Chapter 297: A Burden? You Are My Spiritual Pillar...

“Gone…?”

I watched as the Academy Head’s clone disappeared, feeling a bit stunned.

After asking all those questions, I chatted with the Academy Head about some other things to enrich my understanding.

I understood that I had no choice but to get involved in this muddy water.

Big Sis Bai’s expectations might be dashed once again.

I was naturally willing to do whatever the Academy Head asked of me.

After all, you can’t take someone’s things for free.

The Academy Head had already noticed me when I showed some abnormalities.

My journey here had been so “smooth sailing” largely because the Academy Head had been pushing me from behind.

This included, but was not limited to, the Unity of Knowledge and Action spellbook, as well as other benefits I wasn’t even aware of.

So, the only problem now was Big Sis Bai.

Big Sis Bai and I had both signed a secrecy contract.

Big Sis Bai knew this, but she definitely didn’t know as much as I did.

This required an excuse to convince Big Sis Bai, or… no excuse was needed.

After all, Big Sis Bai had just called me not long ago.

Now, to act contrary to her wishes was uncharacteristic.

This wasn’t something I could do by insisting on my own way.

Just like in the Fool’s Village secret realm, I thought everything would be fine once Big Sis Bai was safely out, but when I saw her worrying about me, I realized I had been thinking too much.

“Sigh… I’m overthinking again.”

I slapped myself on the forehead.

I realized I seemed to be getting stuck in a rut again.

This kind of thing should naturally be confessed directly to Big Sis Bai.

What was there that couldn’t be said to Big Sis Bai?

Perhaps there was, like the matter of the grand spellbook.

It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Big Sis Bai, but even just knowing about such a thing could bring about unimaginable disaster.

So I called Big Sis Bai again.

I was prepared to tell her some things.

At least… if I explained it clearly, Big Sis Bai should understand whether what I was doing was meaningful or not.

And the meeting place… was at the Witch Cat Cafe.

This was a place I was very familiar with.

I had even met the "boss" behind it, and we might even cooperate in the future, so I naturally felt a sense of closeness to this place.

Just like last time, but this time I went to a themed cat room, which was a private room.

After all, what Big Sis Bai and I would be discussing couldn't be heard by outsiders.

“Little Dark Cloud, What a coincidence, seeing you again.”

Walking into the Witch Cat Cafe, I ran into the pure black kitten I had met before.

I went forward and picked it up, ignoring its meows and carrying it into the themed cat room.

Then I ordered a dessert coffee and a cat food set for Little Dark Cloud.

The rest of the time, I quietly waited for Big Sis Bai to arrive.

Not long after, before Little Dark Cloud had even taken a few bites of its cat treats, Big Sis Bai arrived.

“Big Sis Bai, you’re here.”

I quickly put down the cat treats and Little Dark Cloud.

I didn’t expect Big Sis Bai to come so quickly.

“Little Han, you contacted me so urgently and even arranged to meet at the cat cafe. Is something wrong?”

“Yes, there are some things I want to talk to you about, Big Sis Bai,” I said with a nod.

“Is it related to this sleeping curse?”

Big Sis Bai asked tentatively.

The outside world didn't know what the culprit behind this abnormal sleep was, so the most direct name circulating on the academy network was the sleeping curse.

“It is somewhat related, but it’s a bit different from what you’re thinking, Big Sis Bai.”

I pushed the drink I had ordered in front of Big Sis Bai, not knowing how to start.

If I just came out and said it without any preamble, Big Sis Bai would definitely not agree, right?

“It really is related to this, isn’t it? The death at the Holy Angel Academy has already spread on the academy network. The situation is not good, Little Han. You called me here… you’re not going to tell me you want to get involved in this, are you?”

At this moment, Bai Yu naturally had some of her own speculations.

What she feared most was the person she cared about doing something foolish.

“Big Sis Bai, I know the cause of this matter. Let’s put aside this serious matter for a moment and listen to me talk about something else, okay?”

I said softly.

“Mm, okay.”

Bai Yu nodded.

She was willing to listen to Little Han’s explanation.

She knew she probably couldn’t stop Little Han from doing what she wanted, but at least she wanted to know why.

“Then I’ll start.”

I nodded, and then with a snap of my fingers, a soundproof spell barrier appeared.

This soundproof spell was just a lesser spellbook, and it was physical soundproofing, but it was enough for now.

There were also powerful spellbooks for soundproofing with high consumption, but I didn’t need to use such a high level of soundproofing.

“Big Sis Bai, do you still remember our encounter in the Fool’s Village secret realm?”

I thought for a moment and decided to start sorting things out from the Fool’s Dream Village.

If I removed the content about the grand spellbook, it would still make sense.

“In the Fool’s Village secret realm? Are you referring to the collapse of the secret realm or some other encounter?”

“I’m referring to the Nightmares I encountered, the Nightmares that were part of the Fool’s Dream.”

“The Nightmares that were part of the Fool’s Dream… Nightmares? Wait, are you saying that this incident was actually caused by Nightmares?”

