Chapter 113: If I Also Had Great Power...
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 113: If I Also Had Great Power...
But I soon realized I was mistaken.
In the afternoon, I took advantage of a break to grab a meal and stopped by the library to borrow a book to pass the time.
The book was titled Analysis of Spellbook Construction.
Of course, while the title sounded impressive, it was actually just a popular science book—the kind that explained general knowledge. It did include some professional explanations, but as for whether I could actually understand them... well, I’d cross that bridge when I got to it.
Right now, however, I found myself forced to stand by and watch a scene unfold.
I was at the spontaneous gathering spot for club recruitment, so naturally, fights had broken out between clubs competing for new students.
The battle served as a demonstration of the "local customs" of a Transcendent Academy for the freshmen, and it taught me a lesson as well.
In this academy, minor friction really could lead to full-blown conflict. The place I had stayed before seemed a bit too peaceful, to the point where I’d almost started thinking I was attending an ordinary school.
Of course, that was if I ignored the previous inter-academy conflict—the one where even the Curtain Wall in the sky had been shattered.
In the end, the farce was only forced to a halt when a squad of uniformed senior sisters arrived and "violently persuaded" everyone to stop.
After asking a senior sister, I learned that these students belonged to a department specifically dedicated to handling violations of school rules, serious brawls, and magical duels.
Their official name was the "Witch Academy Discipline Squad." This squad was responsible for patrolling the skies, allowing them to react quickly and monitor all sorts of misconduct.
Furthermore, the minimum requirement to join this department was to be a graduated senior sister. After all, when it came to maintaining the harmony of the academy, martial prowess was indispensable.
Well... seeing their swift and decisive style, they certainly weren't people to be trifled with. However, the terrifying, overwhelming combat power they displayed truly made me yearn for it.
If I also had that level of power... then I...
At that thought, my train of thought suddenly cut off. In that split second, countless ideas flashed through my mind, but none of them could replace my ultimate choice.
If I possessed great power, it didn't seem like it would change much. The flattery of others, the envy of peers, the fear of enemies, the fawning of friends...
None of that seemed to be what I wanted. However, a sudden commotion soon broke my reverie and pulled me back to reality. I was just a newly enrolled freshman; why was I already thinking about such unrealistic things?
After cursing myself inwardly, I looked toward the source of the commotion. A large crowd had gathered, and as I focused my gaze, I saw a familiar figure.
Tan Han.
"Tsk..." Seeing that familiar silhouette, I couldn't help but click my tongue. I had run into the one person I didn't want to see.
What was she doing here at a time like this?
Then I saw the Shopkeeper standing beside her, and the answer became self-evident.
She had likely been brought along by the Shopkeeper. Even someone like me had heard of Tan Han's exploits. If the Shopkeeper paraded her around here, many people would surely join the Baking House just because of Tan Han's status. I had heard before that the Shopkeeper was desperate for new members to expand the club.
And reality proved exactly that. Tan Han's arrival drew a massive amount of attention, especially after someone recognized her and called out her identity.
I instinctively glanced at Tan Han with my Spirit Vision, only to be instantly shocked by the countless Mana Sources within her body.
The number had likely reached triple digits. Most of the senior sisters I had encountered only had values around that range, yet on the very first day of school, Tan Han had already reached a level that took others years to achieve.
Was this the gap between us?
Perhaps my gaze was too intense, because Tan Han, while dealing with the senior sisters approaching her, managed to glance right at me during a brief opening.
She naturally responded with a smile, but I didn't dare meet her eyes. I had promised Sister Bai that I would unilaterally cut ties with Tan Han.
If someone asked me now if I regretted it, I would definitely say no, because this was a promise I made to Sister Bai.
Even though Sister Bai wasn't by my side right now, I wouldn't break my word.
At this moment, I was already thinking of how to politely decline any interaction. Although it might make me look heartless, I could only offer my apologies.
The only thing I could say to her was "I'm sorry."
Of course, it was also possible that I was overestimating my own importance. Tan Han didn't come over to chat; she simply followed the Shopkeeper's lead, acting as a living billboard to help with recruitment.
I stood up, preparing to leave. I tucked away the book in my hand to avoid having Tan Han label it as "introductory reading" again.
I had already accompanied Senior Sister Ying Shiqian all morning. It should be normal for me to leave in the afternoon if I had things to do, right?
Besides, the Shopkeeper and Tan Han were there to keep her company now. It wouldn't hurt if I was missing. I hadn't been required to come help with recruitment in the first place; at worst, I just wouldn't take the wages Senior Sister Ying Shiqian had promised me.
Still, I should let her know. I'd just send her a private message on my phone.
* * *
Meanwhile.
Xia Li was already taking advantage of the buzz Tan Han generated to promote her club. This drew looks of disdain from many other clubs, but what could they do? She was the lucky one who had managed to pull Tan Han into her ranks.
Tan Han's reputation was incredibly attractive to freshmen—it even drew in high-quality recruits. After all, those who admire top students tend to pursue academic excellence themselves.
If Tan Han, the top student of this year, joined this club, then it must have its merits!
There’s no harm in joining. Even if there are no benefits, it’s a chance to get closer to her.
"Eh? Ying Shiqian, didn't you say Xiao Han was here too? Where is she?" After finishing her pitch, Xia Li walked over to the Baking House recruitment booth.
"Eh? I don't know. She was just here a moment ago." Ying Shiqian, who was still busy handing out free cookies, was stunned by the question.
"Forget it, let's keep going for now. Hurry up and register the new members. I wonder how many will actually stay in the end."
"Oh... wait, Xiao Han sent me a message. It looks like she had something to do and left early." Amidst the chaos, Ying Shiqian managed to pull out her phone and saw the message I had left.
"I see. Let her go then. We're about to get busy ourselves anyway."
Having already walked quite a distance, I naturally didn't hear their conversation. I just wanted to leave as quickly as possible, though I didn't know where to go next.
I didn't know what I was running from. Perhaps it was the promise to Sister Bai, or perhaps it was the insecurity I felt after seeing Tan Han.
Earlier, Senior Sister Ying Shiqian had asked if I felt the pressure of this year's Academic God. I had said no.
Now that I had seen it for myself, I certainly did.
It wasn't just that Tan Han possessed over a hundred Mana Sources; more importantly, it was the spells she held.
Those existences, each like a spellbook, were intertwined with the Mana Sources in her body, reflecting one another in a brilliant display.
I didn't know what those spells were. They might have been terrifyingly powerful, or they might have been ordinary spells stacked in massive quantities.
I recalled the question I had thought of earlier: If I had great power, what would I do?
Should I compare myself to Tan Han? Prove that I'm not inferior to her?
That was my first reaction, because all my actions and internal struggles up to this point seemed to stem from that.
But once I reached that conclusion, I only felt it was ridiculous.
Since when was power something to be used for petty competition? To use a famous quote I'd heard: "Where does this baseless competitive spirit come from?"
Right. Where did it come from?
I came to a halt and looked back. I had already walked quite a long way.
Had I really wandered this far just because of a ridiculous desire to win?
From there to here... I looked up at the cafe on the street corner. This was a very meaningful finish line. It represented the moment I clearly recognized myself and acknowledged my shortcomings.
Maybe I should go in and take a break, just to adjust my mood.
It definitely wasn't because this place was a maid cafe.