Chapter 55: The First Year at the Academy - Rackendale Again
The top students, the Yux, gather for a liberal arts lecture.
Hval's slicked-back hair swept across his face as he pointed to a large parchment with a stylus.
"So, it was His Majesty Aesarius, the captain of the local garrison and later the first king of Arsis, who stopped the ever-expanding power of the Kingdom of Barmutt. That was 800 years ago. Then, what do we call the three knights who supported his Majesty? Yes, Doris, you raised your hand cheerfully. Yes, that is correct. They are the three outstanding knights."
And Hval writes three omega on the board.
Is this a joke? Doris's face is bright red as she answers.
"So three organizations will be formed around them, and wow, two of them will be completely swallowed by one."
Now he adds arrows to the omega's left and right and points them at the central fissure. Isn't that too obscene?
"Yes, what is this one that has swallowed and grown larger? Who can tell? The correct answer is a knight of the King's Guard."
Can I answer it even if I know?
The liberal arts lecture ends with a flurry of undertones, and the academy students begin to move.
In the midst of all this, Lambert and Felix approached me.
Before they open their mouths, I express my concern.
"Hey, are you okay? You're about to get caught for disrespect."
"What are you talking about?"
"It's that emblem."
"That emblem you just saw?"
Elphimia, who was nearby, entered the conversation.
"It's from the kingdom days, so we're not used to it anymore, but it's not disrespectful."
Disrespect was in my heart.
I was so sure of that. I converted it into Japanese.
"You're so weird sometimes, aren't you? Like the one you just did, the other time it was ……."
Elphimia suppressed a laugh.
I knew what she was remembering.
The other day, there was a lecture on the Dance Course, a part of the liberal arts. The instructor was Loretta, a demure beauty who was popular with both men and women. That was fine, but the problem was the Dance Course.
Even when I was in Reedwald, I hardly ever practiced it. I accompanied my brother to practice, and I showed up and danced a few times, but my mother looked at me warmly and said, "Alter doesn't have to dance.". So even if I couldn't dance, it was no use.
"That frog-like movement …… pfft."
Unable to hold back, Elphimia turned over and shook her shoulders.
It is an annoying reaction. If there were bipedal frogs, they would be monsters.
Lambert, perhaps sensing my feelings, changed the subject.
"I'd rather ask you something. Where do you go? You're always away."
I twisted my head, not understanding what he meant.
Did I come here during the commission? No, Lambert must not know where I live.
I think for a moment and realize.
"Well, I didn't tell you. I'm renting a house."
"A house? But you've been in and out of the dorm, right? I've seen you."
"I use it as a place to store my stuff."
The thing that troubled me when I started living in the academy are my stuff.
I can't go to lectures with Rhino Sword, stilettos, and a Seiran Cloak, even if it's money. The commercial guilds and adventurers' guilds would take care of them, but I had to pay a fee. It was then that the idea of a dorm room hit me.
I explained to him what I had done so far, including that.
"I see, so it's for alchemy."
"Well, in the dorm you can't practice fire magic."
"I don't have either talent, but I understand how you feel. If they told me not to wield a sword, I'd leave the dorm."
"But you know what, ……, the lecture might have been a mistake."
Lambert and the others are dubious, and Elphimia bursts out laughing again.
"It's the alchemy lecture. I couldn't concentrate. I'm always stuck with Rackendale. He never leaves me, the round old man."
"Here it comes. It's here… and he's sticking."
Rackendale peeked out from the hallway, "Alter-kun, are you there?" I walked into the classroom.
A student who doesn't know what's going on points at me, his stringy eyes narrowing even more as he nips at me.
What is he doing here? You don't have a lecture today.
"What can I do for you?"
"I invited you, but you never show up. I've invited you to my room."
A small scream rises in the room.
I guess I imagined that I sounded a little happy.
"Please don't misleadingly talk to me. I told you no to the assistant thing."
‘Why, oh why, let's mix.'
"You can't change your tone."
"What's wrong with you? You can mix all you want. Oh, maybe you don't like Cody? Do you want me to expel him?"
"Please don't take away young people's future just because you're in a groove."
‘Then you can come. You don't have a lecture after this."
