Chapter 362
Chapter Title: The Love Potion Fiasco
-----------------------------------------------------------------
What should have been a peaceful weekend morning.
The area around the sophomore dormitory was in an uproar over an unexpected disturbance.
The source of the commotion was none other than the rumor about a love potion that had spread throughout the entire second year yesterday.
Of course, when they first heard it, every student had scoffed.
“A love potion? As if something like that exists.”
“Are they really spreading such nonsense now?”
The magic department students, in particular, reacted as if it were utterly absurd.
A potion was the work of alchemy.
And the history of alchemy was synonymous with the history of magic.
For ages, countless mages had dedicated themselves to alchemy.
Among them were many who had attempted to create a ‘love potion’ capable of winning a person’s heart.
Yet, none had ever succeeded.
However, the story that followed was enough to stir up the entire student body.
“I heard Karl made it using a recipe from an alchemy book he got as a reward from Lord Dweno’s world.”
“A recipe formulated by Lord Dweno?”
“For real…?”
It wasn't just anyone—it was Dweno.
The legendary Great Hero who had crafted countless divine artifacts and ultimately left behind the weapon that would vanquish the primordial calamity.
Even with the claim that it was made from a recipe in Dweno’s alchemy book, most still reacted with disbelief.
“Even so, I doubt Lord Dweno’s alchemy book would contain something like that.”
Chloe, a magic tome tucked under her arm since early morning, shook her head as she spoke. Walking beside her, Celia nodded in agreement.
“I think so too. I mean, the Divine Blacksmith making a love potion? It’s just weird, isn’t it?”
The two close friends had planned to go out to Lumeria City for the weekend.
They were happily chatting as they were about to leave the dormitory area.
“Where did he go!”
“He couldn’t have gone far! Find him!”
Excited voices echoed from a distance.
Turning their heads, they saw female students from the Noble class, their eyes blazing, searching for something.
Celia and Chloe exchanged glances.
Then they called out to a female student who had been in their class during their first year as she happened to pass by.
“What are you all looking for?”
“We’re looking for Karl!”
The girl answered before hurriedly running off to continue the search.
Watching her go, Celia wore a peculiar expression.
‘All these girls are looking for Karl?’
There was only one reason why the Noble students would be searching for Karl with such intensity.
‘The love potion.’
She had dismissed it as nonsense, but with so many people looking for him, a sliver of doubt crept in.
Just as Chloe was also making a bewildered face, a conversation drifted over.
“Hey, if you got your hands on the love potion, who would you give it to?”
“Why are you asking that!?”
“I’m curious! You want the love potion because there’s someone you want to go on a date with, right?”
Three female students walked past Celia and Chloe, chattering away.
They giggled, walking and talking cheerfully.
“I’d… probably pick Duran?”
“I knew it was Duran!”
“Yeah. I don’t know, there’s something cool about his arrogance! What about you?”
“I’d choose Abad! Just looking at him makes my heart flutter!”
Hearing this, Celia’s face twisted in disbelief.
“Are those girls blind? What’s so great about that self-centered brute and that cheesy flirt?”
While Celia looked on, unable to comprehend, the girls who had chosen Abad and Duran turned sharply to the remaining friend.
“What about you?”
“Me… maybe Leo? I don’t know. He still looks like a pretty boy on the outside, but he’s so mature. Manly, too.”
The girl spoke shyly, a bashful smile on her face.
Hearing her, Celia nodded.
“He does have that side to him. Right, Chloe?”
Celia turned to Chloe and flinched.
All expression had vanished from Chloe’s face.
“Ch-Chloe?”
With a face as cold as ice, Chloe was the very picture of an ice queen.
“Celia, I’m sorry, but let’s postpone our outing today.”
“What?”
“As a student of the magic department, I don’t think I can let this slide.”
“Ah, okay. Should I help?”
“Would you?”
Chloe smiled faintly.
