Chapter 180: Not Worth Watching, Slept in the Stands for Three Hours
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 180: Not Worth Watching, Slept in the Stands for Three Hours
My match with Shi Huiyu this morning ended quickly. Her magic was exactly what I expected: a melee-focused style centered around transformation spells, and her close-quarters combat skills were impressive.
Her specific transformation was a type of tiger-kin, though I couldn't tell you the exact name. Even within tiger-kin transformations, there are many specialized sub-types.
Still, she definitely qualified as a "tigress"—in the most literal sense of the word.
To be honest, I’m not particularly fond of transformation spells. I can tolerate the cat-person transformation that came with the bracers Sister Bai gave me, but I’m not a fan of most others. If the spell involves turning into something completely non-humanoid, I like it even less.
Compared to transformations, I much prefer summoning spells. I actually have quite a few of those now—certainly more than I have transformations.
Of course, evocation spells are great too. After all, playing as a high-damage evocation barbarian is pretty satisfying.
After the match, I didn't leave immediately. Instead, I took a seat in the spectator stands. Today was the fourth day, the day the final top ten list would be determined. I decided to stay, and with my portable Ley Line System, I wasn't worried about getting bored.
Once the afternoon matches concluded, the academy would likely announce the rewards for the top ten.
Most of the rewards were take-it-or-leave-it for me. Whether it was Ley Line memories, materials produced by the Ley Lines, or anything else, I didn't really care. I wasn't even that interested in the mana sources or standard spellbooks given to the high rankers. I only wanted that one specific spellbook that could improve learning efficiency.
I really hoped Teacher Ji Niang wasn't pulling my leg. She’d given me hope, and if it turned out to be a lie, I’d be sad enough to cry. Otherwise, my future would consist of nothing but daily potions, turning me into a "potion girl" who resorts to any means necessary to stay medicated for the sake of research.
I pulled out two potions: a Refreshing Potion and a Contemplation Potion.
I had tried the Everlasting Memory Potion yesterday, so I figured I’d take this opportunity to test the Contemplation Potion to see if it could provide more inspiration while I studied spellbooks. If the results were underwhelming, there wasn't much I could do except try other potions later.
Opening my portable Ley Line System, I pulled up the spellbook model from yesterday. This was my primary method for modifying spellbooks: using simulations to run deductions and explore various possibilities.
With my understanding of the Fireball Spell, other evocation spells were actually quite similar in structure, provided I ignored the specialized knowledge of elemental theory. Once you get the hang of one, you can figure out the rest.
I wanted to try what Teacher Ji Niang suggested: thoroughly understanding the operation of a spellbook, then letting inspiration strike during the heat of battle to turn that knowledge into a practical application!
Of course, it was a risky move. No one knew if that so-called inspiration would actually strike, and no opponent was going to wait for me to have a "eureka" moment so I could modify my spells and fight back.
But that was a problem for future me. For now, I needed to completely master the basic consumption spellbooks I already had.
With that thought, I uncorked both potions and downed them. The Refreshing Potion hit me with its usual kick, but the Contemplation Potion felt like it did absolutely nothing.
I focused on my spellbook model, trying to prove the potion was working, but unfortunately, there was no obvious effect.
I couldn't tell if it was just an "IQ tax" scam or a high-end product I was using incorrectly, but that didn't stop me from mentally sentencing the potion to death. I lowered my expectations; that way, even a tiny bit of progress would make me happy for a long time.
I pushed the thought aside and focused on mastering the spellbooks.
My goals for today weren't too ambitious. I had about a dozen standard consumption spellbooks, five of which were evocation-based. If I could master those five today, I might be able to see what this "burst of inspiration" felt like during tomorrow’s ranking battles.
Time ticked by as I continued my research. For the first time, I actually received the nutritional meal the arena provided for contestants. I didn't eat it right away, though; I set it aside because my Refreshing Potion was still in effect and I didn't want to waste time. Based on the clock, however, it was almost time anyway.
The main draw of the afternoon matches was the six eliminated contestants fighting for the final three spots in the top ten. Those matches usually went by quickly, so today’s events would likely end soon.
Once I felt a hint of fatigue, I set my work down and picked up the disposable meal tray. A movable panel on the armrest of the spectator chair could be slid in front of me to serve as a makeshift table.
The contestant meals were actually quite good. While they couldn't compare to a feast at a restaurant, the taste was beyond reproach.
As I ate, I reviewed the results of my morning’s work. It was only after I stopped that I noticed something strange.
I had actually mastered the remaining four evocation spellbooks in a single morning?
No, looking closer, I had even created no fewer than three preset contingency plans for each spellbook.
Did I really do all this in one morning?
Even with the "comprehend by analogy" effect, this efficiency was insane...
Was my perception of time off?
It felt like finishing a grueling final exam question, only to look back and realize I’d written pages of perfect work and arrived at the correct answer. It was that kind of feeling—especially the sense of weakness following the potion’s wear-off, which only amplified the "How am I this amazing?" sensation.
Did the Contemplation Potion actually work? Was the effect just subtle and subconscious?
But that kind of effect felt so "metaphysical," and it was so expensive. I wasn't at the point where I could just throw money away...
Maybe I should try to become a potion-maker myself?
Not a full-blown medicine stone alchemist, just a potion-maker. I wouldn't need to know everything, just how to brew Refreshing Potions, Everlasting Memory Potions, and this Contemplation Potion.
After all, raw materials are always cheaper than the finished product. I might even be able to make some money. In the novels I used to read, alchemists and potion-makers were always the most lucrative side-professions. Why couldn't I do it?
The only catch was finding the recipes. Would I have to buy them from a medicine stone alchemist? I’d probably get ripped off... Honestly, I’d rather just get them for free. Maybe I could use my high-level permissions to search the library?
