City of Witches Chapter 181

Originally, Homunculi had sustained their existence by hunting Witches.

This was possible because, until a few hundred years ago, Witches were plentiful enough and Homunculi were scarce enough.

However, as time passed, the number of Witches dwindled due to various incidents, accidents, suicides, and murders.

In contrast, the number of Homunculi awakened from hibernation according to plan only increased over the long years.

If the ratio of Witches to Homunculi was roughly 10:1 before the Middle Ages, it became 1:1 through the modern era, and by the contemporary age, an extreme reversal occurred with a ratio of 1:10—a disparity that continues to widen drastically.

From then on, Homunculi, facing a shortage of prey, began to devour humans.

Whether such a method existed from the start or whether Homunculi, driven by extreme hunger, devised some means is unknown, but Homunculi possess a way to convert human "bonds" into magic power.

Thus, rather than wandering remote and treacherous lands, most Homunculi chose to flock to major cities where far more prey was densely clustered and easy to consume.

This is why most Witch Points are located in major cities.

The first place Eloah Tiferet sought after moving from the Border Town's "Gate" to the Han River was a Witch Point.

Among them, it was the Gwanghwamun Branch, one of the most active hunting grounds in the East, alongside the Macau, Odaokou, and Shinjuku branches.

"........."

"......Oh."

The moment Eloa stepped into the bustling office after taking the elevator up, it fell as silent as if they had entered a library.

Then, both Witches and human staff alike offered small, respectful bows in greeting.

Even though Tiferet founded the Witch Point, she relinquished all authority fifty years ago.

However, since all information regarding subjugation is shared through the Witch Point's database, it is the Exiles, not the Witches of Gehenna, who keenly feel the weight of her achievements.

The respect they showed Eloa was that reserved for a living legend or a saint.

"Everyone, please return to your duties."

Tiferet, raising her hand slightly in response to their reaction, headed straight for the Branch Chief's office on the top floor.

Most Witches are independent and self-righteous.

If you placed a Witch, who must find her own "truth," in a high-ranking position with fixed duties and responsibilities, nine out of ten would flee.

However, not all Witches share the same disposition.

Among them were those who found comfort in stable order, control, and management.

Sua Agatha, the Branch Chief of the Gwanghwamun Branch, was one such person.

After all, she had approached and taken the Branch Chief position, laden with troublesome tasks, even before Tiferet could appoint anyone.

The top floor, reached by climbing the stairs, resembled an old-fashioned nobleman's house or a traditional Japanese ryotei.

Instead of Western-style wooden doors, rows of windows covered with hanji paper lined the walls, and the ondol-heated floor required removing shoes before entering.

As Eloa removed her shoes, the windows blocking the way slid open one by one, revealing a spacious office.

Branch Chief Sua was in the midst of brewing tea, having set a tea tray before a folding screen painted with the Four Gentlemen.

"It's been a long time, Teacher Sua. You remain unchanged."

"It has been ten years since we last met. Please, have a seat. I have obtained fine tea from Hadong."

"Very well."

The same serene expression and relaxed demeanor as always.

Her elegant hanbok attire, as if she had stepped out of a classical beauty painting, her neatly braided and pinned-up black hair, and her clear, ash-gray eyes like a still, reflective pond.

Sua, sitting demurely and pouring tea into two cups, was as graceful as an orchid and as pure as a lily of the valley.

Sua's gaze, honed by intelligence and reason, looked upon Eloa with a hint of compassion.

"Your esteemed visit must mean news has reached you that the Witch of the Foot-Soldier Palace, whom Your Highness was pursuing, has perished?"

"That is correct."

"You must be deeply grieved."

"There is no grief to speak of. Was it not due to my own delay?"

Eloa spoke calmly, as if brushing raindrops from her clothes.

Her posture, sitting upright despite the futile, scattered resentment, was a demeanor worthy of being called a paragon of martial virtue, but it was visible to Sua, her long-time friend.

The sleet-like melancholy and wandering that weighed heavily on Eloa's shoulders.

"This humble one also heard the rumor and immediately sent word to Your Highness, but..."

"I know. The first communication I checked was yours, Teacher Sua. I did not come here to dwell on what is already past."

"Then may I ask the reason?"

"The Enemy Knight I was tracking fled here. I wish to receive assistance in pinpointing its exact location."

"An Enemy Knight, you say?"

Sua showed a rare expression of surprise.

Nodding lightly, Eloa responded to Sua's question.

"Does Your Highness not have a 'Contract' with it, as per custom?"

Among the contract magic Tiferet primarily uses, there is a clause that "allows each party to specify the other's location."

Using that contract, she could track any Homunculus that once caught her eye without much difficulty.

"I did. But it suddenly vanished. As if it had disappeared."

However, during the brief time Eloa stopped by Gehenna.

The contract was severed as if it were a lie.

Unless it were a public enemy, a mere Homunculus should not possess the intellect to dissolve a contract.

Hence, she sought out the Witch Point.

"I see..."

"Can I review the missing persons statistics?"

"The most recently updated information is from three months ago... Will that suffice?"

"I wish to see it first."

Enemy Knight.

Upon hearing the news of that notorious Homunculus's escape, Sua raised her finely drawn eyebrows but rose from her seat.

Moving gracefully in her socks, Sua retrieved a document from a cabinet densely packed with various files.

"Here it is."

"Thank you."

Tiferet began flipping through the document, checking the missing persons statistics.

Those consumed by Homunculi have their records in the Mortal Realm erased, so ordinary statistics provided by insurance companies or government offices cannot distinguish who has vanished.

