City of Witches Chapter 352

“Shall we take a look?”

“Yes, I’ll undo it.”

Within the barrier fields layered like a croissant, Siwoo carefully undid the ribbons.

Simultaneously, the form of the Red Branch, which had been left to rot for a long time without proper use, was revealed.

This was the first time he had fully undone all the ribbons since obtaining it.

Because he never knew what influence the Distortion Field might have, he had always sealed it by layering new ribbons over the corroded ones.

A weapon formed seamlessly from the spearhead, shaped like a willow leaf, to the spear shaft.

True to its name “Red Branch,” it was an ominous crimson, like freshly spilled blood.

-Rip!

And the moment all the ribbons were stripped away.

As if waiting, a red waveform spread.

Simultaneously, a barrier as thin as the fine roots of a plant rushed menacingly toward the Countess.

Like a venomous snake lunging at the trainer who had confined it in a jar.

-Clang!

But Countess Yesod’s reaction to it was as composed as a skilled trainer, overflowing with ease.

Before Siwoo could even be surprised, the barrier field enveloping the laboratory instantly narrowed its radius and wrapped around the crimson spear.

As the same thing happened a few more times, the Red Branch became encased in 19 thin barrier fields, and its rampage was also halted.

“What happened?”

“Because I only blindly shielded it, the Distortion Field that had been constantly emitted and accumulating inside spread. Like shaking a bottle of champagne vigorously and then opening it, causing the foam to burst out.”

Though the Countess spoke as if it were trivial, Siwoo felt a chill.

It was only because the Countess blocked it so effortlessly, but the density of that Distortion Field and barrier just now was far from ordinary.

If Siwoo had carelessly undone the ribbons alone, he would have suffered considerable injury.

As he pondered the crisis he had unintentionally avoided, a sudden question arose.

“Until now, it somehow worked with just the basic shielding method. If the Distortion Field had been accumulating, wouldn’t it have already been beyond my suppression formula to contain?”

“It must have been waiting. To burst out all at once the moment your guard slackened even slightly.”

“…….”

But the Countess’s answer only left Siwoo bewildered.

Waiting?

The Red Branch is merely a Ceremonial Artifact.

A tool.

Yet, judging by her nuance, wasn’t she speaking as if this “Red Branch” had a will of its own?

Despite Siwoo’s doubts, Countess Lucy merely scrutinized the branch carefully.

She even reached her hand into the barrier field to touch it directly.

“This… has already surpassed the category of what should be classified as an Artifact or Ceremonial Artifact. Amazing. For a single Ceremonial Artifact to harbor such constantly shifting patterns of barrier fields… It’s struggling to break free from my restraint. What is its material? Probably not a substance that exists in this world, right?”

Her elegant voice held a mix of the Witch’s unique curiosity and admiration.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Ordinary ‘Ceremonial Artifacts’ are ultimately just tools. They only move passively according to processes pre-input or designed by the user.”

When Yesod withdrew her hand from the barrier field, Siwoo couldn’t help but be startled.

Because one of her fingers was severely twisted, as if it had suffered a compound fracture.

A mutation had occurred as the composition of her Spirit Body became “distorted.”

“But this is a bit different. It’s like a virus reacting to an immune system? Even without separate commands, it tries to contaminate its surroundings in various ways. Enough to believe it’s a Witch cursed and transformed into a spear.”

“Huh? Now that you mention it…”

Hearing that, Siwoo also began to suspect something.

The Cowardly Witch had sacrificed countless human souls and connections to draw out the Red Branch’s performance to its utmost.

To the best of his knowledge, he earnestly explained it to the Countess.

“…Could the result be something like a creepy evil spirit dwelling within it…”

“Hoho, surely not. There’s no such thing as an evil spirit. But I understand it’s a special Ceremonial Artifact.”

As if she had heard an amusing joke, the Countess laughed and cast magic again.

Her abnormally twisted finger returned to its original state.

Even afterward, the Red Branch occasionally spewed barriers and struggled within the barrier field, but the Countess effortlessly defended against it all.

“Good. It’s a research subject that even I feel motivated to study for the first time in a while.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Then, shall we coordinate the schedule? Five days a week, excluding holidays and the day before.

Please serve as Diana’s tutor for at least four hours a day.

After Diana’s education, two hours of private tutoring with me each day. On holidays, I’ll make time to assist with Mr. Shin Siwoo’s research.”

A 24-hour workweek for Countess Yesod’s lessons + research assistance.

It was such favorable terms that he wondered if it was okay to accept them so cheaply.

Just from that brief scene earlier, he could tell how deeply versed she was in Barrier Magic.

Siwoo readily nodded.

“I’ll do that.”

Seeing Siwoo nod, the Countess smiled and removed her glove.

Then, she extended her hand.

“In our family, we celebrate like this when a Contract is concluded.”

“A handshake?”

“That’s right.”

Siwoo grasped the Countess’s outstretched hand.

It was an incredibly warm and soft hand, like that of a silver fish.

“Well then, I look forward to working with you starting tomorrow.”

“I look forward to it as well. Ah! And I’ll seal the Red Branch for you.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

The Countess willingly helped seal the Red Branch and then left the mansion.

It was already nearing the first week of Diana’s reclusive life.

Like a vampire whose VP decreases when exposed to sunlight, she had drawn the curtains darkly and was curled up in her blanket.

