Chapter 279: Wisdom Enlightenment, the Dean's Trial Mission
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 279: Wisdom Enlightenment, the Dean's Trial Mission
“…”
It really is called that… As much as I wanted to complain, I clearly lacked the standing to criticize the naming conventions of something at the level of a Great Spellbook.
Just as the thought crossed my mind, Dean Mei Lind suddenly thrust the Great Spellbook into my body.
“Wait! Hold on!”
I couldn't even move to stop her. She even thoughtfully tucked it right into my Spellbook Shelf Spellbook.
“Curious as to why I did that?” The Dean’s gentle smile remained unchanged, her expression practically inviting me to ask "why."
“Why?”
“I want to make a trade that isn't a loss… or rather, let’s call it an investment.”
“An investment?” I instinctively looked down. Investing in me with a Great Spellbook? No matter how you looked at it, that didn't seem like a 'no-loss' investment.
Besides, I didn't have the strength to protect such a thing.
If this were ever exposed, I would be… no, I would definitely be doomed beyond redemption. Just thinking about that unlucky guy from before—even a mental lock-on from an existence like that was more than I could handle. How was I supposed to guard this Great Spellbook?
“There are other reasons and conditions, but we’ll discuss those later. For now, let’s do something more meaningful. Do you wish to grant Wisdom Enlightenment to these Fool’s Dreams? To be born with wisdom and the capacity for thought—these are among the many prerequisites for being defined as life.”
“I…”
Put on the spot by the Dean, I wasn't sure what I wanted. In truth, I did want to do it, especially since I now seemed to have the power.
When I first encountered them, I simply thought they were cute; it was none of my business. I naturally wished them well in their struggles, but now that this power had been placed in my hands, my decision would determine whether their ridiculous efforts had any meaning at all.
“I… naturally, I want to do it…”
“Is that so? And yet, I heard hesitation in your answer. To put it bluntly, the Fool’s Dreams are currently in their most innocent, ignorant stage. If you grant them wisdom, they will obey you. As for… Yu Hu, her memories are entirely composed of her obsession with me. Now that I’ve decided to stop looking after them and am prepared to give them to you, that obsession will only become a burden to you.”
“Wait, Dean, you’re giving them to me?”
“That is my intention. You can also choose to refuse. The unrequited wishes of the Fool’s Dream are the beginning of many tragedies. I view them as materials; they view me as a benefactor. It’s quite troublesome. Are you willing to take them over? Once they become true life, whether you drive them as a Servant Army or use them as Believers to stabilize your Faith, they represent excellent future planning. At your current stage, you could even use them to make money.”
“This…”
The examples the Dean just listed felt very far away. My main concern was whether I could take good care of them, and… I didn't know why I should take them in.
If my only reason for taking them was because the Dean would "clear them out" if I didn't, then it really wasn't necessary. Judging by the Dean’s attitude toward the Fool’s Dreams, if I said no, she really might just wipe them out.
“Still hesitating? I thought girls liked cute creatures like these. If you’re willing, I can even help provide them with new shells. They can even be custom-made.”
“Fine.” I instantly dropped my previous hesitation and nodded in agreement.
It was just raising a group of little guys, wasn't it? Facing cute little creatures every day would put me in a good mood. Besides, how much could a bunch of little cuties who only knew how to eat and drink possibly cost me? My money was currently measured in units of Orichalcum.
“Once we’ve agreed, there’s no going back. Actually, you’re getting the better end of the deal here. The Great Wisdom Enlightenment Art was derived from the Fool’s Dream, so they possess the value to become true life. This is a revelation stemming from the Transcendent Knowledge they inherently possess.”
“Mm-hmm.”
At this point, I was just nodding frantically at everything the Dean said. She was right; I couldn't resist anyway, so I might as well accept it all and figure it out later.
“Well, looking at you, it seems you’ll just nod no matter what I say. Sigh… Let’s talk about something you’ll actually care about then. For instance… shall we discuss the conditions for giving you the Great Wisdom Enlightenment Art spellbook?”
