Chapter 41: Equal Trading

Chapter 41: Equal Exchange

Small portraits of Sylph and Vasita appeared on the card, along with their personal information.

Their race, rank, and magic level were all the same as Moran's.

Only the mana stat was slightly different.

Vasita's read: "[Mana: 888/888 Mana]."

Sylph's read: "[Mana: 300/900 Mana]."

Their current mana reserves were higher than Moran's, but their total mana capacity was slightly lower.

"This is too precise!" the two exclaimed in surprise.

"It looks like I even gained 1 point of mana! During the talent test, it measured 887 mana," Vasita said. She hadn't felt any increase in her mana until now.

"Mine hasn't changed," Sylph added.

"The greatest value of this card now lies in displaying the mana amount," Moran nodded.

After all, things like race, rank, and magic level were things everyone already had an idea about, even without a card to display them.

Only the mana amount was something people couldn't monitor accurately; they could only make rough judgments based on energy auras.

"Why haven't you three gone to class yet?"

There was a flight class this morning. Lilith couldn't sleep, so she had woken up a bit earlier than usual.

When she went to the backyard to pick vegetables for breakfast, she saw the three of them huddled together, plotting in front of Sylph's courtyard.

Unable to resist, she climbed over the fence to join them.

The three little witches patted their chests in lingering fear.

They hadn't seen their senior all day yesterday, and her sudden appearance was quite startling.

Moran also happily told Senior Lilith about the cards.

"So much progress in just one day?" Lilith was extremely surprised. "But... you can share them with other witches and mages without signing a Witch Contract?"

"Yes! It's not considered mature witch magic yet," Moran explained. "Senior Lilith, let me make one for you too!"

Lilith shook her head in disapproval.

"Even if it isn't mature witch magic, you can still sign a contract to receive compensation!

I know you mean well by giving us these cards, but doing this isn't necessarily a good thing.

Today you give cards to the three of us, and when the other little witches find out, they'll want them too. Will you give them away as well?

If you give them away this time, will you also give away any other cards you make in the future?

You are in the academy where everyone around you is a witch. If you were out in the wilderness, this kind of generosity without considering gains or losses would only invite those who only care about profit to take advantage of you."

"Don't worry, Senior! There's a saying from my previous life: 'A small kindness can breed a great enemy.' I won't just scatter my wealth to strangers," Moran explained. "As for the little witches, they are all good people. The cost of making a character card isn't high; I can afford to give one to every little witch in the school."

She could afford to be so generous to the little witches because, deep down, she felt that witches were not people who lacked boundaries; they were trustworthy.

That was the culture of witches—they would never take someone's kindness for granted.

This was why the contributions of the Council were never in vain. The witch race was loose and free, but absolutely united.

Even without the constraints of contracts, there had never been instances of kin killing kin in witch history.

After all, only women with truly pure hearts could be chosen by the Will of Valen in times of desperation to evolve into witches!

If a little bit of recoverable mana could help everyone observe their own status more clearly, why not?

Of course, she truly hadn't known before that contracts could be signed for trade even if it wasn't witch magic.

Seeing that she still hadn't grasped the gravity of the situation, Lilith's tone became more serious.

"Even if you only do this for the witches, it's still not good.

Witches won't take your kindness for granted, but once they accept your gift, they will inevitably find a way to repay you.

If you give us these cards for free, will we charge you compensation for our witch magic in the future?

Our talent manifestations are not like your cards; your mana is only consumed during the creation process, while the energy used otherwise is provided by the user.

If you give us the usage rights for free, then every time we use witch magic, we will be consuming your mana.

But if we don't give you the usage rights for free, we have already taken your cards for nothing.

How would the other little witches repay your favor?

It would be better to sign a contract from the start and pay compensation to obtain your cards!

Remember, among witches, equal exchange is often more welcome than reciprocal gift-giving!

I need this card too, but I only want to exchange for it through a contract with you."

Moran was stunned. It was just a character card costing 10 mana; she had never expected the little witches to repay her, but would they really not?

She looked at Sylph and Vasita.

"Moran! If contracts can be signed even if it's not magic, then let's pay some mana and sign a contract! You need mana to study the Book of Cards too, don't you?" Vasita said.

"Senior Lilith, Moran just doesn't understand the specifics of Witch Contracts. She didn't know that non-witch magic could also be used for contracts, which is why she gave them to us directly," Sylph added.

Hearing this, Vasita also explained for Moran: "Exactly! Moran is a soul from another world. It's normal for her to be a bit unaccustomed to the social rules among witches due to the influence of her past life."

Lilith's expression did not soften. She stared at Moran, determined to make her understand this principle.

Otherwise, she feared Moran would suffer losses in the future.

Seeing the reactions of Vasita and Sylph, Moran understood. She said willingly, "You're right, Senior! I didn't think it through. Please teach me how to make a Witch Contract!"

Only then did Lilith breathe a sigh of relief.

"The difficulty of a Witch Contract has never been the contract itself, but the witch magic.

Since this doesn't involve the issue of borrowing magic, it won't be that troublesome; ordinary contract magic will suffice.

You should have learned Golden Pen Technique yesterday, right? Just use the Golden Pen Technique to write the contract, specify what both parties must provide, and then sign it."

Moran understood. "Wait for me a moment."

She ran home, grabbed a stack of parchment, and then used the Golden Pen Technique to mimic the witch magic contracts of Lady Tracy and Lady Carmella. She wrote out three copies and brought them out for Senior Lilith and the others to see.

"Willing to pay a one-time fee of 50 mana, or a one-time magical energy equivalent to 50 mana, to purchase one {Character Card - Apprentice - Unbound} from the witch Moran, with the energy consumption during the use of said card to be borne by the user?"

When Lilith read "50 mana magical energy," her voice went shrill.

"Moran, were you perhaps a goblin in your past life?"

Thinking of the cunning and greedy goblin images in the *Little Witch Series*, Moran wrinkled her nose. "Senior, don't slander me! I was a genuine human in my past life—law-abiding and never once did anything bad!"