Chapter 30: Red Velvet Cake
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 30: Red Velvet Cake
After our initial introductions, I managed to get a decent handle on who these two senior sisters were.
For starters, both of them had already reached the "completion" stage of their studies.
Through this topic, I learned quite a bit about the graduation and completion standards of the Witch Academy.
Currently, the Academy follows a standardized three-year core curriculum. After that, students choose a mentor and determine their final specialization, studying under that mentor for five years. The final two years are dedicated to independent research on a chosen subject. Once the student completes their research within the allotted time, they are considered to have "completed" their studies.
All in all, the process takes a full ten years!
And following that path step-by-step only grants you a certificate of completion.
To actually graduate... one must achieve Transcendence and become a Transcendent Witch. The Witch Academy’s teaching is divided into three stages, but if a student achieves Transcendence at any point, the Academy immediately declares them a graduate. If the student wishes to remain for further study or research, they are welcome to stay.
In short: becoming a Transcendent Witch is the sole requirement for graduation.
Of course, that was still a distant dream for me. These two senior sisters, having successfully obtained their completion certificates, were allowed to continue living within the Witch Academy.
If a student fails to finish their final research project, then I’m sorry to say that while their Mana Source—that transcendent energy—won't be stripped away, they will be prohibited from using it. Even so, their lives in this world would still be far more comfortable than those of ordinary people.
You see, while an unusable Mana Source is worthless to the owner, it hasn't lost its value. There are plenty of junior students who would scramble to offer money and resources to buy those Mana Sources. So, even if they don't complete their studies or graduate, they are guaranteed a comfortable life for the rest of their days.
Plus, the social networks they build are incredibly vast.
I have to admit, this conversation gave me a much deeper understanding of this world.
At the same time, the pressure mounted instantly. I was all on my own, with zero resources to my name. I’d better not end up failing to even reach completion.
That would be pathetic—and a total embarrassment to the reputation of transmigrators everywhere.
I slumped listlessly behind the counter at the register. It was getting late, and not a single customer had walked through the door. Was this bakery really not afraid of going bankrupt?
The only source of business was the occasional Delivery Miss who stopped by to pick up an order.
I handed a packaged Red Velvet Cake to a hurried senior sister. Before I could even get a word out, she had verified the info and vanished.
I was left standing there with nothing but a slightly awkward, professional fake smile plastered on my face.
"Senior Sister Tang Yihan, why is our shop so empty?" I asked, leaning toward her. She had just finished making that cake on the spot; her proficiency was something I couldn't even hope to match.
"Isn't it better with fewer people? Less work," Tang Yihan replied while cleaning the tools she’d just used.
"Fair point."
I nodded in agreement. I was already earning money as we spoke, though it hadn't hit my hands yet. Senior Sister Ying Shiqian said she’d help me set up a payment card, which I could then bind to the phone issued by the Academy for mobile payments.
"Hey, Senior Sister Tang, is the Red Velvet Cake in our shop really that popular? It seems like every order that comes in is for that," I continued, trying to find a topic of conversation. Otherwise, standing here doing nothing made me feel like a total blockhead.
"That's because it's the only item listed on our online shop. Popular? As if," Ying Shiqian chimed in from the side, where she was also idling.
"Huh? What?" I looked at Ying Shiqian in surprise, then turned my gaze back to Tang Yihan.
"Mhm. The Shopkeeper's decision. Whether she wants to make money or not has nothing to do with me," Tang Yihan’s words confirmed that Ying Shiqian wasn't lying. It also gave me a taste of how capricious the wealthy could be.
That Shopkeeper I hadn't met yet must be a very rich lady, right?
From our earlier chat, I knew her name was Xia Li—the one who had called me for the interview.
I definitely had to get on her good side if I got the chance. She sounded like the ultimate "rich lady" benefactor!
Just as I was getting back to doing nothing, the order machine stirred again. But this time was different; it emitted a crisp, clear chime, almost like a special notification.
Then, an order slip spat out.
Since I was the closest, I quickly scanned the information. It was still a Red Velvet Cake.
But this wasn't just a slice or two; it was a whole, intact Red Velvet Cake.
I recalled that a whole cake like this cost over a hundred...
So rich.
"A big order's in~"
Upon hearing that sound, Ying Shiqian was the first to react. Her response was even more exaggerated than I expected; she lunged forward with a stride that bypassed my station entirely and snatched the order slip.
I leaned in curiously. Even if it was a custom whole cake, was this reaction necessary?
The two senior sisters didn't seem inclined to explain. Ying Shiqian just shot a look at Tang Yihan, who immediately sprang into action.
I watched as Tang Yihan went to the back kitchen and pulled out a pile of raw ingredients...
Wait, the customer already placed the order—why are we starting from scratch?
Weren't there ready-made ones in the display case?
I wanted to speak up and criticize the inefficiency, but I didn't know where to start.
"Um, Senior Sister, what kind of 'big order' is this that requires starting from the raw ingredients?" I finally couldn't hold it in and asked.
"Big orders naturally come with special steps. When someone spends that much money, they deserve a sense of ritual," Ying Shiqian said, walking past me and waving the order slip with a smile.
In the brief moment the slip flashed by, I caught a glimpse of the remarks column. It was packed with requirements.
And... the price was wrong.
What kind of bakery dares to sell a cake for ten thousand yuan?!
Ying Shiqian seemed to notice my pale expression and explained, "Ten thousand is just the threshold fee. Xiao Han, you have to understand—if this bakery didn't have other ways to make money, it would have gone under long ago. But you're just a part-timer. Don't worry, we won't let you get involved in this side of things. Just focus on your job here, and we'll make sure you get paid~"
Listening to Ying Shiqian, a faint chill ran down my spine. I had a feeling I’d stumbled into something heavy on my very first day...
"O-Okay..."
I forced a smile and agreed, making sure not to do anything extra.
I mean, what else could I do? This job was so easy it was basically free money. What was a little risk?
But I had to ask one last thing for my own peace of mind. After all, you need to be alive to spend the money you make.
"Um, Senior Sister... the Academy allows what you're doing, right?"
"Mhm... let's call it 'tacitly permitted.' We wouldn't dare dance on the Academy's bottom line, so don't worry."
Ying Shiqian wasn't surprised by the question; she just offered that bit of reassurance.
So it's 'tacitly permitted' rather than 'actually allowed'!
I complained inwardly but didn't dare say it out loud. I was starting to understand why there were so many old uniforms in the changing room. Is this what happened to the previous employees?