Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: The Alchemy Order and First Mission (2)
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Chloe sat in the seat next to Count Julian. She peeked her eyes out from behind her fan and observed Count Julian.
Professor Elmaier spoke up.
"Then let's see. This is a concept you must thoroughly master through the first-year basic alchemy course. The illustrious alchemist and father of alchemy, Paracelsus, proposed the Four Elements Theory. Can you explain it, Count Julian?"
The Four Elements Theory. It was the most foundational root of the theory shared by alchemists and magic orders alike.
The basic four elements: water, fire, earth, air. The correlations between those four elements and the mana that interacted with them.
And memorizing the essence of each element along with its transmuted forms was basic for any alchemist.
But there was no way that Count Julian knew anything about the Four Elements Theory.
'As Professor Elmaier said, Count Julian isn't an alchemist. He's never attended our Alchemy Order lectures.'
Well, not entirely never.
He had shown up for the first few lectures after first-year enrollment. The first year featured common basic lectures across the six orders, not advanced ones. So students from other orders had joined the alchemy lectures for general education purposes.
'But those were just child's play—making toys with mana and simple elemental materials. Nothing difficult about it.'
Plus, first-year alchemy was especially popular among noble scions.
The Alchemy Order drew a lot of high noble children, which naturally meant plenty of noble ladies as well. It was the kind of thing that could catch the eye of a wastrel like Julian.
So he'd popped in a few times for lectures. But there was no way that scoundrel had paid attention to the dry alchemy theory.
He was always late to class, of course, and snored loud enough to wake the dead while sleeping through lectures. He even brought his own blanket because the seats were uncomfortable.
When he happened to be awake, his antics were even worse. He'd spread out food at the back of the classroom and eat a full meal.
Eventually, the Alchemy Order professor had no choice but to call him out during a lecture. Julian responded with outrageous fury.
'Alchemy is nothing more than a sleeping pill! And you're putting on airs? Can't believe there's a whole order dedicated to this garbage lecture. You're living off easy pay! I'll petition the chancellor to abolish this nonsense. You're fired!'
The professor at the time was noble-born, but not high-ranking enough to stand up to a count's tantrum.
And Julian had actually gone to the chancellor to try to get him sacked.
But Chancellor Sophia was a woman of common sense. She gave Julian a mild scolding but didn't fire the professor.
Frustrated that things hadn't gone his way, the count stopped showing up for alchemy lectures altogether. Chloe had rated him bottom-tier back then. No, trash-tier.
'Even with that status, he had zero utility.'
He could have at least kept a foot in the door for networking with capital noble scions. But then, someone with that level of intellect wouldn't have been a wastrel in the first place.
Lost in those thoughts for a moment, Chloe realized Count Julian had finished his answer.
"... That concludes the basic concepts and overview of the Four Elements Theory."
"An excellent answer. Not particularly difficult material, but you have a solid grasp of the orthodox principles."
At that moment, Chloe doubted her own ears. Had that count actually answered the professor's question properly?
"Mastering basic concepts perfectly is often the hardest part of theory. You especially nailed the earth element attributes. I'm looking forward to seeing more."
And not only that—the notoriously picky Professor Elmaier was praising Julian's response.
'Professor Elmaier comes from a high noble background. No reason for him to flatter a count like that. What's going on?'
She'd been lost in thought and missed the actual answer, but it had clearly satisfied Elmaier.
The man, who always wore a prickly expression, was smiling, of all things.
And the professor added one more thing.
"Everyone, review the concepts that Count Julian just neatly summarized. It's essential groundwork before we dive into second-year advanced lectures. With that, Count, please take your seat."
The other cadets seemed to share Chloe's shock.
"Professor Elmaier didn't nitpick even once. What happened? He'd usually call out the tiniest terminology slip."
"You got reamed by him a few times last year too, Chloe."
"I had no idea Count Julian knew alchemy that well. He looks kinda cool answering so calmly. Oh, and now that I look again, he's handsome too."
The noble ladies listening to the lecture chimed in as well.
'What on earth is happening?'
Chloe, too, struggled to adjust to this completely transformed count, so different from his first-year self.
The alchemy lecture was as dull as most theory sessions. But with my Alchemist trait active, the knowledge seemed to double as I absorbed it, making it well worth enduring.
I even got a modest reward like that. Answering the professor was no challenge anyway. With the trait active, alchemy concepts organized themselves in my mind like a textbook.
I might have struggled with advanced theory, but the basics were no problem.
'Eirin said that professor's pretty demanding. Looks like I made a good impression—lucky.'
Above all, mastering Professor Elmaier's specialty in alchemy theory was nothing but beneficial. No, it was essential for future monster subjugations.
Elmaier was an authority on material transmutation theory involving the 'earth' element attributes.
It sounded complicated, but it was simple: using mana and alchemy to instantly reshape earth and rock materials.
'If I team up with a skilled transmuter, it'll expand the knights' combat options. Knights can't fly on their own, but alchemy changes that.'
