City of Witches Chapter 301

The day had dawned.

Stretching out fully, I rose from the plush bed.

After being treated to a splendid dinner last night, I was accommodated separately in a guest house.

It was a two-story stone building, smaller in scale but closer to a mansion's main wing than a villa.

Of course, the facilities and upkeep were top-notch, so the quality of sleep was beyond question.

Looking out the window, it was still dim, with dawn just breaking.

In the early morning light, I could see the night dew glistening on the neatly trimmed lawn of the garden.

"Six o'clock."

Lately, I'd been sleeping in quite often, but my eyes had opened automatically.

Perhaps it was because of the five years of slave-like early rising in Gehenna—maybe my biological clock had automatically woken me up.

I pondered this half-seriously.

"Hoo…"

Stepping out onto the terrace for a morning cigarette.

The crisp late autumn breeze and refreshing air cleared my foggy head.

Tapping ash into the naturally placed ashtray, I thought about today's schedule.

First, the tasks to do in Gehenna were as follows:

Finding research materials to apply for perfect control of the 'Red Branch.'

Currently, the control Siwoo could manage only extended to preventing the Distortion Field from radiating indiscriminately.

Even that wasn't perfect, so using the Spatial Teleportation Formula while holding the branch wrapped in a Ribbon was impossible.

At best, you could say passing through a 'Gate' was the limit.

After all, the 'Gate' responsible for formal entry and exit from Gehenna was personally created by Duke Keter, making it far more stable than Siwoo's crude Spatial Teleportation Formula.

Next, seeing Takasho.

Nothing major—just meeting an old, missed friend.

Next, checking on Sharon's condition.

That was done yesterday.

Next was meeting Amelia and having a conversation, but…

"Hmm…"

Somehow, it didn't sit well with me.

To Siwoo, Amelia was like an ex-girlfriend whose memory made a part of his chest ache.

Someone he'd parted with on bad terms—not entirely hateful, yet not someone he could recall only fond memories of.

After regaining his memories and completely severing ties with Amelia, Siwoo left a note before coming to the Mortal Realm.

Written while heavily drunk and with considerable time having passed, he couldn't remember it clearly, but…

It went something like:

I'm sorry for saying such harsh things.

We both made mistakes, so it's hard to pin it on just one person.

I hope we can talk calmly once our emotions have settled.

But after that, all news from Amelia had abruptly stopped.

She'd reportedly quit her Associate Professor position, and there was no contact or visit from her.

So, inwardly, I'd been feeling bittersweet, thinking our relationship was completely over.

Not that I felt indebted or guilty about it.

Until her attitude changed toward the end, Amelia had been the epitome of a terrible boss to Siwoo.

Yet, she kept coming to mind.

The way she treated the regressed Siwoo so kindly in his childhood.

And the way she shed tears while listening to Siwoo's angry resentment at the end.

I wanted to have a conversation with her again.

Perhaps it was just the proud, awkward, and clumsy Amelia unable to come meet him honestly.

"Hmm, should I see Takasho first?"

Let's postpone the heavy event for a bit.

Let's start with what can be handled quickly.

Even though Siwoo had visited Gehenna, there was almost no change in the Twins' tight schedule.

Meaning they had to maintain a Daechi-dong exam student-like lifestyle until their one remaining day off.

Countess Gemernai gave off a strict, parent-like vibe, after all.

So, I thought it'd be good to use today's free schedule to meet Takasho.

-Knock knock

After a quick wash and getting ready to head out.

I knocked on the door of the room where Master was staying.

Whether Eloa had separately informed Countess Gemernai or not, coincidentally, she was staying in the room right next door in the same guest house.

It might seem overprotective, but knowing her past, it was understandable.

"Are you asleep?"

It wasn't for any particular reason.

Just a habitual morning greeting.

As no answer came, I was about to turn away.

"…Come in."

A voice that sounded utterly exhausted replied.

Opening the door and entering, I saw Eloa just rising from the bed.

As her voice suggested, her eyes looked weary.

Still, a Witch is a Witch.

Despite her disheveled hair and dark circles, her uniquely worn, fragile beauty shone through.

While Eloa straightened her pajamas, Siwoo poured her a glass of water.

