City of Witches Chapter 126

“Uuughhh....”

As soon as Siwoo was laid down on the bed, he let out a strange noise and twisted his body.

The pungent smell of alcohol that wafted from him with every toss and turn soon filled the entire room.

“Ugh.”

“We should open a window.”

“We really should.”

Odil and Odette opened the window to ventilate the room, thinking it would feel like diving into a barrel of orcs if they left it like this.

“Assistant, wake up.”

“Uuughh...”

“Wake up, Assistant!”

“Uuughhhh...!”

Even after shaking Siwoo several more times, he didn’t budge an inch.

Only letting out strange groans.

He just furrowed his brow and tossed and turned.

The Twins gave up on waking Siwoo.

“Alright, let’s decide what to do now.”

“What could have happened to him?”

“Maybe he had a big drink to celebrate getting his body back?”

“Then what about the Associate Professor?”

“Hmm...”

The Twins exchanged a few theories about ‘why the Assistant was passed out dead drunk on the first floor of the Taro Town Outpost Base’.

But with Siwoo, who knew the whole story, sleeping with his mouth wide open, it was like the blind men touching an elephant.

“First, we have two options.”

“One is to leave him like this and go?”

“Yes, and the other is to stay here with the Assistant.”

“But... we’d never get permission to stay out overnight, right?”

The Twins were sneaking off to Taro Town in the first place.

Even though it was a holiday, if they mentioned staying out overnight, not only the strict Head Maid Galina but even their gentle Master would surely be angry.

“That’s why we do it without permission. Of course, they’ll worry, so let’s send a pigeon too.”

“Just informing them...?”

Odette was startled by Odil’s bold suggestion of delinquency.

Her sister’s unconventional ideas, which popped up occasionally, often gave the timid Odette a big shock.

This time was no different.

“Uh, Sis. Can’t we just go home and sneak out at night? I don’t want to get in trouble.”

“I’m staying here with the Assistant.”

“Then I’ll do that alone...”

“That’s not allowed either!”

If Odette went home alone, Galina would definitely ask about Odil’s whereabouts, and Odette, after being scolded, would surely spill everything.

If that happened, their secret rendezvous with the Assistant might be goodbye forever.

“Why do we have to stay anyway...”

“Odette, don’t you understand the Assistant’s true feelings, coming to find us even in this drunken state? It means he missed us that much!”

“R-really...?”

“How heartbroken would he be if he woke up and no one was by his side!”

“Is that so...?”

“I can’t do something that cruel. I’d rather get scolded a bit later and stay by the Assistant’s side!”

“That’s true...”

It didn’t take much effort to persuade Odette.

Moreover, the conversation had already progressed in a direction that didn’t even consider the first option, ‘leaving him like this and going’.

Even if Odette grumbled, she basically followed her sister very well.

“Anyway, that’s the plan. I’ll send the messenger pigeon.”

“Ugh... It’s scary...”

“Odette, we spent our holiday so meaninglessly today. Thanks to the Assistant, it’s becoming meaningful from now on! Let’s think positively.”

“Okay, I understand, Sis.”

As Odil was about to go to the rooftop to send a pigeon to the Jemernai Count Family, Odette, who had been gazing intently at Siwoo’s face, called her back.

“Sis, Sis. Come here for a second.”

“Why? Didn’t we finish talking?”

“It’s not that... the Assistant... hasn’t he changed a bit?”

“What?”

Odil, who was carefully examining the passed-out Siwoo, also noticed something.

“Right? Isn’t it strange?”

“Yeah, isn’t it?”

How to put it. First of all, he looked much younger than the Assistant before.

Should we say he now looks like he’s in his early twenties?

And it didn’t stop there.

“Hasn’t he gotten more handsome?”

“I thought so too.”

His face was flushed red, his hair was all disheveled, and he was sleeping with a strange expression, so we hadn’t noticed.

But the current Siwoo was definitely different from his previous appearance.

First of all, the acne scars that were here and there were all gone, leaving skin like a newborn’s.

Siwoo was already handsome, but even the bone structure that was slightly unbalanced here and there seemed to have been completely corrected.

Of course, it was so subtle you’d only notice if you looked very, very closely.

“Was he more handsome when he was younger?”

“I don’t know. Anyway, Sis, you go ahead.”

“Okay, got it.”

The room had become quiet before they knew it.

Siwoo, lying on the bed, held his splitting forehead and opened his eyes.

“I’m gonna... die...”

Just opening his eyes and moving slightly made him utter a death rattle.

Honestly, getting his brain pierced by Ea seemed less painful.

His throat felt parched as if split open, and it felt like a big bell was ringing in his head.

“Where am I...”

He only remembered ordering the second bottle of whiskey at the White Whale Tavern and popping the cork.

Everything after that was a complete blackout.

Siwoo furrowed his brow and looked around the dim room.

Seeing the bed with a canopy and the familiar interior, it seemed to be the Twins’ villa in Taro Town.

He tried to get up, but felt a weight on both arms.

Odil on the left.

Odette on the right.

“....Zzz....”

“....Hmmnya....”

The Twins, dressed in sleepwear, were each curled up using one of Siwoo’s arms as a pillow.

Actually, it was less sleepwear and more like loose inner dresses and drawers—the underwear they always wore under their clothes.

“Huh?”

Did I make some huge mistake or something?

A slightly startled Siwoo looked around with his aching head, which hurt even with the slightest movement, but fortunately, the Twins’ attire was very neat.

At most, it was just a little disheveled from sleep, so he felt relieved.

It seemed there hadn’t been any... incident like spending a hot night with the Twins while blacked out and with no memory.

“Whew...”

Whether from the scare or not, his mind cleared up a bit.

Belatedly, his heart started prickling painfully.

