IAYA 07

chapter 7

After a night of tossing and turning with countless worries, I finally got up at sunrise to head to work, just as the attendant had told me yesterday.

Out of curiosity, I opened the wardrobe—and there it was: the Academy staff uniform.

I didn’t know when it had been prepared, but since it was a women’s uniform in my size, it was clearly meant for me.

“Assistant pharmacist, huh…”

Zer had promised from the beginning that if I agreed to participate in his experiments, he’d arrange a job for me as an assistant pharmacist. So, seeing the uniform wasn’t surprising at all.

I changed into it without hesitation. My eyes were still swollen from crying so much yesterday, but skipping work wasn’t an option.

After all, today was my first day.

Step by step, I walked out of the dormitory, almost mechanically. Then, I suddenly realized how warm the morning sunlight felt on my skin.

I hadn’t even noticed it on my way here, but the sound of birds chirping was surprisingly pleasant.

Come to think of it, I’d never really gone out at this time of day before. Back when I cared for my mother, it was hard to leave the small Perington estate at all.

For some reason, the bright weather eased my heavy mood a little.

Looking around, I spotted noble students in their Academy uniforms. With thick books tucked under their arms, they chattered endlessly as they walked—it was all so youthful and fresh.

“I once dreamed of attending Kamar Academy too…”

Even back when I was young, the Kamar Royal Academy existed.

If Mother hadn’t developed dementia, I probably would have come here right after my coming-of-age ceremony. We hadn’t been wealthy, but if the household finances hadn’t collapsed due to her illness, the tuition would’ve been affordable.

Most of that regret had faded with time. Still, seeing the Academy right before my eyes brought back memories—of the girl I once was, full of dreams.

I smiled faintly at the thought, then turned and began walking slowly toward Zer’s laboratory.

Creeeak—

When I opened the lab door, I saw Zer already seated, waiting.

Something about his demeanor made me feel like he’d been waiting for me, so I awkwardly greeted him.

“You’re here early.”

“You too. It’s not even nine yet, is it?”

“I just woke up early. Guess I need less sleep as I get older.”

At that, Zer gave me a strange look before asking quietly:

“How old are you?”

Right—he had only ever seen my rejuvenated self, so he probably had no idea of my actual age.

“Thirty-eight.”

“My word! Then you’ve gotten at least fifteen years younger?”

He looked genuinely astonished. Still, I doubted knowing my real age would make him switch to polite speech.

And really, in the reflection of his glasses, my face looked no older than my early twenties. Even I found it strange. Having a man in his thirties use formal speech with this face would’ve been odder still. He was a professor, and I was merely his assistant—so informal speech made sense.

“Ha, I thought the effect would be five to eight years at best. But this far surpasses my expectations. You’ve truly reversed time.”

He seemed utterly fascinated by how his drug had transformed me.

Feeling embarrassed, I cleared my throat and quickly changed the subject.

“So, as an assistant pharmacist… what exactly will I be doing? Am I supposed to help with your research?”

Zer chuckled through his glasses.

“Hardly. My research team is made up of the best in their fields. There’s nothing you could do to help them.”

His arrogant tone made me bite my lip unconsciously. After a few encounters, I’d realized kindness was not part of his character.

“Then why did you even interview me…?”

“Because someone asked me to. The professor in charge of the pharmacy is on maternity leave.”

“Oh.”

I nodded, finally understanding.

Judging by Zer’s usual attitude, he wouldn’t agree to such requests easily. Perhaps he owed someone a favor, or maybe it was someone close to him.

Curiosity flickered, but I didn’t want to pry.

“So, if the pharmacy professor is away, who do I ask about the assistant pharmacist duties?”

“What do you want to know?”

“Well… things like salary…”

I trailed off, and Zer chuckled knowingly. He must have guessed my financial struggles after seeing my situation yesterday.

“Of course. I forgot the most important part. Your salary will be paid on a set date every month. Don’t worry—it’s nothing to scoff at. Academy staff wages are quite generous.”

“Yes.”

“You’ll get the full details from the HR department soon. For now, follow me—I’ll show you your workplace.”

He stood up abruptly.

I followed quietly as he led me to a room not far from the lab. On the door hung a small sign: Pharmacy.

Inside, several single beds lined the walls, while shelves and desks overflowed with medicines and herbs.

Some were rare drugs I’d only ever read about in books. My mouth dropped open in awe.

“This will be your workspace. When students come in feeling unwell, just hand them the appropriate medicine.”

“Yes… sir?”

At first, I answered instinctively—but then, realizing something, I looked around in shock.

There was only one desk.

“You mean… I’ll be doing this alone?”

“No, you’ll be alternating shifts with your senior. Strictly speaking, she’s an assistant pharmacist who started before you. I think her name was Petrine? I already informed her, so when she comes, be sure to introduce yourself.”

“Ah… okay.”

I had no formal training—just the self-study I’d done while caring for my ailing mother. Standing here, the pressure felt immense.

“But I only know the basics about medicine…”

“That’s enough. For instance, what would you give a student with indigestion?”

“Oh, this one here.”

I pointed to the right drug without hesitation. I’d used it many times for Mother and knew its effectiveness well.

