City of Witches Chapter 232

"Let's review everything you've learned up to today. Give it your all, squeezing out every last bit of strength."

Today's sparring session also lasted a full 12 hours.

Unlike the times when he sparred relying solely on the durability of his Spirit Body with his bare body, this was possible because his stamina had increased significantly through Body Enhancement.

Even so, the grueling training conducted without rest had drained Siwoo dry.

Even now, his breath was caught in his throat, his disheveled hair and sweat soaking his entire body, along with muscle pain, tormented him.

This is the last one.

He knows he can't win.

But after all this hardship, wouldn't you want to see at least a flustered expression on the duke's face?

Siwoo exhaled a puhu.

The heated breath that had been surging out vanished along with the feverish heat in his head.

His body, which had been unnecessarily tense, relaxed, yet at the same time, it finished preparing to spring forth like a tightly drawn bowstring.

-Tat!

Siwoo pictured an image in his mind.

His own mental image, closing the distance like a shot arrow, like the wind.

His body, enhanced by magic power, showed perfect synchronization with the scenery in his mind as he dashed forward.

In his rapidly narrowing field of vision, he saw Eloa standing facing him.

His concentration, pushed to the limit, allowed him to see every detail of her appearance as if it had been photographed.

Just like usual, her training pants, the windbreaker worn for ease of movement with its zipper open, revealing the white sports bra underneath—everything.

But what Siwoo focused on was her overall movement.

No matter how skilled Eloa was, she needed preliminary movements to show any action.

Pulling her back foot slightly back, extending her arm forward, and so on.

He would combine these small clues to predict her next move.

"Hap!"

A fist thrust out with a shout.

Siwoo's fist, extended in a trajectory close to a straight punch, already contained the subtlety of Foot Technique.

Even for Eloa, getting hit in the stomach would cause a significant injury.

Yet, Siwoo did not hesitate.

He had made attacks more dangerous than this several times.

He was confident Eloa would definitely block it.

Not betraying that expectation, Eloa burrowed into Siwoo's embrace as if pushing her small frame into him.

Eloa's hand coiled around Siwoo's arm, which had thrown the straight punch, like a snake.

Following that, she rotated slightly within his embrace, and the leg that had been running while pushing off the ground was suddenly hooked by Eloa's foot, causing him to lose balance as his center of gravity instantly shifted forward.

"Hueup!"

Under normal circumstances, he would have tumbled to the floor like this.

But Siwoo grabbed Eloa's shoulder firmly and pulled his center of gravity backward to counter the throw.

It was a desperate resistance, almost like a reverse motion, placing an immense load on his waist.

However, he barely managed to avoid being thrown.

"Oh-ho?"

Eloa's laugh, sounding pleased.

It was the first time Siwoo, who had been tossed around all day, had resisted to this extent.

Although it was just resisting the technique with brute force, regardless, such resistance was only possible because he had anticipated Eloa's counterattack.

Ultimately, Eloa, who had tried to throw him, and Siwoo, who looked as if he was hugging her from behind.

In that very posture, a contest of strength continued between the two.

In truth, Eloa knew numerous ways to escape this situation.

However, since it was the first time they had become deadlocked this closely, she thought it wouldn't be bad to see what technique Siwoo had been trying all day.

"What will you do in a situation like this?"

Siwoo, who had been grunting and solely focused on somehow toppling Eloa, snapped to attention at her words.

And he immediately realized.

That the two of them were pressed extremely close together right now.

Eloa was still holding onto Siwoo's arm, so he couldn't shake her off.

They were in a situation where each was holding onto the other.

"Uh... Duke?"

"The sparring isn't over yet. Even if there's no room to move, if you recall well what you've learned, there will surely be a way to break free. Strictly speaking, this is the first time you've taken my back."

The words 'That's not the important thing...' rose to the tip of his tongue.

This was a first-class crisis situation.

Because Eloa's pink hair, swaying gently, was positioned right under his chin.

