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

Chapter 474: Interpretation of the Joint Exam Rules

”Not many teaching assistants actively applied to contribute to this joint exam. You are the ones assigned to our first-year group.”

”The academy doesn’t require you to do too much for this joint exam. Your primary objective is to patrol the Bobapus Archipelago examination area. Whether it’s guiding eliminated students or arranging special material drops for you, these are not the main points.”

”Then what is the main point?”

Liffia immediately raised her hand and asked.

”As I just said, patrol the examination area and prevent cheating.”

”Cheating? Wait, how can you cheat in a practical combat test? And the rules this time are very relaxed; even teaming up with other academies is within the permitted scope. What else could be judged as cheating?”

”Transcendent-level mentors are not allowed to participate in this joint exam, except for necessary maintenance of the examination environment and the stable operation of that Grand Sorcery of the False World Space. You teaching assistants are the biggest unstable factor in this joint exam.”

As Teacher Lina said this, her gaze subconsciously flickered to me, then, realizing her mistake, shifted to Liffia.

When it came to causing trouble, she was the real expert.

”Teacher Lina, does this mean that during the assessment, we teaching assistants can actually step in to help the students?”

Liffia asked.

”According to the rules of the joint exam, teaching assistants are not allowed to provide any form of assistance to the joint exam candidates. This includes information transfer, armed assistance, tactical planning, resource hiding, large-scale indiscriminate attacks without reason, terrain alteration, and so on. The specific prohibited behaviors will be issued to you later.”

Teacher Lina shook her head, then ”deliberately” listed many things we were not allowed to do.

Hearing so many restrictions, Liffia instantly lost interest.

”This is so boring, huh?”

”During this joint exam, candidates do not have the qualification to directly report a teaching assistant. However, candidates have the right to report other teaching assistants to a teaching assistant, and you have the obligation to accept such reports from candidates.”

As Teacher Lina finished speaking, the four of us naturally understood the catch.

Adhering to the principle that if no one reports it, then no foul has been committed... As long as one has no morals, others cannot criticize them!

Indeed, this was more or less what Big Sis Bai had conjectured and told me...

”After accepting a report from a candidate, if you do not find evidence of the other party’s violation, you can ignore it, and the reporting candidate is not held responsible. If the evidence is conclusive, the reported teaching assistant will be warned once. Each teaching assistant can only be warned three times. The fourth time, they will be forcibly removed from the examination area and will face punishment for the violation. This punishment will be determined through discussion among the mentors of the various schools.”

”For a candidate who reports and provides conclusive evidence of a teaching assistant’s violation, you, as a teaching assistant, can reward them within a certain range. This is an operation within the rules, used to compensate for and balance the unfairness caused by the violating teaching assistant. However, the reward cannot exceed the specified range and will be determined based on the impact caused by the violating teaching assistant. Similarly, the reward is not mandatory, and you can choose not to provide any reward or compensation.”

”Furthermore, there is the case of malicious reporting by a candidate. In the case of clear evidence proving that the reported teaching assistant did not violate any rules during the specified period, the candidate can be punished. The severity of the punishment will depend on the content of their report. Physical punishment causing minor injuries or worse is not allowed, nor is any form of psychological punishment. Of course, punishment is also optional. The reporting student will be added to this joint exam’s dishonesty list, and teaching assistants may choose not to fulfill their obligation to accept future reports from that student.”

After Lina explained the main rules this time, she looked at me expectantly, as if observing our reactions, a slight smile on her lips.

In fact, the rules she just mentioned weren’t strictly rules, but rather the product of reinterpreting the rules.

The rules are there, and anyone can interpret them from any angle.

This was the Witch Academy’s interpretation.

Although we didn’t communicate in any way, we also understood the unspoken rules.

The candidates had their battlefield, and the teaching assistants had their own struggles.

The candidates were probably the most troubled in this.

Even if they wanted to report someone, it was best to report to a teaching assistant from their own school.

If the teaching assistant they wanted to report had a conflict with the teaching assistant they encountered.

Then the so-called report would likely have conclusive evidence, but the other party would turn a blind eye and pretend not to have seen anything.

Those with poor character might even bite back with a false accusation.

And... Teacher Lina indeed didn’t mention any rules for countering a teaching assistant.