Don't go looking up people's schedules on your own.
Let's just leave it alone and go home.
"I have something to do, so I'll leave you now."
‘Wait, wait, wait. Well, I'll teach you what you'll learn in two years."
In two years?
Speaking of things I'm likely to learn in alchemy–.
"Creating magical tools."
"Let's go."
"You answer immediately."
Elphimia mutters in disgust.
What are you talking about, you little girl? Of course, I'm going.
"So, I'm going to go make some magic tools. See you."
I took Old Man Maru with me and ran out of the classroom.
I never thought I would be able to try my hand at magic tools so soon.
What should I make? Is it to strengthen Rhino Sword? Or should I make a new suit of armor? I also like trinkets. I only have the Seiran cloak.
◇◇◇◇
"You tricked me!"
"I didn't trick you. You can't just make it out of the blue."
I was raging, but Rackendale and Cody quieted me down.
"Well, calm down. I'll explain it to you from the beginning."
I glared at them but had no choice but to sit down.
This is Rackendale's private room assigned to him by the academy.
It is usually near the classroom where we held the lectures, and as usual, it is next to the alchemy room.
Rackendale, the owner of such a room, makes a crisp, lecturer-like expression and begins to speak, "What are magical tools?"
At first, I looked at him with a confused look, but as I listened, I understood Rackendale's point of view.
The creation of magical tools was needlessly complicated.
There are magical tools that are created naturally by materials and the environment, and there are artificially created magical tools.
You can probably imagine the former. When exposed to a pool of magical power for many years, the properties of the material change. This is the case with magical metals such as mithril.
We can create artificial magical tools with the skill "Create Magic Tool" and the non-attribute advanced magic "Engraved Permanence". We can use those magical tools at the same time, or one of them alone, but the effects are quite different.
The "Create Magic Tool" is similar to spontaneous generation, manipulating the probability of becoming a magic tool and its ability, while the "Imprint Permanence" could adhere to the invoked magic as the function of a magic tool. With the latter, "Fire Bolt" could be made into a wand, creating a magical tool that can activate "Fire Bolt" three times a day". The creation of magical tools I had in mind was similar to that of "Engraved Permanence".
And the reason why the creation of magical tools is said to be in the field of alchemy is that it requires a large amount of alchemical solution. The materials are soaked and replaced daily. Depending on the item, the process is said to last several months.
"Do you master any skills or magic, teacher?"
"Nah. I can't use either."
I know I haven't learned either. I was rather curious about what he would teach me if I didn't have any.
I make a surprised face, and Rackendale's narrow eyes narrow even more.
"It's like alchemy in general, you just have to understand it. Besides, how much do you think you can learn in a few years? The academy is just a stepping stone, helping you take that first step."
"How do I learn the skill of "Create Magic Tool"?"
"Yes, yes. It's not common for people to learn it from birth."
Rackendale nodded repeatedly and continued talking.
‘You can aim for "Engraved Permanence", but the advanced thing is not the first thing you can do. So going for "Create Magic Tool" is a shortcut. You've already noticed, that it's just like any other skill. You just have to make them. If you keep doing it, you will eventually make a magic tool. But you still won't master it. If you don't make the grimoire over and over again. It's will cost you a hell of a lot of money.
"It costs a hell of a lot of money, doesn't it? You can get the magic stone from a monster, but the foundation – oh, perhaps the quality of the foundation affects the success rate?"
I narrow my eyes open a bit.
‘Huh. …… I'm surprised you noticed that, you. Are you sure you don't want to be my assistant?"
"No, I don't want to."
It was only thanks to Ragnidig that I noticed that.
The Seiran series is a first-class work of art. Even if they were not magical tools, they would have been sold for a high price. He is the holder of "Create Magic Tool 4," but I don't think that is enough to turn everything into magical tools. It is because of his skill, the quality of the materials, and the engraving technique, all of it mesh together.
But still, that guy is outrageous. If he wanted to, he could make all kinds of magical tools.
"Well, that's the end of the magic tool talk! Let's mix stuff!"
Rackendale began preparing quickly.
I never said anything about mixing. After all, I couldn't even make a grimoire.
Should it be a good thing that I have more knowledge?
