City of Witches Chapter 132

Why is Count Gemernai here?

Odil had clearly said that the Countess was out in the Mortal Realm and wouldn't be reachable for about a month.

It's like being told by your girlfriend to come over because her parents are away on a trip, having all sorts of fun, only to suddenly run into her returning parents.

Of course, I've never had such a terrifying experience, so it's just an analogy...

I didn't even have a chance to ask Odil what was going on.

"Odil, come here."

Count Gemernai's gaze was directed at Odil.

Her voice was gentle, but its weight was different from usual.

Even Siwoo could vividly feel the reproach and scolding contained within it.

"Master, I, I'll explain everything."

"I'll hear the explanation later. Just come here first, Odil."

Odil looked at Siwoo with an 'I'm so sorry' expression, then timidly shuffled into the living room.

Without realizing it, feeling intimidated, Siwoo followed Odil into the living room.

Deneb, with her snow-white hair, lightly grasped Odil's wrist.

Holding Odil's wrist for a long time as if examining something, Deneb let out a sigh of relief.

It was probably a standard procedure to check if the 'Vessel' had been damaged, given that an Apprentice Witch who suddenly announced she was staying out had gone out late at night with a man and only returned around dawn.

Fortunately, confirming there was no issue, Deneb thwacked Odil on the head.

"Ouch!"

"Who said you could stay out without permission! Do you have any idea how much we searched for you two?"

"I'm sorry... But since Assistant-nim woke up... I didn't want to just leave..."

"Listen well, Odil. We are absolutely not letting this go lightly. It's late now, so go upstairs and sleep. We'll talk again tomorrow."

Was it a mistake to have firmly believed the Countess was out in the Mortal Realm?

While Siwoo was confused, Albireo spoke to him as well.

"Shin Siwoo, please stay here."

"Master, I'll explain. Assistant-nim did nothing wrong! I was the one who suggested a night walk and persuaded him to stay over at the villa!"

The one who sharply cut off Odil's frantic defense was Deneb.

"Odil, we'll talk to him ourselves. Go upstairs."

"But..."

"Go up."

Odil, thoroughly cowed by Deneb's flaring temper.

Watching this must be how it feels to see your lawyer get thrown out of the courtroom in real time.

The thought 'Am I really fucked now?' just kept looping endlessly in his head like a broken record.

"Odil, I'd prefer if you didn't make me any angrier."

Hearing Albireo's chilly voice, Odil couldn't just stubbornly persist.

It was the first time she had seen her Master this angry.

"I'll go up, I'm going up, Master. But promise me one thing."

"You're choosing now to say such things?"

"I have to!"

Shouting defiantly, Odil steadfastly set up a final safety net for Siwoo.

"If you harm Assistant-nim, I will never look at your face again. Never!"

"You really are something!"

Deneb tried to give Odil another thwack on the head for her audacious words in a situation where she should be begging for forgiveness.

Albireo, sitting and drinking Cass, stopped her.

"Deneb, that's enough."

"Sister! Look at this cheeky brat's attitude! Who's in the wrong here! And what is this outfit? Good heavens! Did you go out wearing just underwear and a cloak?"

"Deneb, I said enough."

Albireo waved her hand dismissively and made eye contact with Odil.

Odil widened her eyes, trying not to avert her gaze.

She knew she was in the wrong first, but Siwoo's safety was more important than facing her strict Master's scolding.

"Odil, I swear I will not harm Shin Siwoo. Is that enough now?"

Odil pressed her lips together tightly and slowly nodded.

"It's very late, so go upstairs and sleep. I have separate matters to discuss with him."

"Yes... I'm sorry for speaking out of turn..."

As soon as Siwoo's safety was secured, Odil, seeming deflated, bowed her head in apology, mouthed 'Sorry, Assistant-nim' to Siwoo, and went upstairs.

That's right.

For Odil, everything might be over, but for Siwoo, it was just beginning.

"Shall we sit and talk first?"

Albireo extended her hand, gesturing for the awkwardly standing Siwoo to take the sofa opposite.