"Are you okay? You don't look well."

"I'm fine."

Her voice sounded anything but fine.

It lacked its usual strength.

"You're dressed to go out. Where are you heading?"

"To Trinity Academy to meet a friend. There's a friend who helped me a lot while I was here. I mentioned it, right?"

"Takasho?"

"Yes, that friend."

During this utterly ordinary conversation, our eyes met, and Eloa's head quickly turned away.

With her reaction being this consistent, I could roughly guess.

The sounds from the inn room the other day + the Countess's question during yesterday's meal must have brought back unpleasant memories for Master.

So, she really had been bothered by it—Siwoo felt awkward too.

But saying "You don't need to worry so much" here would probably make things even more awkward…

"Well then, I'll see you in the evening."

Just as I was about to make a reasonable escape.

"…Siwoo, wait a moment."

Eloa's voice stopped Siwoo as he tried to leave the room.

When I turned back, Eloa avoided eye contact again, and after a long silence, she spoke.

"…I'm sorry."

"Huh?"

"There's something… I want to apologize to you for."

Only then did Siwoo realize.

Eloa wasn't just embarrassed by the memory.

On the day they had ritual sex out of necessity to replenish magic power.

Eloa had urged the relationship, saying in a tone that implied "I'll definitely apologize later."

Even going so far as to bring her forehead close to his nose to let him smell her body scent.

From the principled Eloa's perspective, even if it was out of necessity, she had essentially forced herself to seduce Siwoo.

Of course, the situation was what it was.

And being with a beauty like Eloa was more than welcome—not something he considered difficult in the slightest.

But to the principled Master, she might have viewed that incident as forced misconduct.

And now, Eloa, who hadn't mentioned it since, was suddenly apologizing.Until now, I was too ashamed to speak, but you can take this as finally being mentally prepared.

Anyway, if an apology comes, even belatedly, it’s only right to accept it.

Honestly, I don’t even think I’m in a position to receive an apology.

“It’s fine. I already knew everything.”

“…What?”

“Did you think I wouldn’t know?”

At Siwoo’s words, Eloa’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit.

Her pretty, darting pupils looked directly at Siwoo for the first time since entering this room.

Her fine pink hair, so delicate it seemed it would flutter and puff up with the slightest breeze.

Within it, her beautiful magenta-colored eyes shimmered restlessly.

“…….”

Eloa fell silent, seemingly at a loss for words, pondering for a long while.

Just as it was about to become awkward after nearly a minute had passed.

Eloa asked, as if to confirm the truth one last time.

“…About yesterday… you mean?”

Yesterday?

Wondering what she meant, Siwoo suddenly remembered something.

Eloa, who had abruptly stood up and left when Siwoo’s story came up during the meal.

She had left in the middle without answering Deneb’s questions about Siwoo’s exploits.

Because of that, the meal had become quite awkward.

In truth, Siwoo already knew why Eloa had reacted that way.

Bringing up yesterday’s events at this timing must also be about the master-disciple sex in the rainwater tunnel, so in context, it’s likely an extension of her wanting to apologize.

Siwoo obediently nodded.

“Yes, that too.”

“You mean… you already noticed?”

“Of course. Naturally.”

Suddenly, Eloa’s pale face began to turn red.

Beyond peach-colored, it went all the way to the shade of a ripe strawberry.

Eloa began speaking in a small voice, as if utterly ashamed.

“I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intention…. I acted impulsively without thinking…. I’m truly ashamed….”

The tone of Eloa’s apology was extraordinary.

As if she had become a major criminal.

She looked so remorseful that if Siwoo were to strike her right cheek, she would offer her left as well.

It was a bit bewildering.

“Why… if you knew… didn’t you say anything?”

Over something as trivial as not apologizing promptly and ruining the mood by leaving during a meal, she’s agonizing this much?

Feeling pity that she was worrying so much over something he considered insignificant, and somehow finding it cute.

Truly like the Master.

“Well, this might sound strange… but I enjoyed it too. It was a good experience.”

“Enjoyed… it…?”

He hadn’t thought much of it, but saying it out loud made it sound a bit odd.

Translated, wouldn’t it be something like, ‘Ah, the magic power charging sex with Master. It was the best’?

