Chapter 158: Guard Against Fire, Theft, and Besties
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 158: Guard Against Fire, Theft, and Besties
Stepping out of the arena, I realized the atmosphere outside was even more fervent than within.
The streets were packed with surging crowds, creating a scene of incredible liveliness. Various market areas planned by the academy were scattered about, where I could see many Senior Sisters manning makeshift stalls or selling homemade snacks.
As I walked along, my hands quickly filled with treats. I was even recognized by quite a few people who asked to take photos with me. After all, the "explosive" event from this morning had already spread like wildfire.
Fortunately, it seemed my face wasn't quite world-famous yet—people just found me vaguely familiar. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to wander around so freely.
Still, I was recognized occasionally. It was then that I realized the "free reimbursement quota" the academy provided for contestants was almost unnecessary. The Senior Sisters who recognized me refused to take my money; instead, they were more interested in taking commemorative photos with me. Some even wanted to shake my hand, treating me like some kind of rare mascot.
A few Senior Sisters were quite forward, asking for my contact information, but Sister Bai was even more proactive than me in blocking them. It was for the best; if my contact list got too bloated, I’d never be able to keep track of everyone.
With Sister Bai accompanying me, I saw many interesting things. I also learned that besides studying spell knowledge and acquiring spellbooks, the Witch Academy offered many other specialized paths.
There were Alchemists who crafted various alchemical items; Enchanters and Blacksmiths who solidified spells and engraved rune effects onto weapons; and Medicine Stone Alchemists and Pharmacists who researched potions.
Seeing all this, I finally began to feel that sense of wonder one expects from a transcendent world in a novel. Before this, I had been so immersed in researching spellbooks that I almost thought they were the be-all and end-all of transcendent power.
Then again, the classification of spellbooks was so vast that it covered almost my entire understanding of extraordinary power. When it came to spells, if you could imagine it, you could theoretically do it.
At a roadside stall, I even saw a Senior Sister selling spellbooks. However, upon closer inspection, I found they were "Minor Spellbooks" without internal rituals—mostly Evocation spells. If they had been Silencing or control spells, I might have been interested, but I had no shortage of Evocation spellbooks.
Teacher Lina had already compensated me with quite a few, covering basically every common elemental type. This made me realize that these Minor Spellbooks weren't exactly rare in the academy; in fact, they were practically everywhere. Unless a spellbook had a truly unique effect, I didn't even have the desire to look at them anymore.
These spellbooks weren't even as interesting as some of the alchemy items with solidified spells. Eventually, Sister Bai led me into a shop selling all sorts of curious alchemical gadgets.
"Sister Bai, are these kinds of alchemical items allowed to be displayed so openly?"
I picked up a slender, smooth short rod. It featured a seamless, integrated design, fully enclosed and sealed with excellent waterproofing. According to the manual, it contained energy-storage crystals with an ultra-long standby time. Once activated, the integrated resonance provided a "wonderful sensation that mere vibration could never satisfy..."
At least, that’s what the instructions said.
"Ahem... this shop is a bit... unorthodox. Let's go somewhere else." Sister Bai came over, silently took the item from my hand, put it back, and then grabbed my hand to lead me away.
"Seriously? Sister Bai, is the atmosphere at the Witch Academy really this open?" Despite the embarrassment, I was incredibly curious. Thinking about this kind of thing was enough to make anyone flush, yet that "wanting to try but not daring to" feeling was like an itch I couldn't scratch.
"Well... it's more or less like that. Xiao Han, you're not a child anymore; you should know about these things, right? The Witch Academy is full of girls. In a place like this, if you want to be well-fed and well-clothed, you often have to... do it yourself."
Sister Bai looked quite awkward. She clearly wanted to defend the academy's reputation but didn't know how to put it into words.
"Oh~ and what about you, Sister Bai?"
"What about me? Xiao Han, are you asking for a beating?" At the sudden question, Bai Yu's face flushed instinctively, and she shut down the topic immediately.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Hehe~"
I dodged her playful swipes and giggled. So, Sister Bai has one too, huh?
My, my... it seems I've stumbled upon a scandalous secret.
Unlike me. I've had zero sex life so far; celibacy is just my daily routine. Mostly, I just can't bring myself to do it to my own body. At most, when I'm showering... ahem.
But speaking of which, I'm technically a Prospective Witch now. Strictly speaking, I'm neither human nor a Transcendent Witch. I don't even have the ability to reproduce during this stage, so where exactly is this sexual desire coming from?
Actually, it's not that I don't have those thoughts; I just haven't "taken action" against myself yet.
Even as Sister Bai pulled me out, my gaze lingered longingly on the shop. The alchemical items in there were just too bizarre; I wanted to take another look. Those things really broadened my horizons regarding "positions."
But Sister Bai clearly didn't see it that way. She still treated me like a child, even though I was already an adult.
Adults should be able to study proper sex education and standardized positions openly! Being secretive only breeds greater curiosity, which leads one down a path of no return.
"Wait... that person looks familiar..."
