Chapter 281: The Image and Placement of the Fool's Dream

“Sigh… Huh?!”

Hearing my words that turned the tables, Bai Yu was stunned for a good two seconds, and the small spoon she was stirring her coffee with fell with a clatter.

“Little, Little Han, what are you saying? Haha, you're joking again, right? What nonsense are you spouting?”

At this moment, Bai Yu was a little restless and fidgety, and even her gaze was somewhat evasive.

“If you're not honest with your feelings, this chance will slip away, you know?”

I stirred my coffee with my head down, not looking at Big Sis Bai anymore.

She's already given herself away like this, do I really need to say anything more?

She can't possibly think I can't see this, right?

Actually, if Big Sis Bai had really spoken up at this moment, I might have actually agreed.

“I don't understand what you're saying, Little Han. Let's change the topic…”

“Alright then…”

I sighed.

I had clearly mustered up the courage, but now it's ended up like this.

But perhaps I should also be glad, because I also don't understand how to be a qualified boyfrie… oh, it should be girlfriend now.

But this round of probing has already tested out Big Sis Bai's situation, as well as her psychological expectations and so on, so at least whatever happens in the future, it won't surprise me too much.

“Big Sis Bai, you should pick the topic. You know I'm not good at chatting, I'm the more passive type.”

At this moment, I rested my right hand on the table, my whole body slumped over my arm, and looked at Big Sis Bai from the side.

Actually, these words of mine also hinted that this was the only time I had mustered up the courage to be proactive, in the future… there won't be this chance.

“You want me to find a topic…”

Bai Yu looked at my limp appearance, like a salted fish.

Although she did hope Little Han could relax a bit, seeing Little Han like this, she couldn't help but laugh subconsciously.

“Haha… but as for a topic… I don't know what to talk about either.”

After laughing lightly, Bai Yu also fell into deep thought, because although she thought she already knew Little Han well, she found that she had never seemed to truly understand her deeply.

“Well… how about we talk about Runology? Last time I heard you say you also started to systematically study runes…”

“Stop, stop, stop!”

Before I could finish, Bai Yu suddenly interrupted my suggestion, “That's a terrible suggestion, do you think this atmosphere is suitable for talking about that?”

“Mm… it's really not that suitable… then… let's talk about the Fool's Dream. Those Fool's Dream, Big Sis Bai, do you like them?”

“Those Fool's Dream… they are indeed very cute, so small and clumsy.”

As soon as the Fool's Dream were mentioned, Bai Yu immediately recalled the days she had spent with them.

It was indeed very pleasant.

Girls really have no resistance to such cute things.

Not to mention that the bodies of those Fool's Dream were in the cute and rare form of Flower Fairies, they were practically born cute.

Their level of cuteness, in my heart, felt second only to cute cat girls.

“Indeed, but after the Fool's Village secret realm completely collapsed, they all died. Actually, strictly speaking, it's not considered dying, but continuing to exist in another way. As long as they are provided with a shell, they can be resurrected. The Academy Head gave me the right to customize them, and I haven't decided what kind of bodies to give them yet.”

“There's such a thing?”

“Yeah, yeah, Big Sis Bai, help me think about it?”

I said hurriedly.

“According to what you said, then naturally, whatever you want them to be, they'll be. Why not ask for the Fool's Dream's opinion?”

Bai Yu thought for a moment and then said.

After all, being asked about this all of a sudden, she couldn't give a good answer either.

“Ask the Fool's Dream? That might not be possible. They are currently in their most original form, having lost their original memories and past cognition.”

I shook my head and said.

The growth of the Fool's Dream is essentially the increase of cognition and the erosion of the Nightmare.

The Nightmare is their memory and cognition.

If the Fool's Dream wants to maintain this state, they need other means.

Yuhu's idea was very naive, wanting to coexist with the Nightmare, but at this moment, I understand very well that it's useless.

That's taking the old path of a dream creature, not becoming a life.

Only by discarding the Nightmare part, shedding the essence of the dream, and enlightening wisdom in the form of a Fool's Dream, can such a Fool's Dream be qualified to embark on the path of becoming a true life.

Looking at it this way, the Academy Head removing Yuhu's memory was also for her own good.

Walking on the wrong path will only lead one further astray.

It's better to make a decisive break early on, like a warrior severing his wrist, abandon the past, and embark on a new path and life.

“Is that so… then isn't it all up to you? What do you like the most, Little Han?”

