City of Witches Chapter 118

When Siwoo woke up, Amelia was busily packing her luggage.

Three large travel trunk bags.

Amelia filled them with necessary supplies.

If each contained enough for about a week, there were ample daily necessities to spend three weeks outside.

Rubbing his sleepy eyes, Siwoo asked.

“What’s all this?”

“There’s a place I want to go with you. Could you pack your things?”

“Yes.”

Though unsure what it was about, Siwoo took the small travel bag Amelia handed him and went into his room.

He packed the few sets of clothes (bought by Amelia), pajamas, and some paper and pens.

When he went down the stairs to the second floor, Amelia was waiting in the lobby with her bags.

“Did you get everything? What about your toothbrush?”

“Packed it.”

“You don’t need separate towels. I packed them.”

“Yes, yes, you told me.”

Siwoo hurried down the stairs and stood beside Amelia.

From what Siwoo had felt so far, the city of Gehenna was incredibly beautiful.

Whether taking a short walk with Amelia or occasionally exploring Renomond Town or Ars Magna Town.

There were only places so pretty they made your eyes go wide.

Therefore, Amelia’s preparations, as if they were leaving on a trip right away, excited Siwoo.

Wherever it was, didn’t it mean they were going to a beautiful place?

“Where are we going?”

“To the cabin I used to live in.”

“Is it camping?”

“You could say it’s similar.”

Amelia naturally stroked Siwoo’s head, and Siwoo accepted her hand.

Siwoo had never once seen Amelia smile so far.

However, he already knew that despite her bluntness, she was a warm-hearted person, so he didn’t feel any aversion to it.

“Let’s go.”

Amelia and Siwoo loaded their luggage onto the back of the carriage waiting in the garden and got in together.

As Amelia waved her hand inside the carriage with plush cushions and beautiful interior decorations, the carriage began to rattle.

“It feels like being on an airplane. Carrying luggage bags and all.”

Siwoo said to Amelia with a beaming smile.

“Airplane? Ah, an airplane.”

Amelia tilted her head at the unfamiliar word, then nodded.

The fastest common means of transportation in the Mortal Realm.

She had heard of a flying hunk of metal.

“Have you ever been on one?”

“Yes, when I first rode it, I was really scared. That was probably when I was seventeen... huh?”

Siwoo trailed off while speaking, trying to recall his memories.

Siwoo’s current appearance was unmistakably that of a young boy.

Seventeen isn’t that old either, but his appearance was that of someone who hadn’t even hit puberty.

Amelia’s expression darkened for a moment.

Each of his trivial actions.

Every time clues dropped as if he were regaining his memories, Amelia couldn’t help but remember.

That this happiness and peace were all a lie.

Amelia opened her tightly closed lips and barely managed to soothe Siwoo.

“You must be confused about your memories.”

“That must be it. My head feels a bit sore too.”

“Do you want to lie down a bit?”

“Yes, I think I should...”

The carriage provided to Amelia by Sophia didn’t have any spatial distortion Magic applied separately.

That kind of luxury is something only Countess Gemernai, who must be at least in her thirties even if she’s down on her luck, would indulge in.

Still, there was enough space for Siwoo to stretch his legs and lie down.

Then Amelia got up from her seat and came over to Siwoo.

“Huh?”

“Rest your head here.”

Amelia straightened the hem of her beige dress and patted her thigh.

Siwoo was flustered.

“Ah, no! It’s okay. I’m fine like this.”

“But your head is uncomfortable.”

“Wouldn’t it be tiring for you, Amelia?”

“It’s fine.”

After a few back-and-forths, Siwoo eventually followed Amelia’s words.

It was also true that her plush thigh was more appealing than resting his head on the rattling seat.

“Thank you. I feel kind of sorry.”

“No need for that.”

He could feel Amelia’s plush yet firm thigh against the back of his head.

When he looked up from that position, he could see Amelia’s beauty, which remained flawless even from the angle looking up from under her chin.

He could also see her perky chest.

“It’ll take a while, so it’s okay to close your eyes for a bit.”

