City of Witches Chapter 244

The conversation continued until Periwinkle, who had ordered several rounds of digestifs after the meal, was pleasantly tipsy.

Even omitting the parts difficult to put into words, abbreviating and condensing, recounting five years still took quite some time.

Agreeing with Periwinkle's remark that it felt awkward to sit around on a full stomach and a change of scenery was needed, they decided to take a leisurely stroll through the night streets.

"That's interesting."

When Siwoo concluded his grand life story with how he had returned to the Mortal Realm thanks to Count Gemernai's favor, Periwinkle shook her head with a relaxed smile.

She didn't have the bothersome hobby of listening attentively to other people's life stories, but it was a different matter if that person was someone very special.

Hearing about Siwoo's journey—getting caught up in a plane crash, being captured as a slave, and eventually returning to Korea—was decent entertainment.

"You really are special."

"Everyone says something similar. Honestly, it's hard for me to grasp. I'm just me."

"That's probably because you were special from the start. Weren't you a math prodigy from the beginning?"

"Not exactly a prodigy..."

"No need to be overly modest. It's unsightly when mediocre people inflate themselves, but I also dislike excessive modesty because it's frustrating."

Summing up the content of the conversation, by Periwinkle's standards, Siwoo wasn't a particularly interesting man.

He lacked the conversational skills to amuse a woman, and while it was clear he was a good person, he was missing that appropriately bad charm, so to speak.

But that didn't change her original purpose.

Just because he was a bit dull didn't make his face ugly, nor did it erase the fact that he possessed Magnetic Magic and a Spirit Body.

Arriving at the hotel after walking while chatting idly.

In front of the large five-star hotel with the elegantly scrawled 'Periwinkle' logo, Siwoo paused.

He had been so engrossed in conversation that he hadn't noticed, but he realized this had been the original destination all along.

"I feel like we were a bit short on drinks. Let's go in for one more. Will you escort me?"

Periwinkle's soft hand slipped into the crook of Siwoo's arm.

Naturally assuming the position of linking arms, she looked up at him with eyes brimming with curiosity.

Well, he had suspected as much, but he hadn't expected her to be this brazen.

Siwoo resisted the urge to scratch his head.

"You won't say you dislike it, right? Let's go in and talk more, just the two of us. The premium liquors are all upstairs."

Seeing Siwoo stiffen rigidly, Periwinkle didn't pull away but instead poked his side with a finger and clung closer.

Periwinkle Seoul.

A 51-story, five-star hotel containing two large banquet halls, six restaurants, and 320 guest rooms.

The sophisticated interior seemed to reinterpret France's Belle Époque era with a modern sensibility.

The interior finishes in the rooms, which evoked aristocratic dignity rather than the vanity of the nouveau riche, were famous for attracting tourists year-round, with no off-season to be found for 365 days.

From the 1st to the 4th floor, various facilities including the lobby.

From the 5th to the 47th floor, rooms for general guests existed, while

on the top floors—49, 50, and 51—there was a suite spanning an entire floor, created for just one person.

For Kibele Periwinkle, the CEO and owner of the Periwinkle Hotel.

The moment Siwoo stepped out of the private elevator, he froze solid at the sight before him.

Because a glass wall encompassing the full three-story height from floor to high ceiling stood open before him, framing the night view of Myeongdong.

Beyond the glass window was a private rooftop swimming pool so vast it seemed you could hold a swimming competition.

The subtle lighting flowing from within the pool added another halo to the nightscape.

It felt less like a hotel and more like stepping onto the bridge of some starship.

"Wow..."

Even Siwoo, who had developed a resistance to fairly extravagant sights from touring high-end facilities in Gehenna aimed at Witches, couldn't help but let his mouth hang open.

He had spoken softly, but the vast space created an echo-like effect.

Just how much money would you have to pay to stay one night in a place like this?

Three chandeliers dangling from the high ceiling shone brilliantly, adding to the atmosphere.

