Chapter 50: Daily Life + Final Exams

Chapter 50: Daily Life + Final Exams

"Yes, I know I might not be qualified," Lance said seriously without standing up, "but I still want to ask what I can offer."

Fiya looked out at the heavy snowfall, realizing that here, unlike in a data-driven NPC world, everyone was a living being.

Although she desperately needed faith to reshape her body, she wasn't indiscriminate in what she accepted.

Moreover, some people were better than her at filtering followers.

"Everyone must pay the price for their choices," Fiya turned and stated bluntly, "You can't always make decisions for them. If someone truly seeks a witch's blessing, then they should visit Ninihu Town."

Lance pondered carefully, finally recalling the name from his limited memory.

"Is that the small border town famous for its excellent potions? Many merchants like to stock up there, and I've heard it has many beautiful sights due to its miraculous potions."

"Yes."

Lance hesitated for a moment, "Who should we seek in Ninihue Town, or where should we wait for your summon?"

Fi leaned her head, smiling, "Perhaps you've heard of the 'Burnt Night Gathering'? Marian will help you figure out what you truly desire. If you decide, it's not too late to seek me."

"Of course," Fi said, summoning a long-unused wraith that crawled onto Lance's back before standing up, "Until you make a decision, my familiar will keep watch."

This way, she could be instantly informed via the wraith if people from Black Moon really approached Lulu Bi City.

After a satisfying meal, it was time to leave.

The demon donned black leather gloves to cover the horrific scars.

Fi made sure nothing was left behind and stood beside him.

A tip of a tail peeked out, hesitant to reach for her hand. It twisted in place, only the tip vigorously wagging in her direction, following its own desire.

"Let's go somewhere warmer next time; we can explore other cities," Beelzebub suggested, looking away.

"Sure," Fi agreed promptly, "But before that, weren't you going to teach me teleportation?"

The demon, surprised by her agreement, turned quickly.

"Teach! I'll teach you right now!"

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his embrace, as he had done countless times before.

"Like this, be calm, resolute, with a clear destination, then chant—"

The cold winter faded, replaced by familiar dimness.

Fi wriggled out of the embrace, just in time to see a splendid magical array forming over the academy.

It was the sign of the final exam!

She had promised Headmistress Lilith to return for the finals!

Hastily dropping a "I have to go," the witch vanished on the spot, a raven soaring into the sky.

Left behind, a bewildered Beelzebub stood still, muttering, "...Ah?"

As the wind whistled beneath her wings, Fi suddenly realized something—

Since returning that morning, Beelzebub never again asked who she was talking to.

Nor had the Small World spoken a word since.

*

Fi returned in the afternoon, and thankfully, due to Sharp's previous injury, the final exam was postponed by a day, so she wasn't late.

When Fi pushed open the dormitory door, Hill was shocked and took several seconds to react.

"You finally deigned to return?!" The lady rushed over without a care for her image, bear-hugging Fi.

"Even if I wasn't worried about you, you shouldn't have left for so many days without any news! Aren't friends supposed to write to each other every day?!"

"Oh?" Fi smiled, patting her back, "Did Miss Wyatt write to me?"

Hill choked, her face flushing red, "Who, who would bother writing to you! I don’t even know where in Ninihue Town to buy stationery!"

"Oh~ so the stationery was bought in Ninihue Town?" Fi pointed at the pile of papers on Hill's desk, which was immediately grabbed by someone.

"I wrote, okay?!" Hill finally broke down, tears welling up in her eyes, her voice thick with emotion, "You disappeared right after that incident, and I asked every teacher without knowing where you went, I was worried sick! Hey, stop laughing!!"

"Sorry!" Fi sincerely apologized and quickly presented the gift she brought from the North for Hill—a hairpin made from the ice crystals of the local snow mountain.

Unlike ordinary hairpins, it was semi-transparent, sparkling with winter's unique shimmer. Inside, floating snowflakes moved with her motion, twinkling as they fell or rose.

"I promised to bring you a specialty." Fi placated with sweet words, assuring it wouldn't happen again.

Hill finally cracked a smile, "Welcome home!"

The other students were also stunned to see Fi return but didn't inquire further. After two academic years together, they had all grown somewhat close.

Past squabbles had long dissipated in the daily routine of classes and homework.

"So glad to see you again," Lunien and other girls greeted her, "We thought we might finally have a chance at first place this time!"

"Give up, it's impossible." Fi waved dismissively, her face beaming with an irresistibly smug smile.

When Senior Mei and Senior Nana heard of her return, one brought a big bag of snacks, and the other brought a bottle of white powder.

"We heard about what happened," Senior Mei referred to the incident with Instructor Jacqueline, "They are closer to graduation, so they know more secrets."

"I'm glad you're okay now; you're the most impressive witch I've ever met," Senior Mei handed her the snacks, "Keep up the good work, Fiya!"

