Miss Witch Doesn’t Want to Become a Songstress

After explaining the basic rules of the shop, Belphegor—the bunny-eared girl—led Hestia to the 38th floor to change into her uniform. This floor was generally not open to the public; one half was dedicated to preparing food and drinks, while the other half served as the employees’ break room, where some staff would rest or spend the night if working late shifts.

“What’s your size, Hestia?” Belphegor asked, swiping her ID card to unlock a wardrobe, revealing rows of impeccably arranged black-and-white maid uniforms.

“Uh… I’m not sure,” Hestia admitted, realizing she’d never taken her own measurements before.

“Let me measure you, then! Hehe~” Belphegor teased with a mischievous grin, causing Hestia to instinctively step back.

“Relax, it’s just a quick measurement,” she reassured Hestia with a playful smirk.

Belphegor then picked up her personal terminal and walked a circle around Hestia.

“Done!” she announced. Hestia was surprised at how advanced personal terminals had become; she hadn’t known they could do something like this.

Not long after, Hestia emerged, wearing the maid uniform cautiously.

A black maid dress adorned with intricate white lace, a fitted apron accentuating her waist, short white socks, black thick-soled leather shoes, and a white cat-ear headpiece completed the look.

Belphegor dragged Hestia to stand before a mirror and studied her reflection with satisfaction, smiling widely.

“As expected, I wasn’t wrong about you. No wonder the manager approved you so quickly.”

“Do you know that yesterday someone else came in to apply? Rumor has it she was the ‘school belle’ of some high school, but the manager interrogated her like a criminal for ages and ultimately rejected her.”

“Why’s that?” Hestia asked, puzzled.

“The manager probably thought she seemed too… worldly,” Belphegor replied, tilting her head as if trying to recall.

“Most of the girls here are pretty innocent; it makes them easier to manage. At least, that’s what the manager always says.”

“She believes that if someone with the ‘wrong vibe’ gets hired, it could quickly taint the whole team. That’s why she’s always been about quality over quantity.”

“Can the manager really tell what someone’s like just by looking at them?”

“Apparently, yes. Even though she doesn’t micromanage much, her judgment of people is spot on. She’s been in this industry for over 20 years and rarely makes mistakes.”

“She always boasts about her philosophy of being a ‘master strategist without a renowned name.’ If you find the right people, you save yourself a lot of effort, making work easy and relaxed.”

“But can she keep staff with that approach? I saw the job listing, and the pay didn’t seem very high…”

“Hmm?” Belphegor paused mid-action, looking at Hestia with an expression of shock—almost disbelief.

“Are you sure you grew up in Arpeggio City?”

“Uh… I think so?” Hestia hesitated, suddenly unsure of herself.

“This is Apex Tower! It’s the landmark building of Arpeggio City, a direct asset of the Federation, the most secure and exclusive area in the city. Do you think working here would pay poorly?”

“…Maybe not,” Hestia conceded.

“Exactly! While the listed salary might not seem high and the base pay is modest, that’s not the point. Most of our income comes from customer tips and profit-sharing bonuses.” Belphegor explained while combing Hestia’s hair.

“And trust me, the tips and bonuses more than make up for it,” she added with a wink.

“For example, in the morning, I work at the counter, greeting unfamiliar guests and guiding them. But in the afternoon, I focus on my specialty: playing games with customers. And just so you know, I’m a gaming expert,” Belphegor said proudly.

“Other maids have their specialties too. Some make desserts, some chat with guests to cheer them up, others do fortune-telling, craft handmade items, or even sew clothes for customers.”

“Some guests are really quirky, you know? They insist on watching a maid sew their clothes by hand—no machines—because it makes them feel like they’re at home.”

“When the clothes are done, the payment gets split: half goes to the shop, and the other half is ours. So honestly, the pay isn’t bad at all.”

“Alright, all set,” Belphegor declared, stepping behind Hestia to admire her reflection in the mirror.

Hestia’s once-muted gray hair now looked far more adorable, adorned with a white cat-ear headband. One side of her bangs had been braided into a fine strand and pinned with a clip, revealing the soft, delicate earlobes beneath. It was undeniably cute.

Her neck was adorned with a black ribbon in the shape of cat ears, and her maid uniform, layered in black and white, was both elegant and intricate. The inner layer was pure white, while the outer was black, accented with a white collar and wide, lace-trimmed cuffs that extended from the black sleeves.

Even though Hestia wasn’t well-versed in fabrics or fashion, she could tell that this maid uniform was expensive and exquisitely crafted.

“Perfect!” Belphegor gave her a thumbs-up.

“Alright, let’s take our little princess out to meet some customers!”

“Meet customers?” Hestia asked nervously.

“Just kidding! Don’t worry. But you should meet your coworkers—and who knows, I might introduce you to some friendly guests too.”

With that, Belphegor nudged Hestia out of the dressing room and led her downstairs. Since it was midday, there weren’t many guests around.

“First, let me think… Oh, let’s go see Am-Am!”

The bunny-eared maid pulled Hestia toward the southern side, where a glass-walled room was filled with potted plants and blooming flowers. Inside, a maid who appeared to be in her twenties was watering and pruning the plants.

The glass door slid open, revealing a lush conservatory draped with hanging vines. Stepping inside felt like entering a serene forest, surrounded by vibrant flowers and overhead greenery.

“Am-Am, I’m here!” Belphegor called out casually as she made her way deeper into the greenery.

“I know, but I haven’t prepared snacks for you this time,” came the reply.

As Hestia rounded a corner draped in vines, she was greeted by the sight of a golden-haired beauty. The woman wore a predominantly white maid uniform, her curvaceous figure exuding an air of mature elegance.

“So this is the new recruit? Hello, my codename is Amdusias,” the woman said, briefly surprised at the sight of Hestia before returning to her usual composure.

“Hello,” Hestia replied politely.

Belphegor pulled her to sit down, and the three began chatting.

Amdusias: The 67th demon in the Ars Goetia of Solomon’s 72 demons, known to appear as a unicorn but capable of transforming into human form at the summoner’s request. Amdusias can produce the sound of musical instruments at will and bend trees to the summoner’s desire.

Compared to Belphegor, Amdusias exuded a calm and mature demeanor, radiating a nurturing warmth. Sitting in her presence made Hestia feel an inexplicable urge to curl up and nap in her embrace.

No wonder, Hestia thought. It would make sense for adults to seek comfort from someone like Amdusias. She was beginning to grasp the unique dynamic and operations of this establishment.

However, the day was still long, and under Belphegor’s guidance, Hestia would soon meet more of her fellow maids.