City ​​of Witches 965

Chapter 965 – #208_Scandal

#959

1.
Midterm check.

=Main Quest=
[Create an Academy]

=Sub Quests=
[Purchase land for the academy’s establishment]
[Persuade the Lucky Witch to purchase the mansion from Count Adonai]

So far, so good.
Next,
[Acquire the virtues and charisma of a noble to become the head of the academy]
To complete this, it’s been two weeks since my great-aunt’s private tutoring began.

Siwoo could now perfectly execute dining etiquette, was a skilled equestrian, and could share his thoughts on any work of art.

He could recite the history of the Gehenna witches and the development of each family for twelve hours straight with his eyes closed, and he was starting to find the links between the academy’s operating policies and city laws.

Siwoo was always studying magic and never neglected his training.
He was quite used to self-discipline and restraint.

However, these past two weeks were so grueling that he could loudly proclaim to anyone, “I’ve had it so hard!”

From early dawn, he completed the apprentice witch curriculum with his great-aunt.
From daybreak, he buried his nose in books.

He would be buried in those piles of books all night, and then, at dawn, he would go to his great-aunt for lessons.
Moreover, he had to endure the cringe of maintaining the Northern Duke concept in all aspects of his daily life.

“Hmm…”

So, did he achieve anything worthwhile?

“Honestly, I’m not sure.”

First of all, here are the reactions of Siwoo’s acquaintances to his transformation.

Amelia gave him a 5-star rating.

‘Siwoo, you’re so, so cool…. Haa….’
‘You’re so sexy.’
‘And also, you’re cool. You’re really like a prince.’

As someone who loves role-playing, she seemed to be quite fond of Siwoo’s noble cosplay.
Especially the play where he tied her wrists with his belt or spanked her on the bottom was highly praised.
Even if she didn’t say it directly, her much more sensitive erogenous zones told him so.

Sharon’s rating was about 2 stars.

‘Hmm, you’re cool, but you feel more cute to me. Is it because I know you too well?’
‘Oh, don’t be too discouraged.’
‘I don’t want to laugh either! But what am I supposed to do when it’s funny!’

It didn’t work very well.

Since Siwoo started his method training, her lips would curl up and her eyes would crinkle whenever they met.
She tried her best to hold back her laughter, but it seemed difficult for her to shake off the awkwardness of her long-time boyfriend suddenly starting a strange concept.

The twins reacted with a decent 3.5 stars.

‘Assistant, do you really have to do that?’
‘It’s cool, but… No, it’s cool after all.’
‘Clothes really do make the man.’
‘That’s right, Assistant. Don’t just wear those shabby clothes every day, dress up like this.’
‘You do look quite noble.’
‘That’s right. You’ve done amazing in such a short time?’

Considering that Odile and Odette, with their unique innocence, would casually throw out sharp words that would stab you in the heart, this was a pretty good result.

Lurue, who had recently become closer to triplets, also gave an ambiguous 3.5 stars.

‘If you are to be the royal consort of the Nukelavi Dynasty, you must possess this level of charisma.’
‘Compared to me, you pale in comparison, but yes, you are plausible.’
‘However, my glory is also your glory, so there is no need to try too hard.’

Judging by the words he added at the end, it seemed he was still far from perfect.

‘Wow, my non-existent womb is trembling!’
‘Shin Siwoo! Impregnate all the witches of Gehenna!’
‘But, if you’re going to do a concept, wouldn’t it be better to go for a rougher, more wild feel?’
‘Of course, that’s better for sex. It also appeals to masculinity.’

Takasho gave him 4.5 stars.

He did express his opinion that the direction was a bit lacking, but his reason was that the completion of charisma was charm, and the completion of charm was ultimately style and appearance.

For Siwoo, it felt like Takasho was showing much more genuine charisma, but maybe it was just his imagination.

‘Siwoo, how can I give you a score?’
‘No matter what you look like, you are a 100-point disciple to me.’
‘If I had to choose… I would give you 5 points.’

His master, who was recuperating, did not give a proper answer with a benevolent smile, but considering his master’s inability to lie, he could guess that he had given him about 3 points.

Linne’s evaluation, whom he briefly met at the Witch Point, was similar.

‘My husband is the best no matter what he looks like.’
‘How can a woman criticize her husband’s achievements?’
‘…If you really want to hear the truth… I would give you about 3 points. My husband… I am ashamed.’

The honest evaluation, which he had almost badgered out of her, was 3 points.
Linne was extremely apologetic and fidgety.

Okay.

Even if he conceded a hundred times, the average score so far wasn’t bad.

No, he had started this project to look like someone exceptional, but if his average score was just vaguely above average, maybe it was already a lost cause.

However, if he collected a little more data, it would immediately become a disaster.

Dorothy, whom he went to meet with Linne, laughed for a long time before her face turned red and she finally spoke.

‘Our darling~ is doing something weird again.’
‘Is charisma that important? Can you learn that?’
‘Hmm~ how about speaking softly like me? If you speak too strongly, you look weak~’

Dorothy, who always treated Siwoo like a child, gave him 1 point, saying that lovers should be honest in their evaluations.