But if it could lessen Eloa’s burden, a little embarrassment was nothing.

Even if he came off a bit foolish, he didn’t want to see Eloa feeling so apologetic, so he spoke his honest feelings.

“Yes, I’ll cherish it as a precious memory. Well, I’m a bit busy now, so…”

But continuing to face each other like this felt awkward regardless.

Siwoo gave his final greeting and left the room.

“It’s nothing much, really…”

Carried by the mood, he even said he’d cherish it as a precious memory, but it’s quite embarrassing.

Since it’s not something that can be treated as if it never happened, time is the only remedy.

Anyway, it’s about time to go meet Takasho.

If asked to name the person who was his greatest source of strength during the five years of servitude, it’s undoubtedly Takasho.

Not only did he provide various conveniences, but he was also his only friend, so to properly repay the favor like a grateful magpie, Siwoo had come prepared.

He had filled two large travel bags, big enough for an adult woman, with goods from the Mortal Realm.

For reference, goods from the Mortal Realm are traded at extremely high prices in Gehenna.

The ‘Gate’ in Border Town isn’t free to pass through.

Since the process of loading goods onto ships and importing them requires immense resources, naturally, most goods entering Gehenna are luxury items for Witches.

It goes without saying that importing Persian silk carpets in the same shipping space is far more profitable than importing 100 boxes of potato chips.

Therefore, items like cola or cup noodles—‘goods sold too cheaply relative to cost’—are scarce and often unavailable, showing a phenomenon of rarity.

What Siwoo prepared were such miscellaneous items.

“Good, I’ve packed everything well.”

After a final check of the items, Siwoo prepared to use the Spatial Teleportation Formula to go to Trinity Academy.

The firmly closed door.

Eloa quietly gazed at the door Siwoo had just exited, remaining silent.

Though she uttered no words, her heart was in profound turmoil, a storm of confusion.

Eloa had tossed and turned late into the night, plagued by guilt and self-loathing.

Because the events of secretly peeping on Sharon and his sexual act, and getting her underwear wet while doing so, kept surfacing all day.

And she reached a conclusion.

The latter could be kept as her own private sin.

But at the very least, she must properly apologize for the former.

Regarding the voyeuristic act in which Eloa’s will was clearly involved, she must confess the truth and apologize.

That’s what she thought.

Siwoo came in for his usual morning greeting.

After agonizing until the very last moment, Eloa stopped Siwoo as he was about to leave the room and apologized.

The answer that came after such difficult deliberation was enough to shock Eloa.

‘It’s fine. I already knew everything.’

Siwoo already knew everything.

‘…About yesterday… you mean?’

To ask if he might be confusing it with something else, or if he was mistaken, she pinpointed and confirmed if he meant yesterday’s events.

To this, Siwoo replied.

‘Yes, that too.’

‘You mean… you already noticed?’

‘Of course. Naturally.’

So, he had already been aware.

Even though he knew everything, he didn’t reproach Eloa.

But feeling solely grateful was impossible because of the shocking words Siwoo uttered next.

When Eloa asked why he hadn’t said anything despite knowing, Siwoo answered.

With a somewhat awkward and embarrassed expression.

‘Well, this might sound strange… but I enjoyed it too. It was a good experience.’

‘I’ll cherish it as a precious memory.’

He enjoyed it?

It was a good experience?

Meaning, engaging in sexual acts with Sharon while Eloa was peeping?

And even said he’d cherish it as a good memory?From here on, it was content that strayed far beyond the rails of Eloa's common sense.

She wasn't very knowledgeable about relationships between men and women.

She was aware of that weakness herself.

But even measured against Eloa's impoverished knowledge, she could tell Siwoo's answer wasn't normal.

Could he have such a... proclivity?

Or did he deliberately douse himself in filthy water to keep Eloa from feeling overly embarrassed?

If it's the kind Siwoo, the latter was far more likely...

Unable to make heads or tails of Siwoo's bewildering words and actions, Eloa could only let out a pained groan and take a cold shower.

A Word from the Author (Author's Note)

We've reached 300 chapters!

I'm feeling good!

I postponed my vaccine a bit and got it today—don't know about anything else, but I'm really sleepy.