City of Witches Chapter 123

Retrieving what is lost is my duty.

Siwoo opened his eyes.

"What the..."

He was sure he had fallen asleep tossing and turning in bed, but when he came to his senses, he was standing in a dark space, similar to that of the Ain.

Staircases stretched out like a maze, defying the laws of physics.

At the end of each staircase were Gates of various colors.

It was a phenomenon known as a lucid dream.

That was the conclusion Siwoo reached upon realizing this was a dream.

It was strange that a place he was clearly seeing for the first time felt familiar, as if he had visited it before.

Siwoo walked around, curiously looking this way and that.

Then, he noticed something unusual.

About 80% of the Gates were open, but roughly 20% were tightly bound with black Ribbons.

"What's this?"

Siwoo chose one of the Ribbon-bound Gates and tried to turn the handle.

At that moment, all the Ribbons began to unravel simultaneously.

Immediately, a familiar sensation washed over Siwoo's body.

The feeling of countless memories rushing back in an instant, similar to when he drank the potion Amelia gave him.

Along with dizziness and nausea dozens of times more intense, all the locked Gates opened with a crude sound.

Images and sounds began to flow out without giving him a chance to be bewildered.

Can't you do your work a bit more neatly, Manager? You're not dissatisfied, are you? I wish you'd stop with the unnecessary tasks like cleaning drains and ditches. Five years should be enough time to renew your mindset. For the next week, after finishing your afternoon duties, you will clean my research building. That's what a Witch is like. If you act like you did at Trinity Academy at your next assignment, you might die. It's fucking annoying that you're even threatening me. Is this what you like? That bastard Takasho really is a fucking lunatic.

Siwoo, crouched on the stairs clutching his head, felt his left eye shine.

As if gathering scattered puzzle pieces within a brilliant halo, many things recombined.

Do you miss your hometown, Manager? Yes, yes, of course I do. Wouldn't being the Doctor's slave be much better than being a slave in this fucking city? How on earth do you sleep in such a shabby place? I think even when I kept hamsters, I gave them a better house than this. Live like a Witch, and live like a noble. That was the last wish my Master left for me. She always said it like a habit. I still don't know what it means to live like a noble.

Rejecting recovery through others' salvation and advancing solely by one's own power.

Amelia may be a bitch, but she hasn't done anything wrong enough to be captured and killed. Besides, trusting an Exile's promise and going outside? Honestly, I can't do that. Manager, are you having any health problems? Like an epidemic, or a skin disease. If you have any, tell me in advance. It's really something to have to hear such things when I shower diligently every day. By the way, you got a suit tailored and have somewhat succeeded. But wait, I have to live in the same house, the same lodging, as Amelia? What kind of bullshit is this now?

I refused. Huh? I thought you could become a useful assistant. You refused for just that pathetic reason? For five years, I endured and endured, trying to escape this goddamn fucking place. Shin Siwoo, you are my possession. I cannot tolerate you leaving my side and going outside on your own. Therefore, appropriate measures will be taken regarding your unauthorized escape plan. Appropriate measures? Who was it that captured me arbitrarily? You're the one who held a grudge and tormented the person you captured, Amelia. Really, I tried to endure it all, to let it go, but I can't take it anymore. You're truly a bad woman. What on earth do you want from me? I told you to tell me! What do you want from me that you torment me like this? I'm sorry if I hurt your petty pride five years ago, but if you're going to act like this, hold a grudge, and torment me, why don't you just kill me? Answer me!

.....

Unfortunately, there's no prior promise. And the relationship... let's say we're friends. What friends does Amelia have! You bitch. As expected, she's a very vicious woman. At this rate, I feel like I'm going to die. Even the Twins were captured without mercy and became slaves. Still, studying Magic all this time is helping in this way. Bloom, bloom, bloom, bloom, bloom. It seems there really are walls you can't overcome no matter how hard you struggle. Yes, yes, beautiful. Cry more cutely. Who the fuck digs into someone's eyes without even anesthesia? Now, wait. Sleep well.

A sensation as if his brain had been dunked into soda instead of cerebrospinal fluid.

Thoughts rising like death throes from his shaken mind.

Shin Siwoo, the one who offered himself as an offering, Sadal Melik has set as he crossed the boundary of propriety, Will Siwoo put it on for me?, I want to drink cola, If it's a happy dream, can I never wake up?, The moon of Gehenna always shines golden, The beauty of creation, The mystical value of pi, 3.14159265355820.....40712483025... What came next? Ah.... 1526715028319314450 How many digits did I memorize, Finally reaching, The first 999999, Feynman point, Two men whisper, Opening one eye, Recalling memories, I was not free, I sing a song of lament, Within the world of zero, the golden dawn stirs once more, May this body burn forever.

.......I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Thank you, thank you so much for coming back. Lady Amelia, did I do something wrong? While Siwoo was lying down, I destroyed the slave certificate. Shall we sleep together? It's okay, you don't have to be sorry. That's strange. I'll spread a mat in the garden. Let's have tea together. I'll bring cake too. Is there a song you'd like to hear? There's a place I want to go with Siwoo. Shall I pack our things? You're really pretty. Siwoo, you're good with your hands. That's strange. Siwoo! You shouldn't go too deep. What a big catch. We'll have this for dinner tonight. You press down firmly with your feet like this to create foam. Easy, right? Siwoo, take off your shoes and come in too. If you're too cold, tell me. Stargazing is nice, but you shouldn't catch a cold. The apples are too mealy. I think they're ruined. Thank you, Siwoo. That's strange. Even if I later regain my memories. Me. Could you forgive me? That's strange. I also wish for what Siwoo wants. But I am not qualified. I don't deserve this. That's strange.

