Miss Witch Doesn’t Want to Become a Songstress

Snowflakes drifted down from a gray sky as a bird with blue-black wings spread them wide, gliding silently and swiftly through this snowy world. Below, the land lay barren, save for a single mirror-like river winding its way through.

The bird dived low, following the river upstream. Occasionally, it stretched its wings, maintaining its swift pace. This was no ordinary bird—it was a magical creature.

As it passed over a vast expanse resembling a desert, a faint silhouette emerged from the snowy horizon: the outline of a city. Though still under construction, floating autonomous units moved between the skeletal structures of buildings, working tirelessly under the snowy sky to bring the city to life.

Amidst the automated units controlled by AI, workers wearing orange helmets and reflective clothing could be seen in the chaotic streets and construction sites. Some assisted the units with complex details, while others inspected and directed operations.

Beyond the skeletal buildings and construction sites, the bird continued forward until it reached the foothills of a nearby mountain, where rows of neatly arranged tents came into view.

The bird flapped its wings, slowing down as its sharp black eyes scanned its surroundings. Finally, it flew into the central tent.

Peeking through the partially closed entrance, it pushed its way inside and landed on a table in the warm interior.

The table, equipped with a display screen, showed the planning and layout of the city. Several elders sat around it, discussing the finer details of construction. The arrival of the bird quickly caught their attention.

“It’s Second Miss’s Snowfeather Finch.”

“Looks like she sent something back.”

They noticed the small cylinder clutched in the bird’s talons.

In this era, personal terminals and networks made communication highly convenient, so using a bird to deliver a message was rare. However, given the special circumstances—this new city was still under construction and not yet integrated into the Federation’s logistics network—postal services were not easily accessible.

Since entering high school, Hestia occasionally contacted her relatives in Thousand Towers City, now renamed Shallow Glaze. While these exchanges were simple greetings, they had gradually grown closer over time.

Opening the cylinder, the elders retrieved three azure gemstones and a memory chip.

After contacting Hestia, her semi-holographic projection appeared on the table. She greeted the elders with a simple bow before explaining the contents of her package.

“I heard that some of my cousins lacked clear advancement directions, so I specifically looked into it. The memory chip contains templates I inscribed, covering everything from Nature Sequence 1: Serene Green Sprout to Nature Sequence 5: Rippled Cyan Blade (Perfect Grade). The three gemstones are the elixirs required to advance to Sequence 5.”

After acquiring the secret techniques of the Cleansing Ink Sword, Hestia had spent months researching and learning before refining and summarizing this advancement template.

Improving advancement models may sound simple, but it is an exceedingly challenging task. Most models are constructed by master practitioners and further refined by AI analysis, making them nearly insurmountable. Some seemingly inefficient models persist because their simplicity allows for easier progression, though at the cost of power compared to more complex and intricately imprinted pathways.

Hestia’s ability to improve the model stemmed from the unique advantages of the “Azure Lotus Sword Palace” techniques, which were not incorporated into the Federation’s records. However, in other areas, the Federation’s standard models were superior. Standing on the shoulders of these two giants, she had the opportunity to innovate. Additionally, she utilized the advanced AI of Edess Academy to perfect her model, achieving a flawless state.

As for the advancement elixirs, these were a special case. Hestia had crafted them herself. Her natural talent for alchemy allowed her to save significant material costs during the processes of purification and condensation.

Extracting and refining many magical materials is notoriously complex, with impurities being a significant challenge. Impurities do not merely lower an elixir’s purity; they destabilize the highly condensed magical energies within, leading to decomposition, explosive reactions, or loss of potency.

When Qiao Long had presented a single vial of dragon blood elixir as collateral, it had cost millions of Federation credits. These three gemstones, being even more valuable, were a testament to Hestia’s talent. While her materials cost little due to her innate abilities, the learning process and refining techniques consumed immense time and effort.

“Second Miss must have put in considerable effort,” one of the elders remarked after examining the contents of the memory chip and comparing the gemstones.

Though the elders were somewhat disconnected from external markets, they understood the rarity and expense of such items.

“Let’s report this to the Lord,” they decided, nodding to each other.

…

That evening, a solemn man dressed in black returned. He wore a gold-and-black mask, and his imposing presence was undeniable. During the day, he had led a patrol to clear the surrounding wilderness of magical beasts and addressed numerous city matters before finally returning for rest.

“What happened?” he asked, noting the elders’ hesitation.

After being briefed about Hestia’s package, the man’s gaze turned icy as it swept over the group.

“Reckless!” His voice, though quiet, sent chills down their spines.

“Why did you let her learn about this?” His reproach was not directed at Hestia’s initiative but at the elders for troubling her with such matters.

“Adding or losing a few Sequence 5—or even Sequence 6—transcendents changes nothing for us.”

“I don’t know how she obtained these items, but she is only sixteen. Even if others favor her, it must have required some price or promise on her part.”

“Your actions are akin to breaking the most promising branch of a thriving tree to salvage a few withering shoots. Shortsighted, to say the least.”

The elders, embarrassed and ashamed, hung their heads, recognizing their mistake.

“Should we… send them back?” one ventured cautiously.

“Send them back?” He sneered. “And how would that make her feel? Humiliated, perhaps? Do you want her to return the favor and face ridicule? That would be even worse.”

“Youthful pride is far more precious than the dignity of old age. When young, all one has is their pride and self-respect. Unlike the successful, who can endure a few criticisms without issue, the young rely on these to sustain them.”

“Then what should we do?” another asked, sweating under the man’s unrelenting authority.

“Accept them,” he said after a pause. “We will prepare a return gift of equal value and advise her not to concern herself with such matters again.”

“Understood.” The elders finally exhaled, relieved.