City of Witches Chapter 64

Around 10 PM.

Siwoo, who wasn't much of a drinker to begin with.

Trying to keep up with Takasho's pace, honed from his host work, he ended up vomiting up the precious liquor in the latter half, thoroughly wasted.

Staggering, he walked towards Amelia's lodging.

Until just now, his head was just fuzzy, and he only thought he should sleep quickly, but seeing the lodging now made him tense.

The thing is, today he refused Amelia's proposal and went on an outing with the Twins.

What would Amelia think seeing her slave crawling in late at night, dead drunk?

Siwoo, who had been shrinking back for no reason, somehow felt confidence returning.

After all, this tiresome slave life will be settled within about a week.

The life of constant anxiety about displeasing Amelia is over!

Of course, until the Countess concludes perfect negotiations with Amelia, he still needs to be careful with his words and actions.

Siwoo, holding his breath so Amelia wouldn't notice, quietly opened the door and slipped in.

And then he flinched in surprise.

From outside, all the lights were off, so he thought Amelia had gone somewhere or was sleeping in her room.

But in a corner of the lobby, Amelia was reading a book with a single candle lit.

"......."

Her sky-blue eyes, which didn't lose their brilliant shine even in the dim light, glanced at Siwoo.

It couldn't be, but her posture seemed as if she had been waiting, making Siwoo feel oddly guilty.

He'd never seen her like this, here at this hour.

No, actually, Siwoo had rarely seen Amelia outside her research building or her room.

Should he greet her?

"I'm back."

He greeted as politely as possible, paying close attention to his pronunciation.

"........"

Amelia quietly closed her book and continued to look this way without saying a word.

Could it be that Count Gemernai had already spoken to Amelia?

If she was deliberately waiting for Siwoo this late at night, that explanation made more sense.

His palms were sweaty.

"I have to work early tomorrow, may I go up?"

Only then did Amelia open her mouth.

"Cake."

And then silence again.

What did she mean by 'cake' out of the blue?

As Siwoo stood bewildered, Amelia slightly lowered her gaze and asked.

"Don't you want some cake?"

"Uh... um, yes."

Siwoo hesitantly walked towards the sofa where Amelia had been leaning as if lounging.

On the table, he saw a plate covered with a silver dome.

What's this about?

"There was some left."

"Thank you."

Siwoo sat down cautiously, feeling oddly self-conscious.

He was even careful about breathing, lest Amelia frown at the smell of alcohol.

Even he thought it was a servile slave mentality.

Siwoo kept watching Amelia's expression.

Could she have waited all this time just to give this?

As Siwoo started eating the cake, Amelia opened her book again and continued reading.

The fact that she wasn't trying to have a conversation and didn't seem to have any particular business was mysterious.

"Here."

He shoveled it in, not knowing if it was going into his mouth or his nose.

By the way, this probably would taste good even if eaten through the nose.

Just as Siwoo was almost finished with the cake, Amelia, who seemed utterly absorbed in reading, quickly extended something.

This time, it was cigarettes.

And not just one, but a whole pack.

He felt like he might throw up.

No matter how he thought about it, this seemed like what Count Gemernai had mentioned.

Otherwise, why would Amelia suddenly act like this?

Perhaps she would say she'd treat him well if he continued as her assistant, or maybe she'd nonchalantly say, 'I refused that proposal.'

"Th-thank you."

A strange feeling wouldn't leave him, so Siwoo finally asked subtly.

"Did you perhaps hear something from Count Gemernai?"

"Count Gemernai?"

That's not it.

Amelia only tilted her head slightly, as if surprised the name came from Siwoo's mouth.

Seeing her straight eyebrows move as if puzzled, it didn't seem like an act.

Amelia's attitude had become peculiarly strange for some time now.

They say a sudden change in a person's attitude is a sign of suicide.

Having lived about 150 years, maybe her research had stagnated, and she was preparing to pass on the Brand to an Apprentice Witch and tidy up her affairs?

He was even having thoughts like that.

This won't do.

His head was muddled with alcohol, preventing proper thinking.

Then, Amelia quickly murmured.

"Tomorrow, we're going to Border Town."

He described it as a murmur because the words were so fast and quiet.

Wondering if he misheard, he looked at Amelia, but she was calmly turning a page of her book.

"You mean I should accompany you to Border Town?"

"Yes."

"Yes, I'll prepare. Thank you for the cake and cigarettes."

Siwoo entered his room without letting his guard down, wary that Amelia might call him back and say, 'You didn't think you could escape from under me, did you? Hehe!'

"What kind of bolt from the blue is this..."

Amelia's eccentric behavior was getting worse by the day.

If she were just obviously tormenting him, he might understand, but constantly receiving lively gifts he never expected before only increased the sense of incongruity.

-Knock knock

Siwoo, about to shower before bed, was startled by the sudden sound.

It wasn't for any other reason.

"Yes! Coming!"

Amelia, who until yesterday had been flinging doors open like going in and out of a dam, had actually knocked!

To enter a mere slave's room!

Siwoo hastily put on the clothes he was about to take off and opened the door.

Amelia was looking up at Siwoo, holding a book in her arms.

Amelia stated the reason for her visit directly.

"It's been a while since our last outing, so I thought you might be tired. Tomorrow, you can rest until the afternoon."

He couldn't answer immediately, only blinking.

Did he hear that right?

"Well then, sleep well."

What? Sleep well?

Is that directed at me?

