Chapter 164: Real Editing and Spellbooks
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 164: Real Editing and Spellbooks
Was that really it? Victory?
I looked down at my hands, hardly able to believe it. It only took a few spells?
Did she really just surrender because the heat started singeing her clothes and hair?
I guess… I really am not a normal girl, am I?
"Um, are you okay? The senior sisters in the infirmary know healing spells and hair growth spells. You won't be disfigured or anything. It’ll be fine," I said, stepping forward to offer some comfort.
I wasn't entirely sure if those specific spells existed, but surely a school would need them to ensure the safety of the contestants, right?
"I know… but… you call that holding back?!" The girl was crying quite pathetically now, her words a sharp accusation. However, between the tears and the heat-reddened skin, she didn't exactly look like a "pear blossom in the rain."
"Well… I only used about three or four spells in total… so I thought it counted as holding back… I guess…" I tried to explain, but my words only seemed to make her more miserable.
Digging through my shallow pool of social knowledge, it took me a moment to realize that defeating someone with only four spells probably came across as a massive taunt.
"Uh… sorry."
In the end, the girl named Chen Yu was led away by the referee. Such injuries were common for contestants, and a few burns were hardly the worst of it.
The match had been incredibly short—easily the most effortless victory I’d had so far.
But my real gain was a deeper understanding of spellbooks.
If converted mana can take the form of any element, then if I have one spellbook, doesn't that theoretically mean I possess every spellbook of that specific type?
And that was just distinguishing them by element. What about the type of spell?
Like the Fireball Spell—could it also be a Fire Blade Spell, or something else entirely?
This discovery was exhilarating! I could hardly wait to try out new spells.
Hehe! Once I master the runes involved, the so-called "limitations" of a spellbook will be nothing more than a small hurdle. My repertoire will be far more versatile than before.
* * *
Meanwhile, in the faculty seating area.
Since these were just freshman matches, many teachers had stopped showing up after the first day’s "baptism."
Of course, some still came to support their students, like Ji Niang.
"Xi Lan, that student of yours is something else. You actually gave her a dual-element Evocation spellbook?"
"Why couldn't my student have done it herself? It’s not like it’s impossible," Ji Niang replied lazily, leaning back in her seat with her legs crossed.
"‘Not like it’s impossible’? What’s with that attitude? Are you giving your student private tutoring again?" a nearby teacher asked snidely, clearly annoyed by Ji Niang’s humblebragging.
"No. Being her teacher is actually quite easy. I just gave her a book on runes, and she probably figured it out on her own."
"What? You let a freshman self-study runes? Hey! Wait, where are you going?"
"Leaving, obviously. My student’s match is over, so what’s left to watch? I need to go back and give Xiao Han a talking-to so she doesn't squander all her spellbooks. I am her teacher, after all; I have to educate her."
"Hmph, I hope someone poaches your precious Xiao Han!" Ji Niang ignored the spiteful curse and made her exit.
She hadn't expected Xiao Han to start modding runes so soon. She’d intended for the girl to just get a basic understanding first, but Xiao Han was already putting it into practice.
She needed to give her an emergency briefing on precautions and taboos. Otherwise, no matter how many spellbooks Xiao Han had, she’d burn through them all with her "prodigal" experimentation.
Plus, she needed to hand over the resources she’d secured from the academy.
She wasn't sure what had gotten into the Deans. They’d had a sudden change of heart and agreed so quickly that she hadn't even used half of her prepared arguments. They’d even granted more resources than she’d anticipated!
While it was a good thing, it suggested that something was happening behind the scenes to prompt such a shift.
She doubted it would be long before an announcement was made. The Academy Dean wouldn't keep the other Transcendent Witches in the dark for too long.
* * *
Back at the arena.
I returned to my waiting room to relax and reset. Checking the time, I saw there was still a while before the afternoon matches.
So, I headed back to the spectator stands.
Going all the way back to the laboratory to do research would be a waste of time, so I figured I’d study runes here. I wanted to see what that rune ritual I’d noticed earlier actually did.
However, just as I was flipping through the sections on composite runes, Ji Niang suddenly appeared and called my name.
In the time I’d known her, I’d realized Ji Niang wasn't the type of witch to just wander around aimlessly. If she was looking for me now, it had to be important. I quickly closed my book and jogged over.
"Teacher Ji Niang, is something wrong?" I asked curiously. I’d spotted her in the faculty section earlier, but she’d come over the moment my match ended. Was it about the fight?
"There are too many people here. Let’s go to your waiting room," Ji Niang said, not answering immediately. She led me straight to my private space.
Every contestant had a waiting room—a personal space for private matters. But after we entered, Ji Niang closed the door and cast an isolation spell that enveloped the entire room.
"Um, Teacher Ji Niang, is this something serious?" I asked cautiously. She’d even put up an isolation spell; the last time I’d seen this level of secrecy was when I signed the confidentiality contract.