“And for a headache?”

After a short pause, I picked out a strong pain reliever.

“Insomnia?”

“In that case, something to calm the body and help with sleep.”

Zer nodded approvingly.

“Good. That’s all you need to know.”

“But I don’t have specialized knowledge…”

“Think. Who do you expect to come here? If it’s serious, they’ll go to their family physician. The students who come here will mostly have simple complaints—like the ones we just discussed.”

“I see…”

Relief washed over me.

If it was only such minor cases, I could manage. After all, I’d handled the same things while caring for Mother.

“If you ever do get someone with strange symptoms, just ask your senior. That’s all there is to it. Understood?”

“Yes, I’ll do my best.”

Satisfied with my answer, Zer nodded. Then his eyes, usually indifferent, suddenly glimmered behind his glasses as he spoke gravely:

“There’s only one thing you must never forget. At the end of every day, report to me. We have our contract to uphold—the experiments will take place in the evenings.”

Something in his gaze felt dangerous, but I merely nodded.

We had an agreement, after all. Backing out now wasn’t an option.

“So there are no experiments during the day?”

“For now, I want to keep them secret. Your safety is important too.”

“My… safety?”

“Yes. If word got out that you became younger overnight, chaos would follow. What—do you want your photo splashed across the newspapers?”

“N-no, that would be awful.”

He was right. My case would draw enormous attention. I’d be treated like some animal in a cage for people to gawk at—and I wasn’t prepared to defend myself.

Perhaps sensing my unease, Zer smiled faintly.

“Good. Then that’s all. Take care.”

Without further ado, he turned and left the pharmacy.

Left alone, I awkwardly looked around before sitting at the desk.

Never had I imagined myself wearing an Academy staff uniform, working in a place like this.

Perhaps that was why my chest felt strangely full.

Late in the morning, a female student came in.

“Professor, I feel bloated, like I have indigestion. Could I have some medicine?”

P-Professor?

That title was usually reserved for people with enough knowledge to teach a field.

Yet she had just called me that. I almost wanted to thank her for it.

I must have looked dazed, because the student tilted her head.

“Professor?”

“Oh—just a moment.”

I quickly scanned the shelf for the right medicine.

“What did you eat this morning?”

“Um… pumpkin porridge, a bread roll, and a little salad.”

“Anything spoiled or unfamiliar among those?”

“No.”

“Alright. Then take this—it should ease your stomach. Stick to easily digestible food for the rest of the day.”

I carefully wrapped the medicine and handed it to her.

She accepted it casually with a polite, “Thank you.”

Even though it was just a simple courtesy, those words filled me with warmth.

I’d helped someone. That alone was rewarding.

Just as Zer had said, the work wasn’t difficult.

At first, my heart pounded whenever someone entered, but all I had to do was listen to their symptoms and hand out the right medicine. Simple.

“Professor, I have a terrible headache. Could I get something for it?”

“When did it start?”

“About an hour ago—it suddenly came on, and now it feels like my skull’s splitting.”

“Oh dear. Did you sleep well last night?”

“No, I was up finishing an assignment…”

“Lack of sleep can cause headaches too. Take this, then rest on one of the beds for a while.”

“Ah, thank you.”

The student, clearly exhausted, soon drifted off. I quietly drew the curtain around the bed to let him rest undisturbed.

Watching him sleep soundly, a rush of indescribable emotion welled inside me.

“Maybe… I should study medicine more seriously?”

The work felt more fulfilling than I’d expected—like it suited me.

Though my first reason for studying medicine was Mother’s dementia, why not continue? Building deeper knowledge could only help.

Of course, it wouldn’t be easy. Medicine required endless study.

But for me, developing professional skills was crucial.

“I have nowhere else to go…”

I hated to admit it, but it was true.

Right now, I had this job thanks to Zer. But once his research ended, I might lose even this position.

I needed something to sustain me when everything else was gone.

That something was ability.

“If I can earn an actual pharmacist license, I won’t have to worry about survival.”

I needed to hone my skills—to stand on my own.

The Valcanus Empire was slowly opening more opportunities for women.

Until now, I’d thought such things had nothing to do with me. But not anymore.

I would build a life for myself through my own power.

“…Yes.”

I resolved to study medicine and find stable work in this field.

Fortunately, the Academy pharmacy was filled with medical texts. I had easy access to them now.

And since students didn’t come constantly, I had plenty of free time to study.

Striking while the iron was hot, I pulled a heavy volume off the shelf.

Its title: “Herbs of the Taran Forest”—a book on rare medicinal plants.

I became absorbed, sipping warm tea as I read.

Then—

“Living the easy life, aren’t we?”

A woman’s voice startled me. I looked up, shocked. I hadn’t heard her footsteps at all.

At first, I thought she was a student, but she wasn’t in uniform. Instead, she wore a white coat with the word Pharmacy embroidered on it.

“You are…?”

“You mean you haven’t heard about me from the Alchemy professor?”

Zer’s words came back to me: that I had a senior, Petrine.

“Oh, are you the pharmacy senior he mentioned?”

“That’s right. If you realized that much, shouldn’t you be standing up to greet me?”