City of Witches Chapter 108

“Ugh...Hng...Ugh...”

Ea staggered to her feet.

Her body, which had been rolled on the ground like an animal, pinned down by force, and brutally violated, was covered in bright red handprints, clumps of dirt, and dried, twisted moss.

From between her trembling legs, which barely supported her as she stood on the earth, cum dripped endlessly.

Each time her buttocks, ravaged for two hours, twitched, it pumped out and dropped thick, white drops like a baby's.

He had repeatedly stolen Ea's magic.

Perhaps because the power to draw magic from the Brand had weakened compared to the beginning, he didn't take it as easily as when he stole the Maiden's Loom.

Even so, Ea lost one more Magic Formula.

The 'Vessel' she had obtained when hunting Duke Tiferet's Apprentice Witch in the past.

“Haaam....”

Siwoo let out a languid yawn and sat on a rock, looking at Ea as if she were nothing.

He waved his hand in the air, checking the spoils he had obtained.

The spoils were so luxurious that he had no mental capacity to care about anything else.

“Again... the Hierarchy again...”

13th Hierarchy.

Her lower abdomen, once densely covered by the Brand, was now bare.

In just two hours, a Hierarchy that would have taken at least a century of desperate hunting to barely raise had fallen.

She had become a half-witted Witch whose Autonomous Defense didn't even work.

Ea gritted her teeth and glared at Siwoo, who was writing something in the air with his finger.

“I'll kill you.”

This place was teeming with Magical Power.

The time to assimilate the absorbed magic power was insufficient, but if she took just a little risk of damaging her magic circuits, she could start a second round.

Ea, who had been glaring at Siwoo with a deeply furrowed nose bridge in apparent resentment, suddenly turned her back.

It hadn't been long since she had suffered a setback from letting her emotions take the lead.

Every instinct in her body, her intuition, and the combat experience she had accumulated so far were telling her.

No matter what preparations she made, in this fight, 'she would definitely lose.'

“Grrk....! Just you wait! I'll repay this humiliation a hundredfold, a thousandfold, no, a hundred millionfold!”

Ea shouted at the top of her lungs at Siwoo, who didn't even spare a glance for the defeated.

At the noisy sound, Siwoo's gaze briefly turned toward Ea.

“Ugh...!”

The image of him overwhelming her in magical combat without a single breath out of place.

The image of him mercilessly raping her.

The image of him tearing away her precious magic afterward.

Just a passing glance spread the fear hammered deep into her bones.

That she, Ea.

That Ea Sadalmelik would feel fear toward a mere male human.

That was more humiliating than being raped.

“J-just you wait!”

Ea, with unsteady steps, disappeared into the gap created by the Barrier Separator, never taking her eyes off Siwoo.

And soon, the narrowed gap reflected the tranquil scenery of the Latifundium as if nothing had happened.

All that remained was Siwoo, sitting on the rock, lost in thought.

Amelia, who had brought her belongings to the research building and continued her research, felt a lead weight pressing down on a corner of her chest.

No matter how hard she tried to think of other things, no matter how many cigarettes she smoked, the regret and sorrow kept swirling in her head.

She knew that this sorrow and pain would eventually dull.

As before, time would erase the traces of loss like a lie.

Someday she would forget, and someday she would even forget that she had forgotten.

Apart from such hollow comfort, her mind kept replaying one scene over and over.

“You fucking... bitch...”

Siwoo, who had thrown a harsh remark at Amelia the moment he woke up.

At that time, Siwoo was not in a state to properly discern anything.

His brain operated solely for magic, and all other emotional areas were merely on the periphery.

How much must he have hated her?

How much must he have disliked, loathed her, to utter curses even in that state?

Every time she thought of that, Amelia felt as if her heart were tearing apart.

It felt as if her heart were being stretched thin, strand by strand, until it snapped.

“.........”

Back then, Amelia had said.

That she wouldn't give up until he could forgive her,

That she would wait until then.

But was that really the right thing to do?

