Chapter 233: Atlas Seminar [3]

Chapter 232

───────────

Episode 59 - Atlas Seminar [3]

─────────────────────────────────

The idea of making a villain abandon that path and become an Awakened made me think long and hard.

Logically speaking, it’s impossible for a villain to become human again.

The Power of Chaos within their bodies is the main reason.

Since Mana and the Power of Chaos are positive and negative energies, they are complete opposites and naturally destroy each other.

But I have the ability to erase the Power of Chaos for three seconds using Annihilation.

That means it’s possible for a villain to become human again.

’It’s only a hypothesis, but... it might actually be possible.’

I may need the knowledge contained within certain Traits that could be incorporated into the abilities of the Unique Trait, Annihilation.

On top of thoroughly studying what makes up a villain and an Awakened.

And above all, since a villain’s body is no longer human, I’d probably have to delve into Genetic Alchemy.

A branch of Alchemy that has barely been studied, since experimenting on living beings—especially humans—is strictly forbidden.

’And I’d have to study both an Awakened and a villain at the same time.’

Still, I quickly dismissed those thoughts. In the end, everything I’d come up with was nothing more than a hypothesis.

Even so, it’s worth trying, isn’t it?

"Then I’ll get going if there’s nothing else in Astella’s report."

I rose from the sofa I had been sitting on, but then...

Mia spoke, making me stop.

"Wait, Master... I’ve finally figured out what the Emotional Erosion Potion does."

"....."

I was caught off guard for a moment.

The Emotional Erosion Potion was one I’d found quite a long time ago.

It was one of the many potions I had obtained inside a cave in the Golden Forest.

The one who created those potions was a Witch known as the Witch of the Black Spring.

The reason I went to that cave was to find a hidden item that would help me fight a Class 6 Demonic Beast in Chapter One.

And ever since then, I had never discovered what the Emotional Erosion Potion actually did.

’If I find out what it does, it might help me fully master my Growing Flower Trait.’

I had been stuck at Mastery Perfection.

"So, what does it do?"

I asked, unable to hide my excitement. Mia answered immediately.

"Um, that’s it...."

Her next words left me completely astonished.

The reason...

...The effect of the Emotional Erosion Potion was completely unexpected.

***

A week has already passed since I returned to the Academy.

Next week marks the first day of the Second Semester, which means summer vacation for all the cadets is almost over.

In any case, throughout this past week, I’ve been training alongside Clementine.

She was the one who had asked me, during the exam period of last semester, to train her.

Honestly, I still don’t understand why she wants me to train her. Knowing how reserved she is, it was hard to tell what was going through her mind.

Besides, for some reason, Lumina hasn’t been seen anywhere.

’We’re supposed to leave for the Atlas Seminar today.’

Professor Ashly had sent me a letter yesterday asking me to come to her office today regarding our upcoming trip.

The Atlas Seminar was located in a city known as the Democracy of Ordeal.

The Democracy of Ordeal was also home to the headquarters of the Holy Church and, naturally, where the events of Chapter Three would take place.

It was also known as the Second Imperial Capital of the Holy Empire of Ordeal.

In any case...

...I clenched my fist before slowly opening my palm.

Resting there was a dark purple flower created entirely from Mana.

’I can already feel myself getting close to mastering Growing Flower.’

Just a little more, and all of my Traits would finally reach Mastery Maximum.

I then summoned several more flowers of the same color. Finally, I separated their petals before manipulating them into the shape of a sword.

The sword, forged entirely from dark purple flower petals, radiated an overwhelming aura.

’The purple flower has the ability to cut through concepts such as the Soul or inflict devastating damage upon it.’

Before, I could only manipulate the flower petals without giving them a defined shape. Now, I could mold them into any form I desired.

I could also soften their effects or amplify them even further with Mana.

Moreover, the Mana consumption was incredibly low. Before, I could only use Growing Flower at full power twice before running out of Mana.

Now, I could use it eight times in a row before exhausting my Mana.

"Hey, disciple, I have to remind you to be careful with that Trait."

