City of Witches Chapter 359

There’s a saying that seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times.

Learning through theory and listening to explanations is also a good way to indirectly absorb new knowledge.

But there are things that cannot surpass the intuitive experience of being directly imprinted upon your eyes and senses.

The moment the Countess shared her mental imagery, a new horizon I had never known before opened up.

Elements that had remained vague concepts were being redefined anew.

“Ah…”

Making ambiguous concepts clear.

Making indistinct systems distinct.

Making blurred standards sharp.

A missing puzzle piece had been placed in my hand.

The expansion of my magical perspective, exploding from mere ‘awareness.’

For a very brief moment, I even felt the illusion that the world as seen by Lucy Yesod and Siwoo’s own landscape were overlapping.

It felt as if my brain were vibrating.

The thrill of ‘realization’ that surged from my toes to the crown of my head blurred even the sensations in my limbs.

“Hhh…”

What halted Siwoo’s thoughts, which were expanding like spreading roots, one link leading to another, was none other than the strange sigh of the Countess held in his embrace.

As if that were the turning point, his consciousness shifted, as though the channel of his thoughts had changed.

From the parts not touching the Countess’s bare skin, the cold air of a winter night, untouched by the fireplace’s warmth.

The hard floor supporting his weight beneath his feet became perceptible.

In stark contrast, the warm heat of the Countess pressed against his chest.

From the slender, sweet-looking female body he had unconsciously clutched tightly, he also felt a blissful softness.

Was it due to the dizzying thrill and the resulting vertigo?

His arms, which had merely been embracing her from behind, were now tightly wrapped around Countess Lucy’s waist and chest.

“…Uh.”

And most troublingly.

The object that had hardened with a rush of blood was now unmistakably buried between her buttocks.

Of course, no matter how much of a researcher Siwoo was, he wasn’t a pervert who felt sexual excitement from making a great discovery.

This was because, without realizing it, Siwoo had forgotten to breathe through his mouth and had inhaled the Countess’s body scent once or twice.

His head cooled as if cold water had been splashed on him again.

This seemed to have crossed a line.

The Countess had allowed close contact with Siwoo solely to show him her mental imagery.

So, what excuse could he possibly offer for this shameless lower body and his two arms? His vision darkened at the thought.

“S-sorry!”

As if he were embracing a burning piece of wood, Siwoo hastily released the Countess’s body.

Fortunately, perhaps due to the shock or because he hadn’t inhaled her scent deeply, the sexual urge wasn’t strong.

As he stumbled back a few steps in a fluster, the Countess glanced back subtly.

“Your face is red.”

“I-it’s definitely not what I intended, believe it or not. Especially not the Countess’s…”

“It’s fine. We’re not children, after all. I understand it’s a natural physiological phenomenon.”

The Countess, letting out a light chuckle, adjusted the shoulder strap of her dress that had been disheveled by Siwoo’s rough embrace.

Even that small movement was endlessly alluring.

“I thought someone as handsome as Mr. Siwoo would have plenty of experience with women. You’re quite innocent.”

Seeing her act so nonchalantly, he could finally let out a sigh of relief.

Even with ten mouths, he’d have nothing to say, but her treating it as a simple mishap was more than he could ask for.

“Oh my, I didn’t mean to tease you.”

Countess Lucy covered her mouth with her hand, feigning mild surprise.

Then, with a slightly mischievous smile, she added,

“No, since Mr. Siwoo also tried to play a naughty trick on me, we’re even. Let’s consider the apology null and void.”

“I really, really didn’t intend that…”

It wasn’t like he was in middle school to get this flustered over a mere back hug.

The problem was that he had pressed his erection against a woman he wasn’t even close with.

Moreover, against a Countess.

Moreover, against someone who had allowed somewhat intimate behavior to help Siwoo.

“So, what did you feel?”

As if to ease Siwoo’s discomfort, the Countess sat back on the sofa and asked.

The scenery he had just seen.

He tried to express its grandeur, but…

“Besides the sensation of my buttocks, I mean.”

“…Sorry.”

It seemed her teasing wasn’t over yet.

Thus, the flustered Siwoo and the Countess who enjoyed teasing him.

Naturally, it took twice as long as usual for him to share his impressions of Barrier Magic and for the lesson to end.

“Thank you again for today. And about the unfortunate incident in the middle… I hope you can forget it…”

“Hmm? I’ll consider it based on your actions.”

Siwoo left after being teased until the very end.

After watching his retreating figure—having bowed at a perfect 90-degree angle with utmost politeness before exiting the room—the Countess let out a long sigh.

“Phew…”

It was a hot sigh that made the chilly night air seem pale in comparison.

“I’m such a fool.”

The Countess wore a bitter, self-deprecating smile.

She retrieved her best friends for when witches were unbearably bored—brandy and an on-the-rocks glass—from the cabinet.

In truth, holding hands tightly would have been enough physical contact to share mental imagery.

But Yesod deliberately removed his top and pressed her back against his embrace.

There was no need for a tedious excuse as to why.

It was because the memory of those firm muscles and abs she had touched before lingered in her mind.

It’s not like they were doing anything bad between two grown adults, so isn’t this much acceptable?

It was a hot, pounding sensation she hadn’t felt in a long time.

Even now, her back, where they had touched, felt as if it were burning with the thumping heartbeat and body heat.

“Besides…”

When Lucy pulled his arm and pressed close, that thing that had settled firmly between her buttocks…

There were barriers like her dress, panties, another layer of panties, and suit pants, but there was no need to dwell on it.

