Chapter 195 – Flight Shorts

Chapter 195 – Flight Shorts

The reason it was called crocodile-bull back leather rather than just crocodile-bull leather was because on an entire crocodile-bull, only the patch of skin on its back had this particular effect.

A crocodile-bull was no small creature, so even just the leather from its back could be used to make quite a few things.

The problem was that the piece of crocodile-bull back leather each young witch could claim wasn’t a whole piece—it was just a small piece.

Thirty centimeters on each side—not even as big as the rag she used to wipe tables!

Even making just a pair of shorts wouldn’t be enough material.

Mo Lan flipped open the design blueprints for “flight shorts” and discovered that there wasn’t just the luxury version she’d seen before—there was also a basic version.

The former was made entirely from crocodile-bull back leather.

The latter only used crocodile-bull back leather for the inner thighs, the crotch area, and the lower half of the buttocks.

Looking at it this way, this small piece of crocodile-bull back leather was perfectly sufficient for making a pair of basic flight shorts.

The Academy really wasn’t giving them a single extra scrap to work with!

Mo Lan counted—exactly twenty-seven pieces!

She had been hoping to use crocodile-bull back leather to make a waist guard, wrist guards, a seat cushion, and armor too!

“But can this really stump me?”

Mo Lan took out her scissors and snipped a tiny sliver of leather from the corner of her piece of crocodile-bull back leather, then fed it to the Book of Cards.

Before long, a card appeared in her hand. “Hehe, look—a {Material Card – Crocodile-Bull Back Leather}! Just like that!”

The words had barely left her mouth when the Headmistress’s decree arrived: “The sale of crocodile-bull back leather cards to ungraduated young witches is prohibited!”

The card had just come into existence and was already banned from sale.

“Headmistress, I understand banning the sale of finished Food Cards to make everyone properly learn Culinary Magic, but what’s the reason for banning crocodile-bull back leather?” Mo Lan didn’t understand.

“Gathering materials is also an ability that witches must master. There are crocodile-bulls in the outer regions of the Witch Academy. During the fifth-year trials, every young witch will have the opportunity to hunt them…”

Mo Lan: “…”

So that was the plan all along!

Making young witches wear the same pair of flight shorts for three or four years—was it all so they’d have enough motivation to go hunt crocodile-bulls for their back leather during the fifth-year trials?

“Can I at least use it myself?” Mo Lan asked.

“You may. Card-making is your innate talent. Since you have the means, you’re naturally free to use it. However, the ability to gather materials is actually even more important for you—don’t neglect that training. The outer regions of the Academy are rich in resources. After graduation, if you want to collect these materials as samples for your Book of Cards, it will take far more time and effort to find them.”

Mo Lan understood what Lady Amisha meant. Satisfying her own need for crocodile-bull back leather with cards was one thing, but there were far more materials she couldn’t simply find in a warehouse. Her demand for different materials was greater than any other young witch’s, which meant she needed to develop this ability even more.

“I understand.”

“Understand what?” The young witches had finished copying Mo Lan flipped open the design blueprints for “flight shorts” and discovered that there wasn’t just the luxury version she’d seen before—there was also a basic version.

“Understand what?” The young witches had finished copying 《Practical Witch Apparel Design》 and came to the warehouse to meet up with Mo Lan.

“I found out where to get crocodile-bull back leather!”

Mo Lan tucked the {Material Card – Crocodile-Bull Back Leather} into her pocket, then waved her Wand and used Levitation Spell to float the pieces of crocodile-bull back leather she’d just found into the young witches’ hands—one small piece each.

“That’s it? Crocodile-bull back leather? It’s so small!” The young witches were just as shocked as Mo Lan had been.

“There are only this many pieces. They must have just been stocked. Each young witch is limited to one piece.”

Mo Lan said, “It’s only enough to make one pair of flight shorts at most, and you’ll need to be economical with the material. Don’t make them too form-fitting—make them a little loose instead. You’ll probably be wearing these shorts for at least three or four years.

It might not be until the fifth-year trials that you encounter crocodile-bulls and can get new back leather.”

The young witches: “…”

They didn’t even need to think to know this was yet another one of the Academy’s methods for testing them!

Fine then—one pair of flight shorts it was!

Saving their backsides was more important. They had flying class this afternoon!

The young witches gathered the other fabrics needed for making flight shorts and found the nearest empty classroom to the fabric warehouse, where they got straight to work on the shorts.

First they made trial versions with ordinary fabric. Once the sizing was right, they cut the fabric pieces and used them as templates to cut the crocodile-bull back leather and other leather materials.

Since these shorts needed to last several years, leather shorts would definitely be more durable than cloth ones.

Mo Lan didn’t try to stand out either. She also started by using her piece of crocodile-bull back leather to make the basic version of flight shorts.

Though it was the basic version, all the areas that needed protection were properly covered. Wearing them would absolutely improve the comfort of riding a broomstick.

By making a pair once, her card shop would soon have not just {Material Card – Crocodile-Bull Back Leather}, but also {Apparel Card – Crocodile-Bull Leather Shorts (Basic Version)}.

She’d make a basic pair first to try out, and if they weren’t comfortable enough, she could always make a luxury pair later.

The young witches battled through the entire noon hour for this one pair of shorts, not even having time for lunch, and only barely managed to finish the flight shorts before afternoon flying class began.

They put them on right there on the spot, wearing them under their trousers or skirts, over their underwear.

When they first put them on, the difference wasn’t immediately obvious. They just felt that the crotch and buttocks area was particularly soft and comfortable.

Worn under their clothes, the shorts weren’t bulky at all—quite lightweight and breathable.

But when they went to the broomstick shed to retrieve their broomsticks and took to the air again, they noticed the difference.

It felt like they weren’t sitting directly on the broomstick handle anymore, but rather on a small soft leather stool, with the weight distributed over a slightly larger area.

Though Mo Lan felt it still couldn’t compare to the invisible cushion on Lady Amisha’s broomstick, it was much more comfortable than before.

At the very least, it no longer felt like the broom was digging into her backside.

“Now this is what flying should feel like!” Vasida exclaimed as she soared through the air.

Her attention was finally no longer constantly pulled toward her backside and thighs. While controlling the broomstick, she could actually spare some attention to enjoy the flight.

“Hurry! Class is about to start!” Mo Lan glanced at her watch and called out loudly to remind everyone to speed up.

The young witches flew together toward the middle of the farmlands.

Just as they touched down, the Academy bell began to ring.

Lady Amisha was following not far behind them.

The afternoon flying class offered nothing new—just continued flight practice over the cotton grass lawn. Acceleration, turning, takeoff, landing.

Round after round of practice, until they could handle their broomsticks with ease.

After several laps, Amisha estimated their backsides must be getting sore again and told them to land and rest for a few minutes.

But the young witches, who had been desperate for rest during the last class, were completely different now. One after another, they insisted they didn’t need a break and could keep flying.

Their condition was indeed much better than the morning—no more fidgeting on their brooms.

Such a dramatic change. Something stirred in Amisha’s mind. “Don’t tell me you’re all wearing flight shorts now?”

“That’s right! Headmistress, these shorts are so comfortable! If only the crocodile-bull back leather pieces were bigger—making a whole pair of leather shorts would be even better!”