City ​​of Witches 858

Chapter 858 – #178_Paper Review (6)

#852

1.
The review event took place just before the Harvest Festival, the biggest event in Gehenna.
While everyone was basking in the afterglow of the small festival, Lisenne was not.

Unlike the turtle-like administrative speed of the Central City Hall, the notice of compensation payment that arrived from dawn made her doubt her eyes.

Lisenne, who hadn’t slept properly and was restless, stared at the number written on the notice with wide eyes.
No matter how many times she rubbed her eyes and looked again, the same amount was written.

“O-o-oh…. Fifty thousand pounds….”

Even this was the amount after removing the nitpicking.

“Ah….”

Lisenne collapsed like a thatched house caught in a typhoon.
This couldn’t be happening.

“B-but, they said it was half of the 100 audience members….”

Although it was impossible to pinpoint the unit price or market price, the case of home visits generally did not exceed 200 gold coins.
Therefore, Lisenne thought that the compensation would be around 10,000 pounds.

“M-maybe…. Did it come to the wrong person?”

It was an audit organized by the head librarian, so it was unlikely, but this amount could not be explained unless there was a clerical error.

She even had such thoughts.

“Someone must be playing a prank…!”

However, as Lisenne hastily scanned the back of the notice, she could only fall into deeper despair.

The average amount of ‘gifts’ she had received during the home visits far exceeded the norm.

The notice detailed the process and results of calculating the average amount, and the last page even had Metis Gremory’s signature scrawled on it.

This meant that it was not a sinister prank to torment Lisenne, but an official document that could not be denied.

“…….”

After that, she felt half out of her mind.

As soon as she received the notice, she sent a copy to Baron Demer, as requested.
The reply was not long.

〈Come to my mansion now, Lisenne〉

As she walked endlessly to Baron Demer’s mansion, wearing her witch hat pulled low, all sorts of thoughts ran through her mind.

“Is this my fault…?”
“Why does this only happen to me….”
“It’s okay, the Baron said she’d take care of everything.”

However, she was far from comfortable.
Would Baron Demer really pay such a large amount of compensation without complaint?

The amount was one thing, but what bothered her most was that Lisenne had given up on the questions halfway through.
And that she had even given up on the two possible objections.

At that time, the atmosphere in the hall was such that Lisenne couldn’t do anything.
It wasn’t like she could change anything no matter what she did.

But it was also true that she had lost her will and tucked her tail between her legs.

What if Baron Demer said, ‘Do you give up so easily just because it’s someone else’s money? I’ll cover half. You take care of the other half’?

If that happened, Lisenne’s life would be over.
She would spend her whole life paying off debts, unable to do any proper research, and would waste a hundred years, bringing shame to her ancestors.

As she walked along the main street of Ars Magna Town,
Jemernai Magic Tool Shop suddenly caught her eye.

On the outside, it looked like a five-story building, but due to space distortion, the interior was more vast than any large shopping mall in the present world.
Its monthly sales alone would exceed the entire fortune of an average witch.

“Maybe….”

Baron Demer and Count Albireo could not be said to have a good relationship, even as a lie.
They subtly engaged in a war of nerves and kept each other in check even at the salon.

What if she met Count Albireo first before the worst happened?

She could reveal that this whole thing was instigated by Baron Demer and ask for forgiveness.

For Count Jemernai, who was incredibly wealthy, tens of thousands of gold coins would be pocket change….
Perhaps he might even politically attack Baron Demer through Lisenne, or even go as far as hiring her as a spy.

It was the worst situation anyway.
Shouldn’t she at least try to struggle?

Lisenne, who had stopped for a moment, shook her head.

“…I can’t do that….”

Although she had been caught up in a forced situation this time, Baron Demer was still a good witch.

‘Your necklace is really pretty!’
‘B-Baron Demer.’

‘Hehe, there’s no need to be so nervous. I don’t think I’ve seen your face before, is this your first time today?’
‘Yes…. Ah! I’m Lisenne Erbat.’

‘Lisenne, you need to make a proper debut before you come to society. Since you’re still clumsy with things, I’ll help you.’
‘Yes…!’
‘And Lisenne, if you hold your glass so tightly like a baseball bat, everyone will look down on you. You should hold it gracefully and lightly, as if you’re placing it. Oh, and putting ostrich feathers on your hat is a bit out of fashion.’

It was when Lisenne had not been a witch for long.
Wasn’t it Baron Demer who had kindly spoken to Lisenne, who was awkwardly standing in the Red Roof Salon?

She had also meticulously taught her about social skills and etiquette, which she had been lacking.

‘Hmm, I can help you with that.’

And when she was struggling with debt due to a business failure, she had willingly paid off Lisenne’s debt.
If it weren’t for her, Lisenne would have been out begging outside of Gehenna long ago.

In her young heart, she had even admired such a Baron.
Of course, it had been a long time since she had realized their differences and given up.

Thinking about the past made her eyes well up with tears.

“I was so ungrateful….”

After receiving so much help, she had disliked the research audit as if she had been forced into it.
She had even been thinking of betraying her.

Lisenne hated her own shallowness.

Perhaps this was a punishment for Lisenne, who did not know gratitude.

