Chapter 523: Trouble is the Norm of Life
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 523: Trouble is the Norm of Life
As the massive incident that had unfolded during the night at the Witch Academy gradually drew to a close, the joint appearance of Dean Mei Lind and Dean Bev Alanna served to quiet the brewing rumors.
However, the gossip among the Transcendent Witches was impossible to suppress.
The event was officially framed as the perfection of a Great Spellbook. The appearance of the void rift had only caused localized effects, damaging a few surrounding buildings.
Most of the students currently at the Witch Academy lacked the ability to passively perceive void rifts. Those who did possess such a sense, upon seeing the gathering of witch mentors, understood that this was not something they should meddle in. At most, they watched the spectacle from a distance.
Consequently, they became the innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire when the mindscapes were deployed.
Rumors that the Dean had created another Great Spellbook spread like wildfire. Dean Mei Lind admitted that this Great Spellbook was related to her experiments with the Great Knowledge Seed, but she offered no further details.
* * *
Dean’s Office
"Xiao Han, are you certain you don't want the credit for creating a Great Spellbook on your own to get out? Are you sure you want me to take the lead instead?" Mei Lind asked.
"Yes. Thank you for covering for me, Dean. I know this puts a lot of pressure on you, but once my strength..."
"No, you misunderstand," Mei Lind interrupted. "This isn't 'pressure' for me; it’s an honor. In my eyes, you are more than capable of carrying this glory yourself. Geniuses deserve the treatment befitting their talent. Doubt is merely the self-deception of the weak."
"But I hate trouble..." I muttered weakly, my gaze instinctively drifting to the side.
Although Dean Mei said she brought me here to lie low, I felt like the wind was blowing just as hard in this office.
It was still night, and the sun had yet to rise, though for witches with their rich nocturnal lives, it made little difference.
The events of the night had startled both Deans into action.
Not only the Deans, but Dinah—who had been caught up in the mess—was brought here as well. Sister Bai had also rushed over after learning of the situation from the Knowledge Shadow.
The three Fool's Dream clones had scurried over from Mentor Dinah’s side to huddle by me, offering comfort with their clumsy gestures and words.
"Trouble... it’s not good to constantly label both the foreseeable and the unforeseeable as 'trouble.' Xiao Han, you’ve experienced too little and think too much. If you don't put a little pressure on yourself, you’ll never know how colorful life can be."
"Is that so..."
I reflected on the Dean’s words.
I had some understanding of my current situation. I was transitioning from my past life as a shut-in to a more socially active existence, yet I was still using my old mindset to experience this new life. As a result, I felt exhausted yet hollow.
In the past, my life was dominated by a mountain of unnecessary emotions and trivial daily chores. I had to fight as hard as possible to win a moment of "self" to breathe.
But as I continuously changed myself until I finally escaped that mire, my way of thinking hadn't evolved alongside me.
I was still instinctively avoiding all kinds of "trouble" to buy myself time, while simultaneously micro-managing my schedule to focus on "serious business." Thus, a new form of internal friction had begun.
However, it wasn't until I recognized my mistake that I understood: facing so-called trouble, allocating time reasonably to handle it, and eventually solving the problem to achieve a result—this is a small but positive feedback loop in daily life.
This constant, subtle psychological reinforcement could have a profound impact on me, driving a massive transformation.
This wasn't just about progress in time management, daily routine, or achievement; it was a profound understanding of the essence of life.
While the Dean was teaching me, she was also using the Tree of Knowledge to synchronize her understanding of life directly into my mind.
After all, many things cannot be conveyed through ordinary language; they must be grasped through personal experience. I never thought that such "small things" would sometimes require specialized study. Now, I even needed someone to guide me on how to live.
This was a new experience for me, and a new attempt.
"It seems you've figured it out?" Seeing my expression, Mei Lind showed a satisfied smile.
She couldn't help but marvel that with the Tree of Great Knowledge, even teaching Xiao Han had become much easier. The barrier of language is always a hurdle to the quality of instruction, but with the Tree, everything was much more convenient.
"Yes, more or less."
"In that case, I won't suppress the information regarding your creation of the Great Spellbook. Of course, I won't actively promote it either. You must realize that even if I don't make a public statement, news travels fast. By then, you will be fully within the sights of the Transcendent Witch tier."