It was a penis boasting a heft that even surprised the Countess in that moment.

To think he hid such a monstrous thing beneath that always polite and calm demeanor that captivated those around him.

But it was merely an accident, and half of it was induced by the Countess herself, so she didn’t think much of it.

Just fleeting impressions like ‘Really firm,’ ‘Really big.’

However, the mishap didn’t end there.

When the Countess was sharing her mental imagery—specifically, near the very end of the sharing—he suddenly began to move.

As if refusing to let her escape, his thick arms tightly wrapped around her waist.

Slipping his other arm under her chest as if to support it, he explored her body even more, making escape impossible.

And then began the pressure of his hips pressing firmly against hers.

It was too large to be called just a penis.

It was incredibly big, thick, heavy, and hard.

It was nothing short of an iron ingot.Even when it was soft, she had anticipated it, but the Countess, now truly feeling the reality of that dazzling sensation, found herself breathing heavily without realizing it.

Because she thought that if they took off their clothes, it would be no different from lewd contact that would immediately lead to similar acts.

If he hadn’t quickly pulled away in the middle….

“No.”

No.

No matter what, he wouldn’t have crossed that line so lightly.

Countess Lucy gazed at a mirror on one side of the study.

Reflected in the mirror was a Witch of perfect beauty, worthy of being called a goddess.

As soon as Siwoo pulled away, he apologized to the Countess.

So, that series of actions must have been something Siwoo did as if bewitched without even realizing it.

Remembering how he had flustered and fumbled when Count Yesod teased him made her smile once again.

“Hmph, how cute.”

It was a prejudice, but with such a handsome face, she had thought he was the type of man who poked around here and there.

But contrary to appearances, it seems he’s quite the innocent fool.

Isn’t it the charm of this body that even such an innocent fool unconsciously reaches out his arms?

“Really, I’m too fatal for my own good.”

Flashing her bulked-up confidence, Countess Yesod once again recalled that firm, healthy physique that had wrapped around her body.

The Countess touched the figurine on the bookshelf, opening the passageway to the secret chamber.

Today is a day brimming with inspiration.

She wanted to pour out this feeling completely onto the blank pages.

As planned, Diana kept her promise with Siwoo.

After receiving about four hours of Witchboard feedback yesterday, she followed him out today for outdoor activities.

She had prepared various means in case he became stubborn, but she was surprised when he obediently trailed along without protest.

“Are we still far?”

“We’re almost there. This should be a good spot.”

Diana, dressed for the outing with a white parasol, looked radiant, perfectly fitting the term ‘young lady.’

It seemed odd to carry a parasol in November, but perhaps that was the secret to the mother and daughter’s fair skin.

The spot Siwoo had chosen for the picnic was the lower reaches of the Rabbit River, which runs long between Renomond Town and Border Town.

It was a pretty river flowing majestically between hills covered with dense maple trees.

The carpet of fallen leaves, the cool but pleasant mountain breeze, the clear sky and sunlight, and the jade-like water surface shimmering like scales—just looking at it all was refreshing, but Diana still wore a sullen expression.

“Let’s go.”

This was an uninhabited zone belonging to no town.

As a path untouched by human hands, it was rugged.

“I can go by myself.”

Siwoo reached out to escort her to the riverbank, but Diana shook her head vigorously and bounced down the sloping hillside.

Judging by the snail-like large backpack and the long fishing rod sticking out from it, it was clear that the reason for bringing Diana here today was for fishing.

Rather than forcing Diana into some sporty outdoor activity, fishing, where one just sits and waits, was a better way to encourage activity.

So last night, at the supply store in Border Town, he bought fishing gear and carefully considered the location.

It wasn’t just to continue receiving lessons from Countess Yesod.

Isn’t it better to handle given tasks thoroughly?

While Diana stood blankly, Siwoo set up a folding chair and offered her a seat.

“They say this spot is half water, half fish. As you probably expected, today is a fun fishing time.”

“It already took 45 minutes just to get here. Considering the return trip, I’ll only do it for exactly thirty minutes.”

“Yes, then I’ll get ready quickly.”

Today’s fishing was lure fishing.

Back when Siwoo was in college, he had tried it three or four times after following a friend.

Based on that experience, he explained it to Diana as best he could.

“I’ve adjusted the sinker weight. You hold this part like this, cast the hook, then let it drift with the current, and finally reel it in.”

Being downstream, unless you go toward the center, the water is shallow, so you have to wade in until the water reaches your calves.

Diana, who had been listening earnestly to the explanation of the fishing rod’s structure and how to hold it, was startled to see Siwoo rolling up his pants and splashing into the water.

“Wait, you have to go in that far?”

“Yes, the surrounding water is shallower than expected, so I think the line will keep getting caught on the riverbed.”

Diana made a truly displeased face and skimmed her finger over the river water.

It was cold.

If she took off her shoes and went in, it would be even colder.

“I’m not doing it. You didn’t say anything about this.”

“Usually, if there are rocks or something, you step on them and stand… but there aren’t any here.”

“Who goes into the river water in this weather? I’ll just watch, so you do it yourself.”

With that, Diana plopped down on the folding chair Siwoo had set up and crossed her arms.

He tried to persuade her as much as possible, but the time limit was only 30 minutes.

It was Siwoo who had lacked prior research, so he had nothing to say.

“Hmm… that’s a shame. Understood, then.”

It would have been nice if they could have done it together since they came all this way.

Feeling inwardly disappointed, Siwoo cast the float onto the flowing river water.