City of Witches Chapter 125

Shaking off Amelia, who tried to hold him back again and again, Siwoo entered the cabin, packed his belongings, and returned to the Academy.

The distance that would have taken quite some time by carriage was covered in less than a minute using the coordinate teleportation formula in his mind.

Everything in the world looked unfamiliar.

That was the emotion Siwoo felt when he set foot in Amelia's mansion.

The mansion as seen by Siwoo, who lived as a slave and assistant, and the mansion where he spent his childhood with Amelia.

Even though it was the same place, it looked so different.

It felt as if his mind had turned into muddy water.

“.........”

Without a word, Siwoo packed the remaining belongings in the room.

He had used up all his Magical Power during the fight with Ea, and all he had to pack were the suit Amelia had tailored for him, the music box, and the miscellaneous items the Twins had prepared as farewell gifts.

He haphazardly threw the various items onto the bedsheet and wrapped them up like a bundle.

The image of Amelia, who couldn't stop him from leaving and was sitting dazed on the floor, suddenly came to mind.

Siwoo shook his head vigorously.

“Damn it! Why won't this tie properly.”

Siwoo, who had tightly pulled the knot of the bundle, cursed as things didn't go as he wished.

His chest felt heavy and stifled.

All the fault was Amelia's, so he couldn't understand why he had to feel such guilt.

Maybe he should have raged and gotten angry instead.

Maybe he should have slapped her cheek and left.

Even when he tried to think calmly, the simmering in his heart wouldn't subside.

Anyway, the important thing was to leave the mansion before Amelia caught up.

Just looking at her made him feel so suffocated and complicated that he didn't want to see her anymore.

After roughly packing, Siwoo removed his eyepatch and focused his mind.

“Bloom.”

His coordinate teleportation formula was derived from the Dimensional Teleportation he had been researching and was already completed during his clash with Ea Sadalmelik.

Moreover, unlike back then, he didn't need external magic power replenishment.

Simultaneously with the incantation, Siwoo's left eye, hidden under the eyepatch, glowed and fiercely absorbed the surrounding magic power.

To him, who could see the flow of magic power, it looked like multicolored threads being sucked in spirally.

Of course, no matter how hard he pulled, the amount of magic power floating in the atmosphere was pitifully small.

But that wasn't a problem for Siwoo.

If the magic power was insufficient, he just needed to amplify it.

As if it was something he had mastered long ago, as if he had first learned to manipulate shadows through the Gnosis's Egg.

Having regained his memories, Siwoo was naturally utilizing 'iterative amplification'.

He definitely hadn't learned this or been taught by anyone.

The magic power amplified threefold was sufficient for him to perform spatial movement.

He felt the gathered and amplified magic power stacking up layer by layer in his left eye, as if being stored in a Brand.

“Hoo...”

As he composed his mind, a complex network appeared in Siwoo's mental landscape.

This network visualized the coordinates of space.

It extended to any place he had ever set foot in.

Most places inside the Academy, of course, as well as the distant Gulpina Forest, Taro Town, Border Town, and Ars Magna Town.

Carefully tracing along the strands, Siwoo pinpointed the coordinates of one location.

He needed a place to sort out these complicated feelings.

First, after pinpointing the coordinates, he had to calculate the corresponding formula.

The distance to the coordinates, of course, as well as the weight, volume, and shape of the object to be moved.

Perhaps because he had done it once before, the calculation went much smoother.

A brilliant golden circle rising beneath Siwoo's feet.

The surging golden magic power enveloping his body.

Siwoo vanished like a phantom.

No matter how much it was a city of Witches, the sight of a man using Magic would attract attention.

Therefore, Siwoo moved to a dark alley in Taro Town where no one's gaze would reach.

Appearing on the circular golden Magic Circle that rose up, Siwoo, carrying his bundle, headed to a tavern.

White Whale Tavern.

This was the place that immediately came to mind when thinking of a bar.

“Ah, it's a holiday today.”

No wonder the streets were bustling, and as Siwoo approached the tavern, he soon realized today was a holiday.

Even though it was still broad daylight, the bar was packed with people, and noise spilled out.

