City of Witches Chapter 278

A great disaster that might occur once in a century had passed.

Looking back, no matter how many times I thought about it, it was nothing but heart-stopping moments.

The White Knights surging in like a tide, or the terrifying Enemy Knight.

If even one person’s strength had been lacking, we would not have been able to overcome this crisis.

Eloa, who had suffered extreme exhaustion and had the fulfillment of her Contract price pending.

Siwoo, who had sustained numerous minor injuries all over his body and faced the Enemy Knight.

As soon as he returned to the Witch Point with the Red Branch, he collapsed and spent the entire day recovering from fatigue in bed.

No matter how much of a Spirit Body one is, if pushed to this extent, sleep is essential.

While Siwoo and Eloa were dead asleep, Branch Chief Sua wrapped up the incident.

Since everything had taken place within the vast Hidden Boundary Sua had laid out, the cleanup didn’t take very long.

At most, it involved retrieving the remains of the two Witches who had promised assistance and holding their funerals.

Originally, Witches themselves rarely associate widely with others, and since the two Witches killed by the Enemy Knight this time had no Apprentice Witches, the process was all the quicker.

Siwoo was recognized for his contribution in this subjugation and received ownership of the Red Branch.

In truth, since Eloa had drained all the power and he had only dealt the final blow, he repeatedly declined, wondering if he deserved to receive something so significant.

However, Branch Chief Sua was deeply grateful to Siwoo.

Similarly, Eloa already possessed the irreplaceable Ceremonial Artifact known as the Contract Sword, so naturally, the remaining spoils went to Siwoo.

After the conferment of the Red Branch was completed.

Eloa, Siwoo, and Della gathered in the cavern of the rainwater tunnel.

It was the cavern where an altar had been installed and where Paola had met her end.

“Begin.”

Della, who had stayed in Seoul without leaving and recovered her body at the Witch Point while the events unfolded.

Her eyes held an extremely gloomy and sorrowful look.

From Siwoo’s memory, she originally had the appearance of a cunning vixen exuding a sharp, venomous aura, but now, her beautifully extended eyelashes drooped downward at the corners.

Della, not wearing her usual red dress but a black one, stood lonely before Paola, who lay dead beneath the shattered remnants of a lotus.

Seeing her dead form with one eye wide open and stark white, Della quietly smoothed her hair with her hand.

“Now, I return your life to the light of truth. Release the chains of delusion that bound you. Death is a sacred ritual of shedding the shell of the flesh and advancing toward truth…”

Upon hearing the news of Paola’s death, Della requested Branch Chief Sua to allow her to hold a funeral.

Typically, a Witch’s funeral is a ceremony honoring ‘the predecessor who passed on the Brand to an Apprentice Witch.’

In such cases, it serves as proof that one has fulfilled their duty, so it is rarely held in a gloomy atmosphere.

However, for Witches who died unexpectedly without leaving successors, like now, the funeral is usually held under a somber atmosphere, witnessed by close acquaintances.

Of course, for a public enemy responsible for casualties in the thousands and the deaths of over ten Witches to receive a proper funeral like this is an unthinkable event.

Public enemies are those who violate the rules of witch society.

Normal Witches are merciless regarding the treatment of such criminals.

Under normal circumstances, the body would have been sent to Gehenna and put up for auction at the ‘First Red Roof Salon,’ or the Witch who obtained the body would have used it as research material.

Della expressed her wish to donate her entire fortune to the Witch Point and receive the body, and Branch Chief Sua granted permission without much deliberation.

After all, the fact that the Cowardly Witch’s incident could be contained before it escalated was largely due to the information Della provided.

Considering that Paola had spared Della, whom she could have killed at any time, it was an incredibly ironic affair.

However, since Della, who had hidden Paola’s whereabouts until now, could not be fully trusted, it was agreed that the funeral would be concluded with Eloa present as an observer.

