City of Witches Chapter 325

The modest party celebrating today's great success had ended after closing time.

The host bar, which had been bustling with crowds all day, was now quietly buried in the dawn air as if it had never been so lively.

Siwoo, who had already downed a considerable amount of alcohol and had another drink at the party, woke up after a short two-hour nap.

Normally, he would have been rolling around with a hangover and fatigue until tomorrow afternoon, but having a Spirit Body was really convenient in this regard.

Feeling an urge to wander around aimlessly, he headed to the first floor, where he saw Takasho scribbling with a fountain pen under a single gas lamp.

Judging by his attire, it seemed he hadn't rested at all.

“Still not asleep?”

At Siwoo’s call, Takasho raised a glass and grinned.

“Hey, the host bar ace woke up? Want a drink?”

“No thanks. I drank about ten bottles of champagne today, and my stomach feels like it’s turning inside out.”

It was impossible to allocate fifteen minutes each to over 120 guests.

In the end, he had to entertain several guests simultaneously and drink every glass of alcohol offered, leaving his stomach unsettled.

“So, what are you doing? Sitting here alone with the lights on.”

“Working on the accounts, organizing the customer list, and sorting out purchase orders.”

As Takasho said, there were quite professional-looking forms and purchase orders spread across the table.

Siwoo had only known him as a guy obsessed with women, but it seemed the position made the man—working overtime even after such a chaotic day.

Even as a friend, he couldn’t help but applaud in admiration.

“The customer list is important. You need to know which customers spend how much to distinguish VIPs and such.”

“Want some help?”

“It’s fine. I’m almost done.”

Siwoo pulled up a chair, propped his legs on the table, and sat comfortably.

“Siwoo, thank you. Please convey my gratitude to Periwinkle.”

“Hey, stop it already. It’s making me cringe.”

“I thought all the preparations were ruined. I never expected it to come back to life so dramatically.”

“So, do you think it’ll work out?”

After all, Siwoo wasn’t planning to work here forever; the most important thing was whether Rose Glass could operate without him.

Fortunately, Takasho nodded with a content smile.

“Over ten Witches who gave me their business cards asked me to call them when things quiet down. About twice as many hinted they’d come again. This is beyond a jackpot—it’s a mega jackpot.”

“That’s music to my ears.”

Only after hearing Takasho’s words could Siwoo finally relax.

Truthfully, the reason Siwoo ended up doing this host job, which was never in his fate, was because he wanted Takasho to succeed.

“By the way, I don’t know if I should say this, but it’s surprisingly wholesome, isn’t it? It feels strange that you, who used to talk about sex all the time, opened a place like this.”

“You ask if you can say something like that, then say it anyway.”

Takasho gave a bitter smile and stamped the documents with a thud.

“That’s what makes it a first-class host bar. Hosts aren’t there to be dildos. Places that focus on after-parties and physical intimacy don’t last long.”

“I think I’ve heard you say that before.”

“Anyway, I plan to stick with this operating policy. Once we have regular customers, I’m thinking of holding various events. Like group picnics to the beach or bringing items from the Mortal Realm to explain them.”

Finally finishing the paperwork, Takasho put a cigarette in his mouth and lit it.

Perhaps because he was tired, his energy was much lower than usual, but his expression said it all.

Takasho was incredibly happy right now.

“You’ve changed a lot too. Shin Siwoo, the pathetic virgin with a terrible track record with women, now teasing those high-and-mighty Witches. Tell me your secret.”

“I don’t know. Life just turned out this way.”

As they say, experience makes perfect. Even Witches, who used to be awkward to deal with, were now somewhat manageable.

“Anyway, we both made it. Two slaves digging ditches at Trinity Academy, now making it big!”

“You didn’t dig ditches, you bastard.”

“Hey, that’s hurtful. While you were digging ditches, I was digging ditches for the Witches.

Watching you today, I think if you hadn’t been so stubborn, you’d have been digging ditches with me. Me in front, you behind.”

