"Hey, what are you so slow for?! It's already starting!"

  "Oh! A battle between geniuses! Who do you think will win?"

  Ctter, ctter, and even more chatter. The whole crowd was abuzz as they gathered ihe gymnasium. There weren't just a couple dozen of them, but over a huudents which gathered hurriedly, even more ing in.

  The news about Yuna and Jermel's alchemy battle has spread all over the Academy and every student is filled with curiosity about what events will unfold. It wasn't just the students of the same grade, but lower and higher grades as well.

  Of course, there were also Professors present to facilitate the whole thing. The two parties "somehow" mao get the school's permission to use the gymnasium and have Professors oversee them, turning it into a massive event.

  After all, it involved the heir of a Prestigious House known for their skills in alchemy and an "exge student" from another try whose skills were not ahan his. It was a battle between a noble and a oner, exg as be.

  "I have my bet on Miss Elena. She's real skilled when it es to alchemy,"

  "I'll have to go with Jermel. He may be a scum, but his skills aren't bad."

  "Hey! Watch your words! Do you want yreenhouse destroyed ?!"

  Of course, the crowd has different opinions about the matter. Some see it as simply something iing, some see it as a performao eain them, and some as an opportunity for them to learn something new amidst all the chaos.

  There were also many who held extreme hostility to both sides. Jermel's ente hated Yuna for being arrogant, snickering at her, and many hated Jermel for ag as if he owhe Academy. There was tension in the air.

  "Heh! Looks like you didn't run away. You really are arrogant," ［Jermel］

  "My, I could say the same to you as well. I have to end you for not chiing out. This is a first, isn't it?" ［Yuna］

  "Why you...! Just wait until this is all over. I will make you eat all those words and make you pay the crime of humiliating me, oner!" ［Jermel］

  "I already k... But your words really are as trashy as your personality." ［Yuna］

  Needless to say, the one where there was most tension was her than where Yuna and Jermel was, sparks crag with their sharp stares as they threw a galore of insults towards one another, obviously infuriated at the sight of the other.

  And just when things were gettied up, a familiar set of footsteps rang out in the air. Yet anure ehe se, his eyes peering towards the youths before him, cold ale at the same time.

  "Looks like both the partits have gathered." ［Fran］

  It was her than the Headmaster, shog everyone present with his sudderahe whole room sent into a chaos of whispers and gossip as the students wondered why he suddenly appeared, all eyes glued on him.

  Jermel was obviously startled, uo believe his eyes. He hated bowing down to anyone, but with such a promi figure before him, no matter hant he was, he couldn't dare show disrespect. He lowered his head to greet him.

  "Greetings, Headmaster. I hope you've had a wonderful day." ［Jermel］

  "Good noon, Headmaster. It's good to see you again." ［Yuna］

  Yuna also greeted the Headmaster along with everybody else, but her expressions couldn't be any less different. There was a subtle yet bright smile on her face as she lowered her head, pg her trust on the man before her. After all...

  "I did not expect you would e to visit in our meager battle, Headmaster. It's my greatest pleasure to have you watch over us." ［Jermel］

  "To watch over you...? That's incorrect, Student Jermel. For I will be the one of the judges who will determihe oute of this alchemy battle." ［Fran］

  Nontly, annouhe Headmaster, shog everyone in the gymnasium even further. He just released a bombshell, yet didn't mind the stares directed at him afterwards, soon enough taking his seat along the other Professors.

  ... Yuna was the one who ihe Headmaster towards their battle, asking him to be the judge to make sure that there would be no foul py involved in the alchemy battle. He was her secret on.

  The presence of the Headmaster, the numerous spectators, the rge viewing space of the gymnasium, and the many students who will spread the rumor ter on. All had been prepared by Grey and Yuna, only Jermel's defeat left to be done,

  "Then, without further ado, let's begin the iion!" ［Fran］

  The Headmaster announced with a booming voice, and the crowd immediately went silent. All attention was focused owo youths standing before them, the people's eyes following every little thing that they do.

