City of Witches Chapter 77

After returning from escorting the Twins through the portal, Siwoo immediately fell into a deep sleep in bed.

Or tried to.

Had he slept for maybe four hours?

The regular lifestyle he had maintained for five years and the morning sunlight pouring in from the well-lit window roused Siwoo from his slumber.

-Clunk

At that moment, the sound of the main gate opening and closing.

The only people staying in this desolately large mansion were Siwoo and Amelia, so it was probably Amelia.

Siwoo's drowsy eyes snapped wide open.

It was because of the plan he had been contemplating since yesterday.

He had decided it was time to gradually reveal the truth to Amelia.

He would tell her that even if he had to hide his ability to use Magic, he had received an offer from the Jemernai Count Family to return to the Mortal Realm,

that he could go as soon as he received Amelia's permission,

and that while he was grateful for all she had done for him these past few days, he now wished to return to his hometown.

There were many dirty and petty things involved, but he thought it better to make his request before she heard the Count's proposal.

It could save Amelia's face, and since it was his own matter, wouldn't the probability of Amelia nodding in agreement be higher if he told her himself?

Or perhaps not.

Amelia, who would have normally let him go without a fuss, might find it galling that her former personal slave, who hadn't uttered a single word about such a significant matter, was relying on Gemernai's influence, and might order him to stay permanently.

"Hmm... It's possible."

Even though Amelia had become quite docile and gentle lately for some reason, he had witnessed the years up until now.

He wanted to minimize potential variables.

Even if he resorted to the backup plan of escape via Magic after Amelia's refusal, there was no guarantee the research would end successfully.

There was also the possibility that someone might discover it before then and halt the research itself.

Crucially, even if all of the above went smoothly, it would ultimately delay his escape by about a year.

He'd rather postpone his discharge for another year.

"Sigh..."

Siwoo rushed to the bathroom, washed his face, and tidied his hair.

Don't be nervous, just say it.

If it were the past, he might have felt a twinge of anxiety.

According to Takasho's theory, if Amelia had any fondness or possessiveness towards Siwoo, she would naturally have tried not to let him go.

But hadn't that theory been proven wrong?

From Amelia's offer of nighttime service, it was Siwoo who had been mistaken.

He couldn't go in his pajamas, so Siwoo changed into a handsome suit and headed for Amelia's room.

The door, which was always closed, was open.

Amelia's room, which formed a perfectly symmetrical structure with Siwoo's room.

He expected to find her sitting at the table as usual, but she was standing awkwardly by the side of the room.

With her back to the door, she was doing something strange.

Her head was tilted slightly upward, moving back and forth a little.

At first, he thought she was drinking water.

Until he heard the strange sound.

-Slurp slurp... slurp...

Siwoo's pupils contracted in shock.

Because what flashed through his mind was an act he could never connect to her.

Before Amelia could be seen in an even more compromising state, Siwoo instinctively called her name.

"Lady Amelia!"

What happened after that, as you know, was quite a mess.

The promise to go to Border Town together with Amelia in the afternoon vanished.

While rolling around in bed with a troubled mind, a paper airplane folded like a crane fluttered in.

It was a note informing him that all today's schedules were canceled.

Thanks to that, Siwoo, who got two consecutive days off, was thoroughly enjoying his laziness in bed, even sucking on his finger.

But his mind was still busy.

"What was that?"

Siwoo spent the whole day recalling the bizarre behavior of Amelia he had accidentally witnessed.

Why on earth was she doing that?

He didn't see it clearly, but it seemed like she had a long glass bottle in her mouth and was sucking on it.

And she was extremely flustered the moment she was caught.

Enough to break the glass bottle and the lamp.

The scene of Amelia's round back of the head moving back and forth was still vivid in Siwoo's mind.

It was reminiscent of...

"Huh?"

And then one thing came to mind.

The sound of a door closing that he had hurriedly heard while passionately embracing the Twins on their last night together.

He was the only one who heard that sound, but he had thought it was just the wind.

But that back of the head...

"It looks similar to when she was doing fellatio."

Only then did Siwoo realize the identity of the intense sense of déjà vu he had just felt.

And then he chuckled.

"Even towards the end of my service, I was half a lunatic. It's the same here."

He must have been so excited about the freedom he might soon taste that he was half out of his mind.

He needed to think rationally.

There wasn't just one or two things that didn't fit if he tried to force a wild guess.

She saw an Apprentice Witch doing that act, yet she said nothing and just let him sleep soundly?

Amelia, the Twins' supervising professor?

It wasn't just a matter of moral scandal; it was an issue concerning the Twins' future as Witches?

And even Amelia, who had glimpsed that scene, was imitating fellatio?

And doing it so pathetically with a glass bottle in her mouth?

"Ah, whatever."

Siwoo let out a hollow laugh.

It would be more realistic for Takasho to become a Witch after TS and come to suck his cock.