"What? See someone you know?"
"Uh... no, I must have seen wrong..."
"Better be. If you see someone you know in a place like this, you'd best stay away from them in the future," Sister Bai lectured me immediately.
"Okay... fine..." I nodded guiltily. The back of the person I saw looked a lot like Dongli Yiren.
While walking, I opened my phone and sent a private message to Dongli Yiren to see what she was up to.
I quickly learned that she wasn't anywhere near the arena. Okay... looks like my eyesight was just failing me. The Witch Academy was packed with beautiful New Students and Senior Sisters; it was too easy to get confused.
Besides, I remembered she was quite short on money, right?
She probably wouldn't dare come here to spend, let alone get caught by me. Perhaps I was thinking too poorly of my roommate's daily life, leading to strange fantasies about them?
"Excuse me, are you the Explosive Witch, Yang Yuehan?"
"Huh?"
On the way, a Senior Sister suddenly grabbed my sleeve and asked with an excited face.
"Explosive Witch?"
I looked at her, confused. My name is Yang Yuehan, yes, but didn't they call me "God's Hand" before?
"It really is you! Why aren't you wearing your chest badge? I almost didn't recognize you! Are your injuries healed already?"
"Well..." I noticed the gazes of the other Senior Sisters nearby shifting toward us and realized things were about to get complicated.
"Let's go." Bai Yu grabbed my wrist and immediately pulled me into a run, just as the crowd of onlookers began to swarm toward us.
This was exactly why I took off my badge. I didn't like being stared at everywhere I went.
"Where? Where is she? Isn't the Explosive Witch lying in the infirmary?"
"She must have snuck out for a stroll."
"Let me see! Let me see! I haven't seen her up close yet!"
"Who is that person? How dare she pull my Yang Yuehan like that!"
"Call her Xiao Han, you fake fan! And 'yours'? She's mine!"
"Damn it! I haven't even held Xiao Han's hand yet!"
As I made my quick exit, the noisy crowd gradually dispersed. Not everyone possessed the fanatical passion of a celebrity stalker.
"Phew... that was a bit scary. My snacks fell on the ground."
After stopping, I looked at the bamboo skewers in my hand and felt a bit of regret. But since they were freebies, it didn't hurt too much. I tossed them into a trash can and looked at Sister Bai.
"Sister Bai, I heard it~ Someone just asked who was running away with me. How does it feel?"
"Hehe, it feels great. Those people want you? Xiao Han, you're mine." Bai Yu looked at the settled crowd behind us with a smug smile. Even her hand, which was still holding mine, wasn't behaving, as she gently rubbed the back of my hand with her fingers.
"Sister Bai, since when did I become yours?"
"Uh... slip of the tongue."
"Haha, Sister Bai, you wouldn't happen to be speaking your true feelings under the guise of a joke, would you?"
I laughed and teased her, but as I saw Sister Bai's expression, my laughter gradually died down.
"Wait... Sister Bai, you're for real?"
"Just kidding! We're besties, right? Didn't we say that before?" Bai Yu leaned in, patted my shoulder, and laughed.
"Right! I knew it. Back when I was a guy, nothing ever happened between us, so now that I'm a girl, it's even more impossible." I spoke in a low voice that only Sister Bai could hear.
"Haha, yeah... pretty much..." Sister Bai laughed along. "Anyway, let's drop the subject. We've been walking for so long; let's go get something good for lunch. This afternoon, we'll head back to the arena and wait for the list of contestants for the Resurrection Match."
"True. I didn't realize we'd been out this long." I checked the time on my phone and nodded.
I couldn't keep fooling around. Even if I worked hard now, it was too late to change much, but I had to perform well this afternoon. If something went wrong in the Resurrection Match, I might as well find a brick and end it all.
"Since today is your match day, Xiao Han, lunch is on me."
"Eh? I have a free reimbursement quota! Why not use the free stuff? Let's go, let's go! Eat the most expensive thing!"
"You'll burn through your quota pretty fast that way, won't you?"
"The quota is huge, don't worry! Let's go! Lead the way, experienced Sister Bai, and take me to the best meal nearby!" I didn't care about the cost; I just wanted a treat.
After that intense battle this morning, even if the result wasn't ideal, I needed to reward myself.
"Alright, alright~ let's go," Bai Yu said, patting my head affectionately.
* * *
After being treated to a lavish meal, I returned, clutching my slightly overstuffed stomach.
Actually, because I had a match in the afternoon, I had tried my best to show restraint. However, the shopkeeper kept feeding me extra portions, and since I didn't want to be wasteful, I ended up packing a lot of leftovers into my storage equipment. I felt like I wouldn't even be able to finish it all back at the dorm. I’d have to let my roommates taste what real food was like.
Now back at the arena, the noon break was reserved for the contestants. It was only then that I realized the arena actually provided lunch for the participants.
Looking at the scene, it seemed the morning matches hadn't all finished yet. It made sense; these were one-on-one duels, and even with the arena divided into many smaller stages, there were many batches to get through.
