City of Witches Chapter 9

Walking in step, I glanced at Odil's profile.

She was about two heads shorter than Siwoo.

Yet, perhaps because her head was so small, from a distance, she didn't seem short at all.

From her hair, wrapped daily in perfumed oil, a fragrant body scent wafted generously, and her amethyst-like, translucent eyes held an elfin, mysterious charm.

A healthy peach-blossom flush, moderately full lips, and an outstanding grace that even seeped into her gait.

She was like a princess who had popped right out of a movie set in the Rococo era.

If Siwoo lived in the modern era and didn't know Odil's true identity, just walking together like this would have filled him with a humbling joy.

Yes, if Odil weren't a Witch.

"Lady Odil."

"Yes? Assistant Shin Si-woo."

"Thank you so much for your help earlier. Thanks to you, I won't be fooled by that nasty swindler again."

Odil, who had been looking around curiously as if fascinated by the lives of Taro Town's citizens, stopped and met his gaze.

Siwoo hurriedly averted his eyes.

Setting aside the fear, her beauty was as difficult to face directly as Amelia's.

Just making eye contact made him feel awkward for no reason.

"Don't mention it! Instead, I got such a splendid escort."

"Ha... haha..."

Odil was visibly excited about something.

As the saying goes, people are more likely to accept any request when they're in a good mood.

Wasn't this the chance to escape?

If he came up with a plausible excuse, she might let him go.

"I'd like to say something about that escort... if that's alright?"

"I shall graciously permit it."

"It's just that I'm not very familiar with the geography of Taro Town. I think choosing someone more suitable would be more convenient for you, Lady Odil."

He swallowed the implied "so please let me go."

Instead, he bowed his head as politely as possible, trying not to upset Odil's mood.

"And so?"

The smile vanished from Odil's face, which had been chattering away happily just moments before.

He felt his heart sink.

Had he been too hasty, wanting to get away immediately?

"Ah, um... Instead, I know a decent tavern nearby. How about that? A walk is nice, but visiting a quiet tavern is also a good idea, right? Especially with a half-baked guide like me. Ha, hahahaha...!"

Yes, this was better.

Escaping was one thing, but since Odil had already discovered he could use Magic, he needed to ask for her silence through conversation.

By any means necessary.

"A tavern, yes. A tavern sounds good! Lead the way immediately!"

Fortunately, Odil jumped up and down with joy.

Siwoo guided Odil to the White Whale Tavern he had spotted earlier.

The White Whale Tavern.

It was the largest tavern in Taro Town, which Siwoo had visited a couple of times with Takasho.

"Pour, pour!"

"I'll take it all this round, sorry about that."

"Here, here!"

"Barkeep, two more beers here!"

A musician skillfully playing the accordion.

A furry old man chugging beer frantically as if in a contest.

Patrons puffing smoke from pipes, focused on a card game.

A young waiter busily weaving between tables, carrying food.

He also saw sturdy young men arm wrestling.

It was a lively, cheerful, and naturally exciting scene, but...

The moment Odil and Siwoo stepped inside, the tavern, which had been bustling with thirty or forty people, fell silent as a mouse.

Odil's presence in the shabby tavern was that incongruous.

As if in a scene from a play, everyone froze, and the tavern owner, taking off his hat, came rushing out breathlessly.

"Oh my~ Witch, what brings you to such a humble place? Our establishment complies with hygiene standards and pays all taxes promptly."

The owner had recognized Odil as a Witch at a glance.

Well, if a girl wearing a silk dress worth a whole row of well-built townhouses wasn't a Witch, that would be strange in its own way.

"Ahh, it's fine. I'm not here to scold anyone."

"Huh? Then what is the occasion..."

Odil slipped her hand into her sleeve.

Three gleaming gold coins shimmered on Odil's dainty hand.

The owner's jaw dropped at the mesmerizing, brilliant golden hue that could captivate any human.

"Take these."

