Seeing Xia Xin approach, the silver-haired little girl smiled at the counter. "Hello, what can I get you?"

"Boss, are your breads properly baked?"

"I run a bakery. I wouldn't sell raw dough. If it's undercooked, eat me—happy?" She snorted and handed over a baguette.

"Mm, give me one then." Xia Xin took the bread with one hand and grabbed the girl's small hand with the other... of course, just to pay her.

As if she'd grope her hand. Impossible.

But Xia Xin's actions weren't that simple.

If she just gave two copper coins, the girl would glare at her like trash, then call the whole village to beat this freeloader.

So Xia Xin had a perfect countermeasure ready.

What was it?

Hmph, simple: at the exact moment of exchanging money for goods...

Run! Run as fast as possible!

If she ran fast enough, everything was free.

Yokatta!

Watching the white figure dash away, the silver-haired girl stared at the two worthless copper coins in her palm, frozen.

Was it really worth it? It was just one bread...

She looked so elegantly dressed—like some noble Arcane Master or Sorceress. Never expected her to act so disgracefully for bread. Ah... like a stray puppy, so pitiful.

Watching Xia Xin's fleeing back, the girl smiled. Her expression shifted subtly.

Ah... this Witch Miss is so cute~ That easily bullied look~ I want to possess her completely~

I'd love to see the noble Witch Miss kneeling beneath me, her nimble tongue licking my toes...

......

"Achoo!" Xia Xin rubbed her nose.

Was someone gossiping about her? No way.

Sigh. With such power, she only took one baked bread.

Xia Xin felt like a true saint.

She'd always been kind. Her most evil deed? Stealing her bunkmate's underwear and secretly using it a few times at midnight.

Of course, she washed it spotless, folded it neatly, and returned it! Not a trace of DNA left.

Truly, no one was kinder than her.

But the chatter around her now was annoying.

"Have you heard? The Calamity Witch is nearing this city."

"Ugh, awful. No wonder elite adventurers get wiped out by cave goblins—it's her fault."

"Damn! Must be the Calamity Witch!"

"And the mayor next town was caught with a nanny goat at midnight. Could she have tempted him?"

"Hiss... likely. She's also called the 'Lust Sorceress.' Anyone she gazes at turns lust-crazed..."

"My daughter hides in her room all day now. Could it be the Calamity Witch?"

"Definitely. She targets women most."

"My chickens stopped laying eggs too. Could it be..."

"Very possible. It's the Calamity Witch."

Damn it! What's that got to do with me?

Kiritsugu, The World, MiHoYo... so many scapegoats exist. Why blame me?

This world isn't worth it. Xia Xin wanted to turn evil.

As the Calamity Witch, she was furious.

So she'd act.

Using her "modern" wisdom and "a decade of hard study," she'd teach them a lesson.

Don't be fooled by Xia Xin—she was a woman with deep schemes.

......

......

The next day.

"Hmph~ hehehe~"

Xia Xin strolled down the street, money bag in hand, humming cheerfully. A stark contrast to yesterday's destitution.

Today, no need to snatch bread from little girls. She'd earned plenty—in one night.

Where from? Hmph. As the Calamity Witch, not doing something shady would insult her reputation.

So she'd slipped into shops at night to... ah, no. A witch doesn't "steal." She "appropriates" a tiny sum.

Roughly a hundred gold coins.

Of course, Xia Xin had a big conscience. She only "appropriated" from overpriced, shoddy black-market stores.

Most importantly, they'd insulted her worst yesterday.

Hmph~ revenge served.

Plus, using their money to trade fairly—wasn't that robbing the rich to help the poor?

Xia Xin felt she deserved a new title. Calamity Witch? Her deeds were angelically pure.

Well, fallen angels are still angels.

Thinking this, she entered the town's only tavern.

Money meant enjoyment.

"Boss, a glass of strong apple juice."

"Coming right up."

Enjoyment? Ha, not just juice.

Taverns were always chaotic hubs. In small towns, news spread fast. Someone knew about last night's thefts.

Plainly, Xia Xin came to hear how they'd brag about her.

Even insults... watching their helpless rage was fun.

Hehe.

She grinned mischievously.

"Heard? A Holy Knights squad is coming to capture the Calamity Witch."

"Really? But... can mere Holy Knights catch her?"

"Not just them. Their commander—the strongest Holy Knight in millennia. They say she rivals the Demon King!"

"You mean that lord! Hahaha! This time, the Calamity Witch can't escape! This scourge ends now! Hahaha!"

Tsk... why brag about others?

Xia Xin was displeased.

She scowled.

Why not brag about me? To make me feel good too.