City of Witches Chapter 297

“Ugh….”

Because Eloa overslept, it took quite some time before they could visit the Gemarnai Mansion.

Siwoo knew the Twins were well-off, but as it was his first time visiting, he was amazed by its overwhelming grandeur.

If there had been Hollywood stars or world-class athletes in the Victorian era, they probably would have lived in a mansion of this scale and scenery, he thought.

Following the butler who came out to greet them, it took over ten minutes by carriage just to cross the garden from the main gate to the main building.

“It’s beyond imagination.”

However, the reason Siwoo and Eloa were utterly drained wasn’t solely due to being overwhelmed by the mansion’s scale.

While the mansion itself was undoubtedly astonishing, the events of this morning were more directly related.

As soon as they finished their late breakfast and stepped out to the first floor, they were startled.

Because there were about ten times as many Witches as they had seen yesterday, having their meals on the first floor.

‘Ah! There he is!’

‘Is that him? That guy who supposedly has a Brand?’

‘Really, it’s really him, right?’

As soon as all those present identified Siwoo and Eloa, they threw down their forks and knives and rushed over.

The scene was exactly like fans waiting in front of a broadcasting station and then charging, so both Siwoo and Eloa were flustered and had to escape the spot.

But that didn’t mean all the commotion died down.

Whether the rumor that Siwoo was in the Border Town had spread overnight, Witches swarmed around them all the way to the Portal.

At this point, even a music box was meaningless.

Offers of gifts, invitations to follow them.

Suggestions to have a good time, of course.

And there were also numerous spine-chilling proposals like helping with Magic Research or letting them research him just once.

‘Stop it already!’

The chase, where they scattered like spiderlings at Eloa’s exasperated shout only to swarm back like clouds in no time, finally ended only after they arrived at the Gemarnai Mansion.

“I don’t think I can even go outside anymore….”

“I agree…. You’ll have to lay low for a while.”

Eloa nodded, slumping deeply against the carriage backrest.

She looked utterly exhausted.

Then.

-Clack! Clack! Clack!

The sound of horse hooves galloping began to be heard from afar.

And following that, voices chirping like birds also reached them.

“Assistaaaant!”

“Assistaaaant!!!”

There was no need to wonder whose voices they were.

The Twins, who quickly approached and stopped, circled the carriage like indigenous people capturing prey.

“Looks like they came out to greet us.”

“I’ll get off first. I’ll convey the greetings for you.”

“Is that really okay?”

“Of course.”

Siwoo bid farewell to Eloa and got off the carriage.

The Twins, sitting sidesaddle on their horses—a side saddle that allows women to gather their legs to one side and ride obliquely—were looking at Siwoo with eyes filled with delight.

For reference, Odil was on a black horse, and Odette was on a white horse.

Both horses’ coats were so glossy it seemed they used better shampoo than Siwoo.

““Assistant!!!””

“Ouch! That hurts.”

Upon spotting Siwoo, Odil and Odette didn’t hesitate to jump down from their saddles and hug him.

They were as happy as dogs meeting their owner after a long time, looking like they were about to lick his face.

“Assistaaant! I missed you! I heard you almost got into big trouble in the Mortal Realm?”

“If it was dangerous, you should’ve come to our mansion right away! I’ve been practicing shooting like crazy since that day, you know!”

“Right! From now on, definitely! Consult with us before anything happens!”

“You didn’t even tell us when you were coming! That’s so mean!”

Siwoo’s mind was completely blank under the Twins’ surround-style welcome, where they tugged at his arms, planted countless kisses on his cheeks, and fussed over him.

“U-um, could you get down first without hanging on my neck?”

“What’s with that reaction! You don’t seem very happy to see us!”

“It couldn’t be that there’s someone you want to see more than us, right?”

To be honest, it was true that Siwoo was very happy to see the Twins, but he had planned to meet Sharon first.

It wasn’t a matter of favorability or friendliness being different.

Sharon had tried to protect the helpless Siwoo and ended up deeply wounded by the Homunculus.

Since the state he had confirmed her in was unconscious, it was only natural to be immediately concerned about her health.

Then, Odil spotted something over Siwoo’s shoulder.

She saw the figure of Sister Sharon running from afar.

Siwoo had his back to Sharon and hadn’t noticed her yet.

