City ​​of Witches 430

Chapter 430 – #91_Merry Christmas(2)

#429

1.
If one were to name the biggest festival in Gehenna, witches, citizens, and even slaves would all agree:
The Harvest Festival, which takes the place of Christmas.

Gehenna, which has remained almost unchanged for hundreds of years, transforms spectacularly for three days starting on the evening of the third Monday in December.
Everyone puts down their work, and even witches who are usually holed up in their rooms come out to join the festivities.

The Gemena Count’s mansion was also being redecorated for the Harvest Festival.

Wall trees adorned the hallways, the carpets were transformed to be as white as the first snow, and the candlesticks were lit with colorful lights.
In the yard, a large fir tree was set up like a Christmas tree, and colorful magic-powered lanterns twinkled.
In addition, small silver bells and cane ornaments reflected the lights, creating a splendid scene.

The Gemena mansion, known for its extravagance, would not stop there.
The main gallery displayed straw models and various fruit props, giving thanks for the bountiful harvest, and a large stuffed stag model was also decorated, pulling a cart.

These props, which could easily look like a jumbled mess, were arranged with excellent aesthetic sense.

“Wow, they’ve decorated it well.”

Shiwoo admired the decorations as he walked to the meeting place.

Tonight.
Shiwoo had enjoyed a feast with the twins, Sharon, his master, and the Gemena Count.

The feasts he had been treated to at the Count’s mansion had always been excellent, but it seemed that none had ever been as delicious as today’s.
The main dish was turkey roasted with oil and butter for a long time, served with cranberry jam, and a total mobilization of rare ingredients from land, sea, and air.

It was a familiar and intuitive taste even for Shiwoo, who had a commoner’s palate, not a delicacy that only those who knew fine dining could appreciate.

Afterward, they all gathered around the fireplace with cognac and spent a harmonious time.
Then, individual date time arrived.

It seemed that the schedule for the Harvest Festival was booked in order of master, Sharon, and then the twins.

Among them, Eloa had received the time from 10 PM to 8 AM the next day.
Although it was an agreement made without the person in question, Shiwoo, who already felt guilty towards the four women, couldn’t complain.
He decided to participate willingly.

The meeting place was in front of the fountain in the Gemena Count’s mansion.
This mansion had more than one or two fountains, so they had to specify the exact meeting place as the fountain in the garden near the self-gate.

Still, it was a date. When Shiwoo, dressed smartly, arrived,
he found his master leaning against the moonlight, looking up at the sky.
Her beautiful pink hair was neatly tied up as usual, and she smiled lightly when she met Shiwoo’s eyes.

“Have you arrived?”
“Yes, I didn’t make you wait too long, did I?”
“Of course not.”
“You could have just come out together.”

It was a slightly ridiculous thing to say, even as he said it.
They had all been together in the drawing room until he went to change his clothes.

Shiwoo walked over and stood next to her.

“Wouldn’t it be better to get into the mood? Meeting at the agreed place and time also has meaning.”

As he approached her, Eloa suddenly became demure.
It was the first time they were going on a date alone since they had started to share their feelings.
Although they had spent a long time together and even shared physical intimacy, every little action felt conscious since they had officially become lovers, beyond their master-disciple relationship.

“Somehow… even though nothing is different, I feel shy.”

Eloa hid her smile, tucking her chin into her sable scarf.
But she couldn’t hide the beautifully curved corners of her eyes.
Her heels, which kept lifting and lowering, were also evidence of her anticipation.

“Ahem…”

Seeing his always dignified master looking as excited as a girl on her first date.
Shiwoo felt awkward for no reason.
He hadn’t planned a fancy course, and he was worried about whether he could escort her well.

“Then…”
“Then…”

They both spoke at the same time to break the awkward silence.

“You should speak first.”
“Please, Master, you go first.”

The words they uttered after hesitating were exactly the same, and another strange silence fell.
Eloa was the first to smile.
Shiwoo also smiled belatedly, and the somewhat stiff atmosphere relaxed.

“If we define a date as a time when lovers meet and spend time together, then this is my first date with you.”
“That’s right, it feels like we’ve spent quite a long time together…”
“That’s why I want to try everything. May I ask you for a favor as your lover?”
“Just leave it to me.”

Eloa nodded and hesitated for a long time.
Then, as if she were asking for a very difficult favor, she opened her mouth.

“May I… hold your hand?”
“……”

Eloa’s appearance as she asked that had a destructive power beyond imagination.
So much so that he forgot to answer and extend his arm to hold her hand.

Eloa carefully took Shiwoo’s hand in both of hers.

The difference in hand size was quite large, just like the difference in their physiques.
Eloa, who was carefully caressing Shiwoo’s hand, gently intertwined their fingers and brought it to her cheek.

“I have always wanted to walk with you like this, holding hands.”

His master showed a smile that seemed to melt away, as if she were too happy just from that.

“I guess I’ll finally get to fulfill a wish.”
“……”
“Shall we go? There’s a place I want to go with you.”

Thus began the date of the two people, holding hands tightly.

