Chapter 362: Ninglan Qiuyue Arrives at the Witch Academy
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 362: Ninglan Qiuyue Arrives at the Witch Academy
"Sigh... It’s been several days already, hasn't it? I heard Sister Xiao Han still hasn't come back..."
"True. But still... I’m really curious how Sister Xiao Han managed to send her main body over there. She couldn't be trapped and unable to return, could she?"
"I’m not sure. How could we ever keep up with Sister Xiao Han’s way of thinking? Besides, the Teacher went over too, so it’s unlikely she’s stuck."
At the Witch Academy, several days had passed since the Slumber Curse incident concluded. The Academy Network was flooded with discussions about the event.
Naturally, most of the talk revolved around luck, scripts, and conspiracy theories. Some were firm believers, while others thought the current batch of freshmen had lost their minds.
The Academy hadn't suppressed this information. Instead, they allowed it to spread freely across the network, neither confirming nor denying anything.
Without an official announcement to explain the nature of luck or the scripts, the Academy was essentially giving the matter the "cold treatment." Rather than digging a deeper hole by trying to explain, it was better to let people speculate and wonder on their own.
"By the way, how is Tan Han doing? Since she got back, she feels... like she’s changed a lot."
"I’m worried about her too. I went to see her earlier, and she seemed quite energetic, actually."
"Really?"
"Yeah. When I visited, Sister Tan Han was busy reading. After all, the monthly exams are only a few days away... Ugh, I wasted more than half of this month, and I’ve missed so many classes... My rank is going to tank this time!"
"It’s fine. Your rank might drop, but your room for improvement just went up."
"You! How can you joke at a time like this? Aren't you in the same boat?"
As the two girls chatted, a familiar figure caught their eye in the corner of the library.
"Wait! Look!"
"What is it?"
"Look over there. That person... isn't she that..."
"Huh? That’s... isn't that Ninglan Qiuyue? What is she doing at the Witch Academy?!"
"It really is her... The person from the dream has appeared in reality!"
"Wake up, the dream you had was in reality."
"I know! But still, the Witch Academy’s recruitment reach is way too broad, isn't it? How did she get here?"
"Don't forget, the Witch Academy is the best at 'abducting' people every year. It’s their signature move. Should we... go say hello? We’re old acquaintances, after all... I think? Technically, we’re her seniors now."
"Right. Let’s find out what’s going on."
The two rose and walked toward her.
At that moment, Ninglan Qiuyue also noticed the two figures approaching. They looked familiar.
"Hello, you two. I didn't expect to run into you here."
"It really is a coincidence. Are you... enrolled in the Witch Academy now?"
"Yes. A mentor from the Academy personally invited me, and it was an offer I couldn't refuse. I’ve always yearned for the transcendent world, so I’ve become an ordinary student here."
As for Ninglan New City, her role as City Lord was merely for show. She knew her own limitations; if she were left to actually manage the city, it would likely descend into chaos.
Furthermore, after the nightmare disaster, the city's official ranks had undergone a massive overhaul. With the various families and factions suppressed, the city lacked the strength to oppose such a decision.
In every sense, Ninglan New City had undergone a total reformation, stepping into a brand-new era.
The Witch Academy’s control over the city wasn't purely extractive. They were actively helping the city develop. One thing she remembered clearly was the maintenance of the Ley Line at the Ninglan Protection Stele, which expanded the protected area. This gave the city the capital it needed to expand outward.
With the aid of transcendent arts and other resources, Ninglan New City would finally stand tall upon the ruins through its own strength, rather than relying on the luck and blessings of the first-generation City Lord.
No one in the city could refuse the prospect of expansion. Without enough living space, the population could never grow.
Now that she had settled the trivial matters within the city, she was essentially a figurehead. Even if she wanted to do something, many people would probably prefer she didn't, fearing she might only get in the way.
Of course, she knew exactly why she had come to the Witch Academy: to learn transcendent skills and bring them back. Although the Academy promised aid in the form of beyonder arts, it could never compare to the depth of knowledge available to a formal student. She thought of Teacher Xiao Han, who was also a student here. Xiao Han was her role model—her goal!
