"Ah, crap... I totally fot my homework! I'm gonna be in so much trouble!"

  "Hey, have you heard about Mitch? I heard he just reached Tier-4 yesterday."

  "on Paral, Heller Roots, Ta Arbogonia... And what was it again?"

  A new m, a new day, a new experience. With the rising of the sun, everyoudents and professors were now full of energy, bustling and chattering in the long hallways. Darius academy was abuzz, a lively orchestra pying in the air.

  The crowd was moving in and out of the massive halls, doors opening and closing as they poured in into the s, taking their seats and studying their notes. It was yet another school day, another ce to learn more about alchemy,

  In such a crowded pce, a single dy stood out like no other. Her hair was silver and her eyes were blue. She walked down the hallways, and all eyes were glued to her. It has already been several days since she arrived, and she opur as always,

  'Hmm～? I wonder what lessons we're going to learn today～' ［Yuna］

  However, such popurity didn't eve a ce to shine in her mind. There was only alchemy brewing inside, her heart pumping cheerfully with excitement as she looked forward to what topid lessons she will be learning today.

  It was the sed day of the week already, and now, she has a different schedule thaerday. There are a total of 4 subjects for the day, 2 in the m, and 2 iernoon. Of which, 1 is aive she is taking with Alea.

  "Elena～! You sure are popur as ever～! Good m～!" ［Alea］

  And speaking of Alea, the young dy had just greeted her from behind, her cheerful and resonant voice ringing in her ears. She was as lively as usual, skippieps to match Yuna's pace, walking by her side by side.

  Alea had just exited the Girl's dormitory and was on the way to the . She just happeo see Yuna by the distahen catg up to her, and greeting her with a bright smile. A smile which also melted the hearts of the spectators.

  "Good m, Alea. You seem to be in a very good mood today." ［Yuna］

  "Fufufu! That's because I just finished a em yesterday. It's something I've been w on for weeks! Do you want to see?" ［Alea］

  "Oh, I? I would very much love to!" ［Yuna］

  "Of course! I'll show you ter when school is over!" ［Alea］

  The two young dies chattered and cttered, their steps eg simultaneously as the people watched them walk down the hallway. Yuna alone was already beautiful, but with Alea now by her side, they looked amazing together.

  Soon enough, they finally reached their room, a number of familiar faces greeting them with a wave of their hands. They tiheir merry and cheerful chat, soon heading towards their seats with bright smiles drawn on their faces. However, they were smiles which didn't st long...

  "Then, I realized that I have been doing the whole formu wrong! It seems like I over-saturated the mixtures! It was all because of that!" ［Alea］

  "Eh? Does that mean that it was solved with water in the end?" ［Yuna］

  "Yeah! I just added another portion of water into my rial, and who would have guessed it?! It actually worked! I'm finally progressing!" ［Alea］

  Yuna and Alea soon took their seats, still tinuing their chat, and while doing so, Alea then opehe drawer under her desk to che the supplies she had, taking out some and adding a couple things, anizihings ly.

  The former also did the same, soon opening her desk. However, rather than a pile of ly anized school supplies, there were only bugs crawling about. There were tipedes ales, wriggling about in a repulsive manner.

  Both their eyes were stu the wriggling little creatures, watg a wave of bd gray move about. They looked like the definition of i hell, a beetle taking to the air the moment it realized someone had opened up the drawer.

  "Kyaaaaa!! Bugs!! Get them away from me!!" ［Alea］

  It took quite a while tister, but the moment she realized that there were bugs under Yuna's desk, Alea immediately started panig, a loud and agonized cry eg throughout the whole and out to the hallways.

  There were tears f in the er of her eyes as she ran around the pce, then heading towards Edin and Kale who just arrived, hiding behind their backs and using them as some sort of shield against the tiny critters, scared as be.

  She may be an alchemist, but she still couldn't handle bugs and the likes. If it wasn't for that fact, her arsenal of items she could make would have expanded my leaps and bounds. However, is are still too graphic to look at.

  "E-Elena...! G-Get away from there! They will bite you!" ［Alea］

  "Fufufu! Don't worry, they're totally harmless." ［Yuna］

  "Harmless?! Have you seen the look in their eyes?! It looks like they're ready to bite me the moment they have the ce to! Is are the spawn or the devil! Hurry a over here alreadyー Kyaaaaa!! Get away from me!!" ［Alea］

  Alea couldn't even finish her words, another beetle soon flying towards her dire. She was cut off, and most importantly, being chased by a little beetle, fear traced in her eyes as if death was after her tail. She was very close t.