“Wow… just thinking about it pisses me off. I’d want to kill you if we made eye contact.”

Exchanging silly jokes and chuckling made them feel at ease.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Takasho asked.

“Oh, right. Did you get permission from your girlfriend to work here?”

“Huh?”

“It’s still a host bar, after all. Wouldn’t she be jealous?”

Jealous?

Permission?

It was something he hadn’t even considered.

“…Shouldn’t it be fine? I’m not doing anything wrong.”

Takasho blinked a few times, then shook his head vigorously.

“Our Shin Siwoo. You really have changed. Well, a man born a man shouldn’t be confined to one place. Since you’re here, why not aim for Gehenna maternity hospital VIP?”

“Stop talking nonsense and get some sleep. We have to prepare for business from tomorrow morning.”

“You’re right. Aren’t you going to sleep?”

“I don’t need to sleep now. Even if I’m really tired, just a little sleep is enough.”

“Hey, hey, have you really become a Witch?”

Takasho didn’t really care whether Siwoo had become a Witch or not.

He just shrugged his shoulders and stood up.

“Come hang out sometimes even after work. You’re the only friend I can talk to openly.”

“If you write me a list of things to buy, I’ll bring them next time.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

After a light farewell, Takasho staggered off to his quarters.

Magic is a complex discipline; it’s not something you can master just by being smart.

Many Witches liken Magic to composing an intricate orchestral piece.

It’s not just about systematic knowledge; artistic inspiration is also crucial.

Isn’t it said that the sublimation and transcendence of the spirit come from art?

Thus, from their days as Apprentice Witches, Witches devote themselves to cultural studies like music, art, and dance.

Diana Yesod, who would succeed Lucy Yesod, was also diligent in her weekly ballet lessons.

To be more precise…

Countess Yesod believed she was diligent.

“Phew… it’s hot.”

The dance studio in Countess Yesod’s mansion, reserved for just one person.On both walls with ceilings over 4 meters high, enormous mirrors were installed.

From the dance studio spacious enough for futsal even if soccer would be pushing it, Diana's long sigh flowed out.

The cushion placed in the corner of that vast dance studio.

Diana sprawled on top of it, gathered into a circular nest-like shape.

The pure white tights that intermittently revealed skin damp with sweat, the leotard worn over them, and the beige toe shoes.

She was wearing a lovely ballet outfit that seemed like it would make Edgar Degas spring up from his grave to paint her if she passed by.

When Countess Yesod was peeking, she pretended to practice diligently, but the moment she realized she had left, she was taking a break.

"This is why I really hate exercise..."

Her topaz-colored eyes sparkled with displeasure.

Diana hated exercise.

The reason Diana, who wanted to sit still and just play the piano by tapping the keys, started ballet was purely because she was pushed into it by Countess Lucy's pressure.

It was a choice made for Diana, whose activity level would otherwise converge to that of a winter squirrel, but the person in question found it nothing but bothersome.

Now, just how bothersome and annoying is this thing called ballet?

Her neatly tied ash-gray hair, for once, becomes disheveled as if flowing down.

The stiff toe shoes squeeze her feet tight, tight.

Moreover, the sweat that beads on her collarbone after just one dance is utterly unpleasant.

And furthermore, this leotard and tights.

They cling so snugly to her body that looking in the mirror makes her feel unnecessarily embarrassed.

They might have been cute and liked when she was little, but for a grown lady to see them now, it raises the question, 'For whose benefit is she wearing this?'

"Anyway, today's activity is done."

Now she would laze around here for about 2 hours and then have lunch.

After lunch, she would take a nap, have teatime around 3, then go out to the garden to leisurely enjoy the cultured pleasures.

Then, after dinner, she would kill about 3 hours in the bath before going to bed.

As Diana was making her ambitious daily plan, she felt goosebumps rising.

A person who suddenly brushed past in the wall mirror.

