Chapter 49: The Enthusiastic Senior Sisters in the Alley
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 49: The Enthusiastic Senior Sisters in the Alley
It was only while walking outside that I truly felt the oppressive emotions I’d been harboring could finally be released.
I had been overthinking things a bit lately, but that was unavoidable. No one can completely suppress a buildup of emotions like that. I suppose I just took certain things too seriously.
I needed to adapt to my new life and properly enjoy this rare bit of leisure time before the new semester officially began.
Take these storefronts along the street, for instance. Although I hadn't seen anything yet that made my eyes light up with an immediate craving, the sheer variety of shops gave me a pleasant sense of being spoiled for choice.
After inwardly cursing myself for being such a country bumpkin, I regained my composure. I decided to pick a shop at random to try out, treating it as a little surprise for myself.
Let’s count to the eighth shop from here. I tried my best to keep my gaze from wandering ahead, skipping past them one by one to build up a sense of anticipation.
Even though it wasn't strictly mealtime yet, the air was already thick with the fragrance of delicious food.
"Sixth shop... oh, that smells amazing. Red-braised pork bone. What a pity, we aren't meant to be... Seventh shop... A buffet? Wow, someone actually dares to open a buffet in a Transcendent world? Aren't they afraid someone with a special ability will eat them into bankruptcy? Next one... Heh heh..."
I rubbed my hands together excitedly, hoping the next shop would be something I liked.
I didn't have much money right now, but on a day as commemorative as today, a little extravagance could be forgiven!
"Eh?"
As I walked past, I noticed a small alleyway branching off the main street. It felt a bit out of place compared to the surrounding architecture.
There seemed to be some stalls inside, which made me hesitate. Should I stick to the plan, or go in and take a look?
After all, I knew very well that the best hidden gems were usually tucked away in obscure little alleys.
I didn't know if that rule held true in this world, but it didn't hurt to hope. I had plenty of time, anyway.
I looked up at the eighth shop I had been so focused on.
It was a noodle shop... and while those bun-like things did look appetizing, I wasn't really in the mood for heavy carbs this close to evening.
And so, my heart quickly wandered elsewhere as I turned into the alley.
Hole-in-the-wall stalls with great prices, here I come!
Stepping into the alley, I discovered that the people running the stalls were actually elderly women—grannies old enough to be my own grandmother.
Can students' families live here too? That was my first thought.
"Oh? A freshman? I didn't realize another year had passed so quickly."
It seemed they didn't get many visitors. As soon as the grannies saw me, they beamed with smiles so warm I felt a bit embarrassed.
This was a bit awkward. I hadn't even decided if I wanted to buy anything yet, but this development practically forced me to step forward.
But how did she know I was a freshman?
Did I really look the part? I instinctively checked my clothes, but there wasn't anything about my outfit that screamed "new student."
"Haha, the Mana Source inside you is still a bit restless. That’s a very obvious trait of a freshman," one of the grannies explained, as if reading my mind. "Come, come. Why don't you sit and chat with us? This granny will give you some treats for free."
"O-okay, Granny."
In the end, I couldn't resist the temptation of free food and stepped closer. Besides, it was just a chat. They were probably quite bored back here, weren't they?
"Why are you calling us 'Granny'? We’re old in body but young at heart. Call us 'Senior Sister'." Another granny nearby chimed in, seemingly dissatisfied with my choice of address, though she was still smiling broadly as she corrected me.
"Senior... Sister?"
My eyes widened in disbelief. They were actually Senior Sisters?!
This revelation genuinely stunned me. If they hadn't said it themselves, I never would have guessed. But thinking about it, it made sense. Tang Yihan had mentioned that students who graduated or completed their studies could indeed continue living here.
Did these women stay here all the way into their retirement?!
That was terrifying to think about!
"Don't mind her. You can call us 'Granny' if you like, though we really are your Senior Sisters—just from many, many years ago. Ho ho ho!"
"Hello, Grannies."
I stuck with "Granny" in the end. Calling them "Senior Sister" just felt way too surreal!
They didn't mind. Instead, they enthusiastically chatted with me about the world outside. It seemed they hadn't left the academy in a very long time.
During our conversation, I even learned that they could have used spells to freeze their appearances, but they chose not to.
Since they hadn't become Transcendent Witches, their lifespans were still limited. They lived longer than ordinary people, but they would still continue to age.
They didn't use magic to maintain a facade of youth. According to them, their hearts had aged along with their bodies, and this was how they were meant to look.
Even the granny who had insisted I call her "Senior Sister" didn't argue with that point.
I suppose that granny might have been a spunky tsundere in her youth?
It was almost impossible to imagine.
They had long ago saved up enough wealth to last them until they returned to the earth. The snacks they were making now were all unique specialties from their respective homelands.
They told me they had all started out as roommates in the same dorm. In the end, none of them had officially graduated; they had only managed to "complete" their studies and stayed behind. In their youth, they had even started a Snack Club together, which was later disbanded. It made sense why they were so content running these little stalls now.
My hands were nearly overflowing with the snacks they kept enthusiastically handing me. If I hadn't been firm, I think they would have kept stuffing more into my arms.
I insisted on paying them in the end. This was our first meeting, after all. While the conversation had brought us closer, it wasn't enough to justify not paying. I only accepted the first item for free because they absolutely refused to take money for it. I paid for everything else, though the prices were so low I felt like they were selling to me at cost. It was truly humbling.
But reflecting on it now, I couldn't help but feel a sense of poignancy.
They were all once Prospective Witches. Anyone who doesn't become a Transcendent Witch remains a Prospective Witch. That included me.
I still remembered what Sister Bai had told me. During the process of Witchification, we lose the ability to reproduce. Therefore, these grannies would never have children of their own to look after them.
In their youth, they could have had sweet romances and partners to spend their lives with. But after merging with a Mana Source, they had effectively said goodbye to all of that.
If you looked at it from that perspective, the Witch Academy was actually a very frightening place—especially for many of the boys. Witchification would twist their cognition, forcing them to change their very selves. The academy had created a miniature society consisting only of Witches, forcing these boys to watch themselves "degenerate" into the very thing they used to be attracted to.
Acceptance or liberation—those were the only paths available here. I could already foresee that there must be many Senior Sisters in the academy with twisted personalities.
However, all the Senior Sisters I had met so far were quite gentle, so my impression of the Witch Academy remained positive for now.