Chapter 908 – #197_The Witch Exists (6)
#902
1.
Unlike most countries swept up in the flood, Korea was able to maintain its daily routine thanks to its robust subjugation system.
While there was some hoarding of essential goods, people mostly went to work and school, only conducting emergency evacuation drills in preparation for emergencies. It’s no wonder that the views on nationalistic YouTube channels have skyrocketed and the whole world is paying attention to Korea.
Therefore, department stores were operating normally, except for the food section. Sharon, who had returned to Seoul, headed to a nearby department store with Amelia, their steps light.
“Sharon, why the department store all of a sudden?”
“I just want to buy some gifts for Siwoo. And there are a few other things I need.”
“Shopping?”
“Yes! That’s right.”
Amelia followed, watching Sharon smile shyly.
Amelia was eager to see Siwoo, but she was also interested in many aspects of the current world. Or rather, she was interested in Siwoo’s hometown.
Therefore, shopping, whether it was browsing or buying products at the department store, was quite interesting for her.
“I haven’t been to department stores that much, but I’m still pretty knowledgeable about them.”
Sharon said, shrugging her shoulders.
“Okay.”
It was a joke with a bit of boasting, but Amelia nodded calmly instead of smiling.
Sharon used to be quite taken aback by Amelia’s attitude. She was someone who was difficult to get a reaction from, even with Sharon’s sociability.
It felt like their conversations were breaking off like overcooked noodles.
“Ah… Sharon, you’re amazing. Um, as expected… a current world expert…?”
Then, as if belatedly realizing her mistake, she awkwardly added, like a rookie reporter who had forgotten her lines and was scanning the script.
But even this was something. It was enough that the clumsy Amelia was making an effort to be friendly.
“Let’s go, let’s go. Siwoo must be waiting.”
“Okay.”
Sharon boldly linked arms with Amelia and marched forward.
However, there was something the two of them hadn’t anticipated.
“What? Who are those girls?”
“How can someone look like that?”
“That’s amazing. Wow, look at that aura…”
“One is an elf, and the other is a princess… but a somewhat scary princess.”
Witches who reside in the current world possess an artifact called Park Young’s Amulet to conceal the inconvenience caused by their exceptional beauty. True to its name, “Thin Shadow,” it makes the witch’s presence almost zero.
But it was only until recently that witches could hide in the cracks of mystery.
Now, there was hardly anyone on Earth who didn’t know about the existence of witches. Everyone, from some dedicated agents of existing counterintelligence agencies to the prominent figures in politics and business, was aware of the ‘mystery.’
They didn’t forget the mystery that should have naturally faded with time, and they noticed the presence that Park Young’s Amulet had concealed much more easily than before.
The commotion that arose from being recognized drew the attention of others around them, and as a result, people flocked to them like a famous celebrity had visited the department store.
“Are they even human…?”
“They’re witches, definitely witches.”
“Wow, I heard they were pretty, but they look like that.”
“Should I risk my life and try to get their numbers? I think it’s worth it.”
“Are you crazy? You’ll die if you mess with them.”
The demonic beauty that was practically a witch’s ID card allowed people to immediately deduce Amelia and Sharon’s identities.
Some people took out their phones to take pictures, while others whispered, looking at the two with a mixture of admiration and curiosity.
“This is… my mistake.”
“No, I didn’t expect this either.”
The only saving grace was that Koreans were quite friendly towards witches.
“What do you mean kill them? They’re clearly on our side.”
“Are those witches from Hexennacht?”
“No way. Black Knight and Ms. Sua are protecting them, how could they be?”
“True.”
There had been no reports of casualties caused by witches or homunculi, and above all, there was a perception that all the witches residing in Korea were pro-human Gehenna witches. The only people who might hate witches were the soldiers whose leave had been cut short, and they couldn’t be at the department store.
“Should we ask them for a picture?”
“If I post it on social media, the reaction would be huge.”
“It’ll probably be on the news.”
“Damn it. My standards have been raised too high.”
Still, perhaps because they were scared, people didn’t approach them rashly and just whispered from a distance. It was obvious that if they yelled, ‘Get lost!’ they would scatter like spiderlings, but neither Sharon nor Amelia were the type to do that.
“Um, excuse me, witches.”
“Yes? Me?”
“Yes.”
Then, a female student in a school uniform hesitantly approached them. Perhaps because Sharon seemed easier to talk to, the student cautiously spoke.
“Could you possibly sign something for me? And take a picture too…”
The sound of people swallowing nervously could be heard in the suddenly quiet surroundings.
A signature?
Sharon was dumbfounded.
“Yeah, sure… I guess.”
-Click, click-
The female student, whose hands were trembling, took a picture and looked like she was about to cry. She was considered pretty, but seeing the picture she took with the witch, it was nothing but a humiliating photo.
It was as if her looks had been forcibly taken away.
Still, it was a two-shot with a witch.
This was something to brag about for the rest of her life.
“Thank you! Thank you so much! Oh, right! Thank you for protecting our country too!”
“Uh… yeah, yeah, sure.”
As the female student, who kept bowing and thanking them, disappeared, women flocked to them like a cloud.
“Witches, what kind of makeup do you use?”
“How do you usually take care of your skin?”
