Chapter 532: Headmaster Shali’s [Extraordinary Knowledge]
A long time has passed.
“I’m really sorry for keeping Sister Natalie waiting for so long; let’s head back now.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. It was a great clash of ideas. Don’t worry, as soon as I’ve perfected your concept for the Box of Books, I’ll notify you right away. Although I can’t guarantee the exact time for completion, I’ll try to get it to you before this holiday ends!”
“Thank you, Sister Natalie.”
“Not at all! Just keep in touch. If you have any problems or significant progress, I will inform you immediately～”
“Mm!”
After bidding farewell to Natalie, the customization for my book has pretty much been settled.
According to Natalie’s original design, the Box of Books looks like a book, wrapped in a book box specifically for housing this book, intended to protect the book from the outside.
The focus of this Box of Books is solely on the book itself.
As stated by Lola Lucy, the two main points of this book are “Spell Resonance” and “Sealing Technique.”
Spell Resonance is one of its core functions to amplify spells as a magical tool; from this core, many additional amplification effects can be derived.
The Sealing Technique is said to serve as a storage device… and it’s quite similar. According to Teacher Natalie, “collection” essentially means using the pages of the book as a carrier for sealing; its initial purpose was to seal powerful spells or entities.
However, as she researched the Sealing Technique, she began to explore new variations on this ability.
Using the Sealing Technique as the core, multiple spell effects can be sealed. What does this represent?
From the perspective of spell sealing, it can seal spells that far exceed one’s power limits. As long as a strong person cooperates with the sealing spell, when facing an enemy, they can unseal it, unleashing a powerful attack from that spell.
Unfortunately, this method is one-time use only, and the sealing process does incur some loss; however, the number of pages that can be sealed is abundant!
So without connections and relationships, such weapons are really hard to use effectively.
But what does this have to do with me, who has already started mingling in the Extraordinary Witch circle?
Thus, in some ways, the Box of Books is somewhat similar to an alchemical item that solidifies spells; while it allows for more flexible spellcasting, it also presents a lot of complications.
Nevertheless, this ability has also led to a non-troublesome method: sealing elemental energy, using the Sealing Technique to control elements, causing an absolute discharge of energy, also a terrifying means.
In short, it doesn’t compromise thought and is particularly versatile.
The sealing process is what Natalie refers to as “collection.” The so-called multifunctional integration of the Box of Books is built on a massive foundation, making it an existence with both a very high upper limit and an extremely low lower limit.
From the perspective of entity sealing, it means storing weapons; the sealed weapons can choose to unseal the entity, equivalent to an alternative “storage.” This is also the point of criticism from Lola Lucy. How is this different from carrying around multiple weapons with storage equipment?
Natalie’s confident rebuttal, of course, comes from her application of the sealing technique, which has surpassed the framework of the Sealing Technique itself.
After the weapons are stored, one can also choose for the unsealed ones not to be the original but to be the copy of the stored weapon.
Although the weapon copies also come with many shortcomings, such as lower strength or inability to perfectly replicate special effects, at least the original won’t be damaged. In an ideal situation, multiple weapons could appear at once for overlapping firepower.
Additionally, some weapons whose duplicates cannot be perfectly recreated can return to her for targeted storage, allowing copies to have nearly the same special effects as the originals, even if it’s a bit troublesome; but it’s worth it, as it’s not a one-time use.
Moreover, duplicate weapons can also be enhanced with excessive weapon amplification spells that can be applied to repair spells that have damaged the original, thus allowing for an explosive burst of damage in a short period without harming the original. You could say there are pros and cons.
Under some of my suggestions, parts of the design for the Box of Books are likely to undergo significant changes; however, based on my short interactions with Natalie, she will likely do everything she can to preserve the original designs due to ideological differences.
And my requirements are simple: two things — if I take a book out of the box, I can reason with the opponent; if I put a book into the box, I can engage the enemy physically.
Thus, the parts that need to undergo major changes are the book cover and the book box. The overall design should facilitate easy access and movement; the design of the outer book box shifts from safeguarding the book’s original intent to causing substantial physical damage to the enemy while still protecting the books.
