Is It Weird for a Guy to Apply to a Witch School?

Chapter 472: Fool’s Dream’s Following

Since I promised to accept a few Fool’s Dreams to follow me, two or three small figures have periodically trailed behind me.

Since they followed me, there was no need for them to return to their previous residence.

They weren’t working for me; they were followers.

At this stage, when they couldn’t truly help me, it was equivalent to me supporting them.

Fortunately, I had them settled in the detached villa I got after becoming a Teaching Assistant.

It was very large, and living with just a few Fool’s Dreams was indeed spacious.

I even suggested bringing more Fool’s Dreams over; after all, supporting one or two was the same as supporting a group.

For these newly arrived Fool’s Dreams, I didn’t let them directly participate in my current research.

They lacked too much common sense and basic knowledge, which I needed to help them gradually acquire.

”Fool’s Blue, try this.”

In my detached villa, I had already simply organized and renovated the basement, turning it into a private laboratory where I could work permanently.

What I was currently trying was the ”Shadow of Knowledge” branch ability, which I had previously envisioned.

It was like how I had used the Illusory Clone linked to the Tree of Knowledge to help my roommates study.

At that time, this ability had already formed a prototype in my mind.

Now, I wanted to turn this ability into something that could remain effective even after it left me, or after I was far away, or no longer paying attention.

Initially, this idea seemed like a pipe dream, but after the Tree of Knowledge gained the prefix ”Great” and possessed the permanent spell effect, this idea became a tangible possibility.

”Mhm Okay!”

The Fool’s Dream called Fool’s Blue quickly came to me, looking at me expectantly, waiting for my instructions.

”Come on, it’s fine, this won’t have any effect on you.”

At this moment, a translucent leaf floated in my hand.

This was the carrier of the Great Knowledge’s spell effect, the Leaf of Knowledge.

In fact, I also roughly knew that the Great Tree of Knowledge might have just touched the boundary of Grand Spellbooks.

Its permanent spell effect characteristic was primarily concentrated on the Tree of Knowledge itself.

Because the Tree of Knowledge was the manifestation of the spell effect of the Great Tree of Knowledge Spellbook.

Just like the spell effect of the Memory Bookshelf Spellbook was the bookshelf constructed after use, linked and communicating with one’s own consciousness.

The existence of the Tree of Knowledge was no longer the fragile spell effect it once was, but a permanently existing and infinitely possible Grand Spellbook effect.

However, precisely because of this, abilities derived from the Great Tree of Knowledge Spellbook would not acquire permanent characteristics if they were not derived from the Tree of Knowledge as the original sequence.

Therefore, I had no other choice but to use the most direct method: I separated a leaf from the Tree of Knowledge and created a spell effect that carried a Shadow of Knowledge and could be released externally.

According to my design, this spell effect inherited the permanent characteristic of the Grand Spellbook’s derived sequence, and the released spell effect was still connected to the Great Tree of Knowledge.

After all, I was doing all this for one purpose: to harvest everything the other party learned to fill the knowledge I lacked in my Tree of Knowledge.

In fact, rather than harvesting, it was more like sharing, a win-win situation.

However, there were certainly many other things to pay attention to, such as personal privacy, information acquisition channels, otherwise, I couldn’t just directly read the other party’s memory, right?

If the effect of this spell were publicly known and could spread, the users would be the biggest fools.

Therefore, the channels for acquiring knowledge must be open, transparent, and unrestricted.

Although this would mean missing out on a lot of top-secret knowledge acquisition and sharing, it was better than nothing.

Of course... everything has two sides.

I am not a kind-hearted person.

Even the most evil and immoral things can be packaged and transformed into good things, but I would never spread them in the Main World.

It is my only remaining trace of... goodwill.

Of course, it’s too early to discuss these things.

As I said before, I can choose not to do it, but if an opportunity arises, I must know how to do it.

At this stage, the Leaf of Knowledge I created primarily relies on the Shadow of Knowledge for gradual teaching.

What it acquires is always an expansion of knowledge within my cognition.

It only broadens my existing understanding and extends the width of knowledge, but it cannot acquire depth of knowledge.

The teaching method of the Shadow of Knowledge is a downward-compatible approach, and it can even be said to be thankless.

Unless I use this ability in reverse, making the Shadow of Knowledge a student and having a mentor teach it knowledge, only then can I acquire knowledge beyond my cognition.

But no one is willing to teach others for free, especially a being similar to an Illusory Clone.