Bai Yu was naturally very smart.

After being reminded and using her own association, she quickly came up with the answer.

“You’re very close. This incident was indeed caused by Nightmares. Nightmares are part of the Fool’s Dream. The Fool’s Village secret realm collapsed, and the Fool’s Dream had nowhere to go, and the same goes for the sealed Nightmares. Of course, the Academy Head also had a hand in this.”

“The Academy Head is also involved in this? Wait… Little Han, how do you know so much?”

At this moment, Bai Yu frowned deeply.

She didn’t expect this matter to be related to the Academy Head.

The Academy Head had even come out to appease everyone earlier… then the water in this matter was even deeper.

“The Academy Head told me. Have you forgotten that the Academy Head entrusted the Fool’s Dream to me? You can understand it as the Fool’s Village secret realm being a setup by the Academy Head, and our arrival, my discoveries, and other actions helped the Academy Head a great deal. I can’t say any more than that.”

“I understand. Don’t force yourself if you can’t say it. Big Sis Bai, I’m not the kind of person who wants to know everything.”

“Thank you for your understanding, Big Sis Bai. In short, after the destruction of the Fool’s Village secret realm, the Academy Head also accomplished what she wanted to do, and I also came into the Academy Head’s line of sight. Big Sis Bai, you know my specialty, right? Spirit Vision…”

“Mm, so you were valued by the Academy Head because of this?”

At this point, a trace of worry appeared in Bai Yu's eyes.

Being valued by an existence like the Academy Head was not entirely a good thing.

It also represented greater danger.

Even a small fluctuation at the Academy Head's level could bring eternal damnation to the small figures around her.

This was not an exaggeration.

What the Academy Head valued also needed to show corresponding value, which was not something Little Han could bear at present.

At least… Bai Yu thought so.

“Something like that… Big Sis Bai, cheer up. Isn’t this a good thing? Why does Big Sis Bai always hope to live a comfortable life like an ordinary person?”

“This… I…”

At this moment, Bai Yu didn’t know how to explain.

Should she directly say that this was her project?

The project of the ordinary… it always made her subconsciously adopt such a perspective.

The ordinary pursued comfort… this was a subconscious behavior.

“It’s fine. Big Sis Bai, you have your own persistence, but I also have my own persistence so we need to find a point of balance in our differences.”

I shook my head and broke the awkwardness.

Did Big Sis Bai also have something she was unwilling to say?

Just like how Big Sis Bai had said herself, she wouldn’t pursue the matter to the end.

“Actually, Big Sis Bai, the Nightmare won’t kill people, but there is still a certain danger. After all, we’ve all seen that kind of monster.”

“Mm.”

Bai Yu also nodded, recalling the time when she was pulled into the dream state by that monster.

Although it was thrilling, it didn’t cause us any substantial harm.

“Little Han, then are you trying to say that the death was actually fake?”

“No, it was real, but it wasn’t caused by the Nightmare.”

I shook my head and said.

“Not the Nightmare? Then why did you mention the Nightmare, Little Han?”

“The sleep was caused by the Nightmare, but the death was not. These are two different things,” I corrected.

“This matter is like… %&#mm…”

Just as I was about to continue, my mouth suddenly became disobedient and I couldn’t articulate clearly.

In the end, I couldn’t even make a sound.

I understood that the meaning I wanted to express had already touched upon the hints of the script’s meaning.

For an ordinary person, they naturally wouldn’t be able to obtain any useful information from this, but Big Sis Bai had also signed a secrecy contract, so the coercive binding force of the contract could no longer stop the hints I wanted to express.

“Little Han, what’s wrong with you? Little Han… you are…”

Seeing my abnormality, Bai Yu subconsciously became flustered and wanted to see what was wrong with me, but under the signal of my body language, I also calmed Big Sis Bai down.

And Big Sis Bai also gradually understood what this meant.

This was being silenced, and such an abrupt silencing, Bai Yu quickly thought of what it was.

We had an unspoken understanding and completed a silent communication.

After a while, feeling the power of the contract dissipate, I took a deep breath again.

“Phew alright that’s what it is. The things we’ve experienced, um… I don’t know how to describe it. We can’t speak of such things. I know more than you do, Big Sis Bai… Didn’t you also hope at the beginning that I wouldn’t get involved in this vortex?”

“Mm… I understand… but… you shouldn’t get involved in this matter even more. You told me so much, isn’t it because you want to reject what I hope you will do?”

“That’s right… so Big Sis Bai… you still don’t quite understand. The efforts of us little people have always been just about surviving in the cracks. The so-called efforts look like teasing ants from a higher perspective.”

“I understand this sense of powerlessness, so I know you shouldn’t go against this kind of thing even more. There’s no benefit.”

“I’ve never gone against it, at least not after I thought it through… also, I’m not just getting involved, but fighting for… a once-and-for-all… opportunity to get out of the quagmire.”

I looked at Big Sis Bai seriously.

If I succeeded in severing the Earth Vein Chains with the help of the Academy Head this time, it would be equivalent to escaping the script.

