Chapter 586: The First Spellbook I Want to Make by Hand
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 586: The First Spellbook I Want to Make by Hand
Morning.
"Mmm... hmm? Ahh~"
A soft moan escaped my lips, followed by a light yawn. Still draped in a lingering drowsiness, I stretched lazily on the bed as my consciousness slowly drifted back to the world from beneath the covers.
My hand patted the space beside me a few times. Aside from a trace of warmth left over from last night, there was no one else there.
"Hmm? Why did Sister Bai get up so early?" Realizing she wasn't in bed, I rubbed the corners of my eyes and sat up. My mind cleared as I gently tossed the quilt aside.
My fair thighs swung to the edge of the bed, and my bare feet stepped lightly onto the soft carpet.
I held my hands in front of my chest, and a set of casual clothes materialized, fitting perfectly against my body. I took the opportunity to straighten my collar before leaning over slightly. A leather leg ring encircled the base of my thigh, and I gently buckled it.
Finally, I pushed myself up from the bed. A thickness-less magical mirror manifested in front of me.
Looking at my reflection, I reached out and brushed the long hair away from my forehead. Today was going to be another day full of energy!
I turned to look at the "battlefield" from last night. With a snap of my fingers, everything became clean and tidy.
A new day had begun!
"Sister Bai~ You’re up so early?"
As soon as I opened the door, I heard movement in the kitchen downstairs. I hurried down and saw Sister Bai preparing breakfast.
"Xiao Han, you're awake early too."
"Of course~ Why wouldn't I be?" I said matter-of-factly.
"In the past... you wouldn't have been able to get out of bed."
"Hehe, if Sister Bai likes it that way, next time I can pretend I can't get out of bed just to play along with you~" I sat at the dining table, looking at her expectantly. "Breakfast looks pretty good today."
"It is. After all, I need to nourish your body, Xiao Han," Sister Bai said as she brought the breakfast over to me.
"It was only one night~" I picked up a spoon and looked at the thick, nutritious meat porridge. I scraped a layer of the congee skin and rice oil into my mouth. I had to admit, the taste was incredible!
With the first mouthful in my stomach, my entire body felt warm.
"So delicious~ One bite and my lower abdomen feels all warm. Sister Bai, you didn't add anything weird in here, did you?"
"I did add some medicine~" Sister Bai smiled at me as if she had succeeded in a prank, before explaining further. "It's all health-restoring medicine to give you a good boost. So... I suppose you could call this a medicinal porridge."
"I think you should eat more of it, Sister Bai! You need a boost too. Think about it—why was I able to get out of bed today? Was it because you didn't try hard enough last night? You used to keep me pinned to the bed every time~" I teased her with a grin. Judging by her reaction, Sister Bai would probably take this quite seriously.
"Is that so?" Sister Bai sat down and served herself a large bowl. "Then next time, don't expect any chance to beg for mercy~"
"Next time? I'll be looking forward to it then~" I provoked her, emphasizing every word.
"Xiao Han, I've discovered a trait of yours." Facing my provocation, Sister Bai remained unmoved.
"What trait?"
"Once the wound heals, you forget the pain!"
"Hehe~ Isn't that a virtue?"
Amidst our bickering, breakfast time slipped away.
"Xiao Han, what are your plans for today... or for the near future?" Sister Bai asked, coming over to me after washing the dishes in the kitchen.
Bai Yu knew that since Xiao Han was willing to spend a wonderful night with her, it meant the Tree of Great Knowledge Perfection Project she had been busy with was finished. This likely meant she would be relatively free for a while.
However, knowing Xiao Han, she would probably find something else to keep herself busy within a day. Last night's time together was likely the final reward she had prepared for herself after that long period of hard work.
"Hmm... I feel like there are many things I could do, but nothing seems particularly urgent... Oh! I almost forgot. I need to find Sister Natalie to adjust my Book in the Box!"
The adjustment of the Book in the Box had been shelved because I was busy with the Tree of Great Knowledge.
I had originally planned to wait until the tree was perfected and my understanding of the Power of Knowledge was deeper before finishing the tuning. I didn't expect it to be delayed for so long.
But now, I truly had a lot of new ideas.
"The Book in the Box... Oh, that weapon isn't finished yet? I feel like I've seen you use it quite a few times."
"The times I used it before were just for breaking it in and testing~ It's quite handy, but with the perfection of the Tree of Great Knowledge, my Book in the Box might need a major overhaul."
