Book Eater

Chapter 14 - Here Comes the Mutiny (2)

The presence of the academy's dunce was well known both to existing students and incoming freshmen. Everybody knew that Theodore Miller had to repeat the same year three times. Some said that this would be his final year repeating the course, while others said he would drop out halfway through. But not a single soul at the academy thought Theo would be able to graduate. It was also an opinion shared by Professor Bernard Wheeler, who was in charge of the third grade's alchemy classes.

I don't know why he decided to step foot in the academy... Although he has endured four years, this impudent fellow will soon return to the countryside.

He looked at Theo, who was staring out the window like he wasn't aware of the gossip. The relationship between the professor and student hadn't been so bad in the beginning. Although Professor Bernard was narrow-minded, he still acknowledged the fact that Theodore Miller was from a noble lineage, no matter how low his family had fallen.

There was another reason for Professor Bernard's hostile attitude.

It was an incident that had happened two years ago in an alchemy class, shortly after Theo had received his first repeater letter. Back then, Theo was still working enthusiastically in class, and Professor Bernard was still treating him like every other student. Until...

Professor, I'm sorry, but that paper you quoted from was withdrawn from the Magic Society two years ago.

... What? Are you saying that my class is wrong?

No, the Magic Society said it.

How dare someone like you say such a thing?!

Maybe it wouldn't have been a big deal if an ordinary student like a duke or earl had made the same comment. However, Theodore was a baron from the countryside and a poor student who had repeated a year. Bernard was too proud to endure someone like that finding fault with his class.

Since that day, Bernard felt a spike of irritation every time he saw Theo. He spent many nights wondering how to remove him from the academy. However, Theodore's conduct was exemplary, and there was nothing to be faulted except for his lack of practical results. So Bernard came up with another approach.

"The combination formula you will be learning today is Full Moon Bead, which is more complicated than you might think. If you make a mistake, then these precious ingredients will be destroyed. On the other hand, too much magic power will turn it into a poison, not medicine. But its effect is powerful enough to allow a half-dying person to catch their breath."

Bernard kept writing on the board while watching Theodore out of the corner of his eye. However, Theo was just staring blankly at the blackboard. Bernard was so irritated that he lost his temper and laughed.

"Then the question... Theodore?"

"Yes." Theo answered with a calm expression.

"Explain why Full Moon Bead is difficult to combine. Haven't you been taking my class for three years?"

Some students quietly chuckled, while others remained expressionless. But they weren't able to stop themselves from glancing over. It was the same kind of taunts as always.

Theo replied serenely, "Every ingredient in the Full Moon Bead contains enough magic power that only magicians can safely handle them. If one cannot control their magic power precisely, then the ingredients would be easily spoiled. As such, the Full Moon Bead is very difficult to make."

Although Bernard was secretly laughing at the answer, he gestured to the other students.

"Yes, great answer. Everybody clap!"