  Well, it wasn't just Alea, many of the girls, and some of the boys were also disturbed by the is, running around in the , and thrusting them into chaos. The m had just started, and they are already off to a lively start.

  "Elena, don't touch that! They're really dangerousー Kyaaaaa!!" ［Alea］

  "Alea, you should worry about yourself first. The beetle is ing closer." ［Kale］

  "S-Shut up! Once I mao lose it, I'm really going to beat you up!" ［Alea］

  Though, uhe others, Yuna's expressions couldn't be any more indifferentー Or rather, she looked at the bugs with much curiosity, tilting her head left and right as she scrutihe little bugs, finding a lot more stuff the more she looked.

  Heck, Yuna even dared to pick up the is with her bare hands, not showing any hints of fear in her eyes. She was a fearless warrior, without any sed thoughts of bag out just because of some mere is.

  "Oh! Aren't these the Pinchrock tipedes awing Borboles! There's also some Meddleworms here as well! How lucky!" ［Yuna］

  "Eh?! Did you just say Meddleworms?! Let me see!" ［Edin］

  "Un! e take a look! It looks pretty big too!" ［Yuna］

  They may be amongst the most grotesque and repulsive is and critters there is, but an alchemy ingredient is an alchemy ingredient no less. Yuna was rather excited to see them, her eyes already bursting with ideas on what to do with them.

  Of course, these also ied Edin a lot. He could barely get such things no matter how hard he works, but to think that he got ahold of a sudden ce. His luck was on another level. He couldn't be any less happier aed.

  The two of them smiled joyously whilst they held the is and arthropods. They then took out jars from God-knows-where, and stored all the precious ingredients ihey even caught the ones who mao fly away without much difficulty,

  'Mmn～! What a great haul!" ［Yuna］

  With the situation under trol, the returo normal. The Professor soon arrived and everyone resumed with their studies as per usual. It may have started a bit too rowdy, but it was still more than enough to be grateful of.

  Time passed by just like that, and like in their first period, there were yet another batch of repulsive things under Yuna's desk. However, rather than is and small critters, there were only frogs inside, all hopping out the moment they saw light.

  However, like before, those frogs also happen to be useful in alchemy. Both her and Edin caught them fervently, st them i anss jar. It was a bonanza of alchemy materials, the two of them truly proving how much they loved alchemy.

  DONGGG DONGGG DONGGG DONGGG

  The school bells finally rang, and it was finally time for lunch. The moment they were dismissed, they immediately headed towards the cafeteria to grab a wonderful lunch together. They could finally take a break from learning and studying.

  "Haah... I 't believe all those things just happehis m,.. They 't all be a ce, right? They 't be..." ［Alea］

  "You may be right, Alea. But you're still w too much. Fufufu!" ［Yuna］

  "Elena.., you should be the one most worried right now, you know?" ［Alea］

  And while they headed towards the cafeteria, they all talked about the things that just happened in the m. No matter how one looks at it, there was no way that it was a simple ce that they all involved Yuna's desk.

  Well, rather than the desk, it seems like their target was her than Yuna. She has been doing too well, and outshining all the other students even when she arrived at the Academy, garnering the attention of many, be it students or professors.

  Attention that isn't always good every siime. Though many admired her for her skills, many also envied her for it. They simply couldn't accept that they were g in parison to her, res to underhanded and dishoricks.

  "It's fine. No one's gotten hurt yet anyway." ［Yuna］

  "Elena, you do know how scary those things were, right? You should get more angry fod's sake! Geez! Seriouslyー" ［Alea］

  "Ahh! Watch out!"

  Peace was soon broken, a loud scream ing from a couple distances away. A dirty ball came hurling towards everyone's dire, flying at extreme speeds as if it was a bullet darting through the air, everyone closing their eyes in reflex. All except one....

  ??Barrier?? ［Yuna］

  ... And someone is the lovely heroine, Yuna.

  The moment she saw the ball heading towards their way, she immediately moved her hands and raised it in front of her. She ted with a soft voice, a semi-transparent shield of mana appearing before her and everyone else.

  The ball hit the barrier, and bounced off into the distance before hitting the ground, rolling around, and finally ing to a stop. The moment everyone opeheir eyes, the ball was already on the ground, lying motionlessly.

  "H... Huh...? W... What just happened...?" ［Kale］

  "Fufufu! Nothing much. I just used a little bit of barrier magic." ［Yuna］

  "Ehh?! You use barrier magic, Elena?! That's amazing!!" ［Edin］

  "Not really. I just learnt enough so I could protect myself." ［Yuna］

  Whilst everyone was feeling relieved and fused, a couple figures suddenly came rushing towards them with pale expressions painted on their faces, hurriedly looking around for the ball and seeing if it hurt somebody.

