The Speedrun Manual of Miss Witch - Chapter 1

Saint Year 741, June 17. The city of heavy industry, Berren.

A red-haired girl pushed open the thick wooden door in front of her and stepped out of the noisy classroom.

Just as she was about to leave the room, a slightly nervous female voice called out from behind her.

“Ci… Ciel, I’d like to invite you to a tea party tomorrow afternoon at my house.”

Hearing the voice, Ciel turned her head slightly. In her dark red eyes, the reflection of the speaker’s noble azure gaze could be seen, as well as the gold-embossed black invitation she held in her hand.

“Thank you, Miss Amy,” Ciel turned fully around, smiling as she reached out to take the invitation. “If I have time tomorrow, I’ll certainly visit.”

Amy’s expression dimmed slightly as she noticed the girl had not explicitly agreed.

She understood that this polite response usually meant refusal—just like how Ciel had declined other people’s invitations before.

Still unwilling to give up, Amy persisted:

“It’s a tea party about further education. A few professors from Ansu University will be there… Ciel, don’t you think law is interesting? My father knows them well, so if you could showcase your intellect to the professors, you’re sure to get a recommendation letter!”

“And besides, school is almost over. Ciel, you’ve never been to my house, have you? It’s pretty big…”

At this point, Amy’s eyes lit up again.

Her meaning was as clear as day: as long as Ciel attended the tea party, Amy would make sure she secured a recommendation letter for the best university in the capital, Ansu—and in the field Ciel liked.

If Ciel could get that recommendation, they could leave this smog-covered city together and head to the capital for university!

Amy’s heart pounded as she looked at the beautiful girl in front of her, who stood in silence, lost in thought. Amy herself became somewhat dazed.

Ciel’s hair burned like flames, her curls glowing with golden-red light under the sunlight streaming through the window, as if each strand carried the heat and energy of fire.

Her skin was as pale as ivory, forming a stark contrast with her vivid red hair. Her features seemed sculpted to perfection, and her lips carried a faint smile, tinged with an air of mystery and elegance.

Especially now, her dark red eyes were slightly distant, deep and enigmatic, radiating an irresistible allure wherever they glanced.

“Ciel?” Amy called out instinctively, desperate to hear an answer. After all, no one else had ever succeeded in inviting Ciel.

“I…” Ciel’s wandering gaze focused again. She looked at the blonde girl before her, her smile fading slightly. Placing the invitation into her pocket, she said calmly, “I’ve never thought law was interesting.”

“Thank you for the invitation. See you at the graduation ceremony the day after tomorrow.”

Ciel gave a slight nod, turned, and left.

The hem of her black uniform dress rose slightly as she walked away, only to be pulled back to the ground by gravity, dragging Amy’s emotions down with it.

Amy raised her hand, as if wanting to say something, but after a long pause, she let it fall helplessly, watching the red-haired girl walk farther and farther away.

…

Having declined Friend A, exchanged pleasantries with Classmate B, chatted briefly with Teacher C, and finally bid polite goodbyes to Passersby D, E, F, and G, Ciel left Berren Private Academy and began her journey home.

Three years had passed since her soul had replaced that of this fragile girl, and by now, Ciel had grown accustomed to her new life and identity in this world.

This was a world that was both similar to and different from the one she had known—a place reminiscent of Victorian-era Birmingham, yet filled with subtle distinctions. For instance, there were numerous churches here with names she had never heard before, as well as architectural wonders built by those churches.

However, to her disappointment, over the past three years, she had found nothing related to extraordinary powers—no events, no individuals. It seemed this was just an ordinary parallel world.

As she walked out of the academy and along a paved stone road, Ciel passed through three neighborhoods. Her steps eventually took her onto a black gravel road.

Clock Tower District.

Compared to the serene, elegant stone streets near the academy, the Clock Tower District was oppressively hot, filled with the constant roar of machinery and the crackle of furnaces. The uneven gravel road emitted an indescribable acrid stench.

The Clock Tower District was a microcosm of Berren: machinery roared day and night, steam mingled with black smoke, and the entire city resembled a massive furnace, as if attempting to scorch the heavens.

“Ding-ling—”

A carriage sped past, splashing dirty water from a puddle. Drops of blackened liquid landed on Ciel’s pristine white stockings, leaving a dark stain.

Returning home from the academy felt like stepping from the set of Hogwarts directly into the grimy world of Peaky Blinders. It was hard to believe such contrasting scenes could coexist within a single city.

“Hey, little lady, are you alright?”

The carriage stopped not far behind her. A middle-aged man with a round face and a double-breasted suit (buttons straining to stay fastened) poked his head out of the window. Removing his top hat, he wiped the sweat from his forehead, his eyes fixed intently on Ciel’s back.

As if she hadn’t heard, Ciel pulled the brim of her wide-brimmed hat lower and quickened her pace.

She moved like a nature photographer on the African savanna, carefully avoiding all interactions with either amorous or non-amorous wildlife, adhering strictly to the principle of “non-interference in photography.”

Skillfully navigating through a series of alleys, Ciel reached another street.