So, whether their own candidates could receive fair treatment would depend on the ability of their own teaching assistants.

”Also I need to tell you all one more thing. After being taken from the examination area for a violation and receiving punishment determined by the multi-school discussion, there will be a review meeting. Many students will attend. If you get caught, you will have to conduct a profound review and self-reflection in front of the candidates from multiple schools.”

At this moment, Teacher Lina added another sentence.

And from the side, I saw Liffia subconsciously shudder... Alright, alright, the joint exam hasn’t even started, and she’s already thinking about how to cause trouble, right?

She shivered just at the thought of being in the wrong.

What on earth was this Liffia up to?

However... such a shameful act was likely also a restriction on the teaching assistants, telling us that this was a joint exam and not to go too far.

After all... the protagonists of this joint exam, from beginning to end, were the Children of Destiny in the script.

”Huh? How can there be such a thing! Who came up with this?”

Liffia was the first to question it.

”You need to be clear about one thing: this is nominally a joint exam test for lower-grade students, not a stage for you to show off, Liffia. Your participation this time is my biggest headache. Hmm... Xiao Han, you should also be more restrained. You wouldn’t want to do a review with Liffia in front of so many students from different academies, right?”

”Uh... I am very restrained.”

Being suddenly called out by Teacher Lina, I was a bit surprised.

Do I look like someone who would cause trouble?

I haven’t caused any trouble in the academy recently, alright?

Moreover, from Teacher Lina’s tone... why did it sound as if she was certain Liffia would be up on that stage for a review?

Was Liffia already that notorious?

From my impression of her so far, she was just a bit hyperactive at most.

”I hope so.”

Lina recalled the Dream State Exchange Competition.

Back then, she was just a student and had caused such a commotion.

Now... who knew?

”Does anyone have any more questions about this matter?”

”As far as I know, this joint exam will introduce our Witch Academy’s Earth Vein technology for live broadcasts and rebroadcasts, right? Does this involve Earth Vein Information Targeted Query Technology? Is there a time limit for reporting and investigating?”

At this moment, Lin Yi spoke up, and her questions immediately pointed to some key issues.

”The Earth Vein technology we’ve authorized for this joint exam is limited to live video broadcasts and does not involve specific Earth Vein Information Targeted Query Technology. However, the live broadcast footage can also be used as evidence. If you are headstrong enough to cheat openly in the live broadcast, we mentors will directly warn you without needing a student to report it.”

Lina explained to Lin Yi and us, which was also a deliberate reminder.

”As for the time limit for reporting and investigating, reports can be made until the end of the joint exam. However, if it is delayed for too long, leading to insufficient evidence, the report will be unsuccessful. For the same reported incident, it will only be counted as one item, and multiple teaching assistants can jointly investigate.”

After understanding the general situation, Lin Yi also indicated that she had no other major questions.

But I did.

”Teacher Lina, are there any restrictions on the methods used for minor evidence verification? Can I borrow the academy’s so-called Earth Vein Information Targeted Query Technology?”

I asked.

”In principle, no. That technology is a large-scale facility integrated into the entire Witch Academy’s Curtain Wall. If you were to use it, others would also have reason to apply for its use, you understand?”

Lina looked at me and said with a smile.

Lina’s meaning was very clear.

If the Witch Academy brought this thing out, then there would be no room for manipulation.

Actually, I didn’t quite believe it.

What integrated large-scale facility?

Wasn’t the live broadcast of Earth Vein Information footage more or less the same thing?

”Understood... then my own spell abilities should be fine, right?”

I asked again.

”If you have spellbooks for things like Past Recreation, Rock Memory, etc., those are your own means and naturally fall within the scope of use. But no matter what method you use, you can’t be the only one who knows. You need to have objective, presentable evidence to prove it. Otherwise, if you insist, a mentor might subject your verbal evidence to a lie detector. If you are found to have fabricated a report and slandered someone, you will also be warned.”

”Understood, understood.”

I nodded and said.

It seemed that the Earth Vein Information Appraisal Spell could be used.

I was naturally not afraid of this ability being exposed.

After all, if it wasn’t exposed, how could this ability be promoted?

How could I harvest that Earth Vein information?

Besides, the Witch Academy also has this kind of ability.

I just ”miniaturized” it.

