CHAPTER 50: GROUP PROJECT 3

"She folded her arms, clearly unconvinced. "To be that confident... can I really trust you?""You’ll just have to wait and see."For a moment she studied me, as if trying to read whether I was bluffing or not. Finally, she sighed, shaking her head.

"Fine. But if the potion fails because of you, it’s on your head."I chuckled inwardly. She really didn’t trust anyone.’Relax, Nad. You’ll thank me later.’Without the Vismora Glasses, I’d be just as cautious as she was. But with them, I could see imperfections invisible to the naked eye. I could analyze the mushroom’s chemical composition in real-time, ensuring I chose the perfect one, down to the molecular level. This wasn’t arrogance; it was certainty.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the academy, another conversation was unfolding.Inside Professor Edel Ty’s office, the scent of dried herbs and ink filled the air. Scrolls, ledgers, and vials cluttered her desk, a testament to her double life as both alchemist and teacher. She sat upright, her fiery hair tied back, scanning a freshly written note. Her expression was calm, but her mind was a whirlwind of calculations and considerations.

The first-year students were too comfortable. They needed to be challenged."Annie," she called.Her assistant hurried in, bowing politely. "Yes, Professor?"Edel Ty handed her the folded paper. "Please see that this reaches the first-year group alchemy students," she instructed, her tone calm but decisive. "The message is urgent."Curiosity flickered across Annie’s face as she carefully opened it.

The message was simple, written in crisp, authoritative strokes:[Notice: Please note that the practice test assignment is changed from ’D-Class Health Potion’ to ’A-Class Health Potion’.]Annie blinked, tilting her head. "Changed? But... why? An A-class potion is far more difficult. It requires far more precision and a much higher grade of ingredients."Edel Ty’s eyes briefly narrowed. "Rules exist for a reason," she said, tapping the desk with her quill. "And so do lessons.

This assignment will help them understand the standards I expect. It’s important that they take it seriously." She added, almost to herself, "Besides, an A-class potion requires an even higher-grade Glowcap.

It will test their abilities to acquire, not just create."Annie nodded slowly, folding the note carefully. "Understood, Professor Edel Ty." She left the office, moving swiftly through the corridors of the academy, her heart thumping with the weight of the new message.In the hallway, she found Mors, the student coordinator who handled all academy notices.

A tall, wiry man with an observant demeanor, he was known for his efficiency and his keen eye for detail. Handing him the folded paper, she said, "Here. Please distribute this to the first-year groups. Professor Edel Ty says it’s an urgent change to their practice test."Mors examined the notice for a moment before nodding.

"Got it," he replied, slipping the note into his satchel. He moved efficiently from group to group, a silent messenger of the Professor’s will. He handed it out to the students, observing their reactions as they read the update with murmurs of surprise, some exchanging curious glances at the unexpected change.

When he approached Kael Vi-rel’s group, Mors paused, holding the paper in his hand. He watched them for a long moment, a ghost of a smile on his lips. He saw the apathetic smirk on Kael’s face, the desperate determination in Clara Winslet, and the quiet, trusting nature of Silva.

This group, he knew, was already a fascinating anomaly. He had seen Kael in other classes, a student who broke every rule but somehow produced flawless results. For reasons only he knew, that group would continue with the original D-Class assignment.

He had a feeling a more complicated lesson was needed for them, one that didn’t involve a simple change of rules. He tucked the notice back into his satchel, and moved on.By the time he returned, the other groups were buzzing with conversation. Annie, passing by, caught sight of the scene and smiled faintly. The plan had worked perfectly. Some lessons, she realized, were taught not by what was said, but by what was left unspoken.

Back in her office, Edel Ty returned to her half-finished notes, her mind calm and unwavering. She knew her message would create the chaos she desired, a necessary crucible for growth. Even without explicit instructions, she knew the message had reached the right students and the lesson would take root in exactly the way she intended. The true test, after all, was never just about the potion. It was about adaptability, and the subtle art of knowing when to follow the rules, and when to break them.

