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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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What’s the easiest way to be the best in a particular group?
The answer was simple: join a mediocre group.
It’s easier to be the head of a snake than the tail of a dragon, and easier still to be the head of a worm.
And alchemy class was the perfect place for me to be the head.
‘It’s a matter of experience.’
How many students here had ever handled a beaker or flask, let alone understood their purpose?
Mana aptitude was a rare talent, and its most common application was combat.
Those who knew their talent from a young age would have trained accordingly.
Those who discovered it later, having already gained admission, must have possessed considerable combat skills independent of mana, making them even less likely to be interested in alchemy.
While some mana users did become alchemists, they were usually combat veterans switching fields, not those who started with alchemy.
Having learned basic chemistry in my past life, I had a natural advantage over the other students, who were starting from scratch.
Professor Faust asked,
“Did you study alchemy before entering the Academy?”
“No, Professor. However, assisting with my family’s business gave me some understanding of resource and time management. Knowing that excess and deficiency are both detrimental.”
Professor Faust nodded.
“Indeed, cost management is a crucial aspect of alchemy.”
He continued evaluating the other students’ work, then said,
“Hmm, this reagent is also quite excellent. However, try to pay more attention to organization next time.”
The one who received the praise was a noble young lady from Sphero, someone I recognized.
Frelia Magnus.
One of the key characters in “Planetarium.”
Each elective had a notable character designed to interact with the player regardless of their chosen specialization.
“Thank you, Professor.”
Despite her words, Frelia looked slightly frustrated, seemingly bothered that I had outperformed her.
‘I think baking was her hobby. Recipes are crucial there too.’
After class, I approached her.
As someone planning to specialize in magic stone processing, it wouldn’t hurt to befriend Frelia, known for her potion-making skills in the original game.
Furthermore, the Magnus family was close to the new royal family in Sphero, one of the few noble families without bad blood with the Midas family.
They would be valuable allies against Alphonse Betouare and the old royal faction.
“Greetings, Miss Magnus.”
“…What does the Midas family’s honor student want with me?”
She greeted me with a sullen expression.
It wasn’t the usual contempt or anger from other noble students, but rather a childish pout.
It was immature, but honestly, after dealing with that hot-headed boar, it was almost endearing.
I shrugged.
“Perhaps self-praise is inappropriate for a first meeting.”
“Excuse me?”
Frelia tilted her head, confused.
“We both received praise for the quality of our work. Calling me an honor student is indirectly praising yourself…”
“N-no! That’s not what I meant! I received criticism, but you didn’t!”
“Cleaning up isn’t difficult. You can do better next time. Unless you’re planning not to?”
“No, I will! I will, but…”
“Then there’s no problem.”
Frelia looked bewildered for a moment, then chuckled.
“Fine, I’ll retract the ‘honor student’ comment. Seeing how smooth-talking you are, ‘philanderer’ might be more fitting.”
“That title is open to misinterpretation, so let’s keep it simple and go with Chrom.”
“Then call me Frelia. So, what did you want?”
“Uh… the joy of meeting a fellow countryman?”
“Coming from a Midas?”
“Then let’s say it’s an investment in a promising future prospect. Alchemy is best done through specialization and collaboration.”
I raised my voice.
“By the way, anyone who had trouble understanding the lesson, come over here! Free tutoring! Miss Magnus here will be assisting!”
“What? Huh? Wait, what are you—?”
“What? Really?”
“A chance to get something for free from the Midas family? Not bad.”
“Hey, Midas, can you explain this part?”
“Miss Magnus, I don’t understand the meaning of this—”
About five students, all around thirty years old, gathered and started bombarding us with questions.
Frelia, after a moment of hesitation, began answering thoughtfully.
I smiled, watching the scene.
The “honor student” label was quite useful.
‘I wish I could do this in Magic class too.’
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“Imagine the ‘formula’ forming outside your body, at your desired location. Like blood flowing through veins, or water through pipes, visualize a single channel for mana to flow.”
Professor Neville continued,
“Once the image is clear, channel your internal mana through this imaginary path. From end to end, filling it completely. Through this process, mana transcends mere energy and transforms into a miracle with a unique form and property. That is a formula.”
Unlike the usual lecture hall, we were in a spacious training ground with various targets.
The students closed their eyes and concentrated.
Professor Neville said,
“Those who are ready, activate the formula.”
Immediately, small orbs of light appeared near the hands of about half the students standing in a row.
[Low-Rank Magic Arrow]
The basic magic formula, requiring the least amount of mana, materialized, transforming pure mana into a projectile.
There was no need for incantations.
Ranked Magic was constructed solely through visualization and mana control, a system designed to minimize casting time, allowing mages to compete with warriors in combat.
Professor Neville announced softly, yet loud enough for everyone to hear,
“Fire.”
Whoosh!
Arrows of mana shot towards the targets.
The results fell into four categories: hitting the target, missing the target, dissipating before reaching the target, and exploding mid-flight.
Professor Neville explained,
“Failure to activate the formula means you failed to establish a clear image. Missing the target indicates a vague image. Dissipation is caused by insufficient mana infusion, and explosion by excessive mana infusion. Now, repeat this ten more times.”
The students fired Low-Rank Magic Arrows repeatedly, and by the tenth attempt, most could successfully materialize the spell.
This was the result of their prior mana control practice and a testament to the Academy’s rigorous selection process.
Of course, there were still differences in skill.
“Tch, repetitive low-rank formulae don’t suit me.”
Eagle Fendevig, the older of the twin siblings from the renowned Fendevig mage family of the Kingdom of Morian, clicked his tongue.
Eight out of his ten arrows hit the target, but their placement was scattered, and the holes were so large that it was difficult to determine the score.
This was due to his habit of pushing his mana to the limit, capitalizing on his high mana capacity and fast regeneration.
“Really? I’m finding this quite enjoyable.”
In contrast, his younger sister, Hau Fendevig’s, Magic Arrows left small, clean holes in the target, all scoring eight points or higher, for a total of 90.
This was possible thanks to her exceptional mana control, despite having lower mana capacity and slower regeneration than her brother.
Hau Fendevig looked around.
Most students hadn’t even reached a total score of 50, which pleased her.
‘Well, it’s only natural…hmm?’
Her gaze landed on a green-haired girl.
“Wow, this is hard.”
Pino, seemingly struggling with the formula, had two arrows dissipate before reaching the target.
However, the remaining arrows all hit the center or near the center, giving her a score of 76.
Hau Fendevig observed her with a hum.
‘Not bad for a beginner.’
Meanwhile, Eagle Fendevig was watching Chrom Midas.
‘60. Slightly above average. High mana capacity, but poor control.’
While his own control wasn’t exceptional, his specialty was spamming mid-rank formulae, so he had no problem rationalizing his performance.
Satisfied with their observations, the twins’ gazes shifted to one person.
‘But—’
‘I wonder?’
Their eyes widened as they checked Lyla Everblaze Barhardt’s score, her striking beauty drawing attention even when she was simply standing still.
“…”
Her target had only one tiny hole in the center, barely noticeable unless examined closely.
Her score was a perfect 100.
The twins looked away.
‘Well, she is an Everblaze.’
‘She’s in a different league, so technically, I’m first.’
Meanwhile, the boy with the gold-rimmed monocle, fresh from his “honor student” performance in alchemy, thought,
‘I can’t pull off the same trick here.’
Even the top student in class couldn’t always top the national mock exams.
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