Chapter 29: Millennia-Old Foxes — Who Needs “Strange Tales” Anyway?

Jiang Cha was the one with the most problems among the three.

Although she played a crucial role in the team—both commanding and firefighting—and appeared strong, she was actually the biggest weak link.

In both competitions and real battles, they couldn’t always rely on three-against-one fights.

When Lina and He Qin got tangled up, Jiang Cha’s weak combat skills were exposed.

“Poor command, bad tactics, a weak magic library, no decent offense, melee combat is trash, magic power not trained, and her innate magic development is completely off track. If you weren’t a natural-born witch who just enrolled three days ago, I’d question how your parents raised you…”

On Earth, by the 21st century, everyone had become witches.

But before that, since the unstable interdimensional portals were discovered in the 18th century, until the 21st century when stable gates to other worlds were opened, countless humans accidentally fell into a magical interstice that only sages could safely explore.

Though called an interstice, its space was nearly infinite, or perhaps space didn’t exist there at all.

This interstice connected countless dimensional worlds, filled with all kinds of strange things.

Travelers from other worlds?

Sages pulled out quite a few every year.

Ruins and knowledge from other worlds?

They had explored so much it was like opening a normal treasure chest in Genshin Impact—barely worth a glance.

Various monsters, relics, books, and world fragments were common, and occasionally finding a few humans wasn’t rare either.

But most of the finds were ‘dead things’—killed by the chaotic rules of the interstice with resurrection magic powerless to bring them back.

Jiang Cha was relatively lucky—only suffering unexplained amnesia and still alive.

Yet the dimensional interstice was a taboo topic in witch society. Only officially recognized archwitches could access knowledge about it.

“Innate magic development?”

Jiang Cha knew her weaknesses well, but Carol mentioned a term she didn’t know.

“That’s a third-year subject, but…”

Carol glanced at Lina and He Qin, clearly implying something.

Witches with talent rarely followed the academy’s curriculum exactly—it had to cater to weaker students after all.

“Take this book home and study it yourself. Ask me if you have questions.”

“Next is one-on-one coaching.”

Three against one was doable when Carol directly suppressed her power and unleashed everything. But one-on-one was another story…

After a whole day, Lina was almost mentally broken.

Why only Lina?

He Qin’s magical doll inventory ran out after two fights, so she could only watch. As for Jiang Cha…

She was always running at full power, emotionless, so she never felt defeated.

In fact, she got hit the most and even took initiative during breaks to ask He Qin to tutor her in witch combat, like a true overachiever.

“Never fight Tutor Carol again… it’s really hard.”

Lying on the sofa, Lina complained, bubbles at the corner of her mouth.

Her own fighting style was a hybrid of transformation and shaping magic, while Carol specialized in shaping—like a mother beating her daughter. Carol had played all the golden-haired loli tricks for years. There was no way to win.

“It’s okay, I’ll get your revenge next time.”

The black-haired, red-eyed girl gently wrapped her arms around Lina’s neck, burying her head on her shoulder. Her hair floated around, tickling yet comforting.

“Cha Bao, my Cha Bao, you’re the best after all!”

Lina’s cheeks flushed briefly before burying her face in Jiang Cha’s chest to hide her shyness.

He Qin watched nearby, feeling like a third wheel.

She knew Lina was just a timid girl who only talked big. Despite always boasting about her ‘white silk,’ ‘young wife,’ and ‘dark skin’ traits, Lina was actually very cautious—like a good girl compared to the pervy senior witches.

But Jiang Cha…

She couldn’t figure her out.

Recalling what happened earlier in the great library, Yamato Fumiko paused for a second, then decided it was better not to see and went to cook instead.

They had a month to improve themselves.

Carol was the star witch and very busy. Without the club’s benefits, Jiang Cha’s entire self would not have paid for one day of Carol’s tutoring.

So the next spar was a month later, and each girl had her own way to improve.

Lina simply followed her family’s training routine until she could independently build her own traits as a senior witch. She didn’t need to worry about potions, magic libraries, or equipment.

He Qin mainly upgraded her magical dolls with club funds and whatever she had, and slightly improved her spell library.

