Chapter 1028 – #246_Count Cagliostro (2)
#1022
1.
After defeating Ea in the Cyberpunk War, Elroa, due to a series of fierce battles, had half of her contracts sealed as a price for excessive use.
This meant a significant decrease in her power as a witch for quite some time.
The aftereffects remaining in her spirit, causing various minor restrictions, were an added bonus.
Currently, she was recuperating while exploring ways to minimize the power vacuum through various studies….
With these changes, my teacher had changed a lot.
The biggest change would be that she had started to actively approach Siwoo.
In the past, she would engage in intimacy when the mood was right, or on special occasions like the harvest festival, using the excuse of recharging her magic. Now, she sent signals quite frankly.
She would playfully tug at my sleeve.
Or poke my side with her finger.
Or even hide in my bed beforehand.
“Ha.”
But my teacher was still my teacher.
It meant that her kind yet strict, benevolent yet stern bamboo-like nature hadn’t been broken.
She was still shy about her relationship with Siwoo in many ways, so even though the frequency of their intimacy had increased, the intensity itself hadn’t escalated much.
Most of the time, it was just cuddling, deep kisses, and whispering “I love you, I love you” in my ear.
Or, if it got a little rough, it would be something like a bunny-like honorific play.
Of course, I wasn’t complaining.
I also liked seeing my teacher become a spoiled child.
After all, a relationship between lovers isn’t just about pursuing pleasure.
Still, sometimes a more unusual kind of intimacy is appealing.
My teacher seemed to want it too, and I was also drawn to it.
A different kind of energy was flowing between the two disciples, not just the sweet one from before.
“Why are you interrupting at this moment?”
With a sullen expression, Siwoo headed to the reception room where the uninvited guest was waiting.
Even though I said that, Count Cagliostro’s visit was somewhat expected.
The Castle had been throwing tantrums more than once or twice.
The most typical example was the subtle pressure on minor academic society heads to not associate with the Hessed Society.
Besides that, they also showed signs of trying to monopolize research equipment and experimental materials to create bottlenecks in the supply chain.
Even Aria today was an assassin hired to tarnish Siwoo’s reputation.
Nevertheless, the Hessed Society was still sailing smoothly.
Well, honestly, I don’t know if “sailing smoothly” is the right expression. It’s more like we’re rowing hard against the headwind, steadily heading towards the treasure island.
Since Siwoo’s side didn’t contact them first despite the various sabotage attempts, I guess they came themselves?
As soon as I opened the reception room door, Tia Cagliostro jumped up from her seat.
“Oh my, Baron Siwoo! Were you surprised by my sudden visit? Here, I heard that Baron Siwoo is a connoisseur of alcohol, so I brought some good whiskey. Would this be enough to apologize for my rude visit?”
Siwoo could now tell what was good and bad alcohol just by looking at the label.
However, the alcohol that Count Cagliostro presented was something I had never seen before, even while enjoying high culture.
Judging by the way she called it good alcohol, it must be something like a ‘legendary whiskey.’
Honestly, I only had ill feelings towards the count, but I didn’t want to be looked down upon.
I smiled and responded calmly.
“I didn’t expect you to come in person. It’s nothing special, but I’ll prepare something to go with it, so please wait a moment?”
“Oh my! No, no! The best way to enjoy really good alcohol is on its own, isn’t it?”
She was still the same.
The curly golden hair that would take at least two hours to set, the blue eyes that shone ambiguously while hiding her true intentions, the witch’s formal attire with a separate compartment.
“I bought a new painting this time, and it would look perfect if I hung it in this reception room. Oh my, it’s okay! Don’t hesitate. I’ll send someone tomorrow, so I’d be very happy if you hung it up nicely.”
“Baron Siwoo, are you not interested in art? There were some pretty nice things at the auction this time. How about participating?”
“I’d also like to see the Baron’s face at the salon? Oh my, what am I saying!”
And even the way she was as noisy as an old lady.
As soon as she sat down, the count began to ramble on with a draining tension.
She did this last time too, so maybe it was the count’s own routine.
A routine to take the initiative or completely distract the opponent before the conversation begins in earnest.
“Ah.”
“I see.”
“Hmm, I didn’t know that.”
Maybe she was waiting for Siwoo, unable to overcome his impatience, to ask, ‘So why did you come?’
But Siwoo was already answering mechanically, half in a state of astral projection.
There wasn’t anything particularly important or any content, and above all, I was busy pondering the hot gossip I heard from Aria today.
Specifically, the part about ‘Our Count Cagliostro has changed since three months ago.’
To pinpoint exactly what had changed, first of all, it was the minimization of external activities.
Since a witch’s duty is that of a scholar, they sometimes shut themselves away for one or two years when they are focused on research, but there are also actions that are appropriate for their position.
If you are the head of the Castle Academy, it is common to at least show your face at major meetings, but she had been strangely avoiding such events for the past three months.
Next was the minimization of contact with high-ranking members of the academy.
