Chapter 31: A Delicate Negotiation

“Absolutely not. I can’t do it. I just don’t have what it takes.”

I refused outright. I wanted no part in something like that.

Not even 1,000 credit points could sway me.

Besides, if I took that position, how could I maintain my relationship with Kereiya? It would also announce to the entire class that I had the homeroom teacher’s approval, rendering all my previous plans useless.

“I think you do,” Qieluo said, her tone firm.

“But… I can’t. The pressure would be too much, and… and…”

“It’s only pressure. Can’t you just overcome it?”

“So… does this mean I don’t get the meditation technique?” I asked, testing the waters.

“You really don’t want it? It comes with 1,000 credit points, you know. How about I make you the class president instead?”

“Teacher, you must be joking. I think the current situation suits me best,” I said, forcing myself to sound brave. “Otherwise, I can’t be sure if I can maintain this level of talent in the future…”

“Are you joking with your own talent? Do you realize that?” Qieluo’s expression turned serious. She had naturally understood the underlying threat, and it was clear he truly wanted to avoid any official role.

She recalled the previous day when this boy had remained perfectly still in his corner, so quiet he’d almost ended up in her notebook for uncooperative students.

If not for his resonance with the Witch’s Heart, she truly wouldn’t have paid him much mind.

“I know, but I promise I will do everything I can to improve my strength in the future, as long as…” I lowered my head, making my pledge.

This kind of silent threat was a last resort. Not only was it ineffective, but it would also leave a bad impression on the teacher. But given the circumstances, I had no other choice.

“As long as things stay as they are?” Qieluo could feel her anger rising. Why was it that all the talented students seemed to be problem children? “You have no desire to change? You’ll stay like this forever? You’re destined to become an extraordinary witch, and you’ll still be like this?”

“Yes,” I answered, nodding with conviction.

“You’ll still be like this?” Qieluo shot to her feet and stalked over to me. The significant height difference, coupled with the intimidating pressure of her looking down on me, reached its peak in that moment. “It seems I’ve been too lenient with my students. A problem child like you needs to be properly punished!”

I kept my head down. My body was coiled with tension, but my mind was as steady as a rock.

‘Is that all?’ I thought. ‘Punishment? As long as she doesn’t kill me, I can handle anything. Am I supposed to be scared?’

My innate talent was my greatest source of confidence, and it practically guaranteed she wouldn’t do anything drastic.

Even if she got serious, I could just apologize and admit my mistake. And if that didn’t work, weren’t there teachers from other classes eager to win me over?

Of course, that was a backup plan, the worst-case scenario that would burn all bridges.

But I doubted Teacher Qieluo would go that far.

My eyes were fixed on the tips of my shoes as I awaited Teacher Qieluo’s punishment, but nothing happened.

“You’re just going to stand there and wait for my punishment? You’d rather be punished than say anything else?”

“Huh?” I looked up. My tone was one of surprise, but inwardly I thought, ‘That’s it? She really is soft-hearted.’

“Don’t ‘huh’ me. What is there to ‘huh’ about? You’re going to drive me crazy.” Qieluo turned and returned to her seat. The two teachers behind her hid their smiles.

“Teacher, I’m sorry. I was wrong,” I apologized immediately.

“Since you know you were wrong, will you change?”

“…” I remained silent. My stance was obvious. My apology was a gesture of humility; it wasn’t my fault she took it literally.

“Sigh… It seems we need to have a proper talk.” Teacher Qieluo beckoned me over. “There’s still some time before class. Let’s chat.”

“Okay.” I approached obediently and sat down carefully. A chat meant there was room for negotiation. My greatest fear was that this homeroom teacher would be stubborn, which would have made things very difficult for me.

****

The conversation lasted a long time.

The outcome was no longer important.

What mattered was that I had more or less achieved my goal. The process differed from my plan, but the result was similar.

I held a few sheets of paper in my hand—a handwritten manuscript. The official textbooks wouldn’t be distributed for another six days. This manuscript was a rough draft, much thinner than the textbook, with no case studies or cautionary notes. It contained only the pure methods for enhancing and refining spiritual power during a state of meditation.

This was the basic meditation technique, a version usable until one condensed 100 strands of spiritual power.

It would be sufficient for a long time.

Teacher Qieluo had agreed not to force any position on me. However, since I was unwilling to be the class’s spiritual leader, I would not receive any special favor from the homeroom teacher. This meant she would not interfere in conflicts between students.

For instance, if Long Shi were to collect protection fees, the homeroom teachers of other classes wouldn’t intervene. But if he targeted their class president, especially by ganging up on them, the teacher might step in to defend their student.

Of course, if a class president actually ended up in that situation, they would likely be replaced after the teacher intervened.

So, in principle, homeroom teachers still didn’t meddle in student relationships.

That was precisely why I gave up this benefit without a second thought. I preferred to lie low and develop on my own rather than wait for the teacher to save me.

Naturally, my long talk with Teacher Qieluo covered more than just that.

After six days, students who had not resonated with a Witch’s Heart would be forced to withdraw from the school. This was only the beginning.

It also marked the official start of the true teaching phase of the semester.

At the start of this phase, there would be an inter-class competition.

This contest would determine the initial resource allocation for each class.

These resources included teaching materials, quotas for extraordinary materials, and… magical power.

That’s right, magical power was a resource, and a major one at that.

Teacher Qieluo also educated me on the function of the Witch’s Heart after resonance.

Once resonance occurred, the Witch’s Heart would unleash all its internal magic in a single feedback surge.

This surge was one of the reasons I had become the way I am now—it triggered witchification.

After receiving this feedback, individuals of different races would gradually have their very essence shift closer to that of the witch race. Boys would first transform into girls, then evolve into witches.

Regardless of race, gender, or any other classification, everyone would eventually take on the appearance of a witch. Some original racial traits might be preserved, and those with extraordinary racial bloodlines would see them integrated into the witch race, becoming a branch of the witch bloodline.

The Witch’s Heart could absorb magical power and, under specific conditions, release it in another feedback surge to advance the witchification process.

Therefore, magical power was a crucial resource—the very foundation for a witch-in-training to become a full-fledged witch.

The reason Teacher Qieluo agreed to my terms was that she now required me to secure more resources for our class!

I had to obtain more resources through inter-class confrontations and competitions.

Since class resources involved allocation, I couldn’t just stand by and watch our class fall behind. That would drag me down too!

So, no matter how much I wanted to slack off, I would have to contribute.

If the class performed poorly, I would suffer as well. And changing classes was not an option unless this one became truly unbearable.

I didn’t know if a resource like magical power could be bought, but I imagined something so precious wouldn’t be something people would trade for credit points.

Even if it were for sale, the price would be exorbitant—far beyond what I could afford.