Chapter 438: We Need More Fool Dream Drink
After I brought Fool Dream to Witch Academy, the arrangements regarding Fool Dream were no longer something a single student could interfere with.
Later, Teacher Deina, who took the initiative to approach me, settled them down and found them jobs within the academy.
However, Teacher Deina did not force these Fool Dreams to work at Witch Cat Café; they could choose to do other things if they wanted.
Yet, due to their innocent nature and lack of experience, most of them still chose to work at Witch Cat Café. After all, who could resist the temptation of free food and lodging?
Not to mention the stark contrast they had previously experienced in the Underground City of Ninglan New City; they hoped to rely on their abilities to support themselves.
Their current residence was a dormitory arranged by the academy, but it was quite different compared to the living conditions of the students.
After arriving here, I also saw quite a few humanoid creatures that were distinctly not students, reminding me of other beings present in the Witch Secret Realm.
Didn’t Sister Bai mention that there were many of these creatures around the academy?
Though I hadn’t paid much attention to it before, I was seeing them now.
I observed them with curiosity, and they didn’t appear overly nervous, as if they were accustomed to the gazes of students, much like a group of seasoned veterans.
“Just ahead, that’s the place where we Fool Dreams live. I heard it’s a good place that Sister Deina fought for us. Although there are occasional instances of other creatures bullying us, we unite to make them think twice about bothering us!”
Two Fool Dreams, having regained some energy, were now playfully circling around me, sharing stories about their wonderful lives. Earlier, out of urgency, I had ridden my broom while they pointed the way; unfortunately, Fool Dreams didn’t know how to read maps, so I couldn’t try teleportation.
“What else is bullying you?”
“The next time you encounter them, just tell me, and I’ll help you fight back, okay?” Hearing that the Fool Dreams had been bullied, I didn’t know what to say and instinctively wanted to teach them what it meant to report someone.
However, the Fool Dreams refused my suggestion, believing it wasn’t right to trouble me over such small matters.
I could only sigh and follow their guidance to the dormitory area where they lived.
But as soon as I got there, I detected a faint, strange odor, which seemed to carry a trace of magical energy.
Magical energy is a power only students or instructors can wield. Could someone be using magic here?
I anxiously pushed open a door in the direction of that energy.
The somewhat simplistically arranged interior caught me slightly off guard, and the first thing I noticed was a massive cauldron in the center, still bubbling away, somewhat resembling an ancient alchemical apparatus.
Then I saw Teacher Deina, stirring the liquid in the cauldron with a long-handled spoon.
“Oh? Isn’t that Xiao Han? I didn’t expect you to come here.” Teacher Deina looked up at me, surprised, then her gaze shifted back to the strange mixture in front of her, the thick and bubbling liquid.
“I heard the Fool Dreams weren’t in good shape, so I came to check. Are you… making a potion, Teacher Deina?” I frowned, gazing at the odd liquid, my eyelids involuntarily twitching with the bubbling foam.
In that pot of strange liquid, I could sense a powerful magical energy roiling and restrained, like a giant magical bomb that could explode at any moment.
“Yes, I’m making a potion. These poor little ones are probably sick, and I’m trying to save them in my own way,” Teacher Deina sighed, her tone tinged with a hint of sadness. She then set down the book she held, and I caught a glimpse of the words “Potion” on it. She was genuinely heartbroken over the current plight of the Fool Dreams.
I stood there, mesmerized by the cauldron of muddled substances. This was a potion… a ritual blending skill that required a strong mastery of magical power to learn, so typically, only extraordinary witches could concoct high-quality potions.
At that moment, I looked at the Fool Dreams lying down, each one on a tiny bed. Even though they were asleep, their slightly strained expressions were enough to prove that the dreams they were having were not pleasant.
Meanwhile, it was evident that Teacher Deina wasn’t focusing on me right now.
From what I know about this teacher, her observational skills are keen, and she possesses a certain level of psychological knowledge. Standing in front of her gave me the weird feeling of being fully exposed.
She should definitely have some guesses if she noticed the state of the two Fool Dreams at my feet.
“Sister Deina! Sister Xiao Han has already found a way to heal us, so there’s no need to frown so much!” One of the Fool Dreams chimed in.
