Chapter 707 – #142_The Witch Of The Golden Flower (3)
#707
1.
The peaceful spring sunshine was gradually tanning the skin, and Gehenna was beginning its makeover, welcoming the season of new greenery.
The temperature was not yet too hot.
The clear sky was transparently blue.
The wind that brushed against the leaves and tickled the cheeks was enough to make even a grumpy witch holed up in her room wear a generous smile.
But perhaps it was the strange tension and silence that filled the room, creating a low-pressure zone?
Above the Jemenae mansion, dark, gloomy clouds hung in the sky.
-Swish, swish, swish-
Albiereo looked up at the sky, which was pouring down rain as if sobbing, with a troubled gaze.
On the table were wine, a quill pen, and a pile of documents.
It didn’t look much different from usual, but it was a mess, not at all like Albiereo’s desk, which usually preferred neat work.
It was as if it was showing her inner turmoil.
“Haa…”
The twins’ sighs, which occasionally made the ground sink, too.
Deneb, who was lost in her drunken stupor and didn’t even think of leaving her room.
Even Sharon and Amelia’s behavior, which clearly showed their consideration for Albiereo’s guilt.
There were many reasons for her sigh, but in the end, they all came down to one.
Her son-in-law had gone to the mortal realm and disappeared.
Moreover, the reason he went to the mortal realm was because Albiereo had half-forced him to go.
Ruelle had the ability to pay the donations on his own.
Albiereo had sent him out under the pretext of testing him, and it was also true that a considerable amount of ill will was involved in this process.
She had been annoyed with him from the start.
He was a scoundrel who had snatched away not one but two Odiles and Odettes, and there was no end to the women around him.
He had caused all sorts of worries, and then he had the audacity to show up with a new lover, and even charmed her little sister-in-law into saying things like, ‘My sister, who doesn’t know love, is so pitiful!’
“I’m going crazy, really.”
Albiereo prided herself on being a rational person, and in fact, she was not far from it.
The fact that her wretched son-in-law was still alive was proof of that.
From such a rational point of view.
Shin Siwoo being captured was ultimately a matter of consequence.
If this case were one that absolutely had to be won, she was confident that she could prove her innocence even if a court were to be held.
Who would have known that any problem would arise with Duke Tiferet by his side?
She had no intention of shifting the blame to the grieving Duke, but strictly speaking, Duke Tiferet, who failed to take appropriate action on the scene and prevent his disappearance, was most at fault.
However, that did not mean that she could completely let go of her inner sense of debt.
If human relationships could be cut as neatly as if measured with a ruler, the world would be much simpler than it is now.
Albiereo vividly remembered Deneb’s reaction after the news of Siwoo’s disappearance was delivered.
‘It’s because of you, Sister.’
A venomous look of resentment.
‘If you hadn’t pushed Siwoo out, this wouldn’t have happened.’
Albiereo, who had a bold personality and didn’t even bat an eye at most threats, felt like the ground was sinking beneath her feet the moment she received Deneb’s resentment.
She had fought with Deneb over big and small things since they were young, but she had never received such sincere anger and resentment.
‘I’m sorry, Sister…. I’m sorry…. I think I lost my mind….’
‘No, it’s okay, you must have been surprised too. It’s also my fault.’
Soon, Deneb, who had regained her senses, burst into tears and begged for forgiveness.
However, that did not mean that Albiereo’s shock subsided.
No matter how great a countess of a noble family she was, or how long she had lived as a great witch, her blood relative’s resentment was so painful.
Since then, Deneb had not left her room once.
She had not only harbored an improper affection for her son-in-law, but had also hurled harsh words at her beloved sister, so how much must her heart have been hurt?
She couldn’t bring herself to assert her innocence, even if it was just because she was reminded of Deneb, who was floundering in despair and loss.
Therefore, she was putting all her efforts into the search operation.
Should it be said that she had gotten the hang of it since she had done it just a while ago?
Under the command of Albiereo, who had become the control tower, his whereabouts and whether he was alive or not were identified in just a few days.
But the problem was next.
The one who had kidnapped him was the ‘Sword Witch.’
The place where he was kidnapped was the city of the public enemy, ‘Hexennacht.’
She was aware of the existence of Hexennacht.
When the rumors first started, she thought it was a small disturbance caused by Keter’s absence.
Not only Albiereo, but everyone thought so.
However, the city, which had absorbed the exiles and public enemies and had grown explosively in just a few months, had become as dangerous as the Clifoth in its prime.
The public enemies of the Clifoth, which had become defunct, had reunited with this city as a starting point, and about half of the exiles had also joined them.
As a result, the number of great witches presumed to be staying in Hexennacht was in the triple digits.
Even if they were fewer in absolute numbers than Gehenna, considering that most of the exiles and public enemies were combatants who had been filtered out in fierce battles, a frontal breakthrough was out of the question.
It was not as if there were no public enemies of the 23rd rank on that side, and if they could just overwhelm them with their rank, Duke Tiferet would not have repeatedly failed in his conquest of the public enemies in South America.