Actually, what I thought more about was spreading the Earth Vein Information Appraisal Spell.

Relying on others to go to regions I had never been to, harvesting the information carried by the Earth Veins there, and then I could share that information with them.

This was the most suitable promotion method at this stage.

No one can refuse a real-world appraisal spell.

The exploration of the unknown is an inherent instinct of life.

Even a plain stone held in hand, if ability allows, many people would be curious about where this stone came from and why it ended up in their hands.

However, it is clear that the composition of the Earth Vein Information Appraisal Spell is relatively complex, involving the conversion of Earth Vein Energy and Earth Energy, the extraction and interpretation of Earth Energy information, then organization and summarization, and finally presenting the information according to demand.

And the actual process is more complex than this description.

Compared to that, the creation of the Shadow of Knowledge appears simple and crude.

But because of its simplicity, I could attempt it multiple times in such a short period.

And the subjects of the experiment... were naturally the Fool’s Dreams.

Of course, the premise of experimenting on them was that there was no danger.

Anyway, I couldn’t bear to harm these adorable little creatures.

As the Leaf of Knowledge in my hand transformed into spell light points, a vibrant green pattern outlining a simplified leaf was imprinted on Fool’s Blue’s small hand.

Fool’s Blue looked at the suddenly appearing tattoo-like mark, curiously touching it with her other hand.

”Do you feel anything?”

I inquired.

”Mhm... it feels like a power has entered my body...”

Fool’s Blue said.

”Any other feelings?”

”Mhm... it seems not.”

Fool’s Blue shook her head and said.

”Then can you control this pattern?”

I continued to guide Fool’s Blue to try.

”Mhm... I think so?”

Fool’s Blue clenched her fist, as if using her whole body’s strength, and finally, the pattern on her hand began to glow with a spell effect under her ”effort.”

And I silently observed all of this, then recorded the observed information in the Tree of Knowledge.

The method of using the pattern formed by the Leaf of Knowledge has nothing to do with using one’s whole body strength.

It requires focused attention, or it can be directly activated with Mental Power.

Those without Mental Power can rely on using their whole body to concentrate attention, guiding their subconscious mind to activate the spell effect.

After recording these, I again observed the state of the Leaf of Knowledge on Fool’s Blue’s body and reminded her, ”Fool’s Blue, this mark can be activated with Mental Power.”

Mental Power, generally, if one meditates correctly for a long enough time, there will be a faint sensation.

Unlike the terrifying method of condensing Mental Power into Mental Strength Threads using the Witch Meditation Method, or even refining Mental Power using the Primal Dream State, general meditation methods are much gentler, but the effects are also somewhat inferior.

After adapting to the Witch Meditation Method, I, anyway, could not go back to my previous meditation methods.

This meditation method, rather than being called a meditation method, should be called a mental cultivation method.

Strictly speaking, it is not a method to improve oneself.

Fool’s Dream can naturally possess Mental Power.

As long as one has consciousness, one can generally possess Mental Power through some means.

After all, Mental Power is a perception independent of the five senses of living beings.

As long as it is a perception, it can be possessed, just like individuals who cultivate Physical Arts may lack some of the five senses, but after cultivating Physical Arts, they will have means to compensate for the missing five senses.

The same is true for spell cultivators.

Embarking on spell cultivation, meditation is a means to complete Mental Power perception.

Mental Power is both a subjective perception and a force, a force that can interfere with the Transcendent Energy level.

Therefore, Mental Power is the bridge between individual life and the Transcendent world.

But it is not the only bridge.

But that’s not important, because I just need to understand what level of user my creation needs at minimum.

Roughly... one only needs a weak Mental Power to perceive it.

Once perceived, one can interfere, and as long as one can interfere, one can activate and utilize this ability.

And at this moment, this Leaf of Knowledge was easily activated by Fool’s Blue with Mental Power.

It seemed that Fool’s Dream was not very adept at using Mental Power.

After all, in the past, they didn’t pay much attention to the development of Transcendent power.

Only a few scattered individuals knew a little about planting Transcendent Plants and simple alchemy techniques, but concocting Fool’s Dream Drink seemed to have become an instinct ingrained in their cognition.

There was nothing I could do about this, so I could only take it slow.

”Eh? Two Big Sis Xiao Han!”

”Mhm, this is a clone of mine. As long as you activate this pattern, you’ll see it. If you encounter any problems, you can directly ask her.”

