Hate Me, Witch!-Chapter 46: Where’s My Pure and Innocent Campus Belle?

The large alloy pot bubbled and steamed, filling the living room with the rich aroma of food.

Originally, this was an alchemical cauldron meant for refining potions, but now, Shaya and Ailora had repurposed it for hot pot—surprisingly fitting for the occasion.

The two sat across from each other.

Neither of them were the type to talk while eating, so silence filled the room.

The Western Continent traditionally used only knives and forks, but Ailora had learned how to use chopsticks from Shaya long ago. Now, she wielded them with lightning speed, even more adept than Shaya himself.

Her dining posture was elegant, yet her speed was anything but slow. In no time, she had devoured more than half of the food in the pot.

Though she appeared slender and delicate, Ailora was a combat-type Beastmaster—one who fought on the front lines. Naturally, her appetite far exceeded that of an ordinary person.

This chapter is updat𝓮d by freēnovelkiss.com.

Inside Shaya’s Soul Contract space, Flash was sprawled out, exhausted. Earlier, Shaya had dragged it into the kitchen as an assistant, forcing it to run back and forth delivering dishes.

Crimson had fared no better. Its "Slash" ability had been put to full use in the meal preparation, slicing fresh beef into perfect thin rolls, one precise cut after another.

Unlike Flash, Crimson wasn’t completely worn out. After all, swinging a sword thousands of times was just a routine warm-up for it. However, as the little Silver Spirit gazed blankly at the red blade in its hand, it was the first time it realized its Slashing skill could be used for… slicing beef.

Meanwhile, Silver was, as always, lazily perched on Shaya’s shoulder, yawning. The little snow ferret had the easiest task—simply providing the fire.

After a long while, Ailora set down her chopsticks and patted her still-flat stomach.

"I'm full."

Then, she saw Shaya remove the headscarf he had unknowingly put on at some point.

"My apologies for the humble hospitality."

After their meal, Ailora returned to the meditation room.

She had just broken through and her soul power was still unstable, requiring time to consolidate.

Shaya, on the other hand, returned to his bedroom on the second floor.

He sat down at his desk, turned on the magic lamp, and randomly pulled a book from the shelf to read.

Click—

A small silver spinning top was tossed onto the wooden table. It whirled and spun in place.

Shaya wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but when the top began to wobble and slow, he suddenly closed his book.

"Welcome."

He spoke.

The silver top finally lost its balance, tilting a few times before falling flat on the table.

"You took longer than I expected."

"Well, I couldn’t help it, you know… Shaya-kun."

A soft, melodious voice echoed in the room.

"Ailora-chan’s perception is way too sharp—she doesn’t feel like an ordinary Third Ring at all. It took a lot of effort just to avoid her and meet you."

"Just like in the stories you write… Romeo and Juliet, sneaking through countless obstacles every night to be together despite the world’s rejection. Isn’t that romantic?"

Shaya turned his head and saw the figure standing by the window.

It was a slender girl in a white dress, her figure curvaceous and undeniably well-endowed.

The moonlight bathed her face in a soft glow, making her look pure and delicate.

But what stood out the most were the slightly protruding white horns peeking through her hair—

The dark, gently fluttering wings extending from her back—

And the heart-shaped tail swaying under the moonlight.

There was only one race in Shaya’s knowledge that matched all these features—

A Succubus.

Shaya’s pupils contracted slightly as he scanned the girl before him.

"Where’s my pure and innocent campus belle?"

"Where’s my soft-spoken, righteous, and virtuous student council president?"

"Oh, I see."

Shaya’s expression suddenly shifted into one of realization.

"So that’s it. You’re a cunning little succubus, using your racial abilities to disguise yourself as President Diris."

"I get it now. But do you really think I’d fall for your tricks? Do you really believe that just because you have big oppai, you can do whatever you want and seduce me into losing my mind?"

"Nope."

The girl in the white dress smiled, her expression carrying both innocence and seduction—two entirely opposite yet perfectly balanced traits.

"I am the real Diris. One hundred percent, no fakes."

"...That doesn’t add up."

Shaya’s gaze remained locked on her.

"I distinctly remember that succubi are a species from the Abyss. They can’t form Soul Contracts or become Beastmasters."

"That’s true for ordinary succubi." Diris giggled. "But I’m part of the royal lineage. Like humans, I can form a Soul Contract."

She stepped out from the moonlight and knelt on Shaya’s bed, folding her black wings behind her.

"That makes it even more suspicious. A pure white unicorn can only be contracted by the purest of maidens—someone completely untouched."

An absurd thought crossed Shaya’s mind as he stared at the girl in front of him.

"Could it be—"

"You’re the legendary Disgrace of the Succubi?"

"Shaya-kun, that really hurts." Diris pouted, looking genuinely wounded.

"But… you’re not wrong. I am still a virgin. Even my racial skill, Dream Creation, is being used on someone for the first time."

She sat on Shaya’s bed in a "duck sit" position, her heart-shaped tail playfully wrapping around a pillow.

"I originally wanted to let you slip into a sweet dream without realizing it. But now that I think about it, you saw through me from the start."

"Too bad for you. I’ve run into quite a few illusionists lately—I’ve built up a natural resistance."

Shaya relaxed.

"My own beast, Silver, is a master of illusions too. I guess birds of a feather really do flock together."

That Diris had some sort of secret was something Shaya had suspected for a while. His initial shock came mainly from the extreme contrast between her two personas—

And, of course, from the sheer absurdity of a succubus being able to contract a pure white unicorn in the first place.

Shaya leaned back in his chair, rhythmically tapping his fingers on the desk.

"A succubus royal from the Abyss, able to remain hidden within St. Roland Academy for years without being discovered? I don’t buy it—someone has to be backing you."

His mind flashed back to the cryptic hints Colonel Zieg had given him after the Ashen Order incident.

"So… does this mean your visit represents the Empire?"

"Or at the very least, a faction within the Empire?"

"Shaya-kun really is sharp—nothing gets past you."

Diris studied his face for a moment before nodding.

"So, Shaya-kun, could you do me a little favor?"

"Someone wants to see your 'Perfect Dream.' Or rather, they want to see your dreams."

"If I can’t complete this mission… I’ll be in a lot of trouble."

But as she spoke, Diris noticed the strange look in Shaya’s eyes.

"My dreams?"

Shaya’s expression was unreadable.

"Sure, I could let you see them—but I should warn you."

"The last person who tried peeking into my mental world… didn’t end up so well."

"Relax, Shaya-kun." Diris gave a confident smile. "I’m a true Succubus Princess—one of the Dream Dragon’s chosen. I’m not some half-baked amateur."

She sensed the moment Shaya stopped resisting mentally, and her smile deepened.

Without a sound, she activated her racial ability—Dream Creation.

In the next instant—

The tightly shut bedroom door swung open.

But beyond it wasn’t the hallway it should have led to.

Instead—

A vast, infinite sea of stars.