"I saw your match just now. Have you started dabbling in runes?" Ji Niang sat down and got straight to the point.
"Yes. Didn't you give me that book on runes, Teacher? Is… is there a problem?" I replied naturally. Did she think I was progressing too fast? Was she worried about me biting off more than I could chew?
"It’s nothing. I’m actually quite pleased with your independent exploration. Sometimes I have to admire your talent; the things you tinker with on your own always manage to be impressive."
"Hehe… well, thank you for the compliment, Teacher." I smiled, feeling a bit bashful, but I made sure to respond politely.
"I wasn't complimenting you. Do you think 'tinkering on your own' is a good thing? At this rate, no amount of spellbooks will be enough for you to squander. Do you know the meaning of 'gradual progress'?"
"Eh? I… I do."
Ji Niang’s sudden shift in tone caught me off guard. Okay, I admitted that modding spellbooks like this was a bit "metaphysical," but shouldn't I try things out if I have an idea?
Or was there a standardized curriculum even for modding spellbooks?
"I can let you play around with the internal structure of a spellbook, but runes are a different story. You can't just mess with them. Since you already have some understanding of runes, let me ask you: what is a rune?"
"Um… a rune is a ritual, the most basic unit of a ritual. Because of this, runes can be combined to form more complex rituals. It seems every ritual in the world can be expressed through runes; if a ritual can't be expressed, it just means there are undiscovered runes involved." I recited the information from the book’s preface.
"Correct. That is a rune—one of the most important discoveries in the Transcendent world. It is a vital component of Transcendent power. Now, do you know the essence of a spellbook?" Ji Niang nodded and continued her questioning.
"Uh…"
I wasn't sure how to answer. This was clearly beyond my current level, yet Ji Niang had asked it anyway.
That in itself said a lot, so I ventured a guess. "A spellbook is… a collection of runes?"
"If you want to understand it that way, there’s nothing wrong with it. A spellbook indeed has traces of runes from the inside out. I’m sure you’ve seen that for yourself."
Ji Niang didn't deny my theory. She didn't seem surprised that I’d guessed it; after all, Spirit Vision was no joke.
"Yes," I nodded silently.
"Your answer is mostly correct. But… this is where I need to introduce a concept to you: 'Real Editing' technology."
Ji Niang paused, letting the weight of the term sink in.
"For example, you’ve used a computer, right? Do you know anything about programming? You don't need to be an expert, just tell me if you understand the concept."
"Yes, I understand." When she said "Real Editing," it clicked. If the ultimate truth of the universe was writing code… was that truth a bit… hair-thinning?
"Real Editing is essentially that. If you treat the world as a computer, then runes are the code, and spellbooks are the products edited from that code—like software. But this is just a metaphor; you can't take it literally. Do you understand?"
"I understand."
"Good. I’ll take this chance to explain the related concepts to you. Even if you don't fully grasp it now, remember it; you’ll understand in time."
Ji Niang’s tone became solemn. Whatever came next was clearly of the utmost importance.
"Continuing the computer metaphor makes this concept very clear. First, you must understand the concept of the Void."
"There are countless worlds within the Void, and the world you are in now is one of them. If you compare the entire Void to a computer, it would be the original, base machine."
"Runes are like code. Because the essence of a rune is a ritual, rituals are a vital part of the Void. Transcendent lifeforms first used runes to utilize and control Transcendent power. The earliest lifeforms didn't know the concept of runes; they only knew that specific actions could trigger miraculous phenomena. Eventually, they abstracted this into the concept of rituals, which evolved into the clear concept of runes."
"By utilizing the power of runes and summarizing knowledge over time, a common technology emerged: Real Editing."
"Real Editing consists of two parts: 'True' and 'Editing.' You understand the concept of editing, right?" Ji Niang looked at me.
"Yes, more or less," I nodded.
"The concept of 'True' is a bit more complex, but I’ll try to keep it simple. Xiao Han, I’ve heard that in the society outside the academy, some bold fellow analyzing Spirit Vision proposed the concept of 'Surface' and 'Inner' worlds. You’ve read about that, haven't you?"
"I have…"
I nodded. That concept popped up in the news every now and then. Ordinary people were obsessed with the Transcendent, so they were naturally interested in such theories.
"Actually, that person wasn't entirely wrong. His only mistake was a lack of personal knowledge, but the concept is interesting—viewing a world as having two sides."
"So… this world really does have a Surface and an Inner side?" I asked tentatively.
"That’s not quite accurate. It’s not just this world; the entire Void can be seen as having two sides. The world we live in is generally called the 'Normal World.' Everything we see, hear, and feel with our senses belongs to the Normal World. So, do you think another side of this world exists?"
"…It does!"
I spoke with conviction. If the world perceived by the senses was the Normal World, then what about Spirit Vision? The world seen through Spirit Vision had to be the other side!
"It seems you’ve realized it. Your Spirit Vision—it leads you into the other side of the world. That world has a name: Real Time."
