Chapter 134: The New Roommate, Ascetic Yu Yuetian
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 134: The New Roommate, Ascetic Yu Yuetian
Morning.
I had a great night's sleep, and I woke up feeling refreshed.
However, as I was heading downstairs, I heard some noise.
Is someone already awake?
If they had classes, waking up at this hour wouldn't be considered particularly early. But thinking back on my roommates, I didn't think any of them would be making such a racket in the kitchen.
Driven by curiosity, I walked toward the kitchen. I wanted to see who would be in there so early. Usually, the kitchen went unused.
Everyone, myself included, tended to eat out. Besides, there weren't even any ingredients in the villa.
When I pushed the kitchen door open, I saw a figure standing at the stove with her back to me. Her long hair, a gradient of gold fading into black, was draped loosely and somewhat messily over her back.
Sensing my presence, she instinctively turned around to face me.
"Hi... Hello. May the Holy Light guide you, my roommate whom I didn't get to meet last night."
"Uh... hi..." I stood there, momentarily stunned by her words. With that long, gradient hair, she definitely wasn't anyone I knew.
Her words confirmed she was a new student who had arrived last night. The black was likely her original hair color, while the gold was dyed.
And that greeting... it fit my impression of a believer from the Holy Light sect perfectly.
I concluded that she was likely a freshman who had originally intended to apply to the Holy Angel Academy. Either her grades weren't high enough and she ended up at the Witch Academy instead—though that was unlikely—or, given the timing of her enrollment, she had probably been "scouted" (read: kidnapped) and thus arrived late.
Furthermore, since she had been placed in a dormitory like ours, which was entirely composed of gender-swapped students... this girl with such strong "housewife" vibes... she... uh... used to be a boy too?
I’d heard that the Holy Light sect didn't place much importance on gender. After all, Holy Angels themselves were technically genderless. If she had been a boy, perhaps she found it easier to accept becoming a girl?
It seemed to make sense.
"Um... my name is Yang Yuehan. You can just call me Xiao Han," I said, offering my now-practiced self-introduction.
"I know. Our roommates explained the situation in the villa to me last night. They all call you 'Sister Xiao Han,' so you must have some way of commanding their respect. Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Yu Yuetian. If you want to be more informal, you can call me Xiao Yu, or Xiao Tian is fine too."
"Right... okay, Xiao Tian."
With that, we officially introduced ourselves to one another.
"So... what are you doing? Making breakfast?"
"Yes. As an ascetic, it's a bit of a habit of mine. However, my breakfast is very plain. I wasn't sure if it would suit your tastes, so I didn't dare make too much. Wasting food is a shameful thing, after all," Yu Yuetian said as she took a small bowl from the cupboard. After a quick rinse, she ladled out a serving of plain congee.
"Uh... is this for me?"
"Of course. Would you like a taste? See how my cooking is." Yu Yuetian looked at me with a smile, her eyes full of expectation.
"Thanks. You're... actually the first person to use this kitchen." I took the small bowl. The plain congee inside was piping hot, fresh off the stove. I took a careful sip from the edge... Yep. It was exactly what it looked like: plain white porridge with absolutely no seasoning, just the mild taste of boiled rice.
"Thanks, it's good."
"Really? You're the first non-ascetic to say this congee is delicious. You must have the potential to believe in the Holy Light."
"Ah, well... no, no thanks. I'm just not a picky eater," I explained quickly. It would have been better with some side dishes, but it didn't look like she had prepared any.
Besides... believe in the Holy Light?
Sorry, not interested. Even though I knew that "faith" and "belief" were two different things in this world, I wasn't about to entrust my so-called faith to that stuff.
"Is that so? Then I apologize for being forward. Still, we'll be living under the same roof from now on, so I hope you'll look after me, Sister Xiao Han."
"Oh... as for looking after you... anyway, let's just work hard together."
"Then let us encourage each other, my Class Monitor."
"Huh?"
"Ah, I'm sorry, you probably didn't know yet. Since I just arrived at the academy yesterday, I was assigned to Class 14. To help me settle in as a new student, they arranged for me to stay in your dorm, Class Monitor. I hope you don't mind too much." Yu Yuetian looked up slightly to meet my eyes. Her soft smile now seemed to carry a hint of something else.
"I... I see. That's fine. Why would I mind? But there aren't any classes today, so it's probably best if you just take the time to get used to the academy."
"True. I was actually hoping you could show me around, Class Monitor, but seeing as you're up so early, you must have your own business to attend to." At this, Yu Yuetian lowered her head, looking somewhat disappointed.
"Sorry about that... I really do have something to do... If you don't mind, maybe you could go with Hong Chenyi? She's also in Class 14, and she's very energetic. I'm sure you'd settle in quickly with her showing you the ropes." I spoke with a hint of apology. After all, as the class monitor, I really should be helping a late-enrolling student get familiar with the school... Wait, is that actually a monitor's duty?