“May that flesh be consumed by sacred fire, returning earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.”

Along with Della’s brief eulogy.

Flames erupted from the ground, engulfing the entire cavern in fire.

The remaining dregs of the altar that had bloomed the lotus, the half-crumbled lotus, and Paola’s cold, lifeless body.

All were consumed, licked by the flickering flames.

As Della, who had incinerated everything with white flames that didn’t even produce smoke, struck the ground with her shoe heel, all the flames that had surged like lava subsided.

“Rest in peace.”

Della stared blankly at the spot where Paola had sat.

Watching her back, the two quietly vacated the area.

Eloa, who had headed to the underground waterway almost immediately after waking up to attend the funeral on behalf of the extremely busy Branch Chief Sua, and Siwoo, who had followed her.

“…….”

“…….”

Honestly, he hadn’t fully woken up, and until coming here, he had been half in a daze, so he hadn’t had time to gather his thoughts.

But after witnessing such a scene, he felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

He knew the Cowardly Witch was a terrifying mass murderer.

He knew she was the craziest of the crazy.

Yet, hearing the whole story that the lotus had been bloomed to revive her lost disciple, and seeing her lonely, solitary death, he didn’t feel entirely at ease.

Of course, that doesn’t mean her crimes could ever be mitigated.

Exiting through the vertical vent, the bustling Seoul cityscape, as busy as ever, came into view.

Cars packed tightly on the wide roads, office workers sipping iced Americanos and passing by in small groups.

It was a cityscape harmonized in just the right proportions: pleasant autumn wind, sunset, and the sounds of people living their lives.

Glancing sideways, his eyes suddenly met Eloa’s.

A spark of life returned to her dazed eyes, which seemed to have been lost in thought for a moment.

Perhaps his expression didn’t look very refreshed, as Eloa asked.

“Is something weighing on your mind?”

“Somehow… I don’t feel as relieved as I expected.”

Thinking that he contributed, however slightly, to protecting this peace made him proud again.

After all, if it hadn’t been for Siwoo, the Enemy Knight would have killed Eloa and run amok once more.

Had that happened, this peaceful daily life would have been stained by a horrific massacre’s final moments.

Nevertheless, Siwoo voiced the thought he had been holding back.

“To be honest, it might sound really strange, but… I felt a bit sorry for the Cowardly Witch.”

“That’s understandable. You are a kind person.”At the almost immediate, cringeworthy line, Siwoo faltered.

Even when he looked at Eloa with a flustered expression, she met his gaze with unwavering eyes.

It wasn't just their beauty; it was the sheer, unadulterated trust in her pupils that made it difficult to look directly at her.

Honestly, he thought it was an overly generous assessment.

"W-Well, let's say that's true."

"It's not a matter of 'let's say'; it actually is true."

"Yeah, well..."

Seeing Siwoo at a loss, Eloa broke into a gentle smile.

Her lovely face, her direct gaze, now topped with a flower-like smile—it was impossible to face her directly, so Siwoo slightly turned his head away.

"I think I understand why you tease me so. Did you also want to see this kind of reaction every time you praised my clothes and cooking?"

"Tease you? I was just complimenting you..."

"Aren't I also just giving a compliment?"

Eloa, with her hands behind her back, kept pace with Siwoo's quickened steps and subtly teased him.

Even though Siwoo and Eloa had grown closer until now, she had never shown such a playful side...

Anyway, thanks to that, the atmosphere lightened considerably.

Eloa, smiling with dimples as if in a good mood, cleared her throat and spoke.

"Things in the world don't happen as cleanly as if cut with a knife. There are no humans who are purely evil, nor any who are purely good.

The reason you feel pity for the Cowardly Witch is likely because you saw the good side she possessed. Just as you did for me."

"What did I even do for you? Please stop, I won't fall for it anymore."

Mistaking it for Eloa's teasing without a doubt, Siwoo adopted a guarded stance.