Amelia said while calmly stroking Siwoo’s hair.

The gentle vibration, the comfortable thigh pillow, and the slender fingers running through his hair were more effective than any sleeping pill.

As the carriage diligently traveled along a quiet winding path through blue barley fields, Siwoo had unknowingly fallen asleep.

Even though they left early in the morning, by the time Amelia and Siwoo arrived at the Gulpi Tree Forest, it was well past lunchtime.

Amelia, who woke Siwoo by tapping his shoulder—he hadn’t woken once during the journey—grabbed their luggage and stepped onto the forest path.

“Wow... it’s pretty.”

Since reckless development doesn’t occur, Gehenna’s natural preservation is excellent.

Moreover, this Gulpi Tree Forest is an uninhabited area between Renomond Town and Taro Town, belonging to neither town.

The Gulpi trees, barely touched by human hands, were all tall and large.

“Right?”

At Siwoo’s exclamation, Amelia shrugged her shoulders as if her precious treasure had been praised and moved her steps between the grayish-brown tree trunks.

Whenever a gentle breeze blew, the pointed-round leaves fluttered as if breathing.

Walking along the untrodden mountain path, they reached a clearing about 30 meters in diameter.

While the inside of the Gulpi Tree Forest was shaded by dense foliage, blocking much sunlight, this place was different.

Thanks to always receiving ample sunlight, the grassy ground was filled with beautiful wildflowers and field flowers.

In the middle of this nameless cluster of wildflowers, this delicate and beautiful carpet, a small log cabin floated gently.

Under the refreshing sunlight stood a quaint little cabin and a small annex beside it.

For Amelia, happiness in life meant precisely the days in this tiny cabin.

If the time left with him was short anyway, she had a small desire to spend it here.

“Let’s unpack.”

“Yes!”

Frankly, compared to Amelia’s mansion, which was almost embarrassingly luxurious to call accommodation, or the buildings he had seen so far, it was a very shabby and unremarkable structure.

Still, the log house in the middle of the forest had something that stirred a boy’s sense of adventure.Perhaps that's why Siwoo also entered the house with excitement.

It was cozy.

Small and charming enough that if two people lived here, they wouldn't stray out of each other's line of sight.

"Is it okay?"

"Yes! I really like it!"

Siwoo peeked around here and there, examining the house.

There was a small cabinet, and in front of the fireplace was a rocking chair.

Despite signs of having been uninhabited for a long time, it was very neatly and cleanly organized.

"If you go to the second floor, there's a bedroom. Want to see?"

"There's a second floor too?"

"Follow me."

Seeing Siwoo happy made Amelia feel good too.

Perhaps because it seemed he also liked the place she cherished.

Amelia took Siwoo's hand and went up the stairs.

Given its nature as a cottage, it was difficult to build it large and spacious.

So, on the second floor, there were only two very small rooms.

"This side was my Master's room, and this side was my room."

Amelia entered the room she used during her time as an Apprentice Witch.

Being right under the roof, the structure had a slanted ceiling.

A small south-facing window framed the lovely oak forest like a painting, and below it was a small bed that looked like it could barely fit one person.

A small desk and chair with not a single item piled on them filled the corner of the room, and other miscellaneous items were stored in a small box under the bed.

"Siwoo, you can use this room. It's a bit narrow, but it will be clean."

"Do you clean it regularly?"

"Yes."

Siwoo, looking as excited as a child who had discovered a secret base, unpacked his belongings in the room.

Though it was over as soon as he hung clothes in the closet and placed paper and books on the table.

"Right across is my room. Want to help me unpack?"

"Yes! I'll help!"

Siwoo answered cheerfully, brought the suitcase from the first floor, and returned to the second-floor room alongside Amelia.

Amelia's room and the previous Marigold's room were symmetrical in structure, but this one was slightly larger and the bed was bigger too.

Siwoo and Amelia opened the suitcase and took out items one by one.

Even though it was a truly trivial and uneventful task, Amelia felt a sense of peace.

Until she discovered her underwear in Siwoo's hand.

"Ah...."

"Uh...."