"Tree of Great Knowledge perfected... Book in the Box overhaul? Are you linking the Book in the Box to the Tree of Great Knowledge?"
"Exactly~ Sister Bai, you know about the Power of Knowledge, right? It uses the Great Knowledge Seed and the spell effects of the Great Wisdom Enlightenment Art to form a dual tree structure. It derives an Order manifestation similar to my domain. The Power of Knowledge is truly wonderful."
As I spoke, the Power of Knowledge surged in my hand. Then, using the Annotation Technique, I transformed that power into the deduction of a Rune Ritual.
"See~ just like this. Isn't it amazing? The Power of Knowledge turns into annotations, which form runes, allowing them to evolve and deduce on their own. It's similar to a temporary enchantment."
"Enchantment isn't that simple. That's a very delicate, high-end skill." Bai Yu watched the Power of Knowledge dancing in my hand and the evolving Rune Ritual, her eyes sparkling. Her Xiao Han was simply too incredible!
"Similar techniques have their own strengths and reasons for existing. The predecessor of this skill was the note-taking technique Sister Natalie built into the Book in the Box. But now that I've learned it... hehe~"
In truth, the technique Natalie originally created was meant to complement the Book in the Box. But after I incorporated it into the Power of Knowledge system, everything reversed. The Book in the Box became the carrier for my Power of Knowledge to evolve annotations.
Once that was confirmed, the Book in the Box was destined for a major redesign.
"What about you, Sister Bai? What are your plans? Are you going to continue studying Real Editing Technology?" I asked curiously.
"Yes. The entry difficulty for Real Editing Technology is indeed very high, and the starting threshold is the same. Making a single spellbook might take several days or even over ten days. The learning cost is immense."
"Ten days? That is quite a long time. But... haven't you adapted to the time perception of a Transcendent Witch yet, Sister Bai? Time shouldn't have much meaning to you anymore, right?"
"True..." Sister Bai chuckled and shook her head. "Let's change the subject... Xiao Han, is there any spellbook you like? I feel like I've grasped a bit of the knack lately, and success isn't far off. How about I make one by hand and give it to you when the time comes?"
"Really? Then I want the Fireball Spell!" I chose the Fireball Spell without a second thought!
After all, a basic spellbook is the starting point for all magic. I could rely on a basic spellbook to complete similar derivations for any flashy, high-consumption spellbook. It might not fit the derivation sequence of that Prototype Spell, but that's just how magic is. The person using the spell is the master of the spell; the master shouldn't be passively chosen by the magic.
"The Fireball Spell? The most basic spell. Most people who have just started, like me, use the classic Fireball Spell to practice. Are you sure you don't want something more powerful? I can take my time."
"No! I want the very first finished product you make with your own hands, Sister Bai! Even if it's not a Fireball Spell, I'll still love it!"
"So, Xiao Han only wants my first success?"
"Yes! Exactly! It has great commemorative significance, doesn't it?" I nodded firmly.
"I suppose so. Then it's a deal~" Sister Bai responded with a smile, sealing our promise. "Well, I'll be heading out first."
"You're going so early, Sister Bai?"
"Yes. After all, the thought of making a spellbook for Xiao Han gives me so much motivation."
"Take care then~ Oh, right, Sister Bai, do you remember the suggestion I made last night?"
"Hmm? Last night? Suggestion?"
"You didn't forget, did you? It was... if you ever feel lonely sleeping alone at night in the future... just summon me directly into your covers~ I can't always be the one taking the initiative, can I?"
"Oh~ that. We'll talk about it next time." Sister Bai vaguely recalled the proposal made during the gaps in our heated battle last night. She had to admit... the suggestion was very tempting. No, it was very "witch-tempting."
"Fine, fine... Sigh, take care~"
After seeing Sister Bai off, I was the only one left in the villa.
But I quickly adapted. Love is perhaps never about being stuck together every second. It is the most intense moment at the point of confirmation, followed by the quiet, ordinary days that follow. Perhaps this was a manifestation of the "ordinary" meaning that Sister Bai pursued?
I wouldn't be unhappy about it; in fact, I would actively cooperate with Sister Bai to help her seek the subject she was chasing.
Love is like a button that fastens the emotions of both sides. Perhaps that is what love is?
Thinking of this, I didn't delve any deeper. Over-analyzing makes emotional romance too rational. I was willing to be the "fool" between us.
To be the side that is fastened by that tight emotional button.
* * *
Time passed quickly.