Later, I could add some restrictions to make this appraisal spell an acceptable ability.

...

Afterward, the four of us and one witch discussed some other minor matters and precautions regarding this issue, and this topic finally came to an end.

After this topic ended, Teacher Lina’s subsequent topics were much more casual, just mentioning some precautions and the like.

So... the main point of this meeting was the first matter, right?

Even though Teacher Lina put on a facade of being afraid of us causing trouble, her words were constantly hinting at the fact that she wanted us to cause trouble!

I actually admired Teacher Lina a little.

However, Teacher Lina didn’t mention any potential accidents that might be encountered in this assessment, which was the ”little surprise” Big Sis Bai had mentioned.

Was this matter being kept from the teaching assistants as well?

But I had some guesses in my heart, though I wasn’t entirely sure.

At least I wouldn’t be scared by such a sudden situation during the joint exam.

After all, this ”little surprise” required a Transcendent Witch to suppress it, otherwise it would turn into a little fright.

And there didn’t seem to be many who could do such a thing, for example... an incursion of Abyssal Demons?

After all, the Abyssal Demons had already been given an admission ticket, and they just needed a reasonable excuse to enter.

And in the subsequent topics, I also tentatively asked Teacher Lina if there would be any accidents during this joint exam, and Teacher Lina’s answer more or less confirmed my guess.

She said that she did not rule out this extremely low probability event.

Extremely low probability... but if you factor in the script, it would almost certainly become a guaranteed event!

But unfortunately, my subtle probing did not attract the attention of the other three, not even Lin Yi.

Even though the so-called concepts of Destiny, Child of Destiny, and the Script have spread throughout the Witch Academy and even other Transcendent Academies, it seems that many people still do not take them seriously.

Soon, this small meeting that Teacher Lina held for us was over.

As the Director of the newcomer grade, Lina herself was very busy.

After announcing the end of the meeting, she said goodbye to us.

Apart from the rules discussed at the very beginning of this meeting, the subsequent matters were basically minor things, such as the upcoming theoretical final exams at the Witch Academy, for which we teaching assistants were directly conscripted to be proctors.

Should I say it was unexpected, or not unexpected at all?

Even though I was no longer a student, I felt even busier than one.

Fortunately, I didn’t need to grade the test papers.

There weren’t many parts of the Witch Academy’s test papers that required manual grading, only the open-ended extension questions at the end required subjective grading.

The answers to these questions were not unique; it depended on whether the solution was effective.

As for the fixed answers at the beginning, they could be checked mechanically.

Because of this efficiency, the Witch Academy always released exam scores very quickly.

”Since things are over, I’ll be leaving first.”

At this moment, Lin Yi also stood up directly, acting very hastily.

”Mhm, see you.”

I also said a simple goodbye.

”Since there’s nothing else, I should go too.”

Edaline said, her gaze turning to me again.

”Xiao Han, right? If you’re interested in alchemy, you can come find me. To have the ability to become a teaching assistant after only half a year of enrollment, and to have learned some alchemy techniques, shows you have some talent in alchemy. But you’re still no match for me. Hmph there’s no shame in humbly asking others for advice.”

”Mhm, I will definitely seek out Senior to discuss alchemy techniques next time.”

I also said politely.

After watching her leave, only Liffia and I were left.

”Xiao Han now it’s just the two of us want to have an in-depth discussion with me.”

”That won’t be necessary.”

I looked at Liffia and refused sternly.

”Oh dear don’t be so heartless. Is there anything about me that doesn’t fit your aesthetic? Don’t you want to have a sweet...”

”No, I have a girlfriend.”

I directly interrupted her seduction.

”Eh? You have a girlfriend? It’s fine, it’s fine I like that even more.”

”I advise you not to make a move. Be careful not to get cut down one day without knowing it.”

I continued to hold her off with my hand.

”Cut down? How is that possible? With my strength, could your girlfriend be a Transcendent Witch? Uh... is she?”

”Mhm.”

”Oh dear look at me. I didn’t expect the rumors to be true, huh? Xiao Han, you’re so lucky then... I wish you a long and happy life together. I was just kidding earlier. Oh my, how could I like to break up a pair of girlfriends? Doing such a thing is too immoral! I swear to resist such things.”