Chapter 1056: Dean Mei and the Persistence of the Ordinary
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 1056: Dean Mei and the Persistence of the Ordinary
"Then how do you understand the concept of the Perfect Human, Sister Bai?"
I didn't state my own "shallow" understanding directly. Instead, I asked Sister Bai, feeling that she might offer a different perspective.
"The Perfect Human... a perfect life. I understand the First Generation Elder's hint. She saw my persistence, but she doesn't think much of the Ordinary Subject. To her, it's just a phase of confusion in a witch's life. It's like the Perfect Human—the perfection all life seeks—but since no one can truly define it, the Perfect Human looks different to everyone."
"Once I've defined the Perfect Human in my heart, it's as if I've found my own spark of the extraordinary within my ordinariness. That is the beginning of self-metamorphosis."
"And... what do you think, Sister Bai?" I asked.
I could tell that while what she was saying was similar to my own thoughts, she was speaking with the tone of the First Generation Elder, not her own.
"Me? Perhaps the First Generation Elder has never walked the path of the ordinary. My understanding of 'Ordinary' differs slightly from hers. At the very least, I currently have no intention of using the Ordinary as a mere springboard. In my eyes, the Ordinary isn't just about lowering one's sense of existence, nor is it about pursuing the ultimate lack of presence. It's about finding an appropriate degree—a level at which one can still be perceived."
"...Is this a bit hard to grasp, Xiao Han? Do you think your Sister Bai is being unambitious?" Sister Bai looked at me, asking the question with a sense of relief.
"How could I? You have your own persistence in your heart; how could that be considered unambitious? Conventions exist to give the majority a sense of self-identity, but that doesn't mean everyone has to follow them. If we look at it from the perspective of a lower-year student, am I a 'bad student' just because I don't attend a single class?"
"In my eyes, and in the eyes of the mentors, you certainly aren't," Sister Bai chimed in.
"Exactly~ So even when the First Generation Elder offers advice, you must use your own judgment. So-called experience and accumulation ultimately have their own limitations." After saying this, I flew to Sister Bai's ear and whispered, "Shh~ don't go spreading that around."
"True enough. But you're overthinking it, Xiao Han. The First Generation Elder isn't that stubborn. Perhaps because she's seen so much, she shared an example with me."
"An example? Of what?"
"The example of Dean Mei Lind. Did you know, Xiao Han? The research topic Dean Mei follows is the Ordinary Subject."
"Huh? What?!"
My eyes widened at the answer. I felt like I had just heard something utterly inconceivable.
Dean Mei was actually... an Ordinary Subject researcher?
"You didn't know?" This time, it was Sister Bai's turn to be amused.
"I only knew what Dean Mei told me... that she followed a branch of the Soul Major Research Topic... but I really never considered it might be the Ordinary Subject... I can't see it at all!" I explained.
"She treats you with such easygoing familiarity—can't you feel it?"
"Uh... now that you mention it, I guess?" After all, once we became close, going to Dean Mei's office felt like going home.
She would complain that I was always causing trouble for her, but she always helped me clean up my messes...
In my heart, the role Dean Mei played really didn't seem much like an Academy Dean.
"Right? Dean Mei is indeed a witch of the Ordinary Subject," Sister Bai said.
"And the reason I mention her is because of what she's done. Even now, her research topic remains the Ordinary Subject, without a single sign of metamorphosis."
"What?"
"According to the First Generation Elder, Dean Mei is quite stubborn. She's been dead-set on the Ordinary Subject. While I might not go as far as she has, my current casual attitude reminded the Elder of her."
"I really didn't expect that," I remarked. To think Dean Mei had built such a reputation through the Ordinary Subject?
"That's not all. She firmly believes that the Ordinary can lead to a path uniquely her own, using the Ordinary to write her persistence. She hopes to use her own power to re-interpret the power of the Ordinary..."
As I listened to Sister Bai, my thoughts drifted deeper. Dean Mei had originally used the Great Weakening Spell to diminish specialties, forcing enemies into a state of ordinariness. Later, the shattering of her Great Spellbook marked the beginning of her becoming a true Academy Dean.
If the original Great Spellbook represented Dean Mei's ordinary understanding of power, then its loss represented her understanding of her own ordinariness.