His expression was so stubborn that one could feel his strong determination not to be embarrassed or awkward.

But Eloa was neither lying nor fabricating words to flatter him.

Even though it was a misunderstanding, it was Eloa who, upon their first meeting, punched him and brought him to the brink of death.

Moreover, it was Eloa who threatened even his friend and never let go of her suspicion until the end.

He forgave her without any reproach.

Was that all?

He comforted her, who had no connection to him, and stayed by her side.

He didn't flee to Gehenna to ensure his own safety after hearing her near-obsessive, delusional worries; he fought alongside her.

In the end, he saved Eloa from crisis and even captured the Enemy Knight.

And after that, when her magic power was insufficient...

Eloa cut off her thoughts with a thud.

There was no need to recall unnecessary thoughts.

Even so, the reason her cheeks flushed was likely not solely due to the autumn sunset filtering between the buildings.

"Eh...!"

Siwoo's determination not to fall for her teasing was shattered in an instant.

Because Eloa suddenly grabbed Siwoo's hand tightly.

It wasn't an interlocking of fingers or any meaningful contact like that.

But her touch was as warm and full of trust as her gaze.

"Thank you."

Eloa brought that hand to her cheek, gently pressing her cheek against the back of his hand.

She didn't do this with any particular thought in mind.

She just wanted to.

Eloa's soft cheek pressed firmly against the back of his hand.

Upon contact with her smooth skin, a memory surfaced.

Though it was an impure thought... it was the memory that her entire body was this soft and smooth.

Before he could be caught in the awkward recollection that reflexively arose, Eloa first removed her cheek from his hand and asked in a light tone.

"So, what do you plan to do from now on?"

"First, I plan to go to Gehenna to pick up Sharon. I also remember the Twins inviting us to visit... and there's someone I personally want to meet."

"I thought so."

It might just be her mood.

But the moment Siwoo mentioned Sharon's name, Eloa's complexion seemed to darken slightly.

And as if surprised by her own change in expression, she hurriedly composed herself.

However, the expression she had carefully maintained became useless with Siwoo's next words.

"Master, would you like to come along? To Gehenna."

Although she had expected him to suggest it, Eloa firmly suppressed the corners of her mouth that threatened to rise high with inexplicable joy.

"Of course. I was planning to rest anyway while the price of the contract is being fulfilled."

Eloa slightly bowed her head and unnecessarily fiddled with her lips.

That was one of Eloa's habits Siwoo had recently learned.

She makes such a gesture when she wants to hide the fact that she's in a very good mood.

"Siwoo."

"Yes, Master."

As expected, Eloa, her voice full of high tension, pretended to point at the department store with her finger.

It seemed they had walked aimlessly and ended up near home.

"We've had many twists and turns, but we accomplished something big, didn't we? Instead of just complaining, it would be nice to have a small celebration party."

"That sounds good."

"I'll prepare the food. It wouldn't be bad to get drunk all day for the first time in a while."

Seeing Eloa, excited like a child at an amusement park entrance, a content smile formed on Siwoo's lips.

Sometimes, seeing her like this, it feels less like looking at a Master and more like looking at a cute younger sister.

"Now, there's not much time until closing."

"It's only 7 o'clock? There's still 3 hours left."

"Today, I'll mobilize all the dishes I can make. Even 5 hours of shopping time might not be enough."

Despite still feeling the aftereffects of battle, the two headed to the grocery section with feather-light steps and shopped for a long time, filling two carts to the brim.

Author's Note (Author's Afterword)

Thanks to the love and support of our readers, we've surpassed 7 million views.

It's a view count I've never reached while writing before, so I'm both stunned and so grateful I don't know what to do.

Lately, the writing is going well, and the troubles that were plaguing my real life have been resolved, so things are really good.

If only this tiresome COVID would end, haha...

I hope everything goes well for all our readers too.

I'll continue to work hard.

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