“Oh my…! Your head is so small…”
“Could we possibly follow each other on Instagram?”
Sharon was flustered.
She never imagined that so many people would gather.
“Um, well… I’d like to do some shopping first?”
“You’re so pretty!”
“Could you take a picture with me too? Please?”
The men, who had been hesitant, also seemed to be slowly approaching. At this rate, it seemed like they wouldn’t be able to move an inch.
She looked at Amelia with pleading eyes, but…
“……”
This was a big problem.
That expression was what Amelia made when she was very flustered.
Sharon belatedly remembered that Amelia was a former recluse.
But right now, she desperately needed her help.
“Um, could you do something about this?”
“…Me?”
Amelia was taken aback by the sudden request for help.
Amelia, who didn’t usually show her emotions, was actually on the verge of panic. Wasn’t this the first time she had been surrounded and watched by so many people who weren’t witches?
“Amelia, do you want to have kimchi stew later?”
“Why are you bringing that up all of a sudden…”
The image of Sharon’s random whisper and the harsh spiciness of the kimchi stew made Amelia’s face scrunch up.
That was enough help for what Sharon wanted.
“……”
“……”
Suddenly, the surroundings became cold.
Especially the women who had been acting friendly towards Sharon took a few steps back with awkward smiles.
“We, we were being rude.”
“Then, we’ll be going…”
Sharon also had a somewhat cold appearance, like a haughty, high-class breed of cat. When she was struggling with debt and chronic fatigue, Sharon also had an intimidating aura that made it hard to approach her.
But after meeting Siwoo and improving her life, she had blossomed. Thanks to that, she was now approachable enough for people to try to talk to her if they mustered the courage.
On the other hand, who was Amelia?
She was a witch who erected an almost iron wall that even other witches found difficult to approach. Amelia’s scrunched-up face was a more effective repellent than anything for people who didn’t know much about witches.
“Welcome! Wow! You’re a witch!”
“It’s my first time seeing one in person! Are you looking for anything?”
“Yes, yes.”
Thanks to Amelia’s efforts, the duo safely arrived at ‘Dash,’ a cosmetics and bath products brand.
“Sharon, why did you come here?”
“Oh, it’s for the bath bombs we’ll use when Siwoo and I take a bath later.”
Then, a staff member suddenly interjected.
“Ah, you’re looking for bath bombs! Can I help you? I’ve used a lot of different ones, and my favorite is ‘Twilight.’ The sophisticated pink and purple gradient is impressive, and the blend of lavender and night-blooming cereus is perfect for relaxation and sleep. It also contains mineral oil and organic shea butter, which is great for moisturizing your skin. It’s perfect to enjoy with warm water on a cold day!”
“Wow, really? Can I try it?”
“Of course! Come this way, and I’ll show you!”
Unlike the people they had seen outside, the staff members approached them with such friendliness that Amelia was immediately intimidated.
Sharon quickly mingled with the staff and laughed, but Amelia couldn’t shake off the feeling of being strangely out of place.
“……”
Amelia suddenly felt a little down.
She had read a lot of books and studied hard, but it was never easy when it came to real-life situations.
Just a moment ago, hadn’t people run away at the sight of Amelia’s scrunched-up face?
Looking back, everyone had only talked to Sharon…
Amelia’s lips pouted as she watched Sharon laugh and chat with the staff as if they were old friends.
She was envious and jealous.
Once one thing looked bad, other things started to look bad as well.
Sharon, who had directly participated in the battle, would use the excuse of replenishing her magic power to take a bath with Siwoo and spend a hot night together.
Amelia didn’t experience magic amplification like other couples, so she would naturally be pushed down the ranks.
If she asked, Siwoo wouldn’t refuse, but with the current chaos in the world and Dorothy’s sudden silence, it seemed immature to beg for a relationship like a spoiled child.
“……”
No, that wasn’t right.
The one who was truly immature was Sharon.
Wasn’t she the one who had brought Amelia to the department store to buy bath bombs for just her and Siwoo, carried away by her excitement?
She was worse than someone who flaunted the smell of fried chicken in front of a friend who was on a diet.
But then again, thinking like this made her feel like a childish person.
It wasn’t like Sharon had done it on purpose to upset Amelia…
“……”
She didn’t know.
Her teacher had told her to make many good friends, but it seemed that friendships were really difficult.
Thoughts kept piling up.
Meanwhile, Sharon had finished paying and approached Amelia with a box containing the bath bombs.
“Amelia, I’ve chosen them.”
“Okay.”
“I wish you had chosen them with me.”
“…You wanted me to choose them too?”
Amelia was almost about to snap at Sharon’s saltiness.
But she quickly calmed herself down.
Wasn’t Sharon usually a very considerate person?
She must have been a little too excited about seeing Siwoo after a long time and hadn’t paid enough attention to her surroundings.
“Of course, you’re going to use them with me.”
Amelia, who was trying her best not to reveal her disappointment, paused.
“With… me? But I don’t experience magic amplification…”
“Hey, what’s that about? We’re doing it because we love each other. It’s okay, right?”
Sharon smiled, linking arms with her as if it was the most natural thing to do.
“Yes…!”
Amelia smiled brightly.
‘Teacher, I’ve made a really good friend,’ she thought.