  They were the ones who kicked the ball their way, and quickly apologized for what just happehey received a bit of a scolding from Alea, making them bow their heads a couple of times to show how siheir apologies were.

  However, Yuna's thoughts were much different, it may be subtle, but she could easily sehat wind magic was involved in what just happened. She doesn't know who it was, but with it, she could finally tell that everything wasn't a ce.

  "You should be more careful ime, okay?! I'm going to bear all of you up if this ever happens again, you hear me?!" ［Alea］

  """Y-Yes, Ma'am!!"""

  And just as she finished with her thoughts, Alea was also done scolding the ones who were pying with the ball. It seems like they were lrade students, fully aware of how fierd feisty Alea was.

  The youngsters soo away, apologizing a final time and bringing their ball with them. It was quite unfortuhat they got involved in something they have no idea of, but Yuna couldn't just tell them her findings without any evidence. She could only wish that they don't take it to heart too much.

  "Haah.... Seriously. That could have been very dangerous, you know?" ［Alea］

  "Fufufu! Don't worry too much about it, Alea. Why don't we just tinue heading to the cafeteria? I'm already starting to get hungry." ［Yuna］

  "That's right, Alea. It'll be hard to find a table if we dawdle any longer." ［Kale］

  "Ah, right! Sorry, sorry, I got too heated up there." ［Alea］

  With the situation now resolved, everyone finally tinued heading towards the cafeteria, and luckily enough, there were still some seats and tables present there. They met up with Grey, and had a wonderful lunch together.

  Of course, this also meant that Grey once again brought out the massive portions of dishes he and Yuna cooked this m. They were dishes loved by everyohe two of them once again demonstrating how much they could eat iting,

  DONGGGGG DONGGGGG DONGGGGG

  Lunch break was soon over and the school bells rang, and it was now time for the afternoon csses to ehey once again parted with Grey, and headed back to their own csses, attending another importaure.

  Luckily enough, it seems like there were no pranks or tricks under Yuna's desk. It seems like they her had the time nor fideo pull such useless things off when there are so many people around, it was a relief.

  Another hour and a half soon epsed, and it was finally time to engage in "Heavy Brewery" yet again. The Professor arrived just a couple mier, a couple of students once again helping her carry her things.

  "Now then, who distribute these to everyone?"

  "Ah! Professor, I do that! Just leave it to me!"

  "Me too, Professor! Let me help with that!"

  Soon, the packs and pouches of herbs to be used, a couple of volunteering students distributing them to everyone in the room. The only strahing to note was that the two of them were both ckeys of Jermel, students who are actually up to no good.

  They all distributed the things with casual expressions on their faces, passing by the students oer another. And it may be out of pettiness or just mere ce, but for some reason, Yuna was the st to be given her herbs.

  "Miss Elena, these are the only ones left. You have it."

  Said the ckey with a hateful glint shimmering in his eyes. He just couldn't be any more obvious with the way he was ag, clearly having something against Yuna. There was an irritating smile on his fae just wants to wipe off with a quick sp.

  Moreover, it wasn't just the ckey. Jermel as well was looking at Yuna with a gre like pierg daggers, With the hostility he was showing, there was no doubt about it. He was the one responsible for the misfortunes Yuna just suffered.

  "Tsk! It's that Jermel again... I bet he's the one behind those bugs and frogs from beforeー No! I'm sure of it!" ［Alea］

  He was so obvious, even Alea couldn't help but notice his hostility and arrogance. If it wasn't for the fact that she'll be punished and that he was a noble, Alea would have already sent him flying with her signature punch.

  "Just ighem, Elena. They're just envious of your looks and talents." ［Alea］

  "Don't worry, I know. I'm not that petty, you know." ［Yuna］

  "That's good. Let's just focus on our lesson for now. I'm sure we're going to learn something new agai's just do our best!" ［Alea］

  There was o pay attention to such hateful scums, and so they simply turheir attention to the bckboard where the Professor expined about their opic they will be discussing for the whole week.

  Soon, it was finally time for the practical applications. It was finally time to get brewing, everyone heading to their own w stations aing up their equipmentー All of them, except oudent. That student was Yuna.