Opening the door and entering, he saw the usual sight of drinkers enjoying their drinks in their own boisterous ways.

Fortunately, there was one seat available by the window, so he set down his belongings and approached the busy owner.

“I'd like to order.”

“Yes! Welcome!”

The owner, wearing a headscarf and sweating profusely, put down the beer mug he was wiping with a cloth and put on a customer-service smile.

There is one best way to overcome the worries and confusion in one's mind.

“Give me a bottle of your strongest liquor.”

“Huh?”

“For side dishes, bring the most expensive ones until the table legs break.”

The owner's eyes, which had been smiling, changed subtly.

Siwoo, wearing clothes tailored by Amelia, was neat but not particularly fancy.

Moreover, in Gehenna, all Asians were slaves captured from the Mortal Realm.

Not having the energy for pointless arguments, Siwoo placed two gold coins from his pocket.

“I will repay you with the finest dishes.”

“Give me the drink first.”

“Yes!”

Looking at the gold coins, the owner immediately beamed a broad smile and answered energetically.

Well, as a shop owner, what does it matter whether a slave carries such a large sum or not?

Siwoo plopped down in his seat, and soon after, the owner with a warm impression brought a large bottle.

Opening the cork stopper personally in front of Siwoo, he took ice from an ice basket and placed it in an on-the-rocks glass.

Beside it, he offered chocolate wrapped in paper.

“This is whiskey from our brewery. It uses the same barley as our beer, so you'll like it. Hehe. Well then, I'll bring the food out right away.”

The owner rubbed his hands together and returned to the counter.

Treating even a slave like royalty as long as they paid a lot was just like people from the Mortal Realm.

But honestly, no deeper thoughts came to mind.

He felt slightly mentally numb, and he wanted to numb himself even more.

Siwoo poured the liquor into his glass glug-glug-glug and downed the whiskey in gulps.

He wanted to get drunk quickly.

He didn't want to think about anything, didn't want to remember anything.

Siwoo drinking like a goose father who received a sudden divorce notice.

By the time the owner brought out the first side dish, Siwoo had already finished one bottle of whiskey.

The startled owner speaks."Oh dear, young sir, I don't know what's troubling you, but drinking like that will kill you."

"It's fine, it's fine."

But he had no room to listen to such words.

Already tipsy, Siwoo fumbled in his pocket and pulled out another gold coin, placing it in the shopkeeper's hand.

"One more bottle."

Seeing Siwoo's drunken, unfocused eyes, the shopkeeper clicked his tongue.

He seemed to have an idea of what might be the cause.

There were typically only two reasons a young person would guzzle strong liquor and throw money around in broad daylight.

Either he was with a beautiful woman, or he'd been dumped.

The shopkeeper brought a new bottle of whiskey.

He'd already received more than enough payment, and it wasn't as if he could refuse a customer who was paying to drink.

"Young sir, drink in moderation, and if you need to throw up, do it in that ice bucket over there. Don't go making other customers uncomfortable for no reason."

"Yes, yes... I understand."

Siwoo waved his hand dismissively and filled his ice-filled glass with the new whiskey.

Each time the hot alcohol gurgled down his throat, it felt like his insides were burning.

He felt nauseous.

But his head was growing foggy nonetheless.

Complex thoughts faded, and useless distractions sank beneath the waves of alcohol.

"Fuck... fuck... fucking bitch..."

Siwoo hung his head low and finally shed the tears he had been holding back.

"Sis, I'm bored."

Taro Town villa.

In what Odil would describe as the Twins' Outpost Base for learning about curious things, Odette spoke up while idly wasting away a languid, meaningless holiday.

"Me too."

Both Odil and Odette were sprawled out on their backs, each occupying a corner of the bed.

It was such a slouching posture that Head Maid Galina would have immediately scolded them for their undignified bearing if she had seen.

But what could they do?

They were this bored.

"We came out because it's a holiday, but. There's really nothing to do."

"It's not fun without the Assistant."

They had dutifully come to the Outpost Base because it was a holiday, but it was unbearably dull.

Before, just wandering around Taro Town together was fun.