How did she talk me into feeling guilty?
"Hong Chenyi? I sense a certain... lack of purity from her. In this villa, you're the one who gives me the best impression, Sister Xiao Han. Dongli Yiren is second. May I be so bold as to ask what you're doing today, Class Monitor?"
"Uh... I... I'm going to the laboratory today to do some research on spellbooks," I explained, choosing my words carefully.
"Oh? You've already started on transcendent research, Sister Xiao Han? Then... could you take me along to see? If it's too much of a bother, you can refuse. Don't worry yourself over my unreasonable requests."
"I mean, I could take you, but it might be a bit dangerous. If you don't mind that..."
"I don't mind at all. But please wait a moment. I promised the others I'd make them breakfast last night. Let me dish it out for them first."
While I watched Yu Yuetian busy herself, I finished the small bowl of porridge. Since she’d mentioned something about not wasting food, and there were no side dishes, I just treated it like drinking water.
"It looks like they aren't getting up yet. Let's head out," Yu Yuetian said, untying her apron and smoothing out her clothes.
Though she definitely had that "homemaker" aura, she still looked awkward in such feminine clothing. Even the way she brushed back her long hair was clumsy. She really did look like she’d only been a girl for a short time.
"Hmm? Is something wrong? Sorry, this is only my second day as a girl. If anything seems inappropriate, please let me know." Yu Yuetian seemed to feel my gaze and explained herself quite bluntly.
She was being completely open about it. This... this level of acceptance! It was already on par with mine!
"Oh, it's nothing. Just be your true self. Don't feel forced to change because of how others perceive you."
"I suppose you're right. Thank you."
After that brief exchange, I breathed a sigh of relief. For some reason, talking to her felt exhausting.
It wasn't until I brought her to the station that Yu Yuetian spoke again.
"Hmm? Sister Xiao Han, Hong Chenyi mentioned that you already know how to fly. I didn't expect you to take the bus."
"Huh? You knew?"
"Naturally. Is flying on a broom very restrictive? Can we freshmen not use them often?"
"Oh, no, it's just that I rarely carry passengers on my broom. I thought taking the bus would be more stable."
"I see. When I first arrived at the Witch Academy, the senior sister who brought me here was riding a broom. I heard that flying on brooms is a hallmark of the Witch Academy. I thought I might get to experience it again." Yu Yuetian sounded disappointed.
"I mean, it's not like I can't take you. It might just be a bit slow. Do you want to? If we wait for the bus, it might be a while."
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Sister Xiao Han. I really would like to experience it one more time."
After some back and forth, we decided to fly. I had experience carrying Sister Bai on my broom, so I wasn't worried about crashing.
However, as we flew through the sky with Yu Yuetian sitting behind me, her small hands clutching the hem of my shirt, I could feel her tension.
"Are you okay?"
"Ugh... I'm fine. I'm a bit afraid of heights, but this is a weakness I must overcome... May the Holy Light protect me as I overcome this... this hardship..."
"Right..." I hadn't expected her to be acrophobic. Actually, I was a little afraid of heights too, but once you mastered flying, the fear vanished. It even became enjoyable—a sort of thrill from embracing the sky.
Unfortunately, we couldn't fly too high within the academy, or we might hit the curtain wall in the sky.
The morning air was crisp and refreshing. The sun was rising on the horizon; starting a new day by heading into the morning light felt quite symbolic.
We eventually reached the Central Teaching Area. Yu Yuetian hadn't attended yesterday's classes, so this was likely her first time here.
"Are you alright?"
After landing, I saw Yu Yuetian kneeling on the ground. I immediately went over to comfort her. If her fear of heights was this severe, why did she bait me into flying her here? What was she trying to prove?
"I'm... blegh... hnn... I'm okay. Thank you for your concern... ugh..." Yu Yuetian spoke in starts and stops, seemingly unwilling to trouble me for help.
"Let's get you up first. It's just tile, but it's not exactly clean." I grabbed her forearm and helped her to her feet.
She still looked very weak.
"If you're this afraid of heights, you should have said something earlier. You're a mess..."
"I'm sorry for causing trouble... but... but I want to fly too. Overcoming one's fears is a trial an ascetic must experience..."
"Alright, enough about trials. There are plenty of other ways to overcome fear. You don't need to push yourself like this." I supported her as we walked into the laboratory building.
"Whoa... is this where you study spells, Sister Xiao Han? It's my first time here."
"Yeah, pretty much. I'm in lab 8401. Conveniently, our counselor is in 8405. If you need to find Counselor Ji Niang, you can go there."
"Is that so? Thank you for telling me, Class Monitor. I actually do have something I wanted to ask the counselor. Let's go together."
"Oh? But I think the counselor has classes today, so she might not be in. You might be disappointed."
"Really? Well, that's alright. I'm not disappointed. Won't you show me your lab, Sister Xiao Han? Um, may I come in for a look?"
"Sure, but just don't touch anything randomly."