"This powder, ground from the bones of Skeleton Scholars, sharpens the mind, offering resistance against simple mental control and curses. It's for you, hoping it helps even a little," said Senior Nana.

Fiya was curious, "Are Skeleton Scholars still a target in the fourth academic year? They're not easy foes."

"Not exactly," Nana touched her nose awkwardly, "We found them during a deep abyss exploration. Someone must have really hated them; there were dismembered skeletons everywhere. We picked up a lot and ground their bones into powder to drink. Be thankful; this was specially reserved for you."

Fiya curiously examined the small bottle and decided to drink it with her dinner that evening.

The instructors were also informed of her return.

After dinner that day, Fiya received an invitation from Instructor Sallira to visit the principal's office on the top floor.

Principal Lillith and Instructor Belona were absent, but the other instructors each expressed their concern.

They carefully inquired about Faye's experiences along the way.

The girl concealed parts related to the demon and the small world, giving a concise summary.

When they heard that the Dark Archmage who created Polly was dead, each instructor showed a look of surprise.

“So you got there first?” Sallira quipped with pursed lips.

Faye, somewhat puzzled, saw Instructor Sharp, who had recovered, pulling her hand to sit beside her, “The Principal visited some people and gathered information about that Dark Archmage.”

“A high-profile individual who disregarded life, she was often wanted by the royal house but always eluded capture. Entire towns became ghost towns because of her. Such a character can hardly leave no trace behind.”

Instructor Sharp seemed to enjoy talking to her, eager to explain every detail and step. His eyes constantly smiled at her, giving Faye a peculiar feeling of being overly cared for by a gentle elder.

“...In the end, we found out her real name was Jenny Arlink, hiding in the cold North. Principal Lillith and Instructor Belona had set out to deal with her. But you brought the good news ahead of time.”

What a coincidence that was.

However, Faye suddenly felt reassured. If she had failed, the instructors would have eventually completed what needed to be done.

So the pressure should now be on Black Moon.

Now that Jenny was gone, the entire puppeteer thread had been cut. Without the puppets, it’s unclear how they planned to internally breach other organizations.

The Mercenary Association should have reopened by now, right?

Before leaving the Principal's office, Faye handed over the long list she had copied at the Lulubi City orphanage to the group of instructors.

She explained the origin of the list, requesting the instructors' help in investigating the names on it.

“I’m not sure how far-reaching Jenny's influence is, and how many innocent people have been affected.”

She was determined to extinguish any flicker of Black Moon's influence in this world.

The instructors happily agreed, assuring that they would handle the matter thoroughly.

Faye bowed in farewell and jogged out, carefully closing the door behind her.

Inside the Principal’s office, Sallira’s smile slowly faded, and the Witch of Great Sin relaxed the hand she had kept on her skirt hem—the snakes under her control hissed wildly.

“Have you noticed it too?” Gaia, who had been silent, slightly turned her hood.

“Rather, we all must have noticed,” Sallira looked towards the other instructors, her red lips forming a straight line.

—“Our familiars are afraid of Faye.”

“What exactly has happened to that child?”

*

The next day brought the second-year final exams.

The biggest difference from the first year was the introduction of written exams—almost every subject required an essay.

The essays at the Witch Academy were particularly challenging, written in exam conditions and without access to notes.

Each subject was spread over two days, with a written exam on the first day and practicals on the second.

Faye heard students whispering in panic.

However, this wasn't a big issue for her. Thanks to the extensive reading she had done earlier (almost exhausting the seniors’ resources), her writing flowed effortlessly.

The first exam was on Abyss Exploration.

Essay topic: Choose three dark creatures you have encountered and detail their habits, weaknesses, and distribution.

Although Faye seldom attended classes, she had an encyclopedic knowledge of monsters.

As a result, when the essays were submitted, she became the one who attended classes the least yet wrote the most comprehensive paper.

Her classmates were astounded upon learning this.

“What's going on?!” Lunien was flustered, “Who secretly borrowed Faye's notes? I thought I could finally outperform her in one subject!”

Faye smiled, “I’ve already been holding back a lot.”

The next day’s practical involved drawing lots to choose the exam location and clearing all dark creatures from the area.

There’s no need to elaborate; Faye's magical prowess turned the task into a spectacular magical show for all to see.

Instructor Sallira generously awarded her the highest score in the history of these exams.

The Black Magic Artifacts exam.

The topic focused on the theoretical design of protective gear. The essay was challenging, but manageable.

Having been through rigorous academia in Blue Star University, Faye used a standard essay structure to solidly pass the subject.

The practical involved crafting a weapon and using it to pass a combat test.

This was even less of a challenge for her.

And of course, the Summoning Familiar class.

When faced with the choice of “summoning a demon” or “summoning an otherworldly version of herself,” Faye unhesitatingly chose the demon.

The arrival of the Child of Darkness caused a sensation throughout the academy.

The senior and junior students skipped their classes, as they were brought to the event by their instructors using large-scale teleportation, crowding at the door to spectate.