It was said that she was mostly only receiving written approvals for most matters.
This was also in contrast to the count’s previous behavior of being deeply involved in the academy’s affairs.
Lastly, this was something Siwoo had felt since their first meeting….
“So, you know! I told her, ‘That necklace looks like a fake.’ Her expression was so bad then, haha.”
Her age and atmosphere didn’t match.
To be precise, she had a rather youthful feel.
Since spirits have a homeostasis that tries to maintain an ideal body, there is no difference in appearance between a mature apprentice witch and a witch.
However, as they gain experience, they develop a unique atmosphere, and Siwoo was good at distinguishing that unique atmosphere.
At first, I thought it was just because of her unique charisma? Or was it because of the mask she wore to create a frivolous atmosphere?
Maybe it was because I was looking at her with tinted glasses, but I was even more confused.
Still, the probability was still less than 1%.
In fact, I was treating it as just ‘hearsay.’
That’s why we were meeting alone like this, even in the middle of Gehenna.
“Haa, was I too excited by myself?”
“No. I like listening to other people’s stories, so it’s okay.”
Count Cagliostro was now slowly preparing to get to the main point.
“Well, then, shall we start talking about business? I think I gave the Baron some time to think.”
“Yes, I’ve finished organizing my thoughts.”
“Oh my, really?”
Count Cagliostro immediately cast a sparkling gaze.
She was a woman who made me want to flick her forehead.
“Yes, I will consider your previous offer positively if you accept one condition.”
“What is it?”
“It’s a promise not to interfere with the society’s shares and management. The personnel you mentioned within the society should also be decided through internal meetings of the Hessed Society.”
Count Cagliostro, who had been smiling all along, went blank.
From the beginning, the count’s support was like a high-interest loan with a lot of toxic clauses.
Saying, ‘I’ll take the loan if you give me a 0% interest rate’ was no different from a subtle refusal.
“Hmm~ I’m surprised. I like Baron Siwoo after all. There aren’t many witches with this kind of spirit these days, you know?”
“You flatter me.”
The count, who let out a poisonous snort, spoke in a lively tone as if she had never shown any displeasure.
“Baron Siwoo, do you like martial arts or boxing?”
“I used to watch them often. Do you watch those too?”
“Of course! It seems we have a hobby in common! I’ve been enjoying MMA a lot these days. There’s a strange romance in seeing half-naked men sweating and having wild duels. Haha!”
The count awkwardly stretched out her left fist.
“This is a jab, right? You just tap without putting any weight on it.”
“That’s right.”
“Is my stance okay? Yap! Yap!”
“…Yes.”
I wondered what she was doing, but her sinister intentions continued from there.
“What I’ve shown you so far is also a jab.”
“……”
“If I wanted to, I could throw a much heavier blow. It would be a heavy attack that could break bones or knock you unconscious regardless of your will.”
“You’re quite brutal.”
“There are things that you can’t withstand with just spirit, Baron Siwoo. The reason I didn’t come out strong was because I didn’t want to hear the criticism of ‘Why are you going easy when the weight classes don’t match?’
But will the results of the match change just because they’re shouting? Of course not! The audience’s score has no effect on the results of the match.”
“……”
“So, let’s just make it easy for each other. Do you understand?”
She was an old lady who liked to threaten indirectly.
At this point, my annoyance was reaching its limit.
I didn’t want to completely break things off, so I had been responding lukewarmly, but wouldn’t it be better to just go strong?
-Rustle
Then, Count Cagliostro took out a document from her bosom and threw it in front of Siwoo.
“There are many interesting things happening outside Gehenna. Please check it out.”
“What is this….”
Siwoo was speechless.
There was a very familiar tabloid-style article with photos.
It was the style of ‘Dandelion,’ which had been giving Siwoo a headache recently.
“It’s a draft from Dandelion. It’s still in the rough stage, so it hasn’t been proofread yet, but if it’s officially published, would it be a hook? Or an uppercut?”
“……”
It included evidence and photos confirming the love affair between the Sword Witch and the Seeking Witch.
There was even testimony obtained directly from the public enemy.
It was something I would have to acknowledge and move on from someday, but not now.
If this article were to spread, even if I ran the Hessed Society well, it would be impossible to bring Dorothy and Linne to Gehenna.
It was a confidentiality clause that had been managed thoroughly, but they had bitten my Achilles’ heel.
More than that, was Dandelion also under the influence of the Castle?
This time, Siwoo couldn’t act boldly.
It was like losing half of the reason why I founded the Hessed Society.
“Don’t worry too much. I’m not that heartless. I’ll give you one last chance to think, so come find me. With good alcohol. Oh ho ho ho.”
Siwoo stared at Count Cagliostro, who was covering her mouth and laughing with a sour expression.
I couldn’t think of a good solution, so I was just watching the count’s smiling face.
Wait?
Siwoo tilted his head as he saw the ring on her finger.
=====