Only by mastering such power could she develop and arm Ninglan New City. After all, she was the only person in the entire city qualified to enter the Witch Academy.
She had tried to bring others along, but the Academy hadn't taken an interest in anyone else—not even Wumali, the frustrated president of the Beyonder Research Association.
In a way... perhaps Wumali had dodged a bullet?
Regardless, Ninglan Qiuyue had arrived as an ordinary student. Everything here was incredibly novel to her.
The enrollment process alone had taken a long time. Fortunately, a teacher had guided her through it. Once the paperwork was finished and she found herself with nowhere to go, she headed straight for the library. Even with her lack of common sense, she knew that if one wanted to understand this world, its transcendent arts, and its knowledge, the library was the place to be.
She was surprised to meet acquaintances here. Though they weren't particularly close—she might even get their names wrong—they were friends with Tan Han, and she was quite close to Tan Han.
"So you really are a student now. Then... what about Ninglan New City? I remember Ninglan Qiuyu..."
"I became the Acting City Lord. I gave my inaugural speech just recently, but unfortunately, you had all left by then."
"Huh? You became the City Lord? Congratulations!"
"It’s nothing to offer congratulations for," Ninglan Qiuyue said, shaking her head. Though she had only experienced it for a few days, she felt as though the burdens of the office were already crushing her.
"Right, if you’re the City Lord, then why..."
"I’m the Acting City Lord. You know I wasn't raised to be a leader. I have zero experience. So... essentially, the Witch Academy is managing Ninglan New City. The city is undergoing a full transition to align with the Academy, focusing its development in specific directions."
Once Ninglan New City established a connection with the Witch Academy, it began to shed its burdens. Originally, the city was playing a "single-player game," needing to know a bit of everything just to survive.
Now that they were "online," they could focus entirely on their strengths and trade for equivalent resources—like food and water.
"I see. Does that mean we’ll have a chance to visit Ninglan New City in person later?"
"That... probably won't be possible in the short term. The city hasn't transitioned into a tourism-based service economy yet. If too many outsiders flooded in at once, it would cause problems. There are our city regulations... and your world's laws... you understand, right? If something goes wrong, it would make the relationship very tense."
"Oh, right... Anyway, enough about that. How long have you been at the Academy? Are you settling in?"
"I just arrived today. I only finished the enrollment process a short while ago. I wanted to come to the library to learn about your history. You can analyze a lot of fundamental things through history. Plus... I wanted to see if I could learn some transcendent arts to take back. You know we have a Beyonder Research Association there, right? Ever since Xiao Han spread runology there, interest in beyonder arts has exploded again."
"Wow... really? Does Sister Xiao Han have that much of an impact everywhere she goes?"
"Well, since you're here, the two of us will show you around. We've been to the library plenty of times. Just ask us if you need to find anything."
"Thank you. There are indeed many things here I'm unfamiliar with. I appreciate the help. But... don't you two have your own things to do in the library?"
"Well, we do... Oh! Right! Ninglan Qiuyue, the next round of monthly exams is in a few days! Maybe... maybe you should stop reading history and start cramming for the courses? At least get through this exam first. It would be embarrassing to get a zero because you don't know anything. The theory questions aren't multiple choice; there's no chance to get lucky."
"Monthly exams?" Ninglan Qiuyue was taken aback. "I think the teacher who guided me mentioned that. she said there’s a theory exam in a few days. I’m exempt this time, but I’ll have to take it next month."
"Ex... exempt... Ah... so we’re the clowns here?"
"Are you two doing a final sprint for the exams? If you're in a hurry, I don't strictly need a guide. I can figure things out slowly or ask someone else," Ninglan Qiuyue said. She didn't want to waste their precious revision time on her trivial matters.
"No, no, no. We need to balance work and rest. We were just cramming theory, and our heads are spinning."
"Exactly! We need a break too."
"Alright then. Thank you in advance."
Accompanied by the two, Ninglan Qiuyue went to the library's front desk to handle the borrowing procedures, chatting about other things along the way.
