

“Right, Bryce. We shouldn’t linger in a place like this. We shall be late for the Magic Control lecture.”

Dragged away by Andrew, Bryce leaves the room as well. What on earth was that about?

“Those fellows are peculiar.” Well, that is certainly true, but Lion-maru (Benjamin) is peculiar as well.

“I am Robin Kubrick, and I teach Alchemy 2.”

Is this professor the only one who handles magic circles and alchemy?

“For the spring term, I will have you craft a magic lamp by yourself from scratch. Well, since you crafted one in Alchemy 1, you should know what kind of object it is. The magic circle for the light is written in your textbook, so please draw that. On top of that, you must craft the base, the cover, and the switch of the magic lamp by yourself. Now, I shall briefly explain the textbook.”

His explanation is energetic but concludes briskly.

“An explanation like this is secondary to actual practice. You may start by drawing the magic circle, or you may begin by crafting the base or the cover. Originality is paramount for an alchemist.”

The class stirs. I wish he would provide slightly more detailed guidance on how to craft it.

“Patience, you were highly skilled at drawing magic circles. In that case, let us start by crafting the base.”

There will be opportunities to draw magic circles in another class. I took this class because I wanted to verify if I could actually perform alchemy.

“Yes, please do.”

Will we head to the kiln? Just as I think this, I am told that we must first sketch the design of the magic lamp.

“If you haven’t decided what kind of magic lamp you wish to make, it will be impossible to craft the base in the kiln or the cover in the glass kiln.”

Benjamin is absolutely right.

“Indeed. Um, is it acceptable if the design isn’t identical to the mass-produced magic lamp we assembled in Alchemy 1?”

“Naturally. That is a mass-produced magic lamp. There is no point in going to the trouble of crafting something like that from scratch.”

I see. In that case, I shall design a magic lamp that I would actually want to place in my own room. Though I don’t know if I can afford to buy the magic stones for it.

The magic circle and the switch cannot be altered. However, the base and the cover can be any design I please. I decide to create a flower-shaped magic lamp, fully fitting for a viscount’s daughter’s room.

I envision a dome-shaped glass cover resembling an open water lily, with a circular base beneath it where the switch will be attached. A pink glass cover might look quite lovely as well.

“That is a rather unusual magic lamp. But well, let us give it a try.”

I head to the kiln at the back of the classroom with Benjamin. Benjamin’s magic lamp design looks quite similar to a desk lamp from my past life. It appears highly practical.

“I am going to craft the base section here, so watch closely.”

Molten metal is bubbling in the kiln. I assumed we would pour this into some sort of mold, but alchemy defies my expectations.

“Metal, obey my will!”

While I am staring in utter astonishment, the base of the magic lamp that Benjamin sketched is already sitting neatly beside the kiln. Blinking was strictly forbidden—it happened far too quickly to see clearly.

“So this is alchemy!” I am thoroughly shocked. The common sense of my past life has been completely blown away.

“Here, Patience, you try it too.”

Can I do it? Pushing aside my anxiety, I vividly picture the base section in my mind.

“Form the base section!”

I can hardly believe my own eyes. Smoothly, the metal rises from the molten depths of the kiln, forms the base, and drops with a soft thud right beside it.

“See? As I thought, Patience, you truly belong in the Alchemy Club.”

Benjamin pitches his recruitment again, but I am far too distracted for that.

“Wait, how does molten metal take shape just like that? Aren’t you supposed to create a mold, pour it in, and let it cool?”

While I am lost in confusion, Professor Kubrick speaks up with an air of immense pride.

“That is precisely what alchemy is!”

Afterward, he explains that creating molds and casting metal is how they mass-produce items, but I am so excited that I only half-listen to the lecture.

“Alchemy is truly marvelous.”

Next, I use the glass kiln to create the water lily dome. Unfortunately, only translucent white glass was available.

“Let’s craft the switch too.”

It turns out that if you don’t grasp the internal mechanics down to the finest detail, the switch will end up as nothing more than a switch-shaped lump of solid metal. Yes, I failed on my first attempt.

“Patience, you cannot perform alchemy without a thoroughly precise mental image.”

Rebuked by Benjamin, I stare at the diagram of the disassembled switch in the textbook until I have entirely memorized it.

“I believe I have it now. Let the switch be formed!”

I think the switch has formed correctly this time. When I press it, it clicks firmly to one side.

“How is this?” I show it to Benjamin.

“Now, let’s see.”

Benjamin clicks it back and forth to test it. This mechanism is what presses the magic stone against the magic circle or pulls it away. The construction is quite similar to a flashlight from my past life. Mine functions more like a room lamp.

“Well, the movement functions correctly. If it had been a failure, it simply wouldn’t light up.”

While copying the magic circle from the textbook, my heart won’t stop pounding. Since it must be drawn tiny enough to fit inside the base section, I copy it with utmost caution.

“Once you are finished, assemble it. I am often told that my magic circle drawings are sloppy, so it takes me a considerable amount of time.”

Come to think of it, during the magic circle class, he drew quickly but was made to redo it because it was sloppy.

The assembly is identical to what we did in Alchemy 1. I place the magic circle onto the base, then set the switch and the magic stone over it. When I flip the switch, the lamp lights up.

“Oh, it lights up!”

I was anxious about whether the switch was crafted correctly, so I sigh with immense relief. Finally, I attach the dome-shaped glass cover to the base. Since I crafted it with a clear mental image of a screw-on mechanism, it fits perfectly.

“Turn the light on.”

Even without Benjamin telling me to, I turn it on. I am far too excited.

“Oh, how beautiful!”

When the light glows inside the white glass cover, it looks exactly like an open water lily.

“Patience, do you intend to skip another grade? Crafting the entire spring term assignment during the very first lecture makes you quite a troublesome student.”

I don’t wish to skip a grade. There are so many more magic lamp designs I want to try crafting.

“Professor Kubrick, what do we craft in Alchemy 3?”

“In Alchemy 3, you will craft entirely new magic tools.”

Oh, that sounds incredibly fun as well.

“I wish to craft magic lamps of other designs, but I would love to try making entirely new magic tools as well.”

Benjamin, who is still working on his magic circle, chimes in: “That is exactly why you should join the Alchemy Club, Patience.”

“Indeed, Patience has technically mastered the material of Alchemy 2, so she ought to skip a grade. However, staying like this for just the spring term should be fine. No, if Professor Maverick, the head of the Mage Course, finds out, I shall be scolded. You must skip a grade and proceed to Alchemy 3.”

What a shame, especially when so many designs for different magic lamps are flashing through my mind.

Seeing my disappointed face, Professor Kubrick gives me a sly wink.

“However, I can hardly refuse an enthusiastic student who wishes to thoroughly review her foundations. Therefore, I shall allow Patience to remain in Alchemy 2 for review throughout the spring term.”

Hooray! I feel like jumping for joy, but I maintain my manners.

“Thank you very much,” I say, offering a polite bow.