As I was thinking this, Luckendale suddenly looked around.
"Cody, where's the nectar from the Cistrus grass?"
"Uh–"
Silence spreads in the room.
Cistrus grass, I've heard of it. I wonder what it is.
Cody drips a greasy sweat.
Gradually, Rackendale's expression changes.
"Don't tell me you haven't prepared it! Alter-kun, you're going to challenge the high quality!"
"Excuse me!!!"
Cody apologized
desperately.
It's a bit like a conditioned reflex, this guy.
Be that as it may, it's no wonder he was angry about the inadequacy of the material during his first lecture. But now it's Rackendale's fault. How could Cody know what I was talking about if I wasn't listening?
"Wait a minute."
I interrupt.
"Do you always have Cistrus grass on hand?"
"No, it's rare, so we don't have it here, but–"
"Then it's impossible for senpai to prepare it. I just found out about it myself.
"But!"
Rackendale shakes his head like a spoiled child.
Stop it, it's disgusting.
And this old man is too uninterested in anything but alchemy. He's smart, but he's all over the place.
‘Well, since I'm here, I'll give it a try. If it's rare, I'd like to handle it."
"Really?"
He wiggled around this time in delight.
If I dumped it in the field, I wonder if it would be exterminated. They'll mistake me for a demon.
"But what is Cistrus grass, though? It sounds familiar."
"It's used for higher potions."
Cody answered my question.
The round thing is still wiggling around.
"Oh, I remember now. It was the material for healing potions, I believe."
"Yes, it is. Ceylon grass is up to good quality. Beyond that, you need the nectar from the Cistrus grass."
Well, Simon taught me that. At the time, I thought Ceylon grass was sufficient because it was easy to use.
Now that the quality has stabilized, it might be a good time to take a look. I'll take a look at it.
"Then, I'll go get it. When I say rare, I mean in a storage room somewhere…"
I looked around the room casually and broke off.
On shelves and desks, magic stones and magical tools are lying haphazardly.
If I had one, I could sleep and live here for a few months.
"Isn't this place full of rare items enough? Aren't you being too careless?"
"It's all right."
The old man revives.
"Defensive magics protect the academy. Besides, the instructor's room is quite sturdy. It was heavy, wasn't it, the door?"
"Indeed. It was heavy, wasn't it?
The walls and doors are made of steel plates and lead.
I can understand iron plates, but lead?
"It blocks the flow of magic. If you try to look through it with magic, it will repel it.
I didn't know lead had such a property.
In a previous life, lead was used in nuclear power plants. I'm going to put a lead on my walls, too. As I recall, lead smoke is toxic. If it caught fire, it would be a catastrophe.
"So, where did you get the material?"
"The garden."
I asked again, and Cody told me.
Garden – that botanical garden?
◇◇◇◇
Behind the school, there is a large library.
Further along the wall of the library, cobblestones extended to the back of the property.
The dead end was the garden.
I continued along the cobblestone path toward the garden.
To the left is the stable and stables, and to the right is the magic forging area.
There are still students in this area, but they gradually dwindle then no one left.
Increasingly, in contrast, is the dark green.
I turned my attention to the approaching gardens.
I had not been here since my first guided tour on the first day.
The garden, surrounded by an iron fence, was lush with trees.
Through the branches and leaves, I could see brick buildings.
Although the academy is usually green with rows of trees and lawns, the garden was unique trees and the smell of the air. Because it's removed from its natural state. It feels even more strange to those who are used to the forest.
I was puzzled in front of the gate.
It was locked.
I looked here and there, but there was no one in sight. Perhaps it was some kind of defense measure, or so I use "Presence Detection".
I guess I'll have to go back and ask for permission. First, let's go to the office.
When I turned around, I stopped moving.
Was that the gardener?
An old man in work clothes with a rag around his neck approached me with a jaunty gait.
But where have I seen that man before? No way.
The old man notices me and smiles.
I bowed back to him and watched him, and my suspicions turned to certainty.
What are you doing, Dean?
The head of the academy stood in front of me, looking dingy.
"You want to see the gardens?"
"Rackendale-sensei asked me to come here to get some cistrus nectar."
