Miss Witch Doesn't Want to be a Diva

"This child is really cautious to the core." Yarnasha smiled, seeming to be in a good mood.

"The time and conditions for the competition are actually very limited. For her to be so meticulous, it's really not easy. I was worried she might be a bit indecisive before, but it seems she's the type who appears gentle on the surface but has already prepared for the worst in secret."

"Sometimes one can't help but feel a slight heartache. What kind of wary childhood led her to silently form these habits?"

"Currently, we can still glimpse some of her inner thoughts through this form, but as she grows and gradually stands on equal ground with us, understanding her true cares and thoughts will probably become increasingly difficult."

"Then what do you mean?" A staff member cautiously asked.

"I don't mean anything bad about her. On the contrary, I'm very pleased with Hexia's caution and prudence because such qualities on the battlefield are often precious. Every decision we make concerns the lives of many soldiers and even the future of this country. If Hexia were the kind of girl who, although kind-hearted, was too naive and simple, I wouldn't dare to recruit her, as such a person would be a ticking time bomb."

"I feel, just feel, maybe even Idrylia, that old fellow, hasn't seen through Hexia. She probably vaguely feels that Hexia is reliable, or else she wouldn't easily leave Hexia for us to recruit without starting to sabotage and interfere."

"Perhaps she thinks she's good, but not good enough to make her go all-in, as she is also an elf, and many around her favor Ores more."

"Afterwards, delete Hexia's five sets of tactical recordings from the competition and only leave the first set of tactics, which is visible on the surface: 100 fighter jets, and the second set, the raid squad. As for the 60 fighter jets at the division base that haven't taken off, just mention them obscurely in a corner later, without specifying the number."

"Also, completely destroy the data related to the mecha Hexia tried to operate and sat on, and dismantle the mecha on the spot. Don't let others know."

"Understood."

"Since she doesn't want to be famous, let's keep her secret. In the future, try to reduce your contact with her openly. However, you can select some trustworthy military youth with a promising future and instill in them the idea that Hexia is a songstress who can be relied upon and trusted."

"It's still too early to say this now, but I feel that the future of the Federation won't be too peaceful. Balancing various interests is becoming increasingly difficult, and some conflicts will inevitably erupt sooner or later."

"I can still stabilize the internal situation of the military for now, but in the future, who knows what will happen? Who will take over when I'm gone? By then, it may be too late to reconsider."

"Once there's no cornerstone, many things will become particularly chaotic, and when changes occur in the army, the outcome is often exceptionally serious and cruel." She sighed.

"Lady Yarnasha." The adjacent staff officer seemed to have a question.

"Go ahead."

"If we don't openly approach Hexia, how can we recruit her?"

"That question is simple; it only requires 'understanding'."

"What do you think 'recruiting' entails? Is it dining together, playing together, making money together? These might be for ordinary people, but not for a songstress."

"Because there are too many forces trying to recruit through such means, the songstress will become defensive, and because they witness it too often, they become numb easily."

"True recruitment actually entails recognition and trust. Although you and I have never met, we share common goals and beliefs, so it's easy for us to come together and even entrust each other with our lives."

"Everyone thinks idealists are naive, but has anyone considered how fragile and corrupt a purely profit-driven organization is, filled with internal strife, mutual betrayal, and unable to achieve much."

"If Hexia is the kind of person we anticipate, she will notice us because we share some mindset with her. We simply need to fully display our situation, beliefs, dilemmas, and desires before her, and she will notice."

"She needs us, and we need her, so we will gradually come together." Yarnasha concluded with a tap of her fingers.

"I understand." The staff officer bowed his head in salute.

"That's it then, finish your work, and take a few days to rest. I suppose you've been on edge for the past two weeks, haha."

"After all, several girls who hold the future of the entire Federation's attention are in one basket; everyone fears something will go wrong."

...

Moon-Comb Island, night.

Not far from the beach, there are several triangular tents built from rough wood, and in front of the tents, a campfire is burning.

The chirping of insects and wild grass fills the air, and several girls sit around the campfire on stones, occasionally looking up at the night sky, chatting now and then, and checking if the items buried beneath the campfire are cooked.

It's very quiet here, devoid of the neon light pollution of the city; it's dark in the distance, while the starry sky is clear, as if words spoken can be transmitted to the heavens.

Audrey, having just bathed, lies on a large black stone in her pajamas, arms spread out. Beside her is Blanchi, the two whispering secrets. On the other side, Prin turns the skewers over the campfire, occasionally taking one, blowing on it, and eating happily.

Shui Yanqing is working on shell grilling with Tilan. They carefully sprinkle various seasonings, while Ores squats nearby, looking on with curiosity and freshness at their operations.

"Will this taste good?" Ores finally couldn't resist asking as she watched the two working patiently and carefully on the shells.

"It will taste good." Tilan smiled, then dipped her finger in a bit of seasoning and let Ores taste it.

A slight coolness spread from her fingertips, making Ores feel like a kitten. Tilan asked, "How is it?"

"Hmm... a bit salty." Ores tilted her head in thought.

"But not too obvious, maybe with a hint of sourness and a slight kick."

"Because vinegar and garlic sauce were added." Tilan wasn't surprised.

"Once it's cooked, sprinkle this on, and it'll taste great."

"If Ores finds it a bit fishy, a bit more vinegar or cooking wine can be added." Tilan recalled that elves generally dislike fishy tastes.

"Mm-hmm." Ores nodded, continuing to squat nearby, watching as the firelight illuminated Tilan's earnest and meticulous food preparation, which made her feel peaceful and faintly warm, even though she didn't know how it would taste in the end.

"This one's ready." Shui Yanqing carefully picked up a piece with tongs and placed it on a nearby plate.

"Want to try it?" She blinked her pink eyes and looked across at Ores.

"I'll wait for what Tilan grills." Ores replied.

"Ah, such favoritism." Shui Yanqing didn't mind, picking one up and taking a small bite herself, finding the flavor a bit bland, and adding a few grains of salt.

"That should do it, Tilan, try one too."

Then Ores watched eagerly as Tilan ate the shellfish Shui Yanqing grilled, a scene that made Shui Yanqing chuckle. Although this lady lacked nothing, why was she so attached to Tilan?

Afterwards, Ores finally got to eat the ones Tilan grilled, happily eating them, and then Tilan kept grilling while feeding Ores occasionally. Prin occasionally came over to trade her skewers for a few grilled shells.

"Whoa, you guys have started eating already."

Finally catching a whiff of the aroma, Blanchi and Audrey arrived late, squatting down beside the others and getting involved too, prompting a burst of laughter.

The night was cool as water, and after the girls finished their dinner, they leaned against each other under the night sky, taking turns storytelling and humming simple melodies until late into the night, when the vast Milky Way unfolded across the starry sky.

"What a beautiful world it is."