"By the way, just out of curiosity, since you're a student now, which class were you assigned to?"
"Um... Class 14," Ninglan Qiuyue said after a moment's thought.
"Class 14? Wait! Isn't that Xiao Han's class? Xiao Han is the class monitor of Class 14!"
"Yes, I know. I requested it when I was being assigned. I wanted to be in the same class as her. I’m curious to see what kind of class could produce someone like Xiao Han."
"Ah? I thought it was a coincidence. But I think you might be overthinking it. Xiao Han is exempt from courses. Most of the time, the vice-monitor runs the class. Xiao Han is just naturally amazing; it has nothing to do with the class. I heard she hasn't even attended more than a few lectures..."
"Is that so?" Ninglan Qiuyue didn't look discouraged. She knew that only her own hard work mattered; a good learning environment was just a bonus.
If she had bet everything on the class itself, she wouldn't have come.
"One more thing—Sister Xiao Han hasn't appeared since we got back. Is she still in Ninglan New City? What is she doing?"
"I’m not entirely sure, but it’s likely related to the Academy. The Academy mentors went to see her. I couldn't really pry into the details."
"I see... That makes sense. Sister Tan Han said that back then, Xiao Han shattered her own Luck Seed. Could it be because of that?"
"Maybe. That strike of hers was terrifying. Could she have crossed some line with the Academy?"
"I don't know."
"Wait... Xiao Han... did something happen to her? The way you're talking, it sounds like..." Ninglan Qiuyue listened to their scattered conversation, her worry growing.
"Oh! It’s nothing. The Academy wouldn't go that far. Xiao Han is the most talented student of our year. They definitely won't punish her."
"Punishment? I doubt it. The teachers who came to the city didn't look serious when they mentioned her. In fact... they seemed quite happy?"
"Well... I knew the Witch Academy would love someone like Xiao Han."
* * *
Outside the Witch Cat Cafe.
"Eek! Oh my gosh!! Look at these little cuties! Are they the new employees?!"
Today, the various Witch Cat Cafes across the Academy welcomed new staff. Cafes that usually had moderate foot traffic were suddenly packed to capacity.
The tiny bodies, the adorable forms, the subconscious hint of timidness in a strange environment, and the brave, determined expressions they put on—it was a combination that struck a chord with every passing senior student.
After all, who could refuse something so cute? Even if they could, what witch could refuse a cat!
The Fool's Dream race had essentially landed a critical hit on the seniors' collective preferences.
"That's right~ These little darlings are called Fool's Dreams. Each one has their own name. It's their first day working part-time at our cafe, so they're a bit shy. Please be patient with them, everyone."
"And the Fool's Dreams are working very hard to learn new skills... Hey! Customer! Please don't get handsy with our staff! They are professional employees, you can't do that!"
"Phew... Customer, I understand your impulse, but please don't frighten our staff. Also, please refrain from doing anything inappropriate. If we catch you, you'll be permanently blacklisted from the Witch Cat Cafe~ So please, behave yourselves."
"Now, let’s have our new little employee say a few words to everyone."
"Th-thank you, everyone... I... I will work hard!"
As the soft, sweet voice of the Fool's Dream rang out, the actual words didn't matter anymore. That adorable appearance and tender voice had already captured the hearts of countless seniors.
At the front desk, the senior sisters were swamped—processing cat cards, greeting guests, taking orders, and providing service.
They were incredibly busy.
It wasn't until a guest held out a Gold Cat Card that the receptionist looked up in surprise at the stranger before her.
An exquisite face radiated a gentle smile. A striking, rare mane of long white hair flowed behind her, neat and elegant. Her blood-red eyes were filled with amusement as she looked back.
"C-Customer!" The girl tremblingly took the Gold Cat Card, a tier rarely seen in daily life.
In that moment, she felt as if she had fallen in love. A lady this beautiful and wealthy... she was exactly her type!
However, her duty as a receptionist allowed her to finish the registration.
"Is this your first time here, miss? You look very unfamiliar~"