"Come in, change your shoes into slippers."

Periwinkle watched Siwoo's reaction with apparent satisfaction and shuffled her steps forward.

On the side of the suite was a modern bar decorated as if ready to receive guests.

There was no bartender, but there probably was one normally.

Feeling bewildered, Siwoo followed Periwinkle.

Upon closer look, several suitcases were piled up in one perfectly tidy corner of the suite.

As if she were about to leave at any moment.

"What do you think?"

"It's like another world..."

"Right? I designed it from start to finish."

If you transplanted Gehenna's most luxurious villa to the top of a hotel, it would probably feel roughly like this.

Periwinkle selected a few bottles of wine from the wine shelf behind the bar counter and then lit a cigarette.

As she drew on the filter, a spark flew from the tip and smoke billowed.

"If you're a smoker, you can smoke too. I have air purification systems installed."

"Ah, yes. Thank you."

Siwoo didn't decline and lit a cigarette.

How many chances would he get to smoke inside such an incredible suite?

Sitting side by side, alternating between cigarettes and expensive wine rivaling a salaried worker's annual salary.

Such luxury was unparalleled.

"I saw suitcases piled up earlier. Are you going somewhere?"

It was a question Siwoo threw out to change the subject, as no words were being exchanged otherwise.

"Yeah, I'm planning to leave Korea soon."

"Where are you going?"

"Anywhere, as long as it's not here. You know, right? That unusual things have been happening lately."

"That's true."

He had heard from Sua that dangerous events were unfolding.

About the Cowardly Witch plotting some terrifying scheme.

"Actually, I had my fortune told a few days ago, and the result wasn't very good."

"What was it?"

"That if I stay in Korea, I'll die within a month?"

An entirely unexpected answer came out.

Unlike Siwoo, who froze stiff while trying to drink his wine, Periwinkle calmly emptied her glass and refilled it once more.

Fortune-telling, she said.The fortune she spoke of likely wasn't something casually given by an old man with a street stall discussing couples' birth charts.

Moreover, the fortune stated that Periwinkle, a 20th-rank Great Witch, would die.

One could interpret that as a crisis of that magnitude approaching.

"Did you... see the fortune yourself?"

"Yeah, so I'm trying to avoid it. It's probably going to be chaos because of the Cowardly Witch."

"How accurate is it?"

"For myself, it's rarely off. Why? Want me to read yours too?"

Periwinkle turned her body with a grin, propped her chin, and studied Siwoo intently.

Without even waiting for an answer, Periwinkle snapped her fingers with a tap.

As if by magic, a few cards appeared in her hand.

"I can read your fate. It'd be fun as party entertainment, right?"

Even while knowing an immense calamity was soon to approach.

Periwinkle asked as if discussing someone else's business.

"Let's see..."

She laid out twelve cards and flipped them over in order.

They were about the size of playing cards, but what was drawn inside were unidentified Magic Formulas.

Therefore, Siwoo couldn't begin to guess what they meant.

"Oh my... this is serious."

"Huh, what is it?"

Periwinkle's expression, which until now had seemed detached and aloof from worldly affairs, stiffened sharply.

Siwoo grew tense in turn.

Periwinkle silently examined Siwoo, then smiled faintly.

"I'll tell you if you kiss me."

For all the atmosphere she'd built up, it was a deflating action.

Siwoo's brow furrowed.

There's such a thing as situation and place, but Periwinkle acted freely, seemingly unbound by such things.

It was a personality that could certainly be perceived as charming, but not to Siwoo, who was already serious due to the shocking news.

"Is it related to the Cowardly Witch?"

"Can't tell you that."

"What about the hotel? Are you just going to leave it and go?"

"A collapsed building can just be rebuilt. If I die, it's game over. And from now on, no more probing like that. It's against the rules."

"........."

"Decided? Want to hear it?"

