City of Witches Chapter 155

After the movie ended, Sharon's eyes were swollen and puffy.

That's because she had watched the film while wiping away tears and sniffles, using almost an entire box of tissues.

Even with her eyes that swollen, she didn't look bad at all—was it because her base was just that excellent?

As Siwoo spread a blanket on the sofa, he asked Sharon, who was still steeped in the aftermath of being moved.

"So, I'm going to catch some sleep for a bit. What about you?"

"Sleep? Sounds good, it's been a while."

"Do you usually sleep?"

"Usually, I don't have time to sleep... but I do like sleeping itself. Since I'm in a good mood today, I think taking a nap would be nice too."

For Witches, sleep is purely a matter of preference, but the proportion of Witches who don't sleep at all is actually much rarer.

After all, at their core, Witches are still human.

Sleep is a time when they can rest, leaving a blank space in their thoughts without any thinking.

It's said that the tendency to prefer sleep is especially strong among young Witches who have just become Witches.

Siwoo also always closed his eyes for three or four hours a day.

Outside the blackout curtains, dawn had already broken, so Siwoo tightly closed the door.

Frankly, while it's called a sofa, it's wider and softer than most beds, so with just a blanket and pillow, one could sleep soundly.

"Today, I'll sleep in the living room. You sleep in my room."

"Huh? No! I'll sleep in the living room."

"But you're a guest, how can I let you sleep on the sofa?"

"I'm the one freeloading here."

Anyway, he had already ordered a bed frame and mattress.

He only needed to sleep in the living room for a day or two, but Sharon showed absolutely no sign of backing down.

Sharon quickly dashed over, slipped into the blanket Siwoo had laid out, hugged the pillow tightly, and declared her territory.

"I'm sleeping here."

"Then I won't sleep today. You sleep on the bed."

"No! You're not sleeping just because of me, right? Then I won't sleep either."

"I'm really fine, okay? The sofa is plush and comfortable like a bed anyway."

"Then I'm even more fine, right? You said the sofa is plush like a bed."

He didn't understand why she was being so stubborn about not letting a guest—and a female guest at that—sleep on the sofa when it made him uncomfortable.

At this rate, it seemed like both of them would end up not sleeping and just muddling through.

Then, as if she had thought of a good idea, Sharon spoke up.

"Then, want to sleep together on the bed? The bed is wide anyway."

Siwoo said firmly.

"No."

"Why?"

But he was at a loss for an immediate answer to Sharon's prompt question.

"Even so, sharing the same bed is a bit... you know."

"So why? They sleep together in the movie too."

In the romance movie they watched today, there were many scenes of the man and woman sleeping in the same bed and waking up.

Not to mention, there were also sex scenes depicted, not explicitly but subtly.

Because of that, it was a bit awkward watching it together.

"Uh... well... they're a couple. They're in love."

"If you're not in love, you can't sleep in the same bed?

Sure, in the movie, they sleep in the same bed and even have sex, but you don't have that intention, and I don't either, right? So isn't it fine?"

Siwoo absolutely did not suggest living together with any sinister motives toward Sharon.

That didn't mean he felt no attraction toward her either.

He also didn't want any awkward episodes arising from rolling around in the same bed for no reason.

"Anyway, no."

"Then I won't sleep."

"I won't sleep either, then."

"........"

"........"

Sharon wore an expression of not understanding his way of thinking at all, and Siwoo wore a troubled expression as they both fell silent.

And as if they had made a promise, they simultaneously looked at each other and let out a silly laugh.

The situation itself was just ticklish somehow.

Giggling, Sharon apologized first.

"Sorry, I was too stubborn. But today, I'll sleep on the sofa. It's because I feel burdensome. The bed is coming in a few days anyway, right?"

"Okay. I just thought since we're resting anyway, it'd be better if you rested more comfortably."

"I'm really comfortable, so don't worry. I set an alarm, so see you in about three hours."

"Alright."

In the end, it was settled that Siwoo would sleep on the bed and Sharon on the sofa.

"My time to pay for the meal has come! Sharon Evergreen's Magic classroom, let's begin."

After hastily finishing breakfast with waffles and pancakes, Sharon energetically entered Siwoo's room.