When that Fool Dream called out “Sister,” I felt a bit odd. Earlier, when I heard them refer to Teacher Deina as “Sister,” it didn’t resonate with me, but this Deina, whoever she was, had no idea how old she was yet was still called “Sister” by these Fool Dreams, while I was also “Sister Xiao Han”… This made me feel like an equal with extraordinary witches in the eyes of the Fool Dreams?
“What?”
At that moment, Teacher Deina’s long spoon hesitated in her hand, and surprise crossed her face, followed by the feeling that the magical energy in the pot had lost its balance and was about to cause a terrifying magical upheaval.
In the next instant, just as the potion was about to explode, Deina waved her hand, effortlessly whisking the entire pot—and the flames underneath—away.
She cleared her throat to cover the earlier awkwardness of that mistake.
I thought to myself that the pot, which was about to explode, must already be detonated somewhere in another space…
“Xiao Han~ Were you thinking bad thoughts just now? Can’t I be called ‘Sister’ by the Fool Dreams?”
“N-no, how could that be? Teacher Deina is forever young.”
“Hmm?”
“I mean, Sister Deina is forever young!” I quickly corrected myself.
But inwardly, I couldn’t help but grumble about why every witch liked to be called “Sister.”
“Next time, don’t wear your thoughts on your face, okay?” Deina elegantly fixed her appearance and then began, “I heard you found a way to heal these little ones. Can you tell me about it? After all, I haven’t been able to concoct any effective samples of potions.” She looked at the two Fool Dreams at my feet, seeming to believe to some extent what had been said earlier.
“It’s Fool Dream Drink, a mixed juice that these Fool Dreams once made by themselves.” I spoke while taking out a sealed small bottle.
Upon hearing that Teacher Deina didn’t manage to create a good potion, I thought not having a tangible item to support my boast might raise some misunderstandings, so I might as well show it to her.
“Fool Dream Drink?” Deina’s eyes lit up with curiosity upon hearing the name, “Mixed juice?”
“Yes, that’s it.”
“Can I see it?” Deina said as she extended her hand, seemingly confident that I wouldn’t refuse.
“Sure.”
“Okay.” Deina looked at the bottle in my hand, a flicker of surprise passing through her eyes, “There’s even a hint of potion quality here. This blending ritual, is it purely made from juice?”
“Yeah, from the fruits that grew in the place where the Fool Dreams once lived.” At this moment, my gaze subconsciously darted to the room, where several strange fruits were laid out on the countertop. It seemed these were purchased by the Fool Dreams themselves, and importantly, those fruits also contained extraordinary energy.
Were they following their instincts to attempt to concoct Fool Dream Drink? There’s a high probability it failed…
“No wonder… the little ones pursuing life will always follow their race’s will to make the right choices.” Deina smiled and shook her head, then uncorked the bottle. Immediately, the fruity aroma of Fool Dream Drink wafted out, and shortly after, the Fool Dream resting in Deina’s arms twitched her nose several times before slowly opening her long-sleeping eyes.
“Looks like I don’t even need to try it.” Seeing this scene, Deina’s face lit up with delight as she instinctively reached out to pet the Fool Dream’s little head, a smile forming on her lips.
Then she tried to take out a small portion of Fool Dream Drink, the liquid floating near the Fool Dream’s mouth. Before it even reached her lips, the Fool Dream eagerly stuck out her little tongue to lick it.
Soon, Deina noticed the Fool Dream in her arms visibly perked up.
“Hmm… Sister Deina! Did you heal me? Oh? Sister Xiao Han is also here!” The Fool Dream, slightly recovering her energy, struggled to sit up upon seeing me.
“Go on, thank Sister Xiao Han quickly! I haven’t been much help this time—Sister Xiao Han brought good stuff for you!” Deina didn’t restrain her, instead gently placing her down.
“Hmm~ Yes!” I quickly scooped up the Fool Dream running towards me. She had just woken up, her eyes were still a bit dazed and fighting to stay open, yet she hurried towards me.
“Thank you, Xiao Han. Otherwise, watching these little ones sleep like that would make me feel really bad.” Deina smiled.
“No, I should be thanking Teacher Deina… Oh, Sister Deina, that’s correct! You could have stood by and done nothing, yet you still went as far as to concoct potions for them. That cauldron of potions… it must be expensive, right?”
