She Is Not a Witch

Hopland, Anemis family.

A small white-bricked castle stood on a hillside, surrounded by long walls. The interior resembled a botanical garden, filled with dense tree canopies and blooming flowers. Even in autumn, the courtyard wasn’t cold, thanks to the underground heat circulation.

The Anemis family’s ancestors loved flowers and spent a fortune hiring alchemists to excavate geothermal pipes. Water flowing underground and returning to the surface brought warmth, ensuring a certain temperature even in the cold winter.

The elegant pavilion on the hillside was brightly lit.

Fenrai, wearing a bright yellow dress, walked through the guarded corridor and knocked on a door. Soon, the door opened, revealing a lively scene inside. About a dozen high-ranking association members sat in a small hall, with Noys, the head of the Anemis family, seated at the head.

Noys, just over forty and in his prime, had been managing the association’s affairs well. If not for the Western Wind’s internal strife, Anemis would have been thriving in recent years, which had fostered Fenrai’s carefree personality. After all, her father had taken care of everything, leaving her with no need to worry.

“Father, I’m here,” Fenrai curtsied, then walked into the hall with curiosity and sat in a chair at the lower end.

“Lord Noys, the Nisos family has fully mobilized. Lord Fernelton has deployed his men in the eastern districts as agreed and sealed Hopland’s east gate.”

“Very good. How about Tisphone?”

“Tisphone has also sent people to control the north gate. The northern districts are mostly industrial areas and slums, so they’ll be using harsher methods there.”

Fenrai was confused by these words. What were they doing? Why were they closing the city gates? And when had their family become so close with Nisos and Tisphone?

Just as she was about to ask, Noys spoke. His short, deep red hair and brown-black eyes gleamed in the candlelight.

“With our closure of Hopland’s west gate and the three families’ patrols on the city walls, the only exit from Hopland now is the southern dock.”

“Yes, my lord. There aren’t many ships at the dock, especially large ones. Even if people try to leave by boat, not many can escape,” an armored guard responded.

“But why don’t we send people to blockade the dock as well?” an administrator asked, puzzled.

“No need,” Noys shook his head.

“Our ultimate goal is to control Hopland. Let those few who are uncooperative and powerful leave by ship.”

“This will reduce bloodshed and conflict. After all, we need to develop Hopland as our base in the long term. We can’t be too extreme.”

“Lord Noys is wise,” the administrators present began to flatter him. After the initial tension, everyone in the small hall relaxed a bit.

“Father,” Fenrai finally found a chance to speak up.

“Can you tell me what’s happening?” Her light red hair cascaded over her exquisite dress, the ends curling in spirals, giving her an overall elegant and noble appearance.

Noys looked at Fenrai lovingly, then explained the situation and their current alliance with Tisphone and Nisos.

“Tisphone?” Fenrai frowned.

Recently, Noys had invited Edmond to visit several times. Edmond had changed a lot compared to before; he even showcased his culinary skills, which had improved Fenrai’s opinion of him somewhat.

But today’s events made her start to dislike him again. Did Tisphone always enjoy plotting and scheming? The budding goodwill she had felt vanished without a trace.

“What about Carithes and the Helis family?” Fenrai asked.

Noys didn’t answer immediately. Instead, one of the association’s high-ranking administrators responded to Fenrai’s question.

“If they’re willing to cooperate and don’t resist, we won’t make things difficult for them.”

“But what if they’re unwilling?” Fenrai was a bit worried about her friend Melu.

“Then they won’t have a choice,” a guard captain answered in a low voice.

“Fenrai, are you worried about Melu?” Noys looked at his only daughter.

“Yes, a little,” Fenrai nodded, looking to her father for help.

She and Melu had grown up together. Although they often bickered, they were actually very close.

“I know, so I’ve instructed them not to harm Miss Melu. After this is over, we can send Melu to live in another country and ensure she lives comfortably. How’s that?”

“Thank you, Father~”

Fenrai sighed in relief, her worries dissipating. Her father had never disappointed her before; whatever he promised, he would certainly do. As for the other matters discussed later, she didn’t pay much attention.

Unlike Melu, who had shouldered family pressures since childhood, Fenrai had grown up without experiencing many setbacks. Her pampered and leisurely life had given her plenty of time to pursue her personal interests, while also instilling in her a natural confidence and pride.

Blooming like a flower, shining like a jewel.

She was a highly renowned young lady throughout the entire Vegar Commercial Alliance, pursued by many merchant association heirs. Her fame had spread far and wide, making her the natural spokesperson for her family’s jewelry.

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Daffodil Street, ‘Lake Light Shield’ Alchemy Workshop.

In a dark, damp basement, a young apprentice was tied to a pillar. The eerie blue alchemical light illuminated the bloody laboratory. A cloth stuffed in his mouth allowed only muffled sounds to escape.

Snape, the alchemist master who had previously conversed with Loranhil, stood in the laboratory. He watched silently as a massive gray golem slowly came to life before him, its eyes glowing with pulses of blue light. Excited, he shouted:

“Finally, I’ve finally succeeded! Hahaha, hahaha!”

His maniacal laughter echoed through the dark underground. Then his left hand released its grip, and a bloodied head rolled to the floor—the fresh head of one of his former shop assistants, also an apprentice.

The eyes on the newly severed head were wide open, frozen in an expression of disbelief and terror.

Seeing this, the young man tied to the pillar struggled even more violently.

But the alchemist, with his back turned, paid no attention to such trivial matters. He slowly walked forward, gently caressing the hard, gray golem as if it were his most beloved.

“They all looked down on me back then. I originally thought we were good friends, until that day when I realized they despised me from the bottom of their hearts. They just didn’t say it out of courtesy.”

“I was so foolish, so foolish. Their families were several times wealthier than mine, but after playing together for so long, I really thought we were friends.”

“I was unworthy, following behind them like a clown.”

“But I must prove myself. Even if I’m expelled from the academy without graduating, I’ll prove myself. Ultimately, you were all wrong.”

“And I was right.”

“The information excavated from the ruins, the secret techniques of the Mercury Dynasty, will spark a new revolution. This new type of golem will sweep everything aside.”

“I must slap those people’s faces hard!”

“Why, why did they insult me so much back then, making me feel so lowly and despicable? Wuwuwu…”

As he spoke, he wept, tears streaming down his face, as if venting years of pent-up frustration, resentment, and hatred.

The gray golem standing before him pulsed with light, patterns flowing in sequence across its body, spreading outward from its chest, extending over its entire form, until finally illuminating the golden swords behind it.