Beelzebub, though appearing noble and aloof on the surface, was actually scowling murderously.

“Just as I thought,” Principal Lillith nodded repeatedly, “My prediction never fails; Faye is the most pivotal existence in all our fates.”

In the Potion Making class, Faye's scores were unreachably high, overshadowing everyone else.

Everyone was grinding their teeth in frustration, except for Hilary, who was exceptionally thrilled.

“Worthy of being my recognized friend, Wyatt!”

With that, the second academic year concluded, and the students were joyfully granted a 15-day holiday.

However, before this vacation, a safety meeting was held for the second-year students, emphasizing the dangers of the outside world.

Instructor Gaia distributed a type of seed called “Nini Fruit” to each student, a plant cultivated exclusively in the Twisted Forest for witches, with one sole purpose: to conceal magical essence.

Second-year students were still inexperienced in hiding their presence, so the Nini Fruit seeds were essential to avoid detection during their holiday.

“Roast it at high temperatures, extract the fruit after cracking it open, grind it into powder, then boil and consume,” Gaia emphasized the preparation method, “Make sure to boil it before drinking, don't skip steps, or the effectiveness will be greatly reduced.”

She watched each student enter the potion lab, ensuring they all followed the instructions before finally allowing them to leave.

As soon as they left, the second-year students dashed into the hallway.

The noise of cheering, table banging, causing mischief among higher and lower year students, and the sound of those silenced by instructors thumping their heads on the table, created a lively cacophony.

Yet, it was full of vitality.

But there were also disheartening matters.

“Why isn’t there a first-place reward this year?” Faye grumbled, overheard by a passing classmate.

"Oh my goodness, everyone, come and look at Roe!" the girl exclaimed loudly. "Miss First Place expects rewards every year! She not only crushes us in grades but also stirs our envy! Let's all come together and condemn her!"

Pretending to be outraged, the girls swarmed Faye in a playful frenzy, each taking turns to tickle her.

Joyful laughter filled the entire castle.

And then, the holidays officially began, leaving the second year's quarters suddenly empty.

Hilary packed her last bit of luggage leisurely, "Faye, are you sure you don't want to come home with me? Our garden has new plants this year, cultivated from exotic seeds and advanced potions. They're incredibly beautiful. Don't you want to see them?"

"Sorry, Hilary," Faye politely declined the generous invitation, as she had a lot to do during the holidays.

"I need to visit the Mercenary Association to meet the president and gather information about the Black Moon. A trip to Central City is also necessary to sneak into the Royal Academy and find a way to break the Divine Punishment. Additionally, I must collect faith to accelerate the strengthening of my body."

"If the heart of the Divine Master can be properly utilized, it would be a significant aid."

"Ah, what a pity," sighed Hill, visibly disheartened. "There was supposed to be a summer festival among the nobility in Central City this year. I had planned to go with you; it's so boring being alone in the palace..."

Before Hill could finish, Fei rushed over and grabbed her hand.

"Dear Hill, what places in the palace do you usually visit during the festivities?"

Counting on her fingers, Hill replied, "Several places, as nobles are keen on having children. During the festival, those kids run around everywhere. The Royal Garden, the Library, the Hunting Lodge, the Armory, the Pet House, and the Royal Academy, not too far from the off-palace..."

After listing them, Hill looked up to see her roommate already packed and standing at the door.

"What are we waiting for?" urged Fei. "Is Wyatt always this slow in packing? Let's get going!"

Hill: "…"

Although there were many tasks this holiday, Fei felt an unusual lack of urgency.

"With Clinfold gone and Jenny too, the world line correction is nearing 70%. The Black Moon is crippled for now, so I can afford to slow down for a while and catch up on the sleepless nights."

Learning that the noble's summer festival was five days away, Fei warmly invited Hill to visit Ninihui Town.

Previously, Fei had asked Hill to feed the empty nest old demon, who left in less than a day. Yet, Hill, unaware of this, diligently visited Ninihui Town for several days.

She had briefly met little Vinnas but hadn't interacted deeply.

This time, Fei planned to formally introduce them and, by the way, check on others.

Upon reaching the potion shop, Fei simply said, "Both of you are very important to me," and they instantly broke the ice, joyfully joining each other.

Fei couldn't help but smile and was about to leave for the academy when she turned and saw Marian standing at the door.

The goddess-like girl, dressed in a black prayer robe, had intense emotions in her eyes, like indissoluble ink.

"Lord Fei..." she whispered softly, "I heard you returned, and Marian left her precious followers in a hurry to be by your side. But now, am I... no longer important to you?"

Fei: "…No, of course not! Marian's place cannot be replaced by anyone! Anyone!!"

Outside, the evening sun's afterglow spilled onto the earth, adorning the world in splendid colors.

Fei sat in her chair, gazing at the three happy figures before her, letting out a deep sigh.

"Every day in this other world must not be taken lightly."