Miss Witch Doesn’t Want to Become a Songstress

Irene didn’t know how Hestia had endured these past years. All she had was a vague understanding from Cindy. Hestia had lost her parents, and her sister had passed away years ago, leaving her utterly alone. Thinking about how the once lively and adorable Thilan might now be living in hardship broke Irene’s heart.

The scene she had just witnessed only confirmed her suspicions.

Hestia had always been timid and prone to tears as a child, only growing more confident after spending time with her friends. But after such drastic changes in her family, it was easy to imagine her retreating into herself once more.

In the Federation, the lower one’s status, the more malice they faced. For example, wearing a beautiful, elegant dress would earn a wealthy child praise, but a poor child might be ridiculed—labeled as pretentious, accused of having a “princess complex,” or dismissed as wearing counterfeit clothing. Why should they stand out when “everyone is the same”?

Being different came at a cost. At best, it meant exclusion from the group; at worst, it meant being ridiculed and ostracized.

Irene stood up from her seat, her words drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

“What’s going on?” Cindy came to stand beside her.

As their companions gathered around, Hestia opened her mouth to explain, but Irene placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

“Let me handle this.”

Irene took the personal terminal from Hestia and carefully reviewed the messages. Her brows furrowed deeper as she read, drawing the curiosity of others who gathered to see.

“This is infuriating!” Cindy, typically mild-mannered, was visibly upset.

“What exactly happened? Can you tell us, Thilan?” Irene pressed gently. She knew Hestia wasn’t the type to seek wealth at any cost, but she couldn’t stand to see her old friend’s reputation tarnished like this.

“Well, here’s what happened…” Hestia began recounting the events of that day, detailing the situation with Lina and her actions at school.

“Hmph, a small-time bully like that dares to trouble Thilan? Unacceptable! Where is she? I’ll make sure she learns her lesson today,” one of the boys said, his indignation mirrored by others eager to defend Hestia.

“Senquild? That elf? Which company is he with?” Irene, the young heiress, wasn’t about to let Lina off the hook. She immediately began investigating her adversary’s connections.

Hestia shook her head, admitting she hadn’t paid much attention to the man. He barely left an impression.

“No matter—I’ll find out for you,” Irene assured her, moving to the side to make a phone call.

“Irene’s serious this time,” Cindy whispered.

“The company isn’t large, but thanks to the affluent clientele it attracts for cosmetic treatments, Irene’s family has extensive connections there.”

“Irene has her methods, but we guys can’t just sit here either. Even if we can’t do anything illegal, it’s our duty to help a friend clear their name,” Nokai emphasized, stressing the importance of the word “clear.”

“Absolutely.”

“No hesitation.”

The duo, known for their camaraderie, took their place beside Hestia. Soon, everyone in the private room was aware of what had transpired, and they began mobilizing.

…

On the Second Floor: The Middle School Gathering

Jones and the other boys were a bit tipsy, having indulged in low-alcohol beers, as the Federation prohibited spirits for those under 20.

On the girls’ side, Lina’s mood had significantly improved, and her cheerful demeanor spread to others. They chatted about their plans, vacations, and aspirations.

“You might not know this, but Lina will be studying in the South,” one of her friends said, starting a new topic.

The Southern regions of the Verdant Veil were less affected by toxic rain, boasting better development and a more pleasant environment. Studying or vacationing there was a privilege.

“Really? I didn’t know Lina had decided on a school yet!”

“She’s going to Vortex Academy, ranked 16th in the Southern 3rd District, under the Black Conch Group. Graduating from there makes it easy to secure an internship or job with the company.”

The Black Conch Group was a mid-sized enterprise on the Verdant Veil, employing about 500,000 people and known for its waterproof materials, which were in high demand due to toxic rain.

“Wow, that’s impressive!”

Lina basked in the admiration, feeling validated in her decision to align with someone as knowledgeable as Senquild. His connections had effortlessly secured her admission to Vortex Academy—a feat unimaginable for her classmates, who knew little of the South’s schools and admissions processes.

Her satisfaction grew, but so did her disdain for Hestia.

Acting high and mighty, huh? Lina thought bitterly, recalling how Hestia had rejected her in front of others, leaving her humiliated for days. But today, Lina felt she had finally regained the upper hand.

What “model student”? Just a small-town nobody, really.

As the room buzzed with laughter and clinking glasses, the door to their private suite opened.

It wasn’t a waiter or someone who had entered the wrong room. Instead, it was the long-awaited Hestia, the last classmate to arrive.

“Hestia…” Clara lowered her terminal, puzzled by her sudden appearance.

Her confusion didn’t last long. Following Hestia into the room were Cindy, Irene, and the “Silent Duo” pair. Clara quickly realized the evening was about to get intense.

“Who here is Lina?” Cindy stepped forward, shielding Hestia and scanning the room.

“I am. What’s the problem?” Lina, emboldened by her current mood, admitted readily and stepped forward with her friends.

“Ha! Can’t even show up alone, huh? Had to bring backup?” Lina sneered, clearly unimpressed by Hestia’s companions.