I remembered that Rebel Witch saying something like: Dean Mei had her sharp edges worn down at the Witch Academy. Perhaps that wasn't the truth. Perhaps it was a self-imposed tempering that Dean Mei went through personally. And wherever there is tempering, there are bound to be mistakes.
Perhaps when Sheryl scolded Dean Mei for not giving me a bigger stage, it was a blow to the convictions she held so dearly...
"Xiao Han, what's wrong? Why the sudden silence?"
"Oh... it's nothing. I just realized the logic behind some of the Dean's past actions... I'm just feeling a bit sentimental," I said, snapping back to reality.
"Xiao Han, how would you evaluate Dean Mei's behavior? Even my own persistence is just following my heart; I can't fully relate to a conviction as firm as hers," Sister Bai asked, looking at me. It seemed even she couldn't find a satisfying answer for herself.
"You want my evaluation...?" I pointed to myself, then took a moment to gather my thoughts. "I've dabbled in the Ordinary Subject as well. To me, it's like chasing a goal that can never be reached. But precisely because it's unreachable, it gives me endless motivation to keep trying. I don't like finish lines, because a finish line implies a ceiling and shackles. I admire Dean Mei's persistence, so I approve of her actions."
"You don't like finish lines..." Hearing my words, Sister Bai seemed to realize something. They were simple words, yet she heard an "infinite" ambition within them!
This was a way of thinking she had never experienced. In her understanding, the highest known level for a Transcendent was the "Saint Realm," and she had already crossed that threshold to arrive here.
She had plenty of time and energy to wait for Xiao Han here.
But after hearing this statement, a trace of urgency inexplicably surfaced in Bai Yu's heart. She realized that the path in Xiao Han's eyes extended far beyond the ground beneath her feet!
"A 'finish line' is a beautiful term, like in a movie—there's always a final ending. But what happens after the ending? The road of life doesn't stop there. What awaits us is the ordinariness that the entire drama was chasing. It's quite philosophical, isn't it? Using the most hot-blooded, passionate process to chase the most mundane, ripple-less ordinariness... or rather, beauty."
"So 'Ordinary' encompasses many meanings. It's not just trivial matters; it's also beauty. There is pursuit within the ordinary, rather than just going with the flow... right?" Sister Bai followed up.
"Well said~ Why add a 'right?' Have some confidence~ If the answer came from my mouth, you'd lose out on the experience of finding it yourself."
As I spoke, I deactivated the Fool's Dream Transformation, gradually returning to my original form beside Sister Bai.
Our casual chat had turned into an interpretation of the Ordinary, but I had to admit... I had gained a lot from it.
"Is there anything else, Sister Bai?"
"Nothing~ Why?"
"Come with me to the Primitive Dream Laboratory. I think... it's time I woke up the Fool's Dream girls."
* * *
We arrived at the Primitive Dream Laboratory.
Today, it was Sister Long who was maintaining the Primitive Dream Laboratory.
I had to admit, these three sisters were truly impressive, taking turns to maintain it for so long without a break.
Though, for witches with eternal lifespans, this probably wasn't considered "long" at all.
Only a little witch like me, who hadn't yet reached the Transcendent level and whose concept of lifespan hadn't changed, would feel like so much time had passed.
After greeting the sisters, I went to the Fool's Dream Life Experiment Cultivation Room.
Having understood the process of consciousness incubation, I now understood the general reason for the "slumber" of the Fool's Dream creatures.
It was a form of passive "incubation." If I didn't interfere and just let go now, the Fool's Dream creatures would eventually complete their own biological pioneering under the macro-regulation of the Main World Consciousness.
But that time span was simply too long.
I couldn't wait that long.
Now that I possessed the Consciousness Incubation technique, I could wake these four little ones. They were only one step away from becoming true "life"—they just needed me to open up their Life Sequences.
Before long...
"Mmm... ugh..."
A few soft murmurs sounded. Yu Yun was the first to "wake up," followed shortly by the others.
"Waa... it's Sister Xiao Han!"
"That's right! You girls sure can sleep~ How was your nap?" Suppressing my inner joy, I used a Cleaning Spell to clear away the metabolic waste that had accumulated outside the four little ones' bodies during this time.
