Chapter 166 : Chapter 166

Chapter 166: Complicated Classmate Relationships

“So this is what you call a celebration?”

I looked at the dishes on the table.

To say they were a bit plain would be an understatement, this was simply in short, I didn't quite know what to say.

“Um limited funds, limited funds!”

Anni said, a little embarrassed.

“What funds do you need? Don't we contestants have a reimbursement quota? You’re not even using it?”

I looked at these few dishes and felt like I was losing my appetite.

“Huh? What reimbursement quota?”

“You don't know? Contestants can have their expenses reimbursed during the newcomer competition period by presenting their identity! Didn’t Teacher Lina say this before?”

I face-palmed and explained helplessly.

“Huh? Really!”

Anni's eyes widened at this moment, seemingly in disbelief, but she still confirmed with me again, “Can it really be reimbursed?”

“Why would I lie to you about this? Hurry up and order some better dishes.”

I picked up the chopsticks on the side and poked at the vegetables in front of me.

I was really curious, didn't this Anni know that inviting someone to a meal like this can really hurt feelings?

After all, she had just been pleading for so long.

This made me worry about this girl’s current financial situation.

If her financial situation wasn't good, then why did she insist on treating me to a meal?

Was it just to get on good terms with me, and then make the students in her class behave a little better?

“Anni, let me ask, is your financial situation not too optimistic?”

“Huh? Um… you could tell… sorry, it seems a bit too obvious…”

“Don't your family send you money?”

“I don't have a family.”

“Er… then… what about close friends?”

I was choked by Anni’s words, then awkwardly asked another question.

“I don't have friends either. Before entering Witch Academy, friends were a bit too much of a luxury for me…”

“I’m sorry, I said something so mood-killing in this situation. Since this meal is reimbursed, let's have a good one! Waiter! More food!”

Following Anni’s call for more food, she seemed to have momentarily cast away those worries at this moment.

After all, getting things for free can indeed make one happy.

After the sumptuous dishes were served, Anni finally showed the kind of joy and satisfaction she hadn't revealed before, as if she had finally tasted the treatment that the identity of Class President should have.

During our conversation, I also roughly learned some of her basic information.

After all, chatting while eating is a very normal thing.

Rather than calling it a chat, it was more like I was her unilateral confidant, a friend to whom she could pour out her heart.

Although it hadn't been long since the start of school, Anni had clearly suffered quite a few blows.

She had originally entered Witch Academy full of joy, thinking that with all girls, the atmosphere would be very harmonious, but now it has become more like a place of scheming and intrigue, full of calculations and threats.

“Big Sis Xiao Han, what do you think I should do? I didn't want this either, but now it's like I have no way back. I never wanted to be some Class President, but because of a moment of greed, I embarked on a road of no return. I can't imagine what kind of existence I will be in the class in the future if I lose the identity of Class President and the resource allocation? I just want a normal academy life…”

“It's okay, everything will pass.”

I could only keep comforting her with meaningless words.

After all, a single misstep can lead to a cascade of errors, and it's ultimately impossible to sort out the cause and effect.

“I feel like every day is like walking on a single-plank bridge. My counselor is in charge of several classes, she can't manage everything at all, but she also always emphasizes some kind of collective consciousness. I just can't do it…”

“It’s okay, it’s okay…”

I also sighed along with her.

Anni was talking non-stop as if she had been drinking, but what we were drinking was clearly just a non-alcoholic beverage.

“Things will get better. If you feel something is wrong, then boldly question it. The so-called collective consciousness doesn't necessarily have to be obeyed. When a person's power is enough to override the collective, the collective becomes the shackles of the strong. The problem still depends on how you deal with it. When you are strong enough, so strong that the entire collective has only your voice, isn't that also a form of collective consciousness?”

“This what kind of crooked logic is this!”

“Crooked logic? So what if it’s crooked logic? Why are you so sad now? Isn't it because of other people’s crooked logic? You are the Class President born from the will of the class, the final result of numerous lotteries. Your claim is legitimate, shouldn't you just go on stage and announce: Having received the Mandate of Heaven, may my reign be long and prosperous?”

“What 'long and prosperous reign'? What era is that meme from!”

Anni was amused by what I said.

“That's just how it is. The kind get bullied. Since they chose to isolate you, if you don't prepare to isolate all of them with your own strength, how can you be worthy of their isolation?”

“Heretical paths and prejudice most easily lead people to get bogged down in trivialities. While they are still focusing on the identity of Class President, you should set your sights on a much longer-term future. Don't forget, this is a world of the transcendent. Although strength isn't everything, it can solve the vast majority of problems.”

“That's right, you're right! I need to become stronger! Big Sis Xiao Han, teach me the secret to becoming stronger! Big Sis Xiao Han, you are so amazing, you must have your own methods, right!”

Anni directly put down her chopsticks and grabbed my hand with one grasp.

