Hate Me, Witch!-Chapter 41: Then I’ll Call You Crimson

Xia Ya's gaze swept across the deep blue skill descriptions.

Aside from Slash, all of this little Silver Spirit’s other skills were ones Xia Ya had never seen before.

Moreover, judging purely from their descriptions, Tainted Blood and Darkborn were clearly negative abilities.

"You still haven’t chosen your contract partner?"

"Well, I suppose for a genius like you, it’s only natural to be picky."

An aged voice rang beside Xia Ya’s ear.

The assessment elder had appeared at some point, likely having finished evaluating the remaining candidates.

Following Xia Ya’s gaze, he looked at the little Silver Spirit that was still tirelessly swinging its sword.

"You’ve noticed it too, haven’t you…?"

"Actually, it shares a bit of fate with you Branstat outsiders."

"Sixteen years ago, during that great catastrophe, you weren’t the only ones who lost your parents and became orphans—it did too."

"Back then, all of Cangting Principality was plunged into disaster, including the capital. Even the Silver Spirits’ habitat was invaded by Twilight Catastrophe Beasts tainted with corrupted objects. And on that very day… this little Silver Spirit was born."

"Its mother fought to protect it—back then, it was nothing more than an incomplete star-spirit entity. In the end, she perished in battle… It’s said that on that day, the Twilight Catastrophe Beast’s tainted blood mixed with hers and splattered onto its still-developing star-spirit body, turning it into what you see now."

"Because its elemental body was tainted, its growth has been abnormally slow. And having lost the purity of an elemental lifeform, even its own kin see it as an outcast."

"Perhaps because of what it witnessed at birth, its personality became stubborn and extreme. It’s been training tirelessly all this time, determined to grow stronger—to earn the recognition of a Beastmaster, and one day… avenge its mother."

"But, unfortunately…"

The elder shook his head, sighing softly.

As a High-Tier Monarch species, Silver Spirits had countless evolutionary paths.

However, losing Elemental Perception alone meant that this little Silver Spirit had no possibility of developing into a magic-oriented form.

If it abandoned the magic path and specialized in physical combat instead, it would not only lack Elementalization, the core ability Silver Spirits relied on for survival, but it also suffered from an irreparable disability—its missing left arm.

On top of that, its growth rate lagged far behind its kin—a fatal flaw that couldn’t be easily remedied.

No one would waste their once-in-a-lifetime contract opportunity on a Silver Spirit that was born defective.

Having guarded the Silver Spirits’ habitat for decades, the trial elder felt an attachment to them.

In his view, this little Silver Spirit was simply unsuited for battle. It should stay in the habitat and live out its days peacefully.

Mediocre, perhaps… but at least it would survive.

"My apologies, perhaps I touched a sore spot."

He averted his gaze from the little sword-wielding Silver Spirit and looked back at Xia Ya.

"If none of these young Silver Spirits satisfy you, come with me."

"I have a good relationship with a few Monarch-Tier Silver Spirits in the habitat. Among their offspring, you might find one with outstanding talent."

But then, he realized Xia Ya was no longer standing beside him.

Raising his head, he saw that Xia Ya had already descended into the valley—standing right next to the little Silver Spirit.

"…?"

Clang—

Clang—

A sword of crimson and silver clashed against the black iron ore, producing a harsh, grinding screech as sparks scattered.

The sword marks on the black iron became more distinct with each strike.

This was already the umpteenth time the little Silver Spirit had swung its sword.

It had already split hundreds of these massive black iron ores in two.

The other Silver Spirits in the habitat had expressed their disapproval more than once.

As elemental lifeforms born from nature, Silver Spirits were generally gentle and nature-loving.

While they didn’t shy away from battle, that was something meant to happen after leaving the habitat and forming a contract with a Beastmaster.

To them, this place was a sanctuary—a cradle for raising offspring, resting, and living peacefully. It was not meant to be a battlefield.

So they couldn’t understand the little Silver Spirit’s relentless training.

If it had exceptional combat talent, perhaps they would tolerate it. But the problem was… its growth was excruciatingly slow, falling an entire tier behind its peers.

Because of this, everything it did seemed irrational, even insane.

The little Silver Spirit was well aware of how its kin perceived it.

But it didn’t care.

The moment it was born, the crimson that seeped into its star-spirit body had already left an indelible mark deep within its soul.

Grow stronger.

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Avenge its mother.

From that moment on, this had been the sole purpose of its existence.

That was why it had resisted the Abyss’ corruption without letting even a trace of its mind succumb to darkness.

If it had lost its elemental affinity—if it could no longer heal or Elementalize like other Silver Spirits—then it would turn its body into a sword.

Day after day.

Year after year.

Until the very concept of "sword" was engraved into its soul.

Clang—

Another slash fell. A fine crack appeared on the black iron ore.

"You do realize that, to outsiders, everything you’re doing is nothing but futile self-deception, don’t you?"

A sudden, unfamiliar voice echoed beside the little Silver Spirit.

"It’s like a fish trying to learn how to fly… No matter how much effort you put in, it’s nothing but an impossible, wasteful struggle."

Only then did the little Silver Spirit notice the boy who had appeared beside it.

He hadn’t concealed his mental energy. Within the Silver Spirit’s perception, his soul was scorching and profound—far stronger than any of the previous Beastmasters who had come seeking a contract.

Even the elder who oversaw the habitat seemed lacking in comparison to this boy.

"Mii— (…I know.)"

After a long silence, a soft, childish female voice transmitted through its mental waves.

The black-haired boy raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"You know it’s futile, yet you still refuse to stop?"

"To be honest, I admire your perseverance and determination."

