City of Witches Chapter 212

It felt refreshingly new.

The life of a bottom-dweller in Gehenna.

It seemed like just yesterday I was shoveling out the drainage ditches of Trinity Academy in the autumn rain.

And now here I am, tilting a coffee cup alongside a high-ranking noble who, in the past, I would have feared might have me dragged away for the crime of disrespect just for looking them in the eye.

Of course, it's still hard to say we're on equal footing, but still, this is something, isn't it?

"My apologies."

Tiferet began with a lengthy apology as soon as he took his seat.

He apologized to Siwoo, of course, and then bowed his head deeply once more to Sharon.

"Not at all. Thanks to Duke Tiferet providing the Public Attestation, things have become much safer for me in the Mortal Realm."

"However..."

"Tiferet, it doesn't seem like the conversation will progress if we continue like this, so let's leave it at that. I believe both Mr. Siwoo and Ms. Sharon understand. Besides, the reason you asked to arrange this meeting was because you wanted to compensate Mr. Siwoo, wasn't it?"

"Right."

Tiferet nodded slowly at Deneb's words.

Then, with a serious gaze, he stared intently at Siwoo's face.

In that moment, Siwoo was taken aback.

Because he sensed an inexplicably deep and complex emotion in Eloa's eyes.

It was difficult to call it suspicion.

Longing, faintness, regret.

It was a gaze tangled with such feelings.

"To my shame, I possess no wealth suitable for compensation."

Originally, Eloa, as befits a duke of ancient lineage, held vast assets.

But that, too, is a story from a very distant past, over a hundred years ago now.

The wealth of the Witch 'Tiferet' had all been drained away as bounty for Witch Points, and since then, all funds earned had been reinvested into hunting public enemies and Homunculi.

"If it's about the compensation matter, it's fine. It was a situation anyone could have misunderstood, and I received a proper apology yesterday."

"Yes, I'm fine too. Any Witch would understand the Duke's feelings."

Knowing this, neither Siwoo nor Sharon harbored any desire to receive more from the Duke.

Especially Sharon, who, thanks to Eloa's actions, had gained the courage to become close to Siwoo in an instant, felt not a trace of lingering resentment.

Speaking from a results-oriented perspective, she even felt a small sense of gratitude.

"However, I am also reluctant to simply leave you be in the Mortal Realm. No matter how authoritative the Public Attestations from myself, Gemernai, and Branch Chief Sua may be, they do not guarantee absolute safety."

That's true.

Even in South Korea, known for its good public safety, murders occur.

Despite most crimes being apprehended and punished.

Similarly, no matter how authoritative the attestations of three Witches might be, there could still be plenty of Witches willing to take the risk and approach Siwoo.

If they think, 'It's fine as long as I don't get caught,' or 'I just can't resist!', and approach him anyway, the effectiveness of the Public Attestation becomes meaningless at that point.

It didn't mean the attestation protected Siwoo 24/7 by his side.

"That's true."

"You may have heard from Deneb, but the innate magic you use is the 'Contract of the King of All Maladies'.

It's the one used by Raphi, who was my Apprentice Witch. It's a Contract that allows one to realize and execute the optimal move, no matter what weapon is in hand."

Siwoo felt oddly self-conscious.

Eloa said it was fine, and Siwoo also didn't know why he had that Contract, but he felt like he was holding onto a keepsake of a disciple that had somehow ended up in his pocket.

Moreover, this wasn't something he could even return to its original owner.

"No need to make such a face. We're discussing a fact that can no longer be changed, aren't we?"

"Still, I feel sorry for no reason..."

"It's fine."

Tiferet took a sip of coffee and spoke again.

"Anyway, what you need most is to fully internalize and utilize that Contract. If you master just that perfectly, you shouldn't be helplessly defeated by most ordinary Witches."

"Are you saying..."

"I will assist with your training."

Siwoo was only mildly surprised, but Sharon's reaction was different.

