Chapter 26: Requesting Punishment

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“Earning money is very useful indeed, but the gains would not outweigh the losses if it affected my studies and training. The Talent Spirits from the sacrificial altar might not be the ones I want. Furthermore, the probability of me obtaining a power talent is minuscule. I can only obtain ordinary talents. Also, many of the talents cannot directly increase my ability, but will only transform into stronger powers with enough training and knowledge.

“So, even if I were to focus on making money, I’d have to reduce the time I spent doing it. I should either employ someone or work together with someone.

“As for studying and training…”

Su Ye used the second lesson to conduct a detailed comparative analysis. Finally, he clenched his teeth and made a hard choice regarding his long-term future.

“For at least the next month, I’ll give up on training and making money. I’ll first gain knowledge and build up a good foundation. It’ll be more efficient for me to start making money in a month after I have gained a greater understanding of this world. Only long-term benefits are true benefits. All short-term benefits can potentially become a disaster. Once I am used to short-term benefits, I might not be able to see long-term benefits, or I might even voluntarily give up on them.

“I will not be a rat in a vat of rice!”

Su Ye read the table he made once again, then read the analysis he wrote on the bottom of the table. He formalized his plan.

Su Ye knew that he would have made the same decision even if he did not think about it during the two lessons.

However, writing it down was akin to making a promise to himself. It was akin to making something subconscious concrete. It gave his brain a sufficient sense of security, made him more willing to do it, and made the plan easier to execute. He would not resist the plan.

After a moment’s deliberation, Su Ye added a sentence to the bottom of the page.

If there were no records, then it never happened.

Su Ye looked at the sentence and emotions welled up in his heart.

Throughout the years, Su Ye had always trusted his brain, valued his intuition, and thought that he was intelligent and knew how to think. However, he changed his way of thinking after he faced obstacles, time and time again. He no longer relied purely on his brain but would record events down in their entirety and make use of various methods to analyze them.

The result was that Su Ye achieved an unprecedented improvement in everything he knew. His life had undergone a remarkable change.

After he made his decision, Su Ye continued with the math he was working on in the morning.

Su Ye did not flip open his textbook, nor did he open his notes. Instead, he chose a blank piece of paper and drew a mind map from his memory.

Through the process, not only did Su Ye strengthen his memory about the mathematical concepts, but he even sorted them out and became more aware of the relationship between the different key points. He had completed the entire process from the input of knowledge to its output.

However, Su Ye had forgotten several key points.

Su Ye did not feel disheartened but was happy instead. The key points that he forgot were likely those that he did not understand deeply enough but had previously convinced himself that he understood.

Su Ye returned to his notes and read through them quickly. He focused on the key points he had forgotten.

Then, Su Ye used his method of recall once again and retrieved the key points, supplementing his mind map.

After several cycles of recalling and flipping through his notes, Su Ye had completed the mind map of all of the key points in last year’s math textbook by the end of the second to last class.

Su Ye felt that his brain had been squeezed dry. He felt dizzy.

At the same time, he had an extraordinary sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, and joy.

Su Ye savored this feeling that made him really good.

Strengthening the reward.

Ring…

The bell for dismissal rang.

Su Ye sat in his seat with a dazed look. He had expended all of his energy.

“Su Ye, are you alright?” Hort looked at Su Ye with worry.

“I’m alright.”

Su Ye lifted his spirits forcefully after he spoke, then walked out the classroom with his spellbook.

“Where are you going?”

“Looking for a teacher… to accept punishment.”

Hort was confused. He followed Su Ye as he saw that Su Ye was not in good shape.

Palos glanced at Su Ye’s back, then continued to bury her head in her book.

Su Ye quickly found the building where the teachers for the second-years were located. The building was split into multiple rooms.

Su Ye found Niedern’s room and knocked on the door. He gave a polite half-bow and said, “Good afternoon, Teacher.”

Niedern looked at Su Ye, shocked. He then remembered what had happened in the morning. He did not expect this student to be this polite. He had even knocked, bowed, and greeted him. Compared to Su Ye, the other students were barbarians from Northern Europe.

“Mm.” Niedern nodded.

Su Ye had on a remorseful look. “Teacher Niedern, I feel bad for being late in the morning, and I could not absorb any of the lesson today. My heart was filled with pain…”

“Then did the pain reduce after you beat Hutton?” Niedern interrupted Su Ye, his tone a little mischievous.

Su Ye froze. He thought in his heart, “Was it alright for a teacher to tease a student like this?”

Su Ye pretended not to hear him and continued, “Thus, I have decided to punish myself to correct my behavior in school!”

Niedern looked at Su Ye, dumbfounded. There was even a glint of doubt in his fake left eye.

Su Ye continued, “Please punish me by making me serve the students in the class. I have already thought about what the punishment could be. Before dismissal every day, I am going to look for you and clarify all of the key points from the lesson during the day and go over what we should be revising at night. At the same time, I will also ask what the lesson will be for the next day and how we can prepare for them. Finally, I will write the contents for revision and preparation on the magic blackboard and serve the students!”

Niedern looked silently at Su Ye. He did not speak a word.

Sometime later, Su Ye probed, “Teacher Niedern, the kindest teacher in the whole of Plato Academy, what do you think?”

“You thought of all of this yourself?” Niedern questioned.

“That’s right, but my primary motive is to punish myself and show that the Plato Academy is fair and just. Otherwise, I would not want to do this.” Su Ye let out a look of frustration.

Niedern deliberated silently for a moment before he asked, “Tell me honestly, have you been studying theatre, with a focus on performance, during summer break?”

“Teacher, please trust your student!” Su Ye had a determined look on.

Niedern smiled slightly and nodded. “Alright. I approve of this punishment. Let’s do it for a month. In a month later, anybody who’s late will receive the same punishment…”

Su Ye said decisively, “Teacher, please punish me for a year at least! Only this can help me remember my lesson. Only this way will make the other students take me as a good example and realize the harm brought by being late.”

Niedern stared at Su Ye for a while longer, then nodded gently. “Since you have the spirit, I promise you.”

Su Ye flipped open his notebook and said, “Class today was focused on revising last year’s material, and it was very complicated. There is no way to revise that, and so we do not have to get the students to do any revisions. Then, Teacher Niedern, what are the topics and subjects we should prepare for when we get home tonight? What are the key points?”

Niedern did not have to look at his spellbook. He said, “I will be conducting the classes for Fundamental Magic, Giant Language, and Meditation tomorrow. You have to read up on the first chapter beforehand for the Fundamental Magic class. It focuses on the four basic elements of earth, fire, wind, and water in the magical world, the unique points of the magic used in the four great nations, and fundamental spells for an apprentice…”

Niedern spoke at a steady pace, and Su Ye recorded his words down quickly. The session soon ended.

“Thank you, Teacher Niedern. I’ll go look for the other teachers now.”

“You are not going to use a magic message?” Niedern asked.

“The results of the punishment won’t be good that way!” Su Ye’s answer was incredibly determined.

Niedern nodded gently. He seemed to be in thought.

“Then I’ll go and ask the other teachers that have classes tomorrow now. Goodbye, Teacher.”

Su Ye once again gave a half-bow, then turned to leave.

Niedern’s voice rang out when Su Ye had just put one foot out of the office door.

“Learn less about theater next time!” Niedern’s tone had a splash of joy in it.

Su Ye left quickly. He thought in his heart: Where was the stern yet kind teacher? How was he stern? How was he kind?