Hate me, Miss Witch!
Chapter 35 - 32 Collaborators of the Empire

Chapter 35: Chapter 32 Collaborators of the Empire

With the entire Ashes Cult wiped out, the towering fire array slowly faded away.

Only pale ashes and the charred remnants of buildings remained, bearing witness to the events that had transpired.

A series of commands were swiftly issued, and soon the soldiers and instructors present began organizing the reconstruction of the dormitory area ruins.

Indeed, Pet Beasts weren’t just for fighting. Those strong Combat Series Pet Beasts were also first-rate when it came to moving bricks and mixing mortar.

Shiayar dusted the floating dust off his windbreaker and chose not to return to the group of students on the other side—

Even though the surviving students were now casting fervent gazes at him, there was no doubt that he would receive a hero’s welcome if he went over.

Firstly, because he had a slight case of social anxiety.

"Shiayar, you saved us all! You are our hero!"

"The savior of St. Roland Academy!"

"You are the embodiment of a saint walking among us!"

"Shiayar, I want to have your babies!"

...Such cheesy words, coupled with those adoring gazes—just the thought of it was enough to trigger Shiayar’s embarrassment.

He knew he was no saint. While he had put on that righteous facade earlier and helped them out, his main motive was coveting that left finger bone. To endure such adulation was indeed a bit beyond what he felt he deserved.

Secondly, because it was meaningless.

Shiayar had a clear sense of his own ambitions. While appearing righteous in front of others did indeed feel good, he wasn’t the type to satisfy his vanity through the flattery of mere civilian students.

He turned his gaze to the enormous Magma Giant below him, whose flowing magma was gradually cooling and solidifying.

"Ennie, give me a hand here."

"Student Shiayar, you’re really good at stripping every last bit from your spoils."

The sound of high heels clicking approached.

Enola had appeared beside Shiayar at some point. Seemingly glimpsing his intentions, she spoke in a cool tone tinged with a barely detectable trace of resignation.

"Ennie, your use of idioms is not bad; I see my Chinese tutoring hasn’t been wasted on you."

"By the way, I always thought you were a classic, stoic ’ice queen’ type, but I never expected you to have this hidden trait of a sharp tongue—I like it."

Without turning his head, Shiayar stretched out his hands over the Magma Giant’s remains, gesturing.

"Start cutting from here."

Radiance flared. A brilliant silver gleam flashed, neatly slicing the sturdiest volcanic rock shell on the Magma Giant’s abdomen into four pieces.

Then, the shattered pieces of volcanic rock shell were collected into the Spatial Pocket by Shiny, who was on Shiayar’s shoulder.

The outer armor of a Sovereign Rank Magma Giant, barely qualifying as 2nd Order material. This amount should be worth several hundred Rhine gold coins at least, Shiayar estimated. He then pointed at the Magma Giant’s chest, "And this part here."

The silver spear’s light flashed again. A fragmented crystal fell and was securely caught by Shiayar.

Although it had shattered during the fight, this crystal, which had accumulated the core Magic Power of the Magma Giant, was still a rare item among 3rd Order materials, with a black market price of no less than 1,500 Rhine gold coins.

Enola, grasping her silver spear, expertly carved up the Magma Giant’s remains into extraordinary materials of various sizes, following Shiayar’s directions as skillfully as a master butcher carving an ox.

Just then, she suddenly stopped. The silver spear "Rhongomyniad" in her hand dipped slightly, as she subtly positioned herself protectively in front of Shiayar.

The man approaching was a stern-faced, middle-aged Military Department officer in uniform—Colonel Zieg.

He halted five meters in front of Enola, not advancing any further.

The battle intuition honed through countless trials of blood and fire on the battlefield told Colonel Zieg that if he took one more step forward, the blonde girl in front of him would surely attack, regardless of his title or who he represented.

Although he was a genuine 4-Ring Master, the sharp, intense aura of the spear gave Colonel Zieg a premonition of being injured by it.

She was indeed the super rookie he had heard about within Military Department circles even before this incident.

St. Roland Academy really has produced two extraordinary young talents...

Colonel Zieg sighed internally. Then, adopting a friendly expression, he waved his hand. "Relax, I’m from the Military Department. We’re on the same side."

"As a member of St. Roland Academy, I greatly respect the Military Department’s support this time."

"However, if you’re just here to thank me, then don’t bother. Professor Karn has already thanked me once. The academy is my home, and protecting my fellow students is my duty."

Shiayar’s attention remained on dissecting the Magma Giant’s remains; he had already cleared away most of the huge carcass.

He thoroughly enjoyed this process—it felt like comfortably counting the loot list after overcoming all sorts of difficulties to beat a final boss.