  In order to win, one simply o brew a higher-ranked potion thahers. Seeing as how they are both Tier-4 Alchemists iudents' eyes, it was quite aing battle to look forward to, all curious who will e out victorious.

  "Shin... Will Elena be fine? I know that she's strong, but..." ［Alea］

  "Don't worry, Alea. This may be the first time Yuna participated in an alchemy battle, but her skills aren't something someone like Jermel take on." ［Grey］

  "How you say it so fidently?" ［Alea］

  "Hahaha. That's because I'm her fiancé." ［Grey］

  There were also Grey and their friends present in the gymnasium, the three worried as be as they watched the ses unfold, uo rex themselves even after hearing Grey's fident words, their hands trembling ever so slightly.

  First in the order came the iion of equipment, materials, and ingredients to be used in the alchemy battle. It was decided that everything they would be bringing would be their personal equipment and taken from their own pockets.

  This only meant that Jermel could finally show off his luxurious equipment and the high-css items and ingredients he gathered using money. He was too gaudy with his setup, not sparing a single penny to grasp victory.

  "As expected of Caraquel. They afford to waste money without batting an eye."

  "Tsk! Just because he's rich. This is why I hate nobles."

  "H... Hey... Are you seeing what I am seeing? Miss Elena's items..."

  However, the same couldn't be said for Yuna. Rather than her Divine Alchemist's Toolset, she was using a basid regur toolset, and rather than overpowered ingredients, she was using the destroyed herbs she collected from the greenhouse.

  The herbs were barely even reizable, all in tatters and looking even worse tha products in the Herb Market. Her alchemy setup was the plete opposite of Jermel's, looking even poorer than most alchemists.

  It was a sight which made many people ugh and many people be filled with worry, yet despite how terrible her setup looked, Yuna was retively calm, her eyes just as unwavering as it was before. She was pletely determio win.

  "You...! Are you mog me right now?!" ［Jermel］

  "Mog you...? Oh my, it seems that we have a misuanding here. I am simply using what I . I am a 'lowly oner', after all." ［Yuna］

  Using his own words against him, Yued against Jermel's words, making the crowd burst out ughing. The battle has yet to start, but he was already making a fool out of himself, his face red from embarrassment.

  "And... I believe these items are more than enough to defeat the likes of you. I will show you the differen our skills." ［Yuna］

  Yuna ended her words, a cold ting in her voice. Her eyes were serious and stern, burning with a ragirangely calm determination. They were only a few words, but they were enough to send shivers down everyone's spine.

  "You...! Fine! I'll make you eat your words ter!" ［Jermel］

  "Fufufu! I look forward to it!" ［Yuna］

  The young dy ended her statement with a sweet smile, infuriating the already angry young lord at her. He wao rip her apart and make her beg on the ground, but with the watchful eyes around him, there was only so much he could do.

  A couple minutes passed and the iion was finally over. There was not a sihing suspicious about the setups of Yuna and Jermel, the Professors nodding their heads to give the Headmaster a signal.

  "Let the Alchemy Battle begin!" ［Fran］

  The Headmaster's words rang out in the air, and silence swallowed the gymnasium whole once more. Yuna and Jermel's hands moved fast like lightning, lighting the fire abze and taking out their ingredients oer another.

  FLICK FLICK CLICK CLACK CLACK CLACK

  Jermel swiped his hands and turned on all the fancy equipment he brought, a bit of mana brewing around in the gymnasium and meical sound eg all over the air. He then slipped in a couple more mana crystals, emp them even more.

  Normally, he could only make Middle-Grade, High-Tier items in the academy, but with his equipment, he could take it a big step further and make Middle-Grade, Peak-Tier items. It was the power of wealth and influence he was so fident in.

  Meanwhile, Yuna's setup was very simple. She simply turned a couple knobs and valves, making the fmes burn bright and filling her fsks and vials with water. She looked pretty simple pared to the oppo she against.

