City of Witches Chapter 133

“Let me explain the three major things you’ll likely experience when you go out into the Mortal Realm, Mr. Siwoo.”

“Yes.”

There are three?

While inwardly expressing a flicker of worry, Siwoo listened attentively to the Countess’s words.

“First, any Witch would be curious about a man who has acquired a Brand. It’s only natural, as an unprecedented case could lead to unprecedented academic progress.”

“Even if you were just in a state of knowing how to use Magic without a Brand, the situation would be similar. But now that you have a Brand, the attention you’ll draw will be incomparably greater.”

“Wouldn’t it be enough if I just hide the fact that I have a Brand?”

Was this something that needed to be discussed so seriously?

He already knew that much without needing an explanation.

“That kind of lighthearted attitude is problematic.”

“Currently, Mr. Siwoo, you have naturally become a citizen of Gehenna since your slave certificate was annulled. Even if it becomes known that you can use Magic, no one can recklessly harm you.

If there are signs that someone intends to harm you, not only our Zemnarai family but also Baron Marigold will impose strong sanctions, confiscating that Witch’s citizenship and assets.”

“You might receive an annoyingly high level of attention, but your life won’t be in danger.”

Albireo took a breath and continued.

“But Exiles are different. Didn’t you feel it after meeting one? How cruel an Exile like Ea Sadalmelik was.”

“I know. But I was prepared for all of that.”

Deneb’s tone carried a nuance as if she were dissuading a child crawling toward a well.

But it was also a statement that since he had the music box Odil gave him, it wouldn’t matter as long as he wasn’t discovered.

It wasn’t enough to suppress Siwoo’s homing instinct.

“Among Exiles, the truly vicious ones are a minority, but still, be careful. Exiles don’t have citizenship as collateral. They might harm you on a momentary impulse.”

Siwoo understood what the Countess was saying.

He wasn’t sure if this description was accurate, but the current Siwoo was like a stunning beauty who would turn any man’s head, and going to the Mortal Realm was like being thrown into a world without CCTV or police.

Anyone might think of pouncing on him in a moment of impulse.

“This is about all we can do for you regarding this part.”

Albireo rummaged through her pocket and took out a ring, placing it on the table in front of Siwoo.

“It’s a ring that proves you are a guest of our family. It’s a token signifying that anyone who touches the person wearing this ring must be prepared to make an enemy of Gemernai.”

That’s when Siwoo understood.

Gemernai truly had no intention of dissuading him from going to the Mortal Realm.

Moreover, they were even providing such conveniences and safety nets.

For a moment, his earlier worry that they might be Witches with different outward and inward intentions felt foolish.

“Thank you very much.”

“How much effect that ring will have externally... Honestly, I can’t guarantee it. You must always be cautious.”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind. What’s next?”

Feeling he had received sufficient warning, he moved the topic forward.

“The second is Homunculi.”

It was such an unexpected answer that he was momentarily stunned.

Homunculi? What does that have to do with anything?

“The number of active Homunculi in the Mortal Realm is increasing dramatically. Compared to 100 years ago, it’s nearly a tenfold increase.”

“What does... that have to do with me?”

“Homunculi fundamentally target Brands. This means that you, Mr. Siwoo, who has newly acquired a Brand, are not exempt from being their target.”

“Of course, since you seem to have received a music box from the Twins, if you carry it well, it shouldn’t be a major problem. Think of this part as just a precaution.”

“The music box... You knew about it.”

“We are your guardians, after all.”

Countess Gemernai seemed to have noticed even that Odil had given the music box to Siwoo.

He had worried they might see him as some kind of snake who tricked the clueless Twins into handing over a precious Artifact.

But judging by their words, they seemed to be tacitly allowing it, which was a relief.

“This is the most important issue.”

Albireo took a sip of beer and asked.

“Do you know how Gehenna brings in slaves?”

“No.”

“I thought so. Even among Witches, few know, and there’s no need to tell slaves.”

“The humans summoned to Gehenna from the Mortal Realm largely fall into two categories.”

