City ​​of Witches 406

Chapter 406 – #87_Oversight(5)

#405

1.
It might sound quite unexpected, but Gehenna has building codes based on city regulations.

Construction permits are not issued if the exterior or interior of a building is too far removed from Gehenna’s atmosphere or if it harms the aesthetics.

It’s a vague clause, but to put it simply, it applies to cases where buildings are constructed using materials and construction processes that would be seen in the mortal realm.
Just looking at the Jemanai and Yesod baronial estates, and the various buildings in Gehenna, one can roughly understand.

In fact, even if the legal restrictions were lifted, Gehenna wouldn’t suddenly transform into a modern city like those in the mortal realm.

Gehenna’s builders are unfamiliar with modern construction processes, and bringing in various materials would require an astronomical amount of money.
In the first place, the majority of witches residing in Gehenna have aesthetic standards that are aligned with the past.

In Gehenna, where more than 90% of the buildings are old-fashioned and classic, the most modern-looking mansion would be the Periwinkle Mansion located in Lenomond Town.

The generous use of large glass walls to create a sense of openness, and the active use of halogen lamps for interior lighting, are examples of this.
It’s like a mansion where a Hollywood actor with unique tastes would live.

I hadn’t paid much attention before because I was preoccupied, but everything from the furniture to the interior decorations felt very different.

Since Siwoo still had an unpaid debt to Periwinkle, he visited her almost immediately.

If one were to name the biggest contributor to resolving this situation, Periwinkle would be indispensable.
Without Clover, the fight wouldn’t have even reached a level where it could be contested.

“My cutie’s here?”

Just as Siwoo was wondering if he should go to the workshop as before, Periwinkle came out to greet him.
Her navy blue hair was styled up like a princess, and she was wearing a sparkly dress that could easily look tacky.

It’s usually called a sequin dress, with lots of spangles, but in Periwinkle’s case, each sparkling decoration was a tiny jewel.
She’s a naturally slender beauty with a wealthy look, and the outfit suited her perfectly.

“Periwinkle-nim.”
“I heard the story. It’s admirable that you came right away after waking up, isn’t it?”

Before any conversation could take place, Siwoo bowed deeply, his head almost touching the ground.

“Thank you so much. Takasho is safe thanks to you, Periwinkle-nim.”

This was the biggest reason for Siwoo’s gratitude.
If it weren’t for Periwinkle, there wouldn’t have been any reason for him to go through all that trouble to confront Bianca.

“It’s fine, I already received a reward from that friend. A Rose Glass VVIP lifetime pass, or something?”

Periwinkle waved her hand with a nonchalant smile and walked gracefully to Siwoo, linking her arm with his.

“But it seems like I haven’t received what was promised yet. You haven’t forgotten, have you?”
“Of course not.”
“But did you really defeat the Witch of Desire?”

Periwinkle looked at Siwoo with disbelief.
Although Periwinkle’s Clover was the best artifact that created unexpected variables, there was a difference in rank that came from hierarchy.

If Periwinkle had faced Bianca directly, she would have been helpless.
She would have barely escaped with her life.

But for a mere 1st-generation, and a male witch at that, to succeed in hunting such a notorious public enemy.
It was not an easy thing to believe.
Especially since Periwinkle’s first encounter with Siwoo was when he was defeated by a homunculus with 17 eyes.

“Well… it’s a bit of a long story. Actually, I didn’t finish it off.”
“You didn’t finish…?”

Then Siwoo did it up until the very end?
Periwinkle, who had only heard rumors and thought, ‘There must have been help from another witch…’ was in shock.

“Yes, that… Baron Marigold helped me. When she was off guard.”

His expression and tone revealed a complex state of mind, but Periwinkle didn’t notice any of that.
Suddenly, his profile looked different.

Before, Siwoo was just a slightly special man to Periwinkle.
He was quick to achieve things, but his magic was only at the level of imitation, and in terms of raw power, he was below Periwinkle.

But he was actually capable of subduing a 22nd-rank public enemy?
He looked even more handsome and dashing.

“…This is dangerous.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”

Even if they are witches, they are still women.
The instinct of a female being drawn to a strong male is deeply ingrained.
It’s just that there couldn’t be a man stronger than a witch until now.

“But how should we keep our promise?”

The tremor in that deep voice.
The gaze that glanced at Periwinkle gave off an intimidating aura.

It was unlikely, but if Siwoo wanted to, he could overpower Periwinkle right here and now and do whatever he wanted.
Periwinkle felt a hot breath catch in her throat.

“Well… I wonder? What should we do?”
“Didn’t you have something in mind?”

Looking at Siwoo, who tilted his head in confusion, Periwinkle couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Shall we start with something a little rough?”

