CHAPTER 48: GROUP PROJECT 1

Time flew by, and before I realized it, several weeks had already passed since my first class in Alchemy. The curriculum was a breeze, and I’d spent most of my time tweaking recipes and experimenting with my own theories rather than following the Professor’s rigid instructions.

The classroom smelled faintly of herbs and heated metals, the lingering fragrance of past experiments clinging to the stone walls no matter how much the windows were opened. Copper cauldrons lined the tables, gleaming under the faint sunlight that filtered in, while shelves stuffed with vials, dried plants, and animal bones cast long shadows.

The air was thick with the faint sizzle of reactions and the low murmur of students’ voices. It was a place where fortunes could be made and lives could be lost, a crucible of creation and destruction. The room carried an atmosphere of both mystery and danger the kind that could either make a genius or burn a fool alive.And right now, I was standing in the middle of that line.

"Kael Vi-rel. What did I tell you?"The sharp, almost motherly voice of Professor Edel Ty cut through the murmurs of bubbling liquid and clinking glass. Her fiery red hair shook as she marched toward me, her eyes blazing like molten iron.

She slammed a hand on the table, making the beakers tremble. "Don’t use materials you aren’t supposed to!"She was raging exactly like a mom scolding her reckless son. Unfortunately, I was the "son" in question.

Her glare fell on the concoction sitting innocently on my deska shimmering antidote that emitted faint green steam. It was perfect. A perfect example of a rule-breaking solution.I tried to defend myself, scratching the back of my neck. "To improve the results, I... slightly modified the Professor’s recipe.

"Her lips twitched, a muscle in her cheek spasming. It was a familiar tic, one that usually preceded an explosion.

"...What?" she managed, the word a dangerous hiss.I pointed at the antidote proudly.

"Take a look. As you can see, the effect has doubled. The impurities have been minimized too. Efficiency-wise, it’s far superior to the basic version.

"Professor Edel Ty bent forward, sniffing the potion, swirling the liquid inside the vial with a practiced, almost hesitant, hand.

Her frown deepened, then relaxed, then tightened again as if caught in a battle between professional duty and genuine curiosity. She wanted to say something her expression screamed it but in the end, she simply smacked me lightly on the head and screamed.

"You little brat! Why do you even come to school if you’re just going to do whatever you want?"The class snickered, and I rubbed my head.

She really had a point, but...My goal was different. I wasn’t here to follow rules like a textbook robot, meticulously recreating lessons from centuries past.

I was here to learn, to sharpen what I knew, to adapt and improve, even if it meant breaking a few rules and annoying a few teachers.

The real world wasn’t a classroom; it was a brutal, unforgiving place. And the lessons I needed to learn weren’t found in textbooks.Professor Edel Ty finally threw her hands up in exasperation. "...You aren’t going to listen to me, are you? Fine

Expect to get low grades in this class if you keep this up.

"Her voice softened for a moment, though her eyes remained strict. She had probably dealt with stubborn students before, but I doubted any were as insistent, or as unapologetic, as me.’Grades, huh...’ I leaned back against the stool, staring at the ceiling beams.In some ways, her decision made sense.

If a student wouldn’t obey, what could a professor do except threaten their marks? It was the final trump card in their deck. But I wasn’t particularly worried. My grades in other subjects were solid, and as long as I didn’t dip into "academic warning" territory, graduating wasn’t in danger.

My mind drifted further, a new, liberating thought forming.’Wait... if I think of it this way, I don’t even need good grades in alchemy. So why bother with assignments at all?’I crossed my arms, hiding a smirk. ’I could use that time for other, more useful things. Training, reading ahead... maybe dungeon prep. All far more productive than completing homework and following recipes I’ve already optimized.

’I must have muttered my thoughts louder than I realized, because Professor Edel Ty’s eyes narrowed. "What was that, Kael Vi-rel?"I quickly turned away, whistling as if nothing had happened. "Nothing, Professor. Absolutely nothing."Her suspicious stare lingered a little too long.But whatever plan I had to slack off in alchemy was shattered within minutes."A practice test will be held next week," Professor Edel Ty announced to the class, her voice carrying authority that silenced the whispers. "The assignment is simple: you will create a Health Potion.

On paper, the recipe may seem straightforward, but the process requires multiple steps and coordination. It is difficult to succeed alone many of the ingredients interact violently if handled incorrectly."A ripple of unease ran through the classroom."Therefore," she continued, "this test will be conducted in groups of four. From now on, form a group with friends who share your interests."I froze....A group project?Of all the punishments she could have chosen, this was the cruelest. It wasn’t just a tedious chore; it was a social obligation, a forced interaction with people I had gone to great lengths to avoid.

’A group assignment...? Was there such a thing in the game?’My memory churned, but nothing came up. In the original story, there was no mention of tedious school activities like group tasks. The game always skipped trivial details to keep the story flowing, focusing on quests and boss fights, not classwork. That meant I had no reference for how this would turn out. This was an entirely new variable in my carefully planned routine.I glanced around the room in mild panic.

Most students were already turning to their friends, whispering, smiling, dragging desks together. It was almost festive, like kids forming teams for a festival contest.Meanwhile, I...I quietly stared toward Clara Winslet. She was calmly brushing her hair behind her ear while helping Silva and Nad measure ingredients. She didn’t notice my gaze.’Oh, come on.

Why a group assignment of all things...’As I shifted my eyes, I noticed something strange.

Every time I looked at a student, their eyes darted away, their smiles faltering. It was a silent, universal avoidance. My presence was an inconvenience, a social landmine no one wanted to step on. I was the anomaly, the kid who didn’t play by their rules, and they had decided to cut me off before I could even ask.

"Haha. Isn’t that guy going to end up alone?""Probably. After all, he hardly has any friends."I caught the low whispers and sneers.

They thought they were being discreet, their laughter a low, cruel hum, but I heard them loud and clear. They were so predictable.I smirked proudly. "Jealous, aren’t you?" I muttered under my breath.Let them laugh. I had the Vismora Glasses anyway an artifact that could analyze alchemical reactions in real time. With them, I could probably succeed alone.

But the rules were the rules. The professor had said "group." And a group I would have to find.Groups began forming rapidly.

Tables pushed together, chatter grew louder, laughter filled the air. Within minutes, the classroom had transformed into eleven neatly assembled groups of four. And then... silence.

Only four of us were left unclaimed.Professor Edel Ty tapped her quill against the desk. "The groups are almost done. Those who couldn’t form one, come here."I sighed in relief and headed toward the back desk where the "leftovers" were supposed to gather. The others trickled in, looking as lost as I felt.

There was Silva, a good-natured guy I’d teamed with once before; Nad, who had been cheerful earlier, but now looked gloomy as if he’d just remembered something unpleasant; and finally, Clara.’Huh. So even Clara didn’t have a group? Now that I think about it, she never really got close to anyone aside from... Selene Whitmore.

’The four of us stood there, a motley crew of social outcasts, slightly awkward as the rest of the class returned to their projects, their lively chatter now sounding like a foreign language.I decided to break the ice. It was a team, after all. "Nice to meet you guys," I greeted, flashing the brightest smile I could muster, a stark contrast to my usual blank expression.Silva chuckled, extending a hand.

"Same here. Guess we’re teammates again, Kael."I shook his hand firmly, feeling a genuine sense of camaraderie. Nad, however, just shuffled his feet, his eyes flickering, then lowering as if he were too embarrassed to even make eye contact.And then Clara stepped forward, her radiant smile carried none of the awkwardness I expected.