Therefore, they utilize separately compiled statistics from the Witch Point to analyze trends in disappearances and, based on that analysis, pinpoint Homunculus activity areas.

However, there was nothing particularly unusual.For a metropolis like Seoul with its population density, around 100 missing persons per month is not unusual.

"Were there any other reports or suspicious signs? That bastard was nearly dead, so he'd likely try to attack civilians somehow to recover his magic power."

"Now that you mention it, today, there is a suspicious item submitted by a Witch who exchanged a large quantity of crystals. According to what I heard from the analysis lab, it was obtained during the subjugation of a deformed Homunculus."

"A deformed Homunculus?"

"Yes, they said it had well over a thousand eyes and contained something strange that was neither a crystal nor a miscarriage."

"I'd like to see it myself."

"I will guide you."

Before the two who stood up side by side headed to the analysis lab, Sua looked at Eloa.

Eloa, who had even set aside research on Magic, devoted herself solely for revenge and to prevent the suffering she endured from repeating.

Now that she had lost half her reason for living, Sua dared not even guess what her state of mind must be as she tried to fulfill her duties.

"My lord, how about entrusting this matter to the young lady and taking some rest?"

Eloa paused for a moment, then gave a faint smile.

It was a pitiful smile, as if she would burst into tears at the slightest touch.

"I appreciate the sentiment, teacher. I plan to rest a bit once this matter is over. Once you've hooked a fish, you have to reel it in with your own hands, don't you?"

"I apologize for my presumptuous words."

"Not at all. Above all, I cannot believe that wicked Witch died so easily. That meticulous, tenacious bitch must surely be alive by some means I haven't thought of."

"She undoubtedly is."

Sua nodded at Eloa's words, which were little more than obsession, and they entered the analysis lab together.

Sharon once again cursed the heavens.

"........"

"........"

"........"

She had safely escaped from the Witch Point, a high-risk area where Della had appeared, only to run into her on the street of all places.

Her heart was pounding.

Sharon had something weighing on her conscience regarding Della.

The hunting ground taken through a one-sided, forced duel.

The profits amounting to billions earned and exchanged there.

Della, who would persistently approach and pick fights even when nothing was wrong, playing the role of Sharon's personal bully.

If this fact were discovered, Della would surely take the money or sneer, calling her a thief or something.

Moreover...

Sharon glanced at Siwoo's face.

Siwoo had boasted that he defeated Della for Sharon's sake, and Sharon had pretended not to know and let it slide.

But if they faced Della like this, both his lie and her pretense would become useless.

Then perhaps she should send Siwoo somewhere else first and handle the aftermath alone.

Just as Sharon thought this and was about to call Siwoo.

"Hello."

Unexpectedly, Siwoo greeted Della.

Simultaneously, the corner of Della's mouth twisted downward.

It was the first time Sharon had seen Della make such an expression.

An expression that seemed somewhat intimidated, clearly showing rejection, at a loss for what to do.

It was the expression Sharon always had when she met Della.

But for Della, who was beyond confident, steeped in narcissism, and beyond assertive, downright arrogant, to have such an expression!

It was an impossible thing.

"...Hi."

And when Della answered curtly to Siwoo's greeting, Sharon secretly pinched her own thigh.

That arrogant Della, replying to a man's greeting before even picking a fight?

And acting as if she didn't see Sharon?

Because this was something that couldn't happen unless it was a dream.

"I'm sorry about last time. Are your injuries okay?"

"...None of your business."

Asking if her injuries were okay?

Saying it's none of his business?

Sharon couldn't possibly keep up with this situation.

Moreover, she couldn't grasp the context of their conversation at all.

"Then I'll be going ahead."

"Uh... uh...?"

Siwoo, as if there was no further obligation, gave a slight nod and passed by Della.

Since they were arm in arm, Sharon, who had stiffened, was half-dragged along, walking after him.

Siwoo showed no sign of fear or worry that his lie might be exposed.

It was an utterly calm reaction, as if he had merely run into an acquaintance.

But was Della the kind of woman to let someone pass by so easily?

Would that woman, whose grudges were like late-autumn mosquitoes and whose tenacity was like a leech, really let them go just like that?

In the daze of not knowing what was happening, Sharon felt she couldn't distinguish left from right.

"Hey."

There it is.

Now the world was returning to a bit of common sense.

Surely, if it were Della, she would pour out every possible insult at this timing...

However, Della, who had only turned to look back from her spot, ground her teeth as if displeased and opened her mouth.

"Next time we fight, I'll win."

It was a venomous glare, as if looking at an enemy.

A look as if she would pounce any moment...

No, it was also a look of being unable to pounce.

"Don't get the wrong idea. The reason I'm not coming at you again isn't because I lack confidence, but because I promised not to. Got it?"

"Yeah... well, I guess so?"

Siwoo, as if finding it difficult to respond to her heated reaction, trailed off his words.

It was a truly ambiguous answer that could even be seen as sarcastic.

If it were the usual Della, she would have thrown three fits over that alone...

Della only glared with blazing eyes, then swiftly turned her body like a model and began walking her own way.

That retreating figure looked somehow familiar.

It felt like seeing her own retreating figure, filled with dissatisfaction towards Della yet unable to say a word and having to flee.

"What are you doing? We'll miss our reservation."

"Huh? Uh... okay."

Dumbfounded, Sharon, led by Siwoo, blinked and entered the pasta restaurant.

Author's Note (Afterword)

It's a bit later than expected, sorry.

For a while, only one chapter might be uploaded.

I'll try my best to be fully back to normal from next Monday.

Thank you to those who were worried.