"May, isn't this a bit too hasty?" Dean Bev spoke up seriously from the side, not even calling her "Old Mei Po" for once.
"Naturally, I will apply for a Little Witch identity certificate for her. With that, she’ll at least have a safety guarantee. No Transcendent Witch will lay a hand on a Little Witch—but it ends there."
As Dean Mei finished speaking, I learned through the Tree of Great Knowledge what obtaining the "Little Witch" status entailed.
Usually, "Little Witch" referred to a Transcendent Witch who had fallen from the Transcendent level. Though they had lost the life essence of that tier, they were still accepted by the Transcendent Witches.
Hence the name.
In unusual cases, it required a case-by-case analysis. In this situation, a Transcendent Witch had to act as a guarantor and draft a Witch Contract.
The content of this contract served as a guarantee so that other Transcendent Witches could accept you as one of their own.
Typically, the enforcement power of this contract was terrifying, and it would automatically dissolve upon ascending to the Transcendent level.
In fact, all witches who fell from Transcendence and became Little Witches would go through the formality of signing this Witch Contract, pledging their loyalty to the Primal Witch and the Witch Race.
I didn't refuse. It didn't conflict with my decision. If I could be truly accepted by the Transcendent Witch race, sacrificing a little was no big deal.
The matter seemed settled. While I was still worrying, the Dean had already arranged everything perfectly.
Sister Bai stepped forward. I thought she would give me a worried lecture, but in the end, she only stroked my head to comfort me.
"Mm... I thought you were going to scold me, Sister Bai..."
"If I scolded you, would you even listen?" Sister Bai asked with a smile.
"Well..."
"So, what else can I say? I can only choose to believe in you..." Bai Yu said, her thoughts drifting back to the scenes of the past. From the first desperate fight against Tan Han that left her heavily injured, to the mutation during the perfection of the Great Spellbook in the Fool's Village Secret Realm, to the life-and-death struggle and resurrection in Ninglan New City, and now this...
Xiao Han seemed to have changed a lot, yet also seemed to have never changed at all.
She had witnessed Xiao Han's transformation from the past to the present, but some things remained constant: she would always put everything on the line at critical moments.
And Bai Yu had witnessed her own powerlessness time and again, yet she had still put on the air of a mentor. It wasn't until she lost every bit of prideful capital in front of Xiao Han that she truly recognized her own inadequacy. Now, she clearly realized that all she had left was Xiao Han's favoritism toward her.
Therefore, she knew she could no longer be an obstacle to Xiao Han.
Bai Yu considered herself just an ordinary girl. She had the self-righteousness that most girls developed while growing up. But what made her different was that she had become a Transcendent Witch. Thus, she had the opportunity and the confidence to recognize her mistakes and correct herself; she wasn't restricted by environmental factors.
Just as the existence of girls who post extreme comments online is deeply influenced by their environment.
The reason they stick to their guns and refuse to repent is largely due to the constraints of their surroundings and cognition.
Deep down, they know that even if they realize they are wrong, it’s hard to turn back because they fear losing their status in their original environment and fear being criticized.
To them, admitting a mistake is like playing their last card; once flipped, there’s no going back. As long as they don't flip it, they can still comfort themselves and maintain the status quo.
But Bai Yu felt she wouldn't be like that. She had escaped that environment, her cognition had improved, and the cost of admitting a mistake was nearly zero.
Since she could do better, why wouldn't she choose to become better?
Meanwhile, Dinah, who had been happily enjoying the drama, was suddenly forced to swallow a mouthful of "dog food." To think that she, a Cat Witch, would be fed dog food... she really didn't dare to object. She was currently in a "high-level lobby," and there was no place for her to chime in. She had only been brought here because she was a participant in the incident.
So, she could only stay silent in the corner, lowering her presence while petting the cat-girl Fool's Dream. There was no atmosphere more peaceful than this.
Dean Mei Lind was acting as a guarantor for a teaching assistant to become a Little Witch—and this Little Witch had even independently manufactured a Great Spellbook!
Earlier, when Dean Mei was calming the other witches, she had mentioned that this Great Spellbook was called the Tree of Great Knowledge, and it was the direct test result of the Great Knowledge Seed from not long ago.