Jiang Cha…

Borrowed 100 books from the great library.

Three were about magic power training, ten on basic potion studies, forty low-level spell books, and the rest focused on innate magic development.

Innate magic was highly personal. Even the same fireball spell differed completely between shaping and mystic schools.

Every witch developed spells differently.

Countless variations existed.

Jiang Cha’s innate magic, [Information Gathering], was a unique magic that had never appeared before. The one in the current library was created by a sage as a theoretical toy for children and never developed further.

Principal Eslen’s upgrade of the spell was only an immature prototype, so Jiang Cha had to research and develop her innate magic by herself.

“Ahhhhh!”

At 10 PM, the girls in pajamas were doing their own things in the living room.

Lina meditated to train magic power; He Qin studied mechanical textbooks; Jiang Cha suddenly screamed, startling them.

“These books aren’t enough—I need to borrow more.”

Without explaining, she rushed out in pajamas.

“Cha Bao really has the potential to be a research witch.”

Lina stared blankly for a moment, then shrugged with a smile.

“I’m a bit worried.”

He Qin frowned, “She seems to be putting too much pressure on herself.”

“I think she’s just curious. You know, witches throwing themselves into research like this is normal…”

“Estelle’s like that too, right? I just hope Cha Bao doesn’t become a shut-in like her.”

“Alright, Lina-chan.”

“Okay, okay~”

After truly understanding innate magic development, Jiang Cha realized how foolish she had been.

Whether [Information Gathering: Full Power] or [Focused Mode], they were just different ways to use the same magic.

A fireball is still a fireball no matter how fancy the tricks.

Only improving the spell model counts as developing a new magic.

Innate magic development was even more complex: magic power had to resonate with the innate magic, imbuing it with its nature—most witches’ first trait was related to their innate magic for this reason.

Besides that, it required solid theory, precise control, enough magic power, and sometimes external aids to evolve.

Developing innate magic was essentially self-evolution.

Besides knowledge, this was why witches born with over 10,000 magic power, like Jiang Cha, weren’t yet senior witches.

Without traits, one couldn’t be called a senior witch.

Developing the first trait related to innate magic marked entering the second stage of innate magic development.

But that was for later.

Jiang Cha rushed out late at night to borrow special books.

“‘Magic Development Theory,’ ‘Mystic Magic Origins Analysis,’ ‘Complete Spell Model Construction,’ ‘Magic Power Nature Analysis and Summary’—I recommend adding Master Camilla’s ‘Origins of Magic.’ Although it sounds like history, Camilla, the genius who created magic, discusses many useful theories and insights on magic creation.”

“Mor Sister?”

Jiang Cha turned, surprised to see the familiar purple-haired beauty in a sheer black nightgown, faintly revealing her smooth, pale skin under the magical lighting.

Mor’s delicate hand picked up a book, her eyes locking with Jiang Cha’s, sparkling seductively.

In the silent, empty great library, Jiang Cha could hear the soft rustling of the black silk—the sound was unexpectedly… alluring.

“It’s me. Honestly, why is little Jiang Cha out so late… just for books, right?”

Mor leaned her hips lightly on the bookshelf, yawning to cover up her teasing tone.

She was an irresistibly charming woman, every move dripping with mature allure.

The young girl swallowed hard watching her.

“Of course, I came to see Mor Sister!”

Jiang Cha smiled innocently, wearing a cute bunny pajama. Her slender, pale legs peeked out from the nightdress, radiating youthful beauty and vitality that resisted the mature woman’s charm.

“Such a smooth talker~ Go ahead, the library is closing soon.”

Mor chuckled softly while Jiang Cha’s eyes widened, pouting in disbelief.

“Eh! Mor Sister, are you kicking me out?”

“Then, little Jiang Cha, want to stay and sleep with me? I can tutor you.”

The purple-haired witch was surprised by the girl’s bold teasing but only raised an eyebrow, her words dripping with temptation.

The bunny-pajama girl really did hop away like a little rabbit, waving mischievously as she left.

“He Qin is waiting for me at home~ Next time for sure!”

Their little duel ended in another stalemate.