"It felt like I had a really, really long dream. At the end, I felt like I was falling into an abyss, and then I woke up and saw Sister Xiao Han!"
"Me too~"
The four of them chattered away, as if they had endless things to say.
Feeling the long-lost joy brought by the Fool's Dream creatures, I immersed myself in it, occasionally chiming in with a question.
However, Yulan soon asked about the experiment. They hadn't forgotten their mission!
They were the first pioneers for the Fool's Dream Race!
But all of that was coming soon. Now that the Consciousness Incubation technique was complete, I had a brand-new channel to understand the relationship between consciousness, life, and racial concepts.
After performing another comprehensive and meticulous check on each of them and confirming there were no issues, the process was finally over.
I didn't dive deeper into research immediately. I realized I had been neglecting the needs of the Fool's Dream creatures. They were pioneers, yes, but in my eyes, they were Fool's Dream companions first and pioneers second.
An experiment had ended; it was time to celebrate properly, not to dampen the mood by continuing with tedious tests.
As for the experimenting, I was enough for that.
"Alright~ Next, I'll personally mix some Fool's Dream Drinks for you. How does that sound?" I announced to Yulan and the others.
Although the girls had reached a stage where their physical need for Fool's Dream Drinks was nearly zero, it was just like how I, who didn't need to eat to survive, couldn't give up delicious food.
"Yay!"
"Sister Xiao Han is making them herself!"
The Fool's Dream girls cheered. No matter what it was, as long as it involved Sister Xiao Han or was done with her, they loved it.
This time, I mixed a large batch of Fool's Dream Drinks, letting the four little ones drink until they were hiccuping from being so full.
I planned to distribute the extra portions to the witch sisters in the laboratory.
While eating and drinking were generally not allowed in the lab, this was the Primitive Dream Laboratory. As a "symbol" closely related to dream life, Fool's Dream Drinks had gradually become accepted by many of the witches here.
"Oh my~ Fool's Dream Drinks personally mixed by Xiao Han? How wonderful~ Every time I leave this place, I go to the Witch Cat Cafe to order one~"
"I'll have a cup to taste as well."
By the time I brought the cups into the lab, it was destined that many witches would miss out.
"Mmm~ It really is a drink that all Fool's Dream creatures love. I feel a burst of new inspiration! I'm going back to my experiment!"
"Is it really that magical? Good thing I snagged a cup. Let's see how Xiao Han's skills are!"
"Ooh ooh ooh~ Inspiration explosion!"
"Hey, hey, hey! Sisters, isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?" I looked at the witch sisters. I wondered if staying in the lab too long made them act like completely different people when they got "weird."
"Exaggeration? No way! How could this be an exaggeration? When drinking a Fool's Dream Drink becomes the standard procedure before conducting Primitive Dream Realm research, such behavior might actually form a mystical ritual~ Don't underestimate metaphysics, Xiao Han!"
"You're making it sound more and more mysterious!"
At this point, I didn't even have the energy to complain. If these witch sisters wanted to act this way, I'd let them.
I carried the last cup to Witch Long. This one was reserved for her.
"Thank you, Xiao Han."
Long didn't stand on ceremony and took the cup, draining it in one go.
"The taste is indeed good, though I didn't feel as much 'inspiration' as they did."
"Haha... they're just looking for some fun to pass the time." I waved my hand quickly. "How have you been lately, Sister Long? Are you adjusting well?"
"Adaptability is a basic skill for a Transcendent Witch, so of course I've adjusted. You should ask if I've gained anything. During this time... my gains have been quite startling."
"Really? In what way?" I asked, my eyes lighting up.
"In many ways. Regarding the understanding of the Primitive Dream Realm, and also the understanding of Emotion Body Cultivation. But regardless, I've found that the deeper I understand, the more I admire your talent. I look forward to you reaching the Transcendent level. When that time comes, I hope you'll have a duel with me." A flash of excitement crossed Long's eyes as she spoke.
Even though she knew perfectly well that once Xiao Han reached the Transcendent level, she would never be able to win in terms of methods and techniques...
But... a duel. Winning or losing was never the point. The duel itself was what mattered!
"Is that so? Then you'll have quite a wait ahead of you~"