Forget clichéd expressions like sitting on pins and needles.

This is a landmine cushion.

Although he had secured a promise not to be harmed, if Count Gemernai so desired, making life miserable for a powerless guy like Siwoo with no backing would be very easy.

The conversation began as Deneb, who had been scolding Odil, sat down on the sofa.

"Before we get to the main point, I'm glad to see you've recovered well."

"I'm sorry I couldn't visit you sooner. Just saying that out of courtesy."

Unlike Albireo, who offered a formally polite greeting, Deneb's words were full of thorns.

Her sharp violet gaze felt like it was piercing through his chest.

"Deneb."

"Alright, I'll stop. I'm sorry, Mr. Shin Siwoo."

"No, it's fine."

Countess Deneb took deep breaths, huu huu.

Unlike her very dignified and composed first impression, a rather emotional side was showing.

Considering it involved her Apprentice Witch, it made sense.

Siwoo steeled himself.

How he spoke from now on could determine his fate.

"I have something to ask. I'd like you to answer the following questions without lying."

"...Yes."

"What were you doing outside with Odil at this hour?"

From the very first question, he was at a loss for words.

He was told not to lie, but he was confused if telling the truth was the right thing to do.

Tell the Countesses, who are like parents, that he toyed with Odil's backside?

Moreover, digging deeper would reveal the fact about Odette's... opening.

Should he really say this?

He'd rather bite his tongue off.

"We went for a night walk."

"Just that?"

"Kissing... too, yes, we kissed too. I'm sorry."

Deneb looked up at the sky as if dizzy, pressing the back of her hand to her forehead, while Albireo stared at Siwoo with calm eyes.Siwoo sat with his knees together in a proper posture, praying, ‘Please only ask this much, please only ask this much.’

Whether his fervent prayer worked or not, Albireo gently closed his eyes and changed the subject.

“There’s nothing to apologize for. It’s only natural for feelings to develop between a man and a woman of age, especially since Shin Siwoo has already earned so much favor from our Twins.”

“Anything beyond kissing? You didn’t do anything else strange, right?”

“Deneb, if you’re going to keep interrupting, go outside and cool your head for a while.”

In that fleeting moment, Deneb’s additional interrogation sent a chill down his spine, but Albireo managed to restrain him.

“Odil’s Vessel is intact, and beyond anything else, Shin Siwoo is a benefactor of the Zemnarai family. We cannot rashly reprimand his actions.”

“I know, I do know. Hoo... hoo... This won’t do. Give me some alcohol too.”

Deneb snatched a beer bottle and gulped it down.

No matter how much the Countess emphasized etiquette, it seemed she lost half her composure when it came to the Twins.

Siwoo sincerely thanked the Countess of Gemernai for being twins.

If Deneb had been alone, a disaster might have turned into a catastrophe.

“I’m sorry. I let my emotions get the better of me.”

“Ah, no. I would have done the same in your position. Please raise your head.”

Deneb, who had bowed his head briefly to apologize, seemed to have regained his rationality.

What a relief.

“First, I must express my gratitude. Not once, but twice, you saved our Twins with your bravery and wit.”

“I pay my respects to your heart, which does not spare your own life in standing against injustice and upholding righteousness, regardless of status.”

“I should have offered this greeting sooner, but as you know, Shin Siwoo has been unconscious until now.”

“Though belated, I take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude.”

The Countess bowed her head in unison, and Siwoo, flustered as before, waved his hands awkwardly.

He hadn’t intended to receive gratitude.

It was just that his body moved on its own in that situation.

“No, I did it because I felt I had to.”

The pressure of having the Countess of Gemernai, of all people, bowing her head, the embarrassment of being praised out of the blue, and the anxiety of not knowing how things might go wrong here—all blended into a confusing salad that left Siwoo bewildered.

Albireo, having gracefully concluded the thanks, asked first.

“Have you fully recovered?”

“Yes, fortunately...”

