City of Witches Chapter 350

Countess Lucy Yesod, who is regarded as having achieved accomplishments surpassing any previous Yesod in both wealth and Magic.

The Countess had many worries lately.

Her only concern, needless to say, was her beloved daughter.

Diana Yesod's chronic laziness.

Still, things had been quite good recently.

After tearfully driving Diana out of the house.

Not only had Diana diligently roamed outside for over a week, but she had even shown herself studying alone in her room.

However.

"Daughter…."

"I don't think I'll eat dinner tonight…."

"What's wrong with you lately? Are you sick somewhere?"

"No…. I'm sorry. I'll go to sleep first."

Diana lay on the bed, turning her back, not even looking at Lucy, and replied in a weak voice.

Lucy, who considered patting her shoulder but ultimately left the room quietly.

Diana's reclusive illness, which had been in remission while she diligently engaged in various activities more earnestly than anyone for a while, had now flared up severely.

This was the true nature of her recent, newly arisen worry.

Not only did she not step outside the house, but she also skipped meals and didn't show her face during tea time.

It was as if a second puberty or rebellious phase had arrived; her tendency to avoid Lucy was unmistakable.

"Sigh…."

Had pushing her too hard lately been the problem?

The Countess sighed softly and blamed herself.

Of course, she had enforced it all for Diana's own good.

A Witch's life is long.

Long and arduous.

They must devote themselves to Magic, which seems impossible to advance in even with a lifetime of dedication.

Struggling with the unwavering resolve to overcome, even when thick walls present frustration and failure, is precisely a Witch's life.

Therefore, it cannot be solved by outstanding magical talent or intuition alone.

Gaining experience in various aspects and having leisure activities to rest when tired and weary are essential.

If one cannot contemplate how joyful and beautiful this world is, and how clues to profound mysteries lie hidden even within those decadent pleasures, then no matter how great one's talent, it is meaningless.

If Diana were to become a Witch like this, it was obvious she would seek an Apprentice Witch within a few years at most….

"What on earth should I do…."

Countess Lucy headed to her private library with a gloomy heart.

Suddenly, one thing came to mind.

"Come to think of it, when she met that male witch, Diana was more lively than ever before, wasn't she?"

That Diana was like a different person.

According to news from surrounding sources, she had been visiting that man day after day to compete on the Witchboard.

She remembered being a little surprised to hear that their skills were quite evenly matched, with wins and losses being similar.

Anyway, since learning that fact, the Countess had been keeping an eye on his movements in her own way.

It was just to the extent of hearing various rumors, thinking there was no way Diana would fall for some infatuated man first, but just in case.

"Perhaps…?"

Come to think of it, that male witch had quit being a host.

Thinking about it, the timing of his retirement and the timing of Diana becoming reclusive at home and losing her motivation coincided exactly.

She didn't know the exact circumstances….

But if it could revive Diana's motivation, the Countess was more than willing to wrap him up in a gift box and present him as a gift.

"Well, let's put this issue aside for a bit…."

Today was a rare day with some free time after busy work.

The Countess manipulated a decorative piece in her private library to open a secret room.

The cozy, narrow writing studio with its pleasantly tickling scent of ink was Countess Lucy's playground for her secret hobby.

"Hehehe… How long has it been?"

The Countess sat down on the chair and picked up a pen.

Her brightly beaming face, having forgotten her worries and concerns, proved just how much she was enjoying herself.

Writing sensual novels was a hobby Lucy had secretly enjoyed for about ten years.

The currently serialized "Cruel Deliveryman" series, "Madame Butterfly" series, "Dangerous Game" series, "Paradise Lost" series, and dozens of standalone volumes.

As they dealt with the theme of 'Witches submitting to men,' she received some disapproving looks from certain Witches, but ironically, those very Witches who put on airs were the first to get their hands on new books when they came out.

They also received high praise and acclaim from the commoners within Gehenna, causing a stir with each new publication.

Of course, the process from writing to publication was conducted with great secrecy, so no one suspected these books were the work of Countess Yesod.

Yesod didn't want that either.

The Countess's pen danced unhesitatingly across the blank page, filling the margins.

"Then today… it's this scene~"

So why was the Countess devoted to such a vulgar hobby as writing sensual novels?