“You’re… actually giving it to me?”
The Dean’s words gave me a sudden jolt. If she had shoved the spellbook into my body earlier just so I could decide whether to enlighten the Fool’s Dreams, she could have taken it back at any time. But now she was explicitly saying she was giving it to me!
This was like a windfall from the heavens landing right on my head. How was I supposed to handle this?
But immediately following that was terror, because I couldn't withstand the weight of this "gift." Not even my counselor, Teacher Ji Niang, could!
I was already keeping my [Transcendent Knowledge] a secret from everyone; a Great Spellbook created from [Transcendent Knowledge] was even more unspeakable.
“Did you miss the part where I mentioned 'conditions'? This is indeed an investment I am making in you, but it is also a trade between us, and a… Trial Mission I have prepared for you.”
“During this period, I can liberate you from the Main World Script. I’ve learned from Ji Niang that you strongly dislike being dictated by the Script, yes? Well? Does that make you more willing to accept this Trial Mission?” The Dean observed my expression as she spoke, finally throwing out a condition I couldn't possibly refuse!
“I’ll take it!”
In that moment, I didn't hesitate for a second. The Dean’s promise—especially the part about stepping out of the Script and not having to worry about being "arranged" by it—was undoubtedly the greatest temptation.
It was fair to say the Dean had struck my weakest point.
And now… the only thing left to worry about was the Dean’s so-called Trial Mission. I didn't know what form it would take or what she would make me do.
“That’s more like it. In exchange for this, I will transfer the Great Wisdom Enlightenment Art to you. In return, you must provide me with one new piece of [Transcendent Knowledge] and two Primal Spell Sequences. If you are confirmed to be thoroughly dead by any means, this Great Spellbook must return to the Primal Witch at the Great Library of the Witch World.”
“Huh?”
Faced with this series of requirements, I could only let out a soul-deep cry of confusion.
“Do you have questions regarding the prerequisites of this exchange?”
“I do.”
I nodded. I had too many questions!
I admitted that trading one piece of [Transcendent Knowledge] for a Great Spellbook was an absolute bargain, but… what was the rest of that?
And why was the Great Library of the Witch World mentioned? And the Primal Witch?
Accepting too many settings at once made my brain feel a bit "overloaded."
“I know what [Transcendent Knowledge] is, and I have no problem with the Great Spellbook being returned if I die. But what is a Primal Spell Sequence?”
“You’ve asked the right question. I thought you might blindly accept out of greed for the Great Spellbook. 'Primal Spell Sequence'—these six words should be broken down into three parts to be understood. The simplest is 'Spell.' A spell is a spell; you know what that is. 'Sequence'… are you familiar with the concepts of Prototype Spells and Derived Spells?”
“I am,” I nodded.
“If you know that, then it’s simple. A Prototype Spell plus its Derived Spells is called a complete Spell Sequence. 'Spell Sequence' also refers to the Prototype Spell itself; after all, with the Prototype Spell, one can theoretically possess all the Derived Spells of that sequence. But theory is theory. The difficulty of Derived Spells dictates that possessing a Prototype Spell Sequence does not equate to possessing all its Derived Spells. For the Spell Sequence I require, you only need to give me the Prototype Spell.”
“Okay. Then… what about 'Primal'?” I nodded to show I understood, then asked again.
“Primal means the very first, the original. This is easy to understand. For example, the Primal Fireball Spell—the very first Fireball Spell ever created. The concept of it being the 'Primal First' even exceeds the effect of the Fireball Spell itself.”
“This…” After a simple understanding of this Primal concept, I didn't think it sounded simple at all.
“What? Feeling the pressure? It seems you understand the value of the Primal. Although theoretically there is no upper limit to the number of spell types, the thinking of living beings has its limitations. Primal spells are precious, even to the point of being on par with Great Spells in some respects. Even if the effect of that spell is far inferior to a Great Spell, the title of 'Primal' and the concept itself are enough to rank it alongside them.”