There should be plenty of papers and data on potions. If I just replicated the results of a paper for my own personal use and didn't sell them, I shouldn't get in trouble...
Of course, the thought only lasted a second. Who was I kidding? Whether it was medicine stone alchemy or potion-making, both required a profound mastery of pharmacology and ingredients. In my past life, people said that "encouraging someone to study medicine is like asking for a lightning strike." Even a branch like pharmacology would be enough to drive me insane. By the time I actually mastered potion brewing, who knows how many years would have passed?
After I finished eating, the potion effects completely faded. I felt mentally drained and sluggish, wanting nothing more than to take a nap.
I pushed the armrest panel aside and curled up in the relatively soft spectator chair. Taking a quick nap here shouldn't be a problem, right?
* * *
Not long after I fell asleep, people started to notice.
Even though the tournament had reached the final ten, the contestant spectator area was still crowded. It wasn't like you were banned from coming just because you lost.
"Whoa... she actually fell asleep."
"Who fell asleep?"
"The Explosive Witch from Class 14. How can she sleep in the stands? Just how boring does she think these fights are?"
"Where? And hey, don't call her the Explosive Witch. That's outdated. She's the Myriad Methods Witch now."
"Huh? Myriad Methods? Isn't that Tan Han's title?"
"Tan Han? No, no—her crown was snatched by Xiao Han!"
"Exactly! Don't you check the academy network? That senior sister I follow just posted an update. Come see the real Myriad Methods Witch!"
"The Fake Myriad Methods Witch, Tan Han: Has hundreds of mana sources, mastered dozens of standard consumption spellbooks, over a dozen medium consumption ones, and several high consumption ones. Can even use over-consumption spellbooks with alchemy items."
"The Real Myriad Methods Witch, Xiao Han: Only had a few dozen mana sources during her match and only knew the Fireball Spell. But that one Fireball Spell had ten thousand variations! She faced the final boss in her first match and used a standard spell to crush an over-consumption one!"
"Ugh... how long are we going to keep this dead meme alive?"
"A good meme is eternal, don't you know anything? I'm showing you a video made by a pro senior sister out of the goodness of my heart, and you can't even appreciate it."
"I'm going to sneak over and snap a few pictures of Xiao Han's sleeping face." Another girl chimed in, completely derailing the conversation.
"Heh... great minds think alike. Count me in."
"You idiot, turn off your flash!"
"Sorry, sorry! My bad."
"This is the first time I've been this close to Xiao Han. She's so cute."
"A girl this cute can blow your head off with a single Fireball Spell, you know?"
"Hey! What kind of thing is that to say!"
"Just stating facts."
"You're one to talk! Your flash is still on too!"
...
Time flew by. By the time I woke up, I had no idea how long I’d been out.
I opened my groggy eyes. My vision was blurry, and for a moment, it felt like I was surrounded by a dark mass... but soon, the bright sky filled my sight.
I stretched and blinked. I realized the arena was currently in the heat of the afternoon matches. Even in the contestant area, there were plenty of people moving around, though most seemed to have moved toward the front rows.
Waking up brought that typical post-nap sense of disorientation and gloom. I instinctively grabbed my phone to check for any missed notifications or class messages.
When I opened the Class 14 Mutual Aid Group, I was greeted by a truly shocking sight.
The messages were refreshing at a breakneck pace. The class chat was incredibly active, a stark contrast to the ghost town that was the neighboring class's group.
But what on earth were they posting?
[Not worth watching, slept in the stands for three hours.jpg]
[I meditate while sleeping, you sleep while meditating.jpg]
[Bored to death.jpg]
[The Slumber of the Myriad Methods Witch.jpg]
Meme after meme scrolled past my eyes. The captions were infuriating, but the base image... was me!
Who took these?
And why were there so many of my sleeping face? I only napped for a little while!
Who was the photographer?
And what was this "Myriad Methods Witch" title? Why did my nickname change every single day?
This was a candid photo! A total invasion of privacy! How did it spread like this in the class group? If this got out on the academy network, I’d be completely humiliated!
I randomly opened some posts and short videos on the academy network, and what I saw left me speechless.
Apparently, a lot of people had taken photos while I was asleep. There was even a photo of people taking photos of me—it wasn't just one or two people; there was a whole crowd surrounding me.
Was that "dark mass" I saw when I first woke up actually a crowd of people?
I swallowed hard and went back to the class group.
"Who made these memes?!" I messaged.
My appearance immediately drew the lurkers out of hiding.
"It's the Class Monitor! Lick~"
"It's the Class Monitor! Lick~ +1"
"Breaking the chain to poke the Class Monitor. So cute~"
[Do you even understand the value of the Class Monitor's sleeping face?jpg]
[Class Monitor: 'Who made these memes?!' .jpg]
[Fainting from anger.jpg]
"Xiao Han woke up only to be angered into pregnancy by you guys.jpg"
I stared at the chat logs, nearly fainting from anger for real.
I was wrong. I shouldn't have questioned them in the group. I could hear people whispering behind me. When I turned around, I saw several girls quickly shut their mouths and look at me with feigned confusion.
But the moment I turned back, the voices started up again.
"Did Xiao Han see the memes of her sleeping?"
"She's really going to faint from anger this time."
"Angered into pregnancy? Who did it?"
"If you're asking that, then it was me."
"Oh? And who might you be?"
"I am Xin Nu, Class Monitor of Class 145, Grandmaster of Memes, professional captioner for 30 years..."
"So it was you..." I muttered. I had been fuming with no target, but now someone actually had the nerve to admit it right behind my back?
If I didn't teach her a lesson, I’d be embarrassed to let them call me the Myriad Methods Witch.