Both seemed stunned, covering their mouths as if they never expected Duke Tiferet to go that far.

In terms of magic combat, Tiferet's capabilities are beyond imagination.

Historically, successive Tiferets have founded various martial arts and schools, earning renown as masters of their generation.

Combat skills learned from such a Tiferet would be invaluable training, impossible to obtain even with money.

"If you would do that, I would be truly grateful."

Siwoo had planned to decline out of politeness in most situations, but this time was different.

He shamelessly, even if superficially, accepted Eloa's offer without hesitation.

Witnessing the recent battle with the White Knight and the mass slaughter at the department store had given him a realization.

It was a kind of stimulus, a feeling that he couldn't continue living aimlessly and passively.

He was no longer a slave like before.

No longer that powerless existence who would rejoice or despair over whether a piece of bread was hard or soft,

whom anyone could order around for menial tasks,

who could only barely save others by sacrificing his own life.

Now, Siwoo had power.

Not just the ability to desperately preserve his own life, but the power to save others.

And to do that, he felt the need to further refine and hone his own strength, which was precisely why this offer came at the right time.

"I don't consider myself a particularly great person. Still, if something like this happens again in the future, I want to see a better outcome than now."

Hearing Siwoo's resolute will, Eloa momentarily froze, dumbfounded.

Was it merely a coincidence?

Or was it the unconsciousness latent within Raphi's 'Vessel' being projected?

I want to become stronger to protect others.

Siwoo's words were exactly the same as what Raphi used to say like a habit.

Eloa closed his eyes briefly.

Then, without hiding anything, he confessed his entire state of mind honestly.

"To be frank, I do not yet trust you completely."

Yesterday's conversation did not reveal a transparent truth.

Everything merely returned to being suspicions.

What Tiferet believed in was not objective facts, but the subjective element of Siwoo's character.

"I'm not saying you harbor malicious intent. My sincere belief is that when the opponent is Ea Sadalmelik, no variable should be taken lightly."

There were two reasons Tiferet was volunteering to act as Siwoo's temporary teacher.

One was to help him develop the ability to be self-sufficient, as a form of apology.The other reason was perhaps a faint hope that he might serve as bait to lure out Ea.

"Of course, I will sincerely help your abilities bloom. However, that teaching will also strictly serve as surveillance. If you do not wish for that, I shall prepare a different form of compensation."

Siwoo actually felt trust as he watched Eloa speak while looking at him with unwavering eyes.

In truth, Eloa didn't need to say anything.

Siwoo had already revealed that he wanted to receive her instruction immediately.

If Eloa had just kept her mouth shut, she could have easily achieved what she wanted.

The meaning was that there was no need to bring up words with negative connotations like 'surveillance' and reveal her true intentions.

But Eloa refused to conveniently achieve her goal by just going along with the atmosphere.

She showed all the cards she had been hiding to her opponent.

Because that was the right thing to do.

Deception or sinister ulterior motives were things too far removed from Tiferet's ideology.

This thought might be truly rude, but Siwoo felt he could guess why Tiferet had let Ea slip away time and again.

"Yes, that's fine."

Siwoo nodded without hesitation.

Thus, Siwoo and Tiferet entered a temporary master-disciple relationship.

Since not all problems were resolved yet, Tiferet excused herself, promising to continue another time.

Deneb woke the Twins and began preparations to return to Gehenna.

"You're going back after all?"

"Yes, with this commotion, leaving the kids here... it's not that I don't trust you, Siwoo, but it's dangerous."

"That's true."

"Thank you for taking good care of them until now."

"Not at all. I enjoyed it too."

As the departure was much earlier than the scheduled date, the Twins' cheeks were puffed up and their mouths were sticking out a mile.

Their hands packing their travel bags were very rough.

Especially Odil was almost at the level of having a tearful face.

"Master, can't you stay a little longer?"

"We haven't done much with Assistant yet..."

