Chapter 446: The Shortcut to Becoming a Teaching Assistant
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 446: The Shortcut to Becoming a Teaching Assistant
I arrived at the main gate of the Witch Academy. The actual teaching district of the academy wasn't particularly large, but the surrounding residential areas were also considered part of the campus, which was why the Witch Academy occupied such a massive amount of space.
I vaguely remembered that the Witch Academy was a school superimposed over the "Magic City" of the outside world. That admission letter had been my one-way ticket into this place.
When I first entered, I was stunned by the sight. Back then, I didn't have the level of control over my Spirit Vision that I do now; a single glance would reveal the overlapping architecture of the two spaces—the Witch Academy and the mundane Magic City.
Now, I had grown accustomed to it all.
Previously, it was Sister Bai who had brought me into the Witch Academy. Now, I stood here, waiting for her return.
I waited for several hours. The Academy Dean hadn't given me a specific time, or perhaps I had simply arrived too early.
I didn't see the new academy teachers yet, but I did encounter several senior sisters from the higher years.
"Oh? I didn't expect someone to be here this early. What the hell is that you're wearing?"
I turned my gaze toward the senior sister who had spoken. Originally, I hadn't intended to pay them any mind, assuming they were just passing through, until they stopped right next to me.
"I haven't done anything to you, have I? Why don't you watch your tongue?"
"Dyeing your hair white and wearing colored contacts... you're not part of the Xiao Han Fan Club, are you? I really don't know what's wrong with you people. Dyeing your hair white—are you trying to get into a coffin early?"
"That's none of your business," I said calmly. My eyes instinctively flickered toward a figure gliding high above the academy. It was a member of the Discipline Squad. It was a pity; it was best not to start a fight in the Witch Academy, and even if one did, it was better to have the moral high ground.
"None of our business? You came here at this specific time; aren't our goals basically the same? Do you really think the new teachers will give you the time of day? All that flash and no substance—be careful not to leave a bad first impression."
"..." Hearing her words, I fell silent. I realized her purpose was likely similar to mine. Was she also planning to become a Teaching Assistant?
But I was here to welcome Sister Bai. What were they here for?
Surely they weren't just here to "make a good impression"?
Personally, I felt that was entirely unnecessary.
"You want to be Teaching Assistants?" I looked them over once more and decided to ask directly, as I didn't feel like guessing their intentions.
"Tch—and you aren't?"
"Naturally, I want to be one too. We'll each rely on our own abilities. Is there any need to put others down? You're acting like you're somehow superior."
"We just hope certain people have some self-awareness. Who knows where you got your 'insider info' that led you to wait here like an idiot for so long. Tch."
"..."
I stopped talking to her after that. I realized it was a waste of my time. Besides, if information obtained directly from the Academy Dean was considered "insider info," then what did that make their sources? Sewer rumors?
However, their presence made me realize just how difficult it would be to secure a Teaching Assistant position.
I had learned from the Academy Dean that every mentor in the Witch Academy—whether they taught fixed courses or irregular, paid ones—could have one Teaching Assistant. Of course, they could also choose not to have one at all.
The Dean had told me that most mentors didn't actually take on TAs. Therefore, the probability of the current mentors in the academy recruiting was low; those positions were basically set in stone.
It stood to reason, then, that only the newly arrived mentors would consider taking on a Teaching Assistant to help shoulder the initial burdens of settling into a new environment.
As time passed, more senior sisters arrived. Their presence brought a hint of pressure, as the number of Mana Sources within these sisters reached into the several thousands. They also possessed numerous spellbooks. If things ever came to blows, they would be terrifyingly powerful.
But the moment I remembered I wasn't actually competing with them, that pressure vanished.
I couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration. The students confident enough to vie for a Teaching Assistant position were undoubtedly the cream of the crop. There were no grade divisions here, only distinctions in individual ability and quality.
Clearly, they were no longer satisfied with being mere students. Perhaps they wanted to touch the power of the faculty level, or perhaps they simply wanted the title of Teaching Assistant to make it easier to return as a teacher after graduation.
Whatever the case, they all had their reasons.