2.
“Hoo…”

Still warm from the heat, Periwinkle leaned back against the headboard of the bed and leisurely exhaled cigarette smoke.
Siwoo was also smoking, and they were both tapping ashes into the ashtray placed between them.

Periwinkle’s body, not fully covered by the blanket, was covered in red handprints.
The result of Siwoo firmly pressing down on Periwinkle, who was struggling to escape in extreme pleasure.
If the blanket was pulled down slightly, Periwinkle’s chest, covered in bite marks, would also be revealed.
Periwinkle had been pleasured three times in her newly opened backdoor, but somehow, she felt unsatisfied.

“Is something bothering you?”

Siwoo had clearly explored Periwinkle’s body passionately.
He had thrust into her repeatedly, and when she couldn’t take it anymore, she had crawled away, only to be firmly pressed down by Siwoo, who relentlessly attacked her backdoor, no matter how much she protested.

But something was different from before.

Periwinkle, who was confident in her figure and face, had expected a truly hot and intense night.

Of course, she felt good, and she was more satisfied than she had expected, but Siwoo’s words and actions were somehow businesslike.
That was because he was clumsy at hiding his true feelings.

“Tell this older sister. You look like you need some counseling.”
“……”
“Your mind was completely elsewhere. Is it because of guilt?”
“I feel sorry for no reason. I should be trying harder.”

In fact, he had a lot of worries.
Originally, he should have been acting triumphant like a returning hero.
But there were still too many things that bothered him.

Three things in total.
First, Amelia.

He hadn’t properly thanked her for saving him from Bianca.
Also, her blank, frozen expression after seeing Siwoo’s cold eyes.
The question of why she was in the mortal realm.
Whether she had read the note after their worst breakup, and how she felt about seeing Siwoo.
And so on.

Second, Duke Keter’s scheme.

He had no idea what his intentions were.
Why Duke Keter, who had been in seclusion for decades, had suddenly handed over the ‘vessel’ to Siwoo.
Why he had healed his body.
Why he had intervened in the accident to lessen his psychological aversion to tentacles.
The problem was that he couldn’t understand any of it.

The last worry was somewhat related to the second one.

Now that he was officially dating Sharon, the twins, and his teacher, he couldn’t just go around sleeping with any woman like before.
He didn’t know what Duke Keter’s purpose was, but now that he knew about the scheme itself, he couldn’t act the same way as before.
He had slept with Periwinkle because he owed her an immense debt, but he was planning to end his relationship with the Yesod Baron soon.

“Actually…”

Among these, only the third issue was directly related to Periwinkle, so Siwoo confided his feelings about that.
Periwinkle, who was listening to Siwoo while lighting a new cigarette, chuckled.

“Ah, sorry, sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh. It’s just cute.”
“I’m serious, though…”
“You’re so innocent. Haa, I was so surprised, thinking you didn’t like me. Is that why you didn’t kiss me once during sex?”

Periwinkle pinched Siwoo’s cheek as if he were cute.
She thought it was strange.
If it were someone else, she would have thought, ‘Is he lying because he doesn’t want to sleep with me?’ but Periwinkle knew what kind of person Siwoo was.
He was probably seriously pondering this issue in his own way.

“Why it’s funny is that just a few decades ago, polygamy wasn’t that unusual. There are still many countries that legally allow it.”
“I don’t think it’s a matter of law…”

Periwinkle calmly shared her thoughts.

“You’re handsome and capable. You’ll probably have a lot of women chasing after you in the future. The stories of capable heroes having multiple wives and concubines aren’t that old.”
“…That’s a bit embarrassing. I’m not a hero either.”
“How can a man who hunted a 22nd-rank public enemy not be a hero? You need to understand your situation a little better.”

But Siwoo still looked troubled.
Periwinkle tried to explain it to him more carefully.

“Why do humans love only one person? This is just my personal opinion, but isn’t it because time is limited? Human life is too short to fully love one person, and youth is even shorter.”
“That’s…”
“If you’re prepared, if you’re confident. Why should you feel guilty about love?”

It wasn’t so much that she wanted to keep having sex with him, but more like she was giving love advice to a cute younger brother.

“Wouldn’t it be okay to love more as much as you feel sorry?”
“……”
“Go and clear your mind. I haven’t received all my debt from you yet. But if you’re feeling this uneasy, we’ll both be unsatisfied, right? Go and find your own answer. If you really don’t want to do it with me, I’ll tell you other ways to repay me.”
“Periwinkle-nim, you really seem like a reliable older sister.”
“Did you just realize that? I’m a few years older than you.”

Periwinkle leaned towards Siwoo and lightly kissed him on the cheek.

“Oh, I’m a bit late in saying this.”

She smiled charmingly.

“Welcome back.”