  "Heh! Look at that lowly oner. How could she win like that?"

  "I knht? This is obviously Lord Jermel's victory."

  And as one would expect, many mocked and snickered at her for having such a lowly and basic set-up. They were mostly the arrogant people from Jermel's side, not even trying to lower their voices and looking down on Yuna very openly.

  "Alea, don't. We'll only make it worse for Elena." ［Kale］

  "I know... But these bastards... How dare they..." ［Alea］

  Everyone could hear them, loud and clear, Alea barely able to tain their anger. If it weren't for the others, she would have already shed out ahem flying out of the gymnasium, beating them up with a couple puo end it all.

  Well, it's not like she doesn't uand where they're ing from. No matter whigle one looked at it, using trash a materials and basic equipment was a foolish mistake on Yuna's judgement, only making herself look bad.

  'Elena... Just what the hell are you thinking...' ［Edin］

  They were her friends, but even they couldn't help but be ed about Yuna's decisions. They appreciated that she was doing it for them, but they could only feel ay as they tio watch the se. Only Grey was smiling.

  The battle tinued and the materials were processed oer another. Jermel used the precise meisms of his equipment to create the fi materials, whilst Yuna only used the basic process to make crude materialsー or so it would seem.

  But iy, Yuna wasn't just using the equipment, but her body as well, using mana and magi the fi details aermining the exaents to shift the processes. Her movements were fwless and graceful.

  K K THUNK BLUB BLUB BLUB

  Jermel finally started heating the solution, mixing the materials, stirring time and time again, and adding bits and bobs of other materials which had already been weighed appropriately beforehand. He was accurate and precise.

  He then added the extracts of a magit into the mix, the solution bubbling ever so aggressively and puffs of smoke rising into the air. The potion then ged its color, looking clearer as it tio bubble over the scorg fmes.

  "Hahaha. Look at Lord Jermel. He's almost halfway there, isn't he?"

  "As expected of Lord Jermel, he really is a prodigy. It was foolish to challenge him,"

  "Tsk? Is that bastard really going to win?"

  Meanwhile, Yuna tinued with her brewing as well. With how fast she was moving, it might look like she anig from the outside, but she couldn't be any calmer deep inside. Her tration was at its peak, her eyes shining brightly.

  The temperature of the fmes, the amount of force as she stirred, the minuscule and vital margiween measures, the timing of each step, the flow of mana within the system, and many more. She was trolling everything perfectly without a hitch.

  Yuna's co barely ged color, so it would seem that there was nothing really hy happening, but both Grey and the Headmaster could sehe subtle differences as time passed. Like wine aging perfectly over time,

  Time passed just like that, and the processes tio unfold. Yuna and Jermel both poured it their al, into their work, bullets of sweat trig down their foreheads. Their eyes were burning fervently, both determio attain victory,

  CLICK CLICK CLACK FWOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH

  And finally, the series of meical sounds echoed once more, Jermel turning off the fmes and finishing his product before the young dy. It was an amber-colored potion which resembled the sky at dusk. A pretty co.

  "Headmaster, this is my proud creation. It is called a 'Spirit-Enhang Potion'. Please evaluate it well." ［Jermel］

  Jermel handed over the potion to the Headmaster, the tter looking at it with eyes filled with curiosity and scrutiny. The other Professors also exami long with him, nodding their heads as they tio look at it.

  It wasn't just the look. They also examihe taste, the smell, the sensation, how quickly it takes effect, and how it reacts to mana as well. It didn't take too long before they fiheir evaluation, everyone ing to the same evaluation.

  "This is indeed a Spirit-Enhang Potion, and a Middle Grade, Peak-Tier o that. Good work, Student Jermel. This is a wonderful potion." ［Fran］

  "Your words are more than enough for me, Headmaster." ［Jermel］

  "Ohh! Did you hear that?! The Headmaster says it's Peak-Tier! Peak-Tier!"