Without even looking at Siwoo, frozen stiff in shock, Amelia walked back to her room with haughty steps, thump thump.

It was incomprehensible.

Siwoo, finished with his shower, sat on the windowsill smoking a cigarette Amelia had given him.

He was pondering deeply what could be causing Amelia's unfathomable change in attitude.

First of all, it didn't seem like she heard anything from Gemernai.

A fancy lodging, a suit, pajamas, cigarettes, even cake, right after becoming her assistant?

Of course, that amount would be pocket change to Amelia.

But the important thing isn't the monetary value of the gifts.

It's the attitude towards Siwoo.It's somehow frightening how quickly she's changed, considering how long she acted like she couldn't stand me.

There are two most likely possibilities.

One is that Amelia has had a change of heart and is trying to make amends for all the trouble she's caused.

The other is that, despite appearances, she's the type of superior who starts taking good care of you the moment she considers you one of her own.

I do wonder why she's acting like this, but it's not a serious concern like before.

After all, this concern will soon become pointless.

Still, I've enjoyed quite the visual feast looking at Amelia all this time.

Once I return to the modern era, will I ever get the chance to converse with such a beautiful woman again?

Siwoo gradually sorted out his feelings.

Originally, he planned to stay quiet until Count Gemernai negotiated with Amelia, but he figured he should at least say something.

That he planned to leave this Gehenna soon.

That continuing as her exclusive servant would be difficult going forward.

He decided to show at least a minimum courtesy by also asking for her permission, if she would grant it.

"I'm too easy."

There were countless things that were difficult because of her, yet my heart softens after just a few days of her being nice.

It was getting late.

As Siwoo was about to close the window and go to bed, he noticed something hanging from the window frame.

Several strands of black thread fluttering gently in the wind, like a dreamcatcher.

No.

This is hair.

"Come out."

At Siwoo's call, the long, cascading hair lowered further.

As it did, a round forehead and mischievous purple eyes peeked out.

"Assistant, you're really slow to notice. I've been like this for five minutes."

There was no one else who would come all the way to his lodgings to play such a prank.

It was Odil, her body wrapped tightly in a cloak, hanging in the air like a bat.

It was only because she had visited before that he didn't have a heart attack; if this had been their first meeting, he might have.

"Couldn't you just come normally?"

"Should I go back and come through the main entrance then? I could also pay my respects to the Professor."

"Ugh, just come in."

As Siwoo opened the window wide, Odil swung her body and entered the room.

"Ta-da! I'm here too!"

Following behind, Odette, who had popped out from above the window, landed inside Siwoo's room.

The twins had invaded the room without giving him a chance to stop them.

Even if he'd had plenty of time, he probably couldn't have stopped them anyway.

"Before I ask why you're here, you're using the music boxes, right?"

"Of course, both are active."

Odil said, wiggling two fingers on each hand.

It was a cute gesture that only her adorable appearance could pull off.

"So..."

"Wait! We want to speak first."

The situation was still giving him a headache, no different from before.

No, with Odette added to Odil, it could be considered worse.

But perhaps because of the camaraderie forged from crossing life-and-death lines together today?

Siwoo was quite glad to see the twins.

"We all fell asleep in the carriage on the way back, so we couldn't really talk."

"That's right, we have so, so much we want to talk about with our Assistant."

Although the room had a somewhat austere feel due to its old-fashioned style, it instantly became lively with the energetic twins inside.

"You're not planning to send us back like this, are you?"

"On a day like today, we should chat all night!"

"That sounds good, but... my situation hasn't completely changed. It's still a problem if Lady Amelia finds out, right?"

Odil and Odette briefly looked at each other, then pointed in unison toward the window.

"We actually brought a carriage for you, Assistant."

"If it's a carriage, we can chatter noisily all night, right?"

"And there's a present too."

That doesn't sound bad.

After all, I can sleep in until tomorrow afternoon, and given Amelia's recent attitude, she probably won't scold me for being out late.

Although I'm a bit tired from the alcohol...

"Alright."

"Yay! You made a good decision!"

"Here, take my hand."

Odette jumped up and down with joy, while Odil opened the window and extended her hand.

They really are carefree.

I wish I had become friends with the twins sooner.

The thought crossed his mind unintentionally.

The three of them, using levitation magic, escaped through the window, crossed the mansion's wall, and headed toward the rose garden where Siwoo had been kidnapped by the twins before.

"When did you move the carriage here?"

"When we dropped you off earlier, we left it here and went home via Portal."

"I see."

They must have planned to come back for Siwoo from the start.

"Master seems busy today too, and thinking there aren't many days left to visit like this, I just couldn't stay still."

"Actually, we wish you could stay here forever, Assistant."

"Odette! We agreed not to talk about that."

"But we just became friends, and I don't want to say goodbye..."

The twins, who would normally walk at a distance, now huddled close to Siwoo on either side, bickering quietly.

Indeed, it's not about how much time you spend together, but what kind of time you share.

In just one day of trusting each other and risking their lives, Siwoo's relationship with the twins had advanced significantly.

Especially Odette, who originally wasn't this friendly, was now practically clinging to one of Siwoo's arms.

A flower in each hand.

A clichéd description came to mind.

Smelling the fresh body scent and pleasant fragrance rising from the twins' heads, Siwoo opened the carriage door.

A Word from the Author (Author's Note)

I had absolutely no intention of writing TS.

In case anyone misunderstood seriously, I'm setting the record straight!