She Is Not a Witch

Tisilan Mountain Range.

Two weeks had passed since Loranhil’s visit to the rabbit-eared school. During this time, she had sent a batch of [Golden Maple Sugar Cubes] to schools in other rabbit-eared cities, trying to ensure every student could have one. These were very beneficial, not only providing nutrition but also greatly improving their physique, reducing future obstacles in cultivating supernatural sequences.

Moreover, she had mailed some to Cransia and the Carithes Merchant Association. However, due to limited materials and energy, she could only do so much. Still, she was happy to see her handmade creations being enjoyed by everyone.

After touring the Tisilan Mountain Range, she rewarded the two magical beasts that had performed well over the years with an [Amber Fruit] each. The Lava Stone Turtle had helped with metal refining, while the Vine Fairy had mediated affairs between the rabbit-eared tribe and magical beasts. The two were particularly pleased.

The Lava Giant Turtle was very excited. After eating the fruit, the flame stone pillars on its back began to transform into a semi-transparent color. Its breakthrough to Sequence 6 was now just around the corner. It had been stuck at its current sequence for nearly 500 years.

The Vine Fairy circled around Loranhil several times. Only half as tall as a person, with transparent butterfly wings on its back flickering with fluorescent light, it laughed happily, expressing its joy.

As the weather grew colder, Loranhil gradually stopped going out, instead staying at home to research alchemy and modify new crops.

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Outside the window, deep winter had set in. Inside, the fireplace burned, its soft light illuminating the wooden chair and small table. The heat from the fireplace warmed the entire room.

Loranhil sat in the wooden chair by the fireplace, wearing a black dress. The soft fabric of the dress was warm from the fire. On the small table was a stack of books. Loranhil held a pen, quietly writing something.

She had recently finished reading the books Lady Philia had given her and was now summarizing them. Without looking at the books, she recalled what she had learned, then organized and summarized it. Afterward, she would reflect on which areas she was unfamiliar with or had overlooked.

This was a method she had learned in high school. There were many variations, such as explaining what you’ve learned to someone else and answering their questions. This output-driven input method quickly reveals where you’re unfamiliar or unclear. The more you explain to others, the clearer it becomes.

The pale pages wrapped in thick paper book covers had fine, clean textures. Black magic water traced clear curves and arcs on the paper. Compared to the common language of this world, she still preferred the Chinese characters from her previous life.

The common language was similar to Latin-based systems, requiring a new word for each new thing. While precise, it became increasingly verbose and difficult to remember. Chinese characters, on the other hand, could combine individual characters and words to form various phrases, their meanings immediately apparent. This was convenient for both writing and memorization.

The same classic novel would always be thinner in its Chinese version compared to its English counterpart.

In the winter night, faint candlelight illuminated her as she resumed her quiet life. Days and nights passed, time flowing by, until finally, one day, the snow outside the window began to melt, and tender green buds started to appear among the trees.

Opening the door, fresh morning breeze dispersed through the forest. Loranhil stepped out of the house onto the stone slabs of the front courtyard. Patches of emerald green began to appear in her vision. Although the air still carried a chill, spring had quietly arrived. Icicles on the eaves started to melt, water droplets falling constantly. Birds could be seen in the sky.

Loranhil flew into the sky and circled for quite a while before slowly floating down. It was time to prepare for her departure to Emenas.

First, she took inventory of what to bring, starting with money. Although she had earned quite a bit during her time as the young lady of the Carithes family, most of it was left with the merchant association under special management to support orphanages and schools in the city. She only took 100 gold coins with her. Originally, she didn’t want to take any, as she wasn’t Angus’s real daughter, and she could easily earn money with her alchemy potions in the future. What she had was definitely enough.

But she couldn’t resist Chelsea’s goodwill, who said that she was still the face of the association and shouldn’t live too poorly, as it would tarnish the association’s image. It would make others think the Carithes Merchant Association was mistreating its benefactor.

After the Hopland incident, Loranhil had summoned Ceres and Chelsea to an internal meeting to read Angus’s two wills, clarifying that she wasn’t Angus’s biological daughter. With Angus avenged and Hopland and Carithes stabilized, she had her own dreams to pursue and had to leave.

She still remembered the scene that day. The people in the meeting room were first shocked, then confused, and finally reluctant to let her go. More events had happened during this period than in the past ten years, and Loranhil’s performance had been like a rock in a torrent, becoming everyone’s pillar and support. Her departure would create a power vacuum within the association, as no one else could integrate everyone and command such universal respect.