Lucy had a loved one in the past.

A loved one she couldn't forget even after decades had passed.

He melted Lucy's frozen heart, which was full of pride, with love as hot as fire and gifted her an affectionate love she wouldn't trade for anything.

And also the burning passion that could be felt in bed.

"Hmm… here… if I do it like this… it seems like it would be lewd…."

But time, cruel and heartless, took him away.

He showed the Countess a world she hadn't known and then vanished ephemerally, leaving the Countess alone, shuddering in loneliness.

But being with just any man would be a betrayal of him and a disgrace to a Witch.

So ultimately, she filled the hidden desires of a widow, which she could only conceal, by writing these sensual novels.

The Countess's hand, which had been writing for a while, stealthily crept inside her clothes.

Today as well, she devoted herself to her writing activities to forget the hungry night.

This morning.

After finishing training with Eloa, Siwoo returned to the laboratory.

The Jemernai Count Family had over 20 Magic research laboratories, and Count Albireo gladly lent one to Siwoo, their guest.

Thanks to that, he had completely revised his plan to stay in Gehenna for only about a week and was now focusing on deciphering the Red Branch, based on the abundant experimental equipment.

"Phew, it's disgustingly hot."

It was gradually becoming winter in Gehenna too.

It was also the season Siwoo had grown to detest during his time as a slave.

But after having a physical dialogue with his Master, his upper clothes were always soaked with sweat.

It was too bothersome to go shower, so he took off his top and roughly wiped here and there with a wet towel.

As the warm water touched his heated skin, steam rose as if he had opened the Eight Gates Transformation.After gulping down water to replenish fluids, he ambled toward the Red Branch secured in its restraints.

A crimson spear, wrapped tightly in a Black Ribbon inscribed with suppression formulas, floating weightlessly.

If not for this, the Distortion Field it emitted indiscriminately 24/7, 365 days a year would cause all sorts of trouble.

A Spirit Body would likely disintegrate, and Magic Artifacts would break.

He had recently confirmed that the music box Odil had gifted him was also ruined.

Since Artifacts themselves are as intricate as sophisticated electronic equipment, he suspected it might have suffered excessive strain during the confrontation with the Enemy Knight in the past.

"Shall I check the samples for today then?"

While also intending to examine the Barrier Field patterns accumulated over the day, he retrieved a battle magic paper from beneath the levitating Red Branch.

It wasn't just any battle magic paper; it had been specially treated with alchemical solutions and modified to record even subtle magical waveforms.

"Hmm..."

The traces of the Distortion Field spreading like tree rings on the white battle magic paper.

Even after comparing it with the samples collected so far, there was no particular improvement.

"As expected, I'm still clueless..."

Meaning he had no guesses or discovered clues whatsoever.

Truthfully, no matter how magically gifted one might be, independently researching Magic outside one's specialization was an incredibly difficult task.

Let alone when it involved analyzing an Artifact of 'Ceremonial Artifact' grade.

"Excuse me."

As Siwoo, with a towel around his neck, was pondering while holding the battle magic paper.

Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice came from behind.

Well, it wasn't that unusual; Eloa dropped by occasionally, the bored Sharon, the lively Twins, and even Count Albireo Deneb passing by nearby visited sometimes.

Even though it was called a research lab, it had half become a meeting plaza.

However, the person Siwoo saw when he turned around was a Witch he was meeting for the first time, yet one exuding an intensely aristocratic aura.

Based on his Host Bar experience, he quickly inferred the other's status.

The overall impression was 'white.'

A corset made of whalebone and a bobbin lace dress through which skin subtly showed.

Stockings without a single blemish and a garter belt visible through the thin fabric.

Even a fan made of swan feathers—an attire so pure white it seemed fit for a wedding ceremony right away.

"I am honored to meet such a noble person."

Even within Gehenna, filled with old-fashioned Witches, those who adhered to such attire were mostly Orthodox Witches.

Furthermore, judging by the quality of the fabric and the state of her adornments, she was undoubtedly at least a baroness-level noble.

Her ash-toned hair, tied up and adorned with a pure white orange blossom, gleamed as if brimming with vitality all the way to the tips, despite its ashen hue.