Even if they succeeded in a breakthrough after a miracle, it was a failed plan from the point of view that they could not guarantee the safety of the hostage.
Therefore, they were currently trying to secretly make contact with Hexennacht, but…
Even this was sluggish.
No matter how much the Jemenae family was, there was a limit to their contact with public enemies, and they had run aground in this ‘helpless’ situation.
In this situation where she could neither go forward nor backward, the rain was still pouring outside the window.
2.
She had repeated the same mistake again.
She had been so caught up in the joy of a date for just the two of them that she had failed to prepare for the worst.
She should have been on edge all day, but she had made love in the camper.
If she had not been satisfied with the contract of a guardian, but had been more thoroughly vigilant.
No, if she had stopped him from the very beginning when he said he would go to the mortal realm.
Would the result have been different?
There was no need to blame anyone.
It was all the responsibility of Elroa Tiferet, the foolish and foolish teacher.
She had repeated an error that she should never have repeated, and she had helplessly lost her disciple, whom she had vowed never to lose again, right before her eyes.
If Elroa had not met Siwoo, there would have been no mistakes caused by complacency.
This was punishment.
Because a sinner who should have lived a life of unforgiveness had dreamed of love.
Because she had learned happiness, despite having vowed to live a life of atonement and repentance.
A punishment given because she had become rusty, weak, and dull.
After Siwoo’s disappearance, Elroa had cut off her ties.
She had left letters of apology for Amelia, Sharon, and the twins, and had left for the mortal realm alone.
She didn’t want to involve anyone else in this dangerous situation.
She wanted to take responsibility.
She couldn’t just charge in without any preparation.
She didn’t care about her cheap life.
She had to be perfect because even a single failure would threaten his safety.
Elroa secretly attacked exiles who had not joined Hexennacht or witches who knew the inside story.
And the public enemies had to face how far Tiferet, who was enraged at the prospect of losing her disciple again, could go.
Tiferet, who had captured three public enemies in just about three weeks, had returned to Gehenna.
It was to replenish the magic power she had consumed and go out again.
Elroa, who was about to go back to the mortal realm after leaving the interrogation of the public enemies to Countess Albiereo, was faced with an unexpected situation.
“I’m sorry. Duke Tiferet, your departure authorization has been temporarily suspended.”
“What did you say?”
The immigration officer, whom she knew well, had a look of embarrassment on his face.
Gehenna’s ‘gate’ was perfect magic, but as of late, there were many glitches.
There were cases where backdoors were opened, and there were also cases where the portal could not be used due to malfunctions and inspections.
But a temporary suspension of departure authorization?
Time was of the essence.
She didn’t have time to waste like this.
Elroa did not raise her voice or cause a commotion.
She just calmly expressed her cold anger.
“Say it again.”
But even without intending to, her eyes were gleaming with a white murderous intent.
The murderous intent was precariously placed on a rock of patience that was dangerously swollen, and it seemed as if it would collapse if it lost its balance even slightly.
“I, I am very sorry… Duke Tiferet, you cannot go to the mortal realm!”
Even though she knew that it would not happen, an image of a sword drawn from her waist cutting through her neck flashed through her mind.
Nevertheless, the immigration officer closed his eyes tightly and fulfilled his duty.
Tiferet realized that she was oppressing a stern person at the answer that sounded like a scream of fear, and withdrew her murderous intent.
But her impatience and anxiety did not disappear.
“Why?”
“It is the consensus of the Sephirah.”
Hearing those words, anger surged.
They said it was the consensus of the Sephirah, but Elroa also knew who had seized the real power after Keter went into seclusion.
Hadn’t it been proven in Amelia’s trial before?
“Is it Duke Erelim’s order?”
“……”
Behind the immigration officer, who was affirming with silence, Elroa headed straight for Duke Erelim of the Truth and True Name Academic Conference.
Her steps and breathing were very rough.
3.
Meanwhile, at that time, Akula was in a commotion with Ruelle, who was trying to immediately push for Siwoo’s recapture after completing his trial, and Dorothy’s advice to stop him.
“Dorothy! Do you not trust my and Akula’s combat power! Tell me the location of the harbor at once!”
“Your Majesty, that’s not it.”
“Why are you trying to solve it so difficultly! My plan is this.”
Ruelle pointed to the paper with his baton.
“Hexennacht is a city with a vertical structure, and it is said that there is a sea on the lowest floor. Is that correct?”
“Yes, that’s correct for now.”
“See! All the seas in the world are my territory, so I have a geographical advantage as well. First, I will take the submarine to the Hexennacht pier and give them a taste of a nuclear shower. After that, if we take advantage of the chaos to rescue Shin Siwoo, wouldn’t that be enough?”
“Yes, that would not be okay.”
“Why not!”
The excitement of completing the trial, combined with the excitement of learning that Siwoo had been kidnapped, made it difficult for Ruelle to calm down, and Dorothy had to soothe him for a long time and explain the situation.