After contacting Sister Natalie and confirming she was at the alchemy lab, I set off.
However, upon arriving, I was immediately shocked by the situation before me!
"Hello, Teacher Xiao Han!"
"Uh... hello, hello. Hi everyone."
I looked at the three students following behind Natalie. Each of them was a "Senior Sister" many years older than me, yet they were calling me "Teacher." It was honestly a bit hard to handle.
They, however, seemed perfectly happy to call me that.
"Teacher Xiao Han, do you recognize me? I attended that auction preview back then. If you hadn't..."
"Oh!" I nodded, not letting them continue. "That's all in the past. I'm just glad you're all okay."
"Well... actually... I was brought back and resurrected. It's a bit awkward, haha... but if it weren't for Teacher Xiao Han, I wouldn't even have had the chance to be resurrected..." another one said with a forced laugh.
Hearing them talk about resurrection so casually... I had to say, the Witch Academy's management of students was truly... something else.
As long as they were still students, they would definitely be resurrected.
"I told you all back then not to get involved in that auction if you didn't have to. Were you out trying to earn extra money again?" Natalie scolded from the side.
These three were students under Natalie. Since they followed her, they were likely skilled at alchemy. Their "earning extra money" probably referred to the auction of alchemical items.
They had proactively mentioned the incident to try and get closer to me, but Natalie had shut them down with a lecture.
Afterward, Natalie assigned them tasks to send them away.
Only when there was just one witch and one little witch left did we begin communicating about the adjustments to my Book in the Box.
I shared my more specific ideas with Sister Natalie, including the concept of using the Annotation Technique in conjunction with the Book in the Box, holding nothing back.
Since this was a weapon being custom-made for me, there was no need to be secretive.
"If that's the case... it might be possible. But it will require your cooperation. After all, you know the essence of the Power of Knowledge. The rest isn't too troublesome. This is where those precious materials show their worth; if we had used ordinary materials back then, we'd have to start the overhaul from scratch."
"Is it that much of a hassle?"
"Of course. But I don't fully understand your Power of Knowledge yet. I'll need to familiarize myself with the Annotation Technique you optimized from my note-taking technique... Sigh~ it's been a long time since I've had to learn so many new things just to modify a weapon~" Natalie sighed with emotion.
"So I'll have to trouble you this time, Sister Natalie."
"It's no trouble. Needing to learn also means the possibility of progress. I'm just reflecting on how it feels like I've returned to my younger days. Nowadays, the requests those girls make for weapons don't have much challenge at all. It's boring. Gradually, I stopped taking orders unless the weapon involved precious materials I was interested in."
"So that's why you're so obsessed with precious materials, Sister Natalie?"
"Exactly! Did you really think I was such a shallow witch? Only materials interesting enough to me represent a chance to learn something new!" Natalie looked as if she had finally found someone who understood her, and she began to chatter incessantly.
I kept chiming in with a few words, and taking the opportunity, I steered the conversation toward another direction I was very concerned about.
"Since Sister Natalie is so proficient in Sealing Arts, you must have mastered Sealing Arts in many different domains, right?"
"Of course! Did you become interested in Sealing Arts after using the Book in the Box, Xiao Han?"
"Yes, but in a different aspect. Sister Natalie, have you heard of Sealing Arts for consciousness or memory?" I asked curiously.
I still remembered the conversation I had with the Knowledge Shadow back at the hotel.
Sealing Arts for consciousness and memory weren't just for helping oneself overcome internal obstacles or thresholds; they could likely also become a component of the Great Knowledge Cognitive Firewall. That was why I brought it up.
"For sealing consciousness and memory? Naturally, those exist, and they even form a major category! I heard a large portion of that category was contributed by the Soul Truth Witch. That type is called Self-Consciousness Sealing Arts."
"Actually, it makes sense when you think about it. Soul, consciousness, and memory are all quite similar... Oh, right, Xiao Han, is this for personal use or for enemies? If it's for enemies... forget I mentioned the Self-Sealing series. To be honest, Sealing Arts for consciousness and memory are quite niche, even a bit sinister. If you went looking, you probably wouldn't find many records of them in the Witch Academy. You've come to the right witch by asking me!"
"Uh... Self-Consciousness Sealing Arts? Is there really such a strange category of spells?" It felt like it was on par with the Reverse Summoning Spell. "But yes, it is for personal use. Sister Natalie, could you tell me more about these Self-Consciousness Sealing Arts?"