Miss Witch Doesn't Want to be a Diva

"Right, this is the spot, just position the instrument a little more precisely, Deloris."

Under the sunshine, two girls were fiddling with some instruments on a deserted mountaintop, and then recording data.

Minutes later, the instruments were set up, and now they just needed to sit for more than ten minutes to wait for the data collection to be completed.

The two sat on a rock on the hillside, leaning on each other, chatting, occasionally touching on their respective hobbies and recent experiences.

After the data gathering was completed, they carried their equipment back to the small airplane, and then they were able to take off again, heading to the next location.

The five days weren't particularly long, and most of the places they visited were uninhabited, except for one instance where they encountered trouble— a sampling point had been overtaken by a gang of wanderers. After a brief hesitation, the two decided to clear out the den.

Following a skirmish, Tilan discovered equipment for producing some sort of chemical potion underground and learned that they were manufacturing addictive hallucinogenic potions.

After setting the place on fire, they handed the culprits over to the nearest local police station. Only then did they collect the data and leave on the plane.

Overlooking the landscape along the way, they collected data until the five days were up and all the sampling points were completed. The two returned to the small town they had set out from.

Their small, daisy-like airplane gently landed in the yard, lowering its landing gear to a steady stop, and the two jumped out of the plane.

"It feels like we've been away on a long trip, though it's only been five days."

Once back at their lodging, they bathed first. At last, they could sleep comfortably in a soft, cozy bed. Wrapped in a blanket, Tilan quickly drifted off into dreamland, and when Deloris came back from her bath, she found her companion already breathing evenly in sleep.

"What a little lazybones," Deloris poked Tilan's cheek, then sat back on the head of the bed, flipping through the photos taken over the past few days. After a while, she began to feel sleepy and finally went to bed.

The next day, everyone else gradually returned to the church.

"And so, our journey of experience finally comes to an end," N announced in the church hall, to sporadic applause from below.

"Regardless, I am very reassured to see that you all went through the experience in full, without anyone dropping out halfway."

"I had initially estimated that some might not adapt, or might grow bored of the process and leave, or perhaps look for shortcuts. Fortunately, none of this happened," N said, and then clapped his hands.

"As for what you've gained from this experience, I hope you will all write down your thoughts, not as a mere formality, but as true reflections, ruminations, and summaries that come from the heart."

"There's no need to hand them in to me or the Academy; instead, keep them for yourselves. Years later, when you look back, you'll find even more significance in this journey."

"There is still some time before the return to school, so you can spend the next few days around here, relaxing, or even traveling to other places in the north if you like. But I suppose you probably don't have the heart for more travel right now, haha."

"That's true, right now I just want to nest in my room, sleep properly, play games, and eat all sorts of delicious food," Kinsenke raised his hand.

He had found life dull before, but his recent experiences had proven too stimulating, and now he was craving a few quiet days.

"Speaking of which, we haven't had a proper meal together yet. How about we gather for one in the church tomorrow? We can buy our own ingredients and cook for ourselves—what do you think?" Yeyeber proposed.

"I agree. But I guess I'll probably spend everything on barbecue," Kinsenke was the first to agree.

"I think we should make some special snacks with a twist," Gulomo stroked his chin.

"It's only good if it's spicy enough!" Ximu raised his thumb.

"I'm kind of missing the bat soup from back home," Xie Lian leaned on the church's windowsill.

"Fresh peaches, cherries, and ripe apricots~" Yeyeber listed the names of fruits.

"Having some light pastries wouldn't be bad either," Efnie smoothed her hair behind her ear.

"Dessert is the ultimate~" Ruby held up two fingers.

"I like a bit of purple brewed wine," Yalian shared his thoughts.

"I still prefer clear red tea," Deloris looked towards Tilan sitting beside her.

"Haha, I'll go for a dark beer then, it would be great with delicious food," Phyllis said, holding a glass of water.

"I'm not picky, but if I have to choose, I really like the honey ham the priest used to make for everyone when I was a kid," Valke's voice was full of nostalgia.

"What does Tilan like?" Deloris walked over to the bench and sat next to the girl who was daydreaming.

"For me, I kind of want to eat fish, probably because I had fewer opportunities to have it before," because the fishing industry was not well-developed underground.

"Then we'll make cod soup for Tilan," the others responded with a laugh.

"It looks like we'll have to prepare well today; tomorrow is probably going to be very lively."

"Right, can we invite those kids from the church to join us? It'll be more fun with more people," someone suggested.

"I'll talk to Pastor Boise, he probably won't refuse."

"It's rare to relax a bit now. Who's going shopping for groceries with Ruby today?" Ruby stood up on the bench and raised her hand high.

Several hands responded below, and finally, Ruby picked someone, then began to tally up everyone's preferred ingredients.

The once quiet church began to bustle, and upon hearing the news, the kids also cheered in the classroom. Then, under the helpless expression of Pastor Boise, they put down their pens, gathered around Ruby, and one by one reported their favorite foods and dishes; the group tried their best to accommodate everyone's requests.

An hour later, having gathered all the requests, Ruby led a group of people majestically towards the supermarket. The church had given the day off and had become much quieter.

Sitting under the big tree in the church's backyard, Tilan was flipping through an old poetry and illustration book she found in the church. It was originally a birthday gift the priest had bought for the children many years ago, but now it had changed owners several times, and many of the pages bore signs of wear.

[The path of a young noble lord in white, who sought the heroic road, and his childhood companion, a follower yearning for the way of the assassin.]

[In their youth, they practiced sword fighting with each other, forming a tight bond, seeing each other as the best of friends and rivals.]

In a background illustration of a lush green forest, two young boys stood back to back. One in white with blond hair, and the other in black with auburn short hair, each holding a sword, their gazes fixed forward, showing different but firm convictions.

[But their fates were destined to diverge from one another, and as they grew, their paths also became increasingly distant.]

[The young master of noble birth advanced step by step toward the empire's upper echelons with his family's power, becoming the new star and notable general on the battlefield, while the common-born boy stepped deeper into the shadows of Concealment, his name heard no more.]

In the illustration, the two went their separate ways down diverging paths, one leading to the high platform of a white castle, the other into the dark depths of a lightless forest.
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[It wasn't over yet, the two who had taken different paths eventually met again one day, chastising each other's mistakes, believing the other had gone astray.]

Grasping swords of varying lengths, they crossed blades, sparks visible at the point of collision, with the white-clothed man in a white general's coat, and the black-clothed man in a dark night suit, only his eyes visible.

[Intersecting sword edges, divergent beliefs, former friends becoming the greatest of enemies.]

[A fate to lament, cruel as a joke, yet unforgettable.]

[They yearned for the days of shouting into the wind at sunset; oh, how beautiful it would be if time could just pause.]

At the end of the poem, in the distant horizon where the lines of their separate lives crossed, the hazy scene of the young boys shouting joyfully in the golden afterglow re-emerged.

Turning over this last page with a finger, there was no more content, only a cover rubbed white with wear.

"Do you like such stories, Tilan?" As the girl was still immersed in the story, a familiar voice came from above her.

With long blonde hair, Efnie placed her hands on the white dress over her knees, leaning down to the girl sitting under the tree. Her hair, in the golden afterglow, also reflected a glittering light, as though made of gold.