"Huh? What do you mean, suddenly..."

"I want to rent the tavern for the day. Clear everyone out within 5 minutes. I'll only be here for about an hour."

Twelve pennies make a shilling, and twenty shillings finally make one gold coin.

In other words, the rental fee Odil paid was a fortune that would take Siwoo three full years to save.

"Thank you!"

The owner personally kicked the customers' behinds to chase them out.

The customers grumbled but left without causing a fuss.

If a Witch is kicking you out, you leave.

"Don't be too disappointed, I'll give you free drinks if you come back this evening."

Only then did the customers start leaving with slightly brighter faces.

From the owner's perspective, he got a fortune, and from the regulars' perspective, they could get free drinks if they waited a bit and returned.

"Now it's quiet."

Odil sat down with a satisfied look on the seat that seemed the best.

Was this the extravagance of the wealthy?

Using three gold coins, which Siwoo had never even touched, just to spend a quiet hour.

"Please wait a moment, I'll bring out the best snacks. Enjoy yourselves comfortably."

The owner placed two mugs of beer, rubbed his hands together, and disappeared into the kitchen.

The only alcohol sold in this tavern was beer, but the beer, chilled by Magic, was the best Siwoo had ever tasted.

It had to be.

Most citizens of Gehenna worked in the same trade for generations.

There were no sudden disruptions, and in this small world, there weren't many other pastimes, so most citizens living honest lives were masters of their craft.

As a result, even this single mug of beer contained the essence of brewing techniques accumulated over more than 600 years.

"So this is the alcohol commoners drink? I've always been curious."

Odil elegantly lifted a beer mug larger than her face and gulped it down.

When she set the mug down again, fresh foam clung to the corners of her mouth like a mustache.

Unaware, Odil rolled her eyes as she assessed the beer's taste.

"Bitter, sour. The robust flavor is good, but it still doesn't meet my refined palate."

Odil made a "Bleh" sound and shivered.It doesn't seem to suit her mouth very well.

"What are you doing? You drink too."

"Before that, Witch-nim, you have foam here."

Odil, who was trying her best to look mature while evaluating the taste, still had a foam mustache.

In an ordinary drinking situation, it would have been a perfect opportunity to naturally wipe her mouth and make a move.

Odil wiped the foam with her hand and then froze stiffly.

"I-I knew about it too, you know? I just tried drinking it that way because I saw a drinker doing it earlier. How else would I know if it tastes better unless I verify it by drinking it that way?"

Odil spat out her words like a rapper and then quickly crossed her arms.

"A most reasonable statement."

"Right, right."

Siwoo felt like he would burst out laughing at Odil's ahem fake cough, so he pinched his thigh and gulped down his beer.

Even though she's an Apprentice Witch, this behavior is unmistakably that of a child.

A taste so cold it makes your head tingle.

The savory aroma of barley and the tingling carbonation seep into his entire parched body.

Siwoo closed his eyes and shivered.

It's too sweet.

"Is it that delicious? If you drank the wine from our mansion, you'd probably faint. It's made from grapes sun-drenched year-round in the Mendel Hills."

"I'd really like to try it if I get the chance."

"I'll definitely bring you some later."

Siwoo suddenly felt something strange.

Actually, he had been feeling it for a little while, but after exchanging a few words, it became certain.

"Um, Odil-nim."

"Yes, I'm all ears."

"Is this your first time coming to Taro Town?"

"Yes!"

Odil nodded her head obediently.

No wonder she seemed to be looking around so intently.

"My Master is strict, you see. No matter how much I sang about wanting to go to Taro Town, she wouldn't give permission, what can you do?

She says not to get distracted by other amusements before receiving the Brand and to focus on building my foundation. So I've never been outside of Ars Magna Town and Renomond Town."

Odil possessed a mysteriously beautiful appearance, making it impossible to pinpoint her exact age.

Still, judging by her still youthful appearance, she was probably around twenty years old.