Someday, when he regained his senses, was it right to cling to and beg Siwoo, who hated her so much, with just her feelings of liking him, to force an apology from him?

In truth, Amelia knew.

He is a kind person.

He was also sincere and good.

He wasn't the cold-hearted type to speak harsh words to someone crying and begging for forgiveness.

Perhaps her choice was made considering even that aspect of Siwoo's nature?

Wasn't she trying to save her guilt-ridden self by relying on his softness and kindness?

If so, that was a selfish and cowardly act.

It was forcing something unwanted upon him once again.

Wanting his forgiveness was, after all, Amelia's own desire.

Wanting to go to the Mortal Realm with him was, after all, Amelia's own desire.

Wanting to convey her feelings of affection toward him was, after all, Amelia's own desire.

Siwoo's will was not involved in any of it.

Despite shedding tears of regret, she might be about to do something similar again.

“I am... disgusting...”

She knew it was nothing but a delusion.

Because Siwoo's condition was unknown, with no telling when he would recover.

Self-deprecation led to more self-deprecation, spinning in circles and making Amelia depressed.

Just as she was about to sigh out of habit, the door burst open.

Amelia frowned.

She had given instructions not to receive any visitors for the time being.

“Pr...Professor!”

The person who stumbled in, panting, was 'Catherine,' a researcher in charge of Trinity Academy's administration.

“What is it?”

Under normal circumstances, Amelia would have been displeased, but now she didn't even have the energy for that.

Responding with a gloomy voice and looking at her, Amelia guessed something unusual had happened.

Catherine was a Witch famous for admiring and imitating Baron Marigold.

Despite her modest circumstances, she wore dresses similar to Amelia's and even her fragrance rotation was similar to Marigold's.

Her cold, haughty speech and clumsy attempts at sharp remarks were, of course, part of the imitation.

For such a woman to come running in a fluster, having lost even her own concept, it couldn't be an ordinary matter.

“Th...th...th...the... reply....”

“Explain slowly and clearly.”

A pure white envelope was thrust into Amelia's hand, which had grown anxious in turn.A clean envelope the size of Amelia's palm.

The sealing wax, sealed to prevent others from opening it, bore an imprint.

A crown-patterned seal.

Catherine, who had been coughing like an asthma patient having a seizure, finally managed to report in a loud voice.

"A reply has arrived from the Ivory Tower!"

This correspondence had come from Duke Keter.

If you ask the Witches to choose the second most beautiful building in Gehenna, opinions would be divided.

It is 'Trinity Academy,' a place of learning reminiscent of the Palace of Versailles.

It is the 'Levana Grand Bathhouse,' a more refined recreation of Rome's public baths.

It is the 'First Red Roof Salon,' where one can enjoy all four seasons year-round and view flowers in full bloom.

It is the 'Hanging Gardens' of Duke Tiferet, renowned for her exceptional aesthetic sense.

And so on, each would name various buildings according to their own tastes.

However, if asked to choose the most beautiful building, every Witch would unhesitatingly mention the Ivory Tower, standing tall in the very center of Ars Magna Town.

The Ivory Tower, said to have been completed solely by Duke Keter from design to construction, is made only of special alchemically produced marble and stained glass.

This was the extent of the description that could be given for this building.

Because it is not easy to explain with any plausible words.

The Ivory Tower did not follow any architectural style of any era.

Its unprecedented, unique architectural style was built according to perfect golden ratios based on precise calculations, constructed without a single flaw.

A building that exists not for evaluation and comparison, but for appreciation and admiration.

Likewise, Duke Keter, who resides alone in that beautiful tower, was also neither a subject of evaluation, let alone comparison.

An existence all Witches look up to and revere without cease.

The greatest and the oldest Witch, who has reached the realm of the 30th Hierarchy without a single Stigma Inheritance to this day.

Though eighty-two years have already passed since she secluded herself in the Ivory Tower and showed her face nowhere, the area around the Ivory Tower was still teeming with Witches seeking her teachings.

