Miss Witch Doesn’t Want to Become a Songstress

Southern 1st District, Pilgrimage Avenue.

On a Sunday night, the streets glimmered with lights. Towering buildings over a hundred meters tall stood densely packed, their surfaces adorned with projections and screens broadcasting popular advertisements and various intellectual property promotions.

Located at No. 57 on Pilgrimage Avenue, the “Dragon’s Nest Bar,” a sprawling venue, was bustling with activity. Its sign featured a massive dragon’s head formed from lights and holograms. The dark-red dragon, with three pairs of sharp horns, occasionally breathed fiery projections that lit up the large square in front of the bar.

Luxury hovercars descended from above, entering parking lot entrances on either side of the square. Beneath the plaza lay a hive-like parking facility. As each car entered a designated slot, it was securely locked. Later, patrons could summon their vehicles using personal terminals, and the cars would automatically ascend to the square, ready for departure.

Inside the bar, colorful lights swirled, and shadows of people danced to the deafening music. The intoxicating drinks and hypnotic rhythms immersed patrons in a frenzied world where they could vent their life’s frustrations and stresses.

This was Southern 1st District, the most prosperous region of Verdant Veil—and also the most competitive. Young people from across the planet arrived here with dreams of making it big: to gain fame, amass wealth, or find their ideal partner.

However, the higher the aspirations, the greater the disillusionment. Though salaries in Southern 1st District surpassed those elsewhere, so did expenses. Temptations here far exceeded those in other regions.

Values ingrained since childhood often shattered under the weight of overwhelming interests. To make money, many abandoned their past principles, selling whatever they could—whether it be their bodies, dignity, ideals, or something else.

There was no need for coercion; countless people willingly subjected themselves to exploitation, shouting over one another about how cheap, efficient, and fast they were. This district never lacked ambitious young people yearning to climb the ladder. If you had money, you could easily acquire anything.

While incomes increased, happiness often didn’t. Seeing others with more wealth and enjoying more privileges fueled envy and resentment. This jealousy became a driving force, propelling people further down their paths, but also leaving them simmering with frustration and discontent.

“Why does he have such good luck? I’m just as capable as him!”

“My boss is so stingy! Why won’t he pay me more? Is he exploiting me?”

“Those coworkers are useless. They ruin everything and still brag about how great they are. What a waste of money!”

“Useless scum!”

Success couldn’t come fast enough—every second of delay was agonizing. Watching others make easy money was more unbearable than losing it. Why should they have it so easy?

The endless pursuit of profit from the top trickled down, causing pressure and anxiety for everyone. Only a small minority truly enjoyed their gains.

…

“Hey, beautiful, care for a drink?”

In the bar, a man in a floral shirt with brightly dyed hair approached a blonde girl. She ignored him and continued drinking with her friends.

“Linda, this place is so noisy,” the blonde girl complained to her companion.

“You’ll get used to it, Mill. Everyone’s here,” said her companion, a girl with deep green highlights in her hair. She gestured toward a group of men and women not far away.

The group of ten or so were all first-year students from Edess Academy. However, even among first-years, there were clear social hierarchies. Those speaking loudly and receiving the most attention came from the wealthiest families.

“See? Lu Ji and Somoya are both here. It wouldn’t look good if we left early,” Linda whispered.

Lu Ji and Somoya were the wealthiest in their class. Many students sought to build connections with them, afraid to offend them. Despite having decent family backgrounds themselves, Mill and Linda were cautious, having been advised by their families to maintain good relationships.

“This is so boring,” Mill muttered, stirring her straw idly. Her mother, a once-famous B-list celebrity, had leveraged connections to get her into Edess Academy. Yet, among the elite students, she found herself overshadowed.

As the students mingled, a commotion erupted in another corner of the bar. The shattering of a glass bottle punctuated the rising argument, drawing the room’s attention and momentarily dulling the music.

All eyes turned toward the source of the noise, where the scene unfolded.

“You think you can keep arguing with me, huh? Let’s settle this right now! If you back down, you’re nothing but a coward!” a crude voice shouted.

“Bring it on! Who’s afraid of you?” someone from the opposing group retorted.

The room buzzed with excitement as onlookers egged them on.

“Yeah, hit him! Teach him a lesson for running his mouth in Dragon’s Nest!”

“Fight already! Why hold back?”

“Take it to the deathmatch if you’re brave enough! Cowards should leave!”

Amid the chaos, the students’ attention was drawn to the unfolding drama. After some inquiries, they learned the cause of the altercation.

Apparently, the two groups had clashed over a girl. Allegations arose that one of the men had betrayed a friend over her. Naturally, the accused party couldn’t let it slide, and the confrontation escalated.

“So they’re settling it with a race, huh?” one of the students remarked with interest.

“Exactly. If they fought here, the authorities would be alerted, and the riot suppression units would intervene.”

“The bar owner wouldn’t want anyone dying here either—it could lead to losing their business license.”

“But taking it outside for a race is different. It’s not classified as a violent incident, so the riot suppression units won’t get involved. Even if someone dies, it can be dismissed as reckless driving. Besides, fatalities aren’t guaranteed. Modern racing vehicles have advanced safety mechanisms.”

“Underground betting syndicates and modification companies also support these races. It’s a profitable arrangement, which is why it’s encouraged as a way to resolve disputes.”

The students, knowledgeable due to their backgrounds, provided a clear analysis of the situation.

“Shall we go watch?”

“Of course! It’s a rare chance to witness this.”

Following the crowd, the students exited the bar. Soon, the racers arrived with their vehicles, revving engines and fine-tuning modifications as spectators eagerly discussed each team’s strengths and weaknesses.