Originally, Angus’s 60% shares, after his death, had no inheritor and should have been reclaimed by the Alliance Guild, with half distributed to other shareholders of the association. However, the current Alliance Guild was primarily established under Carithes’ leadership. Many people had directly or indirectly benefited from Loranhil’s kindness during this change, with many even being former association members. Out of gratitude and a desire to keep her, many advocated gifting these shares to Loranhil to commemorate her achievements during this crisis.

This proposal gained the approval of the vast majority. Even the few who might have wanted to selfishly profit dared not express different opinions, as it would have been too conspicuous and dangerous. No one knew if there might be one of the young lady’s admirers nearby who would report such dissent.

Thus, the Alliance Guild unanimously agreed to gift their 30% shares to Loranhil. At the same time, other shareholders also expressed willingness to give up some of their shares (actually out of fear of Loranhil’s immense prestige both inside and outside the association), transferring another 30% to Loranhil.

During this time, Loranhil declined several times, stating that she might leave Hopland in the future and wouldn’t have much time to handle association affairs. But many people still hoped she could come back occasionally to provide guidance. Additionally, several neutral figures in the city, such as Lady Philia and Archbishop Juya of the Angel Church, persuaded her. They valued Loranhil’s character and potential, hoping to provide more protection and assurance for the city’s future.

Thus, reluctantly, Loranhil accepted this gift but expressed her need to leave for some time and that she wouldn’t stay here long-term. Others didn’t mind much upon hearing this. In this world, high-level supernatural experts were often like prominent signboards. As long as they were there, they would have great deterrent power and influence. Usually, they only needed to make an appearance every few years to maintain their presence.

After counting the 126 gold coins in her storage ring, what remained were a few supernatural dresses.

[Snow-Repelling Velvet Winter Dress] (Rare Gold grade), a gift from the Lamia Merchant Association. Made from the fur of a gold-grade Winter White Bear combined with cloud-patterned fabric, with 5 layers of enchantments inside: [Heat Insulation], [Deflection Field], [Wind Stabilization], [Cold Current], and [Tough Fiber]. It can isolate cold and heat to maintain a constant temperature, deflect thrown objects and weak attacks, stabilize surrounding air currents, and reduce wind speed.

[Poem of the Kingfisher] (Outstanding Silver grade), a gift from the Aoni Merchant Association. The cover is wrapped in gray moongazing rhinoceros leather, with light green pages inside that subtly show leaf vein patterns, very beautiful, made of special vein paper. The book contains exquisite illustrations, narrating stories and legends from across the continent.

[Starlight White Dress] (Rare Gold grade), made by herself, suitable for spring and autumn wear. It’s the one she wore when leaving Hopland, with blue and hollow stars on the hem and a light blue ribbon at the waist.

[Starlight Cloth] (Outstanding Gold grade), 5 bolts, woven by Loranhil herself. She can make whatever clothes she wants in the future.

[Trina’s Butterfly Hairpin] (Rare Epic grade): The great witch Trina entrusted her unique magical power to this hairpin before her death. Can be used when worn. (Uses remaining: 2/3) (Epic grade, roughly equivalent to Sequence 9 level)

The hairpin has been used once, the young woman thought, probably when she spun the threads of fate. She then clipped it back into her silver long hair.

The rest were potions. Simple ones included [Blood Activation Potion] and [Rainbow Potion]. Slightly better ones included [Bubble Potion] (can form bubbles to envelop the head and circulate oxygen, allowing underwater breathing), [Purification Potion] (Rare Silver Grade), an excellent neutralizer that can concentrate and enhance the effects of various raw materials.

Next were her recently developed creations.

[Lightness Potion] (Perfect Silver grade): Can greatly reduce air resistance and make the body light, enhancing speed.

[Wind-Favored Wings] (Perfect Gold grade): Gives people wind-formed wings to soar freely in the sky. Although the wings aren’t very tough, they can last for a full three days.

[Lucky Starlight] (Legendary Coral grade): Makes a person lucky for the next day. In the dark blue test tube, seven-colored starlight appears and disappears.

The new potions were developed based on her own talents, incorporating her unique magical power to create them. Especially the last potion, which Loranhil had made many times but only produced three successful samples, making it extremely precious.

That should be about everything, let me think if there’s anything else to bring, Loranhil thought as she looked at the several suitcases in front of her, neatly arranged with items inside.

Knock knock knock——

At this moment, a series of knocks came from outside.

“Long time no see, little Loranhil, I’ve come to visit you~” a familiar young woman’s voice called from outside the door.