City of Witches Chapter 205

Duke Eloa Tiferet.

A hundred years ago, he lost his apprentice witch to the Witch of Aquarius.

He created the Witch Point.

I had heard quite a bit about her from Sharon, but this was the first time I was having a proper conversation with her like this.

What we exchanged at the mall today was too one-sided to be called a conversation.

Perhaps because of that, I could observe her a little more closely.

Pink hair I had never seen before, even in Gehenna where every hair color exists.

Walking around the Shinchon and Hongdae areas, you occasionally see people who bleach their hair completely and then dye it that pink color, but I could say with certainty.

That no one would suit that hair as well as Tiferet.

Tightly sealed lips and solemn, neatly shaped eyebrows.

And perhaps because of her uniquely serious atmosphere, I had thought she was quite a mature person until now, but she's smaller in stature than I expected.

A bit taller than the Twins and slightly shorter than Amelia?

Especially because of her eye and hair color, she tended to look a bit younger.

I know it's an evaluation completely out of place for the situation, but she is beautiful nonetheless.

Should I call it a surreal beauty?

I was waiting for what question would fly out when those tightly sealed, petal-like lips opened, but there was no word for a long time.

"Ah, should I ask first?"

"That's right. My explanation was insufficient."

Siwoo opened his mouth without hesitation.

Beautiful is beautiful.

This much, I wanted to ask even if it made me angry.

"I understand there was a misunderstanding, but isn't it too much to attack outright? Moreover, not just me, but others got involved too. Even if I could be considered suspicious given the circumstances, attacking the witch beside me... Why did you do that?"

When the initial bewilderment of facing her subsided and I had time to think calmly, a sudden complaint sprang out.

Let's say it was an unavoidable misunderstanding since Siwoo was using the Ribbon and at the time was covered head to toe in armor.

But what wrong had Sharon done to deserve such rough treatment?

"....Whether it's a misunderstanding or not, we can find out from now on. And the suspicion remains that you are Ea Sadalmelik herself, or someone connected to her. It hasn't changed even now. As for that witch, I merely restrained her because I thought she could be a third party disguised as an interferer or an accomplice."

"So, you were planning to harm Sharon... no, that green-haired witch earlier if necessary?"

A duke who lost a precious person and roams the Mortal Realm for revenge could have his eyes clouded.

Siwoo could make allowances for that much.

After all, it hurt for a moment, but his body had fully recovered and he hadn't suffered any particular psychological shock.

But he had seen Sharon looking sad.

He had no intention of forgiving that so readily.

"One question at a time."

"Ask whatever you like."

"........."

Tiferet quietly fell silent at Siwoo's words tinged with reproach, then continued.

Siwoo also cooled his head, which had been heated with excitement, and crossed his arms.

It seemed nothing good would come from letting emotions run any further.

"What is your relationship with Ea Sadalmelik?"

"A fucking bitch. That bad bitch barged in and gouged out my eyeball. I almost died from the head injury then too."

It was an immediate answer.

In truth, Siwoo's feelings toward Ea were the epitome of loathing.

She was the one who had murdered several witches and apprentice witches, which alone would evoke a physiological disgust, and she had gleefully dug her thumb into his eyeball.

Just thinking of her face rekindled the pain he felt then.

As Siwoo's sharply cutting words ended, one of the three glowing characters flickered and went out.

Tiferet looked at the character with trembling eyes.

Because they had exchanged one question and answer, and it proved that there was no falsehood in that exchange.

She was confused.

Siwoo's question again.

"The same question as before. Were you planning to injure Sharon at that spot too?"

"....I am not that reckless. I intended to frighten her somewhat to make her reveal the truth, but..."

"And you torment her like that for that? Do you know how much she cried after coming home?"

"........"

"Anyway, I have nothing more to ask. Please ask the rest."

Eloa, who seemed to be on the receiving end of pressure, being pushed back.

Her earlier dignified demeanor was gone, and she looked very deflated.

"...Then, why do you use Sadal Melik's and my apprentice witch's innate magic?"

"I don't know."

"What?"

"I really don't know. When I woke up months after collapsing, the Brand was naturally engraved. More than anything, I only learned today that your apprentice witch's innate magic is within me. Until now, I hadn't even figured out what magic that was in my Brand."

"........"

Siwoo went on to say things he hadn't even been asked.

No matter how displeasing the duke's attitude or behavior might be, she was a formidable opponent to leave resentment with.

He wanted to clear up all possible misunderstandings while he had the chance.

The duke swiftly turned her head to look at the characters of the Contract floating around.

This time too, one of the glowing characters disappeared.

It meant his words were true.

This Contract creates a space where falsehood is impossible.

And its restraining power is immense.

A powerful mechanism is in place that fundamentally blocks cleverly twisted words, plausible deceptions, and tricks like 'I didn't tell a lie.'

In other words, he is purely hostile toward Ea and doesn't know why he wields two types of innate magic.

The problem is that this isn't a perfect explanation.

