Chapter 97: The Fourth Roommate I’ve Yet to Meet
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 97: The Fourth Roommate I’ve Yet to Meet
I comforted Guan Qiuling as I began handling her enrollment process.
Along the way, I gained a deeper understanding of her situation.
For instance, she was originally supposed to attend Afuhemi Academy, but she was snatched away mid-journey by that senior sister. It was truly a pity.
So, when it comes down to it, she’s another academic genius, isn't she?
Well, it makes sense. If she weren't a genius, she probably wouldn't have been worth kidnapping. I should have realized—if that’s the case, does that mean among the male freshmen at the Witch Academy, I have the worst grades?
After all, what normal guy would voluntarily apply to a Witch Academy? They’re all brought here against their will.
But I do have my advantages. For example… my adaptability is very high, at least better than theirs.
Regardless, that’s how Guan Qiuling ended up at the Witch Academy. But that wasn't even the worst part. Guan Qiuling mentioned that she had planned to arrive at school early; even after being snatched away and brought here, she should have arrived more or less on time.
Consequently, she had already been at the Witch Academy for many days. As for where she had been staying, I didn't even need to ask—it was obviously in that senior sister’s villa. As for what kind of inhumane things she had endured inside…
I didn't dare ask, for fear of poking at her trauma.
I figured I’d better just get her through the enrollment process as quickly as possible.
"Eh? You’re a freshman too, right? How did you manage to implant a Mana Source into her?"
The senior sister processing the room card looked at me curiously. Usually, this kind of thing was handled by very experienced senior sisters; a freshman shouldn't be capable of it.
"A senior sister already did it. I’m just responsible for guiding the new student through the remaining registration steps. You know, that volunteer activity for the clubs… I got some benefits, so I came over," I explained with a forced, awkward smile.
I had been asked the same thing at the registration desk earlier. It was incredibly embarrassing; anyone could tell I was a freshman too!
"Oh, I see. I feel for you. This isn't an easy job. I’ll register the room card now."
"Great, thank you, Senior Sister," I said politely. Then, a thought occurred to me, and I spoke up tentatively. "Um, Senior Sister, can we specify her dormitory?"
"Specify? Do you want a better one? That requires an extra fee."
"No, no. Can she be in the same one as me? I have a normal room card too," I corrected her quickly.
"That… in principle, it’s not allowed."
"Come on, Senior Sister, help us out. Look at her—she’s so short and has such a soft personality. She’ll get bullied easily. Instead of letting her face roommates with unknown temperaments, it’s better if she stays with me. It’ll be easier to look after her." Seeing the senior sister hesitate but remain firm, I immediately started acting cute.
If it worked, great; if not, whatever. It was just a sudden whim, anyway.
Who wouldn't want a group of eccentric roommates with interesting backstories?
That would be so cool, okay!
"This… oh, alright, just this once! Give me your dorm address, and I’ll arrange it." The senior sister finally gave in, unable to withstand my cutesy act and forced high-pitched voice.
"Thank you, Senior Sister! I’m at No. 62 Block 2 Xinmengli," I said quickly.
"Oh, that place. There are already three people living there. With this one, that makes exactly four. Based on this year’s admissions, each dorm is capped at four or five people at most. I can’t add any more after this," the senior sister warned after searching the system.
"Mhm! Definitely, definitely… wait, that’s not right. Up until now, there’s only been two of us in my dorm, including me!" I agreed quickly, but then I realized something was wrong. Since when did my dorm have three people?
Don't start telling me ghost stories!
"My screen shows that three room cards have already been issued for this room. If that doesn't match, did you give me the wrong address?" the senior sister asked, curious.
"That’s impossible. It’s definitely Xinmengli," I said, holding up my own room card for comparison.
"It is indeed correct. In that case, someone probably took a room card but hasn't moved in yet. That’s quite common. You might find them in some senior sister’s villa. It can’t be helped; the senior sister guiding her was probably too 'enthusiastic' and kept her there."
"Uh…"
Why did this development sound so familiar? This was exactly what happened to Guan Qiuling!
If I hadn't come here today to check, I really wouldn't have known I had another roommate suffering in some unknown location!
My poor roommate!
"Um… Senior Sister, can I get her information here? I want to go look for her."
"Hmm… sorry, I probably can't do that. Actually, that data can be found through the Ley Line information database, but I don't have the permission. After all, that’s private information. I can’t just look it up whenever I want," the senior sister said, shaking her head.
"I see…" As expected, I couldn't check. But speaking of permission, didn't I have some?
That senior sister had opened temporary permissions for me to find people, but I wasn't sure if I could check through my own academy system.
After all, it didn't seem like you needed to register much information to get a room card. Or maybe they did register, but definitely not in the way I was used to.
"Um, Senior Sister, you’re handing out room cards here. Aren't you afraid someone might take several at once if you don't register their info?" I asked tentatively.
"Not at all. The Ley Line records all this information. Even though I can't see it, if someone tries to game the system, they absolutely won't be able to get a second room card. Don't worry."
"O-okay…"
The Ley Line again. It seemed this Ley Line energy was truly terrifying; it could record this kind of information and even track all my physical data.
"Um… Sister Xiao Han, are we done?"
At that moment, Guan Qiuling tugged on my sleeve from behind and asked in a small voice.
"We’re done, we’re done!" Being suddenly called "Sister Xiao Han" made me feel incredibly refreshed.
I finally understood what it felt like to be called "Sister" by a cute little girl with a soft, sweet voice. It was amazing!
"Well, Senior Sister, we’ll be going now. See you around!"
After a somewhat hurried farewell to the senior sister, I led Guan Qiuling away.
"This is your room card. Keep it safe. From now on, you can stay in the same dorm as me."
"Thank you, Sister… Xiao Han." Guan Qiuling carefully took the card and thanked me.
"Oh, stop calling me 'Sister.' We’re both freshmen. Just call me Xiao Han."
"Okay. Um, Sister Xiao Han, can you promise me one thing?"
"Uh… tell me what it is first. I’m a freshman too, so I might not be able to do anything too difficult."
Even though Guan Qiuling didn't change how she addressed me despite my correction, if she wanted to call me that, so be it. It sounded quite nice.
"Um… can you please not tell anyone else that I used to be a boy… I… I…"
"Oh, that? Of course I can. But there’s really no need to hide it. One of my roommates was also a boy before, and she doesn't seem to mind it much."
I thought of Dongli Yiren. With her personality, she didn't hide it from me or anyone else. With that tsundere attitude and her behavior, it was hard not to suspect she used to be a boy.
Besides, if I told Guan Qiuling about someone in the same situation, maybe they could become good friends?
"Huh? Is… is that so? But… I’d still like to ask Sister Xiao Han to help me keep it a secret, okay…?" A flash of surprise crossed Guan Qiuling’s eyes, but she still didn't change her request. It seemed she didn't want to "bond" with Dongli Yiren over this.
She might have a soft and timid personality, but she certainly had her own thoughts.
"Alright, let’s make it our little secret." I smiled and held out my hand. This world also used the pinky swear gesture to represent a promise, so Guan Qiuling should know what it meant.
"Mhm… a secret." Guan Qiuling managed a rare, genuine smile and reached out to hook her pinky with mine.