City ​​of Witches 347

Chapter 347 – #75_Pride And Prejudice (6)

#345

1.
The hillside path leading to the grounds of the Jemernai Manor was lined with a dense forest of sawtooth oaks and beeches.
Amidst the fallen leaves shed by the trees preparing for their winter dormancy, a black spear sliced through the air with a piercing sound.
A 2.45-meter long spear woven from shadows.
Its shape and length were exactly the same as the Red Branch.

“Hoo…!”

The opponent facing him was Eloa.
Her cherry blossom-colored hair was tied back in a practical style, and she easily deflected the spear tip that had come right up to her chin.
At the same time, Siwoo spun around.
Within that rotation, a triple strike of thrusts intermittently rose.

-Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

Eloa evaded the spear strikes that were alternating between the upper and lower parts, and then closed the distance.
Eloa’s blade, sliding and climbing over her opponent, stopped right in front of Siwoo’s neck.
Their eyes met, and Siwoo gave a wry smile, raising both hands.

“You’ve worked hard.”
“Haa, Master, you’ve also worked hard. I still can’t beat you.”
“Of course, would you catch up already?”

The two shared water amicably, then sat down on a nearby tree stump, using it as a bench.
Siwoo asked Eloa for guidance.
Originally, Siwoo had fought using a shield and a longsword, but he had changed his equipment for this opportunity.
He intended to make the Red Branch his main weapon if the day ever came when he could perfectly control it.

Although the contract of the King of All Diseases allowed him to handle all weapons skillfully, there was still a big difference between being familiar with something and not.
This was evident in how easily he was defeated compared to when they had sparred with longswords.

“What’s the problem?”
“It’s a matter of distance. Since the distance you were used to has become unfamiliar, you’re stepping in when you should be stepping back, and stepping back when you should be stepping in. But it’s just a matter of time. You just need to get used to it.”

Eloa, who was sitting slightly apart, wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief.
How could such strength come from such a slender neck and a physique that looked like it would collapse if you poked it?
Even if it was thanks to magic, it was still incredibly amazing.

“It’s been a while since we’ve sparred like this.”

Eloa smiled brightly, as if just that was enough to make her happy.

“Look at me for a moment.”

She suddenly looked at Siwoo and leaned in.
The distance between the two suddenly narrowed.
Just as Siwoo was awkwardly stiffening up in a situation that looked like she was about to kiss him, Eloa patted Siwoo’s face with her handkerchief.
It was a handkerchief with a flower pattern that she seemed to have embroidered herself on a pure white background.

“I, I can do it myself.”
“It’s fine, it’s not a difficult task.”

Although it was the opposite side from where Eloa had wiped her sweat, a subtly sweet fragrance tickled his nose.
It was as if she had sprayed a lot of perfume.
While he was feeling somewhat awkward, Eloa put the handkerchief back in her pocket.

“It’s been so hard to see your face… Have you been very busy?”
“Yes, but now that my work is done, I want to focus on training for a while. Can I ask for your help in the future as well?”
“If it’s your request, I’ll make time even if I don’t have it. Just say the word.”
“Yes, Master. Thank you.”

“Do you have any plans after this?”
“I think I’ll probably be doing some magic research. It’s not going smoothly at all.”

He thought he had gained some confidence in magic.
It seemed to be a reminder that it was just baseless arrogance.
He was trying out various sample magic formulas, but the results were disastrous.
It felt like trying to break a rock with an egg.

“You’ll be able to do it well soon.”
“Then I’ll go before it gets too late. I’ll see you at dinner.”
“Very well.”

Siwoo bowed his head and headed to his lodgings.
Eloa stared intently at his retreating figure.
The happiness that had been on her lips turned into a wistful smile, leaving behind a strange sense of regret and resentment.
She quietly murmured to no one in particular.

“…This is enough.”

After spending a night with Siwoo in the carriage and erasing his memories, Eloa was able to take some time to gather her thoughts.
This included going to Sharon, his lover, to apologize.

In a way, it could be said that they had finally returned to a proper master-disciple relationship.
Perhaps it was because they had been together so naturally until now?
Eloa realized after erasing Siwoo’s memories that he had been very concerned about the incident in the rain tunnel.

As proof, she couldn’t help but notice his cautious glances during their time together today.
And there were no awkward silences between them.

While she was relieved by that, a sense of resentment remained in one corner of her heart.

“Hoo-cha.”

Eloa got up again before any more distracting thoughts could come.
She was still paying the price of her remaining contract.
But it wasn’t as severe as before, where she couldn’t even move properly.

To clear her mind, it was important to move her body.
Eloa spent some time performing a flowing sword dance, gathering her thoughts.

2.
Amelia was still wandering the remote areas to carry out the kill list, and Clara was by her side, taking on the role of guide and handling the minor care.
The two finished their hunt for the day and sat around a campfire they had hastily made.

Today, Amelia had hunted down a notorious public enemy of the 21st tier.
A formidable foe that even Clara couldn’t predict the outcome of if they fought head-on.
A ruthless public enemy who used a modified elemental magic system to unleash cold fire and hot ice.