Moreover, an unfortunate fact.

Sophia's advice, which had started at some point.

Following Sophia's brainwashing-like education that a true adult should wear mature underwear, most of Amelia's panties and bras were lingerie.

Underwear that revealed half the chest, left the buttocks completely visible, or had almost no straps.

Amelia, who had momentarily forgotten that fact in her joyful and excited mood, thought, 'Oops.'

Siwoo's uneasy gaze and Amelia watching him.

Realizing his furtive glances were moving between her chest, lower body, and the underwear, Amelia felt a peculiar embarrassment.

Her face felt slightly flushed.

But she needed to act calmly.

Showing flustered signs in this situation would only make both Siwoo and Amelia feel awkward.

Besides, why feel embarrassed towards Siwoo in that state?

Even if other Witches saw her underwear, Amelia was confident she wouldn't care at all.

So this time too, calmly and composedly...

"Tha...! I'll organize that separately."

...Amelia, who was about to speak, bit her tongue with a click.

And though she was completely unaware, she was making a very flustered appearance.

"Yes...."

Siwoo, his face also red, quietly handed the lingerie to Amelia.

• Rustle rustle

For a while, only a very awkward atmosphere flowed between the two.

The two, having finished a short lunch of sandwiches, went out together to the clearing in front of the cottage.

It was a rare suggestion from Siwoo, who had been eyeing the wildflowers blooming around.

"My mom taught me before. Gathering clover like this to make a headband, and then..."

Amelia crouched by the clover, watching Siwoo diligently making something.

He gathered the long flower stalks of the clover and tied knots.

Weaving and weaving flower stalks about a span and a half long, it became a round headband about the thickness of two pinkies, and Siwoo picked wildflowers one by one and inserted them between.

"Decorating with flowers like this makes a pretty flower crown. Cool, right?"

Pink, green, purple, orange, navy, red.

A simple crown was completed, with colorful flowers stuck here and there among the white clover flowers.

"Originally, I could make it a bit bigger... but it's been a while, so it's not working well. There aren't many long flower stalks either..."

"It's really pretty. You're good with your hands, Siwoo."

Actually, it was hard to say it was well-made.

The headband was somewhat crooked, and because the knots were tied too tightly, broken flower stalks were visible here and there.

If Amelia, who had watched from the side and learned the method, tried it herself, she could likely make a much more elaborate and aesthetic flower crown.

Still, she praised it.

Because it was cute.

Siwoo, hesitating for a moment, quickly held it out.

"I'll give it to you, Amelia-nim."

"To me?"

Amelia's eyes widened like a surprised rabbit's.

Because this was the first time she was receiving something from Siwoo.

Siwoo, seeming shy, avoided Amelia's gaze and said.

"Thank you for always taking good care of me and treating me well. I wanted to give you something like this."

".........."

Amelia felt tears welling up.

Why?

Because the emotions were too complex to list in a single word or sentence.

Amelia postponed answering that question.

"Siwoo... will you put it on me?"

"Yes!"

Amelia slightly lowered her head.

Feeling something gently placed on her head, Amelia raised her head.

"Ah...."

And what was reflected in Siwoo's eyes was

Amelia, wearing the flower crown on her head, tears glistening,

smiling brighter than the wildflowers.

"Thank you, Siwoo."

The expression on Amelia's face that Siwoo faced was

the first smile she had regained since her Master passed away.

Author's Note (Author's Afterword)

It's healing hehe

• Thank you for the support, Byeolmyeong-nim!

You really support consistently keke

• Thank you for the support, YorHa9s-nim!

Since illustrations must comply with the rating... there is no spicy version.-Thank you, December, for the 60 coins.

I believe web novels aren't created solely by the author alone.

Readers, knowingly or unknowingly, contribute to the writing process. Your opinions and thoughts, December, have been a great help—not bothersome at all. Haha.

-Thank you, xhwhd, for the 50 coins!

-Thank you, Gogoli, for your support!

I'll keep running until the day Amelia whines.

-Thank you, Traveler, for your support!

I'm still thinking about Keter Hall!