City ​​of Witches 501

Chapter 501 – #107_Fish Tank

#501

1.
The Ivory Tower, which had not allowed any witch to set foot in it since Keter went into hiding.

A most beautiful structure created solely by Keter, not adhering to any architectural style of any era.
On a circular stone slab that looked like a dark chapel, a single ruler sat upon a throne.

Pure white hair, untainted by any color.
Following the strands of hair with one’s eyes, one could see that the ends were dyed in a myriad of colors.
Between the half-closed eyelids, the pupils, whose gaze could not be guessed, were a brilliant gold.

Duke Keter, revered by all witches.
An extraordinary genius who achieved the great feat of the 30th rank alone, without a single succession.
A guardian who brought new order to the chaotic witch society.
A stern judge who purged witches who crossed the line, even if they were friends.

However, the image of Keter in Lilith’s eyes was different from the rumors.

Knowing of her approaching death but resigned to it,
Despairing over an unattainable ideal, worn down by despair,
A weary ancient dragon who had lost interest in the endless repetition of time.

“Poor Keter.”

Lilith paced twenty steps in front of Keter, muttering mockingly, or perhaps singing.

“Is this the form you desired, even to the point of abandoning me?”

Lilith glanced up and scanned the vast space once more.

Behind the throne where Keter sat, countless magic circles were in operation.
A four-dimensional regular octahedron, which a three-dimensional being could not properly perceive no matter how closely they looked, was moving to preserve her physical body.

The reason Lilith could not approach within twenty steps was also due to those magic circles acting as protectors.
It was magic that no witch alive could imitate, but to Lilith, it looked ridiculous.

“Where is that beautiful magic you used to boast about? The fractal-shaped magic, I mean.”

Originally, her magic circles took a beautiful fractal form like a kaleidoscope.
Such shabby and ambiguous magic was nothing more than a remnant compared to the wondrous magic Keter possessed.
The same went for the hundreds of potions, drugs, and narcotics injected through the hoses densely plugged into her back.

When did that Keter ever rely on such drugs?

“You’re spouting whatever you please. Are you still there?”
“I went through a lot to get here. You won’t even have a proper conversation with me? I can’t leave because I’m so disappointed.”

Originally, the Ivory Tower was surrounded by Keter’s spatial barrier.
She built walls with a perfect barrier formula that no witch could decipher.
She must have wanted to hide her uniqueness in that way.

That must have been the path to the order she had longed for her entire life.
If she had used conventional methods, even Lilith would not have been able to force her way inside.

But the rampage Amelia had caused was very timely.
The magic she unleashed at Lilith’s instigation placed a massive burden on the reverse barrier surrounding Gehenna.

If it had been a Keter in perfect condition, she would have been able to restore it without any trouble…
But not anymore.

She had been slowly dying for hundreds of years.
Keter had not been able to immediately repair the barrier, and Lilith had taken advantage of the momentary gap to enter the Ivory Tower and face the most hated opponent in the world.

“Lilith, you are the one who is pitiful.”
“Oh, really? It seems the arrogant queen can still pity others even as she withers away and dies.”

Lilith’s sarcasm was followed by a sudden burst of laughter.
The dry laughter endlessly filled the hall.
Unbelievably, the source of the laughter was Keter.
Lilith’s eyes narrowed.

“What’s so funny?”
“Don’t be mistaken. Lilith, you are my flaw. You are nothing more than the dried-up filth of the past that I could not wipe away.”
“……”
“It’s pitiful to see you feeling a sense of omnipotence, thinking your petty schemes and glib tongue are something great. I feel neither pity nor compassion for you.”

-Thud!

At that moment.
A terrifying shockwave spread out widely.
So much so that the transparent barrier that had been blocking Keter and Lilith rippled entirely.

Lilith pressed her forehead against the transparent barrier, glaring at Keter with murderous eyes.

“I want to tear you apart and kill you right now.”
“I’m sure you do, but you know better than anyone that you can’t.”

Lilith took a breath and took her hand off the barrier.
She had already tried in various ways, but after all sorts of verification, the conclusion she had reached was that there was no way for the current Lilith to break through that barrier.

However, Keter’s condition was rapidly deteriorating.
She had confirmed that one day she would not even be able to maintain the barrier properly, so there was no point in staying here any longer.

“Keter, no matter how plausible your words sound, you are a failure.”

Lilith, having regained her composure, turned her back with a smile.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to hide the fact that the corners of her mouth had stiffened.

“Sit there and watch the moment when what you tried to protect crumbles. That’s my revenge.”

Keter’s noble voice caught Lilith’s back as she walked away.

“Lilith.”

Her voice was mixed with another kind of mockery.

“There is something wrong with what you said.”
“…What are you talking about?”

Keter said coldly, joyfully, mournfully, and calmly.

“We are ‘all’ failures.”

Behind Lilith’s back as she walked away, not feeling the need to respond.
A self-deprecating laugh, like a throat being scraped, followed like a shadow.

2.
“Is today an off day?”

When Siwoo visited the perfume shop again.
This time, Amelia was gone.

He scanned the second and third floors, thinking she might be organizing the warehouse, and only then did he discover that her cloak, which had been hung in the corner of the shop, was gone.

