Thermos Treasures and Scalding Revenge
"Ugh, what do those cheaters have to brag about?"
"Apologize before I tell Professor Karnaroph!"
"S-sorry…"
"You got that wrong."
Now their motivation was completely crushed. Heck, this incident might even turn them into diligent students!
If diligent students multiply, I won't be able to cut corners anymore!
I glanced at Robert. Did he want to get wrecked again, Mr. Robert? Keep this up for a few more weeks?
"Hahaha…"
Whatever. If the board's flipped, just scrap it.
I pulled out my staff from the Inventory.
"Casting…"
One thing I'd learned while doing homework.
"Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet."
Once you cast the magic circle, chanting just the next verse fires the attack. Sure, the power drops a bit, but mana covers it.
"Dismiss."
"Gahhh! Cha-seok's gone insane!!!"
"Ruuun awaaaay!!!"
It's minimum power, so it'll just sting if it hits, you idiots.
Watching the students flee in panic, I said to Aris,
"Sigh. Let's go grab some food."
They can suffer a bit more. It's not like they're useless.
"Hmm. Must be embarrassed. Not used to this kind of fame, huh."
Robert interpreted my sudden action however he wanted.
"Oh, right."
"Here, Aris, Robert. I bought these, but no one else to give 'em to."
I didn't want to give one to Karnaroph. If I hadn't gotten bombed with homework, maybe.
What I pulled from the Inventory were thermoses. Pretty high-end ones, too—the fanciest from the big mart.
Aris was thrilled without even knowing what they were.
"Wow! Thank you!"
"Hot tea inside, so be careful."
I handed over a silver thermos each. These were the only guys I could call friends here, anyway. Aris had made friends running around everywhere, but I had no reason to.
So, only these two got gifts. One was kinda iffy as a "friend," though.
"Hmph. I don't usually accept commoner gifts, but I'll make an exception."
"Does it kill you to give an unexpected answer?"
"What does that mean?"
Spouting that without realizing. Scary on one hand.
I pulled out one more thermos and explained roughly.
"Press here to open, sip from the rim. Clean with water and detergent… Do they even have detergent here?"
"Hmm. Interesting bottle design. Lid makes it easy to carry."
Robert unscrewed the lid and said. It was the type where pressing the nozzle after unlocking pops open the hinge.
"Pretty intricate… and no leaks? Whose workshop made this? You've got some curious stuff."
Factory-made, dummy. If you insist on the maker, Choi Il Industries Co.
"The tea inside is rare, too."
Green tea. Kinda rare here.
"Costs a whole 5,000 won per box at the mart."
"…5,000 won! Such a huge number!"
Aris was shocked. Time to stop teasing. She was genuinely amazed.
Still, 5,000 won for 10 teabags was decent stuff.
"Hmm. Definitely an unusual aroma."
"Hot, hot…! Never had tea like this…! Smells amazing, though! So that's what you brewed this morning!"
Aris sipped and said.
"Yumia, you're amazing!"
"This could sell. Pretty good. Too hot—I'll drink later."
"Don't overdo it, or you won't sleep at night."
"…Awakening effect too? Not bad."
"Could be military rations! Yumia's food has so many wonders!"
Hmm. Better reaction than expected. Maybe import coffee later? I'd seen awakening candy at the school market before. Tasted awful but necessary. Probably popular with profs who pull all-nighters.
"Not especially grateful, but next time, I'll consider your convenience more."
Robert said tsundere-style and left.
Didn't even ask how to use it. Now's the time to tell.
"Oh, and this bottle has a special feature."
"Huh? Besides no leaks and the lid opening like this?"
Aris looked intrigued.
"Yeah. Put drinks or water in, and it'll stay hot for over two days."
"…Whaaat!? For real!?"
"That big a deal?"
"Of course! This kinda magic tool costs gold at least! I can't accept it!"
Aris shook her head wildly, trying to hand back the thermos. Suddenly, my thermos became an insanely expensive magic tool.
I pushed it back.
"No, it's not a magic tool."
"Still expensive, right!?"
"Nah? Cheaper than one school meal. Just take it. Think of it as a friend gift."
Aris didn't seem convinced but accepted.
"Umm… Okay. Don't know where you get these, but I'll treasure it."
Just toss it if it breaks.
Then, a voice from behind. Beautiful, like a harp.