"Cistrus? That means, are you Alter-kun?"
The Dean looks into my face as he says this.
My expression instantly disappeared.
"Yes, but I am just an academy student taking alchemy. I am not Rackendale-sensei's assistant, nor am I his apprentice. I don't have any plans at all."
"Ha ha, you are very perceptive. So you have good "Mixing" skills, right? No wonder Rackendale-sensei likes you so much."
What is that old man talking about? Are you trying to fill the moat from the outside?
What convinced the Dean to nod repeatedly and open the garden?
"Cistrus grass, right? This way."
Then he entered the garden and headed straight for the building at the back.
It was mid-spring and the plants were coming alive.
The garden was filled with the fragrance of countless plants.
Overwhelmed by this, I followed the Dean.
We arrived at the back of the building, and he invited me in again.
As soon as I entered, the quality of the air changed again.
"Inside this building, the environment is controlled by magical tools. It's dedicated to the fussy plants. The Cistrus grass is also delicate – oh, here it is."
The Dean picked up a potted plant with pale reddish-blue flowers.
The petals were distinctive, with numerous branches at the tips. It was delicate in appearance, befitting its nature.
"The nectar of the cistrus plant begins to deteriorate as soon as it is collected. If you want to use it in your mixings, you can take the whole potted plant. It won't affect the food, though."
"You can eat it?"
"Usually not, but I hear it's sweet and delicious."
I'd like to taste it.
I peeked into the flower and saw shallow yellowish nectar.
There's not much. I don't think I can taste it.
While I was thinking about that, I suddenly felt a gaze.
I looked up to see the Dean's soft eyes on me.
"By the way, why do you think I'm managing the garden?"
Suddenly asked, I was at a loss for a response.
It's a question, but I can't think of anything in particular.
I answer safely.
"Because you like plants?"
"Yes, that's right. Yes, I do indeed like them."
With a somewhat indefinite tone, the Dean takes the empty pot in his hand.
"Help me, please. I heard that you used Earth Magic during the exam. I'd like you to use the Handy Soil to fill this pot with soil."
I tilt my head inwardly.
The Dean has "Earth Magic 2". He shouldn't need any help.
"Okay."
I agree and accept the pot.
I don't know what he's thinking, but let's do it.
Regular "Handy Soil" won't do. Nordt said he would change the soil depending on the application. Since I don't know what plant it is, for the time being, let's try to make the soil similar to the soil around Selen.
Thinking back to the collection request, I strongly visualize the soil.
The soil spilling from my fingertips was wetter and darker than usual.
Even if it is life magic, it consumes a lot of magic power if I use it strangely.
By the time the potted plant was full, it had consumed more magic power than my Beginner Magic.
I exhaled lightly and handed the potted plant back.
"How about this much?"
The Dean nodded in satisfaction as he picked up the soil.
"That's good soil. It won't look like this with just any "Handy Soil". I'm thinking properly about making the plants happy."
Then, as if loving his beloved child, he slowly looked around the room.
When he turned around, his eyes were moist.
"I know I can trust you with these children."
He quickly removes the cloth from his neck and holds it out to me.
"From today on, you'll be the garden caretaker."
"Well, I don't want to…"
"From now on, you're in charge of the garden…"
"No, I don't want to."
His smile gradually becomes distorted.
Then, just as a tear spills out, he slaps the cloth on the floor.
"Why, you could do it! I just want to quit! I've been managing this place for 60 years, I need to be replaced!"
The Dean cries out, shrugging off his dignity.
Wow, he's crying.
Do 60 years mean he was a student? And he's been taking care of the garden ever since?
I don't want to do that.
To be honest, I am interested in it because there are many rare plants. However, there is no way I can take care of this many plants with just one hand. I have to manage water and temperature and take measures against pests and diseases. Even a single potted plant takes a lot of work. Even now, I'm struggling to make ends meet with my schoolwork and living expenses, and I don't have time for that. And if I accept the job, the Dean will not let me go even after I graduate. If I'm not good enough, I'll be the garden caretaker for the rest of my life.
"Thank you very much, Sislas Grass."
I quickly fled the garden, shedding the resentful gaze that pierced my back.
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