Chapter 129: Announcing the Monitor and Vice-Monitor
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 129: Announcing the Monitor and Vice-Monitor
Ji Niang’s gaze swept across the class. She didn't care at all about the fact that the monitor position had been pre-assigned; even if someone objected, so what?
She didn't pay such things any mind. In the Witch Academy, most rules could be settled with strength. Therefore, a class monitor was essentially a representative of a class's power—an individual who spoke for the collective. As for management skills... that was secondary. The Witch Academy encouraged competition, whether it was between different classes or within one.
Strength was the foundation of any argument.
"Come, Yang Yuehan. Step up and say a few words to everyone." Ji Niang’s eyes fell on me. Following her lead, most of the students in the class turned their attention toward me.
The students basically knew there was a monitor; after all, they had been pulled into a group chat right at the start of the term. However, most of them still had no idea what this monitor actually looked like.
I took a deep breath and composed myself. To say I wasn't nervous standing before so many people would be a lie, but since things had already come to this, it would be improper not to greet everyone.
I stood up and walked to the side of the podium. Since I was in the first row, it was really just a matter of turning around.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Yang Yuehan, and I will be the monitor for Class 14. This is our first formal meeting, and while I believe you were all aware of my existence, this is the first time we've met face-to-face. I hope we can all work together to reach new heights. If you encounter any difficulties in the academy in the future, feel free to contact me, and I will do my best to help you resolve them."
I gave a slight bow to show respect and then began a polite self-introduction.
As for my phrasing, I felt it was acceptable. At the very least, I didn't stutter while speaking in front of so many people, which I counted as a success.
Once I finished, Hong Chenyi was the first to lead the applause. As the resident "hype girl," her actions naturally drew a round of applause from the rest of the class.
As the clapping died down, I glanced at Ji Niang to see if she had any further arrangements. If not, I wanted to step down; being stared at by so many girls felt like being a monkey in a zoo.
"Wait! Teacher, I heard from people in other classes that monitors are supposed to be elected. Her becoming monitor didn't seem to involve the consent of the whole class, did it?"
A sudden voice caught my attention. It came from a girl in the back row, and even from her tone alone, one could sense a thick layer of defiance.
I suddenly remembered what Hong Chenyi had told me yesterday—that there were people in the group chat who were unhappy with me being the monitor. This was likely the person she meant.
"Classmate, I appreciate you raising your objection so frankly. I did say I would help everyone solve their problems. Does your statement mean you have a better candidate in mind? Would you care to share?" I sighed inwardly. As expected, this monitor position wouldn't be smooth sailing, so I addressed her directly.
"I... I have issues with your qualifications! What right do you have to be hand-picked as our monitor?" Challenged like that, the girl didn't seem thick-skinned enough to outright say she wanted the job herself; she simply pivoted to questioning my ability.
"We are all incoming freshmen. We've left our ordinary lives behind to step into the Transcendent world. Everyone starts at the same starting line. I simply arrived at the academy a bit earlier than the rest of you and had some time to adapt to academy life first." I paused, taking a deep breath to steady myself.
"In the future, if you feel I am unworthy of the monitor position, I won't cling to it. But for now, I can provide assistance. If there's something you don't understand, you can ask me directly, and I—"
Just as I was trying to win them over with reason and emotion, Teacher Ji Niang interrupted me.
I had originally planned to seize the initiative and suppress the dissenting voices to solidify my position as monitor on the surface. Then, over time, I would slowly develop and grow stronger until I didn't have to care about their opinions anymore—because strength is the ultimate foundation.
But Ji Niang wasn't going to wait around for me to slowly persuade the class. Selecting a monitor was a simple matter for her, and she didn't want to waste time.
"Regarding the selection of the monitor—I don't care how other classes do it, but the class I lead will follow my rules!" Ji Niang abandoned her previous gentle demeanor. Her words momentarily stunned the class, but she immediately followed up with an explanation.
Though, it was a deliberate one.
"Shortly after the term begins, the academy will hold the first confrontation between freshmen. Specifically, it will be a confrontation between the monitors of each class. Transcendent combat can be lethal. And I might as well tell you now: the monitor of Class 1 is this year's top student, Tan Han."
Ji Niang stopped there. The moment she mentioned the word "lethal," she saw fear and hesitation in the eyes of the students. It seemed her first class didn't have any of those death-defying freaks, but that wasn't something she could force.
"Snap out of it, everyone. Since no one has any further objections, the matter is settled." Ji Niang finalized the decision with a few simple words. As for objections? Did she look like the type of person who would listen?
"After a few more arrangements, this class meeting will conclude. Now, there is one small issue: your monitor has already obtained Course Exemption status. Therefore, during regular classes, we need a vice-monitor to be responsible for managing the class and following the teaching arrangements of the instructors. Since someone expressed a desire to be monitor just now, I don't mind letting her give it a try."
