Chapter 516: Peeking into the Academy Head’s Affairs
After playing with a few little cats in the Witch Cat Café and spending some time with them, I finally left amidst their reluctant gazes.
After all, there are many Witch Cat Cafés in the Witch Academy, but I haven’t been to many, usually just frequenting one or two places. So the excitement of the little ones upon my arrival was understandable.
One of them even offered me a cup of Fool Dream Drink that she made herself.
Holding the take-out paper cup, I was surprised to find that the Fool Dream Drink had been adapted into a portable version. This suggests that the drink seems quite popular, much like a blended juice?
If only its price were on par with a regular blended juice…
After all, the raw materials involved are fruits related to extraordinary powers. Generally, such drinks and desserts only have an audience in places like the Witch Cat Café, where price premiums are severe, especially since the seniors and teachers who often come here are usually not short on money.
“Do you have any plans for when you get back to the academy? Or are you planning to go directly to see the academy head?” Sister Bai asked.
“Well… I think I’ll check if the academy head is available first. If not, I’ll come back,” I replied while taking a big sip of the Fool Dream Drink, feeling the complex scent of the juice and the ritual that was infused during its preparation.
Then a ceremonial rune flashed before my eyes, ultimately recorded within the Great Knowledge Tree. That was an insight contained within the Fool Dream Drink. Comparing it to the runes I had previously collected by chance, it indeed showed that different preparations of the Fool Dream Drink not only had slight flavor differences, but the insights they brought also had subtle variations.
If I get the chance, I should collect more of these insights; perhaps there are secrets herein that I have yet to discover.
However, those were mere branches of coincidence; I had more important matters at hand.
After all, this involved topics concerning the Great Spellbook, so I would naturally need the insights of the most knowledgeable witch. Among the witches I was familiar with, Teacher Ji was still researching her Extraordinary Knowledge, so she probably wouldn’t be available. Hence, seeking out the academy head for the Great Knowledge Seed wasn’t too outlandish.
Nonetheless, to avoid any trouble, I used my phone to inquire beforehand. I wouldn’t want to disturb the academy head if she happened to be busy.
Before long, my message was received by the academy head, who quickly replied.
“The academy head has a clone in her office right now. We can go find her.” Upon seeing the reply, I said to Sister Bai next to me.
After all, Sister Bai had also mentioned earlier that she wanted to accompany me, and since it was to see the academy head, she was worried and wanted to come along.
No matter how you slice it, Sister Bai was a formal instructor, and besides, she had also received favors from the academy head, which gave her legitimate reasons to go.
“Let’s go, I’ll accompany you.” Sister Bai took my hand and said.
Suddenly, a teleportation portal ripped open before us. After both Sister Bai and I stepped through, we arrived at the location of the academy head’s office.
I had been here more than once already, both brought by Teacher Ji and summoned here, so I found it somewhat familiar. As I glanced at the recognizable teleportation markers, we soon reached the academy head’s office.
“Is Xiao Han here? I didn’t expect you to arrive so quickly. Oh… there’s another one… Little Bai, you came with Xiao Han?”
When we arrived at the space that served as both the research area and office of Academy Head Mei, her voice echoed.
When Sister Bai and I discerned the figures here, we were momentarily taken aback. Aside from Academy Head Mei’s clone, there was another figure lounging beside her.
And I recognized her!
“Hello, Academy Head Mei… Hello, Principal Beif.” I quickly greeted, realizing that it wasn’t strange to find two academy heads together in the office after all.
However… the epic meeting of the two academy heads… surely they were plotting some earth-shattering secret.
Suppressing the speculation in my heart, I refrained from asking directly. At that moment, Sister Bai also politely greeted the two academy heads, but… did Academy Head Mei just call Sister Bai “Little Bai”?
That was such a friendly title…
“I didn’t expect the person Old Mei referenced would be you, Xiao Han. Long time no see,” Principal Beif said with a smile.
“Did you come to see me for something? Since I have some time right now, go ahead and ask your questions,” Academy Head Mei addressed me directly, ignoring Principal Beif.
“Alright, Academy Head.” I quickly nodded, stepping forward with Sister Bai. “I recently developed a spell and have some questions seeking the academy head’s opinions, mainly because I’m feeling unsure.”
“A spell? If it brought you to me directly, it must be quite significant, right?” Academy Head Mei asked with a smile.
