City of Witches Chapter 264

Witches, by nature, do not take orders from anyone.

They simply fulfill their appointed tasks within a predetermined system.

Therefore, grandiose titles like Duke of Gehenna or Branch Head of Witch Point do not grant one the authority to command them.

The seven witches whom Su-a Agatha had personally visited to secure promises of aid in case of emergencies.

Each had claimed a sofa in the branch head's office and was sitting in their own comfortable posture.

To an outsider, it might look like a world beauty pageant or an audition for a female lead role.

Each with different hair color, eye color, and skin tone, they were all stunning beauties.

"Haaam~ What's the matter so early in the morning?"

The 'Witch of Agriculture', who looked to be around 170 cm tall, yawned so wide it seemed her mouth might tear as she reclined against the sofa backrest.

Her healthy, well-tanned skin and a revealing, provocative dress were disheveled without grace, allowing her to casually cross her toned, prominent thighs.

No one said anything, but the general atmosphere was similar.

To explain in more detail, it was a feeling of 'Do we really have to do this?' or 'This is such a bother.'

They seemed more interested in Siwoo, who had naturally found himself among the witches, than in why the branch head had summoned them.

"Hello? I've heard a lot about you, but this is the first time seeing you in person."

The Witch of Agriculture, 'Evelyn Imhotep', who was wiggling a high-heeled shoe barely hanging onto her toes, winked flirtatiously at Siwoo.

"Hello."

Siwoo also felt obliged to give a perfunctory greeting.

It was always like this, but today such advances were even less welcome.

The fact Della had relayed as soon as she woke up had given Siwoo a great shock.

To use a more easily understandable analogy, it felt like receiving news that a large-scale viral terror attack had been announced for downtown Seoul by a radical armed religious group.

This was no joke.

Truly, ten million people living in Seoul were all exposed to danger.

Just like the horrific massacre that occurred at the department store exhibition hall some time ago.

For Siwoo, who could still vividly recall the fresh blood and pieces of intestine that had drenched the dimly lit store interior, that thought alone made his stomach churn.

"I offer my gratitude to all of you gathered here."

Sua, who had prepared materials for the briefing, entered the branch head's office, a large blackboard floating beside her via telekinesis.

"Well, you know, contacting us via letter or email would have been sufficient enough."

The somewhat curt reply came from the 'Witch of Glass', Patricia Kazad.

With skin so transparent and a complexion so pale,

one might think this is what a snow woman from myth would look like if she existed.

"As the matter is urgent, I bow my head in apology for summoning you with a unilateral notice."

"Hey, no need to go that far. You'd all just have been holed up in your rooms scribbling Magic anyway."

"Does a witch who pursues only pleasure while turning her back on her duties have no concept of wasting time, I wonder?"

Patricia and Evelyn, who seemed close, exchanged a few words.

In fact, it wasn't just those two; the overall atmosphere was disorderly.

One might expect more focus even at an elementary school class meeting.

"Seoul is now facing a crisis unprecedented in history. It has fallen into a trap larger than any disaster and more meticulously crafted than any danger."

Sua relayed all the facts she had heard from Della.

That the Cowardly Witch's plan was large-scale massacre.

That the groundwork for it was already complete.

She also laid everything bare without hiding anything, including the existence and strength of the White Knight.

Even the fact that getting involved in this situation was extremely dangerous.

After all, the witches gathered here were not holding their ground for justice.

They were little more than mercenaries hired with the promise of appropriate compensation.

If Sua lied, they would withdraw without hesitation when a greater crisis than anticipated struck.

Rather than having a plan tailored to the number of people fall apart, it was better to tell the truth from the start and ask for sincere cooperation.

"......"

"......"

As Sua calmly conveyed the situation, the disorderly atmosphere became organized.

Instead, the witches were looking at Sua with various expressions.

Some were indifferent, some were horrified, and some were nonchalant.

"Alright, I heard you well. Let's consider our previous conversation null and void."

One witch, wearing a very antiquated witch's robe despite being in the Mortal Realm, left her seat without hesitation.

