Chapter 2: The Not-So-Great Witch Academy
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 2: The Not-So-Great Witch Academy
Stepping out of that house, I felt a sense of freedom like never before.
Though I was a bit worried about how I’d manage my life from here on out—like where my next meal would come from—that was a problem for future me.
That house… I really couldn't stay there a second longer.
It just so happened that I had reached adulthood, so taking this chance to leave was the perfect fresh start.
"Xiao Han? Another fight with your parents?"
A sudden voice called out to me. I turned to see a young woman with an incredibly exaggerated figure. She was our neighbor and had lived next door for a long time, so naturally, I was quite close to her.
Her name was Bai Yu, and I usually called her Sister Bai. She was a kind person. The first time I’d had a massive falling out with my family and stormed out in a rage, it was Sister Bai who had kindly taken me in. Once things settled down, she would even walk me back and put in a good word for me.
"It wasn't just a fight. We’ve officially cut ties."
I sighed. Even though I had a lot of pent-up frustration, I would never take it out on Sister Bai.
"Officially cut ties?"
Sister Bai looked slightly surprised, but as usual, she started pulling me toward her place.
I didn't act coy and followed her inside. I hadn't decided where to go next anyway. At worst, I’d just wait for my admission letter and head straight to the Witch Academy.
No matter how thick-skinned I was, I couldn't stay at Sister Bai’s forever. After all, I was an adult now.
"Xiao Han, tell me, what exactly happened?" As soon as the door closed, Sister Bai dropped her poised and elegant facade. She became much more relaxed, flopping directly onto the living room sofa.
Her ample chest swayed with her movements, sending my pupils into a rhythmic earthquake as I reflexively looked over.
However, I had seen this many times over the years, so I quickly masked my reaction.
To be honest, this was the Sister Bai I knew. She was like two different people inside and outside the house; the moment the door shut, she became incredibly lazy.
It also showed that she didn't see me as an outsider.
I glanced toward her slightly messy bedroom. The living room, however, was quite clean—probably because you could see the living room from the front door, but not the bedroom.
At least she kept up appearances.
"What else could it be? College applications. Guess which academy my parents wanted me to apply for?"
"Knowing your parents... Fierce Slave Academy? If not that, then it must be Lesser Demon Academy, right?" Bai Yu thought for a moment and named two schools.
"Spot on. Lesser Demon Academy. Free tuition, free room and board, and they even give the applicant fifty thousand yuan. My dad was probably just eyeing that fifty thousand, wasn't he?"
"Honestly, I don't think your father even sees you as a human being. Lesser Demon Academy... going there is practically a death sentence."
"Exactly. Did they really think there’s such a thing as a free lunch? So, I just ran for it. Sister Bai, I’ll have to trouble you to let me crash here for a few days." I pressed my palms together in a pleading gesture. I knew she wouldn't refuse me even if I didn't do this, but one had to follow the proper etiquette.
"That’s fine, of course. But how long are you staying? Looking at you, are you waiting for an admission letter?" Bai Yu leaned back on the sofa, crossing her left leg over her right in a posture that suggested she was settling in for a good show.
"Something like that..." Mentioning the admission letter made me feel a bit guilty. After all, a grown man going to a girls' school might be looked down upon, right?
"Oh? Then would you mind telling your Sister Bai which academy you applied to? I remember you telling me your score was... 586? It’s not easy to get into a good academy with that score."
"That... Sister Bai, can I not say?"
"Speak! Let your Sister Bai vet it for you!" Sister Bai’s aura shifted; she clearly wasn't going to let me off the hook.
"Fine... fine. Just don't laugh at me."
I gave her a warning in advance. Sister Bai was closer to me than my own relatives; we were only missing a blood connection. I didn't feel there was anything wrong with telling her.
After all, I had chosen the academy myself, and I’d have to go eventually. There was no point in being secretive.
"Mhm, I promise not to laugh. As long as you didn't fall into some trap, with your grades, it doesn't really matter which academy you picked." Sister Bai lay there comfortably, waiting for my answer.
"Okay." I nodded, preparing to confess.
Actually, my current grades were mediocre mainly because I had been treated as if I had a mental illness.
Because of that, I missed out on a lot of early education. At the time, I didn't think much of it—I was a transmigrator, after all. It wasn't until I realized this world possessed Transcendent power that I insisted on going to school.
By then, my parents had already started raising a "spare" child, so they naturally disagreed with me going to school at that age. In the end, it was Sister Bai who persuaded them to let me attend.
This meant I had spent the last few years before the College Entrance Exam cramming a massive amount of knowledge, including but not limited to Theoretical Meditation, Spells, and Basic Elemental Theory. My score was basically built on those subjects.
As for languages... as long as there were no barriers to communication, it was fine.
"Um... I applied to... the Witch Academy," I whispered. As expected, saying it out loud felt incredibly embarrassing!
"What? Say that again?" Hearing my words, Sister Bai bolted upright.
Seeing her huge reaction, I started to panic. Was the Witch Academy really some kind of trap?
"The... the Witch Academy!" I threw caution to the wind and admitted it loudly. "I applied to the Witch Academy, and they've already accepted me!"
After hearing me out, a flash of complexity crossed Bai Yu's eyes, but she masked it well. In that moment, she seemed to calm down and sat back on the sofa. "Witch Academy? Do you even know anything about the Witch Academy?"
"Not really... Do you know a lot about it, Sister Bai?" I asked tentatively.
"Your Sister Bai here happens to be a student at the Witch Academy. Honestly, why would you choose that school?" Sister Bai told me quite frankly. "Wait, no. The Witch Academy is considered a first-rate institution. Even if its reputation is a bit... mixed, it shouldn't be your turn to get in. How were you recruited?"
"Uh... a while ago, someone claiming to be from the Witch Academy Admissions Office called and asked if I wanted to apply... so I said yes..." I said, feeling a bit sheepish.
"Huh? Has recruiting new students become that difficult for the Witch Academy this year?" Even Sister Bai found it hard to believe, but the facts were right in front of her.
She then had me open the Application System to confirm it thoroughly before letting out a long sigh.
"What is it? Sister Bai, is the Witch Academy a huge trap?" I asked cautiously.
"Not exactly a trap, but for you... it might as well be. Since you've been accepted, the academy probably won't let you go..." Sister Bai stood up, walked over to me, and patted my shoulder. "How does that saying go? Oh, right. Welcome to the Witch Academy."
Hearing Sister Bai say the exact same thing as that teacher, I suddenly felt that things were looking rather bad.
"Don't overthink it. When your admission letter arrives, I'll go to the Witch Academy with you. That's the last bit of help I can give you."
Sister Bai left me standing there, completely dazed. To this day, I still have no idea what I'm about to face.
Could it be that the senior sisters at the Witch Academy are just too fierce?