As Teacher Ji Niang finished, everyone’s eyes turned toward the girl who had raised the objection. After all, wasn't her behavior just now a clear sign she wanted the position?
Yesterday, someone in the group chat had been inciting everyone to refuse to recognize the current monitor. Looking at her now, it was eighty percent likely to be this girl.
"Why... why is everyone looking at me? I..."
"Stand up, classmate, and tell everyone your name loudly." As Ji Niang spoke, the girl stood up uncontrollably. From her panicked expression, it was clear this wasn't of her own volition.
"I... I am Tu Xingyue."
"Use a more confident tone. Where was that attitude from a moment ago? How do you expect to manage your classmates or coordinate with teachers like this?"
"I... I am Tu Xingyue. I... I am honored to become the vice-monitor, and I will do my best to fulfill my duties."
After her initial unease, Tu Xingyue quickly adjusted. She had indeed been frightened by Ji Niang’s words; she was afraid of dying, even if it was only a possibility.
She hadn't mastered any Transcendent methods yet and had zero confidence in the upcoming confrontation. However, if it was just being a vice-monitor for administrative and teaching support, she was confident. She had been a class monitor before and had experience in management.
"Since the monitor and vice-monitor are settled, let's go over some precautions for the new term, as well as the academy rules..."
From there, it became Teacher Ji Niang’s stage. I silently returned to my seat and began listening to the explanation of the school rules. This stuff was very important; it would be bad news if I accidentally broke a rule without knowing.
Speaking of which, I remembered the Witch Academy's Discipline Squad. Their combat power was truly terrifying; I definitely didn't want to cross them.
Meanwhile, Hong Chenyi kept whispering to me. Even though we were in the first row, she just couldn't stop talking. Wasn't she afraid Ji Niang would come over and give her a slap?
"Sister Xiao Han... did you know about this beforehand? You look so calm."
"Sister Xiao Han, are you really not afraid of dying?"
"Say something! A duel between monitors! Sister Xiao Han, are you confident?"
"Wait until after class," I replied curtly to Hong Chenyi’s barrage of questions.
I didn't want to be caught talking in class by Teacher Ji Niang.
However, Teacher Ji Niang’s explanation was very rapid. She basically read through the general content once and then told us how to look up the school rules ourselves.
The rules could be found within the academy system on our phones.
With that, the class meeting came to an end, though she did give a brief reminder about tomorrow's schedule and other matters.
As soon as class was over, I saw several girls heading straight for me, seemingly wanting to get on my good side or ask questions.
I didn't mind, of course. Helping them was an easy way to build friendships.
The more one lacks something, the more one yearns for it.
Having had no friends in the past, I naturally hoped people would want to be friends with me, even if it was only because of my status as monitor.
After all, friendship is also a form of exchange—a mutual self-satisfaction. At least, that’s how I saw it. Even if they were just "surface-level" friends, seeing a smiling face when meeting someone makes one feel better.
But I was quickly pulled away by the teacher, so I had to apologize and excuse myself from the other girls.
"Xiao Han, there's one more thing I need you to do. It's a bit of a chore. Some students haven't shown up yet. Go find them and make sure they sign their contracts. You can use forceful methods if necessary. While you're at it, tell them what I covered in class—or don't, it's up to you. No one is obligated to pay for their willful behavior."
As Ji Niang spoke, she handed me the extra contracts and a pen.
"Understood." I took the contracts and pen, agreeing quickly despite it being another troublesome task.
Just as I turned to leave, Ji Niang called out to me again.
"Xiao Han, wait. Take this. Consider it part of the promise I mentioned before." Ji Niang pulled an exquisitely styled broom from her storage equipment and tossed it to me.
I caught it, a bit flustered. "This is..."
"Just use it for now. It'll make you more efficient. I'll be waiting for you in the laboratory."
"Thank you, Teacher!"
I thanked her sincerely. These brooms were incredibly expensive! Although this one looked like it had been used for a long time, it was very well-maintained. The moment I held it, the feel of it was incomparable to the ones used during the entrance assessment.
The moment I mounted the broom and took off, the students who hadn't left yet watched my rapidly receding back and let out cries of shock.
"Fl... Flying!"
"Huh? Someone already learned how to fly?"
"As expected of the monitor. Good thing I didn't speak up earlier."
"I want to fly too."
"Me too. I'm going to buy a broom later."
"Why is it a broom? Doesn't it hurt your butt?"
"Isn't a witch riding a broom standard equipment? You don't even know that basic common sense?"
Meanwhile, Ji Niang finished packing her things and walked out of the classroom. The students gathered there scattered instantly, though some huddled closer to ask questions.
"Stop being envious. Riding a flying broom requires passing a Flight License exam. Don't think you can just fly because you bought a broom. If you have free time, go take the exam yourselves. The academy is huge; having a Flight License makes things much more convenient."