City ​​of Witches 526

## Chapter 526 – #110_The Deep Sea Witch (6)

#526

1.
Siwoo and Llewellyn rushed without pause to the Akula’s control room.

To describe the control room, it was very similar to a spaceship.
Numerous consoles, monitors displaying the results of sonar devices and various indicators, and dials that were impossible to distinguish filled the cramped space.

The crew, who usually moved sluggishly like half-corpses, were moving at a dazzling speed at this very moment.

“Report the situation!”

Llewellyn, upon arrival, received a brief salute and stood before the command post.

“Submarine provisional alert!”
“Bearing 240 degrees, estimated 7 blades! Sonar sounds are also being detected!”

The crew’s report that followed was surprisingly not in a slow voice like, ‘S..s..submarine provisional…alert…’.
They were fulfilling their duties, showing the experience of seasoned soldiers.
From the start, they were familiars created to operate this submarine.

“Sonar operator, quickly identify the enemy ship’s model. Maintain silent running and observe the situation! Prioritize not being detected!”

Amidst the loud noises and flashing red lights in the control room.

Siwoo was desperately trying to understand the current situation.
The last thing Deneb saw was Siwoo facing the enraged Deep Sea Witch.

He never imagined that the means would be a submarine, but this attack was highly likely a rescue operation by several witches who believed Siwoo had been kidnapped.

Siwoo grabbed Llewellyn’s shoulder and said.

“What exactly is going on?”
“You too, prepare for battle. Put on a gas mask. There are many highly reactive chemicals inside the ship, and toxic gas can spread at any time.”
“That’s not it…! We mustn’t fight!”

He had to prevent a premature battle.
Llewellyn was clearly a powerful being of the 23rd tier, and this was her stage.

However, if they had gone so far as to use a submarine to rescue Siwoo, Amelia and even his teacher might be on that submarine.

Three witches of the 23rd tier.
If a full-scale battle broke out, it was obvious that someone would be seriously injured.

At that moment, Natalie, the sonar operator, reported loudly.

“Enemy torpedo launch sounds detected!”
“Deck officer! Battle stations! Increase the engine room output to maximum!”
“Enemy torpedoes approaching from bearings 241 and 240! Enemy ship’s location confirmed! Distance 3,800M! Estimated to be a US Seawolf!”

Torpedoes out of nowhere.
Siwoo, who was desperately trying to persuade Llewellyn, could only be dumbfounded.
Firing torpedoes at a submarine was one of the least suitable methods for rescuing a hostage.

Moreover, they didn’t even know what state Siwoo was in.

“Helmsman! Full speed to port! Hard starboard turn for evasive maneuvers! Deploy decoys!”

Leaving the bewildered Siwoo behind, Llewellyn, completely unlike her usual sloppy self, issued commands with perfect precision.
She was so skilled, as if she had done this many times before.

“Flood torpedo tubes 1, 2, 3, and 4. Open torpedo tube 1!”
“Torpedo launch preparations complete!”
“Weapons officer, fire the torpedo at the enemy’s detected location!”

In the rapidly unfolding situation, everyone held their breath and watched the monitor.

“Direct hit!”
“Don’t get excited! The enemy torpedoes are still active.”
“Bearing 280, the enemy torpedoes are chasing our decoys.”

In an atmosphere that seemed like it should be filled with cheers, Llewellyn did not let her guard down.

“Enemy torpedoes detonated on decoys!”
“Brace for impact!”

The merfolk all grabbed onto something, lowered their heads, and opened their mouths to prepare for the blast.

“Combat situation concluded. Enemy ship destroyed, no remaining threats.”
“Yesssss!!!!”

A moment of victory where everyone hugged each other and rejoiced.
Siwoo felt utterly awkward.

Water is a medium that transmits shock and sound much better than air.
If a torpedo or an enemy ship exploded, shockwaves should be transmitted even from a distance of several kilometers.

“Today, we have achieved victory! As long as you are under my rule, the Nuckelavee Kingdom will never know defeat!”
“Llewellyn… Your Majesty… Long live…!”
“Long live…!”

However, throughout this engagement, while he felt the ship moving at high speed, the submarine was eerily quiet.

As he had time to reflect, there were more than a few strange things.
Siwoo didn’t know much about underwater combat, but as a result of the Deep Sea Witch, a military maniac, chattering beside him, he learned how extraordinary the Akula was as a weapon.

Although it was a weapon made decades ago, with the addition of magical power, it boasted performance superior to even the most advanced weapons.

It could navigate the deepest layers of the ocean, which could only be reached by drones even with the full force of science and technology, and its excellent diving ability allowed it to escape the detection range of torpedoes simply by accelerating.

And yet, a seemingly precarious engagement had taken place?
Watching the crew members awkwardly leaving the control room again for their duties, Siwoo fell into deep thought.