A proficient alchemist could alter terrain on the fly with instant alchemy.
Considering how battles against massive beasts or flying monsters limited knights' options, properly learning Elmaier's theory added a powerful new tactic.
The tedious theory lecture was nearing its end.
"With that, today's lesson on rock-based material form and area transmutation. Let's have a few cadets come up and demonstrate. First, our cadet representative, Chloe. And..."
Professor Elmaier pointed at me.
"Count Julian, who gave such a fine answer before class started. You two, come forward."
At the professor's words, Chloe and I stood side by side in the open space below the lecture hall, between the demonstration blackboard and the front row seats.
The classroom was fairly large, apparently used for live alchemy demos.
"Normally, graduate assistants would demonstrate, but we have some intriguing cadets in this class, so let's have you try it yourselves."
Chloe, as representative, was expected. And my earlier answer must have piqued Elmaier's interest.
The professor placed a stone in the space between us. A melon-sized rock, too small to call a boulder—your everyday pebble.
Chloe and I faced each other with the stone between us, aligned straight down the line.
"Today's core theory was transmuting rock-series materials. We haven't advanced far in the curriculum, so I won't demand anything too complex from you two."
Instead, Professor Elmaier emphasized:
"However, alchemy only truly comes alive atop a foundation of mana. You didn't slack on mana operation practice over break, I trust? With today's theory and your mana, you should be able to reshape this stone into something impressive."
In other words, transmute half the stone each, right there on the floor—a stone tug-of-war. The results would stick together, perfect for comparing skill.
"Theory-wise, our representative Chloe has the edge. But no amount of theory compensates for poor-quality mana or sloppy control—true results demand both. This grows even more critical as alchemy advances."
Professor Elmaier wrapped up.
"You get the point. Begin transmuting your respective halves of the stone."
Chloe's eyes lit up with keen interest. She was no slouch in mana operation, only in theory.
Indeed, at the entrance ceremony duel in the coliseum, she'd relentlessly bombarded Rosette with alchemy.
She'd lost to Rosette, but holding out that long against her would tax most priests.
In short, Chloe's mana reserves were nothing to sneeze at.
She wore a confident smile, snapped her fan shut, and pointed it at the stone.
"Shall we begin, Count Julian?"
The fan was no ordinary accessory—a magic tool, no doubt. I nodded at her confident declaration.
A few days passed.
Friday. Chloe arrived at the provisional platoon headquarters next to the grand training grounds.
She was there to receive the weekend provisional platoon mission.
"You're late, Chloe. Making someone of higher standing wait? No trace of high noble etiquette. Utterly pathetic."
And there, in the spacious lounge of the platoon HQ, Count Julian was already seated.
'You got here early yourself—what's with the complaints?'
They'd agreed to meet at 2 p.m., and wary of catching flak, Chloe had arrived fifteen minutes early. Yet the count had beaten her there.
"For someone like me, you should arrive thirty minutes early out of courtesy. What a lowborn woman with no basic refinement."
Chloe hurriedly hid her face behind her fan. She'd nearly lost control of her expression to his mockery again. But she bowed ninety degrees in formal greeting.
'Damn it. No helping it.'
Status-wise, she was at a severe disadvantage. She'd tried to take the lead on the provisional platoon mission by digging a trap at the banquet, but it had backfired spectacularly.
And there was another reason she wilted before him.
During Professor Elmaier's lecture a few days prior, even their stone-transmutation duel—with the rock between them—ended in Chloe's utter defeat.
'I've never seen anyone pour out mana so monstrously.'
Their duel began the moment Chloe spoke.
With the stone between them, their mana delicately intertwined. Transmutation started from each side, nearest their position.
Mana directly intervened in the stone's microstructure. Sparks of magic flared on the surface as volume and shape slowly shifted.
Circuits manifested in the material due to mana interference, then more mana poured in to maximize the transmutation. That was alchemy.
"Wh-what is that?!"
But the results of their alchemy were worlds apart. The classroom erupted in commotion. On Chloe's side of the boundary line, no trace of the stone remained.
On the count's side, however, stood a massive stone golem no one could have anticipated.
Even Professor Elmaier gaped in shock. Anyone could see it was Chloe's total loss.
"What are you standing around for? Hurry up and get the mission briefing."
The count, who'd pulled off that astonishing feat days ago, now spoke to her so casually.
Her blood boiled, but Chloe forced a smile.
"You're right. Since it's your first provisional platoon mission, Count, I'll take the lead."
"Obviously. Get on with the guiding."
Every word from him grated on her. But Chloe held her tongue. This Julian—this man who'd humiliated her twice now.
Her inner assessment of the count was shifting. Curiosity stirred.
'He's not the old wastrel. No idea why he's changed, but still...'
Considering his background, a truly reformed count's value could be beyond imagination.
She'd always lusted fiercely after anything of worth. That was Chloe.
So now, it was time to prove her own superiority and value over him in this provisional platoon mission.
Chloe was utterly confident.