Deneb held up two fingers.

She folded one of them as she spoke.

“One, death row inmates.”

“Huh?”

“Witches have secret dealings with high-ranking officials of various nations. There are many details, but let’s just talk about the slave delivery treaty.”

“Death row inmates whose executions have been decided or who are awaiting execution that may never come are often brought here as slaves.”

“It’s a mutually beneficial Contract: Gehenna gets a supply of labor, and the respective nations can dispose of death row inmates who are uselessly draining taxes, whether they exist or not.”

Siwoo, who had known nothing of this fact, stared blankly with his mouth agape.

So, did that mean all the slaves in Border Town, whom he thought had been captured for experiments, suffered torment, or wasted their lives on futile labor due to Witches’ whims, were actually death row inmates?

“Then, what am I?”

“Two, missing persons.”

Deneb folded the remaining finger.

“From what I’ve looked into, Mr. Shin Siwoo, it was a plane crash, right?”

The plane staggering after hitting turbulence.

The oxygen masks dangling down and the urgent, busy broadcast from the frantic captain.

When he opened his eyes again after that, he was at the port of Border Town.

“That’s... right.”

“All humans move according to ‘fate.’ The ‘prophecy organ’ of the Tree of Sephirot dictates that fate. And among humans destined to die soon, those who seem ‘potentially useful to Gehenna’ are separately selected.”

“W-wait a minute. Are you saying I was already dead?”

Extreme confusion set in.

Siwoo had firmly believed he was nothing but a victim of lawless Witches.

But was he actually rescued from death?So, the years of slave life weren't unpaid, lifelong labor after all?

"No, as I said, we bring in humans who are fated to die soon."

The things he had believed in were shattering once again.

But Siwoo quickly composed himself.

Stay calm.

If he was going to leave this place anyway, it didn't matter at all.

And just as he thought that far...

Siwoo found a contradiction in the Count's words.

"Huh?"

That was right.

How Siwoo was selected and brought to Gehenna wasn't an important issue at this point.

Wasn't Siwoo someone who would soon be leaving Gehenna?

An inexplicable chill ran down his spine.

His agitated heart sensed the foreboding more quickly than ever before.

"Why... are you telling me this?"

"Fate, and among it, the most easily identifiable is the 'Fate of Death.' Discussing causes of death, it could be illness, traffic accidents, involvement in a murder case... there are countless reasons, but the 'Fate of Death' possesses one strong characteristic."

"What is it?"

Albireo looked at Siwoo with a serious expression and spoke.

"Its inevitability."

"A once-determined Fate of Death is 'absolutely,' 'no matter what,' executed."

"Even if someone who was supposed to die in a traffic accident survives by an extremely rare stroke of luck, the compulsion of fate acts."

"The next day, they die of a heart attack, or perish in a gas explosion. The reasons are different, but it means they die within a short period."

Siwoo fell silent for a moment.

"Then... you mean if I leave, I will be subject to this 'inevitability'?"

If that were the case, then Siwoo's determination to leave this place would be meaningless.

It would mean he had struggled for five years only to meet his death.

Just as he was about to lose strength from the absurdity, Deneb pointed out the error.

"No, missing persons selected as slaves have a modification applied immediately after crossing the 'Gate' of Border Town. If we brought them as they were, they would die soon anyway."

She raised two fingers, making a scissor shape, and mimicked snipping something off.

"It's cutting off their fate in the Mortal Realm."

Albireo and Deneb fell silent simultaneously, even though Siwoo hadn't said anything yet.

Was it an illusion that they looked like doctors delivering a countdown to a terminal cancer patient?

It felt as if they were telling him to prepare his heart firmly.

"However, we cannot selectively cut out only the 'Fate of Death.' Therefore, we sever all 'Connections' linked to the Mortal Realm. Just like Homunculi often do when they devour humans."

"What... does that mean?"

"It means that all the connections, achievements, accomplishments, memories, and even fate that Siwoo built up in the Mortal Realm have become 'as if they never happened,' and his very existence has been erased."