If he had explained how he obtained the magic, that would be one thing, but 'I don't remember'?

It's an ambiguous answer that can be seen as either innocent or suspicious... depending on the perspective.

"Lastly... do you still suspect me?"

Siwoo asked, swallowing hard.

As he answered, Siwoo also felt that how Duke Tiferet received this answer depended on her state of mind.

She made a deeply confused expression, then replied.

"I don't know... I truly don't know."

Eloa had encountered many types of people until now.

Evil rotten to the core.

Good born to serve others.

Neutral, compromising appropriately depending on the situation, and so on.

She could read a person's innate disposition like a palm reading from just a few words of conversation.

And according to various situational judgments, Siwoo was an extremely good man.Getting angry on behalf of a friend who was almost hurt, even more than for oneself.

Being unanimously described by those around as someone who would never do anything bad.

Add his confession to that, and the scales tip more toward him being a kind-hearted victim caught up in events rather than someone with ulterior motives.

"Let's proceed to the final question."

"Siwoo? Why is it taking so long?"

While I was pondering what to say, the rooftop door opened and someone entered.

It was the Witch I had encountered on the mall rooftop today, the one who had tearfully handed me a card while begging me to save Siwoo.

"Wh-what! You, you came again?"

Her face stiffened the moment she spotted Eloa.

She hurriedly raised her Wand and hid Siwoo behind her.

Even though she must know she's no match after clashing once before, she shows hostility as if trying to protect him.

"Siwoo! Run away quickly! I'll handle this!"

"........."

"........."

Sharon had mistaken that Eloa had come again to kill Siwoo.

But as the two stood there blankly without any reaction, she whipped her head back and forth, looking alternately at Siwoo and Eloa.

Then, she quietly dismissed her Wand.

"Wh-what's going on? This isn't it?"

"Uh... well, it seems it's not that."

Eloa looked at Siwoo with a resolute gaze.

The Contract characters floating around her were sucked into her sword and disappeared.

There was nothing more to ask.

"My apologies."

Before they could even react, Eloa knelt before the two of them.

They say a person's usual conduct and actions are best understood through the evaluations of those around them, not the person themselves.

If it were just his words, there would still be many suspicious aspects and parts hard to believe.

But when not just one, but four people desperately defended him, a conclusion could be reached.

This man likely has no connection to Ea.

Even if there is a connection, it is not one of complicity or partnership; he is merely a thorough victim.

"I deeply apologize for persecuting you without even learning the detailed circumstances. I also do not know how to beg forgiveness for the part where I tried to drag the other person beside you into this without cause."

But Eloa did not stop there; she bowed her head until her forehead touched the floor.

Her flowing hair fanned out across the floor.

"I am ashamed... words fail me... May I be permitted to offer suitable compensation?"

"Y-you don't have to go this far..."

"I, I'm fine now too..."

Both Siwoo and Sharon were flustered, not knowing what to do.

Siwoo hadn't harbored such bad feelings toward Eloa from the start.

It had been incredibly painful, and he was indignant that Sharon had been dragged into it, but Eloa's actions up to now had been more humane than any other Witch.

And Sharon felt the same.

Anyone can suffer from losing a precious person.

But her righteous actions—spending her entire fortune and risking her life to capture the Homunculus and the public enemy to prevent such things from happening again to people she didn't even know—were truly praiseworthy.

For such a Duke to kneel and apologize, even if it was a misunderstanding...

It became impossible to hold any more resentment.

"Please get up. The misunderstanding is cleared, and I've received your apology, so it's really fine now."

"I am truly sorry. Please let me stay like this."

Siwoo bent down to help Eloa up, but she didn't budge from the floor.

I don't know why she's so strong.

When Siwoo signaled with his eyes to Sharon, she hurried over and joined in.

"Duke Tiferet, please lift your head. What happened today was really, really infuriating and upsetting, but I forgive you too."

Only after Sharon helped her up did Eloa raise her head.

Both Siwoo and Sharon were startled.

It was because of the tears welling up and gathering in the eyes of Eloa, who had seemed so solemn and strong.

Her voice hadn't trembled at all, so they had no idea.

"It was my fault, all due to my shortcomings and foolishness... Using a loved one as a hostage for a scheme is something I can never apologize enough for."

"A l-loved one..."

A flustered Sharon.

She hesitated for a moment, then knelt facing Eloa.

Then, she reached out her arms and pulled her into an embrace.

Eloa's body was trembling.

Is this okay...?

As someone who knew her sad past, she wanted to offer even this insignificant comfort.

"It's okay, don't cry. Anyone can make mistakes."

"I'm sorry... I'm truly sorry... I did something I should never have done..."

"Ah, come on, I said it's okay..."

Before they knew it, Sharon's eyes were also glistening with tears as she gently stroked Eloa's head.

The hearing that had abruptly begun concluded with a scene resembling a family reunion.

Author's Note (Afterword)

Today I received rough sketches of the Twins and Sharon from the illustrator.

They're seriously so pretty lol.