It seemed she was out for a while.

“Well, she’s been busy lately.”

Helplessly, he left a note on the counter and headed to the Gemini mansion.
It was to see the twins’ faces after a long time.

Unlike Sharon, who moved relatively freely, the twins, who were following a tight apprentice witch schedule, were difficult to see unless Siwoo made time.

“Bloom.”

Deep blue magic flowed around Siwoo’s body.
He transcended space and arrived in the courtyard of the Gemini mansion.

It was already late at night.

Even though their relationship had been acknowledged, if it became known that he had suddenly visited the twins, he might be kicked out by his mothers-in-law.
The moment he thought he should ask for permission first, he had no choice but to swallow a groan.

“Hmm….”

Had something happened lately?
Both Albireo and Deneb kicked Siwoo in the shin with the tips of their shoes every time they met him.

When he first saw them, they were clearly elegant noblewomen.
Before he knew it, they had transformed into mothers-in-law who were desperate to get rid of their unwanted son-in-law.
It seemed that the saying, “You can know the depth of ten fathoms of water, but not the depth of a man’s heart,” was true.

-Knock knock

He timidly knocked on the firmly closed main gate a few times.

Usually, the head maid, Galina, or other maids would open it, but today, perhaps because it was a bit late, no one answered even after waiting for a while.

“Excuse me.”

Helplessly, he slightly opened the door and stepped inside.
Like a sensor light, the bright candlelight of the chandelier flickered, and the sound of the wooden wicks burning quietly echoed.

“What is it?”

A clear but slightly irritable voice, as if covering the crackling sound, was heard.
From the long staircase leading from the second-floor terrace, which extended towards the interior, he could see the small mother-in-law standing with a lantern.

At that moment, Siwoo almost turned his eyes away involuntarily.
The comfortable pajamas that revealed her white thighs reminded him of the night he had greeted the small mother-in-law.

But if he showed any awareness here, it would become an even bigger problem.
Deneb also seemed to treat what happened then as a momentary incident, so he had to match her rhythm.
Just as Siwoo was desperately trying to avert his gaze, he realized that she was wearing a large cape over her shoulders.
It wasn’t an outfit as revealing as last night.

-Tap tap tap

Deneb came down the stairs.
Her hair was all up in a bun, but it looked like she had just been lying in bed, with stray hairs sticking out here and there.
Her expression was also full of annoyance, as if she had been disturbed while sleeping.

“I’m sorry. It seems I’ve disturbed you.”
“D-disturbed? I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was sleeping, you know?”

Deneb’s pace quickened.
Having come down the stairs, Deneb approached Siwoo with large strides, raised one finger, and swung the lamp around, saying.

“Witches can sleep too! I’m a witch with regular sleeping habits!”
“Y-yes, well…. I’m sorry.”

So, he meant he was sorry for disturbing her sleep.
She hadn’t kicked him in the shin like last time, but instead, it seemed she wanted to pick a fight.

But he had no intention of making excuses.
From Deneb and Albireo’s perspective, it was understandable that Siwoo looked like a robber, not just a thief.

“And what is this you’re wearing? I told you to dress neatly. If you want to call yourself the son-in-law of the Gemini Count family, you should dress with the proper formality. And……”

A waterfall of nagging poured out as if she had been waiting for it.
After a while of getting worked up, Deneb fanned herself with her hands as if her face was flushed and took a deep breath.

“So, why did you come?”
“Ah, if Lady Odile and Lady Odette are awake, could I possibly meet them… Ack!”

Without a word, Deneb kicked Siwoo in the shin.
It was a relief that it hurt less because it was a slipper, not a shoe heel, like usual.

“What are you going to do meeting the twins at this hour? Now you’re openly…!”
“Ack! Ack! Ack! No, Lady Deneb! That’s not it! I just, it seems like it’s been a long time since I saw them…!”
“Because of you! Because of you! How much heartache do you think I’ve been through! With Miss Marigold! You’ve even set up a household! And then you shamelessly sneak in at night! What? You want to see the twins?”

But Deneb relentlessly kicked the same spot, not even listening to Siwoo’s excuses.
Siwoo was repeatedly hit by the mother-in-law’s kick, full of emotion.
He quietly offered his shin as a punching bag until her emotions subsided, and Deneb eventually fell down from exhaustion.

“Haa… haa…. Really….”

Deneb pushed back her disheveled bangs and gasped for breath.
The way she bit her lip tightly, unable to contain her anger, was just like the twins.

He thought she would stop here, but she took a few more deep breaths and then spoke in a calm, low, but very scary voice.

“Siwoo, listen carefully. Even if you’re engaged, you shouldn’t visit your fiancée at this late hour…. Come to think of it, you’re not even engaged, are you?”
“Strictly speaking, that’s true….”
“Ugh… I want to pull out all your sideburns.”

As she recalled each point that made her angry, she seemed too tired to even get angry anymore.

“I’m sorry.”
“Yes, you should be.”
“I’ll come back when it’s light. I’m sorry.”

He thought it was his own fault that Deneb was angry.
Just as he was about to turn back,

“Wait.”

Deneb said, ruffling her hair.

“You’ve come all this way, let’s talk for a bit.”