“I’m going to catch Karl and make sure he never makes anything strange like this again.”
***
*Rustle—*
Hiding in the bushes, Karl gave a mournful laugh.
‘What kind of disaster is this, first thing in the morning?’
To be fervently pursued by the girls of his year.
Of course, the reason was the love potion he’d made, but still, an experience like this might only happen once in a lifetime.
That didn’t mean he had any intention of being caught peacefully, though.
If he was captured, they would undoubtedly confiscate the love potion.
‘Should I just throw it away? No, it’s too valuable for that.’
How much money had he poured into making this love potion?
‘I have to get my money’s worth somehow.’
His cost-benefit analysis was swift.
‘If I can just find Leo and ask for help…’
“Karl, what are you doing here?”
“Gah?”
Karl was about to jump out of his skin at the voice from beside him.
“Ah! I found him!”
“He’s over there!”
“You gave me away!”
Karl shouted as he began to flee.
“Stop right there! By order of the student council, I’m arresting you for possession of an illegal substance!”
Iliana, her eyes blazing, joined the chase.
Before long, even male students were among those pursuing Karl.
Some wanted the love potion for themselves, while others, anxious that their secret crushes might be forced to drink it, were trying to stop him.
For various reasons, the entire student body was now hunting Karl with feverish intensity.
Naturally, Karl, the weakest of the second years, was quickly cornered.
“Hey! Calm down! You’ll all be in huge trouble if a professor catches you!”
Karl yelled desperately at the students.
‘Wait! Why isn’t the professor on duty doing anything about this commotion… Hold on. Professor Ren is on duty today, isn’t he?’
Karl, who had hoped a professor would intervene, felt his face stiffen as he remembered who was on duty.
Ren was the type of person who would view this situation as nothing more than an interesting magical experiment.
The murderous glares of his second-year classmates were fixed on him.
Just as Karl swallowed dryly, a sudden event occurred.
*Whoosh—!*
A fierce gust of wind erupted.
*Fwip—! Thwack—!*
“Gak?!”
A whip flew out of nowhere and coiled around Karl’s neck.
With it, an immense force seized him and yanked him high into the sky.
By the time Karl came to his senses, he was flying high above Lumerne on the back of a Wind Wyvern.
“I’m… I’m saved!”
At Karl’s cry, Eliza, who was sitting on the wyvern’s back with her legs crossed while filing her nails, glanced at him.
“Because of that pathetic potion of yours, it’s been so noisy since morning that I couldn’t sleep.”
Eliza snapped at Karl, her voice laced with irritation.
Looking at her, Karl replied.
“Sorry. I didn’t think it would get this big. Anyway, thanks for saving me.”
Karl let out a sigh of relief.
‘Honestly, with Eliza, I should be safe.’
It was hard to imagine the proud and haughty Eliza coveting a love potion to use on a male student.
“A love potion, you say. If I use this, that arrogant Leo Flove will worship me, right? Sounds interesting.”
“It’s not a slave-making potion, you know. And since when is Leo arrogant? You’re the arrogant one.”
“Hmph.”
Eliza scoffed at Karl’s remark.
Then, the corners of her mouth curled up.
“I’ll need a test subject.”
As Eliza’s eyes narrowed and settled on him, Karl forced an awkward smile.
“Hey, no way, right? You’re not going to use it on me?”
“You should consider it an honor to be able to serve me.”
“I don’t need that kind of honor!”
Just as Karl reeled in horror, a sound rang out.
*Craaack—!*
The sharp sound of ice filled the air.
The Wind Wyvern opened its mouth and unleashed its breath.
*Fwoom—! Shatter—!*
A highly compressed blast of air breath shattered the massive ice spikes to pieces.
“Chloe Müller.”
“Chloe! You came to save me!”
Eliza’s lips curled into a smirk, while Karl, his face filled with emotion, waved his arms and welcomed Chloe enthusiastically.
“Karl.”
“Huh?”
