Chapter 18

Chapter 18

I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy.

Episode 18: Hong Yu-hwa (2)

On Wednesdays, there were classes related to wholesome hobbies.

These included alchemy, reading, cooking, and studying history.

I walked to the alchemy lecture room, yawning listlessly.

“I only know Hong Yu-hwa and Seo Ga-yeon.”

Kim Seo-hyun had joined the cooking club.

He did so partly because he could eat many tasty meals and snacks, but also because he had been stranded in a dungeon as a child and wanted to ensure he could eat well in the future.

“It’s ridiculous, but—”

Everyone had their own pursuits.

Kim Ara chose reading, Ershil chose the tea ceremony, and Hong Yu-hwa would normally follow Kim Seo-hyun to the cooking club, but now she was likely to follow me.

And then there was Seo Ga-yeon.

Seo Ga-yeon came here because learning alchemy could be profitable.

Her family wasn’t very wealthy.

“There are other reasons too.”

The Korean Hero School highly encouraged these hobbies and provided quality materials for them.

With a click, the door opened, and all eyes turned to me.

Especially two intense gazes.

Hong Yu-hwa and the Witch of Pama, Song Ra-hee, who was engaged in a close conversation with the alchemy professor.

She was famous as a witch and for her proficiency in alchemy.

“I’m sorry for being late.”

“That’s fine, we were just about to start.”

The alchemy professor greeted me with a warm smile.

But in front of her was something resembling black plastic scales.

“I didn’t think she’d actually use it.”

While transferring the shadow snake, I had given her some shadow scales, but it seemed she had seriously taken it all.

I must never become a postgraduate student, I resolved, looking around for a seat.

There were many empty seats, but I deliberately chose one next to Seo Ga-yeon.

“Hello.”

“O-Oh? Hi.”

Seo Ga-yeon greeted me in a fluster.

“So, you’re learning alchemy too?”

“Yes. I heard alchemy is quite useful in many ways.”

Seo Ga-yeon said, casting a glance at the professors.

“Today, we’ll learn about the most basic potions. We’ll start with paralysis antidotes.”

The professor spoke warmly.

“Does anyone know which potion I’m going to make?”

“It’s a paralysis antidote.”

“That’s right.”

When Hong Yu-hwa spoke, the alchemy professor responded warmly.

“Many aspiring heroes encounter monsters with paralyzing poison, such as goblins or giant spiders, and underestimate them, leading to their deaths.”

The atmosphere sobered at the mention of death.

“So today, we will make paralysis antidotes.”

“Can we make other things after the antidote?”

“Yes, if you make a satisfactory antidote. Oh, and you can use as many ingredients as you need.”

The others’ faces lit up at the professor’s words.

But I knew that was a trap.

Because making a potion satisfactory to the alchemy professor was not easy.

“May I ask a question?”

“Yes, you may.”

“So, how do we make the antidote? What’s the recipe?”

“Just use ingredients with detoxifying properties.”

The alchemy professor said with a beaming smile.

Realizing the situation, a few faces turned pale.

“Oh, I’ll distribute alchemy kits to everyone. They’re all free, so feel free to use them.”

At the professor’s words, teaching assistants hurried over to distribute the kits.

“I’m good; I already bought one in advance.”

As I took out my kit, the alchemy professor’s eyes sparkled.

“Oh my, how did you get that? Only gold members or above can purchase from the Alchemy Guild…”

“I was lucky enough to buy it.”

“In alchemy, luck is also a skill. You’re Lee Seo-ha, right? I thought the top student would be dull in this area, but I was mistaken.”

The alchemy professor added that he would keep an eye on me.

I felt chills. This meant there was a possibility of being scouted as a postgraduate student.

“You.”

It was Hong Yu-hwa’s voice.

Hong Yu-hwa had come near me and spoke.

“You’re confident in alchemy, aren’t you?”

“Yeah.”

Honestly, I think no one in this world knows tools better than I do.

They say a craftsman doesn’t blame his tools, but personally, I think that’s nonsense.

Clearly, the outcome was naturally better when a craftsman uses high-quality tools.

“Want to make a bet?”

“A bet?”

My eyes sparkled.

Hong Yu-hwa was the granddaughter of the Red Tower’s master. Her talent shines so brightly that rumors already hailed her as the next master of the Red Tower.