“Me? Me… I like kittens, but I'm still used to humanoid Fool's Dream. How about… designing a template for the Fool's Dream like a cat girl?”

I said.

If it were up to me, I would most likely choose this plan, I just don't know what Big Sis Bai would think.

“You like kittens too?”

Bai Yu became interested upon hearing my response, “But in the Witch Academy, liking cats seems to have become a very common thing.”

“Mm, indeed.”

I nodded, and many seniors also like the derived cat girl culture.

You can tell from the fact that there is more than one Witch Cat Cafe in the Witch Academy, right?

“Aiya… don't get sidetracked. What do you think, Big Sis Bai? Deciding on the image of the Fool's Dream as cat girls so hastily is still a bit… um… rash?”

“Rash? Not at all. Indecisiveness makes it hard to make a decision. Let's just decide on little cat girls then. By the way, there are many Fool's Dream, have you thought about where to place them?”

“This… not yet.”

I shook my head and said.

Over a hundred Fool's Dream, even if I brought them to my villa, it wouldn't fit them all.

Besides, the villa isn't mine alone, other people have their own lives, I can't be that decisive.

“Big Sis Bai, does the academy have any vacant houses for rent?”

I asked expectantly.

“There are definitely houses, and many of them. The Witch Academy is much bigger than you think, but the key issue is no longer just giving the Fool's Dream a place to live. It's not easy to settle them properly. Are you going to raise them for a lifetime?”

“So… Big Sis Bai, do you mean to teach them to be self-reliant?”

I asked curiously.

“That's more or less what it means. The Witch Academy actually has many such existences. Many are creatures brought out from secret realms that have proliferated in the Witch Academy and eventually become a part of it. Have you seen any?”

“I think… not?”

After thinking for a while, I shook my head and said.

My life in the Witch Academy before was too much of a two-point, one-line routine.

I really haven't been to other places.

I really didn't know that the Witch Academy had creatures from secret realms.

Perhaps I've seen them, but I didn't pay attention.

“This is one of the characteristics of the Witch Academy, Little Han. You don't even know this? You really should take a good rest and go explore this Witch Academy more, okay?”

“Alright… I will.”

At this moment, I lowered my head in slight shame.

Was I really such a shut-in?

“Okay, let's get back to the topic. What do you plan to have those Fool's Dreams do?”

“I'm not sure… they can't just sell their cuteness, right? And I really hope they are small, with petite bodies like before… very cute…”

“You're just making it harder for yourself, Little Han. But… if it's just selling cuteness… maybe you can try collaborating with the Witch Cat Cafe?”

“Huh? Collaborate with the Witch Cat Cafe? Then… wouldn't that be snatching jobs from the cats there?”

“This is service diversification. Think about it, if the Witch Cat Cafe was full of cat girl Fool's Dream and kittens, would you be willing to spend money there?”

“Oh… I seem to have some desire to spend money… but… I don't know the owner behind the Witch Cat Cafe… and I don't know how to operate it, how to collaborate…”

“Don't get discouraged before things are even settled. There's a first time for everything. Have you forgotten that Gold Cat Card you were given? If you are willing and show your value, I think that person would be very happy to meet you. And your request isn't high, is it? You just want to find a way for those Fool's Dream to support themselves.”

“Yes… that's true.”

I nodded, feeling that this idea seemed very good.

The Fool's Dream without any memories are like a blank sheet of paper, they really can't do anything, but they are very good as mascots.

Big Sis Bai is right, I can't raise them for a lifetime.

Even the Academy Head just left them to fend for themselves in the secret realm.

And for me, why can't I try this method?

I don't need complete control over the Fool's Dream, nor do I have the inclination.

If my desire for control over them is too strong, by the time they become true life, wouldn't I be the first one they rebel against?

Even if I gave them life, I can't guarantee the "loyalty" of all the Fool's Dream, so why not let them be "free"?

Moreover, before they become true life, they are still extremely dependent on me.

Even after becoming true life, by that time, I will have become the one who understands them the most.

If they want to develop, to grow stronger, to obtain power, etc… they still can't do without me.

Although thinking this far might be a bit premature, it is indeed something that could happen.

So, this matter needs to be resolved quickly.

And, I still have many things to do with the Academy Head, not just the matter of the Fool's Dream's bodies and their placement, but also many other things, for example… the situation with the Grand Spellbook.

I can't protect the Grand Spellbook.

The only one who can protect it is probably an existence at the level of the Academy Head.

This isn't a problem that can be solved by the Academy Head just saying she'll let me keep the Grand Spellbook safely.

