Chapter 26: The Unveiling of a Lie

At that moment, I was stunned!

I had been perfectly content, laying low in my corner, yet in what felt like an instant, the spotlight had swung directly onto me.

What was happening?

Under the collective gaze of the entire class, I felt an immense pressure building. My aversion to such situations was no lie; surely, anyone would detest being the center of unwanted attention?

Yet, if their intention was merely to humiliate me, they would find themselves sorely mistaken. For even in the direst scenario, I possessed a contingency.

At its absolute worst, I would simply be recognized as the class prodigy, subjected to everyone’s unwavering scrutiny.

My true dislike stemmed from excessive attention, from the terrifying chasm between others’ towering expectations and my own perceived shortcomings. It was the dread of inevitably plummeting from that elevated pedestal.

However, with a newfound confidence, I felt I could shoulder those expectations. Could I truly bear them now? I believed the sheer number of students in this class was a manageable burden.

Thus, I found myself with the audacity to overturn the entire situation.

Still, such a drastic measure remained my absolute last resort.

There was still room to maneuver within the current predicament. Although the situation was a complete disaster, that very fact meant no amount of meddling could possibly worsen it.

I fell silent.

It wasn’t that I lacked an answer.

I was merely pondering why I had transformed in this manner, questioning the source of my sudden resolve. Was it my ‘cheat’ ability?

It seemed so.

Fearing the inherent instability of this cheat ability, I had always calibrated all expectations to their lowest possible estimates. Thus, despite possessing such potent outward talent, I had consistently chosen to remain hidden.

Was this inexplicable confidence I now exhibited a consequence of tasting the cheat’s advantages? Had I, subconsciously, begun to believe this power wouldn’t simply vanish without cause?

It occurred to me that I was perhaps fretting needlessly, agonizing over matters utterly beyond my control.

After all, I was merely a ‘salted fish’.

I was a transmigrator, a designation that, while not inherently superior, should grant me a clearer perspective.

I could not live solely for a cheat. It was merely a tool, yet I found myself gripped by the fear of its eventual loss.

My perception of the cheat’s reliability stemmed from its enigmatic nature. But what if its veil were to be lifted? Would I then become utterly helpless, stripped of all momentum to forge ahead?

No, it shouldn’t be so.

Therefore, rather than fretting over a meaningless loss, I should proactively tear away the cheat’s veil. It felt akin to a race.

And this was a pivotal juncture on my extraordinary path.

****

All of the above, I realized, was a lie I told myself.

I always had a knack for self-consolation. All I needed was a reason I could believe, a grand, albeit empty, objective to set for myself, and I could navigate the path ahead without confusion. I deemed it highly worthwhile, for I genuinely had no idea if I could ever reach such a goal.

‘Unveiling the cheat’? Impossible. Non-existent. I knew all these truths, yet I stubbornly refused to expose myself.

I would simply allow myself to live within my own fabrications. This was an unbreakable layer of self-protection, a self-imposed confinement impervious to external forces, and indeed, the very philosophy I had distilled from my life thus far.

[Achievement Unlocked: The Unbreakable World of Self-Deception. Effect: Self-Sealing Art]

With these thoughts solidified, I observed the fluctuating data, a subtle curve playing on my lips, imperceptible to others. ‘Seriously,’ I mused, ‘you’d even meddle in something like this?’

‘Pointing it out so directly isn’t very considerate, is it? Besides, when have I ever lied to myself?’

‘Achievement, if you persist, I’ll have to sue you for defamation!’

‘Therefore, as punishment, I shall graciously accept the achievement’s effects.’

I slowly rose to my feet, feigning extreme nervousness. My gaze flickered towards Air, a silent plea for help, though I knew she was beyond assisting me—unless she were willing to make a sacrifice. And I sensed she wouldn’t.

Her eyes, too, conveyed a helpless sympathy.

As I remained at my desk, seemingly lost in profound contemplation, it naturally appeared to others as if I were making a momentous decision.

“I… I don’t really have any way… to help everyone,” I began, my voice hesitant. “It’s true, as Teacher Qieluo mentioned, I was incredibly… fortunate to enter a momentary meditative state yesterday. I truly don’t know how I managed it…” I paused, sensing a growing impatience among some classmates. “But the main thing is that I discovered incense being sold in the commercial district yesterday. I bought a considerable amount, and consequently, I didn’t get much sleep last night…”

“Where did you even get the credits to buy it?”

Before I could finish, someone abruptly cut me off, and I reacted as if genuinely startled.

Internally, I commended the excellent assist.

“Silence! Let them finish speaking!” Air interjected, her tone unexpectedly firm.

Air’s two consecutive assists had perfectly set the stage, firmly establishing my persona as weak and vulnerable. Now, by revealing my indebted status, a new me would emerge: soft-spoken, devoid of academic credits, and burdened by crushing debt!

Perhaps this strategy would indeed brand me as a memorable figure within the class, yet it would effectively deter anyone from harboring ulterior motives. There would be no profit in exploiting me, and few, if any, would likely seek interaction. This would also conveniently downplay the inconvenient truth of my ‘genius’ – my first-day resonance with the Witch’s Heart. Once the elimination round concluded and all remaining students achieved resonance, that particular feat would fade into obscurity. Subsequently, any actions I undertook could be conveniently attributed to debt repayment, allowing me to gracefully withdraw from the class social circle while still technically remaining a member of Class 14.

I would simply become an inconspicuous presence.

Plan complete!

“I—I don’t have academic credits,” I stammered, projecting a nervous vulnerability. “But I can borrow them! If you’re truly willing, there are countless ways to secure credits; it’s merely a matter of accumulating debt! I’ve already passed the elimination round, so I’ll just pay it back slowly later!” By the end, my voice trembled perceptibly, as if this audacious declaration was an emotional outburst.

My words subtly obscured several facts, such as the true efficacy of the incense. Instead, I skillfully shifted the focus entirely onto the crushing debt I now carried, a clever misdirection of their perception.

Having delivered my performance, I slumped back into my seat, burying my face in my arms as if utterly drained. Naturally, this entire display was an act.

Kereiya, it seemed, had entirely bought into the act. ‘Hmm,’ I thought, ‘my performance was quite convincing; no one should be able to see through it.’

“Enough!” Kereiya suddenly snapped, her voice laced with anger. “They just resonated with the Witch’s Heart; they don’t want their body to undergo such changes! How disgusting were the things you boys just said? Don’t get complacent! You’ll all experience it sooner or later!” Her sharp retort left the jeering boys utterly speechless. After all, if resonating with the Witch’s Heart truly led to physical transformations, they, too, would eventually become the subject of ridicule from the girls.

They knew this truth, but had simply refused to confront it.

Still slumped over my desk, I silently gave Kereiya a mental thumbs-up. ‘Excellent,’ I mused. ‘This deskmate certainly holds value for a continued alliance.’

“Alright, alright, everyone, settle down,” Air interjected, a visible sigh of relief escaping her. The commotion had, it seemed, breathed new life into the stagnant atmosphere, prompting her to assume the role of peacemaker. “Borrowing academic credits, if at all possible, should be avoided until absolutely necessary… The true cost of such a decision is not something I can easily quantify. You must simply weigh the pros and cons in your own hearts. The elimination round in six days is merely a hurdle in our journey at the Witch Academy. As the saying goes, if you believe it’s worth it, then expend every effort to clear that hurdle. As long as there’s still an opportunity, you can always repay your debts slowly thereafter…”