Siwoo, having finished cleaning up, followed her into the room.

Sharon looked around here and there, examining his room.

"Hmm, come to think of it, this is my first time entering a guy's room."

"Really? Wasn't it your first time entering a guy's house too? You didn't say anything earlier."

"I didn't think much of it until now, but since the movie kept attaching meaning to it, it's oddly on my mind."

Certainly, looking at Sharon smiling a bit awkwardly, she might have felt something from watching the movie.

But Siwoo could confidently say she wasn't paying attention to even half of the ambiguous feelings he was experiencing.

If she had been, she wouldn't have brought up sleeping in the same bed, and she would have immediately gone to change out of those embarrassing pajamas.

"You've been researching diligently."

"It's easier to see this way."

"But still... it looks kind of... kind of professional."

On a corkboard covering one wall, clues and knowledge were connected with strings, showing their organic relationships like detectives piecing things together.

Similarly, on a whiteboard, the general form of a Magic Circle was transcribed using mathematical expressions.

Though Siwoo estimated he had only deciphered about 50% of the Magic in Ain.

"Mind if I take a look?"

"That's what I wanted to ask."

"I'll ask about parts I don't understand, so please explain from the side."

Sharon carefully examined the Magic Circle Siwoo had organized and compared it with the Magic Formulas posted on the corkboard.

That's because before teaching anything specific, she needed to check what level of Magic he possessed and in which fields.

After a long while of checking Siwoo's supplementary explanations and the Magic Formulas, Sharon nodded.

"I think I understand a bit. What the situation is."

"Really?"

Siwoo's face lit up.

Recently, Siwoo's Magic research had completely hit a wall.

A wall that seemed impossible to overcome given his situation with no reference materials or advisors.

"Yeah, first, want to sit here?"

Sharon had Siwoo sit beside her.

Then, organizing on paper, she began explaining calmly.

"You know there are broadly four systems of Magic, right?""Oh, right."

Elemental, Alchemy, Word Spirit, Barrier.

While not all innate magic can be categorized here since there are at least as many types as there are Witches, over 90% of Witches can be classified into these four subcategories.

Let's go through them one by one, starting with...

Elemental.

This is a system that uses diverse Magic based on the harmony of the four elements—water, fire, earth, and wind—primarily dealt with across both Eastern and Western cultures.

Given its long tradition accumulated since ancient times, most venerable Orthodox Witches belong to this system, and their numbers are the greatest.

In Gehenna, the academic society where Elemental-system Witches gather is called the 'Truth and True Name Academic Society.'

Amelia Marigold, who used 'particle magic' that fused wind and water elements, also belonged to this system.

Next is Alchemy.

If Elemental Magic involves the caster directly invoking mystery through magic power, this system more actively utilizes tools and catalysts.

It encompasses both the field of drug manufacturing—creating elixirs, reagents, Mysterious Potions, etc.—and the field of Magical Engineering—creating Artifacts and magical tools. As such, its versatility is as high as Elemental Magic, and naturally, there are many Alchemy-system Witches as well.

In Gehenna, Alchemy-system Witches have formed a society called the 'Emerald Tablet,' and there is even a statistic stating that combining Witches with innate magic from the Elemental and Alchemy systems accounts for over 90% of all Witches.

Then next is Word Spirit.

From here on, the number of users decreases so much that calling it a system feels ambiguous.

This is because manifesting one's mental imagery into reality through 'Word Spirit'—words themselves—is essentially a subcategory of 'Incantation,' which is part of most Magic.

Since 'words' become the subject of Magic, it is often considered an antiquated form of Magic that is difficult to standardize or systematize. Consequently, most Word Spirit users have transitioned to the Elemental system over generations.

Thus, nowadays, the only famous Witch using Word Spirit is Countess Gemernai.

Finally, Barrier.

While Word Spirit also has very few users, many say the Barrier system is practically extinct.

There are even frequent arguments that it should now be called the three major systems.

Many Witches know how to handle the 'Hidden Barrier,' which belongs to the Barrier system, but that's only because Duke Keter revised and disseminated it so that any Witch could use it. In reality, almost no Witch delves deeply into it.

