Miss Witch Doesn’t Want to Become a Songstress

“So, I’ll need to add a bit of Red Flame Stone to adjust the overly cold magic…”

A girl knelt beside a wooden tub, placing a few warm, red stones into the water. As the stones generated bubbles and steam, it might look like she was cooking something, but she was actually helping the Silverstone Fish inside the tub evolve.

“First, I help the Silverstone Fish establish its internal magic cycle and assist in engraving its transcendent core. Let it gradually familiarize itself with the process, then introduce the prepared Silver Still Potion. This will dissolve its original transcendent core while ensuring the condensed magic doesn’t dissipate too quickly.”

“Next, I’ll add the Extract Crystal Elixir, using magic guidance and assistance to help it construct the structure of its transcendent core step by step, continuously refining it, and allowing the Silverstone Fish to make subtle adjustments on its own to suit its body and consciousness.”

“Throughout this process, I need to add the right amount of Red Flame Stone to adjust the overly cold magic. Otherwise, the fish might freeze to death or lose consciousness before the transcendent core is fully formed.”

As the girl spoke aloud, she followed the prescribed steps. After adding the Red Flame Stone, she reached into the water, her fingertips gently swirling. The Silverstone Fish in the water emitted a mix of silvery and icy blue glows. The intensely cold magic within it moved like icy slush, then condensed along special symbol-like patterns, continuously shrinking.

Closing her eyes, the girl focused all her attention on the process. After a long while, the glow around the Silverstone Fish faded, and sweat dotted her forehead.

“Looks like it’s done…” She slowly opened her eyes, lifting her hand from the water, droplets falling as she spoke.

“Now it’s up to the fish to adapt and stabilize its transcendent core structure.”

Considering the fish’s intelligence, Hestia wasn’t entirely confident. She wasn’t sure if the little creature had learned anything.

Nearby, on a bench by the tub, an indigo serpent coiled around three ducklings, curiously stretching its neck to peer at the steaming water.

“Still no reaction?”

Hestia glanced at the water, growing a bit concerned. Just as she leaned in to take a closer look, a fish tail suddenly splashed up, spraying her face.

“Ugh…” Covering her face, Hestia could taste a bit of salty water that had made its way into her mouth.

She decided she’d rinse her mouth later. But before she could act, the large fish suddenly leapt from the tub with a loud splash and landed on the floor. The fish stared at Hestia with its wide eyes. For a moment, the two locked gazes before the Silverstone Fish sprang up again, attempting to escape.

“No running!” Hestia spread her palm, and the once-agile fish froze mid-air before dropping back to the ground as a solid, frozen fish.

“Hmph…” Hestia picked up the stiff, frozen fish, tossed it back into the tub, and covered it with a lid. Only then did she head to the bathroom to rinse her mouth.

After freshening up, Hestia walked barefoot back into the living room. Looking at the tightly sealed tub, which now had the indigo serpent sitting on the lid, she rested her arm on her hip, pondering how to deal with the disobedient Silverstone Fish.

She removed the lid again. This time, the fish attempted to leap out again, but Hestia, prepared, grabbed it mid-air.

The slippery, strong fish struggled vigorously in her grasp, splashing water everywhere and forcing her to squint. But a frosty white streak flashed, and the fish went stiff once more.

Carrying the fish into the kitchen, Hestia tied it to the cutting board with two thin strings before defrosting it.

As soon as the fish regained consciousness, it flopped its tail against the board, creating a loud thwack-thwack sound. Hestia raised a sharp kitchen knife, its gleaming surface reflecting dazzling light from the ceiling.

Gurgling noises came from the frightened fish as it finally stopped struggling, blowing bubbles from its mouth in what seemed like resignation or a plea for mercy.

“Hmph, scared now, are you?” Hestia slammed the knife into the board right in front of the fish’s head, causing it to leap up again, only to be held down by the strings.

After this round of discipline, the fish finally calmed down, no longer attempting to jump or escape. Hestia returned it to the tub of warm water, carefully checking its condition.

“The evolution succeeded, but why hasn’t it shown the expected abilities or skills?” Her fingers swirled through the water as she leaned on the edge of the tub, muttering to herself.

“This is such a dumb fish. It probably can’t even understand human speech, so I can’t exactly ask it. Sigh.” Standing up, she decided to give it some time to see if it could eventually activate its new abilities.

Barefoot, she walked across the living room, heading for a bath. Some water had splashed onto her hair earlier, and she felt uncomfortable until she could wash it off.

As the sound of running water echoed from the bathroom, the Silverstone Fish in the tub began to move. It swam a few circles underwater before suddenly leaping out. This time, it jumped exceptionally high, hitting the ceiling before descending in a long arc and landing back on the floor. It hesitated for a moment, then began to rise slowly, hovering just above the ground.

The floating didn’t last long before it fell again, leaving a wet trail on the floor. After resting briefly, it gathered strength and jumped again, its body floating unsteadily.

It clumsily hovered, occasionally hitting the ground before lifting off again. Soon, the living room was dotted with wet spots, and a faint smell of salty fish soup filled the air.

Nearby, the indigo serpent, still guarding the ducklings, watched the chaotic scene without interfering, seemingly curious to see what the fish would do.

When Hestia finally emerged from the bathroom, she was met with the pervasive scent of salty fish soup filling the room.

“Ugh.” She opened her mouth to speak but found herself at a loss for words.

Her mother had never taught her to curse, and she didn’t like crude language, so she simply closed her mouth again.

Sliding into her slippers, she surveyed the room, her gaze landing on a large spider napping atop a cabinet. She walked over, tapped on the cabinet to wake it, and pointed to the still-bouncing Silverstone Fish.

The spider, annoyed, hissed and made some gestures with its front legs before leaping down.

Before long, the fish was wrapped tightly in spider silk, lying limp on the floor.

Hestia sighed at the mess of water covering the floor, activated a cleaning robot in the corner, and returned the silk-wrapped fish to the tub. By now, the water had been changed to a fresh, clean batch.

“The experiment was a success. This Silverstone Fish, originally a Sequence 2 being, has advanced to Sequence 3 as a Floating Bravefish, gaining the ability to hover and float in the air.” She noted the results and accompanying data on her clipboard.

Although floating wasn’t a particularly rare ability and didn’t significantly boost its combat strength, it greatly expanded the fish’s living space. If it could refine and master this ability, this type of fish might migrate like birds, traveling to warmer waters in winter, escaping drying rivers, or even integrating into human activities outside aquatic environments.

“With this fish, I should be able to pass the first-year competition at the end of the year.” Closing the clipboard, Hestia felt a spark of anticipation that finally brightened her previously gloomy mood.