Rather, before I become a Transcendent Witch, the only way I can possess the Grand Spellbook is through an "exchange."

Lend the Grand Spellbook to the Academy Head through a contract, letting the Academy Head bear the pressure for me, while the true owner is me.

After the storm has passed, and I have the ability to research the Grand Spellbook, this exchange contract can be terminated.

This is already the optimal solution at present.

There is only one reason for this compromise, and that is that I don't have the strength to suppress everything, so strength is also very important.

It can be said that since I possessed the Grand Spellbook, the pressure I have been carrying has far surpassed that of my peers, and even the senior students.

Perhaps Big Sis Bai is right, I really need to learn what it means to balance work and rest.

Now I still have a few days to rest and catch my breath, because the Academy Head needs to face enemies from outside the world.

The Academy Head told me it would probably be delayed by a few days, but it's not clear exactly how many.

After the Academy Head returns, many things can continue.

And now, I still have a few things to do, for example… I want to "replicate" my favorite mixed-flavor fruit juice from the Fool's Village secret realm, the Fool's Dream Drink.

I had previously intentionally collected the seeds of those plants, originally thinking of planting them when I got back, and even learned the technique of preparing the Fool's Dream Drink from the Fool's Dream.

Now it seems that this Fool's Dream Drink I have mastered and those seeds are the only legacy of the former Fool's Dream.

I plan to teach this technique to them again after the Fool's Dream have acquired new shells.

It can be considered the master teaching the apprentice, and the apprentice then teaching the master.

“Little Han, where are you planning to go?”

After walking out of the coffee shop, I had already changed into my previous disguise.

After all, my original appearance was somewhat well-known, and even Teacher Ji Niang told me to keep a low profile.

The news that the explosion of this secret realm was my handiwork had been spread by those few people on the academy network, and many seniors were already waiting for the academy to issue a compensation announcement.

But unfortunately, they won't be getting that notice.

“Mm… I plan to take advantage of these few days of free time to get done what I want to do.”

“Things you want to do?”

Bai Yu raised her eyebrows slightly, not expecting me to suddenly have things I wanted to do, “I'll accompany you? What is it?”

“Mm, okay. Big Sis Bai, do you remember the most impressive drink you had in the Fool's Village secret realm?”

I asked with a smile.

“Mm… that seems to be… the Fool's Dream Drink? You told me that drinking it would allow you to see the so-called revelations more clearly.”

“That's right, the Fool's Dream Drink! I want to replicate it. After the Fool's Dream clan is settled in the academy, I plan to return this technique to them.”

“Huh? But the fruits needed for that Fool's Dream Drink… oh… you collected the seeds, you foresaw this?”

“How could that be! I don't have foresight. Originally, I just wanted to bring some seeds back to plant. That fruit tastes very good even when eaten alone.”

“That's true.”

Big Sis Bai also nodded in agreement.

In the Fool's Village, besides eating her own dry rations, the things she ate the most were the various fruits there.

“Then where are you going?”

“Me… I met two seniors in the secret realm before, it was a brief encounter. She seems to have a contracted plantation, and she herself is a planter. I think she probably won't refuse to cultivate new seeds.”

I recalled those two seniors.

I remember I kept their contact information.

The planter senior seemed to be called… Sofili?

Even if it's not convenient for them, planters should have their own circles.

Maybe they can recommend other seniors to me.

“Seniors you know?”

“Yeah, what's wrong?”

I looked at Big Sis Bai in confusion, not knowing why she was focusing on that word.

It couldn't be jealousy, right?

“I met them when I tried a secret realm for the first time, we teamed up temporarily. At that time, I was just experiencing it, entering the lowest-level secret realm with a single Red Copper threshold.”

In the end, I still explained a little.

“Little Han, you can call me next time you go to a secret realm. Teaming up with strangers is very dangerous, understand?”

“I know, I know Geez, Big Sis Bai, do you have a strange desire for control in weird places?”

“Con… control? No, I'm just worried you'll be taken advantage of. You're going to find that senior now, right? I'll go with you to have a look. To be able to contract an entire plantation… you can't do that without some means and connections. Maybe she's temporarily managing the plantation for her mentor, and the rest of the space is at her free disposal.”

“There's such a thing?”

“Of course, when you choose a mentor in your fourth year, you must be careful.”

“Mhm, mhm, I know.”

I agreed, but according to what Teacher Ji Niang said, if nothing unexpected happens, my mentor at that time will probably still be Teacher Ji Niang.