The matches would likely continue into the afternoon, and the list for the loser's bracket probably wouldn't be out until a bit later.
The final Great Melee in the afternoon would be the most intense part of the day. Even so, the spectator stands weren't exactly empty. After all, who cares about lunch when there are matches to watch?
Even if these were just New Students pecking at each other, it was still more interesting than usual. It reminded me of my past life—even the worst national football team still had plenty of viewers. What's wrong with a little amateur brawling?
"Please wait. This is the contestant area. Non-contestants are not permitted to follow."
As I prepared to enter, Sister Bai was stopped by a Senior Sister wearing a volunteer uniform.
"Uh... that... could you make an exception?" I looked at Sister Bai and then at the volunteer, making a soft request.
"Eh? You're Yang Yuehan! Ahem... even if you are Yang Yuehan, it's a no. I have to think about all the contestants. What if she harasses the others?" The volunteer recognized me quickly. Though she was excited, she remained professional.
"I promise Sister Bai won't harass anyone!" I said, patting my chest. I trusted Sister Bai's character completely. There was no way she would harass the contestants; she wasn't like those bored Senior Sisters outside who just wanted to come in and get all touchy-feely.
"A promise isn't enough. Rules are rules. This would make things difficult for me."
"Alright then..."
I turned to Sister Bai. "Well, Sister Bai, I guess this is as far as you go? Should we keep in touch via phone?"
"No, I'll stay here. You should focus on getting into the right state of mind. Get used to your new spellbooks and the alchemy items I gave you." Sister Bai shook her head, declining the suggestion.
"Oh, right. I'll go help you pick up a set of Witch school uniforms and clothes. What you're wearing now doesn't fit quite right."
"Okay then... see you later!"
"Mm, I'll contact you when I'm over there."
After saying goodbye to Sister Bai, I sighed. Just as I was about to walk away, the volunteer called out to me.
"Wait a second, Xiao Han."
"Senior Sister? Why are you calling me Xiao Han too?"
"Uh, is that not okay? Everyone online calls you that. Especially that New Student who claims to be your classmate and roommate—she said we could call you Xiao Han."
"Fine... Hong Chenyi... that girl. But calling me Xiao Han is fine; I actually like it. Did you need something?" I asked curiously.
"It's just... that Senior Sister just now. Is she... your girlfriend?" the volunteer asked in a low voice, her tone laced with cautious probing.
"Eh? Girlfriend? Why would you think that? Normally, wouldn't you think we're besties? Besides, Sister Bai is like an older sister to me!"
"Oh, so she's an 'older sister.' But you still have to be careful! Even with besties! Be wary of Senior Sisters who call themselves your bestie! In the Witch Academy, the person you need to guard against most is your bestie! You have no idea how many people have fallen victim to their 'besties.' Guard against fire, theft, and besties! Who knows which night she might just pounce on you!" the volunteer lectured me with the tone of someone who had seen it all.
"Eh? Really? But I don't think Sister Bai would do that. Still, thanks for the warning."
"No, it's fine. It's my honor to be of help. Um! Could I have your contact info?"
"Sure... I guess, but don't go spreading it around."
After parting ways with the volunteer, I quickly made my way to the contestant lounge. As for that Senior Sister, although I gave her my contact info, the chances of us actually talking were slim. I didn't even know her name; her networking skills were definitely subpar.
Once I reached the lounge, I encountered many other contestants. Unlike me, who had been resting since the first match, many of them had just finished their duels or had just come from the infirmary after getting their combat injuries treated.
"It's... it's the Explosive Witch. I'm so unlucky. Can I just forfeit this afternoon...?"
"Good luck. I hope you don't get targeted by her in the Resurrection Match."
"Her injuries healed that fast? I heard Tan Han is still lying in the infirmary."
"What a shame. A clash of titans like that happened in the very first round."
"Now I believe the academy's random matching is truly random."
As I walked through, I greeted several of them. Some even came up to beg me not to target them in the afternoon.
Those further away quickly changed the subject when they saw me. After all, the hype from this morning's event hadn't died down at all.
In the contestant area, everyone had their own private rest zone for changing clothes and storing belongings. Since many contestants wore armor for their matches, they naturally needed a place to change.
Up ahead was a viewing area with the best vantage point, but I decided to return to my private zone to rest and see what the internet was saying about me.
I couldn't let anyone see me searching for my own name, so I stayed in my room. After I finished my "ego-surfing," I’d go out and watch how the others fought.
Besides, I was curious about how I had become the "Explosive Witch." Did I really fit that title?
I mean, I did blow up the stage, but surely that wasn't enough? And I remembered there was an "Explosive Witch Club" or something. I wondered if they would come looking for me.
Probably not anytime soon... I scrolled through various posts and videos on my phone. It seemed that even though not much time had passed, countless videos and threads had already been posted.
I actually had other nicknames because of that match, but because the final explosion was so terrifying, the title "Explosive Witch" had the most support...
Actually, I could live with that. At least it sounded better than "God's Hand."