Just as he was about to ask the Twins for understanding and go meet Sharon.

A fragrant, fresh body scent, mixed with the unique ambergris fragrance of the Zemnarai family, wafted to his nose.

Soft lips overlapped as if covering his mouth.

A sticky, soft sensation, as if coated with a thick layer of lip gloss or lip balm.

Before he could even feel the surprise, a small tongue, even tinier and cuter, slipped into his mouth through the gap between the small lips.

“Mmph?”

“Hmph… Mmm….”

“H-hey, Sis! Me too! I want to do it too!”

The moment Odil spotted Sharon in the distance, she had kissed Siwoo while still clinging to him.

Because if she didn’t do it right now, the reunion kiss after so long would obviously be stolen by Sister Sharon.

And she also wanted to show that the Assistant really likes me!

Belatedly realizing this was right in the middle of the Gemarnai Mansion’s garden, with no screens or cover, Siwoo hurriedly detached Odil.

What if the Countess was watching from the mansion windows standing over there?

Siwoo felt a chill run down his spine.

“Lady Odil, you shouldn’t do this outside.”

Despite Siwoo’s rightful claim, Odil swept back the hair by her ear, placed a hand on her hip, and declared.

A fresh blush, like a ripe peach in season, bloomed on her cheeks.

“From now on, I’m not going to care about people watching! And so what? Our exclusive maids all know anyway!”

“Me too! I want to do it too!”

Meanwhile, Odette hopped around excitedly, begging Siwoo for a kiss.

Thinking this wouldn’t end unless he did it, he also gave Odette a light kiss.

“Heh… hehe…. Somehow, it’s been so long, I’m nervous….”

Odette immediately melted into a mushy expression, feeling shy.

If Odil’s kiss was somewhat of a battle kiss, Odette’s was closer to a princess’s kiss, completely smitten with first love, making even Siwoo forget the situation and feel awkward.

“You did it all and now what.”

“Sis, you lack romance!”“No way? My heart rate shot up to 300 beats per minute too!”

“Alright, alright, that’s enough.”

Siwoo stopped the Twins, who were about to start bickering over something trivial again.

Odil and Odette, who were about to go into battle mode, saw Siwoo and gave him one last tight hug.

Truth be told, they missed their assistant so, so much—the one who always stepped in to break up their fights.

“I missed you, Assistant…”

“Me too, Assistant…”

“I missed both of you, Odil and Odette, as well.”

Feeling uplifted by the warm welcome, Siwoo took the reins of the Twins and headed toward the main building.

“…….”

Odil, who was skillfully mounted on her horse and being escorted by Siwoo, glanced back briefly. The glimpse she’d caught of Sharon earlier was nowhere to be seen.

It might be cowardly, but…

“The world of competition is cold and ruthless.”

“Huh?”

Odil muttered to herself, and Siwoo didn’t quite catch it.

Odil naturally urged Siwoo on.

“It’s nothing. Let’s hurry, Assistant. We prepared to go on a picnic with you.”

Sharon slammed the door shut.

After receiving word that classes were over and Siwoo had arrived, she immediately rushed out to meet him.

Albireo’s plea to “keep your distance from Siwoo” had been completely wiped from her mind.

But when she arrived, panting and out of breath, what she witnessed was the Twins, who had arrived earlier on horseback, standing with Siwoo.

And then, Odil’s sudden kiss, followed by Odette’s kiss, filled Sharon with shock and brought several thoughts to mind.

One.

That Siwoo and the Twins were that close.

Two.

The Contract with Albireo, which she had forgotten in her joy over Siwoo’s return.

That vague, unclear request whose exact boundaries she still didn’t know.

“Sigh…”

Sharon let out a deep breath.

When she was bickering with the Twins without Siwoo around, she thought it was no big deal.

After all, even if they were given time, Siwoo wouldn’t be taken away.

So, she vowed that based on this, she would stand by his side as an equal, no longer relying on him.

But seeing the Twins kissing Siwoo firsthand made that confidence melt away.

As her confidence faded and the issue of the Contract with Albireo resurfaced, her feet felt as heavy as if shackled.

She couldn’t bring herself to run out and greet Siwoo.

“Why… didn’t he tell me?”

Siwoo had clearly said he and the Twins were just close, like siblings.

But kissing like that, with tongues and all—is that what close siblings do?