“Baron Marigold must have been overjoyed. He stayed by your side day and night.”

“........”

As soon as the name Marigold was mentioned, Siwoo’s face stiffened.

Siwoo was not yet calm enough to hear that name and maintain his composure.

It felt as if the confusion he had barely managed to forget with Odil’s help had been revived.

“Baron Marigold worked very hard to save you, Siwoo. He even called in a healing Witch, and honestly, seeing him care for you so devotedly made even me feel solemn...”

Deneb, knowing that Amelia had a crush on Siwoo, subtly mentioned her efforts.

Since his life was saved thanks to Amelia’s desperate struggle, Deneb lightly brought it up, assuming there might have been some progress between the two.

But seeing Siwoo’s expression darken, he realized something was wrong and stopped.

Siwoo hurriedly relaxed his expression, but the awkward atmosphere had already formed.

Albireo skillfully steered the conversation.

“...Anyway, we wanted to discuss compensation. Sufficient compensation that Siwoo can understand.”

Siwoo closed his eyes tightly, feeling a churning in his stomach.

Amelia, Amelia, Amelia.

Let’s not think about it now.

You have to stretch your legs wherever you find a place to lie down.

Wasn’t the Countess of Gemernai the only lifeline to help him escape Gehenna?

There was no need to make a spectacle of himself.

“My thoughts haven’t changed, then or now. I want to return to the Mortal Realm.”

He would leave this place.

If he went back and lived quietly, all these troublesome things would fade from memory.

Having longed for it for five years, there was no reason for his thoughts to change now.

Returning to the Mortal Realm was the only steadfast goal Siwoo could cling to amidst the extreme confusion of hating someone he once loved or loving someone he once hated.

“Hmm...”

“Just to be cautious... have you heard from the Baron about what might happen if you go to the Mortal Realm?”

“Huh?”

What might happen if he goes to the Mortal Realm?

Is it because a man who can wield Magic has appeared, so Witches might take an interest?

Moreover, now that he seemed to have a ‘Brand,’ he might need to be even more cautious.

But it was a problem he could handle.

He had the music box from Odil, and above all, only a handful of people knew Siwoo had a Brand, so if he hid it well...

“We have no intention of persuading you otherwise or preventing you from going to the Mortal Realm.”

“Even though Shin Siwoo is a rare enough case to make most Witches drool, repaying the favor is more important.”

“Yes, thank you for saying that.”

“However... I think we need to explain a bit about what might happen when you return to the Mortal Realm. If your thoughts remain the same after hearing us out, we’ll respect your wishes.”

The atmosphere suddenly turned serious.

It was a bit bewildering.

He thought leaving would be the end, but it wasn’t?

“Take off your eyepatch.”

“Huh?”

To the confused Siwoo, Albireo pointed to his left eye and spoke.

“We need to be certain about this.”

Was revealing his eye here the right choice?

Siwoo trusted the Twins.

Though a bit immature and mischievous, he was certain the innocent Odil and Odette would never betray him.

But what about the Countess of Gemernai?

Was it okay to trust her simply because she was the Twins’ teacher?

“I swear on the name of Gemernai that I will never disclose or carelessly reveal it.”

After a moment of hesitation, Siwoo removed the slightly tilted eyepatch.

When he opened his closed eye, a brilliant golden pupil was revealed.

Albireo recognized its identity immediately.

“As I thought, a Brand has been engraved.”

“Good heavens...”

Siwoo’s body, as if time had been reversed, had grown younger.Moreover, it was something Albireo had already surmised from seeing him consistently wearing an eye patch, even after every minor flaw had been perfectly corrected.

Deneb, on the other hand, seemed utterly unaware, covering her gaping mouth with her hand.

“That’s correct. Is this a problem?”

“Not immediately, but there’s ample reason to worry it could develop into a troublesome issue.”

“I’m listening.”

Before Siwoo, who was earnestly leaning in to discuss his future life plans, Count Gemernai continued his explanation.

Author’s Note (Afterword)

It ended a bit ambiguously, didn’t it...