They would watch the man playing the flute at the fountain for two or three hours, or they would roam every nook and cranny with the single-minded determination to tread every single street in Taro Town for no reason at all.

Even stopping by the market, buying a red apple, munching on it while watching street performances, or at the very least, watching people pass by outside the window was fun... but...

Just because Siwoo wasn't here, it felt like all their motivation had hit rock bottom.

Odette, lying on the bed, clapped her outstretched feet together and asked.

"When do you think the Assistant will be back?"

"I don't know either... They say he's recuperating with the Associate Professor."

"No matter if it's the Associate Professor, that's overstepping! I have the right to play with the cute Assistant too!"

"Right, that's true."

Odil nodded vigorously as if hearing it put that way made sense.

"He was so cute back then."

"I wanted to suck on his cheeks."

"It was really fun when we went to the public bath together too..."

Chattering about not-so-distant memories, they glanced at the clock and saw it was already past 7 PM.

Even though they had only taken a brief stroll around Taro Town and then lain on the bed, they still had to go back.

Odil swiftly sat up and tapped Odette's thigh.

"Up we go! Get up, Odette. We have to go."

"Really, I hate this so much..."

It's truly sad when a rare, precious holiday is wasted like this.

Odil consoled the slumped-shouldered Odette and then gathered her clothes to get dressed.

Standing in front of the mirror, the Twins checked that their dresses weren't wrinkled and their hair wasn't disheveled, then clattered down the stairs.

When they reached the landing, Odette suddenly stopped.

Odil, slightly annoyed, pushed Odette's back.

"Stop dawdling and hurry up, Odette."

"Uh... Sis..."

"What?"

"Don't you see that?"

Odette pointed with a trembling voice toward the pitch-dark first-floor living room.

Someone was there.

Lying sprawled on the sofa in a terribly contorted posture, limbs twisted every which way.

Because of that, Odil, startled, gasped.

"Eek!"

"You see it too, right? It's not a ghost, right?"

"Let go, let go! Don't cling so tight!"

Odette clung tightly to Odil, shivering.

"Wait here, Odette. What ghost would be here?"

"But... but... I didn't hear any sound from the first floor at all..."

From Odette's perspective, it was hard to believe the shadowy figure that had arrived without a sound of the door opening and was lying in such a posture was human.

Odil, tense for a moment, waved her hand, and all the ornamental flames in the living room lit up brightly.

"Who are you! Reveal yourself!"

Odil, gathering magic power, cautiously approached the sofa.

She was prepared to attack if necessary.

But upon identifying the uninvited guest, Odil immediately withdrew her magic power.

"Huh?"

"Zzz... Zzz..."

There was Siwoo, sleeping with his body twisted like a yoga master.

Moreover, not in his younger form, but exactly as he looked as an adult.

"Assistant?"

"Assistant? Is that the Assistant?"

Odette's expression, frozen on the stairs, brightened, and she came running down to the living room.

They had heard Siwoo had left somewhere with Associate Professor Amelia to recuperate, so meeting him so suddenly was a great delight.

"Assistant!"

Odette, running toward Siwoo, stopped dead in her tracks at the same spot as Odil.

Because an incredible smell was wafting from him.

"Did the Assistant just come from swimming in a vat of liquor?"

"It seems like it?"

It was unmistakably the smell of alcohol.

Every time he breathed out, the Twins felt they might get drunk themselves.

"Assistant, wake up. If you sleep here, you'll get a stiff neck."

"Assistant! Assistant!"

Even when they cautiously approached and shook his body, Siwoo didn't budge, deep in sleep.

Odil and Odette fell into thought.

"What should we do?"

"We can't just leave him here. Let's move him to a bed."

"That's true, but... are we just going to go back like this?"

It was time for the Twins to go home.

But before their eyes was the Assistant, whom they hadn't seen in a month.

It was also true that it felt like a waste to just go home.

"Hmm... what should we do..."

"Let's move him to a bed first and then think about it."

"Okay, Sis."Odil used telekinesis to float Siwoo, who had turned into a rice cake from drinking, and carried him to the bedroom.