Chapter 110

On Wednesdays, the schedule consists of Management, Magic Circles, Pharmacy, and Embroidery 2.

The Management lecture proceeded exactly according to the textbook, but questions flew from Phillips and Russell regarding starting a business. Everyone seems to be struggling with this assignment. I don’t know the market prices either, so I need to investigate, but I wonder if I can persuade Mary?

For Magic Circles, we drew a magic circle that produces water. Yes, it took some time, but I managed to draw it correctly. Next is the magic circle that generates wind. If I can draw this, I can make an electric fan.

“Patience, will you skip a grade in Magic Circles as well? Copying the textbook is something you can do through self-study. In Magic Circles 2, you will learn the theory of magic circles and create your own.”

That sounds incredibly interesting, but adjusting my schedule is impossible.

“Come to think of it, you mentioned that after-school club activities are out of the question. You may conduct Alchemy Club activities during this block and the Alchemy 2 block.”

Since Professor Kubrick is the advisor for the Alchemy Club, he is pushing incredibly hard.

“I shall give it some thought,” I reply for now. I can’t help but suspect: Could this skipping of the Magic Circles grade be entirely for the sake of this recruitment?

In Pharmacy, we craft high-grade recovery potions. It is almost identical to the low-grade recovery potion. The only differences are using high-grade herbs and continuously infusing mana while brewing.

“You receive a passing grade. Proceed to Pharmacy 3. I know, I know. You can’t alter your schedule anyway, right? You can just do Pharmacy 3 during this class block. By the way, do you intend to sell this high-grade recovery potion?”

I decided to have Professor Machias sell the high-grade recovery potions for me. I managed to secure a side job! Apparently, I will receive the money at the end of the term. I can’t wait!

“Patience, you are amazing. I have completely forgotten how to even make low-grade recovery potions.”

Benjamin is suffering a loss of confidence, which is rare for him.

“You might notice something, so please give it a try.”

Yes, his purification is sloppy.

“Lord Benjamin, fire is your specialty, correct? After washing the pot, please try purifying it with fire. Do the same for the strainer, the pot after straining, and the pot meant for holding the recovery potion. And if you cannot perform water purification, please distill it. Look, utilize the distillation apparatus beneath the table. Make an ample amount of distilled water, and after washing the herbs with regular water, wash them thoroughly once more with the distilled water.”

Benjamin was startled by the sudden barrage of instructions, but he belongs to the Mage Course. He seemed to grasp it.

“I see, it wasn’t being purified properly. Thank you, Patience. I shall try purifying everything thoroughly.”

Benjamin managed to craft a low-grade recovery potion after a fashion, but Professor Machias did not grant him a passing grade.

“A low-grade recovery potion like this cannot be considered merchandise. Well, if you wish to drink it yourself, go right ahead. It won’t upset your stomach. Purify it much more meticulously.”

Does a passing grade in Pharmacy depend on whether it can be sold as merchandise? The entire class harbored the same question.

“What is it? This is Pharmacy, so it is an absolute certainty that you must craft medicine that can be properly consumed. Do you not even understand a simple thing like that?”

As I thought, Professor Machias must be able to read minds.

“Patience, won’t you take a look at my method for making low-grade recovery potions as well?”

Bryce also seems at a loss regarding how to craft the low-grade recovery potion. I have him try it before my eyes, but it is the same.

“Lord Bryce, your purification is also half-hearted. Furthermore, your method of washing the herbs is improper. Look, there is still soil remaining at the roots. Since you can utilize water magic, after washing everything clean, please wash them once more with the purified water produced by your magic.”

It seems one must teach the sons of noble families starting from how to wash herbs. Beside us, Andrew scoffed, “Can you not even wash a simple herb?” but he was promptly scolded by Professor Machias: “There is soil on the roots of your herbs as well. If anyone drinks a recovery potion made with those, they will certainly ruin their stomach.”

Am I not going to teach Andrew? He didn’t ask me, so I won’t teach him. Besides, that is Professor Machias’s job.

For Embroidery 2, we are embroidering a cushion. Moving from the Mage Course to the Home Economics Course brings a wave of relief. While I have made acquaintances in the Mage Course—like Benjamin, Bryce, and well, Andrew—that eerie, gruesome atmosphere is thoroughly exhausting. I have always been terrible with horror movies.

I don’t know anyone in Embroidery 2. Yes, it is a bit lonely, but it is actually more relaxing. I decide to look at it that way.

“In the old royal courts, no one was permitted to sit save for the royal family. The sole exception was noble ladies engaged in embroidery. Even now, being capable of embroidery is one of the essential accomplishments for a noble lady. Furthermore, embroidering a crest onto one’s husband’s surcoat is a wonderful custom. If a wife is unskilled at embroidery, her husband will lack strength upon the battlefield.”

As always, Professor McNally is highly skilled at motivating the female students. This must be her teaching technique.

Receiving the materials from Professor McNally, I begin embroidering.

“Any pattern is perfectly acceptable, but please apply your embroidery so that you will suffer no embarrassment when displaying it in your drawing room to welcome important guests.”

I see. Since the design is completely up to us, I shall make it a rose. The drawing room of my family estate lacks decoration, after all. Remembering the roses in the greenhouse, I embroider red and pink roses. Yes, it is delightful. As I keep stitching continuously, roses bloom in full glory across the entire fabric.

“My word, Patience. You have passed Embroidery 2 as well. Oh dear, I wonder if you can take Embroidery 3?”

Following Alchemy 2 and Pharmacy 2, I have skipped a grade in Embroidery 2 as well.

“Professor, I only have Friday afternoons free now.”

“Friday’s third period is Embroidery 1, correct? Are your other blocks completely filled? I know! You may simply take Embroidery 3 during this exact Embroidery 2 block. At any rate, you would likely pass Embroidery 3 in the blink of an eye, forcing me to grant you a completion certificate anyway.”

Even though I wish to do plenty of embroidery, I immediately get carried away and utilize lifestyle magic.

“Professor McNally, I am fond of embroidery, so I wish to attend the lectures for as long as possible.”

Professor McNally ponders for a brief moment and lets out a soft chuckle.

“Patience, embroidery can also yield artistic masterpieces. Would you care to learn embroidery that looks exactly like a painting? With that, a piece won’t be finished anytime soon.”

It might be similar to traditional Japanese embroidery from my past life. My grandmother’s Japanese embroidery looked just like a painting.

“Yes, please teach me.”

“An enthusiastic student brings me such joy. From next time, let us challenge painting embroidery.”

The other students looked entirely dumbfounded, but any further schedule changes are impossible. As I thought, I truly ought to have made a more flexible timetable from the start.

I firmly resolved that I would definitely obtain the completion certificates for Law and Administration through the spring term final exams. I have already received the textbooks from Director Albert. If these two blocks become free, it will give my schedule a bit of breathing room.