Not only those who visit in person, but it is said that about twenty percent of the correspondence coming and going to Gehenna gathers at the Ivory Tower.

Of course, there is no memory of ever hearing news of anyone receiving a reply from Duke Keter.

Amelia herself had visited Duke Keter in person and had sent over seventy letters to her, but there had been no news whatsoever.

Catherine seemed very curious, but Amelia firmly sent her away.

Even if it was a legitimate curiosity, there was no reason for Amelia to be responsible for it.

Amelia took out a silver paper knife and carefully removed the seal.

Upon unfolding the neatly folded letter inside the envelope, white paper was revealed.

It was a blank letter with no writing on it.

Letters in Gehenna do not always come and go in completed form.

This was a 'remote letter' that uses two magically synchronized sheets of paper, where writing on one side appears on the other, serving as a fax or messenger.

Duke Keter, shrouded in all sorts of secret mysteries, gave an impression of mysticism, yet the reply that came from her was in the form of a crude magic, which felt oddly fresh.

As Amelia, with a tense expression, picked up a pen and waited a little, letters began to appear on the letter.

[Have you been well all this time?]

A handwriting that, from the first meeting, was written in a natural, informal style as if they were acquaintances.

The writing was extremely elegant and refined, as if done by a professional scribe.

[It may be presumptuous. I have read each of your letters, so I thought you must be deeply troubled.]

Amelia, who had been pondering what to say, quickly wrote a reply upon Duke Keter's words that she had read the letters.

[Did you reply to grant my plea?]

[To get straight to the point, I would answer yes. With my skills, I could more than heal your beloved.]

Amelia felt her heart beat.

It felt like finally encountering light after wandering in profound darkness all this time.

But that joy plummeted again due to a doubt that arose in her heart.

Is this truly what he wants?

Couldn't the current state, which seems abnormal to Amelia, actually be a newfound happiness for him?

Who truly wants to take away his newly acquired magical power?

Amelia wanted to respect his choice.

During a brief moment of hesitation, new letters appeared.

[Today at noon, I observed his condition as he entered my garden.]

[Losing such talent and ability is something any Witch would naturally find regrettable.]

She observed his condition directly?

As Amelia wondered, a sentence appeared that solidified her resolve.

[However, if things continue like this, he will die. Since ancient times, excessive talent that overworks the body has always brought about a short life.]

Without further hesitation, she asked.

[What must I do?]

Duke Keter, who receives hundreds of letters a day yet ignores them, would not have pitied Amelia, whom she has never met, and offered help.

This was a transaction proposal from Duke Keter.

[It's good that we understand each other well.]

Seeing the sentence ending with a period, Amelia was certain that Duke Keter behind this paper was undoubtedly smiling.

A word from the author (Author's Note)

When I serialize, I think of 2 episodes as 1 episode and serialize...!

Because I write almost two episodes a day!

Before I go write the next episode, I'll leave a message of thanks to those who have sponsored.

My stomach is churning and my head hurts ㅜㅜ

• Thank you Misikchampy nim for 100 coins

Amelia's humiliating naked dogeza... I can't really imagine it well with my current head ㅋㅋ

• Thank you for the sponsorship Byeolmyeong nim

A sponsorship reminiscent of Muta's dribble, thank you for celebrating 100 episodes ㅎㅎ

• Thank you Soodal is cute nim for 50 coins

I've uploaded the next episode now ㅎㅎ

• Thank you appianus nim for 200 coins

I'm touched that you watched it so intently, my heart feels proud too. I will strive to write even better works in the future.

• Thank you for the sponsorship Traveler nim

The treatment for the lively Twins will likely be delayed a bit more.

• Thank you YorHa9s nim for 99 coinsThree consecutive chapters are really, really tough...

-Thank you for your support, Gogul.

Amelia is the heroine promised by the stars, right?

-Thank you for your support, Hanseolrem.

Well then, I'm off to write the next chapter...