"I Became a Witch, but Now Everyone's in Love with Me!"

Chapter 17: He Qin Hates Bitter Things
 

"Hahahaha~ Chabao, you were amazing! You even shocked Teacher Carol. Her face was priceless!"
As they exited the classroom, Carol heard Lina's loud laughter echoing behind them. She clenched her fists but kept walking calmly, expression unreadable.
'You're dead, you little brat.'

Meanwhile, Jiang Cha just gave Lina a helpless smile. "It’s nothing. You could’ve done it too."
"No way! I had help from the Dragon Heart’s fire affinity, but you did that purely with control. Totally different level."
Even though Lina had mentally prepared herself, she was still genuinely impressed. Most spell models capped out at 50% mana utilization due to their structural limits. Jiang Cha had just pushed the boundaries.

In fact, when Carol checked their progress before class ended, Jiang Cha enhanced a regular Fireball using inscription manipulation, creating a blazing orb nearly five meters in diameter—twice as hot as usual.
"Technically speaking, that wasn't a Fireball anymore," He Qin said with a chuckle. "Developing new spells as a first-year... that’s sage-level talent."
Jiang Cha’s inherent magic was admittedly powerful, but in the world of witches, every inherent magic was unique and often overpowered. Some, like hers, had no clear upper limit.

There was even a current sage whose inherent magic started as a simple Lightning Arrow—same as Jiang # Nоvеlight # Cha's—but had evolved into a planet-busting thunderbolt over time, with virtually no increase in mana cost.
He Qin believed her own potential wasn’t any lower. If nurtured, her inherent magic could go just as far.
"It’s just a small improvement. Anyway, what are your plans? More reading? There’s still a lot I want to learn."

Though flattered by her roommates' praise, Jiang Cha felt a tinge of guilt. She reminded herself not to get complacent. In this unfamiliar world, caution was still necessary.
After all, she didn’t even know where she truly came from.
"Hey! You’re making me study again!" Lina pouted.

"Lina-chan doesn’t have to follow us," He Qin said gently, patting her head.
"Ugh, why aren’t any of my roommates combat witches?! My life is tragic!"
Lina struck a proud pose, hands on hips. Jiang Cha couldn't help but laugh.

"Pfft!"
"Hey! What are you laughing—hahahaha!"
Even He Qin chuckled.
It was never boring with these two.

"Okay, I’m off! Message me if you need anything~ Love you guys! Muah~!"
"Muamua~ Go already."
He Qin reminded her sweetly, "Don’t forget dinner."

"I know, I know!"
...
Reading time passed quickly. He Qin had grown used to the soft rustle of pages.

She glanced at Jiang Cha, bathed in sunlight, stretching like a cat. Her sleeves slid down, revealing her fair arms.
"Want some coffee?"
Jiang Cha closed her book and half-lidded her eyes, her voice gentle, affectionate.

It didn’t feel like a peer speaking, but more like a mature girl doting on a younger neighbor.
"I don’t like coffee."
He Qin missed the subtly grown-up look Jiang Cha wore sometimes. She stared blankly ahead, trying to rest her eyes.

"It’s too bitter."
"You don’t like bitter things?"
Jiang Cha mimicked He Qin’s posture, stretching across the desk, her arm brushing lightly against hers. Warm and cool sensations mixed.

The sunlight, the closeness, the girl's presence—it made He Qin blush slightly. But she forced herself to stay calm.
'Jiang Cha-chan, aren’t you being a bit too...’
Still, she kept a straight face.

"I hate everything bitter."
"There’s free magic coffee at the library front desk. Made by a magic doll with top-tier beans. Lina says it’s the only thing that keeps her focused for ten minutes."
"Sounds just like her."

They laughed. Jiang Cha leaned in and rested her head beside He Qin’s.
"But I think if it’s with you, He Qin, I’d prefer milk tea."
"Why?"

He Qin blinked.
"Because you feel like milk tea—warm, sweet, and comforting. You make people happy."
He Qin froze, her heart stuttering. She quickly sat up and forced a calm tone.

"Break’s over. Back to reading. Let me know if you need help."
"Okay."
Jiang Cha slowly got up, cat-like laziness still clinging to her. She now often leaned on He Qin while reading, seeking physical comfort as they studied together.

She needed to read slowly. The magic contamination was intense, and rushing would only exhaust her.
...
With time, Jiang Cha began to understand the depths of her inherent magic: [Information Collection].

Her brain evolved rapidly. From her initial three-stage adaptation, she’d now evolved eight times just by resisting knowledge contamination.
While other witches evolved only when studying, her mind was constantly upgrading.
Her computing power was also abnormally high. Even seasoned witches struggled to counter stronger spells with weaker ones, but Jiang Cha pulled it off instinctively.

Then there was the spirit coefficient.
This shouldn’t have been affected by her inherent magic, and yet... it was.
Possibly a mutation.

Researcher Maureen had noted her version of [Information Collection] was an enhanced, permanently solidified form.
While many witches shared their inherent magic online to earn money, Jiang Cha knew hers wouldn’t sell.
The upkeep cost was absurd.

It consumed 500 mana per ring per minute. Over 200 per second. Fixed consumption, no off switch.
Her 60,000+ mana pool barely covered it. Her recovery rate had been cut in half. Only witches with 100,000+ mana could handle it effortlessly.
And beyond raw capacity, magic strength also mattered.

Think of magic as cotton. Strength is how tightly it's compressed. Tighter means higher quality and impact.
Magic traits further modified recovery and potency, but that was something for Jiang Cha to consider later.
Lina’s magic was incredibly strong. She could achieve 10:1 efficiency in battle. With equal strength, 3:1 was already impressive.

Add her Red Dragon trait boosting fireballs... and the gap widened further.