"Ah, yeah, I understand."

At first glance, it was an incredibly powerful Trait, but...

’...It can hurt me too.’

Normally, Traits couldn’t harm their own user. I didn’t know the exact reason, but some people claimed it was because their powers were tied to your Mana.

And as long as you used a Trait fueled by your own Mana, it would be incapable of injuring you.

But Growing Flower was different. It could wound my enemies, but it could also wound me.

’Especially the purple flowers—they attack the soul directly.’

Without a Divine Soul, it was probably impossible—or at least nearly impossible—to defend against what the purple flowers could do.

"Alright, let’s get going. Master, head back to the Spiritual Sea for now."

"Okay, see you later."

My master flew forward, passed through my chest, and disappeared, vanishing even from my senses.

The Spiritual Sea was something I had unlocked after bringing my Trait, Spirit Manipulation, to Mastery Maximum.

It granted me a certain degree of control over Spirits while also allowing me to create a Spiritual Sea.

Something that, under normal circumstances, only an Awakened of the Elementalist Specialty could accomplish.

But thanks to Spirit Manipulation, I had managed to do it.

Without wasting any more time, I left my dorm room and headed toward Professor Ashly’s office.

***

Knock...! Knock...!

I knocked twice on the office door, and a second later, Professor Ashly’s voice answered from inside.

"You may come in."

I grasped the doorknob, turned it, and pushed the door open.

After stepping inside, I closed the door behind me.

The white lines filling my vision outlined the interior of her office. I walked over to the desk where Professor Ashly was seated.

Then I sat down across from her and quietly waited for her to finish whatever she was working on.

"It seems you’ve already reached Five Stars. Congratulations on your rapid growth, Cadet Adel."

"Thank you, Professor."

The density of Mana within my body was completely different from what it had been back when I was still at Four Stars.

Considering Professor Ashly was a Seven-Star Awakened, her ability to sense Mana was exceptional.

She had also been Director Bernice’s disciple in the past. However, because Professor Ashly specialized in fields other than combat,

she eventually had to stop being Director Bernice’s disciple because, in the end, she simply didn’t possess enough talent for combat. Combat Magic was an extremely difficult discipline.

Professor Ashly had always focused more on support than on fighting.

"But do you know where Lumina is, Professor Ashly?"

At my question, Professor Ashly replied.

"Oh, she’s already in the Democracy of Ordeal. She said she’d been away for the entire month, so she decided to stay in the Democracy of Ordeal instead of returning to the Academy."

"Mhm, that makes sense."

’Don’t tell me she’s going after Professor Ashly’s assassins.’

But I quickly shook my head.

The only way to find Professor Ashly’s assassins was when they chose to reveal themselves.

Otherwise, tracking them down would take several months, since they were an elite unit of assassins that excelled at remaining hidden.

"Alright, I’m finished. We can leave now. The train departs in an hour, so we’d better hurry."

"Oh, right."

Professor Ashly stood up from her seat and picked up a Storage Ring resting on her desk.

Then she grabbed a bag before looking at me and asking,

"By the way, Cadet Adel, do you already have your thesis prepared?"

".....?!"

’W-wait, what thesis...? What is she talking about?’

I entered my Mental Palace, and after a few seconds, my face turned pale.

Because she was absolutely right—I had to submit a thesis due to the competition between assistants.

And because I had spent nearly seven months training inside a Memory Gate,

I had pushed it aside and focused solely on that, completely forgetting about the thesis I was supposed to present.

’Damn it... I was planning to submit a thesis on Alchemy, but...’

For obvious reasons, I couldn’t write the thesis myself. I had planned to ask Rinna or Veronica to help me write it.

Lumina would be the one reading it aloud while I handled the detailed explanations myself.

So, in other words...

’I’m screwed... Damn it.’

Meanwhile, Professor Ashly looked at me expressionlessly before letting out a quiet sigh.

"We still have five hours left. Once we meet Cadet Lumina, ask her for help."

"Y-Yes... Professor."

My shoulders slumped heavily, and I no longer had the energy to even think of an excuse.