Chapter 9: The Reason Witch Academy Recruits Boys Is Actually...
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 9: The Reason Witch Academy Recruits Boys Is Actually...
After leaving the place where I awakened my talent, I let the Senior Sister lead me forward. I didn't ask any questions; I simply trusted Sister Bai.
However, I still couldn't stop myself from wondering what my talent actually was.
I clearly hadn't gained anything at all.
As I followed Senior Sister Bai down the path, I thought I heard a faint scream.
It was mixed with a wicked laugh that sounded like something straight out of a villain's playbook.
The sound grew louder as we approached, and Sister Bai seemed to be intentionally leading me toward it.
Just around the corner, the wailing sound made me realize the person was a boy like me. The nature of the sound was enough to trigger some rather wild imaginations—could a Senior Sister be making a move on a Junior Brother?
Was she really that thirsty?
Just as the thought crossed my mind, a figure crawled out from around the corner. To say he "crawled" wasn't quite accurate; a hand reached out, only to be desperately dragged back.
The other party was undoubtedly a Senior Sister, and her voice gradually became clear.
"...Be a good boy~ My cute little Junior Brother, don't make this hard for me. Just swallow this Mana Source and become a witch like me!"
This time, Sister Bai specifically pushed me forward so I could witness the tragedy firsthand. The boy’s face was full of resistance, but the Senior Sister who had him pinned against the wall wasn't about to let him go.
That Senior Sister’s hand was partially closed as if she were holding something, but to the naked eye, there was nothing there—only a slight, shimmering distortion in the air.
But I hadn't forgotten what she just said. Mana Source... become... a witch...
I looked at Sister Bai in disbelief, but she simply signaled for me to keep watching.
The boy seemed to notice us. He tried to look toward me for help, but I was powerless. I could only offer a silent apology.
Subconsciously, I activated my Spirit Vision. In this view, it was obvious that the Senior Sister was holding something—likely the "Mana Source" she had mentioned.
By the time my Spirit Vision focused on the object in her hand, half of it had already entered the boy's body.
I couldn't see the object clearly; it seemed to be something incredibly complex. Terrifying and dense layers of information twisted and overlapped within that mass. I could only tell it was a cluster of energy. If this was a Mana Source, then calling this energy "Mana" was probably accurate.
After all, the energy used by phones was Mana. So, was this the primitive method used to touch the Transcendent and master its power?
By literally stuffing the power into one's body?
But I was quickly shocked by what happened next.
Under Spirit Vision, I saw the so-called Mana Source suddenly erupt with a terrifying force. The leaking energy transformed into basic light radiation and heat in reality.
In the inner world, however, terrifying Mana spread through the boy's body, covering him entirely like an encroaching erosion!
In that instant, I "saw" too much information. The impact on my consciousness was overwhelming, making my head throb painfully.
"Are you alright? If it's too much, don't force yourself to use Spirit Vision," Sister Bai said, supporting me.
"I'm... I'm fine..." I waved my hand hurriedly, not daring to continue observing with Spirit Vision.
The boy before me was now enveloped in a sphere of light. I remembered the information I had seen in the Spirit Vision state; this was the energy leaking out after the Mana Source was shoved into him. The conversion rate of this energy was incredibly high—I could feel a wave of heat from where I stood, and the white light was blinding.
"Sister Bai, what is... happening?" I subconsciously swallowed hard as I asked.
"Witch Academy provides every freshman with an initial Mana Source. This is your first step into the Transcendent level," Sister Bai explained with unusual detail.
The Senior Sister not far away glanced at Bai Yu with interest and smiled, as if there were a silent understanding between them.
My attention remained fixed on the boy. After all, I might end up just as pathetic as him in a moment...
I wondered if it would hurt when the Mana Source was shoved into my body.
As my mind wandered, the boy—who had looked like a walking humanoid lightbulb—finally began to reveal his form again.
But something felt different.
I frowned slightly. His short hair had suddenly become long, and his chest had developed a slight curve. His face, which had been clearly male before, had now softened...
Wait... how did a living, breathing boy turn into a girl just by having a Mana Source shoved into him?!
My eyes widened in disbelief.
"Do you see it clearly? This process is called Witchification. Regardless of gender, after merging with a Mana Source, one will continuously evolve toward the level of a Transcendent Witch. This process is known as Witchification."
"So... I'll turn into a girl?"
For a moment, I didn't know how to express my feelings.
Was it pleasure? Joy?
Or should I act shocked and throw a fit for a while?
"Yes. Witch Academy is, naturally, an academy for training witches. I told you this a long time ago." Sister Bai placed her hand on my shoulder. If I showed any signs of extreme behavior, she would likely stop me immediately.
Fortunately, I wasn't that impulsive.
After all, I had lived two lives. I was quite open-minded about gender. "Open-minded" wasn't quite the right word; I was actually somewhat looking forward to it. It was a life from a perspective I had never experienced!
If I became a witch and changed my current appearance, it would be a way to completely bid farewell to the past of this life!
I could use a new identity to enjoy life without restraint—wear cute clothes or dresses, act spoiled whenever I wanted, and release my emotions without worry...
A thousand thoughts flashed through my mind in an instant, but not one of them was a decision I regretted. My body and soul both seemed to be saying I'm willing.
However, my mouth couldn't say those words. Because I was still a boy, and that fact was like the final shackle restraining me. When I opened my mouth, the words that came out were the opposite of what I was thinking.
"Sister Bai, you're lying to me, right? I don't... I don't want to become a girl..."
Those were the only words I could stutter out, and even I didn't believe them.
"Sigh... I understand..."
With a slight wave of Bai Yu's hand, my limbs lost all control. Like a marionette, I followed stiffly by her side.
"Xiao Han, do you remember what I said back then?"
"I said I would accompany you to Witch Academy. This is the last bit of help I can give you."
Bai Yu continued speaking. It wasn't that I didn't want to talk, but I had completely lost control of my body. I couldn't even utter a single word.
"This is the 'last bit of help' I mentioned. I'm sorry, Xiao Han, but once you chose Witch Academy, none of this could be changed. That's why I specifically contacted the academy while we were on the train and applied to be a volunteer for freshman guidance."
As she spoke, Senior Sister Bai’s hand looked as though it were gripping something, though it appeared empty. The only proof that something was there was the slight distortion of light around her hand. The leaking Mana was agitating the air, causing the light passing through it to bend.
"I have to do this personally. If another Senior Sister did it, she would inevitably be full of wicked humor. If you got a Senior Sister with a twisted personality, you'd suffer even more. They would slow the process down just to watch you struggle helplessly until your face was filled with despair—they might even take pictures as a souvenir."
"But I won't. I'll make this end as quickly as possible. Then, I'll treat you like my own younger sister and teach you how to live as a girl. Don't hate me, okay?"
"Become a witch, just like me."
After finishing her monologue, Bai Yu reached out and crudely shoved the Mana Source into my chest.