The road was lined with houses of varying heights, their walls weathered and marked by the passage of time. The alleyway was thick with the scent of coal smoke and cooking.

Stopping in front of Number 44, Ciel took a deep breath and ascended the short flight of stairs leading to the door.

She pulled out her key but didn’t immediately unlock the door. Instead, she bent down slightly, inspecting the gap under the door. Carefully, she retrieved a single strand of fiery red hair from the crevice.

Having confirmed that the door hadn’t been tampered with during her absence, Ciel inserted the key into the lock, stepped inside, and locked the door behind her.

The door shut out the noise and stench from outside, allowing Ciel’s nerves to relax slightly.

The small living room before her was furnished with a crude wooden table and chairs, an old but well-maintained sofa, and a small fireplace adorned with some cute decorations. The simple layout exuded a cozy warmth.

The kitchen was connected to the living room, with a coal stove as the primary cooking tool. A bag of coal was piled in the corner.

Ciel went upstairs to her room, changed out of her uniform dress and apron, and put on a plain linen dress better suited for housework. She returned to the kitchen, lit a fire, and began preparing dinner.

If anyone from school—such as Miss Amy—were to see Ciel like this, they would be utterly shocked, perhaps even wondering if they were hallucinating.

How could such a beautiful girl, exuding an air of mysterious nobility, live in such a low-class neighborhood and be so skilled at housework?

Are you also unable to stand spring day shadows?

Ciel expertly prepared the evening meal: a stew made from potatoes, carrots, onions, cabbage, and scraps of lean meat, paired with thick slices of coarsely ground bread, lightly pan-fried.

After placing the small pot of stew and the plate of bread on the wooden table, Ciel wiped her hands on her apron, reached into her pocket, and took out an antique silver pocket watch.

This watch had appeared on her person the moment she arrived in this world. Its chain was missing, and its silver casing had oxidized and turned black. Still, since it kept time accurately, Ciel had decided to keep it rather than pawn it off.

For someone with a strong sense of time, having such a watch was invaluable.

“Six twenty-nine… a minute early.”

Perhaps her cooking skills had improved again—this time, she’d finished preparing dinner a minute ahead of schedule.

And yet, a single minute wasn’t enough to accomplish anything meaningful. Watching time slip by idly left Ciel feeling a subtle unease.

“No matter. Close my eyes and count down a minute. Big sister should be back soon.”

Ciel closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and let the ticking of the pocket watch’s second hand fill her mind.

59…

21…

1…

“Dong—Dong—”

The giant clock tower looming over the district rang out its deep chimes, marking half past six and reminding the residents of Clock Tower District of the hour.

The unusual commotion outside the door snapped Ciel out of her meditative state.

“Dong—”

A muffled thud was followed by an angry, raspy female voice.

“Get lost! Don’t let me see you sneaking around my door again!”

Big sister’s back?

Ciel stood and walked to the window. Peeking through the curtains, she glanced outside.

A blonde figure stood on the steps outside the door, her back to Ciel. In front of her was a tall, thin young man wearing a newsboy cap, sprawled on the ground.

As the man struggled to his feet, several others dressed similarly in newsboy caps, black suspenders, and white shirts emerged from various directions. One short, one-eyed man stepped forward to help the fallen youth.

Once he was up, the man immediately punched the one-eyed fellow, shouting, “What the hell, couldn’t you warn me she was here?”

The one-eyed man stepped back timidly, falling in line behind him.

Dusting himself off, the youth looked at the blonde woman in front of him and smirked lazily.

“Lichie, why so worked up? I just came to see my future wife.”

His flippant words drew raucous laughter from the men around him, one even whistling.

Lichie clenched her fists tightly, the veins on her forehead seeming ready to burst. But as if recalling something, she exhaled deeply, relaxed her fists, and spoke flatly:

“Beat it, Eddie. If I see you here again, I’ll tear your filthy mouth apart.”

With that, she turned away, unwilling to waste another word.

“Tsk.” Eddie spat on the ground, glaring at her retreating back. “Ugly scarred freak.”

As his gaze wandered, it landed on the petite red-haired figure peeking out from behind the curtains.

“Ciel~” Eddie exaggeratedly spread his arms wide and called out toward the window. “Long time no see!”

The next moment, the curtains were drawn shut. But Eddie seemed unfazed, laughing as he continued shouting:

“Hey, I hear you’re graduating the day after tomorrow. Congrats! I’ll be there too, get to know some of your friends.”

“After all, you’ve got no family, right? I could bring a few of my pals along, make it a real event. Hahaha!”

The mocking laughter behind her felt like needles piercing Lichie’s brain.

Her scarred face twisted with rage, the marks on her skin like burns from acid.

All her hard work, all her sacrifices, were so Ciel could leave this place, escape this life, and meet better people.

If that bastard caused trouble at the graduation ceremony, what would Ciel’s friends and teachers think of her? The connections Ciel had worked so hard to build could be destroyed in a single day.

As Lichie’s hand reached into her work pants for a blade, the door opened. A pale, delicate hand grabbed her arm, pulling her inside.