Congratulations to all of you on your enrollment.

　Fee's guy started talking on the stage. He's crisp, and when I look at him like this, I think he's a woman who can do it, but in reality, his stomach is probably churning. Well, it's my fault. And I also feel sick to my stomach at the thought of saying hello over there.

　Normally, a mere instructor would not greet people at an entrance ceremony. But I'm a Blue Star class "Bluesteller" alchemist. In fact, it seems strange that they don't greet each other. However, Fee's guy omitted my greeting at first, but due to pressure from above, my greeting became a decision.


　It's nice to have alchemy at my disposal, but right now it's more of a hardship.


　And as I was despairing, Fee's greeting came to a close.


''Well then, everyone, as a special exception, I would like to introduce a new faculty member. It is the azure-star class "Bluesteller" alchemist, Elweed Willis-sensei.

　I stand up quickly and walk to the stage with a crisp, pimply face. For some reason, I'm now surrounded by overflowing applause, which makes me even more nervous.

　Hiiiiiiii. Who the hell started the applause.........

　But he doesn't lose his face. I don't even lose my posture. It's the culmination of me and Fee's efforts right here, right now. When I come to the stage, there is a microphone on the floor. Fee steps back and stands back, muttering to me, "Do the right thing," he mutters.


　Then I emotionally recited the speech Fee had prepared for me.

'Nice to meet you all. My name is Elweed Willis, and I'm happy to accept your referral. I am honored to have this opportunity to speak to you, even though this is not an appropriate place for a teacher. By the way, to all of you who have enrolled in this school this year. As you know, it is very difficult to graduate from this school. As you know, graduating from this school is very difficult, sometimes it takes 10 years. But please don't give up. It's not all about hard work. You need talent. You need talent and hard work, both of which are necessary. And if you give up, it's the end of the world. Keep going.


　He speaks flippantly as if he were speaking for himself. It's a good thing I'm saying this.......that's Fi. As usual, his manuscript is perfect.

　When he finished his greeting with a smug look on his face, I was once again met with an overflow of applause.

　Phew...........................Anyway, I've cleared the first hurdle. And so I go to the special class, which is the biggest challenge of all.



　§§§

"...Ready?　When I give you the signal, you go in, okay?　I'll use alchemy to scare you off. I'll be sitting right in front of you watching, okay?　Are you okay?　Are you nervous?
You're my mother. It's all right, Fee. How many times have we rehearsed it?
'Well it's all right, all right, all right I'll sabotage you if you try to talk badly.
'Ah well surely talking about alchemy from elemental theory might remind you of crops and make you slip up. Please do that then. Well, I'll resist.
All right. Cover up any trace of the resist, okay?
It's a pain in the ass, but I understand.
'Then I'm going to go inside now, okay? I'll watch with Rita.
You can count on me. I'll show you how good Fee's students are.


　I grinned and Fee grinned too.

　Yeah, I can do that. Once this is over today, I won't be in the public eye for a while. When this is over, I can finally.........focus on my work.


　There was a bit of a commotion when I walked in, so I told them to be quiet. Then everyone was firmly silent and I started the class.


''Today's lecture is about the reconstruction of alchemy that incorporates my theory of the elements, 'Genslorion'. Now please turn to page 12 of your textbook.

　It's all arranged. Perfect.


I would like to begin by explaining the First Quality, Primamateria. The Primary Material, or Primamateria, is a particle that lies at the root of all things. We cannot see it with the naked eye, but it is full of the first substance, the Primamateria, like air. And it is also in our bodies. You may know that the human body is based on genes, or more specifically, DNA, but that DNA is also composed of the First Material, the Primamateria.


　The first pledge I found, "Primamateria". Right now, it smells as if I found it from a human, but in reality, I found it from a pineapple. When Liese was improving the 'Pineapple, but it's actually an apple' that was in the process of being prototyped, I felt a sense of discomfort. To begin with, I had always had trouble improving the breed using alchemy. Even if I created the original alchemy team and encouraged it to breed, it would not start up properly. So I changed my approach. There was a problem with the alchemy team in the first place, and I suspected there was something about this pineapple.


　Because I have a high aptitude for alchemy, I have a special ability. And when I checked it under the microscope, I found some small grains. I took it out with alchemy and processed it to create the perfect 'Pineapple but it's actually an apple'.


　This is the culmination of that. The greatest tribute to my love of crops.

　When I think about it, I can't help but interrupt my ramblings.


'And this theory of the elements, actually, is my...'


　The moment I try to slip up, an attack comes flying against me. However, Fee is adding or subtracting, and I easily resist it too. It glows a little bit, but well, it's an error.


　And so I recovered from that and went back to my normal, mundane lessons.



''........That's all. Thank you for listening, thank you for your patience.


　He bowed lightly and was met with loud applause. Fee, in the front seat, was crying. 'Uhhhhhh. We have a photo session later, is it okay for that guy to cry?　I think ... yes, it is. It's over.