He felt a sense of familiarity, and upon seeing the gaze that sparkled like topaz with a scarlet glint, he instantly grasped her identity.

She bore a striking resemblance to Diana Yesod, who had persistently challenged Siwoo for a while.

"You must be Countess Lucy Yesod."

His heart raced for two reasons.

Anxiety—perhaps Count Yesod had come to reprimand him because his Apprentice Witch frequented the Host Bar?

And anticipation—maybe he could receive help with his stagnant Magic Research.

After all, the Yesod family was the unrivaled leader in Barrier Magic.

Thus, he decided to subtly test the waters.

"Do you know me?"

"Yes, I was deeply impressed while studying the Yesod Magic Field First Law you authored. I still refer to it frequently in my research."

This was the sugar-coated flattery honed through Host Bar work.

The key was to mix sincerity so the recipient of the flattery wouldn't perceive it as mere flattery!

Fortunately, Yesod responded with a pleased voice to Siwoo's smooth, flowing flattery.

"Oh? These days, many Witches, this one and that, are so preoccupied with applied Magic that they neglect pure Magic... You're a rare, earnest Witch. Even though you're a man."

"You flatter me."

Judging by how she accepted it, it seemed she hadn't come to interrogate him about the Host Bar incident.

"By the way... Do you always research in that attire?"

"Huh? Ah, my apologies. I just finished sparring."

Noticing the glance directed at him, Siwoo realized he was still shirtless.

Since becoming a Spirit Body, his physique had improved like a gymnast's.

After seriously beginning training with Eloa, dense, fine muscles had developed, reaching a point where even looking in the mirror made him think, 'Damn, he's handsome and has a great body.'

Still, being dressed like this in front of someone he just met felt inappropriate, so he quickly put on the clothes he had casually discarded nearby and firmly fastened the buttons on his wrists.

Countess Yesod, who had subtly averted her gaze until he dressed, stood beside Siwoo with calm steps.

"Hmm..."

Then, without a word, she idly fidgeted beside him, gazing at the Red Branch.

"Might I ask what business brought you here?"

"......"

Even to Siwoo's question, Countess Yesod didn't properly answer, suddenly turning to face him.

She was quite tall for a woman.

Without high heels, she'd probably be around 168 cm, similar to Diana.

Siwoo stepped back, wary of possibly inhaling her body scent.

And the Countess firmly grabbed his collar.

While Siwoo was taken aback by her sudden action.

The Countess spoke with a voice as sweet and sticky as chocolate.

Licking her lips, shining with bright red lipstick, in stark contrast to the pure white hue from her skin to her attire.

"Your buttons are fastened wrong."

And she began undoing Siwoo's buttons one by one.

He wasn't a newlywed retying a tie before work, so he was flustered by the abrupt development.

Before he knew it, her white hand rested between his now wide-open shirt.

"Does this research lab... get frequent visitors?"

With those well-manicured fingertips, she scratched down his chest as if clawing, throwing an overt advance.

If it's a place not often frequented by people, let's have some fun...

That seemed to be the general meaning.

Sudden advances were familiar.

At the Host Bar, about ten people a day tried to lure Siwoo to bed.

Even if the rice cake is tasty, don't gobble up rice cake offered by others... He had refused with that mindset, but.

Who would have thought a Witch of Countess rank would act so recklessly.

It was a scene that felt eerily familiar.

Yes.

It was a situation remarkably similar to what Count Albireo had proposed not long ago.

Coincidentally, the circumstances were also quite alike.Albireo had seduced Siwoo back then to gauge how easily he would succumb to another woman's temptation while being with the Twins....

It seemed Count Yesod was conducting some kind of test, likely to see if Siwoo had been spouting nonsense to Diana.

"Count Gemernai often visits me. And I still haven't received an answer as to why the Count comes to see me."

"Is that so? My apologies."

As expected, Yesod smoothly withdrew, tidying her demeanor as if to ask when she had ever made such a transparent inquiry.

The atmosphere, which had resembled a lonely widow groaning through the night from longing, vanished cleanly.

"Ahem."

After a brief, empty cough.

Count Yesod stated her original purpose for coming here.

"The reason I came here is because I have a proposal I'd like to make to you."