Just then, Shiayar suddenly became alert. "Colonel Zieg, you’re not here to tell me that this Magma Giant actually belongs to your Military Department as spoils of war, are you?"

"How could that be?" Colonel Zieg chuckled. "According to Military Department regulations, all enemy spoils captured during a mission belong to the person who made the kill."

"Although you essentially picked up what Professor Karn and I missed, the Ashes Cult leader was indeed killed by you, so naturally, all his spoils of war belong to you."

"That’s good." Shiayar nodded, putting the last extraordinary material into his Spatial Pocket.

"Let’s go, Ennie."

"Hmm," Enola nodded, put away Rhongomyniad, and quietly followed behind Shiayar.

"Wait a second... actually, I came to remind you of something," Colonel Zieg said, somewhat reluctantly.

According to his original plan, his personal visit as a 4-Ring Master from the Military Department should have flattered these two students. Even if it didn’t leave them feeling overwhelmed by favor, they should have at least engaged in some friendly conversation. Then, he could have smoothly shared some information, thereby doing a favor for these two rising stars of the Empire who had genuinely impressed him. Who would have thought that neither Shiayar nor Enola seemed to care about his Military Department status at all? It forced him to be the one to speak up... Instead of doing them a favor, it felt more like he was shamelessly trying to curry favor.

"I don’t know how you resolved that contaminant in the altar or how you can control that black flame, and I don’t need to know..."

Colonel Zieg slightly lowered his voice. "It’s undeniable that you’ve unraveled the Ashes Cult’s conspiracy; no one has the right to question your stance."

"However, just because the Military Department and the Empire don’t care doesn’t mean others won’t..."

"This incident caused too great a stir. Many other powers in the Empire Capital have spies, so the specific details are bound to be disseminated."

"Once the details get out, you will be labeled and speculated about by all sorts of extraordinary organizations and secret forces, both overt and covert."

"Finding yourself in the sights of these organizations... it’s hard to say whether that’s good or bad."

"Figured as much," Shiayar nodded indifferently.

This was something he had anticipated well before embarking on this plan; a hidden price to pay for completing Amaterasu.

"It’s no big deal. We will meet soldiers with generals, and counter water with earth," he said casually.

"Haha, meet soldiers with generals, and counter water with earth; indeed, that’s a good way of putting it!" Colonel Zieg repeated Shiayar’s words and laughed in agreement.

"Your overt use of that black flame to kill the Ashes Cult leader in public was actually a very wise decision."

"If you had kept that ability to control the black flame hidden and were then forced to expose it later, it might have given rise to rumors of unspeakable ties between you and the Ashes Cult..."

"But by displaying it openly, especially in the act of killing their leader, no one can use that against you in the future."

"Plus, you really don’t need to worry too much... Regardless, you are a citizen of the Empire and a hero who has made a significant contribution to St. Roland Academy."

"I can assure you on behalf of the Empire, no one will dare to openly trouble you over this."

While saying this, the middle-aged officer took another deep look at Shiayar. "Moreover, it might not be long before we find ourselves fighting side by side once again."

"If you’re talking about recruiting me into the Military Department, I’ll have to pass," Shiayar gestured with his hand, "A few weeks ago, your colleagues from the Resa Jurisdiction Bureau made me a similar offer, but I already declined."

"I know that geniuses like you can’t stand being constrained."

"The Jurisdiction Bureau and the Military Department’s internal management and discipline are overly strict. They are relatively more suited for the mediocre and would stifle your creativity. You’d only be wasting your talents there."

Colonel Zieg smiled. "But—"

"What if it’s not about being a direct subordinate to official bodies like the Jurisdiction Bureau or the Military Department, which answer to the state and the Royal Family..."

"Instead, a collaborator of the Fresta Empire?"

Shiayar frowned. "A collaborator of the Empire, what does that mean?"

"It doesn’t mean anything in particular right now."

"Many things are involved, and the waters run deep. Those in the know will understand. For those who don’t, well, it can’t be helped."

"When the time comes for you to know, you will naturally find out."

After saying all this, Colonel Zieg finally showed a carefree smile and turned casually to leave, but then he heard Shiayar’s quiet voice behind him.

"As far as I know, if a Military Department officer receives significant assistance from an outsider during a mission, that assistant is eligible to request a reward from the Military Department. This reward is typically deducted from the mission executor’s own share."

At these words, Colonel Zieg’s graceful departure stiffened for a moment. Then, he left without turning back, "I’ll apply for it on your behalf."

"Then I’ll await your good news."

Watching Colonel Zieg’s somewhat embarrassed retreating figure, Shiayar finally called Enola with satisfaction, ready for them to leave.

Leaving on a cliffhanger and speaking in riddles, was he? Serves him right.