Miss Witch Doesn’t Want to Become a Songstress

“Hey, pass it to me.”

“Wait, don’t let him through.”

On a bright, sunny afternoon, a group of boys played basketball on the court. Nearby, on the grassy lawn, some leaned against trees, napping, while others gathered to play handheld video games, their occasional shouts filling the air. A few students sat at round tables under umbrellas, chatting leisurely.

Today, Hestia wore a light blue dress with a large ribbon tied in a bow at her waist. Sitting beside her was Dolores, dressed in a white lace-trimmed outfit that was slightly more elaborate, accentuating her elegant curves.

On the table in front of them sat a chilled pitcher of tea, from which they occasionally poured into their glasses as they talked about the academy and their interests.

“Do you play the violin, Thilan?” Dolores asked, her light golden eyes glancing at the girl beside her.

“A little,” Hestia replied, though she had only studied it for a few months and dared not claim any proficiency.

“My mother made me practice piano when I was little. I wasn’t interested at the time, so I learned reluctantly,” Dolores reminisced.

“After my mother passed, I started playing again whenever I missed her. Over time, it became something I occasionally enjoy practicing.”

Dolores’ father, the CEO of Incense Workshop, was often busy. Since her mother’s death, he had remained single, leaving Dolores as his only daughter—a rarity among the upper echelon of the Verdant Veil.

“If we have time, let’s try playing a duet,” Dolores suggested.

“Sure, let’s give it a shot next time.”

While the two chatted under the parasol, a basketball suddenly flew their way, apparently tossed off course.

The ball traced a high arc through the air, heading directly toward a nearby umbrella.

“Fiery Blast!”

A flash of orange fire flared as a slender arm with pale skin extended. From the wrist, a fireball materialized and shot forward, striking the basketball mid-air. The ball disintegrated into ash.

The boys on the court, now without their ball, were momentarily stunned before one of them approached.

“Sorry about that, we didn’t mean to throw it your way,” a short-haired boy apologized awkwardly, scratching his head.

As for the destroyed ball, no one seemed particularly concerned. A new one could easily be fetched from the equipment room.

“Hmph.” The girl under the parasol, however, was less forgiving.

She had golden hair and wore a dress that transitioned from pale white to a striking orange-red, making her stand out. Turning her head away, she waved dismissively at the boy, signaling him to leave.

Left with no choice, the boys returned to their game, with one heading off to fetch a new ball while the others rested in the shade.

“Who’s that girl?”

“Her? She’s Evony from Class C. People call her the ‘Fiery Goldfish Princess.'”

“Fiery Goldfish Princess? How’d she get that nickname?”

“It’s because her ability, Revolving Blaze, is rated as [Perfect Grade], which makes her quite famous. Plus, with her golden hair and her penchant for wearing orange dresses, the name just stuck.”

“She’s the one with the highest-rated ability among us freshmen this year. Coupled with her notable family background—her parents are both high-ranking officials in the Verdant Veil—she’s one of the seven most exceptional new students in our year.”

“Wait a second—school’s only been in session for two weeks, and there’s already a ranking? What’s this, the Seven Heroes or something?”

Beneath a tree, several students debated the topic, glancing toward a bespectacled boy with thick-rimmed glasses at the center of the group.

“You don’t get it. It’s been two weeks already. A competent information broker should have the whole situation figured out by now,” the boy said, pushing his glasses up in an exaggerated gesture of wisdom.

“Want to know more? 1,000 Federation Credits per person, and I’ll tell you.”

Though most of the students came from affluent families, not everyone was equally well-informed. They exchanged hesitant glances, intrigued but reluctant to spend the money.

For them, 1,000 Federation Credits was nothing—equivalent to the cost of a drink—but they feared being labeled as suckers for paying. That would be far more embarrassing.

After some hesitation, they finally transferred the money to the bespectacled boy.

“Your family isn’t exactly poor, so why are you so greedy?” one of them teased after paying.

“It’s not about the money. It’s about the respect. If I gave away the fruits of my investigation for free, wouldn’t that make me look foolish and cheap?”

“Fine, fine. Just tell us already.”

Clearing his throat, the boy began his explanation.

“Among the new students, most come from decent backgrounds, but seven stand out above the rest. I haven’t finalized their nicknames yet, but for now, I’ll just call them the Seven. Maybe someday, they’ll earn a title like the ‘Seven Deities,’ ‘Seven Shadows,’ or ‘Seven Elites’—something cool and memorable.”

He then went on to list them one by one.

“First, we have the ‘Azure Blossom,’ Thilan. She gave a speech at the opening ceremony, so every freshman knows her. Her background is shrouded in mystery; I’ll elaborate later.”

“Next is the ‘Turbulent Speedster,’ Jinzerk. He’s the eldest son of Hot Lizard Motors, known for his reckless personality and love of racing. He already has his own racing team in Southern 1st District, and his family sponsors many motorsport events in the Verdant Veil.”

“Third is the ‘Fist of Misfortune,’ Valk. He grew up in the slums of Northern 9th District and was later taken in by a local church. To protect his companions and the church members, he often got into fights, honing exceptional skills. He’s on the verge of reaching Sequence 4. If not for his priest’s advice to pursue higher education for a better career template, he might have advanced before even enrolling.”

“Fourth is the ‘Fiery Goldfish Princess,’ Evony, who we just saw. With her [Perfect Grade] ability and influential family background, she’s both talented and difficult to approach.”

“Fifth is the ‘Verdant Spirit Summoner,’ Allen. As an elf, his parents are both professors in botany, and he possesses extensive knowledge of nature mysticism. He’s already Sequence 4.”

“Sixth is the ‘Charred Fragrance,’ Dolores. Her father is the CEO of the luxury brand Incense Workshop. Though she’s begun taking on family business responsibilities, her talent remains impressive.”

“Finally, we have the ‘Silver Falcon Noble,’ Chester. His Haywood family is a prominent socialite family in the Four-Leaf Crystal Star Region, known for its extensive alliances. While Chester himself isn’t highly gifted, his family connections are formidable. As the only son among four elder sisters and two younger sisters, he’s quite the figure.”

The others nodded thoughtfully after hearing the explanation. Many of the names were familiar, but this detailed overview provided a clearer picture.

“Who do you think will win the year’s Top Student award in six months?” asked the boy with glasses, adjusting them again for effect.

“That’s obviously…”

Their discussion grew more excited, so much so that when their companion returned with a new basketball, they forgot about playing altogether.

Clearly, gossip is a universal pastime, no matter the setting.