Miss Witch Doesn’t Want to Become a Songstress

“I see, that’s the plan,” said the manager.

In the usual corner by the window, the manager, dressed in a pink-and-white suit, held a cup of coffee. Her leisurely gaze skimmed over the proposal submitted by Belphegor, as unhurried as an animal basking in the sun atop a haystack.

Although the maids in the establishment didn’t have a rigid hierarchy, they still followed a senior-junior relationship. For instance, Hestia had been introduced and guided into the workplace by Belphegor, making her a junior. As such, tasks from the manager were often passed down through Belphegor to be organized and executed by maids like Hestia or Decarabia.

This time, the exclusive bar counter proposal had been prepared by Belphegor and submitted to the manager for approval.

“It looks like it will cost quite a bit, but considering Dantalion’s unique circumstances, I’ll approve it,” said the manager as she set the document on the table. Picking up her black personal terminal, she pressed it against the plan. A black “Approved” stamp was embossed on its surface.

“Take this to Leviathan. She’ll handle the renovations,” the manager instructed, referring to the store’s “Envy,” Leviathan.

Leviathan, a special maid in the establishment and symbolizing the deep-sea leviathan, was rumored to be a woman in a white lab coat. She rarely appeared in front of others and usually stayed in the cold server rooms beneath Crystal Dream. There, she managed the store’s AI systems, monitoring facilities, and standby automated security units.

“Dealing with Leviathan, huh…” Belphegor sighed, dreading the thought. That woman’s eccentric personality was one of the few things Belphegor found challenging.

“Don’t worry. She’ll cooperate this time,” said the manager dismissively, grabbing her hat and preparing to leave—it was time for her lunch break.

“Once it’s ready, test it for a few days, then hand it over to Dantalion for operations,” she added before waving goodbye. Her plump figure soon disappeared from view.

“Manager always like this, dumping everything on me,” Belphegor muttered as she slumped over the table.

She recalled a rumor circulating among the staff: before Belphegor joined, the title of “Sloth” had been vacant, and the previous holder was none other than the manager herself.

“Well, with a big ‘Sloth’ like her around, I guess I have to be the ‘Diligent’ one,” she grumbled, her bunny ears drooping, inviting a pat.

After a moment, she straightened up, her energy restored—like a true rabbit.

“Still, preparing a room for Dantalion feels a bit exciting. This time, it’ll be a big success.”

…

Meanwhile, on the other side of Crystal Dream, Hestia was at Decarabia’s tiny chapel.

Today, the little angel with the cute star mark on her forehead had just finished listening to the confessions of her patrons and was on a break.

“Is this what your usual work looks like, Rabi?”

Hestia and Decarabia sat together. Both were among the youngest maids in the store and had a close relationship.

“That’s right,” Decarabia replied.

Dressed in a white gown, Decarabia closed her black-and-gold scripture and placed it on her chair. Then, sitting atop it, she made herself the same height as Hestia.

After listening to patrons’ confessions and feelings, she would offer words of guidance based on the scripture’s teachings.

“Don’t patrons find the same phrases repetitive?” Hestia asked with some confusion.

“Of course. All the guidance phrases in the scripture are quite similar,” Decarabia admitted, lightly swinging her legs as she opened a box of treasured cookies. Small bites revealed her love for sweets, as expected for someone her age.

“Dantalion might feel that telling the same stories or giving the same responses is boring,” Decarabia said.

“Maybe a little,” Hestia admitted.

“But, you know, people don’t mind hearing the same answers.”

“It’s like many stories with similar plots—people still eagerly read and listen to them,” Decarabia said.

“In church school, our teacher told us that when people come to confess or share their thoughts, they aren’t necessarily looking for something new or life-changing. Sometimes, they just want someone to patiently listen, understand, and say a few kind words. That alone can provide relief for feelings of neglect or misunderstanding.”

“Stories are just the vessel, but the emotions they carry are genuine and precious,” she added.

“This wisdom has been passed down from my teacher’s teacher’s teacher. I don’t fully grasp its depth, but it must be valuable.”

“Dantalion’s stories may not be groundbreaking, but they’ll carry your emotions. Like musicians playing the same piece differently, your story will touch others in its own way.”

“Thank you, Rabi. You really are a little angel,” Hestia murmured, feeling a newfound calm.

…

Over the next few days, a section of Crystal Dream began renovations, while Hestia’s life settled into a routine. She worked, practiced music, and prepared her first storybook.

One evening, after work, she found a man waiting outside her apartment.

In the dim hallway of the residential building, his sleek black suit stood out.

“Excuse me, are you…?”

Though he looked familiar, Hestia wasn’t certain. She had only seen him once at the admissions event.

“Good evening, Miss Hestia. This is our second meeting,” he said, handing her an ornate business card adorned with a blue-and-black rose—the emblem of Edess Academy.

“I’ve come to invite you to enroll at Edess Academy,” he said directly.

“Wait, no retest or anything?”

“No need. Your talent speaks for itself,” he said, producing an evaluation report that ranked her abilities as “Perfect Grade” with potential for legendary status.

“Edess Academy grants direct admission to those with Perfect Level abilities,” he explained.

Hestia hesitated. Normally, this would thrill her, but now she felt indifferent, perhaps due to her recent experiences in 1st District or her acceptance at Swallow Garden Academy.

“What do you think, Miss Hestia?”

“I just took the retest for Swallow Garden Academy,” she replied honestly.

The man was surprised but quickly recovered.

“Swallow Garden Academy is good, but Edess Academy offers greater advantages…”

Hestia invited him in to discuss further, acknowledging the effort he’d made to visit her.