Wim and Art walked along the path that led them to the Union Academy dormitory, carrying several Fire Salamender skins for their practical exam.
It was a very quiet afternoon, with birds occasionally appearing, shrouded in the dimming evening sky, illuminated by the orange light that illuminated the academy's towers.
However, their steps stopped, as did Wim, who began to notice a figure in the vast garden.
Wim: "Hmm."
Art: "Wim, what's going on?" Art asked.
Wim raised his hand and pointed.
Wim: "That... Isn't that Louisa?"
Art turned around and looked in the direction Wim was pointing.
Art: "I think you're 100 percent right."
Wim: "Let's see what she's doing there."
Then Wim and Art began to sneak around to see what Louisa was doing this afternoon.
She quickly pulled Art behind the bushes. From there, they could clearly see that Louisa was practicing, not using her wand as usual. But using a rapier.
Wim and Art: "What the..." she muttered.
Louisa swung the rapier with great precision. Her steps were light, each stroke of the rapier cutting through the air like a master fencer.
Art: "Every stroke, and her steps, are pretty good for someone who only uses a wand. What do you think, Wim?"
However, Wim didn't answer, just nodded his head.
He had heard about Louisa before, specifically on a community forum.
In that forum, a player named Craik776 revealed the secret of Louisa's hidden class if players could increase their relationship with her to 70 percent: Arcane Duelist.
A hidden class belonging to Louisa that not only uses a rapier as her primary weapon but also channels her inner magic into the rapier, making her powerful at both long-range and close-range.
Wim himself had tried this several times in his previous life. But it failed because before she could achieve that, Louisa died tragically in the story.
Considering that in the story, Louisa is one of the main characters who suffers a terrible fate in the upcoming quest, death is the most important thing she must face.
Compared to Luna, who will leave everyone behind to search for her father, Morpho, Louisa is a more tragic reflection of Luna.
Whether Wim can save her from this life-threatening danger is only a possibility.
...
Meanwhile, Louisa, who was busy swinging her rapier, suddenly stopped. She sensed something was wrong with her surroundings.
Then she quickly began casting magic directly at the bush of leaves she found strange.
Louisa: "Ignition!"
WHUSH!
A small fireball shot quickly toward the bush.
Art: "Ow! TELEPORT, TELEPORT!"
THUMBS!
The ground around the bush caught fire. In an instant, Wim and Art appeared a few meters away thanks to their Teleport Skill, now exposed under Louisa's sharp gaze.
Louisa stood with a rapier in her right hand and a wand in her left, pointing at Wim. Her face was flat and cold, her ruby eyes gleaming in the afternoon shadows.
Louisa: "So... Can you explain why you were spying on someone?"
Wim immediately panicked, clasping his hands.
Wim: "M-Misunderstanding, Princess! I just happened to be passing by! Is that right, Art?"
Art: "Yes, that's right."
Louisa's gaze didn't soften. She pointed her wand directly at Wim's head, making cold sweat drip down his temples.
Wim: 'I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead...' she muttered to herself.
There was a moment of silence, then Louisa took a breath and lowered her wand.
Louisa: "Hmph. This is just a waste of time. I won't burn you. But listen carefully, keep this a secret from you. If anyone finds out... Then you already know the consequences." She threatened, pointing her wand at Wim again.
Without much thought, Wim nodded his head quickly, as if in a hurry.
Louisa turned and began to pack her things. But before she could leave, she stopped. Her shoulders turned slightly.
Louisa: "Commoner. There's one more thing you should know."
Wim looked up, slightly confused.
Louisa: "The potion for the alchemy practical exam has changed. Now the L-type Strengthening Potion has been replaced with the Anti-Toxic Venom Potion. That was Professor Syit's decision. But... he deliberately didn't tell your group. Group 14."
Louisa: "Consider it repayment for the pen you lent me. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I care. It's just... I don't like injustice."
She then walked away, her graceful steps slowly fading into the afternoon.
...
Wim stood frozen, unable to believe Louisa's words.
Although Wim knew Louisa wasn't the type to joke or lie like that. She was terrible at lying.
But what shocked him even more was the change in the potion for his practical exam.
Anti-Toxic Venom Potion...
It was a potion that required one of the main ingredients: the Fangs of an Igra Spider.
Although Wim could have bought it from the shop, he didn't have enough money, and it was already late. So the shop was most likely closed.
However, there was one thing that made him even more furious: Professor Syit, who had deliberately cheated his group. Group 14.
This change had never even existed in the game, let alone the discrimination against certain groups.
Wim could have sued the Academy, but due to Professor Syit's immense power, he couldn't. Moreover, he was only a first-year student.
But if he and his group couldn't do it, their group would be considered lazy and wouldn't get a grade.
This was really difficult for Wim, made even more difficult because he couldn't repeat the process like he did in the game.
Just before Wim could think any further, Art approached.
Art: "Well, this is a really serious problem. If our group doesn't figure out the new recipe, it's a complete failure. But... I have an idea! How about we make the potion with the ingredients we have? I once analyzed salamander skin. And from there, its composition contains a natural poison neutralizer. Maybe we can use that composition."
Wim turned to Art, his eyes starting to sparkle.
Wim: "Art, you're a genius! We could try the experiment at a normal level, and then... Hehehe... We could amaze Professor when she sees our performance," Wim said as he began to smile cheekily, laughing like a villain.
...
(The next day, Class Alchemy Lab) (S, Unio Academy)
The next morning, sunlight shone through the tall glass windows of the Unio Academy alchemy laboratory.
