Miss Witch Doesn’t Want to Become a Songstress

Hestia had been enjoying her time at school, immersing herself in learning various subjects. Before she realized it, mid-October had already arrived.

The air was slightly chilly when she got up, so she dug out a pair of thicker long socks to wear before putting on the simple yet elegant student uniform of Swallow Garden Academy, primarily in light coffee and white tones.

After dressing and freshening up, Hestia stepped onto the balcony. A lively chirping sound greeted her ears. In a spacious enclosure, three little yellow ducklings were happily calling out, accompanied by an indigo-colored serpent curled beside them.

“Good morning!” Hestia greeted them cheerfully. She replaced the paper lining the enclosure, added fresh water and food to the small bowls, and checked on the ducklings.

The ducklings were nearly two weeks old now. According to her teacher, they would be ready to swim soon, but for now, they were fine staying on the balcony.

After finishing her chores, Hestia gently patted the fluffy little ducklings. They nibbled playfully at her hand, clearly recognizing her as their caregiver.

She gave a few instructions to the indigo serpent before leaving her dorm.

Exiting the dormitory, Hestia leaped lightly from the platform on her floor, descending gracefully. Midway, she saw Mel waiting below, waved to her, and continued her descent.

Before long, she landed softly, turned to catch Mel, who had also leapt down, and the two of them walked together out of the tower.

On the slope leading downhill, older students could be seen occasionally flying past with red-footed falcons, heading toward their respective classrooms and destinations. First-year students around Hestia watched enviously.

It would be a while before they could handle those falcons—likely not until their second year. For now, first-years had to either walk or rent more docile mounts like large boars.

Arriving at their classroom for the day, Hestia and Mel found that many of their classmates were already present.

“Hestia, you’re here!” A golden-haired girl with soft curls waved at her. This was Agnes, their class president. At 17, Agnes was a year older than most of her classmates and had a big-sisterly air.

Today’s lesson was a combat class, but it wasn’t about fighting directly. Instead, they would command magical creatures drawn by lot, using them to battle each other. The goal was to hone their tactical decision-making and coordination skills.

“Is everyone here?” Their teacher suddenly stood up from his crouched position on a tree stump in the forest, startling several students. He began roll call and then explained the day’s class.

“Each of you will draw lots three times to determine your three companions for the battles. Your goal is to defeat your opponent’s three companions using your own team.”

“Remember, each companion has unique skills and abilities. They have strengths and weaknesses depending on the enemy. Your strategy and how you manage energy for subsequent battles will determine your success.”

“The top eight students today will win a bag of T4-grade food for their beloved companions. The overall winner will receive T3-grade food as a school reward.”

“Alright, that’s enough explanation. Let’s start drawing lots!” With a wave of his hand, hundreds of bamboo sticks flew into a metal cylinder, leaving only a small opening for students to draw.

“Agnes: Primordial Sequence 3 – White Stone Monkey.”

“Doug: Dragon Sequence 3 – Thorn-Tail Crocodile.”

The students took turns drawing their companions, with some cheering and others looking disappointed.

“Doug got a Thorn-Tail Crocodile from the Dragon Sequence. So lucky!”

Dragon Sequence creatures were difficult to advance but tended to be stronger than others in their tier, sparking envy among the students.

“Lynn: Blade Sequence 3 – Razor Bird.”

“Mel: Tide Sequence 3 – Shellback Turtle.”

Finally, it was Hestia’s turn.

“Hestia: Light Feather Sequence 3 – Light Cotton Bird.”

After all 31 students had drawn their companions, 93 extraordinary creatures from Sequence 3 were selected in total. This showcased Swallow Garden Academy’s strength in cultivating such creatures—something other schools might struggle to match.

Mel looked dejectedly at her first companion, the Shellback Turtle, a land-dwelling tortoise weighing over 100 pounds.

“Why a big turtle of all things…”

“It’s okay, Mel. You still have two other companions,” Hestia reassured her while glancing at Mel’s other picks: a Red Eyes Sequence 3 – Crimson Coldbird perched on a nearby branch, and a Blade Sequence 3 – Sword Thistle Hound circling around Mel.

As for Hestia, aside from her Light Cotton Bird, she had drawn a Tide Sequence 3 – Wind Sea Snail and a Primordial Sequence 3 – Electric Wool Sheep.

The students familiarized themselves with their new companions. Some quickly searched the academy’s library through their personal terminals, looking up the abilities of their three “generals” to devise strategies.

Half an hour later, the teacher called out.

“Time’s up! Let’s begin the matches according to the bracket I prepared earlier.”

“Even if you lose, there’s a second chance in the revival round. Make the most of today’s opportunity! Watch others’ battles, learn from their tactics, and remember: a few years from now, each of you will be masters in training and breeding magical creatures!”

“Now, the first round begins: Doug versus Jinkai Lee.”

As the words fell, the two students, slightly excited, stepped into the clearing in the woods. Each summoned three companions, marking the start of the first battle.

First to appear was Doug’s Thorn-Tail Crocodile. This crocodile, still in its growth stage, weighed over 100 pounds. Its body was covered in green-brown scales, and its long tail was armed with hooked spines, making it look particularly menacing.

Opposite him stood a girl with short, wine-red hair. Her first companion was a large bird with deep crimson feathers. Its fierce appearance was matched by its sharp, piercing cry.

“Uh-oh, it looks like that girl came prepared. Sending out a flying Blood Feather Bird first puts the grounded Thorn-Tail Crocodile at a disadvantage.”

“But the Thorn-Tail Crocodile has thick scales. That Blood Feather Bird might not be able to handle it.”

“Let’s see what Jinkai Lee comes up with.”

While the other students murmured in hushed voices, Hestia sat calmly, cradling her Light Cotton Bird as she stroked it. Her gaze was fixed on the unfolding scene in the woods.

At the start of the match, the Blood Feather Bird soared into the air. It unleashed several dark red feathers in quick succession, slashing against the Thorn-Tail Crocodile’s back. The attack left faint cracks on its scales, but the damage was far from enough to defeat the sturdy reptile. The Thorn-Tail Crocodile shook its head and remained crouched, patiently waiting for an opening.

The Blood Feather Bird attempted a few more probing attacks, but none were able to inflict meaningful damage. After all, the Thorn-Tail Crocodile, as a Dragon Sequence 3 creature, was undeniably stronger than most animals of its grade.

Jinkai Lee maintained her composure, carefully directing her Blood Feather Bird to harass and test the opponent.

Finally, the Blood Feather Bird attempted a sneak attack from the blind spot in the Thorn-Tail Crocodile’s field of vision. It swooped in from the rear, seemingly intending to flip the crocodile over and target its relatively weaker underbelly.

However, the attack failed. The Thorn-Tail Crocodile reacted swiftly. As the Blood Feather Bird drew near, its tail lashed out suddenly, striking the bird and sending it crashing into a tree trunk.

Dazed and weakened, the Blood Feather Bird failed to take off again before the Thorn-Tail Crocodile seized it in its jaws. The first match ended in victory for the Thorn-Tail Crocodile.