Hearing these things one after another nearly made her jaw drop, but she quickly accepted the reality. After all, the Deans wouldn't lie to her for no reason.
Besides, she felt that given her relationship with Xiao Han... asking for a Great Knowledge Seed shouldn't be too hard, right?
However, she didn't dare voice these little thoughts yet. That would have to wait until the dust settled.
After chatting with the Dean for a while, the conversation seemed to lose its momentum.
"Since everything is fine, you all should head back. Oh, and Xiao Bai, you stay behind. I have something to discuss with you." Mei Lind finally waved them off. Now that the cause of the incident was clear, there was no need to waste more time.
Sister Bai, who had intended to walk me back, was suddenly called to a halt. I looked at the Dean in confusion, silently asking if something was wrong.
"It's about the faculty work arrangements. Xiao Han, you head back first."
"Alright..." Since the Dean had said so, I couldn't stay. I could only leave obediently.
Once I left, the atmosphere in the room relaxed. Dinah, clearly not having had her fill of gossip, lingered and didn't leave.
"Do you know why I asked you to stay?" Mei Lind asked, her tone casual, as if it were a routine inquiry.
"Is it about Xiao Han?" Bai Yu sighed, turning to face the Dean.
"More or less. Usually... I don't meddle in others' business, but you happen to be in love with Xiao Han."
"Does the Dean have some advice, then?" Bai Yu instinctively clenched her hands, afraid the Dean would say something she couldn't accept.
"Don't be so defensive. I'm not trying to break you two up." Mei Lind walked over to Bai Yu, her tone light. "You probably understand Xiao Han's situation. Perhaps what I'm about to say will be hard to hear, but... I don't want you to become a burden to her. Does that sound absurd? A Transcendent Witch becoming a burden to a Little Witch?"
"No... I agree with what you're saying, Dean." Bai Yu shook her head, a weight lifting from her heart.
"Is that so? Good... what I'm about to say is just a suggestion. Perhaps... you should try some of the academy's courses. Specifically, the ones on Witch Romance. It's an educational course designed to help students construct a Transcendent Witch worldview and value system. It might give you some inspiration. I hope you can become someone who can embrace Xiao Han as she moves forward. No one is perfect."
"Xiao Han's flaws are obvious. I don't expect her to change completely; that's her distinct personality... Right now, she is smoothing out her own edges for your sake, changing toward what she considers a 'perfect' direction. But how can absolute perfection truly be perfect? She is losing things that are uniquely hers. And you... I hope you can protect those things for her. It’s not too late to start now. What do you think, Sister Bai Yu?"
* * *
Leaving the Dean’s office, I felt a twinge of regret. I had been talked into agreeing too quickly.
Making tonight's events public... it would suddenly place a pressure on me far exceeding my expectations. I could hardly imagine how... unpredictable my life would become from here on out.
At that moment, the Fool's Dream clones following me came to my feet. I leaned down and randomly picked one up—it was Yu Yun.
"Sister Xiao Han, you really scared us earlier. We're so glad you're okay now."
"Yeah, I'm fine now, so you don't have to worry anymore. Besides, I have some good news for you." I smiled, teasing Yu Yun in my arms.
"I don't think there's any news better than Sister Xiao Han being safe!" Yulan said from the side.
"Is that so? Then the fact that I found a way for you to use the Great Knowledge Seed isn't good news?"
"Eh? That... that's good news too! But, but if the price is Sister Xiao Han being in danger, then it's not worth it."
"It is worth it, Yulan. It is. Although some things went wrong during the process, the situation didn't deviate too far from the plan. I just wanted to show you through my actions that you don't need to hesitate when facing difficulties. Every problem has a solution, and we are the ones who find it." I held Yu Yun up, letting her climb onto my shoulder, then scooped up the other two Fool's Dream clones into my arms.
"Oh..." The Fool's Dream clones nodded softly, still seeming a bit confused.
"It's okay. I don't expect you to understand this principle right now. You just need to know it."
"Mmm~ time to go back. I hope tomorrow... no, today is already a new day. I hope that today, we can complete the gestation of the Great Knowledge Seed. From now on, you will be my most capable assistants, helping me explore the Transcendent together!"