The room was filled with the pungent aroma of potion ingredients arranged on each group's long table. The sound of glassware clinking and anxious whispers filled the air, remembering this was a practical exam.
Louisa stood gracefully at her group's side. Her white hair glistened in the morning light, her face calm, though a hint of relief filled her heart. Her hand gently tapped the table filled with the ingredients she had prepared the night before.
Afterward, she saw that several of her teammates had also brought their ingredients. This brought a sense of calm.
Louisa: 'Thank God, all the ingredients are ready.' All that's left is to mix it according to procedure, and this practical exam is over.
Meanwhile, on the other side, specifically in group 14, the atmosphere was very different.
Wim looked very relaxed, even busily taking out an additional piece of equipment rarely used in standardized exams: a curved-necked glass alembic and a condensation vessel.
This surprised his group members.
Luna: "Wim... why did you bring an alembic?" Even Luna, an alchemy expert, was surprised by it.
Emma: "Yeah, this isn't the time for your weird experiments anymore," Emma added, growing increasingly annoyed but also anxious.
Wim simply smiled casually, patting the alembic like a merchant proud of his wares.
Wim: "Don't worry. You'll see what it's for. Just think of it as me... preparing a surprise."
Diego: "Haaah... If it fails, we'll all be in trouble, Wim," he said with a deep sigh.
...
Click... click... CRACK
The sound of the door opening...
Professor Syit stepped in with three others.
They were visiting alchemists from the Anchorage Alchemy Bureau.
A young woman with silver hair, her eyes sharp as knives.
A large man, the smell of metal and smoke clinging to his clothes.
And an old man, thin but dignified, with a wooden staff adorned with emeralds.
Professor Syit: "Good morning, students. Today is the alchemy practical exam. As I've already told you, the potion you have to make is Anti-Toxic Venom."
The atmosphere suddenly became lively. Whispers and shocked expressions arose.
Even Luna was included. She started to take a small step forward.
Luna: "Wait, Professor! Shouldn't the potion we're making be an L-Type Strengthening Potion?"
Professor Syit turned slowly, her sly smile never fading.
Professor Syit: "Oh? Didn't I tell you that? I think I already told everyone."
Some students nodded, some remained silent, confused. But it was enough to make Luna and group 14 seem unprepared.
Luna: "But we never received that notification."
Emma: "That's right, Professor! We didn't receive any instructions."
Even though Luna and Emma's statements seemed reasonable, Professor Syit still managed to manipulate them with her gentle face.
Professor Syit: "Then maybe you guys just weren't paying attention. Ask your friends. Isn't everything clear?"
Several other students, whether out of fear or genuine conviction, nodded. That was enough to further corner Luna and Emma.
Then Professor Syit approached, her arms crossed.
Professor Syit: "What a shame. Group 14 doesn't seem to have prepared the right materials. In that case... you can't continue the exam if you can't prepare properly. As alchemists, you should know how to prepare yourself to avoid problems."
Those words came out not as encouragement, but as an insult to Professor Syit.
A faint smile graced her lips, her face full of pity. But behind that look, there was a cruel satisfaction at having successfully brought them down in front of everyone, including Wim.
This way, she could laugh heartily when she saw Group 14 being expelled from here.
But before she was actually expelled, Wim raised his hand casually.
Wim: "Professor, I want to make sure. To graduate, our group must create an Anti-Toxic Venom potion, right?"
Professor Syit: "Yes. That's the only way."
Then with a glint in his eye...
Wim: "Okay. Then, we'll make it. But with the ingredients we have available."
What...
The classroom suddenly erupted in thunderous silence.
Louisa, on the other side, spontaneously raised an eyebrow.
Louisa: 'With the ingredients we have available...? That's crazy. Anti-Toxic Venom requires Igra spider fangs as a key component. Without them, it's impossible to produce a stable potion. What are those commoners thinking?'
It wasn't just Louisa; several other students were the same.
Another student: "Impossible... he's joking, right?"
Another student 2: "Is he trying to suicide?"
Professor Syit looked at Wim scornfully. She knew something was wrong with that statement and tried to deny it.
But before she could object, the old alchemist tapped his cane on the floor.
Old Alchemist: "Wait a minute. I want to see. That young man is very bold in his words, give him a chance. I wonder how he'll get around the lack of the key ingredient."
The silver-haired woman looked skeptical.
Female Alchemist: "It's just a waste of time."
Big man: "But... it's interesting. Let's see."
Professor Syit fell silent. Her jaw clenched, clearly displeased. But in front of professional witnesses, she couldn't refuse.
Professor Syit: "...Alright. Group 14 will have a chance. But only for one hour and thirty minutes. After that, you fail."
KRRRSHHH...
The large magic hourglass in the center of the room began to spin, glowing purple sand pouring down. All the students from the various groups began to concoct their potions.
As soon as the timer started, Emma immediately grabbed Wim by the collar.
Emma: "Are you crazy!? What did you just say!?"
Diego: "The main ingredient isn't here, Wim. We're doomed to fail miserably!"
Luna: "Why are you so careless?!" She said in a trembling voice, both angry and desperate.
But Wim remained calm, carefully adjusting his alembic.
Wim: "Relax, bro. I've thought this through time. Just follow my instructions. We still have time to win... even if we only have salamander skin, we can still win."
The three of them fell silent, looked at each other, and then finally sighed. There was no other choice. They also started to help Wim, although with heavy hearts.