Hate Me, Witch!-Chapter 115: He Has Me in His Heart

Chapter 115: He Has Me in His Heart

The deep blue crystal radiated a brilliant, dazzling light.

Xia Ya poured his mental energy into it, then let that gentle force guide his consciousness upward, toward the higher realms of the Spirit Realm.

Long-distance communication technology—like bidirectional teleportation arrays—was cutting-edge magitech fiercely developed and tightly guarded by every nation on the Western Continent.

After all, anyone with even a hint of strategic vision could see just how much value this kind of real-time, distance-agnostic communication held in warfare.

On the battlefield, even a few minutes' delay in intel delivery could mean the difference between victory and defeat.

Of course, while they all had similar communication technologies, the Empire used Astral Wraiths to build communication circuits within the Starrealm, while the Church used the Spirit Realm to achieve the same effect.

Gradually, a faint point of light appeared before Xia Ya.

As he watched the blurry glow slowly converge, he casually dropped the illusion of being a Saint—a persona he'd kept up in the Historical Echo for over half a year.

Pretending to be someone constantly worrying about the nation had given Xia Ya a bit of PTSD toward the phrase “faint smile.”

A few seconds later, the blurry glow coalesced into a clear image.

A young girl sat properly at her desk, focused on writing something.

The setting sun cast a soft glow on her fair, delicate face. Her ink-black hair flowed over her shoulders, fluttering gently in the evening breeze.

She held a pen in her right hand, while her left hand toyed with a small doll. The doll had a few lines of arcane script etched onto it.

From Xia Ya's experience, he could tell those characters belonged to the Succubus race—commonly used in rituals for contracts and curses.

It was an ancient Succubus tradition that Diris had once casually mentioned to him.

According to legend, when a succubus girl met someone she truly loved and wanted to spend her life with, she would craft a doll identical to her beloved. Then she'd inscribe a “falling in love” curse to make that person hopelessly devoted to her.

And that tiny doll—also with black hair and dark eyes—had soft facial features that weren’t overly sharp or angular.

To put it simply… the doll didn’t just vaguely resemble Xia Ya. It looked exactly like him.

“Who’s trying to con—” A lazy, melodious female voice rang out, only to pause mid-sentence. “Xia Ya.”

The black-haired girl panicked, hurriedly hiding the Xia Ya doll behind her back.

But in her frantic rush, she knocked over the book she’d been writing in earlier, sending it open across the desk—its contents now clearly visible through the Spirit Realm communication screen.

Though it lasted just a few seconds, the beautifully bound book was quickly snapped shut.

Still, with Xia Ya’s current Fifth-Ring level of mental power, those few seconds were more than enough for him to commit the words to memory.

“The black-haired, black-eyed young Beastmaster with a Snow Ferret on his shoulder looked at the girl from the Holy Court before him. That icy-cold face of his curved into a faint smile—charming, untamed, and wickedly bold. With a roguish drawl, he said: ‘Interesting woman. You’ve caught my attention. But have you considered... this is a game you’re playing with—’”

Looking at the flustered girl before him, the Saintess of Dawn, her pretty face tinged with red...

Xia Ya’s expression didn’t change.

“So this is your new way of trying to make me fall for you?”

As Xia Ya spoke, the Spirit Realm’s glowing communication screen flickered slightly.

The next moment—

That soft blush, that mix of shyness and frustration on her face—all vanished.

She took a small step back, her chestnut eyes studying Xia Ya through the image, a faint smile rising on her lips.

“Guess I messed up this time.”

The Saintess of Dawn twirled the Xia Ya doll between her fingers.

Her whole vibe shifted. Gone was the poetic, lovestruck noble girl—she now seemed like an orchid blooming in a secluded valley.

Beautiful, but veiled in mist—hard to see clearly.

“Innocent and naïve, untouched by the mortal world. Willing to seek out a Succubus’s curse, just to be with the one she loves.”

“Even went so far as to write him as the male lead in her novel... but when that budding affection got noticed, she scrambled to hide it—just a classic tsundere girl.”

“I thought you’d like that kind of character.”

There was a hint of wistful grievance in her voice.

“Even knowing it’s all an act...”

