Hate Me, Miss Witch!

Norton Elder sat at the head of the table, his gaze sweeping over the room. The sheer weight of his presence forced those under his gaze to bow their heads respectfully.

"You all are orphans I have taken in over the years—those who lost parents to wars or the rampage of beast tides," Norton began, his deep voice echoing in the hall.

"Now you have grown. Each of you has entered into your first soul bond and officially become beastmasters, stepping into the world of the extraordinary."

"This is all thanks to the nurturing of the Elder and the family!" someone chimed in eagerly.

"Indeed, whatever successes we achieve in the future will be dedicated entirely to the family!" another added.

Norton remained indifferent to their flattery. "Is that so?" he said, pausing briefly. "Then let me ask you this—"

"If the day comes when I stand opposed to the Brunestadt family, which side will you choose?"

A heavy silence fell over the room. No one dared to respond.

Those present were sharp enough to recognize the loaded nature of this question. It was a classic trap, akin to asking, "If your mother and I fell into a river, who would you save first?"

Choosing to support Norton could be interpreted as disloyalty to the family, while siding with the family could spell doom for anyone who dared to challenge Norton's authority.

The suffocating quiet stretched until Norton's patience wore thin, his expression darkening. Just as the tension became unbearable, a voice finally broke the silence.

"Elder, I have but one answer."

"I will serve you!"

All eyes turned in shock to the speaker: Xaya, his eyes reddened with emotion, rising from his seat.

"Xaya, what are you doing?" Leonard whispered urgently, trying to pull him back down, but Xayashook him off.

"My parents died when I was young, and my homeland was swallowed by the beast tide," Xaya said, his voice trembling with apparent conviction. "If not for Elder Norton's kindness in taking me in, I would have perished on the road like so many others."

"The family has shown me great kindness, but if it comes down to a choice, I would side with the Elder without hesitation, even against the family itself!"

Xaya's impassioned declaration left everyone stunned. Leonard gaped, while the others exchanged uneasy glances.

Unlike his fellow orphans, Xaya was an "open-eyed player"—he knew the future and had already labeled Norton as a traitor in his mind. Norton's ties to the Dusk God cult made him an outright threat to the Brunestadt family and the kingdom itself. This wasn't a loyalty test; it was a recruitment for his inner circle of pawns.

Xaya had no choice but to play along, leaning into the role with a convincing performance.

Norton's reaction was exactly as Xaya had predicted.

"Absurd!" Norton slammed a hand on the table. "The head of the Brunestadt family is my elder brother, not me!"

"Your way of thinking is entirely wrong!"

Despite the harsh reprimand, Xaya could sense no real anger in Norton's tone.

"Remember this: the glory of the Brunestadt family is paramount above all else," Norton continued, his gaze sweeping over the rest of the room. "Even I can be sacrificed for the greater good of the family."

The others nodded hurriedly, grateful they had remained silent. Xaya, on the other hand, became the prime example of what not to do.

After dismissing the group, Norton turned his attention back to Xaya, his expression unreadable. "Do you now understand your mistake?"

"If it's your judgment, Elder, I will accept any punishment," Xaya said, his voice firm. "But my resolve remains unchanged—you are my greatest benefactor, greater even than the family itself. I would gladly die for you."

A flicker of satisfaction crossed Norton's face, though he quickly masked it.

"Die for me, would you?" Norton mused.

He produced a small vial of murky liquid, setting it down in front of Xaya. "This is an alchemical elixir from the city of Alchemy. It accelerates the refinement of one's soul."

"You're not far from becoming a high-level beastmaster, are you? Drink this and prove your devotion."

Crafty old fox, Xaya thought bitterly. He immediately suspected that the elixir was more than it seemed—likely a tool for control, much like the poison-pills from stories of old.

But hesitation wasn't an option.

Taking the vial, Xaya uncorked it without a moment's pause.

The instant the liquid touched his throat, it disappeared into the void, snatched away by his second contracted beast, Shiny, with its Spatial Pocket ability.

Xaya's execution was flawless, the sleight of hand imperceptible even to Norton's keen eyes.

"Good," Norton said, finally allowing a smile to crease his face.

Satisfied, Norton dismissed his attendants and summoned a powerful lizard-like beast to erect a soundproof barrier around them.

"Since you're so willing, I do have a task for you," Norton said.

"The family head's daughter, Sylvia Brunestadt—you've heard of her, haven't you?"

Xaya's heart skipped a beat, but he nodded calmly.

"Good," Norton said, his smile turning sinister. "Sylvia is a key—a key to releasing the Master's other half and returning him to his rightful place."

"What I need you to do is simple."

"Ensure this key remains firmly in our hands."