"What about today?"

"It's Odil's great escape. My Master is a good person, but she has her stifling aspects. How boring is it to study Magic every single day!"

Thinking of Odil, who at an age full of curiosity had to struggle with studies in a stuffy cage, he felt a bit sorry for her.

She looks this excited just from drinking beer in a shabby tavern; why not just let her go out and have some fun.

"Anyway, I know what you're worried about, Assistant-nim. You want me to keep it a secret that you can use Magic, right?"

"Ah, yes. That's right. Please, I beg you."

"I have no intention of telling anyone. I'm not that cruel of a person either."

Odil answered with a grin.

An angel, an angel.

It was the first time having a conversation person-to-person outside of class, but she was a Witch who was unexpectedly very easy to talk to.

Perhaps because she was still young, she didn't have the stifling, suffocating stuffiness like the old-fashioned Professor Amelia.

"Your side dishes are here."

"Oh! Put them here!"

The owner piled the table high with side dishes until the legs seemed ready to break.

Glossy, oily ham, pickled figs, raisin and ginger bread, and figs sprinkled with salt, pepper, and olive oil.

Odil began tasting the side dishes one by one with sparkling eyes.

"Hmm~ Hmm~ Hmm~"

Humming a happy tune, Odil piled more food onto her plate.

She even sliced a large piece of ham for Siwoo's plate herself.

"Mmm! Assistant-nim, eat, eat!"

"Thank you."

It was a whole roasted ham.

The yellowish ham, welcomed after months of supplementing protein only with beans, made his salivary glands explode.

While devouring the food absentmindedly, Odil suddenly asked a question.

"But why can't you let people know you can use Magic?"

"If it becomes known that a slave is using Magic, people might find it offensive, I think."

"Really? I think it would be fine. Even though you only used a little power, you broke through my barrier? Wouldn't everyone find it admirable? Even though you're just a slave, you studied Magic so hard! Like that."

She really is a young lady who doesn't know the ways of the world.

"That's unlikely. If it weren't for a broad-minded Witch-nim like you, Odil-nim, it wouldn't be strange if my head had been blown off with an even greater Magic the moment I broke the barrier."

"Right, right, I am quite understanding. Is there any other reason besides that? Tell me honestly."

"Yes! Actually, I was researching a spatial Spell Formula to escape from this damn Gehenna. The Magic to open the 'Gate' in Border Town."

"Wow! You can even do something like that? Opening a 'Gate' isn't something just anyone can do."

"Right now, I'm powerless too. But I think I can do it in two years, no, one year. I've already established about 70% of the theory by digging through books."

"Books?"

"Yes, one of my duties is organizing the library, and there are good foundational books there... huh?"

Siwoo, who had been eagerly tearing into the ham, felt something strange.

He quietly put down the ham and looked at Odil.

"What am I saying right now?"

Words that should never have been spoken poured out as if he had been given a truth serum.

Moreover, what he clearly thought he was muttering in his head right now was flowing straight out of his mouth.

"How is this happening...? I didn't sense anything... Could it be self-actuating Magic?"

"Yes, that's correct. Assistant-nim."

Odil's expression, which had only felt friendly, changed in an instant.

A girl who doesn't know the ways of the world? That's truly a statement from someone who doesn't know the ways of the world.

To the point where he felt pathetic for having pitied her, even for a moment.

Odil leaned forward from her seat and stroked Siwoo's head.

"Aha~ So that's the situation with Assistant Siwoo?"

"I'm fucked."

"Yes, our Assistant-nim is fucked."

Odil smiled brightly.

A word from the author (Author's Note)

A very minor setting change

1 cubit = 1 shilling

12 pence (copper coins) = 1 shilling (silver coin)

20 shillings = 1 pound (gold coin)

1 pence is roughly set to 3,500 won

1 shilling is 42,000 won

1 pound is 840,000 won

But it's not an important setting anyway