* * *
Meanwhile.
"Follow me. Many of you are likely visiting the Main World for the first time. Information regarding the Main World has already been sent to you; make sure to look it over when you have time. What I just gave you are mobile phones used in the Main World—they're mana-driven, so just try not to break them. Once we enter the Witch Academy, you'll need to register with the Academy Dean. She should have already planned out your arrangements. As for everything else, please suit yourselves."
A group of witches followed their guide into the Magic City. Before long, they would be able to enter the Witch Academy directly.
A significant portion of this group was visiting the Main World for the first time. However, upon arrival, the sensation the Main World gave them wasn't as breathtaking as they had imagined. Instead, there was a lingering sense of suppression. This was the effect of the Great Weakening Spell, the handiwork of one of the deans within the Witch Academy. They had already learned about this common knowledge beforehand.
"Oh? Is it really okay to do whatever we want?"
"As long as it's within the rules and the unspoken conventions, you can do as you please. Of course, just because you can do something doesn't mean you shouldn't consider the consequences. This is the Main World; don't let yourselves get too carried away. The Magic City is just ahead. The Witch Academy is located in another layer of space superimposed over the city, separated by a curtain wall."
As the guide explained, many of the witches noticed the phenomenon.
Among them, a few witches showed a hint of nostalgia or familiarity upon seeing the scene. Clearly, they were graduated senior sisters who had once left the Main World.
"By the way, once you enter the Witch Academy, the first people you encounter might be students coming to welcome you."
"Eh? There are students welcoming us? I'm flattered. There's no need for such a grand reception, is there?" one witch said in surprise.
"No, you're being self-indulgent. I'm not sure exactly how many there will be, but it shouldn't be many. They aren't here simply to welcome you; they've set their sights on the single Teaching Assistant slot you each hold. Of course, you don't have to ignore them entirely. The fact that they're here to meet you proves they have some ambition. However, you aren't strictly required to choose a TA from among these students."
As the witch introducing the basic situation finished speaking, many of the newcomers wore mysterious smiles. They hadn't even stepped through the gates of the Witch Academy yet, and already students were plotting for their TA positions.
Of course, many witches were dismissive. They didn't need a Teaching Assistant at all.
But some were quite interested.
Among the crowd of Transcendent Witches, a very young-looking witch felt a stir of interest.
This was, of course, Bai Yu.
Beside Bai Yu were two other girls who were also Transcendent Witches. Judging by appearance alone, it was impossible to tell the age of a Transcendent Witch, but the two were currently flanking Bai Yu, chatting idly.
Bai Yu had met these two after leaving the Main World. It wasn't exactly a coincidence; every so often, a group of witches would want to enter the Main World, while another group would leave because they couldn't stand it. However, the number of Transcendents in the Main World was kept in a state of dynamic balance, so the slots for entry were limited. These limited slots even had to be shared with other Transcendent Races.
These two had happened upon the girl who had graduated from the Main World's Witch Academy. Driven by curiosity about the Main World, they had approached her to learn more. It was under these circumstances that they learned her name was Bai Yu.
Detailed intelligence about the Main World would be provided to them eventually, but with a "local" available, the information they received was bound to be more authentic.
In truth, there were many witches trying to get close to Bai Yu at the time, but in the end, only these two had passed the selection and obtained the qualification to enter the Main World.
Coincidentally, these two were twins. One was named Miao, and the other was named He. Their names consisted of only a single character; they were more like code names than names. Through casual conversation, Bai Yu had learned that they came from a Witch Academy in another world within the Void and had been graduated for some time.
This opportunity had allowed Bai Yu to realize the staggering disparity between Witch Academies in different worlds—a cruel reality where sometimes the only thing they shared was the name.
The fact that these two had managed to promote to Transcendent Witches from such a dog-eat-dog academy meant they had suffered immensely. After leaving their original world, they had felt nothing but an endless sense of aimlessness, having lost their goals.
Eventually, after much wandering, they happened to learn about becoming a mentor at a Witch Academy in another world. It was this coincidence that allowed them to see another side of witches.
