The Speedrun Manual of Miss Witch

Chapter 289.1: A Race Against Time to Unlock the Old Days

[TL Note: Hi everyone! I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting so long, and I truly appreciate your patience. I'm finally back! Just to let you know, I'll be replacing "Lord Ciel" with "Lady Ciel" from this chapter onward. I also plan to revise the older chapters whenever I have some free time.]"Are you ready?"

In the study, Avena's voice drifted from across the room. She looked at Ciel, who had changed into light, thin clothes suitable for observing bodily changes, with a hint of worry in her eyes.

Although she was very willing to believe Ciel, the education and experiences she had received since stepping into the transcendent realm continuously told her that a single person could not digest potions from different paths, even if they were just Tier 1 potions.

These were two completely different powers. Different potions entering the body would only furiously compete for control of the body, brain, and mind, until the person who drank the potion was driven completely mad and their body was entirely corroded and rotten.

Therefore, Avena had to be fully prepared, carefully observing every minute error in Ciel's mind—this could at least preserve Ciel's mind… though it might ultimately leave her, like Nia, ravaged by potion erosion, without a human appearance.

Adele, too, held a complete set of restraint tools, ready at any moment to bind Ciel should she undergo any mutation.

The current Adele somewhat regretted not trying to advance to "Reborn." If she were a "Reborn" now, she could help Ciel with more ease… This was the first time Adele felt dissatisfied with her own strength.

Among these few people, Tara was probably the calmest. She firmly believed Ciel could digest both potions simultaneously—she believed this was not digestion, but merely Ciel reclaiming her original power.

"I'm ready…" Ciel looked at their formidable setup and said nothing.

Digesting two potions was not a particularly difficult task for Ciel, as she had done similar things in simulations, even achieving the "feat" of digesting three potions in one day.

Of course, she also knew how astounding such a feat was to ordinary transcendents, so she didn't think Avena and Adele were overreacting.

Ciel raised her left hand and looked at the "Ascetic" potion in it.

The "Ascetic" potion was not as unique as the "Avenger" potion. It was not monopolized by the Church of the Savior Goddess and the Divine Advent Church. Many churches had potions and reconstitution rituals for "Ascetic" and its subsequent paths internally.

Because the subsequent Tier 2 "Missionary" of this path was indispensable to all organizations and churches, facilitating their missionary work and various other activities.

However, almost all existing reconstitution rituals, starting from the "Ascetic" stage, preached one concept—that is, faith.

Whether "Ascetic" or "Missionary," extreme piety was required. And for the subsequent Tier 3 "Radiant Bishop," it was even more so. One even had to consider oneself a "symbol" or "incarnation" of the object of faith to complete the reconstitution ritual.

For Ciel, who had no divine faith at all, this was the most difficult and challenging part.

The pure white liquid in the crystal bottle stirred, forming a stark contrast with the black, misty liquid of the "Avenger" potion.

She directly pulled out the stopper, and at the same time, the silver watch face in her right eye appeared.

Click——

Echo of Time.

The moment Echo of Time activated, Ciel looked up and drank the potion in her hand in one gulp.

Ciel had already consumed close to twenty potions, but the moment the "Ascetic" potion entered her mouth, it still gave Ciel a feeling of surprise.

This… could be considered the sweetest potion Ciel had ever drunk… it was even quite palatable.

The warm "Ascetic" potion flowed down Ciel's throat. Unlike the concept of suffering for others proclaimed by the "Ascetic" reconstitution ritual, the "Ascetic" potion felt more like a delicious nectar tasted after enduring countless hardships.

However, this illusion flashed through Ciel's mind for an instant, then vanished directly.

Because the potion's side effects had already begun to manifest in Ciel's body.

Yes… Ciel had essentially not completed many reconstitution rituals for the "Ascetic" potion. Even the concept of "suffering for others" had rarely applied to Ciel.

She acted more for herself, for her friends and loved ones, inherently possessing a subjective "selfishness," which was precisely the opposite of the "Ascetic" potion that emphasized "selfless dedication."

The originally warm potion began to burn within Ciel's body. As the potion permeated her blood vessels and internal organs, traveling throughout her body, terrifying whispers also rang out in Ciel's mind…

Why… why…

You wish… you wish…

Disordered whispers suddenly erupted in Ciel's mind, but this made Ciel abruptly open her eyes, which were filled with shock.

This was the first time she understood the whispers…

Unlike the meaningless, chaotic language that merely affected her emotions and mind after drinking other potions, these whispers were interspersed with clear and distinct Old Ansu language.

These Old Ansu words were mixed within the normal potion whispers… and…

Ciel recognized whose voice it was. Although she had only heard it a few times, she felt she would never forget this deranged voice in her life.

This was Sadhana's voice…

Their voice, actually in the potion's whispers?

This gave Ciel the feeling of having her mortal enemy's invigilator as her own invigilator during an exam.

But soon, Ciel's emotions slowly calmed down.

Because she found that Sadhana was merely muttering repeated whispers, with no intention of targeting her, and did not explicitly say the name "Ciel."

Ciel could confirm that other "Ascetic" transcendents definitely couldn't hear Sadhana's voice.

Because Tara had explicitly stated that she had never heard Sadhana's response during prayer, which was why she was so excited that she jumped into the sea when she heard the Divine Servant's response.

Ciel didn't know if this was a good thing or a bad thing. She could no longer think about it, because her body had already begun to manifest abnormal changes…

Intense pain, as if tearing her skin, began to appear on Ciel's back.

The pain made Ciel instinctively bend slightly, arching her back.

In her ears, she seemed to vaguely hear, besides the whispers, Adele's and Avena's anxious cries.

Rip——

Ciel's thin clothes and skin were torn together. A pair of membrane-like insect wings with silver patterns unfurled behind Ciel.

They vibrated gently. The buzzing of that vibration was like the whisper of an ancient entity, captivating and driving one to madness.

Calm down…

Ciel maintained her thoughts. She slowly opened her eyes and looked forward.

Her vision had completely recovered. She even felt a clarity she had never experienced before. This was not because her eyes had healed, but because her eyes had now become like the compound eyes of an insect.

The outside was covered with a hard shell that had a faint white halo. Inside were dense, golden-yellow, tiny compound eyes. This bore some resemblance to a Divine Servant.

Ciel looked at the anxious Adele and Avena before her, and also saw Tara kneeling devoutly and reciting some prayer. She slowly raised her hand, wanting to see her own appearance at that moment, when the scene before her flickered, then quickly dimmed.

The time for "Echo of Time" was up. The moment Ciel completed the Tier 1 "Ascetic" reconstitution ritual, her body returned to the state originally saved by "Echo of Time."

"Huuu…"

Ciel breathed a sigh of relief. After a slight gasp, she activated "Precognitive Sight" and looked at the three people before her.

"It's alright, I managed it." Ciel forced a smile and offered comfort.

The whispers that had almost entirely occupied her thoughts just now seemed to still echo in her mind, leaving Ciel momentarily unable to fully come to her senses.

Avena, meanwhile, quickly stepped forward, swiftly checking Ciel's mind.

"Too dangerous… Ciel… the 'Ascetic' potion isn't suitable for you," Adele was also beside her, wanting to help, but unable to interrupt Avena's examination. She could only recount what had just happened, "Your body mutated… only transcendents who are about to go mad show such changes…"

Because she read about and encountered more transcendent casualties than others, Adele was very familiar with this situation, which made her understand just how dangerous Ciel's situation was earlier.

"No."

At this moment, Tara, who was still kneeling on the ground, spoke directly, which was unprecedented, and refuted Adele.