After work, start to speedrun the other world-Chapter 77 - 4: Becoming the Puppet Master to Farm Experience

Chapter 77: Chapter 4: Becoming the Puppet Master to Farm Experience

"As a teacher, I could indeed create an accident, but it’s hard to guarantee its success," Hecate said, lifting her hand with stars floating above her fingers.

The internal strife of the Magic Kingdom was her own doing, initiated by meddling with the track of destiny and sparking conflicts that should have remained subdued.

All of this was to craft an accident that would cause the Magic Queen’s downfall.

"What the Magic Queen cares most about are her five children, and she takes pride in them," Hecate said.

Xi Mu realized, "Master, are you thinking of capturing the Magic Queen’s children and using them as a threat?"

"That will not cause the Magic Queen to collapse," Hecate shook her head, her eyes cold as black pearls, chilling to the bone.

"Only if her five children turn on each other and engage in fratricide will she collapse."

"..."

Xi Mu fell silent.

In fact, people had long harbored a certain understanding of Hecate; a mysterious and dangerous woman who would stop at nothing in her pursuit of the ultimate in magic.

Anyone who dealt with Hecate began to worry that they might be seen as nothing more than a pawn in her eyes.

If he wasn’t a player on his multiple runs, he wouldn’t be sure whether the cold and dangerous Hecate would sincerely treat a player with kindness.

After all, Hecate, who claimed to master all the paths of fate, how could anyone ensure that they wouldn’t become a pawn in the hands of such a dangerous woman, even if she seemed utterly sincere, withholding no secrets, showering them with all the affection imaginable?

But what if she was only using you as a pawn, ready to cast you aside without mercy afterward, or to dispose of you altogether?

Suspicions like these arose inevitably, and they deepened with time, especially after witnessing the ways Hecate manipulated a country, treating human lives as trifles—who could then wholeheartedly believe that Hecate would treat them sincerely?

Thus, many players witnessing the Magic Queen alone and looking pitiful, holding her knees and casting a sorrowful gaze at the player, would feel a twinge of conscience and choose to turn from darkness to light, turning their blades toward Hecate.

However, after the players took Hecate down, they would hear her gentle forgiveness with her dying breath, alongside a self-mocking comment on how she indeed failed to gain people’s trust.

Of course, after playing through the game several times, one wouldn’t be swayed by the plot set by the official narrative, able to coldly kill Hecate, the teacher, and then to eliminate the Magic Queen, obtaining experience points and rare equipment from both sides.

"My student, do you think your teacher is too cruel?" Hecate asked Xi Mu, who remained silent, with a gentle inquiry.

Xi Mu let out a sigh and asked faintly, "Teacher, will you abandon me after becoming a Witch?"

"My student, I will give you all my tenderness," Hecate said in her ever gentle voice, looking at her somewhat shaken apprentice, "Whether you trust your teacher is up to you."

"..."

Xi Mu looked up at the stars and fell silent.

Hecate by his side didn’t urge him, able to see the apprentice’s dilemma, wanting to try to trust her but doubting because of her reputation.

She had anticipated this reaction from Xi Mu; she truly did have sincere intentions toward him, both because of destiny and because she needed to trust someone.

A long while may have passed, or perhaps just a moment.

"That’s not important," Xi Mu suddenly spoke, laughing openly at Hecate, "Teacher, it seems I was doomed in the first place."

He stretched lazily, looking toward the Magic Castle.

"Even if Teacher deceives me, I’d just die a bit earlier."

"..." Hecate was startled for a moment but then laughed, "That was an unexpectedly candid answer."

"So I’ll take a gamble, and trust that you have real intentions towards me," Xi Mu decided, unexpectedly calm and carefree.

"Teacher, let me enjoy your tenderness before I die."

"Your teacher won’t let you die, at least not before you graduate," Hecate said with a laugh, confident that she could save her apprentice.

Hearing this, Xi Mu asked, "Teacher, how am I supposed to graduate?"

"You must become stronger than your teacher, obviously," Hecate said as if it were the most natural thing in the world, half-jokingly, "If I can’t cultivate a student stronger than myself, wouldn’t I be a terrible teacher?"

She seemed troubled as she said this.

"But seeing as your teacher is so mighty, constantly progressing every day, it’s going to be very difficult for you, my student, to surpass me."

"Hmm~ If I really can’t graduate, should I just be a lifelong student of yours?"

Xi Mu showed a slightly defiant expression, but looking at Hecate’s slightly playful and gentle smile, he turned his head away as if embarrassed.

Hecate couldn’t help but laugh softly when she saw her apprentice’s shy demeanor, shaking her head and taking out a book.

"Student, let’s start today’s lesson," she said.

"Teacher, I have a secret I want to tell you," Xi Mu suddenly said, not immediately getting down to study, or rather he didn’t plan to study earnestly at all, but was preparing to push forward the story to quickly farm a wave of experience points.

"Your teacher is listening," Hecate nodded lightly, casually flipping open the first page of the textbook she had prepared, and then she heard a surprising revelation.

"Actually, I am a follower of the Witch of Death," Xi Mu stated seriously, looking into Hecate’s astonished eyes, he added earnestly, "I hold the most favors from the Witch of Death in this world."

"My student, you truly are full of surprises," Hecate sighed, looking at the black flame that ignited in Xi Mu’s palm.