She Is Not a Witch

As the Dew Festival approached, Hopland saw an increase in tourists recently.

Many people came to participate in the festival. Due to Vegar’s relative stability and wealth, there were also many wealthy families from Western Wind seeking refuge.

Colorful small flags began to appear in the streets and alleys of Hopland. Many dance troupes from other places were invited to Hopland, and on temporarily built stages, dances of various styles began to be performed. The entire city gradually entered a festive atmosphere.

Dancers with thin veils, their skin dark and shiny, wore small bells on their wrists and ankles. They danced to lively drum beats, tossing golden hoops like hula hoops into the air one after another, then catching them.

A black-haired dancer wore a light, short skirt and tube top. Her body was extremely flexible. She effortlessly raised one leg, forming a straight line with the other, catching a hoop. Then, with a skillful twist, the hoop spun along her calf before flying back into the air.

Then she supported herself with one hand on the ground, her legs tracing a beautiful arc in the air. As her body flipped over, her wrist caught another hoop. She danced with the music, her black eyes full of life.

Next to the wooden stage were six copper basins with flames burning inside, illuminating the stage brightly.

“Bravo!”

“Excellent!”

“Do it again~”

Hundreds of spectators below the stage cheered, applauding the young girl’s superb dance skills. Many wealthy people threw handfuls of money onto the stage.

This was on the main street near the center of Hopland. Recently, personnel from the Business Guild had set up several stages in the streets and alleys, inviting various performers to enliven the festival atmosphere.

At the same time, the large consumption by tourists greatly boosted the local economy. Some shops might earn more money this month than in the previous year.

So it’s no wonder the Business Guild attaches such importance to the Dew Festival.

Loranhil and Laniel were also standing below the stage, watching the performance. Laniel held many small ornaments she had just bought.

“What do you think? Lingxin is amazing, isn’t she?”

“Yes, she’s very bold.”

Loranhil watched the girl on stage. Her tight purple dance dress, spinning freely with her body’s movements, her flexible figure, and passionate dance all displayed a kind of sunny beauty, like the sun itself.

“Lingxin is my good friend. We’re both third-year students in the same college. I didn’t expect her to be busy during the holiday, coming here to perform with the dance troupe,” Laniel introduced her good friend.

“Is Emenas internally divided into colleges?”

“Yes, Lingxin and I are both in the Tower College, fully named the All-Seeing Tower College. It mainly teaches Magic Sequence and Dragon Sequence,” Laniel explained.

“If you come to Emenas, Lacey, all first-year students take classes in the central school building. In the second year, you enter a specific college.”

“Stop tempting me,” Loranhil looked at Laniel beside her with some annoyance. Recently, she had discovered this blonde girl’s bribery and had reprimanded her, but Laniel had started tempting her to go to Emenas again.

“Come on, come on, Lacey. Emenas is so much fun. There’s lots of delicious food there too. You can find cuisine from all over.”

“Alright, I get it. Stop shaking me. Look, the performance is almost over. Do you want to go say hello to your friend?”

Loranhil pointed at the purple-dressed girl on stage who was bowing and giving her closing remarks.

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On the other side of Hopland.

Due to the recent influx of Western Wind residents fleeing as refugees, various workshops found it easier to hire people. The Nisos family had only fulfilled part of their previous promises, and those sick employees still hadn’t received compensation.

Gretet once again called for everyone to go on strike, protesting for several days, but with little effect.

The merchant association’s gates were tightly closed. The guards inside seemed fearless, looking coldly at these troublemaking employees.

As time passed, some people began to have second thoughts.

“How about we just leave it, Gretet? The Nisos family has already compromised and improved our treatment.”

“Yeah, Gretet. There are so many Western Wind people in Hopland now, it’s not hard for them to hire. If we keep causing trouble, we might all end up without food to eat.”

Some employees began to waver, trying to persuade Gretet. Although those previously sick employees were pitiful, it hadn’t happened to them personally. They began to worry about their own futures.

Gretet looked at the people around him. Hearts had changed, and he couldn’t reverse the thoughts of the masses.

“Alright, let’s disperse for today,” he sighed heavily, having to compromise.

The others present also breathed a sigh of relief, dispersing. Some went to watch performances, some went home to rest, no longer concerned about this matter.

Gretet watched as everyone left. In the blink of an eye, the previously crowded merchant association gates were empty, leaving only him and Bard beside him.

Bard looked at the motionless Gretet, knowing he felt uncomfortable inside. He patted Gretet’s back comfortingly.

“Gretet, let’s go too.”

“Mm…”

Gretet was somewhat silent as he turned and left with Bard. The autumn wind swept through the night streets, bringing a desolate chill.

Bard wanted to say something to comfort his friend, but he was not good with words and didn’t know what to say. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, accompanying his friend back home.

“How about we go eat something?”

Having stood all day, they were getting hungry. Bard suddenly remembered about dinner and suggested to his friend.

“Mm.”

The two turned towards a cheap restaurant they often frequented.

A few days later, the Nisos family’s winery started work again. With the assistance of the Tisphone family, they had recently secured some orders, and the workshop was a busy scene.

“What? Didn’t the merchant association representatives say they would raise wages last time? How come it’s even less than before!”

On payday, some employees shouted in dissatisfaction.

“What are you shouting about? Don’t you know the situation now? Look at those newcomers, they work harder than you and get paid less. If you don’t want to do it, there are plenty who will.”

The merchant association manager in charge of paying wages stood on a high platform explaining, with several armored guards standing beside him.

Some employees below were still dissatisfied. At this time, several of the previous protest leaders stepped forward to mediate.

“Everyone, calm down. Western Wind is at war, and the merchant association is having a hard time too. It’s not easy for anyone. Let’s hang in there for a while.”

The employees who were prepared to cause trouble saw these leaders starting to speak for the merchant association and immediately felt deflated. Moreover, it was indeed easy for workshops to hire people now, so they didn’t dare to be as bold as before. They could only grumble a few complaints and then leave.

Gretet watched this strange scene, anger rising. He prepared to question these companions who had previously gone on strike with him.

A thick hand pressed on his shoulder, and a wrinkled face shook its head at him, then forcibly pulled him away.

“Gretet, I know you have good intentions.”

“But some people aren’t as noble as you. It’s too dangerous if you keep causing trouble,” the old man from the winery advised.

“How dare they…”

Who could have imagined that companions who had fought against the merchant association’s oppression together not long ago would be bought off in the blink of an eye?

Gretet clenched his fists, suppressing the anger in his heart.

“I want to ask just how much money they received from the Nisos Merchant Association.”