"Ah..."

Honestly, even hearing it put into words, it's hard to truly grasp.

Cutting off connections.

Connections, achievements, accomplishments, memories, fate all becoming as if they never were.

Witches have a tendency to make things sound difficult.

Who could understand something explained so convolutedly?

Thoughts of escapism ran rampant.

His fingertips grew numb.

"And that's not all."

"Wait a moment, could you please wait?"

"It's better to hear this out completely and then think..."

"I'm sorry. Just a moment will do."

As Siwoo sat there despondently, Albireo handed him a bottle of beer.

Without even a chance to say thanks, Siwoo wet his parched throat with the beer.

He was dumbfounded.

To be honest, he didn't even know what emotion he should be feeling.

"I'm okay now."

"Are you sure? If it's really difficult, I can give you a little more time."

"No, I'll listen now."

After all, according to Count Gemernai's words, he is a body that survived a fated death.

If he had died in that plane crash back then, wouldn't he have been unable to feel this anguish and sense of deprivation?

The important thing is that he's still alive.

In front of Siwoo, who made a resolute expression, Deneb opened her mouth after a very long hesitation.

"A 'Connection' severed from one 'world'... currently has no method of restoration. Simply cutting a connection and completely rewriting fate from scratch are entirely different in difficulty."

"And what does that mean?"

"Even if Mr. Siwoo were to return. At most within a week, at least within three or four days, a 'reset' would occur."

"Please explain it simply."

"It means that whatever Mr. Siwoo does upon returning to the Mortal Realm will quickly revert to 'as if it never happened.' The only 'Connections' currently linked to Siwoo are with this separate, hidden world completely detached from the Mortal Realm—that is, Gehenna."

Let's try to organize this.

No good.

His mind just wouldn't turn.

Siwoo could only mutter what he felt in that moment.

"So, I become a ghost."

Unable to leave any action in others' memories, unable to leave a trace.

He would become an existence that merely wanders and drifts.

Even to Siwoo's clear summary that pinpointed the core, Count Gemernai said nothing.

Only Deneb added, as if feeling sorry for him.

"As the influence of the Zemnarai family extends sufficiently into the Mortal Realm, sufficient support will be provided to Mr. Siwoo.

Since using Mr. Siwoo's name would be meaningless, we will provide a residence and car under our name, and compensation of about 10 billion won every five years is also planned. Separate from this, if you say you wish to remain in Gehenna, there is also the option of being respectfully hosted as a guest of our family."

With his fingers interlaced, Siwoo remained dazed and lost in thought for a while.

His wish to return to the Mortal Realm was almost like a life goal.

The absurdity of having chased the end of a rainbow, running desperately, only to find the place he finally reached was actually a cliff, overwhelmed his heart.

"...Does Lady Amelia know about this fact?"

"Baroness? Probably."

Why didn't she tell him?

Was it because she, being so awkward, couldn't bring herself to convey it?

Did she block his escape, worried he would be heartbroken upon learning the cruel truth?

Siwoo reflexively discovered he was interpreting things in Amelia's favor and shook his head.

Was there any meaning in dwelling on this now?

Whatever it was, it didn't matter.

"I'll give you plenty of time to think."

"Deneb."

"Hmm?"

"Could you go back first? I still have things I need to say."

Deneb opened her eyes wide as if to say 'what are you talking about?' and looked at Albireo, then nodded.

"Alright, you have to tell me what it's about later."

After Deneb left first, Siwoo was left alone with Albireo.Albireo waited a moment, then his eyes met Siwoo's as she lifted her head.

"It must be confusing, but I have more to say."

"What is it..."

Siwoo's shoulders slumped, looking pitiful at a glance, but she was someone who always lived buried in work and Magic Research.

Albireo did not have much time.

"I want you to return to the Mortal Realm."

Therefore.

Without unnecessarily dragging things out, he went straight to the point.

A word from the author (author's note)

The weather has been good day after day lately.

I'm happy.