MTLNOVEL Chapter 61
“…Therefore, students, I urge you to strive even harder and dedicate yourselves to your studies…”
Before me, the headmaster of the academy we were about to enroll in was delivering the entrance speech.
He was an elderly man with a gentle demeanor, dressed in a black hat and black robe, his long white beard adding to his distinguished appearance.
“…Yaaawn.”
As with any era, a headmaster’s speech tended to be long. Unable to move and feeling increasingly drowsy, I struggled to stay awake.
“Hey, Erik!”
Noticing my predicament, Roberto, sitting beside me, called out.
Since there was a party after the entrance ceremony, he was dressed in a sharp tuxedo, his hair slicked back.
“Sorry, I haven’t had much sleep.”
Lately, I had been busy with various things, leading to my lack of rest.
“I told you that you should sleep more, didn’t I?”
Eve chimed in, teasing me.
She was right, of course. But once I started researching materials for potion-making, my curiosity got the better of me, and I found myself unable to stop.
At the moment, my current level of Alchemy couldn’t be tested properly due to a lack of proper equipment. However, now that I was entering the academy, that problem would be solved.
After all, the academy had every conceivable facility, all of which were available for students to use free of charge.
Excited at the prospect of testing my Alchemy, I had ended up engrossed in reading books late into the night.
“Hehe, I understand how you feel. I was so excited about finally attending the academy that I couldn’t sleep either.”
Sitting on my other side, Angelica smiled at me as she spoke.
She wore an elegant orange dress with a daringly open neckline, a pearl necklace around her neck, and sapphire earrings adorning her ears. Her beautifully styled hair was swept up, revealing the nape of her neck.
I had always thought she was beautiful, but now, dressed up and with makeup applied, she looked every bit the princess of a grand kingdom.
The other students had also prepared their finest outfits for this grand occasion, but the two sitting beside me shone even more brilliantly than the rest.
Casually, I glanced behind me.
Unlike the extravagant attire surrounding me, the students seated there wore the academy’s modest uniforms. They were the commoner students.
Originally, I should have been sitting among them, but the day before, Roberto had called me over for a fitting.
Apparently, noble and commoner students would attend separate parties, and both Roberto and Angelica insisted that they wanted me to sit on the noble side with them.
The same applied to our seating at the ceremony.
Sitting in the front required a significant donation to the academy.
When I heard the cost of both the attire and the seating, I nearly jumped in shock and tried to pay for it myself, but…
“Consider it thanks for helping me move.”
“And for the vegetables you shared with me.”
No matter how much I insisted on paying, they wouldn’t hear of it.
In the end, I relented and thanked them, at which point they both shyly scratched their cheeks in response.
“Well, I’m going to step out for a bit.”
After the entrance ceremony, we had some time to kill before the party. We waited idly in the waiting room, where Roberto, seemingly spotting an acquaintance, wandered off on his own.
“Phew… Finally, I’m free from all that formality.”
Angelica stretched her body, looking relieved, her attire making it difficult for me to decide where to rest my gaze.
“Angelica!”
A woman’s voice suddenly called from the entrance.
“M-Mother?! Why are you here?!”
Angelica, visibly flustered, rushed over to the woman.
“Are you feeling well enough to be here?”
Now that I looked closely, the woman had pale white skin.
She had covered it with makeup, but she still seemed unwell.
“Of course, I had to be here for your special day.”
“Th-Thank you… so much.”
Angelica’s shoulders trembled as she responded to her mother’s words.
“By the way, Angelica, who is this gentleman?”
Her mother turned her gaze toward me.
“This is Erik. During the academy entrance exam, he saved both Roberto’s and my life.”
“Oh my… My, my…”
Her mother, eyes sparkling with curiosity, approached me.
“I sincerely thank you for saving my daughter’s life. When she insisted on attending the academy despite everyone’s objections, I thought I would die of worry, but thanks to you, I can see her safe and sound today.”
“No, if anything, I’m the one who’s always receiving Angelica’s kindness. Even today, she arranged such fine attire for me and has been looking out for me. Without her, I would have felt completely out of place here.”
“Oh my, calling her by her first name already… Could it be? Erik, please take care of my daughter.”
She excitedly grasped my hands.
“M-Mother! Stop embarrassing me! Please, just go already!”
Her usual composed demeanor vanished, her face turning bright red as she pushed her mother out of the room.
“Ugh… That was so embarrassing…”
Once her mother had left, Angelica covered her face with both hands in embarrassment.
“She’s a wonderful mother. It’s really touching that she came all this way to see you on your special day.”
“D-Do you really think so?”
She lifted her gaze at my words. Her eyes were slightly misty, and there was a hint of sadness in her expression.
“By the way, is your mother unwell?”
Hearing my question, Angelica took a deep breath, then turned to face me with a serious expression.
“I suppose I should tell you, Erik.”
Seeing her expression, I prepared myself to listen.
“My mother has a rare disease. Her health is failing. Right now, she survives by drinking stamina potions made by the state alchemists, but… their effectiveness is gradually diminishing.”
“So, they’re no longer keeping up?”
The process of potion-making was fundamentally the same whether done by a beginner or an expert: crush the ingredients and extract the liquid.
What made the difference was the amount of magical energy infused into the potion.
After the ingredients were extracted, a potion could be infused with magic. The quantity and quality of the magic infused determined its potency.
High-ranking alchemists had superior magic infusion techniques and greater magical reserves.
By efficiently blending potent magic into their potions, they could create brews with extraordinary healing capabilities.
“For now, the potions are still effective, but one day, they won’t be enough…”
Like a cracked bottle, her strength would inevitably drain away until…
“That is why I came to the academy. I will learn, conquer dungeons, and one day create the ultimate elixir—Elixir—to save my mother.”
The legendary Elixir—a potion from fairy tales said to cure any disease instantly.
And its recipe was real. The ingredients, however, were incredibly rare. Angelica intended to become an adventurer herself to gather them.
“I will never give up. I will hone my skills, collect the materials, and one day, I will save my mother.”
I watched silently as Angelica’s determination burned within her eyes.