"Because of some arrogant individuals, our normal world also has another name: False Time. But don't be fooled by the names. 'True' and 'False'? It’s foolish to arrogantly divide the world into true and false like that. Those names were chosen to highlight their own 'nobility' and to show contempt for creatures who cannot perceive Real Time."
To prevent me from falling into a philosophical spiral of self-doubt regarding what was "real," Ji Niang quickly explained. She didn't want me suddenly deciding that "nothing matters" because I thought I lived in a fake world.
"How is it? Can you accept this?" Ji Niang asked, watching me closely.
"Yes, of course."
I nodded. It was just more world-building. Why would I be afraid of that?
I was someone who had lived two lives. I’d seen these kinds of settings in novels and anime every day. I could accept settings far more ridiculous than this. Even if this was reality… what chuunibyou teenager hasn't fantasized about the Transcendent becoming real?
"Good."
Seeing how calmly I accepted it, Ji Niang breathed a sigh of relief. She’d been genuinely worried my worldview might shatter.
"Then let’s continue with the Real World. You know your Spirit Vision, right? That ability is a blessing from the world. Note: from this world, not the Void. Lifeforms from outside this world don't necessarily have eyes that can see Real Time before they’ve even stepped into it."
"I’m getting off track. Back to Real Editing. The 'True' in Real Editing comes from Real Time. Real Editing is a technology, a method, but it cannot appear out of thin air. A technology must be attached to a practical existence. Just like code—to edit code, you need a platform to write and run it."
"The platform for Real Editing is Real Time. Real Time is the other side of the Void, so Real Editing is actually a method used within the Void—a method of utilizing Transcendent power!"
"Just like various software programs in a computer, they can produce different effects. The most direct result of Real Editing is the spellbook."
"You can mod spellbooks now because you have Spirit Vision and can see Real Time. You can mod an existing spellbook, but you haven't mastered the methods of Real Editing to create a spellbook. It’s like playing a game and using cheats or installing mods, but you don't know how to develop the software or the game itself."
"That’s what your initial tinkering with spellbooks was—the equivalent of modding a game. That’s why I didn't restrict your attempts."
"But now you’re messing with the runes inside the spellbook. That’s like messing with the source code of the game while it’s running! I’m glad your modification of the Wind Blade rune went smoothly—that was a miracle. But miracles don't happen every time. Do you understand?"
"You haven't studied Real Editing or runes at all. Knowing what they are and what they look like isn't enough! Charging in blindly like that is just reckless squandering! I won't deny that a willingness to experiment is a good quality, but you have to think about the cost. You can't afford it! And honestly, with your current approach, even I couldn't afford it."
"So… I should stop for now?" I asked softly, feeling a bit overwhelmed by her lecture.
"You definitely should. I won't stop you from modding spellbooks as long as you don't touch the runes, but you need to learn the theoretical knowledge of runes and Real Editing as soon as possible. Even if you can't use the technology before you become a Transcendent, it will help you understand the structure of spellbooks better." As she spoke, Ji Niang handed me a card.
"What’s this?" I took the card, confused.
"It’s a high-level library pass. I got it for you while I was securing your resources and benefits. With this, you can find things in the academy library that you normally wouldn't have access to. You won't have to keep coming to me for materials anymore; you can find them yourself with this."
Ji Niang explained with a smile. This was something she’d wanted to do for a while, and she’d managed to slip it in during her negotiations for my benefits.
"Oh? Thank you, Teacher!" I looked at the pass. This would indeed be much more convenient. Given my personality, I’d much rather spend time searching for things myself than constantly bothering Ji Niang.
Though asking her was faster, I needed to stand on my own two feet. At most, I’d just ask her for keywords if I couldn't find a specific book.
"It’s nothing, just part of my job. I mentioned securing resources for you, right? That’s the next thing. The Deans were very efficient—surprisingly so. The resources arrived quickly. I’ll say this: it’s a lot, but it’s still not enough for you to squander, especially if you keep messing with runes. Anyway, you can process all this on your own."
Ji Niang pulled out a pendant with a metal clasp.
"This pendant is storage equipment. It has quite a bit of space inside, so I’m giving it to you. Stop using that leg ring. That thing… tsk, I won't judge, but just don't go overboard with it."
"Eh?"
I took the fluffy pendant, a bit dazed. What did she mean by "don't go overboard"?
This is a perfectly normal preference, okay?
Sister Bai likes it!
Is there really a generation gap between my tastes and Ji Niang’s? Still, this pendant, which looked like a fluffy little rabbit, was quite cute. It was small enough to hold in one hand, and more importantly, it was storage equipment!
It would be very convenient to wear. Hehe, I’ll show it to Sister Bai later. I remember storage equipment being very expensive; I just got one for free. I was right not to let Sister Bai spend her money on one earlier.
"Anyway, I’m off. Don't forget your match this afternoon, though I probably won't be coming to watch."
"Okay. Goodbye, Teacher~"