However, Amelia, who had been honed by her battles, regardless of her own will, was strong.
Even Clara, who had been watching her battles from the side, had not imagined that there would be such an overwhelming difference in power.

The drizzle falling over the arid desert.
The spectacle of unknown wildflowers blooming, nullifying all magic.
Could there really be an opponent who could stand against that? It was an overwhelming scene that made one wonder.

“You’ve worked hard today.”
“……”
“I was going to help a little if it looked difficult.”
“……”

Clara brewed tea for Amelia, who had worked hard, and kept asking her questions.
It was an important task.
Regular check-ups were essential to keep Amelia from breaking.
She was like gold that shone so pitifully, yet could crumble if you looked away for even a moment.
How could she leave her alone?

Amelia remained silent.
Clara, who had assumed that she didn’t want to answer, noticed an unusual sign.

“Are you okay…?”
“…I’m okay.”
“You…”

Clara looked at Amelia and swallowed a groan.
Her face and lips were pale white.
Her long eyelashes were trembling.
Her expression was the same as usual, but cold sweat was constantly flowing, making her skin look sticky.

Clara immediately recognized Amelia’s condition.
Mana deficiency.
It was a symptom that occurred when the mana stored in the brand was forcibly squeezed out and used beyond its limit.

“You should have said something if you were in this state!”
“I’m…okay… I just need to rest…”

Amelia seemed to have trouble even lifting her eyelids.
Her breaths, which she exhaled while nodding like a sick chicken, were mixed with hot air.
Originally, mana deficiency was not a serious problem.

It was like exhaustion after strenuous exercise, and if you had to classify it, it was a type that could be naturally recovered.
However, Amelia had depleted her mana several times.
As a result of pushing her body so hard and heading to the battlefield, she had finally exceeded the level at which natural recovery was possible.

“Come here!”

Clara threw away the teapot she was using to boil water for Amelia and hugged her small body.
Even through her clothes, her whole body was as hot as a furnace.
Her hair, matted with sweat, crossed her cheeks, and Amelia looked up at Clara with unfocused eyes.

“Amelia. I have a favor to ask.”
“……”
“If I’m going to help you, you need to release your autonomous defense.”
“……”
“I’ll give you my mana.”

What Clara was about to do was to share her mana with Amelia.
This was basically taboo among witches.
Because it was a very dangerous act.

For a witch whose body was made of spirit, mana was like blood.
Since each witch used different self-magnetizing magic, they each had mana with different properties.
Therefore, if one were to accept another’s mana into their body without any protection, it could cause side effects, as if receiving a blood transfusion of a different blood type. Moreover, if the person transferring the mana had even a little bit of malice, one’s life would be in immediate danger.

“Do you trust me?”
“……”

Even in this state, Amelia’s eyes, which had been eerily unchanged, showed a small ripple.
It was a sky-blue ripple that was so beautiful it was blinding.
Amelia nodded slightly, and Clara immediately performed first aid.

Clara pulled out the mana stored in her brand.
A self-magnetized mana that was as red as a raging fire.
She couldn’t pass it on to Amelia in this state.
She had to return it to a neutral state before self-magnetization and inject it.

Clara’s mana storage capacity was far superior to that of a witch of the same tier.
However, this mana purification process was a very inefficient waste.
Even if she distilled a whole bottle of mana, she could only get a few drops of pure mana.

“Just wait a little. You’ll feel better.”

Sweat also flowed on Clara’s forehead.
Soon, a white and transparent mana remained in her hand.
It wasn’t completely neutral, but it was pure enough.

“Haa…”

As Clara transferred the mana to Amelia, color returned to Amelia’s face.
And soon, as if she had relaxed, Amelia fell asleep. Clara sighed in relief.

“…That was dangerous.”

She thought they had become quite close, but Amelia was still putting up a wall against Clara.
She was disappointed by that, but she also thought it was very like her.

Compared to her high rank of 23rd tier, Amelia Merrygold was terribly immature, fragile, and clumsy.
She was a fool who couldn’t even comfortably show her wounds to others.

Clara stroked Amelia’s luscious blonde hair, which was resting on her lap.
The thin, fluffy blonde hair, like gold melted and woven on the looms of angels, flowed pleasantly through her fingertips.

Her pale and sweaty cheeks.
Her beautiful lips, slightly parted and exhaling hot breaths.
Even in this disheveled state, Amelia exuded a strange sensuality.

Clara’s gaze, which had been captivated by the sight, turned to the kill list in Amelia’s arms.
A list of public enemies that Duke Keter had left behind to be killed.

Normally, one would need the owner’s permission to look at such a thing…
But this was a problem.
Since she had volunteered to take care of Amelia, it would be better to at least find out who the next opponent was.

Clara opened the kill list.
She skipped the part about the public enemy they had dealt with today, and the next opponent Keter had designated was…

“This… won’t be easy?”

A great witch of the 22nd tier belonging to the Qliphoth.
Known by the alias of the Witch of Desire, she had sent countless witches to their rest.
It was Bianca Bellili.