In any case, Siwoo was in no position to refuse Periwinkle's request.

And it was also true that she was attractive enough to feel an instinctive pull.

But for some reason, Sharon's face came to mind.

With her lying unconscious, doing something like this felt akin to cheating and left an uneasy feeling somewhere.

"By the way, you'd really better hear it. For your own sake."

As if noticing Siwoo's troubled expression, Periwinkle licked her upper lip and spoke.

"If going first is hard, should I do it?"

After a moment's hesitation, Siwoo slowly leaned in.

Periwinkle's face drawing closer.

Lip gloss shimmered over her crimson lips.

Even before the kiss began, a scarlet tongue seemed to boast of sweetness through her slightly parted lips.

"Hmm..."

With a sliver of guilt, Siwoo pressed his lips against the soft, plump ones.

Simultaneously, a supple tongue instantly flooded his mouth.

Periwinkle had actively engaged her tongue.

The tongue, slightly cooled by wine, carrying a fragrant grape aroma, quickly grew as hot as body temperature.

"Hmm... smack..."

Close enough to share a lingering kiss, Periwinkle's scent deeply permeated his nostrils.

Simultaneously, lust exploded as if a button had been pressed.

Along with the impulse to pin her down and violate her, his fully erect member.

Siwoo barely clung to his fading reason and pushed Periwinkle away.

Periwinkle's hand had been stealthily creeping up his inner thigh, so if he'd been any slower, he likely wouldn't have been able to control himself.

"Already over? I'm not satisfied yet..."

Periwinkle smacked her lips as if disappointed.

Siwoo steadied his unsettled heart and spoke firmly.

"Tell me as promised."

"This much is a bit disappointing though..."

Trailing off, Periwinkle noticed Siwoo's expression was deadly serious and shrugged her shoulders.

"According to the fortune, you're going to die. Soon."

"Pardon...?"

"Your arm gets cut off and you die. Not sure if it's the right or left one though."

"You're not making this up because I didn't kiss more, are you?"

"Really, 'you're not' indeed."

Periwinkle chuckled and got up from her seat.

Though she said nothing, it seemed like she meant 'follow if you want to hear more,' so Siwoo also stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.

He followed her out to the rooftop pool.

Going to die?

It felt like being hit over the head.

Moreover, Periwinkle's tone was so casual, as if it were nothing serious, which made it all the more confusing.

Would it have been more credible if she had a grave expression like a doctor delivering a terminal diagnosis?

"Why do I die? Why does my arm get cut off? What's the probability?"

"Suddenly turned into a chatterbox."

"No, if I'm going to die soon, how can I just sit still?"

At Siwoo's slightly agitated reaction, Periwinkle waved her hand dismissively.

"Unless it's a fortune about myself, the accuracy isn't that high, so you don't need to take it so seriously."

"In terms of probability, about how much?"

"Fifty-fifty?"

"Isn't that incredibly high?"

Life and death swinging on a 50% chance, and she says it's not a high probability.

Siwoo made a disgusted face.

"And I have the ability to get you out of danger."

Amidst the extreme confusion, it was a statement that made his ears perk up.

Periwinkle looked at Siwoo as if amused, then stepped close.

"Curious? Want me to help?"

"...Yes."

Her finger tapped Siwoo's chest playfully.

"Alright, if you make me happy today, I'll help. You were supposed to play with me for two days anyway, so it's not a bad offer, right?"

In truth, he didn't know if Periwinkle was lying or if she truly had the intention and ability to help.

But as she said, Siwoo was originally meant to be the 'joy-bringer' role, flattering Periwinkle today.

If there's no escape either way, better to face it head-on and do what can be done.

"Then shall we go for a swim? I'll go change into a swimsuit."

"I don't have a swimsuit though?"

"I've prepared one, just follow me."

Saying that, Periwinkle walked away with a swaying gait, her hips swishing.

Author's Note (Author's Afterword)

Splish splash