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Translator's note: Everyone goes to a magic school by train, huh?
Luffy’s ramblings: I wanna go to a magic school too!
Sakuchow yelling: Take me with you! I can cook!
Although I planned to crash at Bai Yu’s place for a while, I couldn’t just lounge around like some freeloader, mooching off her food and space. So, I picked up a part-time job nearby.
It didn’t pay much—barely enough to call it a wage—but at least it was something.
As for tuition… well, if push came to shove, I’d have to borrow from Bai Yu. Time was running out, and to be honest, I hadn’t exactly planned things out. But I swore I’d pay her back. I hated owing anyone—it gnawed at me like a bad itch.
The admission letter arrived faster than I expected—way faster. The vacation had barely begun, and there it was, right in my hands.
I tore it open, heart pounding, and read that the Witch School encouraged students to arrive early to get a feel for campus life.
And get this—they were offering subsidies for male students! Talk about a dream school.
As long as they didn’t force me into anything sketchy, I’d be singing their praises to anyone who would listen.
The first person I wanted to share the news with was Bai Yu. My parents? Yeah, not a chance.
Telling them would’ve just been setting myself up for embarrassment. Lately, they’d been all about my younger brother—like I didn’t even exist.
It wasn’t anything new. Back home, I was always the invisible one, the scapegoat for everything. And my brother, picking up on their behavior, followed right along.
“Hey, sis, check it out—the admission letter’s here!” I said, waving the torn envelope like a victory flag. “Come on, I’m officially in now. Isn’t it time you spilled some details about your old school?”
Bai Yu took the letter from my hand, her eyes scanning it with a faint smile.
“Not much to say,” she replied coolly. “The Witch School trains witches. You’ll see for yourself when you get there.”
“Always so mysterious,” I muttered, trailing after her as she walked toward the bedroom. “Wait, what are you doing?”
“Packing,” she said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “We’re leaving soon.”
“Leaving? Already?” I froze, caught completely off guard. “I literally just got the letter!”
She glanced back at me, her tone firm. “You’re a guy. It’s better to arrive early. Trust me.”
I opened my mouth to ask why that even mattered, but the look on her face shut me down. Instead, I stepped aside as she rummaged through her things, dragging out two massive suitcases.
A few minutes later, Bai Yu emerged, hauling both suitcases behind her.
“Whoa, sis—are you moving out or something?” I joked. It honestly looked like she’d packed up her entire life.
“Pretty much,” she replied, shoving one of the suitcases toward me.
“Got it, I’ll carry it for you,” I said instinctively, reaching for the handle. After freeloading off her for the past few days, playing the part of her personal porter was the least I could do.
“No, that one’s yours,” Bai Yu corrected flatly. “You carry it. This one’s mine—and trust me, you couldn’t lift it even if I let you.”
“Wait—what? Mine?” I blinked, completely thrown. “But I’ve only been here a few days! All my stuff’s right here—in my hands!”
“Just take it,” she said, cutting me off. “And don’t open it halfway. If it spills, I’m not helping you repack.”
“Uh… okay, fine,” I mumbled, reluctantly grabbing the handle. It didn’t feel heavy, but I couldn’t shake the nagging curiosity about what was inside.
With that, I followed Bai Yu out the door. Before leaving, I stole a quick glance back toward my family house—not far away, just a stone’s throw really. But not once had they come by. Not to check on me, not even to yell at me.
If they’d bothered to chew me out, at least it’d mean I still had some value in their eyes. Now? It was clear they’d written me off to fend for myself.
Good riddance, I guess. It saved me the hassle of getting a new SIM card.
We made our way to the bus stop, a straight shot from her place to the train station. From there, a high-speed train would whisk us off to the big city—Magicaeopolis, or “the Mag” as some call it.
It’s one of the cities in this world, a gleaming, first-tier hub of everything that matters.
The Witch School and the Mag? They felt like a perfect match. I couldn’t help but wonder where in that sprawling, expensive-as-hell city the school was tucked away. Every inch of that place had to be worth its weight in gold.
Suitcase in tow, I climbed aboard the bus with Bai Yu, my stomach doing little flips. This was my first time venturing so far from home— though “home” wasn’t the right word anymore. Let’s call it my first real journey, one that’d take me straight to my destination.
Even in my past life, I’d always stuck to my little corner of the world, too scared to step out.
Maybe I owed my parents a twisted thank-you for this one. Their neglect had pushed me here, to this moment.
The bus rumbled along, and I pressed my face to the window, soaking in the scenery—views I’d never seen before, alive with colors and shapes that felt almost unreal.
“Yuehan, what’s on your mind?” Bai Yu’s voice broke through my thoughts.
“Nothing… just zoning out,” I said, turning away from the window to meet her steady gaze.
“Regretting it already?”
“Regret? No way.” I straightened up, my voice firm. “I’ve never been so sure I’m doing the right thing.”
Sometimes, you had to force yourself forward. Once you got moving, the road ahead kept you too distracted to dwell on the what-ifs.
The views along the way pulled you in, leaving no room for hesitation. Doubts only crept in when you stopped—so why stop? What could possibly be worse than having nothing left to lose?“Well then, good luck,” Bai Yu said, a faint, knowing smile tugging at her lips.
She didn’t elaborate, just pulled out a phone—a sleek, old-school model that looked nothing like today’s flashy designs.
She tapped away at it, chatting with someone. I caught a glimpse of “The Witch School” etched into the back.The vibrant blur of the world outside started to overwhelm my eyes, so I turned my attention to my own phone.
The excitement began to fade, replaced by a familiar knot of worry. I opened my browser and started digging for anything I could find about the Witch School.
Nothing. Not a single useful scrap.
The internet had been scrubbed clean—apparently, when it came to transcendental academies, they didn’t mess around.