She was a witch from the Emerald Tablet, whom they had gone to great lengths to invite from Gehenna.

Perhaps she judged her compatibility with the White Knight's characteristics to be poor, as she gave up quickly.

"I'm sorry. This is too different from what I had heard. I'll be going now. Well then..."

A Witch Point-affiliated witch, who had been hesitating while gauging the mood, also stood up and left.

Excluding Siwoo, Sua, Eloa, and Della, five people remained.

"I want to hear about the plan. Surely you're not asking for help without any defenses in place?"

As Evelyn asked, crossing her legs the other way, Eloa, who had been silently observing the situation, stepped forward.

"Before the 'Altar' created by the Cowardly Witch is completed. We will enter the sealed-off tunnel where she has set up her workshop."

If they just sit here, the initiative in the entire situation will pass to Sochitl.

As Della said, no matter how strong Eloa is, she cannot stop rainwater with her palm.

Even Della did not know exactly what the altar Sochitl was building was for.

However, if Sochitl lets the White Knights run rampant all at once, casualties will occur, and neither Eloa nor Sua wants that.

"It looks too dangerous. If the hornet's nest is stirred, the Cowardly Witch won't just sit still.

She'll realize her plan has hit a snag and will struggle desperately."

"Regarding that point, Teacher Sua has prepared a countermeasure. She will deploy a barrier over the entire city of Seoul. Unlike a typical Hidden Boundary, one cannot freely come and go."

Over the past period, Sua had embedded pillars inscribed with binding Spell Formulas throughout Witch Point.

The Cowardly Witch's goal is mass slaughter.

If she sends out the White Knights only to find there are no humans to kill, she will undoubtedly attack to break the barrier.

The barrier Sua installed is an extremely orthodox sealing technique, except for its enormous scale.“I shall strive to maintain and protect the barrier.”

It was Sua’s role to block it, maintain the Hidden Boundary, and prevent civilians from being caught up in it.

“Then what should we do?”

“Even I cannot handle all the enemies at once. Enter through different vertical ventilation shafts and aim to disperse their Combat Power.”

“In the end, it’s no different from having no plan at all.”

Patricia, who had been quietly listening to Eloa’s words, shook her head from side to side.

Her hair, whiter than the first snow, swayed this way and that.

Though her words sounded plausible, in reality, there was no safety measure or special strategy.

Realizing this, the three Witches exchanged glances and left their seats.

The Witches remaining were Evelyn, a Latina Witch sitting in a bold posture,

and Patricia, a Slavic Witch with an expression as cold as ice.

They were individuals confident in their own abilities, Witches each skilled in a form of Magic that exerted physical force.

Though fewer remained than expected, there was no other choice.

If they delayed any longer and the ‘Altar’ was completed, who knew what variables might arise?

Now was the only opening to strike before the Sotchel fully prepared their stance.

“Thank you for staying.”

Eloa bowed her head respectfully to the two who remained.

“If we’re getting paid, we should at least pretend to work.”

“If it gets too dangerous, we’ll pull out immediately. Don’t expect too much.”

The two Witches replied as if it were no big deal.

Between them, Siwoo quietly added his words.

“I will also assist in the battle.”

“Absolutely not!”

As expected, a reaction close to panic came from Eloa.

And beyond expectation, she grabbed Siwoo’s collar with trembling hands.

“Come with me!”

Eloa, pulling Siwoo with an unprecedented strength, only released his collar once they were out in the hallway.

Unlike just moments ago when she had maintained some composure, her small frame was trembling like a bird drenched in rain.

“Do you know what you’re saying?”

“Yes, I know.”

“Didn’t you already receive an ominous divination? Even staying still and holding your breath wouldn’t be enough, and you want to jump into that chaos? Do you have no sense of what’s visible just because you possess that level of skill?”

Eloa was afraid.

She was terrified of losing Siwoo like this, of possibly repeating another mistake.

That’s why she tried to break his will with a somewhat strong tone and manner of speech.

“It’s a situation where even the smallest assistance is needed.”