"Then..."

It was probably an important magical ritual or an act related to Amelia's research.

If not, then it was just a slightly strange habit.

He seemed to have heard that children who couldn't suckle breast milk when they were young still crave maternal affection even as adults... Was it something similar?

Honestly, neither scenario was easy to imagine.

In such cases, it's best to just keep your mouth firmly shut.

After all, Amelia, who had been caught in that act, had shown the most flustered expression he had ever seen.

It was the expression of someone who thought the elevator was empty, let out a refreshing fart, and then realized there was someone behind them.

"I should just pretend I didn't see it."

Was there any need to stir things up and create trouble right before his big move?

Thinking that, he forcefully suppressed the slightly suspicious parts.

It seemed too early to go and talk now.

Amelia would also be feeling awkward and embarrassed after being caught in such a humiliating situation.

Siwoo decided to take a nap and wait for the right timing.

Amelia stayed holed up in her room all day.

Because he had no idea how to face her.Her face burned at the thought of the disgraceful behavior he had witnessed, making it impossible for her to lift her head in front of him.

The sight of her sucking on a small glass bottle.

What must he have thought, seeing that foolish appearance?

That the dignity she had maintained as a Witch and a noble had shattered in an instant—she didn't need to put it into words to know.

"Ugh... ugh... ugh..."

Amelia, who had sprayed a heavy dose of fatigue-inducing Fragrance to forget all the humiliation, lay down on her bed.

It was to take a nap.

Because sleep, even for a moment, made her forget everything.

But despite the Fragrance's effect, sleep refused to come, and she found herself pointlessly crumpling the bedsheet instead.

So much had crumbled in just these past few days.

Everything Amelia had believed in, built up, and taken for granted.

Her worldview, accumulated over a long time, was thrown into confusion, and now she had even created a shameful history.

Her brain felt all jumbled up, as if it were in a shaker bottle.

"I can't go on like this."

Amelia abruptly sat up in bed.

One thing was certain: if she left things as they were, the image of herself in Siwoo's mind would be completely branded as a strange woman.

A pervert, or someone with a few screws loose.

She had no intention of letting that happen...! She had to give a proper explanation! Just as she was thinking this, Amelia suddenly realized something.

"Huh...?"

Why?

Why was she only worried about what Shin Siwoo thought of her?

Amelia was someone who had no interest whatsoever in what rumors circulated in social circles due to her words and actions, or what others gossiped about behind her back.

Those who wavered under others' evaluations could not become noble beings.

That Amelia's own recognition of herself was enough.

She had always believed that those who lacked such confidence were nothing but cowards.

According to that theory, what happened to Amelia yesterday was nothing.

Wasn't it just that she was caught doing a slightly odd action?

No matter what Siwoo thought of Amelia Marigold, 'I' am 'me'.

"......"

While Amelia, steeped in anguish, was engaged in self-reflection.

Bang bang bang

The sound of the doorknob knocking on the front door echoed.

It was extremely, extremely rare for a guest to visit Amelia, who had no one to call a friend besides Sophia.

The reason she knew the guest outside wasn't Sophia was because she didn't knock—she turned into a crow and tapped on the window instead.

"Well, this is good timing."

She didn't know who it was, but when her mind was this tangled, it was better to think about something else.

Snap!

With just a flick of her finger, all the fatigue-inducing Fragrance that had been weighing down her eyelids vanished.

Amelia walked leisurely to the lounge to greet her guest.

"It's a pleasant afternoon with lovely sunshine."

"I hope it's not rude to visit so suddenly without an appointment."

Standing at the door were two Witches wearing small hats with veils.

Or, to be precise, one Witch—Countess Gemernai Albireo and Deneb.

"No problem, please come in."

Amelia was momentarily dazed by the unexpected appearance.

Having thought it would be at most a professor or assistant from the Academy, she guided the Countess to the reception room with a puzzled expression.

"It's been five years since we last arranged a separate meeting like this, after entrusting the children to you."

"Have you been well since then?"

"...What brings you here?"

Normally, it would be proper to call Siwoo to serve, but Amelia didn't want to place him in front of Countess Gemernai.

Based on past events, she had sensed a potential connection between the Countess and Siwoo.

Amelia didn't hide her suspicious gaze.

There were more than one or two questionable things.

In response to Amelia's unexpectedly hostile attitude, the Countess, after exchanging glances, opened her mouth.

Many Witches knew that Amelia was unsociable and prickly, so she got straight to the point.

"Have you heard anything about Shin Siwoo?"

"Nothing at all."

"To state the conclusion first, I would like to receive the transfer of ownership rights for Shin Siwoo, Miss Marigold's exclusive slave."

Amelia's eyes widened.

She wondered why they had come so suddenly, and now it was an unexpected request to transfer ownership of Shin Siwoo.

"Why?"

She retorted with an unintentionally sharp voice.

