City of Witches Chapter 262

Siwoo was not excited.

He did not shout in the joy of victory or jump around wildly.

He simply felt the sensation lingering at his fingertips.

His heart was still pounding.

Within a faint thrill, the feeling of his hand slicing through metal like paper remained.

He was left with only those two feelings, standing alone on the night street.

The sensation as if the sword he had been holding had disappeared.

No, perhaps the expression 'as if it had become one' was more fitting?

What he had known in his head, what he had only felt instinctively, seemed to have broken through fixed notions and manifested directly as a bodily memory, sending a thrill through him even now, the moment the fight ended.

A movement without any excess, clean and precise.

That was not Siwoo's own, unique movement.

It was merely drawing out 'someone's talent' that had been slumbering within the Contract of the King of Maladies.

"Siwoo!"

While he was lost in the afterglow, recalling the clean, decisive strike that had defeated the enemy, Eloa came running.

Then, stopping in front of Siwoo, she began to rejoice as if it were her own achievement.

"Splendid, truly splendid. You performed everything you've learned so far perfectly."

To the current Eloa, how Della had ended up in this state,

why the White Knight had been pursuing such a Della—such things seemed of little interest.

She was simply overjoyed at Siwoo's accomplishment and growth.

"You see, you can do it if you try, can't you?"

"That's right."

The reality hit him belatedly.

It was the sense of achievement from having cleanly cut down five formidable opponents who, until just a short while ago, would have been tough to handle even one-on-one.

Even if it hadn't been five, even if the number had been greater, he felt he could have defeated them all.

"Come here."

Eloa stretched her hand upward.

Wondering what this was about, Siwoo looked at her, and Eloa, who seemed even more excited than him, urged him impatiently.

"Lower your knees a bit."

"Like this?"

"That's right."

Eloa's hand stroked Siwoo's head, his helmet now removed.

Was this her form of reward?

Siwoo felt both bewildered and awkward, but seeing her beaming smile, he didn't feel like stopping her.

"I must have sweated a lot..."

"It's fine, it's not like it's something dirty. Come here, I need to praise you more generously."

However, when it continued for over a minute, he thought he should put a stop to it.

"Master, that's important too, but shouldn't we transport the one from Redcliff over there first..."

Siwoo pointed with his hand towards Della, who was still collapsed on the ground.

Eloa seemed to come to her senses belatedly, taking a sharp, empty breath.

"Ah, I forgot."

Being a Witch, it wasn't a severe enough injury to be fatal.

Conversely, if she had been human, it would have been an injury severe enough to say she was soaking her feet in the river of the afterlife.

Siwoo, lifting Della up in Eloa's stead now that she had regained her senses.

The two headed straight for the Witch Point.

As it was an ambiguous time of day, the Witch Point was quiet.

Having received prior notice, Branch Chief Sua had finished preparing for treatment, so Della could receive emergency care immediately.

Due to the severe injuries all over her body requiring all her clothes to be removed, Siwoo waited outside for a while.

Meanwhile, Sua and Eloa conversed alone inside the branch chief's office.

"Hoo, it's a severe state. It's been a while since I've seen injuries of this degree."

On Della's body lying on the bed, numerous gold and silver needles were densely embedded.

Beneath them, a Magic Circle in the shape of a cross flickered with a faint light.

"How is her condition?"

"Visually, the injuries are severe, but the situation is not as bad as it looks. Seeing that there are no necrotic or dysfunctional organs, it seems the Cowardly Witch took appropriate measures."

The terrible penetrating wounds and burn marks, seemingly cauterized to stop bleeding, made her condition appear extremely poor, but what's more important for healing is the state inside the Spirit Body.

In that sense, Della was in a better situation than Sharon had been previously.

It was as if a torture technician with professional skills had tortured her in a way that minimized impact on her life, so to speak?

None of her limbs were severed, and above all, it was fortunate that her organs weren't severely damaged due to things like magic power contamination.

She would probably be able to get up and move around completely in about a week.

It seemed possible for her to regain consciousness even within today.

"If Redcliff was detained by the Sotchel, there's a high possibility she knows what scheme they are plotting. Conversely, she might have been secretly cooperating with the Cowardly Witch."

"Yes, it appears the young lady will recover enough to be interrogated as quickly as possible."

Sua, having finished adjusting her sleeve after removing a gold needle, asked Eloa.