Siwoo, who would usually obediently follow even Eloa’s slightest word, was different today.

He looked at Eloa with a straight gaze and conveyed his thoughts.

“In my current state, I can handle quite a few White Knights. Moreover, I have the Clover given by Periwinkle as a safety measure, and the ‘Contract’ given by Master. I won’t overdo it. Within the limits of what I can do, I want to do something.”

“I cannot allow it. I absolutely cannot allow it.”

“Master.”

“I won’t listen. Your thoughts aren’t even worth reconsidering.”

Eloa, covering her ears, trying not to even start the conversation.

Siwoo’s hand gently resting on her shoulder.

Eloa is no fool.

She senses that he has already made up his mind and that it cannot be swayed by a few words of persuasion.

Wasn’t the biggest reason Siwoo wanted to become stronger to protect people?

“You don’t need to worry so much. I have coordinate movement tools to escape anytime, and a music box that hides my presence, right? If I can buy just a little time, I can run away.”

That’s precisely why she wanted to stop him even more desperately.

Eloa vividly remembers how Raphi’s end was, who said she wanted to fight for people.

Even though she well knows that Siwoo, having crossed another wall, could undoubtedly be utilized as a joker against the White Knights, this is the reason she tries to dissuade him.

Eloa grabbed Siwoo’s sleeve with a desperate voice and asked,

“Why must you step forward? There’s no need for you to take risks… No one would blame you. Didn’t even Witches with far more experience leave?”

In fact, her words weren’t wrong.

No matter how much assistance is needed, how much he would contribute to the Combat Power is an unknown.

Perhaps he might end up having to kill a few White Knights at most and then flee.

“I know that too. I know that if I decide to avoid it, it’s a situation I can avoid.”

It’s quite different from times when he was forced onto the battlefield and had to risk his life.

Siwoo’s resolve might indeed be an act of not knowing his place, as Eloa said.

“Then… why not just avoid it? Why deliberately seek danger?”

“Master.”

Siwoo met Eloa’s magenta eyes with a serious gaze.

Siwoo did not consider himself a special person.

He was full of mistakes, clumsy, and had done incredibly foolish things.

Looking back, he had caused laughably stupid incidents and wandered around.

Shin Siwoo is a coward.

When crisis looms, he wants to close his eyes and turn his back; when he hears voices asking for help, he wants to cover his ears and pretend not to hear; when death approaches, he is not composed but trembles in his legs—that kind of coward.

Yet, one unwavering, clear conviction always remains in his heart.

That conviction was taught to him by his life.

“If I had only run away in every situation where I could have run… I probably wouldn’t be here right now.”

If he had settled for a slave’s life with barely guaranteed food, clothing, and shelter, he wouldn’t be using Magic as he does now.

If he had chosen to run upon seeing the terrifying Homunculus and public enemy, he might have ended up as prey alongside the Twins.

There was always fear.

But the courage to take one step forward in those situations where he wanted to close his eyes is what created the Shin Siwoo of today.

What happened during times when he was actually paralyzed by fear and did nothing?

He almost lost Sharon to the drowned Witch’s ominous beast.

In his life, there has never been a single time where running away led to paradise."I understand your concern. I'm sorry, but I don't want to watch innocent people die. If I have the power, I want to help as far as I can reach."

Eloa could no longer stop him.

Because she felt an overwhelming sense of déjà vu in his words.

She even thought that if she told him here, 'That is not your duty,' and urged him to give up, it would feel like going back to when she ignored Raphi's plea.

To her foolish and immature past self.

Eloa closed her eyes.

Her long, pretty eyelashes trembled faintly from the surge of emotion.

"Very well. But do not leave my side."

"Thank you for understanding..."

"And...!"

Eloa grabbed Siwoo's hand as he was about to bow his head and spoke.

"If you sense even the slightest danger, run without hesitation."

"Yes, I intended to do so from the start."

Siwoo, holding Eloa's hand—too small for someone who had cut down formidable foes—reassured her.

Author's Note (Afterword)

Good night