“I couldn’t even see the faintest flicker of emotion in your eyes, husband. That really disappoints me.”

“Am I really that lacking in feminine charm?”

Xia Ya narrowed his eyes. “And where did you pick up calling me ‘husband’?”

“Of course, from the novels Xia Ya the Classmate published through the Royal Literary Society…”

The Saintess of Dawn took another step back, her eyes drifting toward the nearby bookshelf.

Xia Ya glanced up—and sure enough, it was filled with neatly arranged books:

The Count of Monte Cristo, The Legend of Hero Abin, Hamoret’s Revenge, The Three Musketeers, The Purehearted Lady Bai Lian…

Every single one—his own work.

“I’ve collected and organized every one of your books.”

“And I started writing my own novel because I wanted to understand your heart better… from a creator’s perspective.”

That soft, wistful voice carried a subtle melancholy, stirring a wave of helplessness in Xia Ya’s heart.

This Saintess of Dawn standing before him…

Was the second girl he’d gotten to know—after Ailora—who was the same age as him.

They had first met in Lokiah, the Arcane City, known as the City of Knowledge.

Back then, she wasn’t the Saintess of Dawn yet.

The three of them had spent more than a year together.

Later on, Xia Ya and Ailora went to the Imperial Capital, while she joined the Holy Court.

A few years after that, news spread that a new Saintess of Dawn had been chosen.

Technically speaking, both the Saintess of Dawn and Ailora were his childhood friends.

But their personalities couldn’t be more different.

If Ailora was like a blank page—transparent and easy to read—then her dynamic with Xia Ya felt more like an old married couple.

Then the Saintess of Dawn was a complex, hard-to-decipher book.

Every communication was filled with teasing and games, leaving him unsure where the jokes ended and the feelings began.

Of course, flirting like this was always a two-way street.

Xia Ya never felt like he was getting the short end of the stick.

“To be honest, maybe I would’ve felt a little spark at first.”

“But lately… the people around me have been giving me some serious stress. It’s hard to feel anything romantic right now.”

“People around you?”

The Saintess of Dawn paused.

Her chestnut eyes lingered on Xia Ya’s face for a moment.

“With how tsundere and deadpan Ailora is, there’s no way she’d play pretend like this.”

“So... is it Her Excellency, the Argent Witch?”

“You really missed your calling as a detective…”

Xia Ya gave a sincere sigh.

“By the way, have the details of that Borgia family banquet and the news about Sylvia already reached the Holy Court?”

From Xia Ya’s perspective, he’d already spent over half a year within the Historical Echo.

But in reality, only a single day had passed since that banquet.

Given the information transmission speed on the Western Continent, news shouldn’t have spread this fast under normal circumstances.

“The official intel hasn’t arrived yet… but hey, I am the Saintess of the Church. Of course, I’ve got my own channels.”

The Saintess of Dawn paused for a moment.

“Though there’s still no solid evidence confirming that Wildwolf Warwick was acting on the Borgia patriarch Guderian’s orders…”

“The Tribunal has already terminated the Borgia family’s collaboration with the Holy Court.”

“Thanks.”

Xia Ya gave a slight nod.

He was well aware that under normal procedures, a decision like this could’ve dragged on for half a year or more…

For it to be settled the very next day—it was clear the Saintess of Dawn had pushed it through.

After Guderian’s death, that partnership with the Holy Court was the Borgia family’s last and greatest shield.

Now that it had been severed, it would be far easier for Isadella to strike at them.

With the Second Imperial Princess’ political savvy, she could easily dismantle one of the once-greatest Oathbound Families, leaving them utterly ruined with no chance of recovery.

And while most of the Borgia family likely had no idea what really happened in Ceylan, Xia Ya had no intention of being merciful to his enemies.

After all, if he imagined walking away after wiping out his enemies, only to lock eyes with a little boy—just like his former self—glaring at him with hatred…

He’d probably just smirk and think: “Should’ve hidden better. Next time I see you, I’ll kill you.”

“Didn’t expect to meet again this soon.”

“Oh right—Hystalia…”

The Saintess of Dawn’s chestnut eyes flickered slightly.

“She’s a Chosen of Dawn, backed by a Cardinal. Also one of the expected candidates for the Thirteen Saints.”

