Miss Witch Doesn’t Want to Become a Songstress

Arpeggio City, Apex Tower, 37th Floor—Crystal Dream.

“I’m taking ‘Dantalion’ with me now, Sister Sekom,” said the bunny-eared girl as she led Hestia away from a bar counter. Behind the counter, shelves were lined with an assortment of fine liquors, and a mature-looking horned maid waved them off.

Though the horned maid and Hestia looked quite different, both were, in fact, human. The former was a subspecies known as Beastfolk.

After humans gained access to transcendent powers, various fantasy races emerged. These races, like the diverse subspecies of Beastfolk and the more refined Elves and Fairies, were branches of humanity. While some of these variants surpassed baseline humans in certain traits, humanity as a whole remained dominant.

“Sister Sekom is a member of the Horned Bull Tribe and an amazing bartender. She’s also a big shot at Primordial Sequence 4. If any customers give you trouble, you can count on Sister Sekom for help,” Belphegor explained to Hestia, providing tips for working at the establishment.

“However, ‘Dantalion’ is still young, so if Sister Sekom offers you a drink, don’t take it. You’ll get drunk very easily.” The bunny-eared girl patted her chest, clearly still traumatized by her own experience.

“I understand,” Hestia replied with a nod. Her white cat ears twitched adorably, making her even more endearing.

“Hmm, even though it’s only your first day, I can already feel ‘Dantalion’s’ charm.”

“Alright, let’s move on. Let me think… who might be free right now?”

“Let’s go see what ‘Decarabia’ is up to,” the bunny-eared girl said after a moment of thought. She then led Hestia by the hand, jogging to a corner of the hall.

A short while later, they arrived at a circular, transparent enclosure shaped like the Greek letter Omega (Ω). The space was adorned with numerous horizontal branches where vibrantly colored paradise birds perched. At the center of the circular room sat a petite girl in a pure white dress, her hands clasped together in prayer. Her eyes were closed, and a faintly glowing pentagram was visible on her forehead.

The pentagram wasn’t painted or inked but seemed to emanate a soft, golden light from within her, giving her a sacred and ethereal beauty.

“‘Decarabia,’ I’m here!” The bunny-eared girl broke the serene silence as soon as she entered the space.

With a resigned sigh, the girl at the center opened her eyes, causing the paradise birds perched on the branches to take flight. They swirled around the room, filling it with their lively chirping.

She unclasped her hands and gently rang a bell hanging beside her. The birds gracefully returned to their perches.

“You’re here,” she greeted softly.

“Yes, yes! Today, I’m introducing ‘Dantalion’ to her new environment. She’s our newest companion.”

“I see… Nice to meet you. My name is ‘Decarabia,’ the 69th Demon of Ars Goetia. I’ve only been here two months longer than you, actually.”

Decarabia: The 69th Demon of Solomon’s 72 Demons, often depicted as a pentagram or in human form. Known for discerning the quality of gems or birds, Decarabia can take the form of a bird to serve the summoner.

“‘Decarabia’ has a natural affinity with birds. She’s also a rare practitioner of the Light Feather Sequence, making her one of our maid demons most akin to an angel,” the bunny-eared girl explained to Hestia.

The bunny-eared girl then pulled Hestia down to sit with them. The white-dressed girl retrieved some cookies and snacks from a cabinet built into the wall and placed them on the table.

“Sorry, I didn’t prepare anything fancy,” she said softly, her voice so delicate it felt as though the slightest breeze could carry it away.

“It’s fine,” Hestia said, though she was feeling a bit hungry herself since she hadn’t had lunch.

The three of them nibbled on snacks while chatting about the happenings in the store.

“When Rabi first came here, I was the one who took her under my wing. Back then, she was even more timid than ‘Dantalion,’ always hiding behind me and too scared to talk to anyone.”

“But she’s really talented. At such a young age, she’s already at Light Feather Sequence 3—a little prodigy in our city. Come to think of it, she’s probably around the same age as Hestia.”