On weekends, Nexus Academy was a ghost town, its halls quiet and its classrooms empty. Most students would use this time for intense, focused self-improvement.

Some would spar in the combat arena, their grunts and the clash of steel echoing in the silence. Others would delve into spellcraft or enhance their physical capabilities, pushing their bodies to the limit.

A few wandered the libraries, seeking knowledge that went beyond the standard curriculum, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of enchanted scrolls.I, however, preferred to travel. I used the Warp Hall to slip into another city, far from the familiar walls of Nexus.

I wasn’t just looking for a change of scenery; I was looking for opportunities, for a way to test the knowledge from my past life against the reality of this one.Shoo!For an instant, it felt as though I was falling from a cliff, the air rushing past me, the scenery blurring into streaks of color. My stomach twisted with a strange, exhilarating vertigo.

It was an unsettling but necessary feeling, a testament to the arcane power of the Warp Hall. Welcome to Nash Ruins!A calm, chime-like voice rang beside my ears, signaling that I had successfully passed through the Warp Hall."Uh-huh, I’m feeling dizzy," I muttered, blinking as I shook my head to clear the haze. The disorientation was a small price to pay for instantaneous travel.Looking up, I saw a massive apricot-colored barrier stretching high into the sky.

The light from the sun glimmered on its surface, refracting in strange, iridescent patterns. This was the city’s defensive field, an enchanted boundary that kept out unwanted creatures and disturbances. It was a marvel of ancient magic and a sign of the city’s prosperity.

As I descended from the Warp Hall’s scaffolding, an attendant rushed over, bowing slightly as his eyes lingered on my Nexus Academy uniform coat and the golden pocket watch fastened to my waist. He recognized the symbols of power and prestige immediately."Welcome to Nash, Hero Kael Vi-rel!""I’m not an official hero yet, just a cadet," I replied, straightening my coat. It was a small but important distinction.

"Haha, Nexus Hero academy cadets deserve the same treatment as regular heroes." He chuckled, a respectful smile on his face.This was the Nexus effect. Even with just a cadet’s pass, one could use a Warp Hall for free, an immense privilege that saved a hero hundreds of coins. Moreover, cadets were treated with respect even outside Nexus territory.

In this world, anyone holding the proper qualifications was essentially treated as a ’hero.’ And among them, Nexus was the most prestigious."Hey, look over there. A Nexus Cadet!""It’s true... I’ve never seen one in person," whispered someone nearby, their voice filled with awe.Our uniforms were designed to be unmistakable.

The long coat, trimmed with gold, and the ensigma, Nexus’s symbol, gleamed proudly in the sunlight. Wearing it, I felt as if my presence alone demanded attention, a stark contrast to my usual attempts at being inconspicuous.

I straightened my shoulders and walked with newfound confidence. Occasionally, I flicked the hem of my coat, feeling it flutter like a banner. Somehow, my chest felt as broad as a field."Where are you going? If it’s your first time here, we’ll guide you," the attendant called out, offering his services with genuine helpfulness."No. I’ve been here a few times," I said.It had been a few weeks since I moved to Nexus. Every weekend, I used the Warp Hall to explore nearby cities or hunt in the surrounding ruins. The goal was simple: confirm whether knowledge from my previous world still applied here. The results were surprisingly positive.

While reality had its own twists, the majority of important mechanics, principles, and monster locations remained unchanged.

Today’s target was the Glowcap Mushroom, a crucial component for our group project. It was located in the territory of a Firescale Serpent, a creature rated Grade D.

Though only slightly stronger than a normal beast, it had magical defenses and lightning-fast reflexes, earning its dangerous reputation among newer adventurers.I had honed my physical attack power and excelled in speed, so I felt confident in my ability to handle it.’Somewhere around here...’ I muttered.I wandered through the swamp, weaving between thick reeds and low-hanging branches.