“This… how could I possibly achieve that?”
I was starting to regret it now. Why did I have to be greedy for this Great Spellbook? What was the use of getting it early? I couldn't protect it anyway; I might as well have declined…
“Don't be in such a hurry. At this stage, we are only talking about an exchange; we haven't reached the trial phase yet. Why do you think I entrusted the Fool’s Dream clan to you?”
“Why?”
“The birth of a new race signifies that this form of life has been recognized by the Void. Any new race born into this world represents the birth of at least two Primal Spell Sequences: Summoning… and Transformation. Do you understand now?”
“I… I understand…”
Once the Dean put it that way, I got it. With the Great Wisdom Enlightenment Art, the Dean could easily turn the Fool’s Dream clan into true life and obtain those two Primal spells.
She could have done it herself, but she was doing it through my hands and giving me the Great Spellbook in the process.
Adding in that one piece of [Transcendent Knowledge], the Dean was essentially only recovering her costs; she wasn't even counting the cost of the wear and tear over the past hundred years.
Meanwhile, I was conducting a business with zero capital, like giving out a blank check to get a Great Spellbook for free.
Even if the investment failed, the Great Spellbook would return to the Witch World without leaking out, and the Dean would still have gained a piece of [Transcendent Knowledge]. With the Dean’s capabilities and the eternal lifespan of a Witch, obtaining another Great Spellbook wouldn't be an issue.
Is this what they call investment?
“Then… what is the significance of a Primal spell?” I continued to press.
The value of this thing couldn't just be… the collector's value of being rare, right?
If the Fool’s Dreams became true life, what significance or value would spells like Fool’s Dream Summoning or Fool’s Dream Transformation have?
No matter how I looked at it, they couldn't compare to a Great Spellbook. Though, to be honest, I still didn't know the difference between a Great Spellbook and a regular spellbook of the same type—maybe it was just more powerful.
“Primal is the significance. Meaning is something bestowed by people. When people collectively recognize its value, the concept gains meaning. There are too many methods out there to utilize concepts. It’s precisely because you cannot yet reach that level that you cannot understand its value. Rather than trying to understand the Primal concept, you’d be better off asking me what the value of a Great Spellbook is.”
“Then what is the value of a Great Spellbook?”
Since the Dean had put it that way, and I still didn't understand, I knew that the matters beyond this were things I wasn't qualified to touch yet. I might as well go with the flow and ask this question directly.
After all, I was equally curious about the difference between a Great Spellbook and a regular spellbook, and why it attracted so many people to fight for it.
“Very well… at least I should be able to explain this in a way you can understand.” Mei Lind sighed, rubbing her forehead. At least she had successfully diverted the topic, hadn't she?
Some things are best understood only after reaching the corresponding level; otherwise, they only add to one's troubles and mental exhaustion.
“A Great Spellbook represents many things. I won't speak of the distant effects and benefits; I’ll only mention the functions you can intuitively feel and directly understand. First, a Great Spellbook is more powerful than a regular spellbook, or its spell effects are stronger.”
I followed along with a nod. If the power didn't change, it would be a waste of its special title. It definitely had to be stronger than ordinary spells.
“Second, the effects produced by a Great Spellbook—note that 'effects' here does not refer to general spell effects. You understand the difference between a spell effect and a natural phenomenon, right?”
“I do.”
I nodded. For example, the fireball of a Fireball Spell is a spell effect; the fireball is maintained by the mana or elemental energy provided by the caster. But a fireball rising from a natural phenomenon has a beginning and an end; it isn't a transcendent existence defined as a spell effect.
To explain it more clearly, it was like the difference between a clone created by a spell and another 'me' created through biological cloning.
“The effects produced by a Great Spellbook can also be called spell effects, but those effects exist permanently. Its significance lies in blurring the boundary between a spell effect and actual existence.”
“This…” Hearing the Dean say this, I pondered for a long while. I could understand the phrasing, but I was thinking about the implications.