After all, she understood this little one well; she usually wouldn’t seek help unless truly facing difficulty.
Much like the dream spells she developed in Ninglan New City, if no one had approached her afterward, that spell would likely have remained buried in her research.
Moreover, if it were an ordinary spell, based on her understanding of me, she would probably have first gone to Teacher Ji instead of her, and she could sense a certain distance from me at that moment, making clear how close or urgent our relationship was.
“Mm, indeed, it isn’t simple.” I nodded in agreement.
I instinctively glanced at Principal Beif; I didn’t know whether she had informed Academy Head Mei about the Great Spellbook I had created, but… regardless, this was a hurdle I had to overcome.
“It’s a derivative spell of the Great Spellbook.” As I spoke, I took out a seed that I had ‘cultivated’ earlier. As soon as the seed appeared, the runes surrounding it surged forth, and under careful observation, the aura of permanent spell effects unique to the Great Spellbook caused both academy heads to momentarily hold their breath.
Academy Head Mei didn’t even get off her seat, instantly teleporting to my front with a serious expression.
“A derivative spell from the Great Spellbook?!” The academy head’s intense gaze locked onto the seed. “Have you given this derivative spell a name?”
“Yes, it’s called the Great Knowledge Seed spell.” I nodded.
“The aura of the spell… doesn’t seem like a derivative of the Grand Wisdom Enlightenment Spell…” At that moment, the academy head furrowed her brows.
The Grand Wisdom Enlightenment Spell was a powerful spell she had created herself, and she understood it better than anyone else could.
However, the spell effect before her seemed distinct, evidently different from the Grand Wisdom Enlightenment Spell. Even if it was a derivative spell, it should share the same origins as the prototype.
At that moment, Principal Beif also leaned in, with a hint of exasperation in her gaze. “Xiao Han, why do you always display everything out in the open?”
“What do you mean?” Just then, Academy Head Mei sensed something was off upon noticing Principal Beif, fixing her gaze on her.
“That’s exactly what I mean.” Principal Beif didn’t elaborate much, as if enjoying the bewildered expression on Mei Linde’s face, even a bit smug.
“I don’t recall you having a Great Spellbook…”
She didn’t intend to belittle Principal Beif. The latter wasn’t one to delve into the study of Extraordinary Knowledge; she was more inclined towards developing spellbooks and combat techniques, reveling in fun activities. Where would she have obtained a Great Spellbook?
Even for someone of her status, participating in Great Spellbook research would be difficult, as there wasn’t really a group willing to accept her. At most, she could test the effects of certain spells.
“Hehe, I don’t have one, but we found a copy of Extraordinary Knowledge in the small world we reached!” Principal Beif’s lips curled into a barely concealed smile as she turned her head away, seemingly uninterested in elaborating further.
“Do you even know what you’re saying?!” Mei Linde blinked in surprise, then asked in a low voice.
Are you saying that during her time in the small world, Xiao Han completed the creation of a Great Spellbook?
“Actions speak louder than words. This is something I originally didn’t want to discuss with you, but if Xiao Han hadn’t suddenly rushed over to mention it, I wouldn’t have even bothered to explain.” Principal Beif complained before turning to me. “Xiao Han, remember, don’t always think about revealing your depths to others when there’s no need; otherwise, someone might get emotionally impacted…”
“Shut up, Beif Alanna… What do you take me for? I’m not that fragile. Admitting one’s limitations is a fundamental quality of an academic witch. If Xiao Han faces issues she can’t resolve, she should bravely ask for help. As her senior, would I harm her?”
“But Xiao Han isn’t an Extraordinary Witch yet; she still needs to be cautious in this regard.”
“Currently, Xiao Han is a Little Witch. Do you believe I could go to the Little Witch Association right now to apply for such a certificate for her?”
“Then go ahead.” Principal Beif seemed to relish the moment.
This took Academy Head Mei by surprise.
“Hah… You’ve set me up…”
Mei Linde rubbed her forehead in mild frustration. She had indeed been outmaneuvered by Principal Beif, who was more focused on brute-force casting. However, the shock of Xiao Han potentially creating a Great Spellbook alone was too significant…
“I will make time to take care of this.” Mei Linde declared.
