Chapter 57: Sister Bai’s Surprise Visit
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 57: Sister Bai’s Surprise Visit
At that moment, I was still basking in the joy of receiving my wages, naturally growing impatient to see what Witch Meditation was actually like.
The meditation books mentioned that one needed incredibly powerful mental power to interfere with high-energy forces like mana. However, mana wasn't the only type of transcendent energy out there.
Before entering the Witch Academy, I had never even heard of "mana."
The spell theory and elemental theory I had studied previously only touched upon "elemental power" and "spirit."
If my mental power couldn't handle mana yet, could it handle other energies?
Spells didn't strictly require mana to function. It was just a pity that, aside from that Mana Source, I didn't have any other way to store energy in my body. I wasn't sure if it would work.
But with my current mental power, it was absolutely out of the question. I was so weak I could barely interfere with the stray energy floating in the air.
Even then, I only knew I was affecting it because I could see it through Spirit Vision. On a macroscopic level, I couldn't produce a single visible effect on the reality of the Surface World.
I had to admit, my mental power was pathetically weak. But compared to my previous life, the very existence of something like mental power was a transcendent means I wouldn't have dared to dream of.
Though the theoretical meditation methods I knew were admittedly garbage, I couldn't deny their utility. At the very least, they allowed me to perceive the existence of my own mental power, didn't they?
However, if I wanted to improve further, my current methods were no longer enough. I had to rely on the Witch Meditation Method to enhance my mental power. Whether it was refining mental power threads or increasing the total volume of my energy, both counted as progress for me.
Just as I was idling about, the deserted bakery finally welcomed a guest.
"Welcome to—oh, Sister Bai?" I started the greeting out of habit, only to realize the person walking in was none other than Bai Yu—my Sister Bai.
"What? Not welcome?" Sister Bai asked with a smile.
"Of course not. How could you not be welcome?" I replied with a grin. Her arrival wasn't a complete surprise.
Back when the academy was invaded, Sister Bai had found out I was working here part-time. This was her second visit since then.
It felt like my presence was about to turn this bakery into a place with at least one regular customer.
"I'm glad. I thought you might find me a nuisance."
"How could I? But Sister Bai, you really don't need to come here so often. I never noticed you being particularly fond of cakes or bread before," I explained quickly. I mostly didn't want her to waste too much money coming here for my sake.
Last time she visited, she bought a mountain of desserts and cookies. That wasn't the kind of amount someone could polish off in just a day or two.
Besides, my job didn't depend on sales performance. There was no point in her spending money for nothing.
"Xiao Han, you're an employee here. Why are you trying to talk a customer out of visiting?" Sister Bai was clearly feigning ignorance, refusing to listen to reason.
"Come on, give me an introduction to these desserts and recommend a few. I'll buy whatever you suggest."
"Ah, well..."
I looked at Sister Bai, feeling a bit put on the spot. While I had indeed been learning some baking skills from Senior Sister Tang Yihan lately, it had only been a few days. I hadn't learned that much. How was I supposed to introduce the finished products Tang Yihan had invented herself?
Those were items selected after countless trials because their taste was "passable," their appearance was "decent," and they weren't toxic.
Ordinary cookies, cakes, and breads weren't common here, and they weren't really the selling point anyway—they were mostly just there for show.
"Is it that difficult? Then... are any of your works here?" Sister Bai asked expectantly.
"Mine..."
I glanced guiltily at a display case in the corner. There were some there, but they were just very ordinary cookies—the kind that were barely presentable. They were tucked away in the corner to be used as free gifts, and I hadn't even gotten around to bagging them yet.
"So there are some?"
"I mean, yes, but they're just freebies. I haven't even packed them yet," I admitted, since she had called me out.
"And what do I have to buy to get them?" Bai Yu’s goal was obvious: she wanted the cookies I had made with my own hands.
"It's nothing special, really. If you want some, Sister Bai, I'll just bag a few for you." I stood up and walked toward the corner.
Since they were freebies, the Senior Sister allowed me to distribute them as I saw fit. I had to say, this shop felt more like a charity sometimes.
It was as if the ingredients used to make these things didn't cost a cent. Not long ago, a kidnapped freshman had wandered by, penniless and unable to buy anything. In the end, Senior Sister Ying Shiqian had insisted on giving her a portion of cookies for free.
And yes, those cookies were also my handiwork.
I had a feeling that if this continued, I was going to become a professional cookie-maker.
But there was no helping it. Cookies were the most basic thing to try when first starting out in baking.
I picked up a bag and began filling it. These plastic bags were specifically for free gifts; once tied, they would be labeled with a "Gift" sticker.
"Here, Sister Bai. For you." After handing her the bag, I continued packing the rest. Since I was already at it, I figured I might as well finish the whole batch to save myself the trouble tomorrow.
"Then I won't be polite~" Sister Bai took the bag, a smile she couldn't quite hide spreading across her face as she carefully tucked them away.
"It's fine. Sister Bai, you didn't come here today just to buy things like last time, did you?"
"Of course not. I also came to see you—to see how you're doing and if you need me to help you out financially."
"Don't worry, there's no need for that." My face flushed slightly as I spoke. Hearing Sister Bai say she came specifically to see me... wasn't that a bit unfair?
It seemed she cared about me even more than I had imagined.
"If I don't need to worry, does that mean you're doing well? No difficulties in your daily life? If you run into trouble, tell me right away. You haven't reached out to me once these past few days."
"I know, I know~ Sister Bai, when did you become so... well..."
"Like what?" Bai Yu interjected. As she asked, her own expression became a little unnatural.
"Like a girlfriend. I'm the same as I've always been."
"I... I'm just concerned. After all, you used to have your family with you at home, but now I'm the only person you know here. Naturally, I need to look out for you." Sister Bai explained hurriedly, a flash of flustered panic crossing her eyes at the mention of the word "girlfriend."
"Sigh... you should know what my relationship with my family is like. I couldn't wait to be free. I should be thanking you, Sister Bai, for leading me out of that misery~" I said with a smile. I meant every word. If I hadn't left quickly, I might have run straight into those people from the Lesser Demon Academy. Who knows what kind of trouble that would have caused.