BXBX NOVEL Chapter 198 Ruri's Attempt
In a discreet manner, mixing a poisonous substance into the pile of alchemical ingredients on her classmate's table, Rumia Flora, continuing to live the life of Ruri Zerem, waited for the concoction stirred by the red-haired woman to finish.
"Hey, Ruri! Been spacing out, have you?"
"Uh, not really. You see, I'm done concocting my potion. It's a Mana Potion, by the way. How about you?"
"Sigh. You're secretly a genius, aren't you?"
Alice commended Ruri's potion concocting as she continued to finish her work.
"Ha! Perhaps you should stop worrying about others' work when you have yet to finish yours."
Rumia teased before her eyes darted around, seeing some students did the same as they managed to finish within the allotted time, while some others were busy completing the product.
Although Rumia wasn't an Alchemist, it was easy for her to follow the instructions written in the basic alchemy manual lent to each of them.
As time quickly passed, Rumia thought of the relevant information she could utilize as an alien of this ancient world.
To begin with, even without the artifact that could summon the Dimensional Inventory, she could utilize it through the System, though she wasn't sure why it wasn't mentioned in the Transmigrator's Privilege, she surmised that it was perhaps due to the System's existence, the Dimensional Inventory being a part of it.
Additionally, she could bring out numerous items in her possession before her transmigration. Although not everything, it was more than enough for her as she could utilize her Personal Weapon, Whip of the Slard (Legendary). But there's a difference in what she knew because the descriptions and the original overall stats of the items that were brought with her Soul Body were rewritten and nerfed. Rumia had guessed that it probably matched the power system of this world.
One of the reasons why that's the case was because the materials to craft the items she possessed could not or have yet to be found in this ancient world, at least that's what she thought after considering the possibilities.
Furthermore, her Status Window wasn't showing her stats, but only her name as Ruri Zerem (Rumia Flora), and her age, which was seventeen years old. Apart from that, information that matched this world system could be browsed.
***
Name: Ruri Zerem (Rumia Flora)
Age: 17 Years Old
World: —
Born: Starfall Year of 1021 – Post Fourth Starfall
Rank: Novice
Talent: Sword
Aptitudes: Magic, Farming, Fishing, Excavating, Alchemy, Artistry, Crafting...
***
Rumia had guessed that the stats she accumulated through arduous training and slaying dungeon monsters, as well as her skills, were substituted to be the Transmigrator's Privilege. The Rank she was used to, F- to SSS+, was also changed, which she found strangely interesting.
"Time's up! Anyone I see that's still working will have their grade for this work deducted."
Their professor, a woman with blonde mid-length hair, yellow almond eyes, a tender body, and pale skin had ordered every student in her class to stop working with the potions as the allotted time finally hit the mark.
"Is there someone who didn't finish it?"
"..."
"I see. Anxiety is written on others' faces, huh."
The professor said as no one answered her question. Her brows pricked up, finding the class as determined — not to fail — students.
With a smile of anticipation spread across her face, she clapped two times, sending every student's thoughts to reality as they were jolted by the sudden sound.
"Alright. Choose someone to give that potion of yours.
"Be reminded that the potions to be concocted are either Health, Mana, or Stamina Potions.
"In addition, refer to the manual for the potential side effect if the results of what you did is a mess to one's body.
"But fret not, it doesn't matter how it was stirred, as long as the ingredients are right, it would not harm someone, though the potion's effectiveness might be greatly lessened."
After some time, with the professor's words, the students had finished picking someone to whom they would give the half-assed potions they made.
***
"Ruri, here's mine! It's a Health Potion. Concocted with love!"
'Death, you mean?'
Rumia inwardly lampooned, sizing up the potion made of red thick glistening liquid within the round-bottom flask.
"Here's mine! I hope it's up to the standards."
Alice handed the Mana Potion she made to the red-haired woman.
"Uh, Alani, right? Daughter of Duke Ashford."
Alice continued, feeling a bit embarrassed interacting with the Duke's daughter, who came from one of the powerhouses of the Augaia Empire.
The three-way potion sharing then proceeded without many hitches. Alani's Health Potion landed in Ruri's hands, Ruri's Stamina Potion landed in Alice's hands, and Alice's Mana Potion landed in Alani's hands.
A moment later, similar to other students who had exchanged their potions, the three of them gulped it down almost at the same time.
"It tastes like a plant."
"Mine's like water, though."
"Haha. This one's like an iron."
Rumia cackled, waiting for the effect of the Health Potion. If Alani, the Duke's daughter was a fellow transmigrator, Rumia wouldn't heal quickly when the side effects due to her discreet interruption, assuming that Alani mixed and stirred everything including the ones Rumia slipped into, had taken effect.
Sometime later, as everyone had drunk the potion, the professor then scrutinized each of them before speaking words of commendation.
"Wow. It seems every one of you managed to make something standard, without side effects."
The professor revealed a subtle smile, which Rumia incidentally caught.
After three to four minutes, as everyone started to tidy up the tools of the Alchemy Laboratory under the gaze of the professor, one after another, stomachache seemed to become contagious as almost at the same time, the students reflexively rubbed their abdomens as the pain was gradually felt.
Rumia, on the other hand, confirmed that Alani, due to the Health Potion the first suspected person concocted, with her added mixture of poisonous ingredients, wasn't a fellow transmigrator as the System had notified him of Regeneration and Abnormal Status Immunity, which would not work if it was done by someone with the same predicament as hers.
'Do you think you can fool me?!'
Inwardly seething, Rumia acted as though she was in pain similar to others.