　I'm free from today.

　The plan for the rest of the day is to have a light conversation with a reporter and take some pictures. It seems that today's event will be featured in a magazine called Alchemy Monthly. And the newspaper as well. After that, I'm going to have seminar time. I'm alone with Fee's cousin, a student named Rita. I've never met her before, but after everything that's happened, I'm in heaven. Besides, Fee seems to be talking to Rita about a lot of things, and she's generally doing okay.


　I quickly chat with the reporter, take a picture, and work my way through the line for autographs, which for some reason has been forming, before heading to Rita's with Fee.


''...Okay?　You'll take care of Rita for me, okay?
I'm on it. She's like your sister, right?　I understand how precious my sister is.
She's a bit of a quirky girl, but nice to meet you.


　I come to Rita's eyes and we exchange a light greeting.

'Rita. I am Elweed Willis, your teacher and mentor. Say hello.
"...and...!　Hey!　My name is Rita Medis!　It is a great pleasure to meet Mr. Elweed Willis!
'Hahaha, don't be a sama. You can be a teacher or a master. I'm not much older than you.
Well, I'll just go with Dr. Elle...
Oh, nice to meet you, Rita. You're my first student.

　He smiles and shakes my hand. He seems to be turning bright red, but well, it can't be helped. I'm sure she's nervous.

''Well, let's just go to the lab.
Ha ha.....
So, Elle, it's nice to meet you, okay?　My little sister, right?

　Once again, Fee attacks me with alchemy. I resist it again, and he grins and Fee grins too.

　This laugh is a signal. It's a signal that we trust each other.

　She must be my precious sister. That's okay, Fee. I know how precious she is to me. I'm gonna make sure she's in control.

　And I would take Rita to my laboratory.


　§§ § §


　Hi, I'm Rita. I'm walking next to Dr. Elle. It's just the two of us. I'm really nervous. My body is shaking and I feel like I can't handle it. I glance at the teacher and he is walking with a crisp expression on his face.

　I'd like to think it's a lie that he's younger than me with this. He was in his early 20s at best. Sensei had that kind of dignity.


　Oh, but really........what is going to happen to me now!　I can't believe I'm alone with the doctor!

　And while I was thinking about this, I arrived. The front of the lab says Elwyd Willis.

'Come on, Rita, come in.'
Oh, excuse me.

　I bit him!　Wow this is embarrassing.

''Ha, Rita is so cute.''
Ughhhhhh....

　A smiling exchange. But the moment you open the door, the teacher's complexion suddenly changes.

''Wha!　No way, a coup d'état at a time like this!　Number one, number two, number three, number four!　Where is it?!
What...?　Eh.........!


　When the teacher opened the door and entered the room, there was a nondescript room. Eh, what's the problem...?


'......　Rita, up there!
What?


　When I glanced up, I saw something wriggling 《something》 at the top of the bookshelf.

''Eh........what is that?''
I don't want a repeat of that one, you know.


　When the teacher said that and activated the alchemy, the four creatures above?　is slowly lined up on the desk in front of me.

　And I was astonished. Because there they were........corn with arms and legs.

"Se-Sensei.......what is this........
'Huh ... so this is what we've been doing since day one. Fee told me to never find out, but I had no choice. Rita, from now on we're going to talk about these guys and about me. It's no use hiding it from the seminarians. Fee will be pissed at me later, both of us.

　Hmm?　Just the two of you?　

　But I didn't understand it well for now, so I responded appropriately.

''Ha....ha...''

　I'm a little embarrassed when he stares at me with a serious look in his eyes, but when I see the crisp teacher, I change my attitude too.

'This one's number one, this one's number two, and then next to him is number three, and this last one is number four. This just looks like corn, doesn't it?　But hey, I can walk and I can think. A homunculus of sorts, so to speak.
'What?　Homunculus!!!!!


　Homunculus. I think it was a creature proposed by the mystics that if God created man, then it was possible for man to create man as well. I guess the short answer is man-made man. But it would have been concluded that it was impossible. That it was impossible to create a homunculus with modern alchemy.

　As I recall ... the first requirement for a homunculus would be a mind and a body. The body could be smelted with alchemy, but the mind was considered impossible. Because the body has the constituent matter, but the mind doesn't. But ... from what the doctor said, I'm guessing that these corn is a homunculus. That means they have a mind like a human, and can even think.

　It's unbelievable. I've always hated knowing that Sensei is a genius, but I can't believe he's going even further!

　Great, great!　I've become a disciple of someone truly amazing!

　Oh, but why corn?　It doesn't even have to be corn, does it?

'Sir, why the corn?　Is a vegetable essential to the manufacture of a homunculus?
"Hmmmmmm. Well you heard me well Rita, can you swear that you won't say anything else in the future?
I swear it. I will not speak on behalf of my family.


　Then the shocking truth hit me.