Alterisha’s private research lab was adjacent to the alchemy lecture room. Therefore, many students often considered it as just another storage warehouse. In fact, Professor Maizen stored reference books there and used it as a storage space.

Even though the place was humble, Alterisha was grateful for it. Compared to the days when she had to secretly experiment in the basement because she didn't have a proper space for research, this shabby warehouse was adequate and she didn't have to conduct her experiments in secret.

The reason Alterisha could endure the constant harassment and torment from Professor Maizen was thanks to this cozy warehouse that she had to herself. In that place, she could dream of the future.

"Alterisha, hand over the paper you wrote."

When those words were spoken, Alterisha lowered her head, feeling that this was inevitable.

Professor Mason Tyrin said, "I'll give you the opportunity to participate in the presentation."

Opportunity.

Yes, it was an opportunity.

It was the chance for Alterisha, a small alchemist, to finally spread her wings and soar high.

Professor Maizen Tyren held onto Alterisha tightly, using the "opportunity" as an excuse to keep her from soaring.

However, there was no other option. "You'll have another opportunity next year, won't you?"

"Yes."

Professor Maizen’s tone was different from usual. It was as if he was trying to coax a child, or like an adult trying to take away the strawberry-flavored candy that the child was enjoying.

That way, he tried to take away Alterisha’s paper.

She clenched her fists and trembled, but she couldn't do anything. It had been a mere five years.

Five years? Well, saying five years was an understatement. Her entire life as an alchemist was hanging on this research.

She had been happy in the basement; in her tiny apartment, or even in the moldy attic. Whenever she saw progress in her research, even if it was just a little, she felt a sense of accomplishment. And when she finally completed the paper, it felt as if she gave birth to a child.

She was ecstatic. It felt like she had everything in the world. But Professor Maizen... seemed like he wanted to torture her. He even tried to take away her "child."

"Do you understand? I will help you prepare for a proper presentation next year.”

It was a lie. She wasn't capable of receiving such great thing. He would try to take away next year's results as well.

"... Yes."

But, she already knew the predetermined answer she could give. It was because she had no way to withstand Professor Maizen’s vast connections and abilities. With a single word from him, someone like Alterisha would never be able to spread her wings in that industry.

"Now, hand it over."

Alterisha silently organized her paper and handed it neatly to Maizen, and he accepted the items as if they were rightfully returned to him.

"Oh, by the way. If you bring another prepared paper, I will make an effort for you to participate in this year's presentation."

"... Thank you."

"Yeah, keep up the effort."

After Professor Maizen closed the door and left, Alterisha sank into her seat.

A second paper?

There wasn't much time left until the next presentation.

How could she prepare it in such a short period? It was merely another torment from Professor Maizen.

"I gave you an opportunity, but you failed to seize it."

That was what he would say. It was agonizing and painful. Yet, faced with the reality of being unable to do anything, Alterisha simply covered her face with both hands.

"What should I do?"

Until now, she had endured such torment and loneliness. But she persevered, dreaming of herself flying in the distant future.

However, she painfully realized that such hope was fleeting. It would have been better if she didn't even have a handful of hope, then she could have given up long ago and found peace of mind.

But, Professor Maizen kept throwing her that small glimmer of hope, preventing her from giving up.

However, after several years, even the dim-witted Alterisha gradually came to understand that the handful of hope was truly just an illusion, so elusive that even grasping onto it was impossible.

Until the very end, Maizen tortured her with hope. "If you write the next paper, I will let you participate in the presentation."

‘But... Can I really write the next paper?’

She simply had no confidence in herself.

As Edna said, in the Stella Academy, even as an assistant, one could be the supervising professor of a club. What was truly absurd was that the policy had been revised due to professors finding it troublesome to take on the role of club supervisor.

Well, it wasn't so bad. After all, Baek Yu-Seol had never gotten along well with professors.

Upon arriving at the alchemy laboratory, he headed towards the warehouse located in a corner. Although it was called a warehouse, it was practically a research lab.

As he approached the warehouse and reached for the door, he made eye contact with Professor Maizen, who was coming out from the inside.

He was holding a thin envelope in his hands.

"Hello."

Despite greeting him, he quickly turned his head and went on his way. However, for some reason, even though he had met Baek Yu-Seol, there was no sign of him being in a bad mood.

Moreover, Professor Maizen even had a slight smile on his lips.

"What's going on?"

With a curious mind, Baek Yu-Seol pushed open the slightly ajar door and entered.

There, he found Alterisha sitting on the floor, who was startled as she picked up scattered papers.

"Uh, uh, you're here?"

She seemed strangely flustered. Her glasses were smudged, and her eyes were slightly red.

Baek Yu-Seol had a stiff expression as he approached her, examining the crumpled papers on the ground.

"Why? What happened?"

"... Assistant."

He stared directly into Alterisha’s red eyes.

"The paper you said you had been preparing, where did it go?"

She laughed foolishly. "Oh... I gave it to the professor. You know, there's an academic conference coming up soon. The professor said he would use my paper for that. It's a great opportunity. Having my research presented among such talented alchemists..."

"Huh, Assistant, but isn't it just taken away? Is the assistant’s name even mentioned there?"

Hearing Baek Yu-Seol’s words, Alterisha hesitated for a moment, then blushed and laughed.

"Hehe... it's okay! This is all part of the experience. That's how this industry works. It's not just me who gets things taken away. Everyone goes through it. They all go along with it."

That was how they endured to become alchemists. Alterisha omitted the rest of her words, but somehow, like telepathy, he understood.