“So, the motion to revoke her divine status hasn’t gone through yet.”

She gave Xia Ya a long, meaningful look, lips curling into a mischievous smile.

“Xia Ya, interested in turning Hystalia into your personal plush toy?”

“She hides it well, but that only daughter of your enemy… the Chosen of Dawn… is actually a bit of a lesbian princess, you know?”

“If you want, I’ve got plenty of dirt on her I could share.”

Her voice turned low, eyes dark with a quiet intensity.

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“Right now, the entire Borgia family is leaning on her alone. If word got out that she’s a 姛, then whether it’s the Holy Court or the Empire, she’d have nowhere left to stand—let alone any hope of reviving her family’s power.”

“With that kind of leverage, you could make her do whatever you want…”

“Even something as extreme as indulging your every whim wouldn’t be too far-fetched.”

Xia Ya paused. “If I’m not mistaken, Hystalia seems to be quite the devoted admirer of yours. From what I’ve seen, she copies your every move.”

“You really okay with selling out your loyal little simp like that?”

“She definitely is a simp… but so what?”

The Saintess of Dawn’s eyes turned a few shades colder.

“Who told you I’m a vindictive little b*tch who holds grudges and plays dirty?”

That chill in her gaze lasted only a second.

Then she smiled again, her lovely face lighting back up.

“So, Xia Ya…”

“Have you thought it over?”

“Turning your enemy’s only daughter into your own plush toy—one you can squish, squeeze, and grind into the floor. Don’t you want to get your revenge nice and thorough?”

“And don’t forget—she’s a Chosen of Dawn, a future Saint. If you can use this to bring her fully under your control, it’d be like planting a chess piece deep inside the Holy Court.”

Xia Ya considered it.

“Well, I’ll admit, it’s a tempting offer… but I’ll pass.”

“If she’s one of your fangirls and a lesbian, I’m honestly a bit worried she’ll end up tangling with the fish in my own pond.”

The Saintess of Dawn’s smile grew noticeably wider.

“Didn’t expect Xia Ya to be this possessive when it comes to me…”

She looked at him, eyes filled with undisguised affection.

That sweet smile carried a tinge of contentment.

“I’m kind of happy… knowing that there’s a place for me in your heart, Xia Ya.”

Bad girls are seriously hard to figure out…

Xia Ya couldn’t help sighing inwardly.

I miss my little angel Ailora…

But before long, the Saintess of Dawn reined in her expression, returning to a more formal posture.

“Alright, Xia Ya. Back to business.”

There was a hint of grievance in her voice.

“I know you’d never reach out to me unless you had a reason… Otherwise, you wouldn’t have kept me in the dark about taking down the Borgia family.”

“There is something I need to discuss.”

Xia Ya nodded.

“How’s the mechanical fire source I ordered from the Steam School coming along?”

His Fifth Soul Pact partner was going to be a Mechanical-type Summoned Beast.

And the reason he’d asked the Saintess of Dawn for help was simple—

She was the most talented Mechanist Xia Ya knew.

Other than the Radiant Spirit she was required to contract as the Saintess of Dawn, every one of her Soul Pacts was with a Mechanical-type beast.

She was, quite literally, a mechanical Valkyrie.

The aesthetic might be a bit out there—but Xia Ya couldn’t deny, it was kind of hot.

...

The two had discussed his fourth Mechanical Beast many times before.

This call was mostly just to finalize the pickup date—and they wrapped it up quickly.

“Well then, Xia Ya. See you in the City of Knowledge.”

“Remember… this is a secret just between the two of us.”

The Saintess of Dawn pressed a slender white finger to her lips, gently touching them, and smiled.

The next second, the deep blue communication crystal flickered, then dimmed—the call ended.

A secret just between us?

Xia Ya was still puzzling over the meaning of her final words…

Until the moment he withdrew his mental energy from the Spirit Realm—

Then he understood.

Behind him—

A golden-haired girl sat silently at the edge of the bed, carefully polishing the silver lance on her lap.

Ailora just sat there quietly, gazing at Xia Ya.

She tilted her head slightly and gave him a beautiful smile.

“Xia Ya…”