Based on experience, Siwoo gets an erection when he smells a Witch's body scent.

Among those, the crown of the head is a particularly dangerous area since it's a place where the body scent is strong.

To make matters worse, Siwoo's crotch was tightly pressed against the area around Eloa's lower back.

If it grows, he'll be caught immediately.

This was not a situation to discuss 'what attack to make when you've comfortably taken the opponent's back.'

But...

He needed to say something and break free,

Even though he knew staying attached any longer was dangerous,

Siwoo's reason, already panting heavily and inhaling Eloa's body scent to the fullest, was dyed pink.

Eloa's nape, slightly beaded with sweat.

The round, elastic buttocks felt against his thigh.

Seeing and feeling all that, and smelling the full fragrance of the hair rubbing right before his nose, his head grew hazy.

As if hypnotized, he was about to hug her from behind.

"Hmm...?"

Eloa tilted her head.

She felt the strength drain from Siwoo, who had been struggling behind her.

The breath blowing near her ear like a breeze was so intense she wondered, 'Was it always this rough?'

A moment later, Eloa felt a hard object pressing warmly against her back.

He, like Eloa, was dressed in comfortable training clothes.

Also, one of Siwoo's hands was held by Eloa, and his other hand was wrapped around Eloa's nape as if he himself was attempting a rear naked choke.

Suddenly, the scene of Siwoo's spirit thread she had seen once before, the scenery of that room filled with the beast's heat, came to mind.

And the thick, substantial spear of meat that extended from between his legs, penetrating a woman's secret hidden desire.

Eloa intuited.

The identity of this hard object she felt against her waist was...

"Euk...!"

Eloa's hair stood on end like a cat thrown into hot water, and she released Siwoo's arm, twisted her body sideways, and pulled away to escape.

Even though Eloa had never run away first from any formidable foe, this case was an exception.

"Ah..."

As Eloa moved far away, her body scent also grew distant.

Naturally, the abnormally heated lust also calmed down as if cold water had been poured on it.

I'm screwed.During a sacred sparring session, a disciple whose body made contact got excited and started rubbing his erect cock?

Considering Eloa's rigid and strict personality, it was already terrifying to imagine what expression she would have while looking at Siwoo.

There was no room for excuses.

Even if he tried to explain, he had no confidence he could convince her.

If there was any small mercy, it was that Eloa didn't immediately glare at Siwoo with a contemptuous gaze.

Instead, her eyes were opened as wide as they could possibly go, and her chin was trembling uncontrollably.

"You..."

That shocked reaction meant she had noticed everything.

Siwoo silently awaited punishment.

Wanting to see Eloa's flustered expression didn't mean he wanted this...

No.

It's late, but I should at least bow my head.

Just as Siwoo was about to prostrate himself and apologize for the disgraceful incident, Eloa spoke first.

"You seem quite exhausted. Seeing that you couldn't even muster your strength properly."

Unexpectedly, Eloa did not reprimand Siwoo.

She didn't even bring up what had just happened.

"I think I may have pushed you too hard. It would be best to end today's sparring here."

"I'm sorry. I can explain everything."

"No, I know you did your best. Hmm... so... don't worry too much and get some rest for tomorrow."

For a very brief moment, hearing Eloa's words, he harbored the futile hope, 'Maybe she didn't notice?'

But no matter how much he tried to rationalize it, that was the reaction of someone who had noticed Siwoo's steel-hard dick pressing firmly against her back.

It was an atmosphere akin to when a mother catches her child masturbating and awkwardly says, 'What were you doing? Stop playing games and come out,' before leaving.

A voice faintly trembling with embarrassment.

Eyes wandering aimlessly.

Gestures that seemed desperate to leave the place as soon as possible were proof enough.

"Well, you worked hard again today. See you tomorrow."

Eloa swiftly withdrew the Hidden Boundary and descended from the rooftop with creaking steps, like a broken wooden puppet.