“Didn’t I tell you before that I wouldn’t forgive you if you broke the school rules by making something strange?”
“Hey! W-wait a minute!”
As Karl panicked at Chloe’s murderous aura, another voice cut in.
“Sorry, but Karl Thomas has already agreed to present the love potion to me.”
“I did no such thing! Can you not say it like some thug demanding their regular cut?!”
“I’ll teach you a harsh lesson so you never misuse Lord Dweno’s alchemy book again!”
*Craaack—!*
Chloe activated her magic, intending to turn Karl into a human popsicle.
*Boom—!*
“Hah?!”
“A Glory dorm president laying a hand on a Noble student. Are you prepared for the consequences, Chloe Müller?”
Eliza flashed a belligerent smile.
“I’ll repay the debt from the mid-term exams right now.”
“Everyone, just calm down!”
Karl let out a scream.
*Whoosh—!*
A powerful gust of wind blew between Chloe and Eliza.
The gale snatched Karl from the Wind Wyvern’s back, pulling him into the air.
Seeing this, Eliza’s eyes twitched.
“Peep. After him.”
At Eliza’s command, the Wind Wyvern was about to pursue Karl.
*Craaack—!*
“You’re the one who started this fight.”
Chloe said with a cold smile.
“Hmph.”
Eliza rested her chin on her hand.
“This should be fun.”
Eliza, too, fully shifted into a combat stance.
*Kra-ga-ga-gang!*
Magic and spiritual power raged in the air.
“I knew you’d cause trouble someday.”
Chelsea, holding Karl by the scruff of his neck, said in a weary voice.
“Chelsea! You’re really here to save me, right?!”
“Yeah. Just hurry up and dispose of that pathetic potion or hand it over to the student council.”
Watching Chelsea speak in a nonchalant tone, Karl looked puzzled.
“Aren’t you tempted?”
“I am.”
Chelsea smiled faintly.
“But I’ve resolved to win him over with my own strength. A fleeting sweet dream might not be bad, but relying on some other power would make it feel worthless.”
“You’re the youngest, but you act the most mature.”
Karl let out a hollow laugh and pulled a potion bottle from his pocket.
The golden liquid inside glowed.
“I was hoping to gain fame with this potion and make a fortune… but this is Lord Dweno’s skill, not mine.”
Karl smiled bitterly.
“I’ll just get rid of it.”
“Good thinking.”
They had nearly reached the ground.
Just as Chelsea smiled, a strong wind blew.
*Whoosh—!*
“Oops, I dropped it.”
“…You idiot! How could you just drop it like that?!”
***
“A love potion?”
Behind the Glory dormitory.
Leo, having just finished his morning training, wore a look of disbelief.
“Yeah, they say it’s a potion from Lord Dweno’s alchemy book.”
Celia, who had come to tell Leo about the morning’s commotion, nodded.
“Young Master Leo, here’s some water.”
Chen Xia, who had been training with him, smiled and handed Leo a cup of water.
“Thanks.”
Leo took the cup and clicked his tongue.
‘Dweno, why did that perverted bastard leave a record of something so vulgar in his alchemy book?’
Just as Leo was thinking this with an exasperated expression, something happened.
*Whoosh—plop!*
With impeccable timing, a small potion bottle fell from the sky and landed right in Leo’s cup of water.
“What was that?”
“A potion bottle?”
Chen Xia and Celia’s eyes went wide.
A dreadful premonition dawning on him, Leo fished the bottle out of the cup, uncorked it, and brought it to his nose for a sniff.
“Hey! Leo! Don’t drink that!”
“Leo! Throw it away, quick!”
The urgent voices of Chelsea and Karl drifted down from above.
Chloe and Eliza, who had been fighting relentlessly in the sky, had also descended close to the ground and witnessed the scene.
Celia and Chen Xia’s eyes widened in shock.
Then, they widened even further in horror at what Leo did next.
He smirked and tossed the love potion into his mouth.