Ding...
One day, while Lan Qingyou was sitting at her magic desk writing her 《Flying Monster Encyclopedia》, a private message notification chimed on her card.
Her train of thought, which had been flowing smoothly, was interrupted, forcing her to put down her pen.
Stretching her neck, Lan Qingyou picked up the card to see who had messaged her.
She had expected it to be Chu Yuan, but to her surprise, it was actually Alice. It was rare for that girl to send a private message.
Curious, Lan Qingyou opened the chat box and learned that Cynthia had finished the first batch of flying magic brooms and distributed them to the members of the Witch Group.
Now, the first batch of twenty-two witches, led by Alice, was about to arrive at Typhon City.
Alice had mentioned this in the group chat earlier, but since Lan Qingyou hadn't replied, Alice eventually decided to notify her via private message.
Seriously... does she expect me to go out and welcome them at the city gates?
Lan Qingyou grumbled to herself.
Despite her complaints, she didn't idle. She took out her magic broom and flew out of her shelter.
While going out to meet them might be an exaggeration, her presence was necessary because of her Magic Eye. She needed to explain things to the witches who intended to recruit familiars.
Besides, she wanted to see for herself how the monsters attracted by the Perching Giant Tree were being tamed.
Though she knew that a witch's familiar was different from a tamed monster, she still wanted to take a look.
After all, she planned to turn this into a business, so she called Diana along as well.
As soon as Diana, the chief administrator, heard the news, she rushed to the scene.
The members of the Witch Group led by Alice arrived shortly after.
The platform in the 'industrial park' on the south side had been built long ago.
It was massive, about two or three hundred meters long, with ten magic circles lined up in a row.
Now, these girls only needed to stand on the magic circles on the platform and send out a mental call to the monsters on the giant tree ahead. If a flying monster took a liking to them and felt they were a good match, it would fly down to sign a contract.
To put it simply, the monster chose the person, not the other way around.
How should one put it?
If no monster took a liking to you, the fee you paid for this attempt would essentially be wasted.
Phrased that way, most people would understand.
“A wide-area mental spell?”
When the first batch of ten witches stood on the magic circles, they didn't call out immediately. Instead, they looked down to examine the construction of the circles.
“No, I think it's a mental-type one.”
“They're basically the same. Why fuss over it?”
“Hey, there's still a bit of a difference between those two categories.”
“Exactly. It feels like the difference between a zombie and a skeleton.”
“What kind of ghost of a metaphor is that...”
They were all students of magic circles, so it was only natural to study one before using it.
Furthermore, the structure of these triple-nested magic circles clearly came from the Boss himself. If they didn't learn something from it, wouldn't this trip be for nothing?
Consequently, some took out their cards and started snapping photos.
They intended to save the images and take them back for research.
It had to be said that the Witch race seemed to have an innate obsession with research. Even at a time like this, they didn't forget to add a little more to their scientific foundation.
“Alright, alright. Let's get the main business done quickly. There are three more batches of people waiting to rotate in after us.”
As the leader, Alice couldn't stand it any longer and urged them from the side.
However, her words earned her eye-rolls from all the witches standing on the magic circles.
“Then why don't you put down the card in your hand before you talk?”
Indeed.
She was also taking photos, and because she was standing outside the magic circles, she was being even more unscrupulous about it.
Of course, besides her, the other eleven witches outside the magic circles were doing the same.
Lan Qingyou didn't say anything, and neither did Diana or the other witches who would later become the managers here.
After all, they were witches too; they naturally understood the thirst and passion for research.
To be honest, if their specialties and research directions hadn't leaned toward management and education, they probably would have followed the example of the Witch Group and found a place they liked in the Abandoned Land to live in seclusion.
However...
“This batch of flying magic brooms looks quite good.”
While the Witch Group was studying the magic circles, Diana was examining the flying magic brooms they had brought.
They were of similar specifications, clearly mass-produced models. Diana nodded in approval.
With these flying magic brooms, everyone's mobility and combat capabilities would increase by more than a level.
Margaret's overtime work to rush the production of the flight cores had not been in vain.
The manufacturing process for the flying magic brooms was actually not complicated.
As long as the finished flight cores were given to Cynthia, the Thorn Witch, she could attach them to the trunks during planting. The trees would then grow to directly envelop the cores inside.
Once the tree finished growing, all that was left was to tidy up the question-mark-shaped handle and install the magic lantern, mana thruster, and broom bristles.
This was why Cynthia could produce them so easily.
Of course, due to the time pressure and the constant nagging from the Witch Group members, Cynthia had been assigned to the very last batch. As a result, she was still back home, miserably rushing to finish the remaining brooms.
On the platform, once the photos of the magic circles were finished, everyone turned serious.
“Boss, for this call, do we have to say it out loud or just recite it in our hearts?”
One of the witches in the magic circle asked Lan Qingyou.
“In your heart is fine.”
“Got it.”
With Lan Qingyou's answer, the ten witches began their final preparations.
When everything was ready, the ten of them stood tall. Some placed their hands over their hearts, while others raised a hand to pinch the brim of their hats.
However, those seemingly normal poses collapsed in the very next second—
“O flames darker than darkness itself, forge a contract with me and become a trusted partner on the battlefield...”
“I am no lover of war, but should you crave battle, I shall accompany you on this journey...”
“If the weight of the crown and scepter is the proof of my vow to protect life and glory...”
“Pollia, Nightshade, Paris, Knotweed, Hyacinth... let the mana drifting on the wind connect us...”
“I am a woman burdened by deep sin. If you can accept such a one as I, then please, come to my side...”
“Above and below the heavens, I alone am the honored one. If the heavens will not suffer my existence, I shall defy them!”
“Wait! Wait! What on earth are you all doing?!”
Lan Qingyou, who had been focused and ready to observe, immediately called out for them to stop, her face flushing with embarrassment at the edgy, chunibyo lines these witches were reciting.
Rate on N.U.