“Hey? Anni, don't be like this! Girls shouldn't be so handsy with each other, hey!”

I quickly pulled my hand away and said.

“Sorry, I got a little too excited. Anyway, thank you, Big Sis Xiao Han, for having lunch with me, and for telling me about the reimbursement function!”

“I’m very happy today, I’m going to prepare for the afternoon’s match.”

“Mhm, take your time preparing. I hear the rewards for the top-ranking students this time are also very generous. You have to do your best.”

“I will!”

I nodded lightly.

How could a person full of hope give up so easily?

But I couldn't do anything about it either, I could only pray that she wouldn't run into me or Tan Han in the afternoon.

After putting down my chopsticks, I also prepared to leave.

But just as I was about to say my final goodbye to Anni at the entrance, Anni was stopped by someone at the door.

She must have run into an acquaintance.

“Yo? How does our Class President have the leisure to eat here? I remember that contestants are provided with box lunches, aren't they?”

“Where I eat is none of your business, is it?”

Anni looked at the person in front of her, her tone simmering with anger.

Just as the situation between these two became tense, I came over a step later.

“Anni, what's wrong? Who is this person?”

I could see that Anni and this tall girl did not get along, so I naturally came to Anni's side to back her up.

The other party only has single-digit Magic Power Sources in her body and one spellbook.

She's most likely a newcomer, but it seems she isn't a Class President.

To be able to get a Magic Power Source and a spellbook without being a Class President, she must be quite capable.

“Little Han… sorry, this is our class's business, I've dragged you into it,” Anni said very apologetically.

“It's fine, but since you said this is your class's business, then she is your classmate?”

I looked at the girl in front of me.

There was a trace of arrogance in her eyes.

After meeting my gaze, she was stunned for a moment, then as if she had reacted, her expression changed.

“You! You’re that Explosive Witch!”

“Don't call me the Explosive Witch, I have a name.”

I was actually quite embarrassed to be called by this title.

After all, there seem to be many witches called Explosive Witch, calling me that really lacks my own uniqueness, and I'm not someone who specializes in explosion spells.

But forgetting about this person, I was still more concerned about the figure behind her, who looked somewhat familiar.

I deliberately turned my head to the side, wanting to see more clearly.

“That… is… Yang Yuehan? Um… this is a misunderstanding…”

At this moment, the other party's attitude seemed to have changed quite a bit.

It seems she's an adaptable person who knows who she can provoke and who she can't.

If Anni's class is full of people like this, I don't mind Anni using my name to win over some people to stand with her.

Forming factions and cliques, who can't do that?

It's just that Anni's current clique is just Anni herself.

“Um, my name is Feng Chengyin, Miss Yang Yuehan, are you looking at my sister? This is my sister, Feng Yuzhen. She's too introverted, sorry, a little shy with strangers.”

Seeing my gaze glancing behind her, Feng Chengyin immediately turned around and pushed the person hiding behind her out.

“Feng Yuzhen, huh…”

I raised an eyebrow slightly.

At this moment, she was lowering her head and didn't even dare to look me in the eye.

She was indeed that kind of introverted girl, but her older sister was like her polar opposite.

I naturally knew Feng Yuzhen, she was even a student in my Class 14.

When I arrived at the classroom that day, I thought I was the first to arrive, but it turned out she had arrived earlier, the one who was sitting quietly in the back, too afraid to speak.

“Feng Yuzhen, I didn't expect to meet you here,” I said softly with a smile.

“Yuzhen, speak up… um, Miss Yang Yuehan, you know my sister?”

At this time, Feng Chengyin was a little surprised, and even Anni on the side was stunned, not knowing what was going on.

“Feng Yuzhen is also a student of Class 14, and she is my classmate as well.”

I briefly introduced.

Logically speaking, doesn't her older sister know that her younger sister is in Class 14?

I'm also in Class 14, one would think she could make the connection, right?

However, Feng Yuzhen seemed to become even more restrained after I mentioned her relationship with me.

“What? Yuzhen, you didn't even tell me about something like this!”

“Isn't the problem with you? This should be your failure as an older sister, right?”

I interrupted Feng Chengyin's questioning of Feng Yuzhen.

As expected, extroversion naturally has a suppressive effect on introversion.

“Feng Yuzhen if you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can contact me. As the Class President, I will help you.”

In the end, I sighed and said to Feng Yuzhen, mainly to give Feng Yuzhen some means to make her older sister a little wary.

Having such an older sister must be a trouble for her, right?

Although I am also very clear that for introverted people, they probably wouldn't deliberately use contacting others as a way to solve their own difficulties.

They would suffer in silence by themselves.

But I said this for Feng Chengyin to hear.

As for whether she understood anyway, I won't give her too much of a good face.

But now, the relationship between the four of us has become complicated, but Feng Chengyin might become the final clown.