The Extraordinary Witch community has a strong exclusivity concerning non-witch groups; even a preparatory witch infused with a magic source gets only minimal accommodations. The certification of a Little Witch allows Extraordinary Witches to accept that group more readily. This disparity is akin to the difference between viewing gorillas and disabled individuals; it’s a stark contrast between unlike entities and like entities.
“Let’s return to this.” Academy Head Mei ignored the others’ opinions and turned to me again. “This is called the Great Knowledge Seed, right? Is it a prototype spell or a derivative spell?”
“Yes, it’s a derivative spell.” I replied.
At that moment, I felt slightly bewildered by the situation; did Principal Beif really not inform Academy Head Mei about the situation?
Based on her previous advice, she seemed to intend to help me keep it hidden, but unfortunately, this Great Spellbook was destined to come to light.
“Then what is the name of the prototype spell?” Mei Linde inquired.
The naming of each Great Spellbook typically belongs to the witch who creates it; however, a name is not chosen lightly, and no witch would carelessly name something of such importance in a way that diminishes their work.
“It’s called the Great Knowledge Tree.”
“The Great Knowledge Tree… doesn’t sound like a spell that can directly attack.” As she spoke, her gaze shifted to the seed floating in my hand, noticing that even this derivative spell hasn’t revealed any offensive characteristics.
“Yes, it’s akin to the Grand Wisdom Enlightenment Spell, a supportive type of spellbook.”
“Another support-type spellbook?” Academy Head Mei nodded. She wasn’t dismissive of such spellbooks; what supportive spellbooks could achieve far surpassed those of purely offensive spellbooks. Much like her own Great Weakening Spell, which lacked direct offensive power, no one dared to claim that it was weak.
No one in the main world would dare to consider that spell weak.
“So how did you create this spellbook? You wouldn’t genuinely use editing techniques, right?” Quickly, Mei Linde had numerous questions, seeming not to be the one seeking answers but instead eager to ask her own.
“Mei, don’t you have too many questions? If I remember correctly, Xiao Han should be asking you, right?” Principal Beif interjected.
“Is that so? It does seem like that, but I’m merely trying to understand the situation. Wouldn’t you be curious? Satisfy my curiosity as your academy head, so I can learn more about this Great Spellbook. Only by understanding it can I have the right to respond to Xiao Han’s questions; if I know nothing, how can I reply?” Academy Head Mei unabashedly expressed her curiosity and desire for knowledge, speaking directly to a student.
“No problem; if any privacy is involved, you can skip it. I won’t pry. If Xiao Han is willing to explain, I would also be very happy.”
“Mm, this doesn’t count as privacy. Academy Head Mei is one of the teachers I trust.” As I said this, a deeper smile appeared on Academy Head Mei’s face.
“I truly wouldn’t use editing to create a Great Spellbook. This Great Spellbook also came about due to a fortuitous coincidence; originally, it wasn’t a Great Spellbook. Based on the insights I gained from Extraordinary Knowledge in the small world, I derived something from a spellbook called the Memory Shelf, which was the initial prototype of this Great Spellbook. I called it the Knowledge Tree.”
“Memory Shelf… oh, that spellbook?” Mei Linde recalled it, having encountered it during the process of metamorphosis; she had even helped Xiao Han preserve the memories stored in the Memory Shelf. “This spellbook could even derive such a derivative spell? So you carried the Extraordinary Knowledge through this derivative spell, right?”
“Correct, so it was quite the coincidence.” I nodded.
“That doesn’t imply it was just a coincidence. If the derivative didn’t have the insights gained from Extraordinary Knowledge as guidance, this spellbook would have no right to serve as a vessel for that Extraordinary Knowledge to transform into a Great Spellbook. However, the resulting Great Spellbook would be considered an incomplete one. How did you deal with the Void Rifts generated when creating that Great Spellbook? Do you recall how many there were at the time?”
“I helped handle them! There was only one Void Rift, which wasn’t too many; it at least reached the threshold of a Great Spellbook, right?” At this moment, Principal Beif chimed in proudly.
“Hmph, look at you getting all puffed up just because you contributed a bit.” Academy Head Mei shot a glance at Principal Beif but understood this information.
The birth of a Void Rift indicated recognition from the Void, meaning it indeed had the status of a Great Spellbook.
However, this “near-cheating” method, if one wishes to continue perfecting this Great Spellbook, would be as challenging as preparing for the normal process of creating a Great Spellbook, and… this was also an almost irreplicable miracle.
