As he had just finished the class, Dekan was able to clearly remember every step involved in making the antidote.
Mielle, on the other hand, helped Dekan prepare the materials needed.
What surprised Dekan was that Mielle's preparations completely met his expectations, making his work twice as efficient.
However, she seemed to always observe Dekan closely when they had some free time.
Although Dekan remained focused, Mielle's movements somehow distracted his attention.
The sense of danger brought by his sense of smell occasionally stimulated Dekan's nerves.
The fragrance just now seemed to be more than just her body scent; it had a special medicinal scent.
Like... the feeling of the hypnosis gas he made himself?
Although he didn't know its effects, he was sure it wasn't good.
Dekan secretly cast purification magic on himself a few times.
...
"This is so simple, it looks like we have great chemistry," Mielle said with a smile.
With their cooperation, they successfully produced the antidote in less than ten minutes.
"Well done!" Dekan cleaned up the experimental table. He looked like he wanted to leave quickly.
"By the way, Dekan, I heard you're a genius at card-making?" Mielle, who was also tidying up, asked.
"It's all exaggerated," Dekan replied casually.
It seemed that news of his creation of an epic card during the third-tier exam had spread quickly throughout the capital.
"Hehe, I don't know who exaggerated it, but you certainly made Princess Alice cry."
"How did that news even spread?" Dekan couldn't help but look at Mielle seriously.
He thought those attendants wouldn't dare to gossip, and Theresa wouldn't spread Alice's embarrassment either.
Mielle seemed to sense Dekan's confusion. She remained silent for a moment before speaking meaningfully, "Alice lives next door to me, and she cried to me for quite a while yesterday. Her eyes were all swollen."
"... Hearing this from you makes me feel guilty."
To be honest, that foolish princess was a good person. At least she had a cheerful personality.
Not only did she not ask him for money, she also didn't want him to owe her any favors.
The main reason she couldn't make money was that her card-making skills were a bit problematic. With the materials she used, even if she successfully made the card, there wasn't much profit to be had.
Unfortunately, when he saw how Alice looked at that time, he couldn't resist his urge to tease her a bit.
"Is Alice okay now?"
"She's fine, but she gave me a hard time and I had to comfort her for a long time. I also told her not to tell her brother and the king about this. Else, you would be in trouble."
"... Thank you for that."
"So, how are you going to thank me?"
"Anything you want, just ask quickly. Just know that it’s rare for me to owe someone a favor."
"Then please drop your guard against me."
"That's the one thing that's impossible."
"You're really mean. Even though I've been sincere toward you."
"Sincere? I doubt Alice would have told you all the embarrassing details, right?"
Dekan raised an eyebrow, suspecting that Mielle was bluffing.
"Oh, you've figured it out."
Mielle didn't panic at all and smiled slightly with her finger against her lips.
"Hmph."
Dekan decisively moved to leave, picked up a book, and walked away without looking back.
Mielle didn't try to stop him, she just said from behind, "Aren’t you interested in poison-making?"
"Why would I be? Decent people like myself don’t make poison all the time."
Although Dekan's footsteps hesitated for a moment, he continued to walk.
"Didn’t you borrow Poison Refinement 1 and 2?"
Mielle's light voice echoed in the quiet classroom.
Dekan finally stopped his departure and turned to look at Mielle.
He saw Mielle pick up a book and wave it at him, which was Poison Refinement 3.
Dekan's brow furrowed, but it quickly relaxed.
What followed was a genuine smile from the depths of his heart.
Mielle also smiled in response.
With a glance, they confirmed that they were both kind-hearted people.
The two of them had a feeling of camaraderie through books.
They should have said it earlier.
As long as you like poison-making, you are like family to me.
What's wrong with joking around?
Dekan: "Shall we continue our research together?"
Mielle: “Of course."
The distance between the two of them seemed to disappear instantly.
It was as if two like-minded researchers were sitting in front of an experiment table, preparing equipment again while exchanging ideas.
Mielle: "Don't you think it's a waste to have only produced an antidote for the poison we made earlier?"
Dekan: "Do you have any other ideas?"
Mielle: "We can create an antidote to improve the poison. The weakness of this new type of poison is that it's too easily neutralized. If we can successfully improve it, it will be perfect."
Dekan: "Great minds think alike. I can also analyze toxins and combine their principles with poison magic in card-making."
Mielle: "Hehe, I have some self-developed poison magic and potion recipes, but I'm not good at card-making. If we work together, maybe we can create some interesting cards."
Dekan: "Then what are we waiting for? We have to make some progress today, and we can't leave until it gets dark."
...
The sky was tinted with a slight red hue, and the alchemy classroom had started to dim.
There were only the two of them left in the spacious classroom.
There was a somewhat intriguing atmosphere between them.
However, they were both deeply focused and didn't notice this peculiar ambiance.
Once they entered the research mode, even Mielle became exceptionally serious.
"Knock, knock!"
"You need to leave this classroom."
It wasn't until a teacher from the College of Alchemy came in to remind them that they looked around and realized the classroom was empty.
Their stomachs seemed to be a bit hungry too.
It's easy to forget about time when you're doing something you're interested in, especially when you have a like-minded companion.
"It seems that we can only stop here today."
Dekan sighed and reluctantly put down the alchemical flask in his hand.
The classroom and laboratory were about to be locked.
After all, this wasn't a library, and there were many potions stored here, so security was strict.
On Saturdays and Sundays, the place wouldn't be accessible to students without teachers on duty.
"But our research is at a crucial stage, isn't it?"
Mielle furrowed her brow.
Dekan: "Do you have any good ideas?"
Mielle: "Come to my room. I've converted the storage room into an alchemical laboratory. If there's nothing else going on today, we can stay until night."
Dekan hesitated a bit and asked, "Stay until night?"
Since Mielle always had a smile on her face, Dekan couldn't quite figure out what she was thinking.
Mielle countered, "I don't mind, do you?"
Dekan: "..."
Mielle: "Can we abandon our scientific spirit halfway?"
Dekan: "You're right, let's go!"