The Class President she is targeting is my friend, her introverted younger sister is my classmate, and I am someone she can't afford to provoke at this stage.

Hmm from her perspective, it is indeed desperate.

“Then, we'll meet again if fate allows.”

After saying goodbye to Feng Yuzhen, I also came to her side, “Anni, let's go too, we have matches in the afternoon.”

“Ah? Mhm.”

Anni quickly reacted, gave Feng Chengyin a victorious smile, and then left with me.

And at this moment, the embarrassed Feng Chengyin was also simmering with anger, but she didn't dare to vent it right here.

She had originally just wanted to take her younger sister to wander around the academy more, to experience the lively atmosphere and change her introverted personality.

She didn't expect to encounter such a thing.

“Damn it, that Anni is actually friends with her? If I were the Class President, I could have gotten on good terms with her too…”

She finally spoke unwillingly, but she quickly realized she was still with her sister, “Yuzhen, why didn't you tell me, your older sister, something as important as you being classmates with Yang Yuehan?”

“I did say I was in Class 14…”

Feng Yuzhen was silent for a short while before speaking in a low voice.

“Right… missed the opportunity… tsk, whatever, let's eat first. In the afternoon, we'll go to the arena. I'll take you to experience a crowded place. Yuzhen, you really need to change this introverted personality of yours.”

“Can we not go?”

Feng Yuzhen refuted in a low voice.

“But your sister has already spent money to buy the admission tickets. Although they are second-hand transfers, just think of it as cheering for your Class President. You also have to work hard to build a good relationship with your Class President.”

“I… will try my best…”

Feng Yuzhen sat in her seat with her head down, but only she knew how impossible this was.

At this moment, after accompanying Anni out of the restaurant, I accompanied her all the way to the spectator area inside the arena.

A little while of the noon time had already passed.

The morning’s competition had also ended.

The morning's competition had divided the two hundred people into a winner's group and a loser's group, and the top one hundred newcomer contestants had also emerged.

The one hundred people in the loser's group would also continue to compete in the afternoon, divided into two brackets, and then they could go back with their rewards.

Because the ranking rewards for these two brackets are different, but the rewards within the same bracket are the same, no further detailed distinctions are made.

The focus is still on the ranking of the top one hundred.

The higher the ranking, the more detailed and clear the rewards.

Of course, in order to prevent the accident of the first match of the newcomer competition from happening again, the original random pairings have now become behind-the-scenes manipulation.

Of course, the matter of behind-the-scenes manipulation certainly cannot be publicized like this, but as the competition progresses, discerning people can still see some clues.

That is, the stronger students always don't run into each other, so the morning matches often saw situations of overwhelming power disparities.

The weaker students are naturally eliminated quickly.

And the afternoon competition also quickly kicked off.

First, the specific match arrangements were announced, followed by batches of matches.

The afternoon's competition was even easier for me, probably on the same level as Chen Yu in the morning.

After a few symbolic exchanges and casting a few spells, I didn't even have time to gain anything from the match before the other party conceded.

The opponent's goal was very clear, conceding at light speed after casting a few spells.

This couldn't even be considered a qualified competition.

So, this person seemed to have become the first one to walk off the stage bouncing and hopping after a match with me.

Even in the massive battle royale, none of the contestants who faced me were this relaxed.

They were lucky not to be injured thanks to the referee's quick eyes and hands.

“Big Sis Xiao Han Huh? Big Sis Xiao Han, are you leaving early?”

At this moment, Anni came bouncing over to me happily.

It was clear that she was in a very good mood.

“Mhm, but congratulations on your victory in the afternoon match. Didn't I tell you you were celebrating too early at noon?”

“Hehe I didn't expect it either, to win just like that, it feels a bit unreal. Um, Big Sis Xiao Han, you're not staying to watch more?”

“That's right, I have other things to do, so I won't delay here,” I nodded and said.

Instead of wasting time here memorizing the basic knowledge of these runes, it's better to go back to the laboratory to find Teacher Ji Niang.

By the way, I'll have Teacher Ji Niang help me integrate all the Magic Power Sources into my body, otherwise, I'm too tempted just looking at so many of them.

And the more Magic Power Sources, the faster the Witchification process, right?

I actually feel that my body really needs Witchification.

Although it hasn't been long since I obtained so many Magic Power Sources, I can also feel that the changes in these few short days are even greater than from enrollment to the start of school!

So great that in a while, I will need to switch to a larger size.

It's hard to imagine how big the changes brought by more than seven hundred Magic Power Sources will be then?

Of course, Witchification is just a side effect.

My main purpose is still to understand Earth Vein Crystal, a temporary name I gave it.

I really don't know how to use that thing, it's better to use it under Teacher Ji Niang's supervision.

“Alright… then goodbye see you tomorrow!”

“Mhm, we'll talk tomorrow.”