  "See? What did I tell you? Lord Jermel's skills are the best!"

  It was just as he expected. With the help of his equipment, he mao make a Middle Grade, Peak-Tier Potion which even students 1 or 2 years higher than him have a hard time making, greatly riling up the crowd.

  His eyes looked at Yuna, a snickering smile pstered on his face. With how great his potion was, he was pletely certain, greatly looking forward to the moment when the results would be announced. He was excited to crush the one who humiliated him.

  Meanwhile, Yuna couldn't be any less indifferent and tio brew her potion. Her eyes were as clear as the sky and her passion was immovable like a mountain. She was almost finished as well, only a couple more steps left.

  'Finally... The tration of mana...' ［Yuna］

  Only the final steps were left, and Yuna added the final ingredients along a strong surge of mana. It seeped in slowly but surely into the co, enrig it with magid awakening the mixture's tent potentials.

  The more mana Yuna poured in, the darker the color of the potion became. What was once lime in color has now bee a dark shade of green. Soon, Yuna heaved a breath of fresh air, her potion now done and finished.

  "Heh! Looks like that b*tch is done now as well. Let's see hant she is ohe Headmaster announces her defeat."

  "Hahaha! He shouldn't have challenged Lord Jermel to begin with."

  "I knht? These lowly oners should just know their pce."

  However, uhe many people who were full of cheers and support for Jermel, she only received the mockery of the crowd. The ones who supported her before are now quiet, unsure whether she could still win after all her pin dispy.

  "Headmaster, Professors, here is my creation. It's a simple Healing Potion," ［Yuna］

  Just like Jermel before her, she also handed over her co towards the judges, letting them evaluate her work and having them test it out for themselves. Soon after, one of the Professors finally opened his mouth.

  "This... This isn't a Middle-Grade Potion..."

  "No... No way... Elena... This 't be..." ［Alea］

  His words reverberated all over the whole gymnasium, elig all kinds of surprises from the crowd. Some nodded as if they had expected it, some were smiling as if to mock her, some were indifferent, and some were filled with .

  Of course, those who were close and precious to Yuna had their faces painted pale and their hearts beating in gloom. Their hearts sunk towards the ground, uo believe the Professor's clusive words. A smile bloomed on Jermel's face,

  "Hah! I k! That's what you get for using those cheap herbs! Youー" ［Jermel］

  "Headmaster, I am right, aren't I?!"

  "Yes, you are right.... This isn't a Middle-Grade Healing Potion... This is a High-Grade, Mid-Tier Healing Potion!" ［Fran］

  However, with words from the Headmaster, the whole crowd was thrusted into chaos, everyone's reas turning a plete 180 as a cacophony of noises filled the air. There were cheers and sighs, the whole gymnasium in an uproar.

  Normally, it would be hard to make a Middle-Grade Healing Potion with such herbs, not to mention with defective and trashy ones Yuna just used. But Yuna isn't one who be judged by on sense. She has long surpassed such a league.

  Nor only did Yuna win over Jermel's creation, her potion was even 2 tiers higher than his. And that's only when she is using such basic equipment and trashy ingredients. It was a ndslide victory, Yuna triumphing over Jermel overwhelmingly.

  "No... No! This 't be! There must be foul py involved in this!" ［Jermel］

  "Foul py, you say...? When the Professors have already ied the equipment and the ingredients? Are you insulting the dignity of my Darius Academy?" ［Fran］

  "N... No! That's not it, Headmaster! I... I would never...!" ［Jermel］

  Jermel tried to accuse Yuna of cheating, but with the Headmaster standing against him, there was nothing he could do about it. All he could do was ch his fist and accept his defeat with a begrudging and irritated heart.

  "With this result, I decre Student Elena the winner of the Alchemy Battle!" ［Fran］

  The Headmaster decred and the whole gymnasium burst into a boisterous uproar once again. Everyone was celebrating, cheering Yuna's name again and again as if they were cheering for a heroine who just came back from battle.