Belphegor then asked the two about their ages.

“I didn’t expect that ‘Decarabia’ is actually younger than ‘Dantalion.'”

Hestia tilted her head. “Doesn’t this technically count as illegal child labor?” she mused. In the Federation, there were strict regulations about minors working, with the minimum age being 16.

“True, but Rabi was only a month or two shy of the requirement. She’s fully legal now,” the bunny-eared girl waved dismissively, indicating it wasn’t a big deal.

The group continued chatting for nearly an hour, gradually becoming more comfortable with one another.

Though Hestia and the white-clad girl didn’t exchange many words, their similar personalities allowed them to find common ground effortlessly, often without needing to speak much. It felt like they had found kindred spirits.

“I knew it—you two are going to get along well,” Belphegor nodded, pleased with her keen judgment.

“Alright, time’s up. I have to get back to work now,” the bunny-eared girl announced, standing up.

“Want to come watch, ‘Dantalion’?”

“Me? Sure, but I’m not sure how I can help.”

“No worries. Just stand by and cheer me on!” Belphegor said, taking Hestia’s hand and waving goodbye to the white-dressed girl.

“See you next time, ‘Decarabia’!”

With that, the two left in a whirlwind, leaving Decarabia seated at the little white table.

“Honestly…” Decarabia shook her head, though she seemed accustomed to her senior’s energetic style.

She clapped her hands, prompting the paradise birds perched around the enclosure to descend. They swiftly pecked up the leftover crumbs on the table and then grabbed the tablecloth, neatly folding it and placing it on a rack nearby.

Once the space was clean, Decarabia lightly tapped the ground with her foot, and her body floated upward as lightly as a feather, settling back onto the central seat of the circular room.

In that moment, she seemed like the young mistress of a tiny chapel of white feathers, pure and serene, ready to listen to the troubles of visiting patrons—like an angel in her innocent youth.

…

Meanwhile, in Belphegor’s personal work area—or rather, her gaming zone—

Inside a blue, transparent enclosure, about a dozen customers were milling around, waiting.

“Where’s Little Rabi today? I’m getting anxious from the wait.”

“Could it be she overslept again?”

“I was hoping to duel her today. I’ve spent weeks fine-tuning my deck for this,” grumbled a slightly overweight man adjusting his glasses.

“My greatsword can’t wait any longer. Last time, she clobbered me in simulated combat with that whirlwind hammer of hers. This time, I’ll get my revenge!”

“How about we have a match ourselves to kill time?” suggested a young man squatting in the corner.

“Sounds fine, but I’d rather save my first round for Little Rabi.”

“Ugh, gross. No, seriously, you’ve got a way with words, turning gaming into something so kinky,” another muttered.

“Hey, hey, I’m here~!” came a voice before anyone saw her.

The sound of polished shoes clacking against the smooth floor preceded her dramatic entrance. White stockings, lively white ribbons, and a crisp maid outfit—all blurred briefly as Belphegor leapt into the air. With a nimble somersault, she landed gracefully, arms spread wide like a valiant hero.

“Ah, it’s Little Rabi!”

“Way to go, Rabi!”

“Finally, Bel-sis is here!”

The customers quickly crowded around. Hestia cautiously stepped into the gaming zone, standing in the corner to observe.

“Who wants to challenge me today~?” Belphegor asked, flipping a large brass coin in her hand. With a flick of her thumb, the coin spun into the air, tumbling repeatedly.

“Same rules as always: 1,200 Federal Coins per match. You can double up to continue, but only for three rounds max.”

“Me! I’ll go first! I was here before anyone else,” the middle-aged man said, raising his hand.

“Alright, Uncle Mu.”

As the spinning coin fell, Belphegor snapped her fingers, sending it flying straight toward the man. He caught it deftly in his palm.

“Darn it, he beat me to it again!” someone else grumbled.