And it wouldn’t be long before Big Sis Bai became a transcendent witch, and she could also sever the Earth Vein Chains.

At that time, both Big Sis Bai and I would have tickets to leave this world.

It would be almost like getting into the same university after the college entrance exam.

The sky would be the limit for us to fly…

Although thinking like this was a bit too ambitious, at least there was something to look forward to, right?

“Once and for all? How is it possible… how can there be a once-and-for-all method?”

Big Sis Bai also shook her head and said at this moment.

“Why is it impossible? Big Sis Bai, are you about to become a transcendent witch?”

“This… actually, I’m not sure either.”

Bai Yu subconsciously looked at her palm, then clenched it into a fist.

“I seem to be missing the most crucial step… but I don’t know what it is. My mentor said it’s because I haven’t figured it out myself. Once I figure it out, and break through that layer of paper…”

“So that means it’s just a fine line away, right? When you become a transcendent witch, Big Sis Bai, have you thought about where to go? Outside the world?”

I continued to ask.

“I… to be honest, I haven’t thought about it. Outside the world, that’s a picture I’ve never seen. I heard that outside the world is the void, and the void is infinitely vast, also called the endless void… but I don’t think there will be a place for me in such a vast place…”

“But the world we are in is not beautiful either, is it?”

“But this is the world that gave birth to us and raised us…”

“Is that what you think, Big Sis Bai?”

But I wasn't.

The malice this world had towards me was beyond anyone’s imagination.

First, there was the innate Spirit Vision, which almost drove me crazy.

Then there was a terrible family, and now I was trapped in the script… If it weren’t for meeting Big Sis Bai on the front line… I didn’t know how long I would have had to persevere alone in such a situation.

I was like an outsider.

To my family, I was an outsider.

To this world, I was also the same, so out of place.

Big Sis Bai having such thoughts might also be related to the so-called Earth Vein Chains, relying on this world and having a strong sense of belonging to this world.

“Mm… Little Han, what about you?”

“Me? I want to see what the world outside is like. Whether it’s a sea of stars, or a forest of myriad races, or a dark forest… the unknown and curiosity are what drive me to pursue those things I don’t know.”

“Is that so?”

Bai Yu lowered her head with a bitter smile, but after thinking about it carefully, she probably came to the same conclusion.

Perhaps this was forced by the family environment Little Han had always been in?

Yearning for the outside world, having no sense of belonging to her original family, and thus the same towards the whole world.

“What’s wrong, Big Sis Bai?”

“Oh, nothing, nothing.”

“It’s good that it’s nothing. Then Big Sis Bai, are you willing to… go with me… to see what the void looks like in the future?”

“See it… together, yes! Alright, since you want to see it, Little Han, then I will definitely accompany you.”

At this moment, Bai Yu nodded heavily, as if she had made up her mind.

“Well don’t say it like you’re unwilling and were forced to change your mind because of me. I want you to be genuinely willing, Big Sis Bai, okay?”

“Yes, I am genuinely willing.”

“Then it’s a promise… forget it, let’s not jinx it. Anyway, since you understand my thoughts, Big Sis Bai, let’s get back to the main topic… Have you heard of the Earth Vein Chains, Big Sis Bai?”

“Earth Vein Chains?”

“It seems you don’t know.”

I looked at Big Sis Bai’s expression and nodded.

“The Earth Vein Chains are what keep us trapped in this world, and also what we must sever before we can leave this world. Big Sis Bai, after you advance to a transcendent witch, you will be able to sever your own Earth Vein Chains, but I can’t…”

Speaking of which… I also realized, since reaching the level of a transcendent witch could sever the Earth Vein Chains… then wouldn’t any transcendent witch be able to help me, and I wouldn’t have to owe the Academy Head a favor?

But things probably weren’t that simple.

I still remembered that when the concept of the Earth Vein Chains was mentioned, Teacher Ji Niang, who had accompanied me to see the Academy Head, had been momentarily surprised.

Either there were other secrets to severing the Earth Vein Chains, or the Earth Vein Chains could only be severed by oneself, and the difficulty of using external force was even more… difficult?

Perhaps I could ask Teacher Ji Niang.

“Severing the Earth Vein Chains?”

At this moment, Bai Yu also repeated my words.

“Mm, severing the Earth Vein Chains not only allows you to leave this world, but also severs your connection with this world. This is what I need to do, because once the Earth Vein Chains are severed, it also means I will no longer be bound by %*&… mm…”

“This… I… I understand…”

Seeing me being silenced again, how could Bai Yu not understand at this moment?

“But this is still too dangerous… I think…”

At this point, Bai Yu suddenly paused, as if reflecting on herself, closed her eyes in thought, then opened them again and looked at me seriously, staring into my eyes and said, “If, I mean if, I accompany you… I go with you… will I be a burden to you?”

At this moment, hearing Big Sis Bai’s words, I smiled with relief.

I tried to speak, and the silence disappeared at this moment.

“How could you be? Big Sis Bai will never be my burden.”

You are my spiritual pillar…