How babies are made.

How the reproductive process between men and women actually occurs.

How low a Witch could sink for mere pleasure.

The sexual knowledge she gained through her mother’s authored “Perverted Deliveryman” brought an earth-shattering level of shock to Diana.

At first, she was simply horrified and disgusted.

She even felt deep disillusionment toward her mother due to the vulgar and excessively stimulating content.

Her mother, who had tirelessly preached that Witches, chosen to pursue the truth of the Magic Path, especially nobles, must uphold chastity and proper conduct… was actually the author of dozens of such books!

She felt a level of rejection bordering on nausea.

However.

If she had felt only rejection and disgust, that would be a lie.

“…….”Even after sneaking into the secret room for the first time, Diana continued to sneak into her mother's study several more times.

It was to read the remaining parts of The Lewd Deliveryman.

If it was dirty and repulsive, she could just avert her eyes and avoid it.

There was no need to peer into the abyss.

But she was curious.

Every day, she would press her head into the pillow thinking, "Starting tomorrow, I just won't go," yet her eyes would grow wide and alert.

What kind of utterly depraved and explicit content could possibly be waiting further on?

This time, she couldn't overcome her curiosity about what vulgar exchanges the witch and the deliveryman in the novel might have.

In the end, she read everything up to the currently written part of The Lewd Deliveryman Volume 3.

"This world... isn't beautiful...."

What surfaced in Diana's mind was the last scene she had read.

Though she had only read it as text, her excellent imagination almost visualized the scene as it played out in her head.

It was the scene where the witch and the deliveryman made love.

Outrageously, it was right next to where the witch's Apprentice Witch was sleeping.

'Ah, the child is sleeping... Please move somewhere else....'

'Your upper mouth says that, but your lower mouth is being honest, isn't it? Isn't it squeezing me tight like this?'

'No! That's not it!'

Whenever she recalled scenes from the novel like this, her heart would pound as if she had an arrhythmia.

Even though she was just lying still, her hands and feet tingled as if she had been outside on a winter's day and then sat before a warm fireplace.

That tingling sensation crawled all over her body like ants.

According to the descriptions in the novel...

This was excitement or sexual desire.

In truth, such sensations were a completely unknown realm for Diana.

Therefore, she couldn't define that sensation, which lay on an ambiguous boundary like the color of a jewel beetle.

"Ugh..."

Diana buried her head even deeper into the pillow.

"There's no way."

First, she denied it.

The values Diana had built up throughout her life, and the stereotypes instilled by Countess Yesod's educational views, were meeting new knowledge and causing a chemical reaction.

Amidst recalling the novel's content, struggling to forget it, growing curious again, and feeling disappointed in herself for harboring curiosity about such vulgar material...

Another day of Diana's life was passing by.

-Knock knock knock

A knocking sound was heard.

Since Diana had issued a guest expulsion order even to her personal maid, the person outside the door was naturally Countess Lucy.

"Daughter, may I come in?"

"...Yes."

Her heart felt heavy.

Ever since reading the novel, she had no idea what expression to wear when facing her mother.

Wasn't that why she had been avoiding their shared dinners for the past few days?

"The morning sun is so lovely today. Why are you staying in such darkness?"

"...This is more comfortable."

Countess Lucy approached Diana's bed with heavy, concerned steps.

She then pulled up a chair and sat by the bedside.

Lucy gently stroked Diana's head with a tender, affectionate voice.

"Diana, has it been difficult lately because Mommy has been pushing you too hard?"

"...It's not that."

"No, I think Mommy has been too stubborn until now. It was out of a desire for my beloved, beautiful daughter to do well... But I thought it might have been a burden for you. Mommy is sorry."

That gentleness was something her mother had always shown.

In fact, she was completely off the mark.

But seeing her mother apologizing unnecessarily with such warm words, even the filial daughter Diana couldn't just keep turning her back.

Though she hesitated a little, Diana slowly turned her body to face the Countess.

At the corner of the Countess's mouth was the gentle smile of a caring mother, and at the corners of her eyes, glistening tears had formed.

"My goodness, it's so good to see your face after so long. Come here."

"Yes."

As the Countess stretched out her arms, Diana was enveloped in her embrace.

"Oh my! Who did you take after to be this adorable! You rascal! You rascal!"

"M-Mom! That tickles..."

After the farce of Diana feeling embarrassed by the shower of kisses on her cheeks and the Countess beaming a wide smile ended,

the Countess cleared her throat and brought up the main point.

"Anyway, for our dispirited daughter, Mommy has prepared a surprise gift."

"A gift?"

A sudden gift?

It was bewildering, but there was no reason not to like it.

"Yes, it's a gift you haven't received until now. I think you'll like it too. Please come in."

"Yes."

-Thud thud thud

Following a deep male voice of acknowledgment, the sound of dress shoes echoed.

It didn't take long for Diana's eyes, nestled in the Countess's embrace, to grow wide.

"It's been a while. Lady Diana Yesod. I am Shin Siwoo, newly appointed as your private tutor."

Impeccable butler attire and hair swept back.

A man bowing respectfully in annoyingly neat clothing.

Standing there was Diana's greatest nemesis and formidable opponent in life.

The male witch who had delivered both humiliating defeat and a victory in hospitality at the Host Bar.