Unperturbed, the Countess continued.

"During the recent field trip, Shin Siwoo saved Odil and Odette from a Homunculus attack."

"When I asked what he wanted in return, he said he wanted to return to the Mortal Realm. It's an unprecedented request, but we can handle that part ourselves..."

"We also plan to provide sufficient support so he can settle in well after returning. However, since Mr. Siwoo is Miss Marigold's exclusive property, we cannot proceed arbitrarily, so I came to seek your understanding."

So that had happened on the field trip day.

Amelia had confirmed from his research notes that Shin Siwoo desperately wanted to leave this place.

But she hadn't even imagined that such arrangements were being made behind the scenes.

"Of course, you entrusted him as an exclusive slave to keep him as your assistant."

"I'm not asking you to transfer him unconditionally. I've prepared sufficient compensation. We want to fulfill his wish as much as possible."

The Countess placed a jewel case she had prepared in advance on the table.

"Would you like to check it?"

---

A word from the author (Author's Note)

Hello, this is Withering Flower.

So many of you provided support in such a short time.

Before anything else, I bow my head repeatedly in gratitude.

Honestly, this is the first time I've received such a large amount of support, so I'm bewildered and pondering how to react...

It feels quite strange.

Reading each message left by every one of you, it truly sinks in that so many people are reading and enjoying my writing.

Regardless of the amount, someone postponed buying something they wanted to eat or something they wanted to purchase to support me.

No lie, I shed a few tears.

All I can offer in return is the clichéd answer of repaying you with even better writing.

If only I wrote incredibly fast, I'd do triple updates! Quintuple updates! Decuple updates!

I want to repay you like that, but...

While "The Devilish Teacher" took just 1-2 hours per chapter, "Witch City" seems to require more attention to various details, taking over 4 hours per chapter ㅜㅜ

Last weekend, after triple updates, I truly felt what soul-crushing exhaustion meant.

It felt like my brain juices were drying up completely...

I've rambled on too long.

Once again, I express my deep gratitude, and I will strive to return to regular updates starting tomorrow.Thank you for the overflowing affection and love. Thank you again and again.

I will work even harder.

- Thank you, ShrimpEaterShrimp-nim, for 5,000 coins.

I recently started playing a fun game called Honkai Impact 3rd, and I’ll use these as bullets for the gacha.

- Thank you, EarthIsRoundTea-nim, for 1,111 coins.

Lately, you haven’t been saying “Next chapter, please” after reading, huh.

- Thank you, Private-nim, for 1,004 coins.

I’m enjoying reading the novel.

- Thank you, Deona-nim, for 250 coins.

Amelia plans to slow her breathing.

- Thank you, Observer-nim, for 200 coins.

I’m the one who should be more thankful, hehe...

- Thank you, Voldemort-nim, for 200 coins.

Since Amelia is quite a complex character, I’ll try to interpret her well.

- Thank you, Nuoh-nim, for 101 coins.

I’m glad you’re enjoying it, and it makes me happy too.

- Thank you, JujiItchy-nim, for 101 coins.

I think I’m feeling a bit itchy too.

- Thank you, Eueung-nim, Neulbo-nim, MtBird-nim, RapSlave-nim, Eueung-nim, and Razgirz-nim, for 100 coins each.

I was a bit surprised that none of you who gave 100 coins left any comments, lol.

- Thank you, Lycos-nim, for 50 coins.

I’ll slowly show the presence of the current legal wife, Amelia.

- Thank you, DottedLine-nim, for 50 coins.

You’ve been following since the previous work.

- Thank you, Nanamiminami-nim, for 50 coins.

Amelia, I like her too. I want to be her slave as well.

- Thank you, Quna-nim, for 50 coins.

I’m relieved to hear you’re enjoying it.

- Thank you, Ice-nim, for 50 coins.

You’re holding a very rare badge.

- Thank you, Liaery-nim, for 30 coins.

I’ll work hard.

- Thank you, Wife-nim, for 30 coins.

I think this is the first time I’ve written something mild, and I was surprised you enjoyed it more than I expected.

- Thank you, Yeoncho-nim, for 25 coins.

A pure love master... I never thought I’d hear such words about myself.

- Neukmeokhyeong-nim

Many more heroines are scheduled to appear in the future, so please stay tuned.

- The legal wife is Yuria-nim

Of course, she’s scheduled to appear.

- Lycos-nim

For now, I think I’m more comfortable using the “Villainous Teacher” style, lol.

- December-nim

For me, sincerity is more important. Thank you.

To everyone else I couldn’t reply to individually, I offer my heartfelt thanks.

P.S.)

For your reference, some of the donations you’ve given will be invested in illustrations or cover art, like for “Villainous Teacher.”

Of course, the cover cost is covered by the owner, but if the illustrator feels more secure, they’ll draw it faster and more beautifully.

P.S.2) Today, I started working on Odile Odette.