"In my eyes, possessing such a mindset is far more important than things like level, species, or powerful skills."

"But knowingly charging toward an impossible goal is foolish. I don’t want my future contracted beast to be some reckless brute who only knows how to charge headfirst into danger."

"That’s not bravery. That’s just throwing your life away."

The little Silver Spirit’s star-spirit body trembled slightly.

This was the voice it had been waiting to hear since the moment it was born.

For a Silver Spirit, whose growth cycle was exceptionally long, forming a contract with a Beastmaster was the only way to rapidly gain strength—the only way to obtain the power to seek revenge.

Everything it had done was in pursuit of a Beastmaster’s recognition. And yet, because of its physical flaws, not a single Beastmaster from the Branstat family had ever been willing to choose a Silver Spirit born with a disability. No one had even considered it.

This was the first time in its life that a Beastmaster had looked at it as a potential contract partner—even if that voice carried doubt.

And more importantly… this Beastmaster was incredibly strong.

"Mii… mii… (Not… futile…)"

The little Silver Spirit’s star-spirit body trembled slightly, its mental waves rippling with a delicate, youthful voice.

"Is that so?"

It saw the black-haired boy nod noncommittally.

"Then show me."

In the next instant, a small snow ferret appeared on his shoulder.

"Defeat it, and I will acknowledge that you’re worthy of forming a contract with me."

"And in return, I will grant you a chance to fulfill your wish."

The exquisite snow ferret flicked its fluffy tail and leapt lightly from the boy’s shoulder, gazing lazily at the little Silver Spirit.

The Silver Spirit couldn’t sense the slightest trace of threat from it—it seemed nothing more than a harmless ornamental pet.

Yet, it didn’t let down its guard for even a second.

Any beast contracted by such a powerful Beastmaster could not possibly be weak. Its tier was likely far beyond its own.

Even so…

Faced with what might be its only chance in this lifetime, the little Silver Spirit felt no hesitation.

It closed its eyes.

Its silver-elemental body, along with the murky yellow glow surrounding it, fell silent.

The next moment—

Its entire being, from its physical form to its star-spirit core, ignited in a blaze of deep blue.

Bloodburn.

Unlike its kin, it lacked a powerful racial trait. Its magical energy and attributes were far inferior to theirs.

No one knew these shortcomings better than the little Silver Spirit itself.

Swinging its sword endlessly could compensate for lack of combat experience and technique, but just as a seasoned martial artist could never defeat an adolescent dragon, a massive gap in magical energy and tier could create an insurmountable divide—one that skill and experience alone could never bridge.

That was why it had Bloodburn.

All living creatures possessed an innate survival instinct. No matter how much effort they exerted, their bodies would always retain a portion of energy necessary to sustain life.

Bloodburn was a technique that defied this instinct, forcibly drawing out power that should never have been used.

Condensing everything into a single, fleeting moment.

This was the ultimate technique the little Silver Spirit had created—its one and only unique skill.

Burning the body.

Incinerating the mind.

Each use of this ability was self-destructive.

But—

For the first time in its life, someone had placed expectations upon it.

And so, it chose to respond to those expectations.

In an instant, blood-red flames coiled around its silver blade.

Then—

It swung.

No elaborate special effects.

No intricate swordsmanship.

Just the simplest, purest slash—honed to perfection through countless repetitions.

The sudden surge of magical energy made the small snow ferret blink in mild surprise.

Abyssal black flames and deep blue light erupted at the same time.

Then, the slash tore through the black flames’ barrier, cutting straight toward their source.

Maybe… I really can do it?

Just as this thought rose—

The little Silver Spirit saw a silver moon expand within the snow ferret’s eyes.

The blue flames enveloping its body extinguished.

Its slash veered off course.

Bloodburn had been forcibly interrupted.

The magical energy that had surged within its elemental core vanished, replaced by a deep, consuming weakness.

It had lost.

Its full-powered strike fell into empty space, carving a deep scar into the earth.

If only I were stronger… if only I had trained harder…

Then maybe… I could have lived up to his expectations.

In that moment, regret and self-reproach filled the little Silver Spirit’s mind.

But then, a calm voice reached its ears.

"Do you feel frustrated? Because of your weakness?"

"If so, then remember this frustration."

"Because—this is proof that you haven’t given up."

"Proof that you haven’t succumbed to despair and abandoned yourself."

The next moment, the little Silver Spirit felt itself being lifted by a pair of strong, warm hands—broad, firm, and steady.

Clear, tranquil mental energy intertwined with its star-spirit body, soothing its burning soul… and with it, the Twilight Curse that had haunted it for so long.

"Just like it… exactly like it."

The little Silver Spirit heard the young Beastmaster murmur.

"Silver."

"It’s just like how you, I, and Little Ai were back then."

"Ying~"

Silver, perched on Xia Ya’s shoulder, flicked its tail lightly in response.

Its master was clearly about to take in another summoned beast—why go through all these mental gymnastics to justify it?

In the end, homegrown pets just couldn’t compare to wild ones.

But… gaining a new plastic sister? That didn’t seem too bad.

"As long as you don’t mind."

The little Silver Spirit heard his bright, refreshing laughter.

Then, it felt its consciousness being wrapped in a gentle, all-encompassing warmth—like the quiet embrace of a starlit night.

Its star-spirit body and his mental energy fused together.

Slowly… they formed the beginnings of a contract.

"From today onward, you will have the power to achieve your wish."

"As for your name…"

The little Silver Spirit saw its future Beastmaster pause slightly, his gaze settling on the scarlet stain that had marked it since birth.

"Then I’ll call you…"

"Crimson."