There was no time to stop her, nor any chance to add anything.

Siwoo could only stare blankly at her retreating back.

"You're back? Sorry, I was so focused I didn't even notice you coming."

Opening the door, he saw Sharon, with a computer on one side and a notebook open on the other, diligently writing something down.

Lately, Sharon had been studying various stocks and real estate to diligently grow her seed money.

From what he heard, she apparently had unexpected talent and was making a tidy profit.

Well, Witches were all practically geniuses anyway, so if they turned their minds to making money, amassing a fortune probably wouldn't be too difficult.

The reason Sharon had been struggling in poverty until now was because any money she earned was snatched away before she could even think of investing it.

"Come here, let me give you a hug for the first time in 12 hours."

As usual, Sharon got up from her seat to hug Siwoo, who had returned from his grueling training, but she was startled by his half-dead expression.

"Wh-what? What happened?"

"No, it's nothing."

"What is it?"

Siwoo stared intently at Sharon's face.

There was a time when he had secretly found her cute when she was half-naked and embarrassed while greeting Duke Tiferet.

He sincerely regretted his actions back then.

"Sharon, remember?"

"Remember what?"

"That time before, when we got caught for various things. I'm sorry I couldn't sincerely empathize with you back then."

"Wh-why are you bringing that up all of a sudden! Did the Duke say something?"

Sharon jumped up with a reaction bordering on panic.

Even though time had passed, it seemed the wound in her heart still remained.

The wound left in his own heart now probably wouldn't heal for a long time either.

His solar plexus ached.

He understood now what Sharon meant when she said it felt like her stomach was twisting.

"No, just... it suddenly came to mind."

He didn't know how he was going to face Eloa tomorrow either.

He could explain the circumstances if he had to, but bringing up that story again would probably be an ordeal in itself.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to take a few days off from training starting now...

"All of a sudden, my foot! What is it? What is it!"

While he was lost in his own thoughts, Sharon, looking half on the verge of tears, was anxiously fidgeting.

"No, the Duke hasn't asked about anything since that day. Doesn't seem particularly bothered either."

"Really? Truly? Swear it?"

"I solemnly swear. But does it even mean anything if I swear?"

"I have to believe you. You're not a liar anyway. What a relief... I aged ten years! Seriously."

Sharon threw herself at Siwoo, hugging him tightly and rubbing her cheek against his chest.

No matter how many times he told her not to do it because it was dirty, she never listened.

Anyway, it was an exhausting day.

While humans are adaptable animals and he had gotten used to the grueling training schedule, the psychological damage was so great that he felt he needed recuperation.

"Oh, right. Siwoo, so are you resting today?"

"Resting?"

"We have... that hunting day today, you know. I even made a reservation on the app..."

Sharon said, glancing at him furtively.

Come to think of it, he had forgotten.

Today was the Homunculus search day, which happened once every three days.

After the catastrophe summoned by 'Dagon's Flute,' things had quieted down temporarily, but the two of them still searched for Homunculi around Hongdae and Sinchon.

Neither of them wanted people to die because of Homunculi, and above all, it was essential work as it was a source of income for Sharon.

Although they hadn't encountered a single Homunculus since hunting the mother dog.

As for what Sharon meant by 'reservation,' it meant she had booked a hotel for them to stay at together after the hunt.

Eloa was staying in the apartment below, and the music box couldn't completely block the Wavelength of Magical Power.

Given that, having sex at home like before would be no different from sending a notification text to Tiferet saying, 'We had sex! We just did it!' So they had compromised by spending a cozy night at a nearby hotel.

"Hmm..."

Honestly, he wanted to rest today.

But seeing Sharon, brimming with anticipation and waving her phone, that feeling vanished.

"Get ready. I'll just change my clothes and come out too."

"Okay! I'm already all prepared!"After finishing their preparations, Siwoo and Sharon stepped out into the night streets for the first time in a while.

A Word from the Author (Author's Note)

Thump!