The amplification of the book’s spells should also undergo an update since this design was made a long time ago, and even Natalie herself finds some of those ideas a bit juvenile, so even without me mentioning it, she would make some updates.
Of course, the reason she proactively seeks to improve things is to… leech off Headmaster Mei Linde’s resources.
Looking at the materials consumed for this book, even before it’s fully perfected, she already feels somewhat embarrassed about taking advantage of it. But who told Mei Linde to say she would provide the best for Xiao Han?
She’s just following orders!
Moreover, she isn’t using her own materials; she is merely utilizing these materials to create a weapon.
However, even if the final product isn’t her own, she still gains knowledge about the properties and characteristics of the materials, collects data on the materials, expands her horizons, and has new opportunities to practice. Seeing the new product shine in her hands provides her with an unparalleled sense of achievement.
For this, she is willing to expend all her energy to fulfill her previously uncompleted and unacknowledged works.
Even with her current perspective as a master alchemist, she can see how inherently flawed the old design was, yet she doesn’t care; some things hold values far beyond their immediate worth, like this Box of Books.
Because this is not merely a weapon but rather a reflection of her past naive fantasies.
After leaving Natalie’s alchemy lab, I also felt considerably lighter. Looking back, some of the decisions I made earlier seemed a bit rash; I felt I could do better, but so what?
How to compare the cost of achieving better results with the final returns?
Perhaps only a perfectionist would not worry about such gains and losses.
“Xiao Han, are you really planning to hit people with books?” Sister Bai chuckled and said to me at this moment.
“Yeah～ isn’t it interesting to show the enemy how painful knowledge can be? I wonder what kind of surprise Natalie will give me then,” I replied, rubbing my hands in anticipation.
“Xiao Han, you really sound like a child looking forward to a new toy.”
“This is called staying true to one’s original aspiration, okay?”
Of course, the main reason is that I truly have grasped a form of “Knowledge Power.” The way that energy presents itself is truly well-suited to a weapon like a book.
“Alright, alright～ staying true to one’s original aspiration～”
…
In the bakery.
“Don’t you think your All-purpose Association members are too greedy?” Shali looked at the few people in front of her, her expression quite comical.
“Not at all, Shali. This isn’t a statement that should come from you. You know better than us how you got that crown of absolute zero; your baking shop has always been about tradition, right?” The few people standing across from Shali naturally are members of the All-purpose Association she mentioned.
Their purpose for coming this time is, of course, the item she just referred to: the crown.
This was a negotiation; however, it was not a cordial one, as the All-purpose members had merely mentioned the crown, and Shali’s demeanor changed immediately.
As a result, this communication had been going on for at least half an hour without any progress, even affecting the operation of the bakery, although foot traffic during the holidays was already scarce.
“But I seized that with my own strength; this is an honor that the academy must acknowledge. What qualifies you to reach out for it?” Shali stood her ground firmly, her tone very tough, even invoking the academy because she had her own confidence; otherwise, how could a bakery uphold a piece of [Extraordinary Knowledge]?
Or rather… to be precise, this is a fragment of extraordinary knowledge, but its value is far beyond that of a spellbook.
“Shali, I know your selfish intentions. That crown holds no value in your hands, which is why you want to entrust it to someone deserving. The whole world is about to change; even the academy no longer hides the struggle for fortune…”
“Can you not say such useless nonsense?”
“I know who you have in mind for this, Tan Han, right? How about fair competition?”
“Is this fair? And when did I say I would give it to Tan Han?” Shali gritted her teeth and asked. She hated it when others made decisions for her!
“If not Tan Han, then who? That girl, Xiao Han, who has given up on being the Child of Fortune? I acknowledge her talent, but so what?”
“You have no right to say that about Xiao Han! Xiao Han is now an assistant teacher!”
“Still, that doesn’t matter. No matter how powerful she is, she is still not qualified. The Struggle of Fortune is about destiny, not about strength.”
“So this means there’s no way for this to end well today, right?” Shali narrowed her eyes, ready for any confrontation.
Beside her, Ying Shiqian and Tang Yihan protected some junior classmates who were part-time workers there but were also prepared for a conflict.