“Do you have a question?” the Dean asked, seeing my hesitant look.
“The… practical application is… also, 'permanent existence'—does that mean it’s eternally indestructible?”
“Curious about the practical effects of a Great Spellbook? A very pragmatic way of thinking. Let me answer your question with an example… let’s use the Million Divine Spell Black Hole Spell.”
“A regular Black Hole Spell creates a black hole spell effect. Once the energy supply is cut, the spell effect dissipates. If it were a Great Black Hole Spell, it would create a long-lasting black hole. Even if you don't maintain the spell, the black hole created by the Great Black Hole Spell will continue to exist. That is its significance.”
“It still exists? It actually created a black hole?” I asked.
“No… that black hole is still a spell effect. That’s why I said it only blurs the boundary between a spell effect and actual existence, rather than breaking it.”
“But… energy can't just be generated out of thin air, can it?” I was still very confused.
“Do you remember those Void Rifts when the Great Spellbook was born?”
“Oh! Was… was it those Void Rifts providing the energy?!” I reacted quickly.
“Not entirely correct. One could say that at this stage, there is no theory to support such an absolute claim. It can only be said that the long-term existence of this spell effect is related to Void Rifts. Void Rifts are an extremely rare phenomenon within the Void, and they are also the foundation upon which Great Spells exist. The moment a Great Spellbook takes shape, it artificially triggers a Void Rift, which is also largely related to [Transcendent Knowledge].”
As the Dean explained it, it seemed as though the secrets of the Great Spellbook were being fully revealed. However, even as the Dean described this information, she used a lot of uncertain language. This rigor reminded me of Teacher Ji Niang.
Perhaps Great Spellbooks held even more secrets, but clearly, they required more study.
“Returning to the topic of permanent spell effects: 'permanent existence' is also a description. It exists permanently in the absence of external interference. For now, let’s define the energy source maintaining this existence as the Void Rift. As long as the external consumption of this spell effect does not exceed the energy supply provided by the Void Rift, the spell effect can never be broken.”
“This is the power of a Great Spellbook’s permanent effect. You appear to be fighting a spell effect, but in reality, you are struggling against a Void Rift of the entire Void. You should still remember that unlucky guy who was annihilated by the Void Rift before the Great Wisdom Enlightenment Art was completed, right? Withstanding the effect of a Great Spellbook is roughly like that, except the Void Rift has taken another form and presented itself as the effect of this spell.”
Hearing this, I instinctively swallowed. I finally understood the power of a Great Spellbook.
Although… the Great Wisdom Enlightenment Art I now held didn't sound like it had the ability to harm people, its effect… one could only imagine.
At this point, Dean Mei Lind stopped speaking. She knew she had said a lot at once, and these things would take an ordinary person a significant amount of time to digest and accept. She could afford to wait.
After a period of organizing my thoughts, I slowly raised my head and looked at the Dean.
“What is it? Are you ready to accept the trial I’ve given you? However, I must tell you one thing: using the Great Wisdom Enlightenment Art directly on these Fool’s Dreams will not immediately turn them into true life. Wisdom is only one of the important prerequisites for life to be recognized by the Void. Furthermore, the trial I’ve given you has no end date. Whether you finish your studies or graduate from the Witch Academy, this trial will still exist. I will always be waiting for you in the Main World to submit your answer to this trial.”
“I… accept.” I nodded heavily, accepting this challenge-filled trial.
“Very good. Let us sign a Witch Contract to serve as a witness to this trial. With the binding force of a Witch Contract, we can best ensure fairness for both parties,” Mei Lind said with a smile.
At this moment, only she understood that while this contract appeared to protect the other party's interests, if viewed with an eye toward the future, it was actually ensuring her own interests down the line.
This was the investment Mei Lind had chosen. From the moment she made this choice, she had placed the other party on the same level as herself in all her considerations.
If one cannot even respect the level the other party might eventually reach, then a so-called investment is nothing more than a joke. That wouldn't be an investment; it would be charity.