"Noble Lord, could you inform me of the circumstances when you encountered the Witch of Embers?"

"No trouble at all."

Eloa explained the situation where, after finishing training with Siwoo and while driving, they suddenly came across Della.

Though 'came across' isn't quite right; 'ran over with the car' would be a more fitting expression.

Anyway, the five White Knights that appeared afterward.

And Siwoo's appearance, having splendidly defeated them.

"It was truly a magnificent strike. Isn't it amazing? Even if he inherited part of a Contract, he's a child who hasn't even been training seriously for half a year. To show this level of achievement in such a short time."

"Is that so?"

"It was like seeing Raphi. Truly commendable. Teacher Sua, it would have been good if you had seen that..."

"It is truly a fortunate matter."

Sua smiled faintly at Eloa, who was chattering on and on about Siwoo's feat.

It was evident that a great danger would be approaching before long.

However, seeing Tiferet, who had been wandering gloomily in search of life's purpose, showing such a lively, childlike demeanor was truly a first in a long time, so Branch Chief Sua could also forget her worries and smile for a moment.

After continuing to boast about Siwoo for quite a while longer, Eloa, as if coming to her senses, awkwardly rubbed her cheek with the back of her hand.

"I showed an unsightly appearance. My apologies."

"Not at all. Seeing the Noble Lord so happy, this young lady is also overjoyed. However, as the treatment is not yet fully complete, could you perhaps vacate the room for a moment?"

"Understood. Let me know as soon as she awakens. I will be waiting upstairs."

"It is expected to take about 4 hours. Please rest comfortably."The treatment isn't finished yet, so it's not something I can interrupt further.

Eloa nodded and came out into the hallway where Siwoo was waiting.

In the middle of the dark hallway with the lights off, Siwoo was slowly performing what looked like sword stances.

He held nothing in his hands, but he seemed to be reviewing the sword strikes from earlier.

Even to Eloa's eyes, his movements had a decent system to them.

"Ah, Master."

Eloa had intended not to interrupt, thinking Siwoo was concentrating, but Siwoo noticed Eloa first and spoke.

"How is she?"

"They say it's not a serious injury. It seems there's no need for great concern."

Siwoo nodded.

Della was a wicked Witch who had tormented Sharon and had even bickered with Siwoo.

She wasn't a Witch with whom he had particularly good ties.

However, since he was the one who had delivered the final blow to someone already injured and fleeing, he felt a bit of guilt.

In that sense, the news that her condition was favorable was welcome.

It meant there was no reason for his sleep to be unnecessarily disturbed.

"What in the world is about to happen?"

"There's no way to know. We'll have to question her thoroughly after Redcliff regains consciousness."

What the Cowardly Witch has been scheming all this time.

What scale of incident she intends to cause—while there are suspicions, not a single piece of concrete evidence has been found.

That's because she was an Exile exceptionally skilled at hiding her body.

In that sense, Della, who seemed to have been detained by Sochtle, is no exaggeration to say she is the hint that will piece together the entire puzzle.

The situation that had entered a lull would also change.

Eloa's ability to sense the wariness he had accumulated so far led him to guess that this night, until Della awakens, would be the last peace.

Then, what must be done before entering battle?

Needless to ask, it's appropriate rest.

Eloa grabbed Siwoo's sleeve and pulled.

"After all, there's nothing we can do right now. Let's rest a bit."

"Ah, are we going upstairs?"

"Shouldn't we sleep?"

Thus, the penthouse they returned to after so long.

The only difference was that Sharon, who was always lying in bed, was now in Gehenna.

Since the Jemernai Count Family said they were protecting her, there was no need to worry about her safety.

A reasonable amount of time had passed, so wouldn't she have regained consciousness by now?

Suddenly, Siwoo wondered how Sharon was doing.

They finished bathing in separate bathrooms and changed clothes.

Eloa wore loose pajamas.

Siwoo also changed into comfortable clothes, and they reconvened in the living room.

Naturally, on the table were whiskey, two glasses, and chocolate for a snack.

Sharing a leisurely drink with Eloa is no exaggeration to say it's the finishing touch of the daily routine.

"Wow, I'm really tired."

"That's understandable. Weren't you put into actual combat right after sparring?"

The moment he leaned back on the sofa, a groan escaped him.

Morning sparring, afternoon sparring, followed by actual combat in the dead of night.

No matter how much he strengthens his body through magic power, muscle soreness that makes his muscles feel stiff has arrived, commensurate with the load.