She realized what the professor had done — she might have given them a fake or perhaps not an accurate manual for alchemy to cause this aftermath, which would help the professor identify anyone who wasn't affected and be labeled as a transmigrator.
"Area Heal-!"
Seeing the students in excruciating circumstances, the professor used magic, which was under the category of Divine Power from the Holacis Republic.
After two to three seconds, as complicated and exquisite magic circles appeared on her hands, the students were now as fine as they were before.
"I-is everyone fine now?"
The professor, with a hint of worry, asked the students before grabbing one of the alchemy manuals and looking at it.
"Ah... I-it seems this one is outdated and only a part of the historical progress of alchemy. Sigh. I apologize for this mistake."
"N-no, professor. It's fine. I guess it's the failed experiments of some renowned alchemist in the past."
"Yeah, probably."
Some male students, who fancy the professor, consoled her.
'Tsk. You aren't eligible in the entertainment industry.'
Smelling the bogus act and expression of the professor, Rumia thought.
After the incident, the class then ended and everyone went to their designated dormitory rooms.
***
"Hey, Ruri, what the hell is wrong with that professor?!"
"Who knows? She's probably a newbie."
In their designated dormitory room, which could accommodate three people, housed by Ruri, Alice, and Alani of the Ashford Ducal Household, Alice complained at the professor's mistake, on the surface, at least based on what Rumia had thought.
'If not for the option of eliminating the Divine Pope or the Demon Queen, I'll have my way to eliminating that professor as soon as possible.
'If she intends to eliminate others and not to make an ally, that is.'
Because of the other option that was added as per the System's notice, the possibility of having a fellow transmigrator as an ally was presented on the table, but Rumia couldn't rule out the possibility of killing one another as she didn't know the identities of the other transmigrators except for the common fact that they all received the Ancient Pearl of the Cosmos Ocean and upon consuming it was then granted a Title: Ocean's Child.
'Considering my circles on Earth, I don't know many people that I can think of except for my classmates...
'Elizabeth... Samantha...'
For a moment, her memories on Earth lingered, causing her to space out.
"Ah...?"
Alice slumped on her bed and threw a towel at Ruri, which sent her thoughts back to reality.
"Ruri, stop spacing out. Are you on drugs, perhaps?"
"Drugs, what do you mean? I'm not!
"Sorry, okay! I'm just lost in thoughts."
Alice sighed at Ruri's absentmindedness but tried to query.
"Is something bothering you?"
"Nothing serious. I just thought what if... Nevermind."
"You jerk. Stop saying anything that'll make someone curious when you're not going to say everything."
"Haha-! Whatever. Where's Alani?"
Rumia shrugged off Alice's remark as a teasing grin crept up her lips.
"She's probably in her mansion. You know. Even though she's assigned here with us, there's no way in hell they'll let her sleep in some place like this — wooden bed and such.
"You're right... Uh, can we take a stroll? It's boring here to be alone with you."
'Though my attempt to seek a fellow transmigrator isn't what I was expecting, a hint is more than enough progress. I need to dig more.'
"Tsk. You're getting good at pissing me off. But when we're at home, we're acting like saints."
Alice shook her head as she stood up from where she was lying. Tidying themselves up, the two then left the dormitory room to walk around the Augaia Knights Academy.
***
In the library of the Augaia Knights Academy.
"Sigh... How can I manage this?"
The professor of Ruri and the others in the Alchemy Class earlier murmured in a dejected tone. Her pale right hand was intermittently scratching her cheeks.
"Miss Sol? Is something troubling you?"
"No, no. I'm good. Thank you for asking."
The librarian, who was managing and cleaning every book — ancient or modern — asked Sol, the professor's name.
'I shouldn't have taken the Ancient Pearl. I want to go home. I don't even know these people!'
Sol, remembering the Tower of Growth as her party members or friends had decided for her to be the one to receive the Ancient Pearl of the Cosmos Ocean, thought, almost losing herself as she felt like she was in prison — but otherworldly.
'It's extremely hard to trust someone. I don't know, f*ck!
Reading some books about this world's geography and power system, Sol then heard a familiar voice.
"...Professor Sol?"
Glancing slowly, Sol's yellow eyes screened two students standing a meter or two away from her.
"Alice... and Ruri...?"
***
In the Chaos Training Grounds, where Russell, Freya, and the others occasionally gathered.
"Although Amery isn't an Obelisk student anymore, she can also go to the Elnira or Vulcan Kingdom as a visitor.
"We can be certain that there would be player civilians coming along, depending on the Obelisk Organization's final decision."
Russell said, glancing at Amery, sweating due to her intense training.
"But always remember the underlying reasons why the Three-Way Alliance between Humans, Elves, and Dwarves was founded — because of the history-changing benefits.
"For us, or the entirety of the human race, the advanced dwarven technology would be introduced. But for Dwarves, it's probably mining rights.
"And lastly, regarding what the Elves wanted, aside from connection establishment, it's the additional men that would fight on their side against the Vampire Race."
Ken Raven, previous Tanya Drusilla's lover, gritted his teeth at the mention of the vampires.
Russell, after reminding them of the nearing circumstances, glanced at Amelie, who nodded before speaking.
"Regarding the Church of Spade, as per my contractor's command, I need to appoint high-ranking personnel, and it's obvious that it'll be all of you.
"Apart from that, Ken, your future contractor has been decided. But remember that you'll become an Inquisitor of the Church of Spade."
Ken nodded, feeling the need to possess more power.
"Ah, when will-"
Ken was just about to ask when the atmosphere in the Chaos Training Grounds turned colder, which was then followed by the System messages.
[The Goddess of Spade...]