"Got something interesting. Mind if I see?"
Blue eyes, wavy water-blue hair. Potion professor, Isabelle.
"P-professor!?"
"Oh, been a while."
Isabelle had taught me magic and given mana potions. Unlike Karnaroph, a good person.
"Heading back after submitting homework?"
"Uh? Yeah."
"Yep."
"Form 1, huh. Karnaroph fusses a lot when he's in charge of a grade."
"Huh."
"Especially bombs for the top student and you. Normally doesn't assign mana bottle attributes like this…"
"This is a lot, right?"
Yep. Homework was heavy. More with magic circle practice problems.
"Usually, no one but me gets as much as you."
"What?"
Betrayed. But there was a reason.
"I assign a ton to make 'em grow a ton! Don't expect everyone to finish, though!"
Was Karnaroph doing the same? And I'd finished it all?
"But kids who do it all sometimes get perfect scores on exams."
"Those kids…"
"Hmm? Some are in my lab? Better than most magic towers. Especially this era with me and Karnaroph."
Chills down my spine for some reason.
Isabelle turned her deep blue eyes to me. Scanned me, then gaped in admiration.
"Whoa, your mana grew a lot? Gave you that potion on purpose 'cause yours was so low. Hope it helped."
"Helped a ton."
Really did. Floor 1 was easy, but no mana meant melee. No speedrun then.
Come to think, speedrun reward was Inventory. Isabelle was its mom, sorta.
"Then, can I have one of those bottles? Personally curious."
"Of course, gotta give it."
I was gonna hunt her down to give one. Handed over the demo one—brand new, fine.
Her eyes sparkled.
"Oho. Super unique structure. Complex… and materials I don't know."
Saw mana flare—must've cast magic. Profs chant wandless. Chantless is advanced.
"This blocks heat entry?"
"Figured it out fast?"
"We have similar. Use mana-infused insulators for perfect seal, though."
"Then you don't need it."
"Not quite—those are crazy expensive. Not portable. Wanted one like this. I'll use it well?"
Isabelle checked her potion bag and handed some over. Five bottles.
"Can't just take this. Here. Pretty valuable."
Bluer and smaller than last time.
"Your capacity's not huge, so no higher than mid-low grade."
She touched my solar plexus, drew a small circle. Tiny even compared to my body.
"Now it's this big, so you can handle mid-low. No more than three a day."
"What if more than three?"
"It's doping too… heart strain? Might burst?"
"Won't drink extra."
"Three's nothing, don't worry."
"Cool."
She rummaged her bag.
"Hmm… nothing else to give. Used all elixirs this time…"
Looked bummed she couldn't give more.
"Don't carry cash, so couldn't give much allowance last time. Good you're earning on your own."
"None now."
"Whatever, you'll have ways to earn soon."
"Huh?"
Money? Moneeey??
"You know potion class starts this Friday?"
"Yep."
Potions need herb knowledge first, so starts weeks after herbology.
Isabelle said cheerfully.
"Potions made in class can sell at school market!"
"Huh?"
"Some kids do day labor till then, earn a bit coming in."
"Then earn with potions. Skills up, two birds one stone."
Whaaat…! Potions for rice money!?
"Only if well-made and pass inspection, of course."
Isabelle pondered, maybe doubting I'd pass.
"But with your talent, you'll nail it right away! Better if you sense natural mana!"
Natural mana, whatever.
Confident, though. Thought of Silla's beans from east forest. Gotta practice growing.
True rice money starts with effort.
"Hot! Meeting's late! Do your best!!!"
Isabelle checked her watch and dashed off.
We headed to dorm too. No classes but Karnaroph's repair later. Sleep after.
"By the way, giving gifts to friends outta nowhere?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. He's a friend, sorta."
"Sorta?"
Aris put up a question mark.
"Shouldn't you tell him how it works? Or the hot tea…"
"Huh? Why? He left without asking."
"What?"
My petty revenge. Enjoy it sweet.
"Hot, hoooot!!!"
A bit after repair class, Robert's scream echoed from A-Rank Dorm.
Got cocky, comrade. Thought it'd cooled by then?
"Uh, uh…"
Usage is body-slam it anyway.
Why tell? He'll figure it out.
Oh. Cooling function—better tell that. Hard to notice alone.
Then, a knock.
"Professor Karnaroph wants you."