Chapter 19

Chapter 19

I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy.

Episode 19: Reward (1)

I looked at Hong Yu-hwa.

Hong Yu-hwa returned my gaze with a complex expression.

I sensed feelings of injustice, but above all, there was a strong sense of resignation.

“Is that alchemy something familiar to you? Did you learn it from a master?”

There was a master who was a renowned figure in the field of alchemy.

Because he always maintained that there was a fine line between poison and medicine, Hong Yu-hwa must have thought of him.

“No, I learned it on my own.”

“…You learned it on your own?”

Yes, I learned it by myself.

In the game, you could obtain recipes, but they always lacked one or two ingredients, so finding them was a struggle.

It wasn’t that there were no alchemists, but among the early community members, I was the only one.

That period was…

“About 5 years?”

“5 years? Just 5 years?”

Hong Yu-hwa’s eyebrows rose in disbelief. Yet soon she closed her eyes, and her expression softened.

She looked arrogant.

But her eyes burned with intensity.

“Just studied for 5 years? But the skill I saw earlier can’t be just 5 years’ worth?”

Professor Song Ra-hee posed the question, her tone filled with amazement.

The alchemy professor beside her simply twinkled her eyes at me.

Her gaze almost resembled that of someone who had stumbled upon treasure while walking on the road.

“Would you be interested in donating potions?”

“Donate?”

Here it comes.

The Korean Hero School had a special system.

“Let’s start with an explanation first.”

“Oh, you don’t know! Let me explain it to you. The donation system is for those who have exceptional talent in alchemy or blacksmithing. In short, the Korean Hero School provides unlimited materials, and the students provide a certain number of potions.”

Additionally, you would also receive a monthly stipend of 2 million won, and if you were interested in academia, you could work under a professor in the future.

“How about it? Want to try?”

Her smile was quite nauseating.

“I’ll think about it a bit.”

I played hard to get.

That should make them anxious.

“From what I see, Lee Seo-ha seems to have great potential in alchemy. I’d like to work with you…”

The alchemy professor said, slyly revealing a bit of her cleavage.

She was quite well-endowed.

An average student might have fallen for this, but I just offered a slight smile and said,

“Then, could you provide a separate room for my personal use?”

“A room for yourself?”

The alchemy professor hesitated for a moment.

I knew what this professor was up to.

She used graduate students like slaves, taking rare materials or recipes they discovered by pressuring them with her authority, or demanding recipes worth millions of won in exchange for a promotion to professor.

Her survival so far was due to her talent, but she had sided with a Mine after being tempted by their recipe.

And while pretending to be close friends, she schemed against Professor Song Ra-hee, whom she envied, truly fitting the mold of a villain.

‘She must be planning to covertly take my recipe.’

To her, moral integrity was like trash scattered on the roadside.

Given her character, she likely took the Shadow Snake’s scales I had given to her graduate student.

“Yes, I get distracted by the gaze of others, so I can’t concentrate.”

Upon hearing my words, Song Ra-hee’s expression grew odd. Her eyes seemed to say, ‘But you were just concocting potions in front of everyone.’

“Then I’ll speak to the school about it. Since Lee Seo-ha is an excellent student, you might be able to get a private room. And if you need specific materials, the school can provide them. Of course, nothing too expensive.”

“Thank you for that.”

The alchemy professor’s eyes sparkled.

“Have you considered becoming a graduate student? You would make a really good student, Lee Seo-ha.”

“No, thank you.”

“Oh, quite decisive.”

She really was crossing the line.

Indeed, her nature was indistinguishable from that of a true villain.

I checked my uniform in the mirror. I had taken off my usual hoodie and put on the school attire.

Black slacks, a white dress shirt, and a white sweater vest adorned me. The blue necktie stood out sharply.

‘Looking good.’

Even with the very slight, really minor customizations, I was satisfied with how I looked and stood.

-Not bad at all. And Master, your pants are folded at the back.

Heeding the advice of the Black Heavenly Demon Sword, I straightened out the end of my pants.

“Are you ready?”

It was the heavy voice of Instructor Seo Woo-ju.

I nodded, signaling my readiness.

“Not yet!”

“Just a moment…”

Ershil and Kim Ara were preoccupied with their hair for some reason.

They had one reason for their fussing.

They were about to meet the principal of the Korean Hero School.

Though she was the principal, her power rivaled that of the Overlord, making her presence rare at the school.

Mostly, she spent her time at a place called ‘The Boundary,’ defending against monsters and Mine’s invasions.

