Chapter 21
Chapter 42: The Alchemy Club
The final bell of the day echoed across the Academy.
Most students headed back to their dormitories.
Others rushed toward the various clubs.
Sword Club.
Magic Club.
Blacksmith Club.
Beast Research Club.
Alchemy Club.
Vee stood in the middle of the courtyard, staring at a map.
"..."
He looked at the map.
Then at the road.
Then back at the map.
A passing student noticed him.
"Need help?"
Vee smiled.
"No."
"I'm just making sure the map and I agree on where we're going."
"...Do you?"
"...Not yet."
---
After only getting lost twice...
Vee proudly stood in front of the Alchemy Club.
"...New personal record."
He pushed open the door.
Inside, dozens of students carefully mixed glowing liquids while elderly instructors walked around correcting mistakes.
The room smelled of herbs, flowers and... something that had definitely exploded recently.
An old man with round glasses approached.
"You must be a new member."
Vee nodded.
"Professor Basil?"
"The one and only."
"I'm Vee."
Professor Basil's eyes lit up.
"Oh!"
"The famous Apex."
"I've heard you're... unusual."
Vee nodded seriously.
"My doctor says it's incurable."
Professor Basil blinked.
Then laughed loudly.
"I like you already!"
---
As Vee walked deeper into the laboratory—
DING!
A blue screen appeared.
---
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
Hidden Requirement Completed
Location: Alchemy Club
Reward Granted
Basic Alchemy Knowledge — Acquired
The host has automatically learned the fundamentals of herb identification, potion brewing, ingredient compatibility, and basic pill refinement.
---
A flood of information poured into Vee's mind.
Hundreds of herbs.
Recipes.
Temperatures.
Measurements.
Techniques.
His eyes widened.
"...Whoa."
Professor Basil noticed.
"Everything alright?"
Vee blinked.
"...Yeah."
"I think my brain just downloaded a textbook."
"...Downloaded?"
"...I mean..."
"...Studied very quickly."
---
Professor Basil clapped his hands.
"Perfect timing!"
"Today's assignment is simple."
"Everyone will brew a Basic Recovery Potion."
Students immediately gathered ingredients.
Vee glanced at the table.
"Silverleaf..."
"Three Moon Petals..."
"Heat for exactly forty-eight seconds..."
The answers came naturally.
Almost as if he had spent years studying alchemy.
He smiled.
"Let's see if this really works."
He carefully measured each ingredient.
No hesitation.
No mistakes.
Professor Basil walked past him.
"Hm?"
He stopped.
"...Interesting."
Most first-year students struggled just to identify the correct herbs.
Vee...
Moved with quiet confidence.
Several students noticed.
"Isn't he a swordsman?"
"Why does he look experienced?"
Within minutes...
A clear emerald liquid bubbled inside Vee's flask.
Not a single impurity floated on the surface.
Professor Basil's eyes widened.
"...Impossible."
He quickly inspected the potion.
Perfect color.
Perfect scent.
Perfect consistency.
He looked back at Vee.
"Young man..."
"...where exactly did you learn alchemy?"
The entire room turned toward him.
Silence.
Vee tapped his chin dramatically.
"Hmm..."
"I'd tell you..."
"...but then the herbs would start charging tuition."
The room went quiet.
Professor Basil blinked.
"...What?"
Vee continued with a completely serious face.
"I signed a confidentiality agreement with a very wise cabbage."
"..."
"..."
One student snorted.
Another started laughing.
Professor Basil removed his glasses.
"...A cabbage?"
Vee nodded.
"It was the smartest vegetable I've ever met."
Leon, who had wandered into the club out of curiosity, happened to hear the last sentence.
He nearly doubled over laughing.
"You learned alchemy..."
"...from a cabbage?!"
Vee shrugged.
"You'd be surprised what vegetables know."
Professor Basil rubbed his forehead.
"I've taught alchemy for thirty years..."
"...and somehow that's the strangest answer I've ever received."
Vee smiled innocently.
"I try to keep life seasoned."
The professor sighed, though he was smiling now.
"I don't know where you really learned..."
"...but your technique is excellent."
He held up the potion for the class.
"Everyone."
"Look carefully."
"This is what proper ingredient control looks like."
The students gathered around.
Some looked impressed.
Others looked jealous.
Cedric crossed his arms.
"...He's good at fighting."
"Now he's good at alchemy too?"
Vee scratched the back of his head.
"I have many hidden talents."
Leon immediately replied,
"Getting lost doesn't count as a talent."
The room erupted in laughter.
Vee placed a hand over his heart.
"It absolutely does."
"Most people get lost by accident."
"I've turned it into an art form."
Even Professor Basil laughed this time.
"Enough."
He pointed toward another workbench.
"If you're really that confident..."
"Help the first-years who accidentally turned their potion purple."
Vee walked over.
He looked into the bubbling flask.
"..."
"...Congratulations."
The nervous student looked hopeful.
"Can it still be saved?"
Vee nodded solemnly.
"Yes."
"Really?!"
"No."
"I just didn't want to crush your dreams immediately."
The room exploded with laughter again.
Even the embarrassed student laughed.
Professor Basil shook his head with a smile.
"This boy..."
"He doesn't just make potions."
"He brightens the entire room."