"You did very well today. As someone who has watched your efforts, I can only feel proud."

"It's all thanks to you, Master."

"How could this be my merit? I merely showed the way. Persevering without giving up is your own doing."

-Clink

Siwoo and Eloa lightly clinked their glasses.

Seeing Siwoo smiling pleasantly through his drowsy eyelids, a smile unconsciously settled on Eloa's face as well.

An indescribably ticklish feeling tickles his heart.

He had suffered ever since losing Raphi.

He was also lonely.

Amidst the pain of loss, he merely patched together a life shattered into emptiness, just breathing and cutting down enemies.

That could not be called a human life.

The only thing supporting Tiferet's knees, which were about to collapse, was vengeance.

Hatred towards Ea Sadalmelik, who took away her most precious thing, and anger towards Eloa herself, who, due to negligence and mistakes, could do nothing and let Raphi be lost.

And then he met Siwoo.

It would be difficult to say it was a good first meeting, even if only because he felt sorry for Siwoo.

Since Eloa, misunderstanding, had suddenly punched Siwoo and knocked him out, it was embarrassing to think about even now.

"Master?"

"Do you know?"

"Huh?"

Until he began teaching him, who was clumsy in every way, he thought it was just a futile endeavor.

He thought the scar engraved in his heart would never fade.

He believed it would be a karma that would follow him like a tag until the day her breath ceased.

Eloa got up from the sofa and approached Siwoo.

"I…."

But.

Through his attitude of not giving up even while knowing his own shortcomings, through his diligence in silently following Eloa's arduous training without complaint,

Siwoo, who recreated Raphi's Sword Dance, which he thought he would never see again.

"...I have been saved by you."

It was a salvation like a guiding light in the wandering for Eloa Tiferet.

A solemn voice and moist eyes.

Siwoo could not fully understand Eloa's words.

But he knew what he should do for Eloa, who was standing close.

As he slightly spread his arms, Eloa, shaking her pink hair softly, embraced Siwoo.

As if embracing something extremely precious, he put his hands behind her back, around her waist, and hugged her tightly.

"I want to hold you, but you are too big."

"Well, I am a man, after all."

At Siwoo's response, as clueless as usual, Eloa laughed as if tickled in his embrace.

"There is something I want to promise you."

"Yes, Master."

Eloa lifted her head slightly, looked up at Siwoo, and spoke.

"Even if the whole world becomes your enemy. I will become your sword and cut down the world. I swear here and now, in the name of Tiferet."

"...This is kind of embarrassing, isn't it? But thank you very much. Although I don't intend to do anything that grand."

Turning the whole world into an enemy.

That's something you couldn't do even if you tried with all your might, unless you have considerable ability.

Siwoo smiled wryly and patted Eloa's back.

"I know. It's just a manner of speaking."

But Eloa, without any thought of scolding Siwoo for his irreverence, smiled gently and buried her face in his chest once more.

By the way, this posture is gradually getting too close.

It's been a struggle to breathe through my mouth since earlier so it doesn't show.It was an extremely presumptuous thing to say, but he could even feel his Master's chest softly pressing against his lower abdomen.

"Shall I escort you to the bed?"

"What escort? I can walk on my own..."

"Ah, you look tired. Let me help you."

Without waiting for Eloa's reply, Siwoo lightly lifted her in a princess carry.

Eloa's eyes grew as round as could be, fully revealing her magenta jewel-like irises.

"...I'll leave it to you, then."

Eloa suddenly lowered her gaze demurely and curled her body into a ball in Siwoo's arms, like a well-behaved cat.

He had expected her to take it playfully, but he hadn't anticipated such an ambiguous atmosphere forming.

Siwoo was inwardly flustered but didn't show it, laying Eloa down on the bed.

"I should get some sleep too."

"Sleep well, Siwoo."

"Rest comfortably, Master."

The two of them, lying side by side on beds a short distance apart, exchanged goodnights and almost immediately fell into a deep sleep.

When they woke up in the early morning after about four hours of sleep.

A sudden phone ringtone sounded.

It was a message from Branch Chief Sua: Della had woken up.

=======

The second fan art provided by PCHN!!

It's Master pretending to be asleep!

Personally, I really love this pencil-like drawing style, and this artist seems to be really skilled at it.

It also matches Tiferet's vibe perfectly!

Thank you so much!!!