I'm sorry.

That's strange.

It was a dawn before daybreak, when even the diligent birds were fast asleep.

Siwoo pushed back the covers and sat on the bed.

"........"

Siwoo's face, which had been sitting with a dazed expression, contorted.

Even covering his face with both hands, his tangled emotions, like an erupting volcano, refused to settle.

"Fuck....."

He gritted his teeth and swore without realizing it.

Because everything he had believed felt like a lie.

He couldn't bear it unless he did something like this.

He wanted to smash something with his clenched fist.

"Goddamn it...."

All the returned memories were jumbled together in a mess.

It felt like he had become the protagonist of The Truman Show.

Amelia, who knew everything, was the audience, and Siwoo was Truman.

Completely unaware, utterly fooled.

Two streams of memories flowed through Siwoo's two hearts.

Siwoo, captured and brought to Gehenna at age 23, treated as a slave, and tormented by Amelia at every turn.

Siwoo, who from age 11 spent various happy days with Amelia in the cabin.

The month of memories he experienced during the process of his memory and body being reconstructed was by no means a short time.

For Siwoo, one day was equivalent to half a year.

It was time of such incredibly high density that when he slept and woke up, he couldn't remember the meal he ate the day before.

"Ugh..."

He felt nauseous.

What he knew, what he felt, were chaotically entangled, causing a terrible headache.

Siwoo covered his face with his hands.

Tears were already streaming down both cheeks.

Amelia, who had been immersed in anguish and sorrow all night, rose late from bed.

Seeing the sun's position completely different from usual, she realized she had overslept today.

Her head felt fuzzy.

Sorrow, pain, regret.

She could set them aside only for the moment she fell asleep.

But that didn't mean they disappeared completely.

As soon as her mind became even slightly alert, they swelled in size like lengthening shadows in the dusk.

Still, this brief peace was very precious to Amelia.

"....Ah."

A sudden thought brushed past her mind.

Oh no.

Siwoo must be waiting.

Lately, Siwoo often woke up first to prepare meals, so she thought he might have already finished breakfast.

Amelia quickly changed clothes and hurried down the stairs to the first floor of the cabin.

"Huh?"

Siwoo wasn't there.

Contrary to expectation, nothing was prepared.

Seeing the furniture and blankets she had neatly cleaned yesterday still in place, it seemed he hadn't come down at all.

"Siwoo?"

Did Siwoo also have a lot on his mind after yesterday's events and oversleep?

Peeking through the window toward the garden, she couldn't see him, and even peering into every nook and cranny of the not-very-large house, she saw no sign of him.

"Siwoo?"

Going back upstairs, Amelia stood before Siwoo's door.

No answer came.

Was he still sleeping?

-Knock knock

Knocking, she called his name again.

"Siwoo, may I come in?"

A rustling presence was heard from inside.

The door opened slightly before Amelia, who had been waiting quietly in front of it.

Truthfully, after yesterday's events, she felt a bit embarrassed to see his face.

But she didn't want to waste the little time she had left with him for that reason.

Today, they planned to go to the barley field hill together to finish the painting they hadn't completed.

Like before, she would pack the large canvas and easel.

"........"

And when Siwoo, wearing an eyepatch, came out to the front of his room, Amelia was startled.

"Siwoo, what's wrong with your face?"

His face looked so haggard it could be described as pale.

Amelia reached out and gently stroked Siwoo's cheek.

"Are you okay? Did you catch a cold or something?"

"........."

As the ominous silence lengthened.

Amelia's thoughts grew complicated.

Could it be that he has truly regained his memories now?

As she looked at him with anxious eyes, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

It was a smile that looked extremely strained.

"I'm fine. Did you sleep well, Lady Amelia?"

"I'm, good. More importantly, are you really okay? You don't seem to have a fever..."

Amelia rose on her tiptoes to feel Siwoo's forehead.

Siwoo twisted his body slightly, shaking off her hand.

"Ah...."

"I'm really fine. I think I just have a slight headache."

He might still feel awkward, reacting this way.

Reflecting that she had been a bit lacking in consideration, Amelia hugged her own arms and asked.

"Shall we go paint together today? I'll prepare the lunchbox."

After a moment's hesitation, Siwoo nodded.

"Yes, then I'll get ready."

As Siwoo turned to close the door and go back inside, Amelia felt a distinct sense of alienation from his retreating figure.

She stopped him.

"Siwoo."

The distance between them wasn't like before.

It felt a bit further apart than could be explained away by last night's incident.

"Yes."

But Amelia didn't have the courage to probe for the truth.

Amelia shook her head slightly.

"It's nothing. I'll wait."

"Yes."

The door closed with a creak before Amelia, who stood there blankly.

Author's Note (Author's Afterword)I worked out way too hard today...

My arms won't even lift above my chest, geez.