“What do you mean by ‘could have stood by’? Do you not recognize my relationship with these Fool Dreams? I didn’t expect you to be so possessive, Xiao Han!”
“Huh? No, no, how could that be? The fact that the Fool Dreams have a place to stay at Witch Academy is all thanks to Sister Deina.”
“Good to hear. Now, these Fool Dreams are my most important employees. It’s only natural for me to care for them.” Deina paused here, “Let’s not talk about this. Do you have any more Fool Dream Drink? Given the current condition of the Fool Dreams, they likely need a lot of it. Otherwise… you probably know the situation, right?”
“This…”
“Is there a problem?”
“Some issues with the ingredients needed for the Fool Dream Drink. Those ingredients were destroyed along with the Fool Village Secret Realm. I only have seeds left, and the fruits have just matured in a batch; another batch still needs to be cultivated, which, in terms of timing… is a bit rushed.”
“Cultivating? That should be fine. I know a witch who is very skilled in Potionstone Alchemy. Most of her medicinal materials are cultivated by her. She is quite adept with ordinary extraordinary plants.”
“Really?” I looked at Deina in surprise, not expecting her to know so many people. This must be the benefit of having a wide network; if I couldn’t accomplish something myself, I could request help from others.
“Don’t hesitate now. Don’t you want to save these Fool Dreams?”
“Yes!”
“That’s right! Tell me where you’re growing these seeds, are the cultivation standards in place?” Deina inquired, even speaking with a hint of urgency since the matter of cat cats was her concern.
“Well, I entrusted the cultivation to a senior who is very skilled. There haven’t been any errors so far, and she has a plantation in the academy.”
“You didn’t cultivate it yourself? That’s… the right choice. Let professionals handle professional matters. Since she has a plantation, send me the address, and I’ll go find that witch.”
“Um? Okay, alright.” I took the bottle of Fool Dream Drink that Teacher Deina handed me and hurriedly opened the academy map to locate it… “Uh… wait, I seem to not have your contact information, Sister Deina.”
“Ah… I didn’t give it?” Deina had one hand on her forehead. With her recent focus on the cat matters, she seemed to be losing her mind over everything else.
“Looks like not…”
“Then I’ll give you my contact. You can send me the location later. You’re talking about the plantation, right? Can a student really manage a plantation like that…” Deina spoke smoothly without a hitch, but her last comment was just a casual remark.
After sorting everything out and watching Teacher Deina leave, I felt relieved knowing the Fool Dream situation was temporarily resolved.
Reflecting on the trial I discussed with the Academy Head, this truly was… thrilling.
If the Fool Dreams suddenly returned to the Dream World and became Dream Creatures because of this matter, how could I fulfill the promise to help these little ones become true lives?
But there was no need to worry about what was in the past; a predetermined past has no possibility of change.
“Here, this is my last bit of Fool Dream Drink for you. Take this and take care of everyone. I’ll be collaborating with Sister Deina shortly to make more Fool Dream Drink, so that all the Fool Dreams will recover. Once you all feel better, I’ll teach you how to make Fool Dream Drink, okay?”
“Yes, yes!”
The Fool Dreams, entrusted with the “mission,” nodded quickly, holding tightly onto the still significant bottle of Fool Dream Drink.
“Oh, by the way, if you encounter any dangers during this time, use this to activate it. I, Sister Xiao Han, will appear to protect you.”
After pondering for a moment, remembering the earlier concerns about the Fool Dreams getting bullied, I still decided to hand them the few remaining reverse summoning ritual alchemical items for good measure.
Once I was done with these preparations, I picked up my phone again, knowing it was time to reach out to Sofiry. I hoped she wouldn’t mind too much.
As for the promotion of Fool Dream Drink at Witch Cat Café, I had lost the energy to think about it. This was something to be discussed after resolving this matter.
Moreover, with the situation involving the Fool Dreams, even if Witch Cat Café was not planning to launch Fool Dream Drink, as long as the Fool Dreams were around, there would come a time when Fool Dream Drink would be needed.
Naturally, I would be willing to spend on them regularly so they could live normal lives.
At that moment, I dialed Sofiry’s number once more.
“Hello… Sofiry, sorry to disturb you again. Can you help summon me? There are some things I might not be able to explain clearly over the phone.”
“What happened? Fine, Xiao Han, just wait a moment.”
