Chapter 24: A Strategic Chat and an Unexpected Revelation

Regardless of what kind of person the class monitor was, I found our current interaction quite pleasant. I wished everyone could be like this.

But that was an impossible dream.

[Ren: “Yes, I’m not very good at communicating with others.”]

I sent a simple reply.

[Air: “If you’re not good at communicating with others, can you accept this kind of situation?”]

I gazed at the message she’d sent. This was clearly a test, probing whether I could accept this method of interaction.

If I could, she would likely continue chatting with me this way, gradually extracting everything I knew.

‘She was probably quite curious about my current situation as well, wasn’t she?’

[Ren: “Yes, I can. If it’s not a face-to-face conversation, I can definitely manage it.”]

[Ren: “I think it’s fine.”]

[Ren: “fine.”]

I replied slowly, even including a typo, to make myself appear a little more vulnerable.

After all, giving an opponent leverage could create the illusion of them holding the advantage and control.

This, in turn, might cause them to lower their guard against me.

While this class monitor wasn’t an enemy, I wouldn’t consider her a friend either.

My personality dictated that I had no friends, simply because I was too lazy to maintain friendships.

If others considered me a friend, I didn’t mind, but I was acutely aware that I wouldn’t reciprocate.

Sometimes, for personal reasons, I would indulge others to maintain a relationship, clearly distinguishing between student-student, teacher-student, or host-guest dynamics.

Currently, Air and I merely shared a reciprocal relationship as class monitor and student.

She sought information from me, and I intended to use her connections to achieve my own goals.

Through subtle means, I would also lead her to believe that we were friends.

[Air: “I understand what you mean; there’s no need to correct yourself like that. Of course, if you prefer it, then disregard what I just said.”]

[Air: “Since this way of communicating doesn’t make you uncomfortable, I’ll be sure to chat with you like this from now on.”]

[Ren: “Mm, thank you.”]

[Air: “No need to thank me. As the class monitor of Class 14, it’s only natural for me to consider everyone’s thoughts. If you encounter any problems, feel free to contact me at any time.”]

I lifted my head, ‘accidentally’ meeting Air’s gaze.

She offered me a friendly smile.

I nodded in acknowledgment, as if we were close friends who understood each other without a word.

Since she had brought up such a topic, it was only natural for me to begin executing my plan.

[Ren: “I do have a problem. I don’t like being the center of attention; it makes me very nervous. But given my current situation…”]

[Ren: “In any case, I’d appreciate it if the class monitor could help me out when the time comes.”]

[Air: “Please, tell me.”]

[Ren: “I can do anything.”]

[Ren: “Whatever the class monitor wants to know, I’ll definitely tell her.”]

[Air: “Don’t worry, I’ll help.”]

[Air: “I’ll explain things for you, and I’ll try my best to divert everyone else’s attention to myself.”]

[Ren: “Thank you, Class Monitor!”]

[Air: “You can call me Sister Air, you know.”]

[Ren: “Thank you, Sister Air!”]

Now that our private chat had reached this point, my plan was largely complete.

I hadn’t expected such smooth progress, and I had this class monitor to thank.

‘Still, I wondered if many others from our class had also gone there.’

Once most of the class had arrived, news about the purchasable incense would likely spread.

The exorbitant price of the incense would then deter people at first glance.

At that point, the information the class monitor had obtained from me would hold little value.

However, the crucial fact was that I had achieved resonance with the Witch’s Heart!

This meant I could still uncover many secrets.

At least in the short term, my value in her eyes wouldn’t diminish.

Unless she could quickly find a source for low-priced incense, she had no reason to abandon my channel.

By now, students were gradually arriving in the classroom.

Perhaps because they weren’t familiar with me, and because I was still slumped at my desk, no one had disturbed me yet.

Meanwhile, Air continued to chat with me.

It had reached the point where she was asking me to call her Sister Air.

While I didn’t know if she genuinely felt that way, I suspected it was unlikely.

At the same time, I subtly revealed the current price of the incense.

The inflated price surprised Air, too.

Even with her six thousand academic credits, she seemed to find it a bit steep.

Consequently, I also mentioned that the academy offered loans.

As for other details, I refrained from elaborating for the time being.

While I wasn’t particularly concerned about revealing this information, I wasn’t a fool who would simply answer every question.

Furthermore, I didn’t have much of a relationship with the senior student at the extraordinary materials shop.

Although she could offer me a discount to the original price, buying too much at once was generally ill-advised.

It might even force an end to our connection, or at the very least, her attitude toward me would certainly grow colder.

So, that was my last resort.

Resonating with the Witch’s Heart was just a matter for this week.

Once I got through it, everything should become smoother, shouldn’t it?

Perhaps tomorrow, this class monitor’s Witch’s Heart would also light up, just like mine.

As I was engrossed in these thoughts, I suddenly felt my hair being tugged.

It pulled at my scalp, an agonizing pain.

I was forcibly pulled upright.

“Huh? It’s not a wig?” A familiar voice spoke, revealing Kereiya.

My deskmate had arrived.

This girl was nothing like the class monitor.

Moreover, she had her own circle of close friends, and with such a social network, I feared the entire class would know about my Witch’s Heart resonance within a day.

‘This was going to be troublesome.’

“Of course it’s not a wig,” I retorted in exasperation.

“Would you mind letting go of my hair?”

“You’re Yang Yuehan? Oh my goodness.” She exclaimed, settling into her seat as if she’d discovered a new continent, and immediately reached for my hair again.

I didn’t stop her.

As long as she didn’t blab loudly, I could still be a perfectly fine deskmate with her.

“Could you please not be so loud?” I stared intently into her eyes.

‘I’d previously thought she was quite perceptive, capable of reading situations.’

‘If she couldn’t grasp such a clear hint, I felt I might need a new deskmate.’

“Mm-hmm, got it,” Kereiya mumbled, settling back as if nothing unusual had happened.

She then spoke in a hushed tone.

Immediately, she eagerly leaned in to whisper to me.

“How did you do it? Your hair texture is amazing, and it’s even gradient-colored.”

I didn’t rush to answer her question.

Instead, I subtly glanced at the other students in the class.

Sure enough, after Kereiya’s outburst, they weren’t fools; they had all taken notice.

“It’s a change that happened after resonating with the Witch’s Heart,” I whispered.

“Res… resonating with the Witch’s Heart?” Kereiya’s expression shifted to one of utter astonishment.

Then, disbelief.

‘How could anyone achieve Witch’s Heart resonance in just one day?’

“If you’re willing to take on a debt of ten thousand academic credits and go a whole night without sleep, you should be able to as well,” I stated openly.

I made sure to emphasize the ‘ten thousand academic credits’.

After all, it was still the beginning of the semester; no one had that many academic credits yet.

‘Scaring them a little seemed like a good idea.’