 “Doesn’t he need to work?”

“I heard he used to work really hard, helping a newly established company find its footing. Then, at 40, he cashed out with a big bonus and quit.”

“They say he’s made enough money, and since he’s not planning to get married, he can afford to play for the rest of his life.”

“So envious…”

Meanwhile, Belphegor and the middle-aged man entered the battle arena, with the other guests spectating from the sidelines.

“Watch carefully! This is my newly built ‘Zephyr Vanguard Legion’ deck!” The man declared, inserting a stack of cards into the duel device strapped to his arm.

[Duel Start: Round One]

“My turn! I summon ‘White Horse Recruit’ 1/1. When this card enters the field, it immediately attacks but cannot target the main combatant. However, that doesn’t matter. For every three ‘White Horse Recruit’ cards summoned, I can draw one ‘Zephyr Hero’ card from my deck, reducing its cost by 1.”

“Oh, a rare card with selective draw mechanics,” someone commented in a low voice from the sidelines.

The card game being played was a time-honored, ever-popular game that had evolved through countless revisions and rule changes over the years. It now stood as a dynamic duel game with limitless strategic possibilities, featuring characters and units inspired by historical figures and mythical legends, adding a touch of nostalgia.

“Looks like you’re pretty confident, old man,” Belphegor said, sitting casually on a crate opposite the arena. She glanced at the cards in her hand with interest.

“But just drawing powerful cards won’t be enough to beat me.”

“My turn. I activate the ritual card ‘Gufia Chief’s Banner.’ This card remains active for three turns and summons a random Beastfolk minion card each turn.”

“Let’s see what fate has in store for me today. My spirit animal is the rabbit. If it’s a Rabbitfolk card, you’re doomed, old man.”

In the arena, a rugged banner adorned with beast teeth descended from the sky, planting itself in the grassy field. As the flag waved in the wind, cheers erupted, and a shadowy figure emerged from the distance to stand before the banner.

“Boarhide Warrior, 1/2. Any attacker targeting this minion takes 1 damage.”

“Looks like this counters the ‘White Horse Recruit’ perfectly. Looks like the old man’s going to lose quite a bit of health in the early game.”

“But it’s only the beginning—let’s keep watching.”

So this is card dueling?

Sitting in the corner, Hersia watched the two battling it out in the arena. She had heard her classmates talk about it before, but such games were considered a bit extravagant. Buying card packs cost a lot of money, so only a few could afford to dabble in it.

…

Time flew by, and the duel reached its midpoint.

“Hmph, my turn! I summon ‘Tempered War Veteran!'”

At his command, a weathered warrior clad in scarred and battered armor stepped onto the battlefield. His hair was streaked with gray, one arm cradling a helmet while the other gripped a flag spear.

“‘Tempered War Veteran,’ 3/5. Upon entering the field, he summons two ‘Legend-Adoring Recruits’ 1/2 to the field. I’ll also summon another ‘White Horse Recruit,’ making five units in total with the one already in play.”

“Now, I activate ‘Great Hero: Lagrivans’ ability. When there are five Zephyr faction units on the field, he enters play without any cost!”

“Come forth, the gallant steed of the battlefield, the dawn-breaking hero acclaimed by the masses—Lagrivans!”

A mighty horse neighed, and countless soldiers’ apparitions filled the arena. They raised their weapons high, banners of white and red fluttering in the air. Amidst the blooming flowers and thunderous applause, a towering hero entered on horseback, clad in resplendent armor. He wielded a massive lance, his crimson cape billowing behind him, a sight that took everyone’s breath away.

“‘Great Hero: Lagrivans’ enters the field with 8/10 stats and can attack immediately, ignoring guard effects to directly target the main combatant. When he attacks, all allied units gain +1 attack.”

“Although the other units can’t attack this turn, just Lagrivans alone is enough to deal massive damage.”