It was the lowest score ever, but honestly, he couldn’t argue with it.
Whether it was because of Dorothy’s unique and strong my-pace or her mature atmosphere, he was completely overwhelmed.

Count Yesod, who used a similar kind of soft intimidation as Dorothy, was no different.

‘Hehe, Siwoo-ssi is a very interesting person.’
‘What do I think? You’re cool. But, how should I say it… Yes. To be honest, something is lacking.’
‘I’ll give you 1.5 points.’

Lucy Maman, whom he visited to ask for the first investigation of the lotus, smiled brightly and gave him a direct hit.
She was an endlessly passionate married woman in bed, but in public matters, she was still a countess.

His little aunt, whom he hadn’t seen properly for a while because she was busy, also gave a harsh evaluation.

‘It’s good to see you trying, Siwoo-kun. It’s 1.5 points.’
‘But if you follow my sister’s teachings well, you’ll get much better.’
‘Fighting, Siwoo-kun.’

Should he take comfort in the fact that he at least received some encouragement?

“…It’s ruined, it’s ruined.”

At the beginning of the lessons, he had comforted himself by thinking, as his great-aunt had said, ‘It’s because not all parts are in place that it looks sloppy’…

But after mastering etiquette and trying so hard, this was the result.

Is this how it feels when you realize that the set effect of the items you collected while shitting blood is useless?
It didn’t seem like a dramatic change would happen even if he spent another two weeks here.

“Siwoo-kun!”

Then, Albiereo, her long hair swaying, walked quickly towards him.
She had been at the regular meeting of the Tree of Sephiroth since dawn and had just returned.

“It’s a celebration!”

Unlike Siwoo’s worries, her face was bright.

“It seems that Amelia-yang’s title will be confiscated, and the remaining baronial title will be assigned to Siwoo-kun.”
“What?!”
“More than half of the members attended, and more than two-thirds of them agreed, so it’s practically decided.”

The noble titles of Gehenna are awarded to witches who have made significant contributions to the city.

There are three dukedoms.
Seven earldoms.
And thirty-two baronies.

However, Amelia had her baronial title confiscated due to the recent incident, and it had remained vacant.
That position was now coming to Siwoo.

But it was really out of the blue.
Until now, no discussions about this had ever come to Siwoo’s side.

“With this, it will be a little easier for Siwoo-kun to act as the head of the academy.”
“But aren’t the Gehenna titles honorary?”
“That honor is important.”

In reality, even if he became a noble, all he would get was the ability to have a mansion in Ars Magna Town and a tiny tax benefit.
In Gehenna, titles, power, wealth, and ability are not necessarily directly proportional.

“Siwoo-kun. I told you before, right? Gehenna is a society of trust. Receiving a title means you have bought a lot of credit. Now, Siwoo-kun will be invited to various gatherings and events as a baron, and you will be able to expand your network there. Moreover, what a plausible nameplate it is?”

“Then I understand even less. It seems like there are plenty of witches who could receive it besides me.”

If the title had some merit, there would be many witches who would be eager to compete for it.
It was still a mystery why the title had fallen to Siwoo, who had done nothing.

“That’s right. In fact, there were several witches on the list of candidates, including the Lucky Witch. But Siwoo-kun has the floodgate, right?”
“Ah.”

He could finally understand.

The floodgate he had obtained during the recent flood incident.
An artifact that could manipulate the activity and dormancy of homunculi all over the world.

He hadn’t paid much attention to it because he thought the homunculi would be sealed forever.

But this was a huge power and variable.
If he tried to use it privately, Gehenna would definitely impose sanctions, but he could just say ‘fuck you’ and run to Hexennacht.

“Therefore, the nobles of Gehenna seem to have wanted to hold onto Siwoo-kun by using the title as bait. Anyway, congratulations. Baron Shin Siwoo.”
“So, does that mean I’m a baron from today?”

“No, you’ll go through a review first. It’s a formality of document review, and there are many people around Siwoo-kun who can vouch for your identity, so you’ll pass without any problems. After a small investiture ceremony, you’ll be given land.”

From a Gehenna slave to a baron.
He didn’t know if he was happy, he was just dumbfounded.

Even though it was originally Amelia’s title, she had no attachment to the barony, so it was okay for him to be purely happy.

“Okay, then, now that you’ve become a real baron instead of a fake noble, let’s put our all into it and start today’s lesson?”
“Yes! Please take care of me today too!”

Just when it seemed like only good news was coming.

“Sister! Big trouble, big trouble…!”

This time, his little aunt burst through the door with a pale face.

“What’s wrong?”

Instead of answering, Deneb showed him the printout in her hand.

A gossip magazine that circulated secretly among witches in Gehenna salons and other places.
It was a cheap tabloid that dealt with only sensational material, without clearly revealing where it was published or who published it.

That wasn’t the problem.
Siwoo glanced at the printout after seeing Albiereo, who had lost her composure like Deneb.

The headline read:

[Exclusive report from this paper, the promiscuous womanizing of Shin Siwoo, the prospective recipient of the barony?!]

The political maneuvering had already begun.