The alchemy academic community had become extremely small. It was not without reason that people would say that they knew everyone in the field.

So, if one mistakenly offends a senior alchemist, he might have to give up on the path to becoming an alchemist forever.

Her words were true.

Everyone was like that. They all played along with it.

However, none of them truly accepted it. They were forced to accept it.

Probably.

This academic conference would be the moment Alterisha had been eagerly waiting for. Her research would be unveiled to the world for the first time!

For that moment, she endured and persevered through the pressure from Maizen Tyren. But, Maizen would have said, "Just wait one more year. You'll have another chance next year, won't you?"

She accepted it. She had no choice but to accept it because that was the reality. There was nothing she could do.

"In games... things like this never happened."

Probably, around this time.

Professor Maizen Tyren would have presented the 'Tyren Zeus Potion' that he stole from Eisel at the academic conference. But, due to the twist in fate, nothing was left in his hands.

So what was next? He had no choice but to turn his head to the closest and most approachable alchemist.

That was Alterisha.

‘... This isn’t the time for me to ask her about being the advisor of a club.’

Alterisha stood up, following Maizen Tyren, and presented her research, gaining recognition from all the alchemists present.

Even more so than Professor Maizen’s achievements.

Perhaps it was only natural. Professor Maizen’s research ultimately had a unique shift in perspective and unusual ideas, but in the end, it was at a student level. It was only natural that the results of years of research by the genius alchemist Alterisha would surpass it.

There, she gained confidence for the first time.

"I can continue to be an alchemist!"

That was the driving force that allowed her to continue being an alchemist, even in situations of pressure, disregard, and persecution.

The current Alterisha had reached her limit. No matter how hard she tried to appear positive, the barrier protecting her inner self had become so weak that a mere tap would easily break it.

"..."

Baek Yu-Seol glanced absentmindedly at the blackboard, where lay the 'Delta Augmentation Technique,' which was still unfinished and abandoned.

Probably within a month at least, Professor Maizen would complete that legendary formula.

Baek Yu-Seol had hesitated to slowly let Alterisha complete that formula herself. But, seeing her constantly being deprived and robbed, he couldn't bear it any longer.

Recovering her research paper was one thing, but now there seemed to be no other way than to give Maizen a significant blow.

"Assistant, besides that, there was something was working on."

"Huh? What...?"

"Delta Augmentation Technique."

"Ah... Huh. The one I solved with you? You know that the Delta Augmentation Technique has been an unsolved problem for 300 years. Do you think you can solve it now? I've tried to approach it from various unique angles, but it just doesn't work."

"That... I heard that the part where you got stuck last time, if we solve just that part, it might show us a way forward?"

"Hmm? Well, that's true..."

"I solved it."

"... What?"

Alterisha’s motion halted abruptly at Baek Yu-Seol’s words. She slowly raised her creaking neck, and locked her gaze with him.

"But no matter how much I solved that part, I couldn't understand what it meant."

"What... did you say? You solved it, for real? Really?"

"Yes. Shall I show you?"

Nodding her head like a maniac, Alterisha eagerly gazed at Baek Yu-Seol as he took out a pen from his coat pocket, and wrote down a simple formula.

Then, Alterisha’s large pupils widened even further, and she gasped silently, her mouth hanging open.

"Ah...!"

She realized something. Unlike him, who could only marvel and pretend, the true prodigy’s mind flashed with numerous images, formulas, and alchemical recipes.

"This is... Unbelievable..."

Baek Yu-Seol shouldn't solve this problem himself. It was crucial for her, a true genius, to submit the research paper on her own and gain confidence. Besides, she had supported him when he had completed his own paper.

He had no intention of becoming an alchemist. He lacked the ideas and abilities for it. He merely relied on his spec and pretended to be smart by following recorded recipes.

But she was a genuine prodigy. A genius who would change the future of humanity.

"If we add the dispersion ratio and reflection ratio to the coefficient and combine it with the flow of magic..."

She was completely absorbed, as if possessed by something, forgetting that he was sitting in front of her. Each time Baek Yu-Seol saw her, he marveled at her concentration.

Leaving Alterisha alone, he got up quietly, and closed the door, leaving without making a single noise.

‘My role ends here.’