Hate me, Miss Witch!
Chapter 52 - 41: Let’s Call You Crimson (Two in One)_2

Chapter 52: Chapter 41: Let’s Call You Crimson (Two in One)_2

CLANG—

Another sword strike was unleashed, and a tiny crack formed on the black iron ore.

"You know, all your efforts seem like nothing more than futile self-deception to outsiders, right?"

Suddenly, a strange voice echoed in the ears of the little silver spirit.

"Like a fish trying to learn to fly... no matter how hard it trains, it’s just labor in vain, yielding half the results for twice the effort."

Only then did the little silver spirit notice the young man who had, at some unknown time, arrived beside it.

The man did not conceal his spiritual power. To the little silver spirit, his soul felt scorching hot and profound, far stronger than any of the Beastmasters who had previously come to form a contract with a Silver Spirit. Even the elder responsible for overseeing the habitat seemed inferior to this young man in the little silver spirit’s perception.

"MEW— (I... know.)"

After a long silence, a tender, feminine voice emerged from the fluctuations of the little silver spirit’s mental energy.

This caused the black-haired young man opposite it to raise his eyebrows.

"Knowing full well that it’s futile, you still refuse to turn back until you hit a wall?"

"To be honest, I really like your perseverance and character."

"In my view, possessing such character traits is far more important than any rank, race, or powerful Skills."

"But to knowingly pursue the impossible is quite foolish. I don’t wish my future Pet Beast to be a reckless fool who knows the danger yet still charges in blindly."

"That’s not bravery. That’s just plain suicide."

The little silver spirit’s astral spirit body trembled slightly.

This was the acknowledgment it had always longed to hear since its birth. For a Silver Spirit with an extremely prolonged growth period, only through a contract with a Beastmaster could it possibly gain strength rapidly enough to possess the power for revenge. Everything it did was to gain recognition from a Beastmaster. However, until now, due to various defects in its constitution, no Beastmaster from the Brunestadt family had ever been willing to choose a naturally deficient Silver Spirit, not even showing any willingness to consider it. This was the very first time it had been treated as a worthy contract partner by a Beastmaster, despite the skepticism in that voice. Moreover, this Beastmaster was so powerful.

"MEW... MEW... (It’s not... futile...)"

The little silver spirit’s astral spirit body fluctuated slightly, its tender, girlish voice rippling out.

"Is that so?"

It saw the black-haired young man give a noncommittal nod.

"Then show me."

The next moment, a small little white ferret appeared on the young man’s shoulder.

"Defeat it, and I will acknowledge your qualification to form a contract with me. Also, I will grant you an opportunity to realize your wish."

The delicate little white ferret shook its fluffy tail and leaped elegantly from the young man’s shoulder, looking lazily at the little silver spirit.

From the little white ferret, the little silver spirit did not sense the slightest threat; it appeared to be merely a harmless ornamental Pet Beast.

However, its heart did not relax in the slightest.

Any Pet Beast contracted by such a powerful Beastmaster could never be weak; it might hold a rank more than one or two levels above its own.

Even so, faced with what might be the only opportunity in its Life, there was not a trace of retreat in the little silver spirit’s heart.

It gently closed its eyes.

Its Silver Element Body, along with its murky, dim yellow halo, subsided.

「The next moment.」

The little silver spirit’s body, along with the very source of its astral spirit body, erupted with azure flames.

Blood Incineration

Compared to its kin, it lacked powerful racial traits, and its Magic Power and attributes were far inferior. The little silver spirit understood these differences better than anyone. Merely wielding a sword might compensate for a lack of combat experience and proficiency. However, just as even a Human with extensive fighting experience could not defeat a subadult giant dragon, if the disparity in total Magic Power and rank was too great, a chasm would exist that skill and experience could not overcome.

That was why Blood Incineration existed.

Whether Humans or other life forms, all possess the instinct for self-preservation. Therefore, no matter how much effort is expended, the body’s primal instinct will always retain enough power to sustain vital functions. Blood Incineration involved using willpower to transcend this instinct to "sustain vital functions," drawing out power from the depths of the Soul that a creature should not normally use. Then, it concentrated everything into an extremely brief moment.

This was the ultimate technique the little silver spirit had devised to combat, with its own deficient body, the many formidable enemies it anticipated, including its targets for revenge. It was a unique, exclusive Skill it had created—one of a kind.

Burning the body, incinerating the mind.

Using such a Skill was tantamount to self-mutilation every time.

But—

It, which had never been valued from the start, now carried someone else’s expectations for the first time. So, it decided to meet those expectations.

Azure flames momentarily wreathed the blood-red silver blade.

Then—

It swung the sword.

There were no flashy special effects, nor any sophisticated High Order Sword Techniques.

It was merely the most basic Slash, but after tens of millions of swings, it now possessed the power to turn decay into miracle.

The sudden surge in Magic Power made the little white ferret opposite it blink in surprise.

Deep black flames and the azure blaze flared up at the same instant.

Then, the Slash pierced through the black flame blockade, heading straight for their source.

Perhaps... I can really do it?

The thought had barely formed.

The next moment, the little silver spirit saw a Silver Moon slowly magnifying in the little white ferret’s eyes.

The azure blaze swirling around it extinguished.

And with it, the Slash veered off course.

’Blood Incineration’ was forcibly interrupted. The Magic Power that had filled its Element body vanished, replaced by profound weakness.

It was defeated.

Its all-out strike hit nothing, tearing a fissure in the earth.

If only I were a little stronger... if only I had trained harder. Then, maybe, I could have met his expectations.

At this moment, only regret and self-blame filled the little silver spirit’s heart.

But then, a calm voice reached its ears.

"Feeling indignant? Because of your own weakness?"

"If that’s so, then remember this regret."

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

"Proof that you haven’t despaired and abandoned yourself."

The next moment, the little silver spirit felt itself being lifted by a pair of broad, warm hands with distinct knuckles.

Clear spiritual power connected with its astral spirit body, soothing its burning Soul and calming the twilight curse that had plagued it for half its Life.

"So similar, truly so similar."

The little silver spirit heard the young Beastmaster sigh with emotion.

"Silver."

"It’s exactly like you, me, and Ennie back then."

"MEOW~"

Silver gently flicked its tail on Shiayar’s shoulder in response.

Our master is just getting ideas about getting another Pet Beast again... Why bother making so many excuses? After all, the grass is always greener on the other side. Still, having another ’faux sister’ does seem pretty good.

"As long as you two don’t mind."

The little silver spirit heard his clear laughter.

Immediately after, it felt its spirit gently enveloped, as if by a tranquil and profound night sky.

Its astral spirit body and mind melded together.

Finally, they slowly converged, forming the nascent shape of a contract.

"Well then, from today onward, you will possess the power to make your wish come true."

"As for your name..."

The little silver spirit saw its future Beastmaster pause for a moment, his gaze fixing on the smear of crimson blood.

"Then I’ll call you..."

"Crimson."