“How was my command ability?”

Looking to the side, Llewellyn was glancing at him with a satisfied expression.
She had a look that asked for praise.
Now he was sure.

“Was this perhaps a mock battle?”
“……”

Llewellyn didn’t answer, but there was no need to hear an answer.
She was looking at Siwoo with a shocked expression that had a footnote saying, ‘How did you know?’

Whether he should be relieved or deflated…
Although it was only a matter of five minutes, Siwoo, who had gone through all sorts of thoughts, felt his tension release and his legs go limp.

So, it was obvious that Llewellyn had staged this farce because she wanted to show off her cool commanding skills to Siwoo.
Judging by how everyone moved so skillfully, it seemed like it wasn’t a one- or two-day thing.

Anyway, perhaps because he was mentally exhausted, he answered somewhat nonchalantly, which seemed to have upset Llewellyn, who raised her eyebrows sharply and said.

“Even though it was a mock battle, it was based on actual recorded sound data to create the scenario. It’s practically the real thing.”

Judging by her pouting lips and complaining voice, she seemed very displeased.

“…That’s enough, return to your duties.”

Llewellyn, who seemed completely sulky, turned her back and disappeared, leaving Siwoo behind.

2.
5 PM.
Today’s work was also over.

“Haa…”

The work itself was still easy and unremarkable, but today his heart felt particularly heavy.
It was because he was worried that he seemed to have offended Llewellyn.

In fact, it was usually best to play along with Llewellyn.
Knowing that, he had successfully flattered her and gradually built up her favor.

But to sulk this much over just one mistake.
She really had the personality of a queen who had grown up completely spoiled.

The fact that Llewellyn, who usually visited every two or three hours, hadn’t visited even once today proved her displeasure.

-Thump!

He turned off the lights in the storage room and went to the bedroom.
A luxurious underwater bedroom where one could sleep soundly while watching the deep sea, unlike anywhere else in the world.
In the middle of the wide bed, Llewellyn was flipping through a book.

The reason why she, who was usually busy moving around the cabin, was on the bed reading a book so early was…
Was there any need to explain?

“…Hmph.”

She must have seen Siwoo come in, but Llewellyn turned her head to the opposite side as if to show off.
Her cheeks were puffed up with dissatisfaction, just like before.

Based on his experience dealing with twins, if he just left, she would sulk for a day, which could be extended to a week.
In the end, he approached the bed and cautiously spoke.

“Your Majesty.”
“How dare you! You, a slave like a beast, dare to speak to me, the ruler of the sacred Nuckelavee Kingdom!”

She had never cared about such things before, but Llewellyn slammed the book shut and flared up as if to declare, ‘I’m angry!’

“I apologize.”
“There’s no need to apologize. Disappear from my sight immediately.”

She had wanted to show off her cool side and receive praise, but he had only shown a nonchalant attitude…
No, even so, was it really necessary to go this far?

“There is only one thing I wish to say.”
“I refuse, I will not listen.”
“I am deeply saddened that I did not express my admiration for Your Majesty’s valiant appearance today.”
“It’s already too late, I will not be swayed by sweet talk.”

But as soon as he spoke, Llewellyn readily answered as if she had been waiting for it.
It was so easy, it made him wonder if it was okay.

In fact, the reason why this slave life was relatively comfortable might be because of Siwoo’s behavior, but also because Llewellyn’s difficulty level itself was not high.

“Despite being caught off guard, Your Majesty’s masterful maneuvering diverted the enemy ship’s mines with countermeasures and shot them down. For a lowly slave like myself, it was an extremely high-level tactic, so I failed to recognize it on the spot.”
“…How dare you lie so shamelessly. I can still see your arrogant face, asking if it was a mock battle and scoffing.”

He didn’t remember scoffing…

“That is not so. I am a novice witch, and I have no experience in such magnificent battles.”
“……”
“In the tense situation that was similar to a real battle, I watched Your Majesty’s valor with sweaty hands, and I was so exhausted that I could not fully admire it. I have been reminiscing about today’s battle throughout my work, feeling thrilled.”
“……”

He knelt down and spoke in a voice filled with emotion.

“I have finally realized that Your Majesty is the embodiment of this vast ocean.”
“Raise your head.”

Llewellyn was now sitting on the bed, wearing a satisfied expression.
She wasn’t just feeling good, she was openly smiling from ear to ear.

“Indeed, your words are also valid. It is natural for a new recruit who is first deployed in a real battle to panic, and it is my fault that I did not consider that.”
“I am deeply grateful.”

How happy was she that even Llewellyn was saying ‘my fault’ and forgiving him.

“Get up, it is a day we have sounded the victory drums, so I have ordered a grand feast to be prepared. Let’s go!”

Llewellyn, with a stride that had completely forgotten her previous grievances, ran to the dining hall as if she were flying.