That’s because the thought, ‘What is Amelia doing right now?’ reflexively popped into his head.

Forcing that thought aside, he carefully pulled his arms out so as not to wake the Twins.

First, he needed to drink some water.

Otherwise, he felt like he’d die right then and there.

Siwoo staggered to the door, opened it, and went down the dark stairs.

Perhaps because of the sudden vibration, his stomach churned.

“Ugh....Uuuegh....Guh...!”

Siwoo grabbed the railing and retched.I can't throw up here! There wasn't even time to think it frantically.

It felt like I'd vomited everything with my esophagus wide open...

"Huh...?"

I'm fucked, I thought.

But at my feet were only a few drops of saliva and a little bit of bile.

I don't know how long I'd been lying down, but there's no way digestion could have finished in just a few hours.

"Phew."

Siwoo roughly wiped the saliva dangling from the corner of his mouth.

Maybe on a normal day, but right now, he didn't really want to care.

His head was like embers with sharp smoke rising after being doused with water once, but the night air clung coldly to his skin.

Staggering to the kitchen, Siwoo picked up a water bottle with three lemon slices and gulped down the water.

A feeling of his insides being washed down along with the stale smell of alcohol.

Water trickled down under his chin and soaked his clothes, but he paid no mind and drank nearly half in one go.

"Kheu... Now I'll live."

With his dazed head, he stood blankly for a while holding the water bottle.

He didn't know what to think about first.

He didn't know where to start sorting things out.

Only the sensation of his heart tightening and squeezing, as if blood wasn't flowing, was with Siwoo.

Let's not think about anything.

Just staying like this is fine.

"Uh..."

Something streamed from his eyes.

He didn't know what was sad, didn't know why he should cry, but tears were just coming out.

His nose wasn't stinging, his eyes weren't burning, and his throat wasn't choking.

It felt like his heart was broken.

"Assistant?"

Just as he was about to put down the water bottle and turn back.

From behind came the voice of someone half-asleep, drowsy.

Turning around, he saw Odil rubbing her eyes and stifling a yawn.

"I was worried wondering where you went. Haaam..."

Odil, who finally let out a yawn, covered her mouth, causing her inner dress to ride up slightly, revealing a glimpse of her navel.

"Lady Odil..."

"Looks like your memories have all come back?"

"...Yes."

Compared to how the Twins had been happy to see Siwoo, she seemed rather indifferent, which made him feel a little hurt.

But what can you do.

Maybe the alcohol hasn't worn off yet, or maybe she's just sleepy.

Odil was standing in the moonlight pouring through the living room window, and Siwoo was standing in the dark inner part of the dining room, so Odil hadn't yet properly seen his face.

"Give me some water too. I'm thirsty."

Odil, dragging her slippers shick-shick, approached and reached out her arm to Siwoo, then startled.

Because tears were streaming from his eyes.

Odil looking up at Siwoo with eyes grown wide.

"Uh... wha, what? Are you hurt somewhere?"

Siwou wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

He didn't particularly want to show an unsightly appearance.

"No, I'm fine."

"You sure you're fine?"

"Did I walk in on my own? Did I do anything rude?"

Siwoo deliberately steering the conversation topic.

Odil looked at him with a worried gaze, then nodded lightly.

"Well, you did suddenly come into someone else's villa and lie down in a weird pose, but other than that, not really?"

"That's right. I'm sorry."

"What's there to be sorry about? Have you forgotten already? Assistant, you're our benefactor who saved our lives twice. I don't care unless you set the villa on fire. No, even if you set a fire, I'll forgive you once."

To comfort the incredibly dejected-looking Siwoo, Odil spoke in the lightest voice possible and tapped Siwoo's arm.

"I won't, do such a thing."

Siwoo lets out a weak, stifled laugh.

Whether it's Odil's playfulness or not, it still feels much better than standing there dazed alone.

"Anyway, will you give me water?"

"Yes."

Siwoo poured water into a cup placed next to the shelf and handed it to Odil.

Odil took the cup and gulped it down.

"Kheu! Refreshing."

Actually, a Spirit Body doesn't really need to drink water, but perhaps because she fell asleep using the strongly alcohol-smelling Siwoo as a cushion, her throat felt parched.

Odil puts down the cup and speaks to Siwoo, who still seems like his mind is in a bean field.

"Um, Assistant."

Siwoo looked at Odil.

Until just a moment ago, even when she was in front of him, his gaze seemed to see right through her.

Only now did she properly come into his sight.

"Yes?"

Odil, standing obliquely in the dim moonlight, was clutching the hem of her dress and unnecessarily smoothing back her hair.

Hesitating, she moves her lips.

"I won't pry. But if you're having a hard time, you can tell me."

Glancing at Siwoo, then looking away again, she continues.

"I'm on your side, Assistant."

The moment he heard those kind words, it felt like the pole barely supporting his body collapsed.

It felt like the stopper in his head had come out.

Something poured out chaotically.

Without realizing it, Siwoo pulled Odil in front of him into a tight embrace.

The small, soft body is firmly fixed within Siwoo's arms.

"Ughk!"

Odil makes a squished sound, so strong was the force.

"As, Assistant...! You startled me!"

Odil was startled by Siwoo suddenly rushing at her, but soon realized his shoulders were trembling.

He was crying.

The moment warmth was felt from the point of contact, the sense of loss for what was gone clearly colored and revealed itself again.

Right now, he felt like clinging to anyone.

Odil's shoulder became damp with tears.

Odil slowly stroked Siwoo's shaking head.

"It's okay, it's okay. I'm not going anywhere. I'm here. I'm here, Assistant."

Odil, patting his back and holding his head.

Feeling her own nose and eyes stinging for no reason, she held him for a long time until Siwoo calmed down.

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Author's Note (Author's Afterword)

Changed the subtitle!