2.
Ars Magna Town, located in the very center of Gehenna, is not very large due to its geographical location.

If you exclude the Levana Grand Bathhouse, which occupies more than 50% of the total area, it is smaller than a quarter of Tarot Town.
If you go straight northwest from the city center where Flora Dress Shop and other stores are located, you will find one of the most beautiful buildings in Gehenna.

The Hanging Garden.
It was the only garden that Duke Tiferet, who had sold all his property to establish and maintain the Location Point, did not sell until the very end.

The Hanging Garden, which is now off-limits to everyone, consisted of a glass staircase spiraling towards the sky and a garden that seemed to float in the air.

The flowers that bloomed, forgetting the seasons, swayed as if they were praying to the stars, and a breeze that was completely out of place in winter tickled their cheeks.

Holding hands, the two arrived at the garden after stepping on the dizzying glass staircase, and they leisurely wandered around the garden, using the moonlight as their light.
From the garden, which stretched high like an observatory, they could see Tarot Town, which was bustling with the Harvest Festival, and the sacred mountain, which stood tall, shrouded in a solemn mist.

It was like having a fantastic dream.

“The more I learn about Gehenna, the more beautiful places I find. It’s really amazing.”
“Hehe, please look around as much as you like. I will give you a special exemption from the admission fee.”

Shiwoo had become accustomed to all sorts of mysterious scenery, but he was sure that he had never seen a place as beautiful as the garden that was closest to the sky.
Eloa, who had been fidgeting with the hand she had not let go of since they first held it, said.

“Shiwoo, I will be going on a long journey soon.”
“What do you mean?”
“With Duke Keter absent, there is expected to be chaos due to the public enemies. It seems that I will have to focus on subjugating them for the time being.”

Shiwoo had been trying to create a romantic atmosphere, as it was a special day and place.
His master’s sudden remark was enough to fluster him.

“Master… so suddenly?”
“I could have moved a long time ago. I was just dragging my feet because I didn’t want to be separated from you.”

Subjugation of public enemies.
To keep Lapi’s will, and for her own personal revenge.

Shiwoo knew that Eloa had devoted her life to hunting public enemies.

But he also knew that she had changed a lot since the incident with the Cowardly Witch.
She no longer buried herself in revenge and made meaningless runs, and she had a more relaxed smile.

Public enemies cause great harm to humans.
Eliminating them is a righteous act and will further contribute to justice.

But the human heart is so fickle.
Even though he knew that she was not someone who would easily succumb to the threat of any public enemy.
Even though he knew that her actions would save many lives he didn’t know.

He wanted to stop her.
He wished she wouldn’t do it.
Or rather….

“I will tell you in advance. You must not come.”
“…I was just about to say that I would help you.”
“That cannot be.”

Eloa held Shiwoo’s hand tightly.
The firm determination that she would never allow it could be felt in the strength of her small grip.

“It’s different from the time of the Cowardly Witch. I can be of enough help to you, Master.”
“I say this out of concern, but it’s not that I don’t trust you. Still, I cannot allow it.”

Shiwoo’s words were not an exaggeration.
He had already hunted the powerful public enemy, Bianca.
He had even won a match against Eloa, who had used a moderate amount of power.
Although it was Shiwoo’s unconscious self who had done it, he had experienced an inexplicable power-up since then, and he was confident that he would develop even further in the future.

If he had no power at all, it would be different.
But how could he let her walk a dangerous path alone when he could be of enough help?

Therefore, Shiwoo tried to calmly persuade Eloa.
However, as if to cut off even the beginning of persuasion, Eloa interrupted Shiwoo.

“It’s not that I was going to say that you wouldn’t be of help.”
“Then why…!”

Eloa, who had been walking steadily, suddenly stopped.

In the place she turned to, there was a tombstone, and next to the tombstone’s stone slab was the name Lapi Tiferet.
It was clear that a very long time had passed, but it was as clean as if it had been made just yesterday, without a single patch of moss.

The moment he saw it.
The words and sentences he was about to refute got stuck in his throat.

“It’s the first time I’ve come here with someone since I buried Lapi.”
“……”

Eloa gently let go of Shiwoo’s hand and knelt on one knee in front of the tombstone.
And she wiped the cold tombstone with her hand, as if caressing her disciple’s face.
Her eyes and fingertips were filled with an indescribable sorrow.

“I wanted you to come with me. Lapi would surely be happy too.”
“…That’s unfair.”

With a simple gesture, she showed all her feelings.

Why she was preventing Shiwoo from following her.
What kind of feelings she was speaking with.

Eloa had not yet given up on her mission.
But she did not want Shiwoo to get involved in her path of atonement.

The hope that had barely bloomed in her life, which had been like ashes.
She couldn’t risk losing Shiwoo again.

“If you do this… I can’t be stubborn…”
“How can that be stubbornness? It’s because you’re worried about me.”

Eloa asked Shiwoo, her beloved disciple, her beloved lover.

“I want to say hello to Lapi, so can you give me some time? Please don’t go too far.”
“…I understand.”

While Shiwoo turned his back and smoked a cigarette, Eloa talked to Lapi.

Stories about how she had been doing, how much she had missed her, and how the world was changing.

And stories about Shiwoo.
Sometimes it was a voice with a smile, and sometimes it was a tone mixed with a heartbreakingly trembling cry.
It was a night where the starlight was achingly beautiful.