Cindy frowned as she looked at the heavily made-up girl before her, feeling a wave of disgust.

“I’m Thilan’s classmate. I want to know who’s been spreading rumors and bullying her,” Cindy said directly. Her words caused the chatter in the room to quiet down noticeably.

The boys on Jones’s side, curious and amused, came over to see what was happening. They murmured amongst themselves.

“Looks like Lina and Hestia got into an argument, and now Hestia’s even brought backup to defend her.”

“Bringing in outsiders? Tsk.”

As the room buzzed with speculation, Irene took Hestia by the hand and stepped closer to Lina.

“So you’re Lina, huh? I’ve seen all the messages you sent to Thilan and the insults you hurled at her,” Irene stated coldly, her tone calm but sharp.

“Oh, you say I insulted her? What part of what I said wasn’t true? Go ahead, ask that coward who only knows how to hide behind others and play the victim,” Lina sneered, crossing her arms dismissively.

“You want me to spell it out for you?” Irene asked, unfazed. As someone prepared to inherit her family’s business, Irene knew how to strike where it hurt most. She wouldn’t let Hestia explain—it would be humiliating for her friend and unworthy of the moment.

“Fine, I’ll make it clear,” she continued.

Raising her hand, she pointed her finger decisively at Lina.

“You, Lina Jordanka, are nothing but a vile bitch!” The bluntness of her words was shocking, their impact magnified by her loud, unwavering tone.

“You!!” Lina shrieked, lunging at Irene with a hand raised to slap her.

Lies may sting, but truth cuts deep, and Irene’s words struck at the heart of Lina’s insecurities.

As Lina’s slap neared, Irene easily blocked it with a flick of her hand, sending the other girl’s arm flying to the side. She looked at Lina’s flailing form with disdain.

“Utterly disgusting,” Irene remarked, stepping back to rejoin Hestia.

“How could you humiliate Lina like that!” one of Lina’s friends shouted, rushing to her side as she stumbled backward. They pointed at Irene, hurling insults and shouting indignantly.

Irene, unbothered, tightened her grip on Hestia’s hand to reassure her.

“Are you boys just going to sit there and watch someone from outside our group bully one of our own?” Lina’s friends yelled.

With that, Jones and his friends approached reluctantly. Though still unsure about the details, they felt they couldn’t stay out of it any longer.

“Hestia, can you explain what’s going on?” Jones asked, directing his question to the transformed girl who stood opposite them.

For the first time, the group noticed how strikingly beautiful Hestia had become. Her delicate features seemed to captivate them, leaving them questioning how they’d overlooked her all these years.

“Tell them,” Irene whispered to Hestia, stepping back to let her friend take the lead.

Hestia slowly approached the weeping and yelling Lina. As she got closer, Lina, sensing an opportunity, charged again, intent on slapping her.

But Cindy and a few others stepped in, holding Lina and her friends back.

“This is how it happened…” Hestia began, her voice steady and clear.

She recounted the events of the day in detail, her tone calm and unwavering. There was no exaggeration, no distortion—just the truth.

As her story unfolded, the room grew silent, the crowd listening intently. Hestia’s voice, so pure and serene, seemed to mesmerize them.

How had they never noticed this before?

By the time she finished, the crowd’s perception of the incident—and of Lina—had shifted.

“So that’s what happened? She dragged a classmate into her own mess. How shameless,” someone murmured.

Though the comment was soft, the room was quiet enough for Lina to hear it. Her expression twisted with anger.

“That’s not true! You’re all being deceived by her! Pretty girls like her are the best liars!” Lina shouted, her voice desperate as she tried to defend herself.

But fewer and fewer people seemed inclined to believe her.

Frustrated, Lina grabbed a glass from the table and hurled it to the ground, shattering it with a loud crash.

“Idiots! You’re all idiots! Falling for her lies so easily! You’re ganging up on someone from your own class!”

“Look at the clothes she’s wearing!” Lina screamed, pointing at Hestia. “Does that look like something she could afford? Have you seen what she usually wears? She lives alone with no family—where would she get the money for this?”

“And her personal terminal—it’s the latest flagship model from Ink Charm Workshop! She told me before she couldn’t afford anything nice, and now she has this? It hasn’t even been that long!”

“She’s lying to all of you!” Lina continued, her voice rising in pitch and desperation.

“She’s been seen at the Apex Tower wearing a different uniform! A girl struggling to make ends meet doesn’t belong in a high-end place like that unless someone’s paying for her!”

Lina’s accusations planted seeds of doubt among the crowd, their eyes turning back to Hestia.

Irene frowned slightly and leaned in to whisper to Hestia, “Just say I lent it to you. It’s easy enough to explain.”

But Hestia shook her head. If she’d been willing to lie, she wouldn’t have confronted Lina in the first place.

Releasing Irene’s hand, Hestia stepped forward alone. This time, Lina’s friends didn’t dare to stop her.

Closing her eyes briefly, Hestia placed a hand on her chest and then opened them to meet the crowd’s gaze.

“Yes,” she said calmly, “I have been to the Apex Tower.”