“Look at that! The rabbit’s HP dropped by more than half—down to just 4. This is dangerous. Meanwhile, the old man still has 10 HP, and that veteran unit even has a guard effect.”

“Oh, so that’s what you’ve been saving up? I thought it’d be something much scarier,” Belphegor said, crossing her legs as she drew a card.

“My turn. Let’s see… Ah, looks like I’ve got it.”

“Got what?” The old man was puzzled.

“She says… it’s time.”

The bunny-eared girl leapt off the crate and began inserting cards into her duel device as she walked forward.

“I activate ‘Crimson Blood Moon.’ When HP drops below 5, this card enters the field with 3 cost refunded, meaning it costs nothing.”

‘Crimson Blood Moon’: Blood-Eye units gain +2/+0.

“Next, I summon two ‘Blood-Eye Rabbitfolk Warriors’ 1/1. Each time one enters the field, I lose 1 HP but gain the ability to attack immediately.”

“Now my HP is just 2,” Belphegor said, winking with a mischievous grin.

“Then, I summon ‘Blood-Stained Executioner: Elia’!”

A pitch-black mountain and forest materialized on the battlefield, the scene zooming outward to reveal a hypnotic, massive crimson full moon in the sky. A hooded figure clad in a black coat suddenly leapt from the forest, drawing closer with every movement. Her graceful form danced in the air, and the enormous scythe in her hands gleamed with a chilling light under the night sky.

Finally, she landed on the dark forest grass, slowly standing upright. Beneath her hood, vivid crimson eyes burned like fire, captivating all with their breathtaking brilliance in the shadows.

“‘Blood-Stained Executioner: Elia,’ 7/5. Upon entering the field, she kills one enemy unit. If my HP is 2 or less, she destroys all enemy units.”

Crimson scythe marks tore through the space, obliterating every unit and hero on the old man’s side until the field was empty.

“But that’s not all. Let’s begin the resonance,” Belphegor said, covering one eye with her hand. The other eye turned from its usual brown to the same fiery crimson as ‘Blood-Stained Executioner: Elia.’

Blood-Eye magic radiated from her, crackling with crimson energy, as the characters on the battlefield began to transform.

A fierce wind surged. The executioner’s black hood slowly slipped back, revealing long black hair and elegant ears. Her clothing and weapon grew increasingly ornate under the pulsating blood-red magic.

“When the main combatant resonates with ‘Blood-Stained Executioner: Elia,’ she gains the ability to attack the enemy’s main combatant directly, bypassing waiting periods, with damage that cannot be mitigated.”

“It’s over, old man,” Belphegor said, raising her arm in unison with the transformed executioner.

The three figures on the battlefield lunged forward, their blades slashing through the old man’s HP. The ferocious wind from their attack knocked him off his feet.

[-3, -3, -9. Mu Lingxin’s HP reduced to zero.]

[Duel End: Belphegor wins!]

The lights in the battlefield returned to normal as the characters and scenery vanished instantly.

“Her Blood-Eye deck is incredibly powerful. Only someone like her could wield it so skillfully.”

“Some rare cards have special resonance effects, but triggering them requires exceptional talent.”

“It’s said that when you can perfectly activate the effects of a mythic-rare card, it means your affinity with its magical imprint is extremely high—possibly making you suited for a related transcendent sequence in the future.”

“Though that rumor might be exaggerated, there’s no doubt the bunny girl’s future is bright.”

“After all, ‘Blood-Stained Executioner: Elia’ is a perfect-tier Sequence 7 card in the Blood-Eye series…”

“She truly lives up to her title as the Duel Queen of Apex Tower, the ‘Sloth’ of the Seven Deadly Sins—Miss Belphegor!”

So, this unassuming bunny-eared maid who had been greeting customers in the hall was actually a big shot at Apex Tower.

Only now did Hersia gradually realize the status of the bunny-eared girl in the establishment. No wonder her codename was ‘Belphegor,’ named after the ‘Sloth’ among the Seven Deadly Sins.