  "Hm? That's weird... Why isn't this w...?" ［Yuna］

  "Is there something wrong with the equipment, Elena?" ［Alea］

  "Well, you see... It seems to be malfuning a little,.." ［Yuna］

  It seemed fi first gnce, but upon closer iion, there were actually a few faults within the equipment, most of the magic tools not funing properly. It was just fine when she worked with it a few days ago, yet problems suddenly emerged,

  What's worse, it wasn't just the equipment, but the ingredients as well. They were all of the lowest quality ones, some were eves. Al, her items were in the worst possible situation. It was clearly something pnned against Yuna.

  As for the ones who phem, there was o even guess. They were her than Jermel and his stupid ente. They were all wearing sinister smiles atop their faces, looking as obvious as be,

  "Excuse me, Professor! we have a minute, please?! Elena's equipment is not w and her ingredients are also in a mess." ［Alea］

  "Hm? What do you mean, Student Alea?"

  "Please have a look, Professor." ［Alea］

  As per Alea's request, the Professor headed towards them and checked up on the equipment and ingredients. Surely enough, it was just like how Alea described them, a puzzled expression looming over the Professor's face.

  "How did this happen... I'm sure I checked up on them just this m,.."

  The Professor looked at every er and tried to fix it, but it was all to no avail. They were high-css equipment, after all. There was no way someone like her who has no knowledge in entment could fix suplex circuits and entments.

  "Haah... I'm really sorry about this, Student Elena. I'm sure I already checked beforehand, so something must have happened. I'm really sorry."

  "No, it's fine, Professor." ［Yuna］

  "I see... Then, are you going to spectate for now? I want to repce your equipment and ingredients right now, but it might take quite a bit of time. Don't worry, I won't deduy points from you today."

  Said the Professor, trying to promise with Yuna. She wao see her make something amazing today as well, but there was only so much she could do when things have gotten the way they are now. It was truly a shame.

  "Thank you, Professor, but... I'd still like to tinue." ［Yuna］

  "Eh?! But we don't have any good equipment and ingredients left?!"

  "Please don't worry, Professor, I still manage even with these ingredients and equipment. Please watch over me," ［Yuna］

  Hearing Yuna's words, there was a bit of hesitation in the Professor's heart, but at the same time, there was also a blooming curiosity. She wao see where Yuna's fidence came from, wanting to see what other things she would offer her.

  Meanwhile, Yuna's thoughts were pletely different. She is a bit ahat they went so far just to get in her way and mess with her, but there was no way she would be stopping over something so trivial. No, no, not at all,

  If there is no good equipment and ingredients around she use, there is always her skills and magic she could rely on. She isn't a Tier-8 Alchemist just for show. She is determio show the others what she is capable of.

  "Hmm... Fine. But please stop when it gets too dangerous, okay?"

  "Yes! I'll surely do so, Professor!" ［Yuna］

  There was no time to waste. As soon as the Professave Yuna the thumbs up, she immediately started w, using a hit of pnt magic to revitalize the useless herbs and turn them into something somewhat useful.

  She processed them all carefully, oer another, using her magistead of good equipment like the others. Her trol over heat, mixing, hydration, and many more processes was eveer than the most accurate equipment, surpassing them both in quality and sistency.

  Yuna tio process the ingredients into the best mixtures and solutions they possibly could. And soon enough, it was finally time for the brewery to ehe young dy's eyes glowing a different glint as she started to get serious.

  All she used were simple vials as tainers of the solutions, using magic to do the rest. She used fire to heat the solution, wind for trifugation, water for hydration, ice for cooling dowh for removing sediments, and many more.

  It wasn't just alchemy or a magic show, it was a whole performance, brilliant as be with Yuna as the star. All elements of the py were very harmonious, the solution ging colors every so often, all until the final drop was densed.

  "Whew... I'm finally finishー" ［Yuna］

  "A-Amazing! What teique did you use just now, Student Elena?! No, first! I didn't know you could use magic so well! How many attributes you use?! What level is your trol with each of them?! How did you mao..."

  The very moment Yuna sealed the potion with a cork, the Professor immediately rushed towards her and bombarded her with a ton of questions, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Her usually stiff and strict character broke for the first time,

  "Lady Elena is the best! You even know magic!"

  "Ohh! As expected of a genius! She really is on another level!"

  " you teach me some tips, Miss Elena?!"

  Well, it wasn't just the Professor who was excited, many of the students also were. After all, even when she was the most disadvantaged one, she was still the one who finished first with the best quality produced. It was a great feat!

  Of course, there were also some dissatisfied with her abilities, clig their tongues and gring at her with sharp eyes filled with hostility. One of them in particur was especially enraged, hatred bubbling deep inside his heart.

  'That spiteful b*tch...!' ［Jermel］

  CHAPTER 374 END