Hate Me, Witch!-Chapter 44: Xia Ya, My Classmate~

It was only at this moment that Norton revealed his ambition for the first time.

Sylvia was a vessel, carrying all the authority and divinity of Dusk.

She was also a key.

The peak of mortals was the Legendary rank—an ironclad rule acknowledged by the supernatural world for centuries.

However, true gods did exist in this world. The false gods, evil gods, and ancient deities worshiped by various secret organizations, as well as the righteous gods followed by the Theocratic Nation, all served as proof of this fact.

Between the Legendary rank and the divine realm lay a dark and boundless ocean… The "Land of Catastrophe" had severed history for centuries, covering this sea with layers of impenetrable mist.

For thousands of years, countless seekers had ventured into that dark ocean, carving paths they believed to be the "road to godhood."

Yet, no one ever knew if the path they walked was the correct one, or if it would truly lead to the end. No one had ever reached the destination.

Now, Norton had found a deep, hidden path—one that seemed more reliable than the rest. However, in the middle of this road stood an ancient bronze door blocking the way.

Sylvia was the key to opening this bronze door. Once unlocked, one would come face-to-face with the ancient god known as "Dusk." Some sought to seal Him away forever, while others would kneel in reverence and beg for His blessing.

But Norton was different from both groups.

What he wanted was to steal His authority—and take His place.

With his strength still below the Sixth Ring, this ambition seemed almost laughably audacious.

However, with the seal, Sylvia’s existence, and the leverage of secret organizations, his plan was not just feasible—it was entirely possible.

Norton scrutinized Xia Ya, while faint shadows loomed in the void behind him. If he detected even the slightest hint of abnormality on Xia Ya’s face, he would strike without hesitation.

Xia Ya's expression showed sheer astonishment, as if shocked by the insanity of Norton’s plan.

But in the next moment, a look of determination flickered across his face.

"No matter what, as long as it is Lord Norton’s will, I have no choice but to obey."

[Newbie Mission: Phase Four] Objective: Complete the Grand Duke of Cangting's coming-of-age ceremony and become a core member of the family, officially joining Elder Norton’s plan. (Objective complete.)

[Mission Rewards Calculated]

Based on your overall performance in this phase, the following rewards have been granted:

Free EXP: 40,000 points

The mission rewards weren’t particularly high this time.

Ultimately, this phase was merely a transition and connection point—not a true challenge or a high-risk task.

For Xia Ya, completing the ceremony was hardly difficult. It was simply a matter of going through the motions.

Besides, his greatest gain from this historical echo was contracting Crimson. It made sense that the mission rewards were relatively lower.

[Newbie Mission Status Updated]

You have now fully uncovered the hidden truths within the Grand Duchy of Cangting, and you understand Elder Norton’s grand and ambitious scheme.

Now, fate splits into two entirely separate paths before you.

Where they ultimately lead—depends on your choice.

[Newbie Mission Final Goal]

Ensure that the young and naive Grand Duke’s daughter, Sylvia, experiences the ultimate betrayal from her closest kin. In the agony and despair of her downfall, she must undergo transformation and rebirth.

[Historical Echo—"Ancient Cangting" Second Node Reached]

Current Historical Node Locked. Choose to exit the echo or remain to complete the mission.

[Reminder: This is a major divergence point. Your decision here will directly impact the final outcome of this historical echo. Proceed with caution.]

"If this entire historical echo were a role-playing game..."

"Then right now, I must be standing in front of the final save point before the boss room."

"If I were to follow the standard game strategy, what I should do now is… gather intelligence, plan the perfect approach, spend all my gold on the best armor, weapons, and supplies, and recruit the strongest allies."

"And then, once I’m fully prepared—"

"I’ll clear the game in one decisive strike."

Xia Ya chuckled and chose to exit the historical echo.

This time, leaving was much smoother than the first, now that he had experience. The disorienting sense of temporal distortion was significantly reduced.

As the warped light faded away, the familiar ceiling of the washroom came into view.

Xia Ya glanced at the clock beside him and found that less than an hour had passed.

Despite spending far longer in the historical echo this time, the passage of real-world time had actually shortened.

He splashed his face with cold water at the sink, forcing himself to calm down.

He needed time—to think, to plan.

To decide how to navigate the final stretch of this newbie mission, and the historical echo.

If he simply followed the mission's objective and enacted the so-called "betrayal," then he wouldn’t have to do anything. Just obeying Norton’s plan would be enough.

But hidden within Norton’s words was an implicit message—

Sylvia was the key.

And a key that had fulfilled its purpose… only had one fate—to break inside the lock.

Xia Ya pushed open the washroom door and stepped into the second-floor hallway.

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

The grand magic-powered chandelier in the living room downstairs was still lit.

Ailora sat in the living room, working through a stack of documents under the magical glow. Her smooth, pale-gold hair cascaded over the sofa behind her.

"Congratulations, Little Ai," Xia Ya yawned as he walked down the stairs.

At this moment, Ailora had not restrained her spiritual aura. In Xia Ya’s perception, his childhood friend was radiating an overwhelming sharpness.

It was as if the seventeen-year-old girl before him wasn’t just a person, but a divine spear—one sharp enough to pierce mountains and shatter stars.

She had broken through the Third Ring as well. And her strength after the breakthrough was likely beyond both Xia Ya’s and even Ailora’s own expectations.

"Thank you," the golden-haired girl replied with a slight nod, her expression unreadable. "Xia Ya-kun, you should also maintain a balanced diet. You spent quite a long time in the washroom."

Xia Ya’s steps faltered slightly. He sensed something was off.

The issue wasn’t about the washroom or digestive problems—it was how Ailora addressed him.

Normally, she either called him by name or didn’t use a title at all. But whenever she started calling him "Xia Ya-kun," it always meant something was out of her control.

Xia Ya began retracing his steps, trying to figure out what went wrong.

There was no way she had sensed Sylvia’s existence across space and time, right? After the previous Sixth Sense incident, he had learned his lesson. This time, before leaving the historical echo, he had even taken a shower and changed his clothes.

His confusion was soon answered.

Because on the wooden table in front of Ailora, separate from the other business documents, lay a pink envelope.

A pink envelope, with two elegant lines of handwriting—

The recipient field read: "Xia Ya Egut"

And the sender’s name: "Diris."