2.
In Baron Demer’s dark office.
She was pouring the twilight dawn into her glass, exhaling long plumes of cigarette smoke.

Her beauty was filled with a troubled air.

“I’m sorry. I messed everything up.”
“…….”

Lisenne apologized honestly and plainly, bowing her head.
And she also brought up the words she had prepared.

“I will take responsibility for half of the compensation. I will pay it back slowly, no matter how long it takes.”

She had said it herself, but the moment she spoke, it felt like her heart was turning cold.
But there was also a sense of relief that she had said what she had to say.

“Lisenne.”

Baron Demer stood up.
Her voice even had a soft smile in it.

-Tap tap

Lisenne’s shoulders trembled like an aspen leaf at the sound of her approaching footsteps.
She was willing to offer her cheek even if she was slapped.

“Ouch!”

Soon, a huge impact on her forehead… no, it was a flick on the forehead.

When she barely managed to raise her gaze, she saw Baron Demer.
She was standing with her arms crossed, giving a wry smile as if she couldn’t help it.

“Why are you trembling so much?”

There was no hint of blaming Lisenne in that smile.

“Baron… Demer….”
“I’ve heard about the research audit. It was completely my misjudgment. Why would Lisenne be sorry? I prepared all the data.”
“…….”

“Who would have known that a male witch would be a real genius? I was blinded by jealousy and rushed things too much. If I had listened to the home visit cases one by one, I would have known that it wasn’t a simple plagiarism. It’s just paying a big price for being a fool.”
“…….”
“Haa, just thinking about how stiff Count Albireo will be for a while gives me a headache. Oh, why are you still standing? Sit down comfortably.”

Baron Demer let out an exaggerated sigh and sat Lisenne on the sofa.

“Lisenne, you’ve been through a lot.”

Lisenne felt her eyes burning.
Just a moment ago, she had been debating whether or not to betray Baron Demer.

Baron Demer’s attitude showed an effort to calm the restless Lisenne.

“B-but…. The compensation is 50,000 pounds….”
“I know, I checked. It hurts my stomach too. But I told you, I’ll take responsibility. I was going to buy a yacht soon…. I guess I’ll give that up.”

Lisenne finally burst into tears and hugged Baron Demer.

“It’ll be noisy for a few months anyway, but I’ll do my best to restore Lisenne’s honor. I’ve also gone to Count Albireo separately to apologize.”
“A-are you sure…? Sniff….”
“It wasn’t my intention, but he benefited from me, so he won’t make a big deal out of it. I had to say a few things I didn’t want to, though.”

Baron Demer stroked Lisenne’s head without showing any displeasure and wiped away her tears with a handkerchief.
She didn’t mention that she had to give up her precious bracelet to appease the arrogant Count Albireo.

“Then, shall we have a drink and listen to the audit details? Actually, I have a lot of questions too. I paid 40 billion in tuition, so that’s okay, right?”
“Yes, Baron.”

Baron Demer also poured golden brandy into Lisenne’s glass.
Looking at Lisenne holding the glass filled with the beautiful amber-colored liquor, Baron Demer said casually.

“Lisenne, you’re holding your glass properly now.”

Lisenne, who had widened her eyes in surprise for a moment, smiled for the first time.

The reason why people gathered around Baron Demer was not only because of her background as a Baron.

Even if she made a wrong decision due to being swept away by emotions, she would not cut off her subordinates like a lizard’s tail.

That was the foundation of the pride of the Gehenna nobles, and the duty they had to uphold, unlike the public or the exiles.

3.
Four days had passed since the audit.

Everything was going smoothly.
Siwoo had accepted Lisenne’s apology, and he had also gotten a lump sum of money.

He had given all the donations that he had to pay back instead of R’lyeh to his big mother-in-law, and he had also given generous gifts to his lovers, except for Odile and Odette, who he was still thinking about what to give.

The entry procedures for the soul witch ‘Gretel Nephsis’, who would help Siwoo’s healing, were progressing smoothly, and she was about to enter the country.
Soon, at the request of his teacher, Branch Manager Sua was also scheduled to enter Gehenna to help Siwoo.

At the moment when he had no doubt that he would continue to walk on a flowery path.
As always, the worst crisis was bound to come to break the dreamlike days.

“Assistant….”

The twins were next to him.

The small gift box in their hands was rolling miserably on the floor in the cold rain.
It was probably because of the shocking scene they had just witnessed.

They had seen their respected teacher kissing their beloved lover passionately.

“Odile…. Odette….”

Deneb’s cheeks, which had been kissing Siwoo passionately just a moment ago, hardened.
The sight was not much different from that of a mother who had been witnessed by her child committing a crime.

In reality, it was not much different.

Even if they were not related by blood, the teacher and the apprentice witch were in a mother-daughter relationship.

“Assistant, you were really, bad….”
“Little teacher…. We’re so disappointed….”

Odile and Odette’s tears, which had been expressionless, mixed with the raindrops.
The twins, who had turned their backs and disappeared without being able to be held back, and Siwoo and Deneb, who were left in the rain.

Siwoo and his little mother-in-law in the love room.

A story filled with terrible misunderstandings and ruthless delusions.
It was about to begin.

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