”Eh? Eh!”

Fool’s Blue looked at the Shadow of Knowledge in great shock, then at me, her astonishment evident in her eyes.

”Is this... is this the blessing Big Sis Xiao Han bestowed upon me?”

”Mhm? If you like that address, it’s fine by me, as long as you like it.”

”Mhm! As the first Fool’s Dream to receive Big Sis Xiao Han’s blessing, I... I truly feel so honored!”

”Then you must work hard and strive to become a Fool’s Dream who can help me.”

I leaned down and stroked Fool’s Blue’s small head, then saw the two envious little ones not far away.

The villa I was currently in had taken in three Fool’s Dreams willing to follow me.

Besides Fool’s Blue, there were also Fool’s Luck and Fool’s Fruit.

These two naturally saw what I had just done, and their faces were filled with envy, their gazes towards me carrying intense expectation and devotion.

”Come what are you two hiding for over there? If you don’t come, there really won’t be any left, you know?”

I waved my hand towards them.

For these three Fool’s Dreams I had chosen, I naturally wouldn’t do anything unfair; I should treat them equally from the start.

As for what happens later, that would depend on their own situations.

As I took out the two other Leaves of Knowledge I had prepared earlier, and they transformed into the patterns on their hands, they cheered excitedly.

For people whose inner emotions are so unconcealed, if the other party were a student similar to me, I would keep my distance from her.

At least in my cognition, this is a sign of immaturity, and it also means that I wouldn’t get along with the other person.

But Fool’s Dream is different.

At least when facing Fool’s Dream, I have enough patience to teach them.

”Mhm mhm Alright, now that you have all accepted Big Sis Xiao Han’s blessing, you now need to serve me wholeheartedly! Understand?”

”Understood.”

Seeing their resolute and heartfelt devotion, I was very satisfied.

”But now there’s a very serious problem awaiting your solution: your current abilities are insufficient to help me, even just solving some trivial matters would be very difficult for you.”

As I spoke these words, they visibly sagged, for to them, confidently wanting to come and help the other party, only to be told that they weren’t even qualified to help with a small matter, such a blow was undoubtedly immense.

”But now, if you study hard and become beings who can help me, then you will not be without value to me...”

I meticulously told them in detail everything they were about to do.

Although they were my followers, they were more like dependents without self-will, wrapped in the guise of followers, seeking value for their own existence.

But... I don’t reject this idea, or rather, I quite like it.

At least, such Fool’s Dreams have great plasticity, but shaping them is also troublesome.

Just like now, I needed to establish a most basic set of values for them, clearly telling them what to do, how to do it, why to do it, how doing so realizes their own value, and so on.

But the more I spoke, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was just my imagination, but I felt as if I had become a... capitalist who only exploited others...

But faced with three Fool’s Dreams who were selflessly devoted and willing to follow me... who could resist that?

As long as they had food and lodging, a large villa to live in, and food to eat, I had also reached an agreement with Sofili: each batch of Fool’s Dream Drink raw ingredients would be sent here, and Fool’s Dreams could mix it themselves whenever they wanted.

Mhm... This isn’t exploitation; it’s downward compatibility.

They wanted to follow me, but their abilities were insufficient, so I provided them with ample material needs and a learning environment... How can this be called exploitation?

Moreover... if they truly one day feel that such a life does not meet their needs, or they are no longer satisfied... then they can leave.

Even if they don’t leave, I won’t try to keep them, because what I need is an assistant who can help me no matter what, not an ambitious person whose living standards and inner desires are constantly increasing.

Although... with my expectations for Fool’s Dream, they shouldn’t turn out like this... but who knows what the future holds?

People’s hearts change, let alone Fool’s Dreams who are as innocent as a blank sheet of paper?

They will be even more influenced by the outside world.

As for what they will eventually become, no one knows.

I can only try my best to guide Fool’s Dream to become what I expect, but I will not overly interfere with the Fool’s Dream race’s own choices.

Just as I was about to organize the data on the common knowledge related to the Leaf of Knowledge for in-depth data analysis, my phone suddenly rang.

Because the joint exam was approaching, I always carried my phone with me to facilitate future arrangements, as I was now one of the maintainers of the joint exam.

”Mhm? Teacher Lina...”

I looked at the call.

Isn’t this our freshman grade’s Director?

I didn’t expect her to communicate with me directly.

Should I say it’s surprising or not surprising at all?

It seems I haven’t had contact with this mentor for a long time.