And most importantly… Hong Yu-hwa tended to fall easily for bets.

“What’s the bet?”

“Making an antidote, and the one the professor prefers wins.”

“What’s the reward?”

“…Hmm.”

With a thoughtful expression, Hong Yu-hwa pondered.

“You tell me. I don’t know what you desire. It can’t be beyond my authority, of course, but I’ll try to accommodate any reasonable requests.”

She spoke with a lofty tone.

I beamed.

“Alright. Let’s do it, the bet.”

“No backing out.”

“Then, shall I be the judge?”

The alchemy professor, having approached us at some point, offered with a wide grin.

“Yes, please.”

Hong Yu-hwa selected her ingredients with confidence.

‘Not bad.’

If she prepared the antidote in that manner, it would likely earn a C+.

That’s an impressively high score for a student.

Without me here, she might even score full marks in this place.

Holding a basket, I began to pick herbs.

Blood Herb (E+)

This herb bears a blood-red hue.

It contains toxic components.

Freshness: Top quality

Nightshade Herb (E+)

Characterized by its dark color.

Rich in cold Yin energy.

Freshness: Top quality

Moonlight Herb (D+)

A herb that radiates under the moon’s glow.

It harbors both toxic components and Yin energy.

Freshness: Top quality

Blood Berry (F+)

These berries are a deep blood-red.

Abundant in Yang energy.

Freshness: Top quality

Thanks to my talent allowing me to discern freshness, I selected only the freshest items.

All these herbs were used for making poison. However, when combined, they created a synergistic effect that produced the opposite effect.

Of course, if prepared incorrectly, a single drop could kill dozens with its potent toxicity.

“She will like this.”

I thought of the noble lady I had yet to meet, who enjoys collecting unusual artifacts.

“…Are all these herbs poisonous?”

“But you selected only the freshest ones. Given the freshness, you’re definitely not a novice in alchemy.”

Professors Song Ra-hee and the alchemy professor observed me closely.

I concentrated.

The world beyond the monitor was different from this one. I knew how things worked, but there could be discrepancies.

Nevertheless, I accepted the bet because I trusted something else.

Dexterity.

A talent that helped in all physical actions.

But I didn’t rely solely on it for this task.

‘Alton’s Arcane Alchemy (B)’

I had recently added alchemy to my skills after collecting points.

‘Phew.’

I began to focus, holding the herbs in my hand.

Knowledge emerged in my mind, from the purification methods for various herbs to the recipes for what are called elixirs.

‘It’s about right.’

The methods of processing the herbs I had seen through the monitor were similar.

I ground the herbs in a mortar and prepared a solution. As I added the powdered herbs to the solution, a foul smell emerged.

Four parts Blood Herb solution, two parts Nightshade Herb, three parts Moonlight Herb, and one part Blood Berry.

I mixed the potions in the precise ratios.

Smoke began to rise. The foul odors started to dissipate.

“Using poison to neutralize poison. Good heavens, all that with just such a basic kit?”

“More importantly, did you notice those ratios? They seem more crucial…”

“A wrong sequence or ratio, and it would be a deadly concoction.”

Ignoring the murmurs, I placed the antidote in an aging device.

An aging device accelerated the maturation of herbs. I had spent a lot to order it.

After waiting for five minutes,

As the potion turned clear yellow, I picked it up.

Inspection.

Arcane Antidote (A)

A yellowish antidote. It detoxifies all poisons below a certain grade and permanently increases poison resistance.

Detoxifies all poisons below grade B.

Blocks poisons below grade B for one hour and permanently increases poison resistance.

[Professors Song Ra-hee and Han Yoon-bi are astonished by the antidote you made!]

[You have created one of the world’s most outstanding antidotes! An unbelievable achievement! Awarded 3,000P!]

I couldn’t help but feel shocked looking at the window.

Was this really one of the world’s most outstanding antidotes?

I remembered receiving a diamond rank when I first joined the Alchemy Guild. Wasn’t this achievement worthy of a higher position than diamond?

‘Well, that’s not what’s important.’

If this was the level of achievement for such an act, it seems I could easily accumulate points with minimal effort.

I glanced around me.

Professors Song Ra-hee and Han Yoon-bi were looking at me with expressions of astonishment.

‘It’s clearly my victory.’

Now, what shall I take as a reward for the bet?