Magic Academy's Bastard Instructor

Chapter 55: Withering Flower [1]

Chapter 55: Withering Flower [1]

Roselyn's private lab was a small room attached to the Alchemy lecture practice hall. 

To most students, it was nothing more than a storage space. Her senior professors often treated it as one too, filling it with old teaching materials and broken alchemical tools.

Considering how the room was used, it could also be called a warehouse.

But compared to the days when she had to conduct secret experiments in her cramped 70,000 Rend-a-month apartment, this room felt like a luxury.

Back then, she had to deal with nosy neighbors complaining about the smell of potions or the noise from bubbling flasks. 

To make matters worse, she had to scavenge for broken tools from garbage heaps and only experiment when the apartment was nearly empty.

Now, she had a place where she didn't have to hide. Now, she had spare tools that were tossed aside by her seniors professors all free for use.

To them, it was unusable. To Roselyn, it was more than enough.

Of course, when it came to sensitive research, she still had to work from her apartment. 

Professor Claude insisted on it, warning her that other professors might steal her work if she left it in the lab.

Despite Claude's constant beratement and harassment, Roselyn put up with it. She endured it all for this small, imperfect space she could call her own.

Here, she could dream of her future.

"Roselyn, hand over the thesis you wrote."

At those words, Roselyn's heart sank. She lowered her head, knowing this moment was inevitable.

Professor Claude had once told her, "I'll give you the opportunity to present at the Alchemical Engineering Conference."

An opportunity.

It was supposed to be a chance for Roselyn, an unknown alchemist, to finally show her worth.

But in reality, it was nothing more than a shackle.

Using the pretext of an "opportunity," Professor Claude had been keeping her shackled.

However, she had no choice.

"You can always try again next year, right?" 

"....Yes."

Her hands trembled as she clenched her fists beneath the desk. She hated it. She hated him.

Three years. No, maybe it was longer than that. It felt like her entire life as an alchemist had gone into this research.

From the dim rented apartment where she barely had space for a table….

From the cramped storage room where dust seemed to suffocate her….

She had worked tirelessly, step by step. 

Each tiny breakthrough had filled her with joy. 

Each discovery had made her heart race.

But now, Claude was here to tear it away like a thief stealing a painter's canvas before the final stroke.

"Do you understand?" Claude said in that same soft, sickening tone. "I'll help you prepare properly for next year's conference."