“Every sibling in the world would end up in a scandal…!”

Sharon clenched her fists, venting her disappointment and sorrow toward Siwoo.

But soon, her resentment turned into self-blame.

Objectively, she knew her conditions paled in comparison to the Twins’.

Money?

Just looking at the villa she received as lodging, it would take Sharon years to afford something like that.

No, it might take over a year just to buy one chandelier for the lobby.

Hierarchy?

Unless Sharon advanced two ranks within a few years, she’d fall behind.

Numbers?

Compared to Sharon, who was all alone, the Twins were always a two-for-one deal.

Social status?

The Evergreen family was prestigious in orthodox elemental academia, but the House of Gemernai was a Countess family with influence even in Gehenna.

Charm?

Today, she flaunted her figure in front of the Twins, but the Twins’ looks weren’t bad either.

In fact, they had an adorable charm that Sharon couldn’t mimic.

Even if the last point was a draw, it was still a complete defeat for Sharon.

She sighed at her own pitifulness for mocking the Twins, saying, “What’s the big deal about having a bigger chest?”

As Albireo had said:

‘If the Twins succeed the Brand in the future and maintain a close relationship with him until then, wouldn’t that be a great help to him?’

If you stopped any Witch on the street and asked, “Who would be more helpful to this man?” a hundred out of a hundred would choose the Twins.

This won’t do.

She couldn’t bear it sober.

Sharon opened a bottle of alcohol from the workshop cabinet and started singing drunkenly.

“Like this… I can’t let you go… I stayed up all night… praying earnestly, but… if I can’t… love you anymore…”

Singing a song she’d sung with Siwoo at a coin karaoke, Sharon sipped her drink.

Just then, the door burst open, and she heard someone enter.

“Sharon! I’m back!”

At the sudden sound of Siwoo’s voice, Sharon panicked like a fox hearing a gunshot and tried to hide.

Without even knowing why, she instinctively tried to hide, but her efforts were in vain as Siwoo immediately burst into the workshop.

“…….”

Siwoo, who had left the grumbling Twins waiting and come straight to see Sharon.

What met Siwoo’s eyes was Sharon, halfway into the closet, frozen in a pose as if she were about to hide inside.

It wasn’t quite the reunion he’d imagined.

“What are you doing there?”

“…I, I was looking for something in the closet.”

“…Looking for what? Do you have to go inside to find it?”

“W-well, what was it again? Haa, it’s hot… so hot.”

Fanning her flushed face, Sharon quietly slipped out of the closet.

Only then did Sharon’s appearance, seen after so long, fully register.

It really could be this heartwarming.

Her flowing long hair, a perfect blend of light green and deep emerald.

Her mint-colored eyes, moist and glistening, contrasting with her cold, aloof appearance.

Lately, what haunted Siwoo in his dreams was the image of Sharon, pierced by a harpoon while trying to save him.

Seeing her safe and sound in person, his emotions surged, and tears threatened to spill.

“Si, Siwoo… sob…!”

Siwoo strode over, pulled Sharon into a tight embrace, and kissed her in one swift motion.

You could call it a three-second entrance kiss!

Sharon, who had stiffened unnaturally and trembled, went limp like a captured bird and leaned her weight against Siwoo’s broad chest.

“Hmm… mm… sob…!”

At first, it seemed like she was resisting.

But that hint of resistance vanished completely within three seconds of the kiss.

Sharon continued kissing Siwoo, wrapping her arms around his waist as if saying she wanted to give him everything.

When their excitement and breathing grew too heavy, making it hard to breathe properly, Sharon and Siwoo finally pulled apart.

Even though they only kissed, Sharon’s face was already a mess of tears.

“Sob… sob… Siwoo… I missed you… I missed you…”

“I missed you too. Are you hurt anywhere? Are you feeling okay?”

“Sniff… sob… I, I’m fine now… My, my Hierarchy… is fully… recovered… waaah…”

“Oh dear, look at your face, all messed up.”

“Don’t… tease… me… haaah…”Sharon sobbed so hard that Siwoo worried when she would catch her breath, burrowing desperately into his chest.

The disappointment she had felt toward Siwoo, the vague anxiety that she might drift apart from him.

Even the petty question of who truly belonged by his side.

None of it mattered as much as it did now.