“How much is the prize money?”

Kim Ara inquired, still adjusting her hair.

Coming from a wealthy background, she had brought enough artifacts and jewelry to live comfortably away from the Overlord’s influence.

“The prize is ten million won each. And the students also receive one item for use at school.”

“What kind of item?”

“About a Grade C item. It’s okay to sell it externally. Since items made by the Vice Principal command a premium, if you decide to sell, make sure it fetches a high price.”

“Is it okay to suggest that?”

“Don’t worry, it’s in line with the principal’s philosophy. It’s mainly for students with family debts. Poverty gnaws at the soul. But remember, being born poor isn’t a crime.”

However, Instructor Seo Woo-ju added a word of caution.

“But if you squander that money on frivolities and your grades suffer, or if you commit a crime, then you’ll see just how frightening the principal can be.”

“Then I have nothing to worry about~.”

Ershil said brightly, smiling. At Ershil’s lightheartedness, Instructor Seo Woo-ju chuckled and said,

“And hurry up, you two. If you’re too late, you never know where the principal might go.”

“Gasp, I’m ready~.”

“Me too!”

Ershil and Kim Ara burst out. Ershil added more volume to her hair, and Kim Ara moved her bangs aside and pinned them.

“Oh, Kim Ara, you look really pretty~. I thought you were beautiful even with your hair covering your face.”

“You look pretty too.”

“Ahem. Then let’s go.”

With a fake cough, Instructor Seo Woo-ju interrupted the women’s chatter and stepped forward. We followed him.

“But is it okay for me to receive this?”

“Right. Lee Seo-ha did it all.”

“Just call me Seo-ha comfortably. I couldn’t have caught it without you guys.”

Hearing my words, Kim Ara and Ershil made odd expressions.

“In Eastern culture, humility and modesty are virtues, but it’s funny how too much humility can appear arrogant.”

“Ahem.”

They clearly didn’t believe me.

Well, the power of Black Energy was beyond imagination.

“We’ve arrived.”

Instructor Seo Woo-ju stopped in front of a grand and large door.

Although his nickname was Iron Lion due to his always firm and cold behavior… right now, he was looking extremely nervous.

“Don’t be too nervous, everyone. Our great and benevolent principal is kind, unless you are a Mine or villain.”

Instructor Seo Woo-ju spoke with a trembling voice.

He seemed to be the most nervous one.

Creak.

As Instructor Seo Woo-ju took another step, the door opened by itself.

Inside, a woman sat cross-legged on a chair.

Her hair shone with a brilliant golden hue. Her violet eyes seemed to see through everything.

She wore a black suit with a pure white coat over it.

A supreme being whose strength doesn’t fade even in the power-inflated universe of Epic World, one of the strongest beings in existence.

Seo Ye-bin.

This absolute being looked at us with her chin propped on her hand.

“Instructor Seo Woo-ju and students Lee Seo-ha, Ershil Merchen, Kim Ara, greetings to you.”

Instructor Seo Woo-ju greeted her nervously. We also bowed our heads.

Lifting our heads, we met Seo Ye-bin’s violet eyes. It felt as though something non-human was seeing through me.

“Interesting.”

She said with a slight smile. Instructor Seo Woo-ju flinched.

“I was just going to give out some ordinary things, but I changed my mind. Instructor Seo Woo-ju, call the Vice Principal.”

“You want me to call the Vice Principal?”

“Yes.”

As Seo Ye-bin spoke, Instructor Seo Woo-ju nodded and started to walk away quickly.

“The Overlord’s child, right?”

Seo Ye-bin looked at Kim Ara.

“I can already see the potential. The Overlord didn’t awaken his lineage at your age. You might surpass the Overlord in less than ten years.”

“Th-thank you.”

At her words, Ershil’s eyes widened.

“And you… you probably don’t need any advice.”

“…You can see?”

Ershil spoke with a firm voice. It seemed like an out-of-place question, but she was probably referring to the soul residing in her.

The transcendental being who ruled a world for a thousand years.

“A woman of my caliber can’t miss it. And don’t trust it too much. Originally, a soul looks for a ‘vessel’ to fulfill an unachieved ‘wish’. If you think you can’t fulfill that wish, being consumed is common.”

“…I am aware.”

Seo Ye-bin subtly hinted at the risk inherent in Melanie, the transcendental being, taking over her body.

“And…”

Her violet eyes turned towards me.

“You are really interesting.”

Her eyes formed a crescent shape.