Countess Yesod was glaring at Diana, who was playing hooky with her arms crossed.

"Uh... Mom?"

Diana belatedly tried to get up and pretend to practice, but the Countess was glaring at her daughter with a terrifying gaze.

It was already too late.

Moreover, today, she seemed to have come with determination, her momentum unusual.

"Diana, how long do you plan to stay like that?"

"I was just taking a short break. I'll practice again. Mom, want to see one of the moves I was practicing?"

"Do you take me for a fool? I saw you doing nothing for an hour right after I left! You promised to practice hard with me! Did I ask for that much?"

She tried to switch to her usual cute act, but Countess Yesod, still with her arms crossed, began pouring out scolding.

"Studying Magic is fine too, but I've told you repeatedly to do something outside! Huh? You only do ballet for about four hours a week! Did you want to be lazy about this too?"

"...I'm sorry, Mom..."

Diana hung her head low.

Her hands, as if having lost face, had nowhere to go.

Her shoulders, slumped as if deflated, showed a perfect posture of repentance.

"My feet hurt so much while practicing, that's why. I won't lie in the future..."

Her thin, trembling voice was full of a sob.

Tears flowing drop by drop down Diana's slender chin.

Plan B, the repentant tear act, pulled out when Plan A, the cute act, fails.

It was also Diana's nearly undefeated special move.

Countess Yesod, who had come fully prepared.

Even her fingers, firmly crossed in her arms, flinched and twitched.

If she had let her guard down just a little, she would have hugged and comforted her.

But she had to stay firm.

She couldn't let her grow up to be such a lazy child forever.

In fact, hadn't the age to be called a child long passed?

"Turn off the tears! I know all about it, so stop the act!"

"Sniff, it's not an act..."

Contrary to the claim that it wasn't an act, seeing the tear ducts shut off like a faucet being turned made Countess Yesod feel absurd.

"If I work hard from now on, it'll be okay, right?"

"Of course not! Laziness, lies, and on top of that, acting? Do you want to see your mom collapse?"

Her special move was ignored, and even frosty scolding followed.

She sensed that this situation wasn't something to be glossed over casually.

Soon after, from the Countess's mouth, a groundbreaking declaration fell that even Diana, who had roughly guessed, was startled by.

"Get out of the house."

"...What?"

Diana stammered in reply.

"O-outside?"

"Yes! If you stay cooped up at home every day, you'll just laze around and roll about! Better do it somewhere out of your mom's sight!"

"But... home is the most comfortable..."

"Sigh!"

Diana felt her insides burning.

Being told to go outside—she never thought such a terrifying punishment would be handed down.

This was because Diana possessed a passive ability where her stamina dropped in proportion to her distance from home.

Of course, no matter the punishment, Countess Yesod was a terrifying doting mother.

She certainly had no intention of completely driving Diana out of the house.

"Every day after breakfast, go outside and do something, then come back for dinner! Of course, you can't go to the bathhouse either!"

"From morning... until evening..."

"Starting today. Now! Immediately! Get out!"

"Yes... Mom..."

This time, it wasn't an act; Diana was genuinely dejected.

Looking at the adorable back of Diana's head as she stared at her toes, Countess Yesod felt her heart ache.

Having to put such a lovely daughter outside.

It felt as if her heart was being torn to shreds.

She wanted to hug her right away and repeatedly say, 'You know Mom loves you, right?' while soothing her.

"Hoo..."

But she had to endure.

Now, the Countess could at least nag beside her, but after passing on the Brand, wouldn't Diana have to survive this harsh world alone?

Chronic laziness is a disease.

If she could cure Diana's laziness, Countess Yesod was willing to do anything.

"Hang in there... our daughter..."

Watching Diana's back as she walked powerlessly from the dance studio to the fitting room, Lucy Yesod bit into a tear-soaked handkerchief.

Author's Note (Afterword)

A new illustration commission has been placed.

Spent a fortune.

Looking forward to it hehe.