Therefore, within Gehenna, the only Witches remaining with innate magic of the Barrier system are Duke Keter and Countess Yesod, who uses 'Barrier Magic.'

"First of all, you should know I'm truly amazed. You really have an incredible talent."

"R-really, that much?"

"Yeah, I think it's a dazzling talent that makes me tear up with envy."

From what Sharon observed closely, Siwoo's achievements were remarkable.

They were so refined and innovative that it was hard to believe he accomplished them alone in just a few years.

He had built his own achievements at a dazzling speed, in ways no one had ever thought of before.

However, his innate magic was not complete.

While he had created optimal results based on limited materials, it was evident that he lacked foundational skills.

It was immediately clear why Siwoo, with this level of talent, had hit a wall.

"Your innate magic is a harmonious blend of two major systems.

I'm not sure exactly, but you called it Dimensional Teleportation, right? I can't help you with that at all. Unfortunately, you'll likely need independent research on the Barrier system.

But the Law of Shadows belongs to the Elemental system, so I think I can help with that."

As Sharon waved her hand, her body shimmered brightly.

It was the familiar magical girl transformation scene.

Now dressed in a Witch's uniform, Sharon spoke while waving her wand with one hand.

"My innate magic is the Elemental system, utilizing Tarba's five elements. You're a novice when it comes to elements, right?"

"That's right. What I've researched is ultimately just Dimensional Teleportation, and that came from Gnosis's Egg."

"Starting today, I'll teach you what I know."

Sharon extended her hand to Siwoo.

Siwoo awkwardly stared at that hand.

"What are you doing? Take it."

"Your hand?"

"Yeah, from now on, I'll show you the world as I see it. It's about sharing mental imagery through physical contact."

Siwoo hesitantly took Sharon's hand.

It was an awkward grip, like shaking hands with someone you're not close to.

"Not like that, you have to hold it properly like this."

As if that wasn't it, Sharon's long, slender fingers slipped between Siwoo's fingers and tightly interlocked.

"Uh..."

"Ah..."

Then, the two simultaneously let out sighs that sounded like admiration.

Siwoo was captivated by Sharon's soft, delicate knuckles, while Sharon was taken by his unexpectedly thick and firm palm.

Sharon broke the awkward silence with a bashful smile.

"I just meant to teach you magic. This feels strange. Maybe I watched too many romance movies for no reason."

"Yeah, let's watch a war movie next time."

"But could you come a little closer instead of staying so far away?"

"Like this?"

"Yeah, that's good now."

Standing face-to-face as if about to dance a waltz, with one hand interlocked.

Sharon gave Siwoo, who looked embarrassed, a slight smile and closed her eyes.

"Now, close your eyes and just feel the sensation of my hand."

"Done."

"You don't need to answer. Just slowly, in the most comfortable state... think about becoming one with me."

Sharon tightly grasped Siwoo's hand.

He could feel magic power extending from her hand, intertwining from the point of their touching skin.

It was a strange sensation that couldn't be felt from merely holding hands.

They could hear each other's heartbeats, Sharon's breathing felt like his own, and the sensations she felt were shared entirely—a mysterious sense of unity.

While Siwoo was dazed by this first-time experience, Sharon suddenly let go.

Simultaneously, his concentration broke, as if suddenly pulled out of water.

Sharon spoke with an awkward expression.

"Ah... sorry, I was startled because your heart seemed to be pounding too hard. Are you uncomfortable somewhere?"

Siwoo unconsciously placed his hand on his chest.

Come to think of it, his heart was indeed thumping loudly.

Didn't this mean that just as Siwoo felt Sharon's sensations, Sharon had also felt this?

Somehow, it was embarrassing.

"No, it's just, um..."Seeing Siwoo looking dazed, Sharon smiles as if tickled.

It was a smile that said she understood everything.

"Were you really nervous? That's understandable. But it's not that scary. Come on, take a deep breath."

"Hoo... ha... hoo..."

"That's right, let's try again."

It took nearly 30 minutes for Siwoo to see the world filled with all the elements as Sharon had wanted.

And on this day, he continued to receive instruction on Elemental Magic until Sharon had to leave for her part-time job at the convenience store.

A word from the author (author's note)

You might want to take a little break...