Conflicts in the Witch Academy are quite common. Sometimes, when things become irreconcilable, the Wei Ji Team might not be able to intervene, and ultimately, both conflicting sides are only advised to resolve their differences in the arena.
“No, I think we can still sit down and talk. From the start, you all acted in a threatening posture, which left us quite helpless. We are here to cooperate, not to plunder, not to mention you wouldn’t want to start a fight, would you? Even if not for yourself, consider those junior classmates behind you～”
“Shameless!”
“That’s just your inherent impression of us in the All-purpose Association; I can’t be bothered to explain. We came here with sincerity, and I think we are just one negotiation table away from reaching cooperation.”
Having said this, Shali softened a bit; it was the result of her internal self-bargaining, but she still felt a bit unwilling.
“Juliana… she was the mentor you once followed, right?” Upon seeing a hint of hesitation in Shali’s eyes, the girl from the All-purpose Association added another chip.
“Hmph, you seem to know quite a bit.”
“She is leaving.” The five words spoken by the girl instantly made Shali’s pupils constrict!
“Impossible!”
“There is nothing impossible; it’s just a normal transfer. It seems you and your mentor haven’t contacted each other in a long time? What a pity.”
“She had no reason to leave on her own!”
“Is that so? Then let me share something with you… it’s a little insider news: our world is about to undergo a transformation, just like the doomsday theories circulating outside, which bear the shadows of the Extraordinary Academy. That’s all I’ll say; believe it or not.”
The other party did not elaborate further, leaving Tan Han in a state to ponder and calm down.
Without her mentor’s guidance, this could become her breakthrough for possessing [Extraordinary Knowledge]. Although she initially acquired it legitimately, now she is stuck with “being burdened by treasure.”
They have her figured out!
“No… we still have Xiao Han…”
“Please don’t make me laugh. You keep saying Xiao Han, but what care have you shown her? Giving her a part-time job that pays a few dozen units per hour or a Cleaning Spell spellbook? I heard she visited your bakery not long ago, yet she was even unwilling to notify you to meet… please tell me again, who else do you have?” The other party, with a sneer, meticulously laid out each point without hesitation, and the last rhetorical question pierced through Shali’s heart like a finishing blow.
The information network of the All-purpose Association is quite well-informed in the Witch Academy.
And this became the final straw that broke Shali’s resistance. She really wanted to rebut that Xiao Han was just like that… she just hated trouble and disliked burdening others… but she knew full well she wasn’t qualified to say such things…
Even the reward she promised after their exchange contest? Xiao Han still hadn’t come to claim it until now…
All the signs and the turmoil in her heart seemed to deliver a crushing blow, drowning her reason in feelings of debt.
“I think we can sit down and have a good chat now. We are all part of the Witch Academy, good sisters living together, not to mention we’ve interacted before,” she said with a smile, but internally she was chuckling, as the mention of Xiao Han by the other party was truly an excellent assist; if it weren’t for her prior hints about Xiao Han, the other party might not have fallen into the trap.
“This place isn’t suitable for conversation…”
Ying Shiqian and Tang Yihan observed the dejected Shali, wanting to offer comfort but were stopped by her hand. She is the head of the bakery, the absolute decision-maker; they have no right to say anything, and the root cause of all this—the [Extraordinary Knowledge]—has nothing to do with them. How could they offer comfort?
Seeing Shali’s appearance, the members from the All-purpose Association also revealed faint smiles; wasn’t this a sign of progress?
So they followed Shali, and the next step would be a battle of wits.
In the end, only Ying Shiqian and Tang Yihan remained outside the bakery alongside some junior classmates who were oblivious to the circumstances. However, even these two did not fully understand the specifics; they only knew the general situation.
They exchanged looks and could see each other’s helplessness, ultimately leading to a sigh as they prepared to soothe the junior classmates who were scared, after all, it was their first real experience of the “bullying” among sisters in the Witch Academy.
Meanwhile, the television hanging on the bakery wall was broadcasting news from outside.
Extraordinary terrorists have taken multiple returning students from the Extraordinary Academy hostage, acting maliciously, and several Extraordinary Academies claim this is a declaration of war against the academy…
The world is becoming more chaotic.
But at this moment, the bakery had no mood to concern itself with these events.