"The situation is what it is. Stop being petulant and hurry up and pack your things."

Moping around.

The Twins packed their bags slowly, with expressions that said they really didn't want to do it even if they died.

Deneb, who sighed watching that, asked Siwoo.

"By any chance, could you visit our mansion in the near future?"

"Huh?"

"Soon, your official Citizen Card and travel permit will be issued. That means you can come and go to Gehenna freely like other Witches.

Since bringing the Twins outside every time also seems risky... If you were to visit once, I'd like to receive you as an honored guest. As an additional thank you for this matter as well."

"Assistant is coming to the mansion?"

"Really?"

The Twins, who popped out of the room as if asking when they were ever sulky.

It seems they were pretending not to listen but heard everything they needed to hear.

"If Assistant comes to our house, I'll make horned chicken stew for you! I got to eat a lot too!"

"I'll make focaccia for you too!"

"Focaccia is just white bread with nuts and honey sprinkled on it!"

"The horned chicken stew you're talking about, Lena does all the ingredient prep and stuffing! You just put it in the Dutch oven!"

"Odile Odette, can't you please just get along peacefully for one day?"

Deneb and Siwoo smiled wryly in unison.

It was a moment of mutual empathy for each other's hardships.

"You must have a hard time."

"What do you mean, they're so cute that it's fun to teach them."

Once all preparations were complete, Odil and Odette exchanged final farewells with Siwoo, and then with Sharon.

"We couldn't stay long, but it was fun. Unnie."

"Next time, let's play while talking a bit more."

"Yeah, for me too, it was fun, like I suddenly gained cute... pretty younger sisters."

Sharon stroked Odil and Odette's heads side by side.

Next was Siwoo's turn.

The Twins each spread their arms and gave Siwoo a big hug.

Siwoo was startled and glanced at Deneb, but she didn't seem to mind much.

Should it be said that he was more accepted than before?

Anyway, the atmosphere was such that a hug was tolerated.

Of course, no one could guarantee anything beyond that.

"Assistant, you must! Must! come? I'd like you to come before Thanksgiving."

"That's too late! You should come at least a month later!"

"Yes, as soon as my Citizen Card comes out, I'll come to see you."

Finally, after hugging the Twins, Siwoo quietly asked Deneb.

"Before you leave, may I ask just one thing?"

"Yes, please feel free."

"How has... Baron Marigold been doing lately?"

At Siwoo's words, Deneb's expression became one of seeming to understand and yet not.

It seemed like an expression asking 'Why are you asking something like that?' and also like an expression saying 'Don't you know better than I do?'

"When I last saw him, he was the usual Baron. That includes him secluding himself in that cabin again."

"I see..."

So that's how it turned out.

Siwoo fell silent for a moment, feeling an indescribable emotion.

What should this be called...

Yes, it seems like the feeling that best fits the expression 'all mixed up'.

"It's personal curiosity, but what was written on the note he entrusted to me.... No, it was an impertinent question."

"Not at all. You went to the trouble of delivering the note."

The conversation, which had been awkwardly cut off for a moment, continued with Deneb's faint smile.

Unlike her slightly troubled expression earlier, her eyes held a wise look, as if she had seen through the essence of the matter.

"Siwoo, you seem to be quite popular."

"Huh?"

"I think if I had met you a little sooner, I might have become interested too."

"What are you suddenly saying..."

"I wonder if it's right to give this advice for the Twins' sake, but..."

Deneb bent down to Siwoo's ear and whispered.

"Sometimes, women wish to be hugged without any words. Especially the more inexperienced they are in relationships."

"Huh?"

It was something Siwoo absolutely couldn't understand.

It wasn't so much that the meaning of Deneb's words themselves were incomprehensible, but more that they were hard to accept...

Deneb, who unilaterally ended the conversation, winked and then led the Twins away.

"Alright, let's go home, you troublemakers."

Author's Note (Afterword)

Going to sleep now...