The Speedrun Manual of Miss Witch - Chapter 58

Assistant? Consultant?

Ciel looked at Avena, not quite understanding her intent.

She had no knowledge of psychology, and the idea of getting a job had only been a front for laundering money. Now that Avena could handle the laundering for her, she no longer had a reason to work.

“I’m planning to enroll at Ansu United University,” Ciel shook her head, declining. “Sorry, but I probably won’t be able to agree.”

Berren City was certainly a land of talent—so much so that lunatics were everywhere. It was exhausting. Ciel wanted to leave as soon as possible.

“Ansu United University won’t start for another two months.” Avena wasn’t giving up. “You can work for me part-time in the meantime. Besides, I already told your sister you’d be my assistant. I mentioned the pay was generous.”

Ciel studied Avena for a long moment before finally nodding. “Alright, but I’ll say this upfront—I don’t know anything about psychology.”

Hearing Ciel accept, the corners of Avena’s lips curled slightly. Her tone lightened. “That’s fine. Neither do I. I bought a private clinic in the city center. I’ll learn as I go.”

So rich…

Ciel couldn’t help but sigh internally.

She had hesitated to spend 5 Fate Points to convert them into 125 su pounds, yet Avena had casually bought an entire private clinic in the city’s prime district.

An entire building, not just a single office.

Ciel was tempted to prepay next month’s “friendship fee.”

After finishing breakfast with Ciel, Avena left with Nia to negotiate with the Church of the Savior Goddess. Meanwhile, Ciel remained at the manor.

Avena had granted her access to the study, even pointing out that the last bookshelf contained various transcendent books and notes that she could browse freely.

Once Avena was gone, Ciel immediately dove into the study.

She had only a vague understanding of this world’s transcendent system, and now that she had a chance to learn, she wasn’t going to waste it.

Beyond general knowledge, she also lacked foundational ritual records. This was her chance to find something useful.

Having a clear goal before searching for potions would make the process much more efficient.

With 49 Fate Points left, Ciel wasn’t planning to simulate just yet.

She intended to save them for completing a ritual within the simulation—drinking a potion and attempting to integrate into more paths. If she succeeded, she would then enter Deton Manor and spend the remaining simulation time familiarizing herself with the rules and gambling practices there.

This meant that her next simulation needed to begin after she had secured entry into Deton Manor—as a member.

Maximizing each simulation and minimizing waste.

And she had an advantage no one else possessed.

She could buy potions at a significantly lower cost.

Because she could purchase the potion and ritual, enter a simulation, complete the ritual, drink the potion, and preserve her state…

Then return to reality and refund the potion.

She would essentially drink the potion and perform the ritual while only losing a small service fee in su pounds.

If the randomized simulation time was short—say, just one hour—she wouldn’t even need to pay upfront. She could enter the simulation, pay later, and effectively get the potion for free.

Of course, higher-tier potions would become increasingly difficult to obtain. If Deton Manor didn’t even stock them, this trick wouldn’t work.

Until then, she’d exploit it as much as possible.

Flipping through Avena’s collection of transcendent notes, Ciel mentally mapped out her plans.

As she learned more about other transcendents’ experiences, she found answers to an old question that had been bothering her.

The nature of third-tier transcendents’ life forms.

So far, she had only encountered two third-tier transcendents.

One was “Radiance Bishop” Hugh. The other was “Crown Guard” Nia.

When she first met Hugh, she had been struggling to pull herself out of her vision of the Other Side, which led her to perceive Hugh as a terrifying feathered insect.

At the time, Ciel dismissed it as a hallucination—a result of her mind being tainted by the Other Side.

But when she saw Nia’s empty armor, the doubt resurfaced.

Do all third-tier transcendents undergo some form of life transformation?

Sherlon had written in his notes that he had failed to embody his role and thus couldn’t become a “Newborn”—he was unable to shed his old life.

Did this mean every transcendent past the third tier underwent a fundamental change in their life form?

The notebook in Ciel’s hands answered this question.

Yes. The third tier marked a minor metamorphosis. Depending on the path, digestion rate, and latent potential, the level of potion assimilation varied, resulting in different lifeforms.

Strictly speaking, the less one’s life form changed, the lower their potion assimilation. These individuals could digest potions faster and had greater potential for advancement.

Conversely, the more drastically one’s life form changed, the stronger the potion’s assimilation. However, they would digest potions much slower and have little to no chance of further ascension.

Nia, the “Crown Guard” beside Avena, was likely someone whose body had been deeply transformed by her potion—her original form had been significantly altered.

Could such a being still be considered human?

Certainly not. To ordinary people, she would be a monster.

Looks like I need to be careful about how I complete my Reconstitution Rituals—always aiming for overcompletion or perfection.

As the sun dipped toward the horizon, Ciel, lost in her reading, finally stretched her stiff neck. When she looked out the window and saw the dusk settling in, a realization struck her.

Today… was the graduation ceremony?

She had completely forgotten to pick up her diploma.

Not that it mattered—she wasn’t supposed to attend due to her infection.

Well, now she was a high school dropout.

Name? Ciel.

Education? Middle school!

Feeling the familiar tug of hunger, Ciel put the notebook back in its place and went downstairs, searching for the kitchen. She planned to cook something for herself—and maybe something for Avena as well.

As for Nia… she wasn’t sure if Nia ate, but she’d prepare a portion just in case.

Spending the entire day studying had been rewarding.

In one of the notebooks, she found a complete Reconstitution Ritual for the “Instigator” path. It was far more detailed than Thomas’s notes, and the writer had successfully advanced using it.

Ciel had decided that her next ascension would start with “Instigator.”

The ritual requirement?

Persuade others to kill thirty-three innocent people—eleven youths, eleven middle-aged, and eleven elderly.

She had already done that.

In fact, she might have even gone over the required number.