They were the type of people who had struggled tooth and nail to become Transcendent Witches just to escape that academy. Only after becoming Transcendents did they realize the gap between Witch Academies could be so vast.
After comparing their options, they ultimately chose the Main World's Witch Academy as their place of rest for the foreseeable future. They truly wanted to experience the tranquil atmosphere of a Witch Academy in a peaceful world.
The friendship between Miao, He, and Bai Yu had naturally blossomed from this shared fate.
Originally, they were just casual acquaintances with Bai Yu, until she produced a recommendation letter from the Dean of the Main World's Witch Academy. They immediately realized that the girl before them was a "golden thigh"—someone with serious clout. It was a recommendation letter!
Who could get one of those without deep connections?
They had to hold onto such a powerful connection tightly. Moreover, as many others were filtered out later on, only the two of them remained close to Bai Yu.
Thus, among the crowd of stranger witches, the three of them had become a small circle of friends.
This batch of witches also consisted of many different levels. Some were famous Academic Witches preparing to show off their skills in the Main World; some had specialized talents and were looking for something to do by teaching; and some were simply looking to change their pace and experience a different kind of life.
"Xiao Bai~ When we meet those students later, are you going to try and recruit one as an assistant?" Miao asked.
"Me?" Startled by the sudden question, Bai Yu blinked. "I might take an assistant, but not necessarily from here. By the way, you two shouldn't choose too hastily either."
"It's fine. They're just there to handle chores. If we find out a student's character isn't up to par, we can just replace them."
"Exactly! If I'm going to pick, I'll pick a very pretty one. At least they'll be easy on the eyes."
"Then I hope you find someone who meets your expectations."
"Alright. But Xiao Bai, what's wrong? Are you feeling sentimental now that we're here? You haven't said much. You should be the most familiar with this place, right?"
"I am very familiar with it. I stayed here for many years," Bai Yu said with a nod.
"Then we're counting on you later, okay?"
* * *
Inside the Witch Academy.
A sudden, abnormal ripple in the curtain wall caused the students who had been waiting for a long time to perk up.
I was no exception.
In fact, I had already looked through the curtain wall and the space beyond to see the group of witches gathering outside. Among the crowd, I finally spotted that familiar figure. Only then did I completely relax.
Sister Bai is finally back... I've waited so long for this moment!
With a ripple in space, a figure stepped through the gate opened in the curtain wall. Her gaze swept over the students waiting there, but she said nothing. She had seen this kind of scene before; after all, the academy didn't forbid students from recommending themselves as TAs to new mentors.
However, a mentor couldn't just pick a TA on a whim. The TA had to undergo a qualification review based on the specific mentor to determine if they were fit for the position.
Therefore, rather than seeking to become a TA immediately, these students were actually trying to secure a shortcut to the qualification review.
Most of the students presenting themselves here were the ones confident in their own abilities.
The TA review consisted of two parts: an assessment of the TA's personal ability and the mentor's preference. If a mentor was dead set on a specific TA, it was as if the student already had one foot in the door, significantly lowering the difficulty of the qualification review.
But the foundation of all this was that one's own abilities had to be up to standard. The academy wouldn't allow a mentor to keep a "vase"—someone who was just for show—as a TA if they lacked actual skill. The implications of such an arrangement were obvious, and the academy wouldn't encourage the idea of getting something for nothing among the students.
As several new mentors stepped through the gate, the students nearby swarmed forward. However, they didn't dare to be too rowdy. Everyone here was smart; they knew what kind of attitude was required for the occasion, lest they achieve the opposite of their intended effect.
In contrast, I, who remained motionless, became an outlier.
I wasn't in a hurry to step forward because my goal was very clear. I waited until a familiar figure stepped through the gate in the curtain wall.
At that moment, my heart leaped into my throat.
I suppressed the tremor in my chest and stepped forward steadily, wanting to reach her quickly.
And at that exact moment, her gaze met mine amidst the crowd.
I froze in my tracks, dazed, until the corners of Bai Yu's mouth curved upward. Sister Bai was smiling at me.
In that instant, the last trace of worry in my heart vanished completely. Sister Bai hadn't changed at all...