  Alea and the others also rushed over the young dy to embrace her for a tight hug. Alea was g tears of joy and relief, Edin was trying to hide his tears, and Kale was cheering for her loudly, only a bright smile to be seen on his face.

  Grey, I did good, didn't I? ［Yuna］

  Yeah... Yeah, you did. I'm proud of you, Yuna. ［Grey］

  But perhaps the best reward she got was the words of praise from her beloved. They were only short and simple, but she couldn't be any happier. A surge of joy flooded her heart, her beaming and lovely smile even brighter than before.

  However, there was still one more business left to do. After the people have settled down, Yuna shifts her attention towards the still frozen Jermel, then approag him soon afterwards, her steps subtle but resonant.

  "Jermel... You haven't fotten about the bet, have you?" ［Yuna］

  And the reason was her than the wager they had made yesterday. The one who loses will take responsibility for everything which happehe day before. A wager which Jermel wouldn't honor so easily.

  "Bet?! What bet are you talking about, you lowly b*tch?! I know you phis all along! You must be in cahoots with the Professors! I'm right, aren't I?!" ［Jermel］

  There was a dark and enraged expression painted on his face, still uo accept what had happened. Not only is his reputation now destroyed, he was also humiliated greatly in front of a couple hundred people. He couldn't eveend to be okay,

  Now, not just Yuna, but he is also acg the Professors of joining forces with Yuna in order t him down. He was sndering them openly, showing everyone and the whole Academy of the repulsive persoruly was.

  "Haah... I knew you wouldn't honor your words, but to think you would dare act out like this. You really are the lowest kind of scum." ［Yuna］

  "You wh*re! Do you know who you are talking to! I am a Caraquel! I'mー" ［Jermel］

  "Well, no worries. We already made termeasures, after all." ［Yuna］

  Jermel kept on yapping like a crazy dog, but the moment Yuna snapped her fingers, he was immediately frozen still. A couple familiar figures ehe room, making him halt his words. They were the thugs he was with the day before.

  Though Yuna had already po defeat him honorably, she also khat it wouldn't be so easy to have him owe up to his sins. That's why she already prepared another pn which he wouldn't be able to ignore no matter what he does.

  With the help of the Headmaster, Grey and Yuna had "peacefully vinced" quite a number of Jermel's followers into fessing his crimes and every ugly acts he had itted so far, eae of them already sigo tract magic,

  "Bullying... Assault... Battery... Coer... Stalking... Encement of harassment... Destru of Public Properties... Destru of School Properties..... Need I say more?" ［Fran］

  And there wasn't just one or two, but a long list of crimes he had itted using his Houses' owards other students. It was hard to get evide first, but with Grey's abilities to see the past and expertise in interrogation, it was easy as 1, 2, 3.

  His crimes are now being exposed to everyone present in the room, the people feeling a mix of emotions brewing all over the gymnasium as the Headmaster tio list dowhing injustice he has done, his reputation crumbling to dust.

  "H-Headmaster, this is a mistake! I'm innー" ［Jermel］

  "A mistake?! Your followers have already fessed and many witnesses have shown up, and you still insist this is a mistake?! Is Darius a joke to you?!" ［Fran］

  "N... No! It's not like that, Headmaster! I'm sureー" ［Jermel］

  "Enough! I don't want to hear any more of your excuses! You will receive appropriate punishment for your acts. I will make sure your Father hears of this." ［Fran］

  He tried and tried to vihe Headmaster of his innoce, but no matter what he did, it was futile. The glory and prestige he once had is now but a passing lie, nor even his followers looking him in the eyes anymore.

  He wao retaliate, but with an insurmountable mountain before him known as the "Headmaster", he could only grit his teeth and ch his fists as tight as he could. An intense anger burnt in his heart, his eyes turning red as he lowered his head.

  "Do I make myself clear?" ［Fran］

  "Yes... Headmaster..." ［Jermel］

  CHAPTER 379 END