Chapter 710 – #142_The Witch Of The Golden Flower (6)
#710
1.
Dorothy is generally considered bold, even among the fearless Public Enemies.
Her self-made magic, ‘Angel Descent,’ which she manifests through the medium of the chapel and nun’s habit, boasts unparalleled defensive power, if not offensive.
Except for the time she fought Siwoo, she had no memory of being injured in battle, and she secretly prided herself that no witch could break through her defenses if she focused solely on defense.
“…Hmm.”
But now, her heart is pounding so fast that she unconsciously wants to reach for a calming pill. The cigar she should be savoring slowly is burning down at twice the usual speed.
Dorothy being bold didn’t mean she considered recklessness a virtue.
Even with R’lyeh’s mediation, and even if Dorothy’s help was absolutely necessary, and even with the ‘code’ she received from Shin Siwoo in preparation for the worst-case scenario.
She still had to face the formidable Tiferet Duke alone.
Over the long years, the news she had heard about her was nothing but grim rumors.
So-and-so Public Enemy’s business was crushed by the Tiferet Duke.
So-and-so Public Enemy from upstairs was killed by the Tiferet Duke.
She had also witnessed the death of the cowardly witch who commanded the Red Knight, who had been reborn as the worst Homunculus, so it was natural for her to shrink back.
“Haa~ I hope nothing goes wrong?”
Still, she didn’t intend to be completely intimidated.
On the contrary, appearing too lacking in confidence would undermine trust in Dorothy… or so she said.
“More lies.”
Again, her true feelings were different.
The Tiferet Duke was Shin Siwoo’s teacher and lover.
Imagine a mistress in a drama who can’t even breathe in front of the main wife.
How pathetic and miserable would she look?
Therefore, while she couldn’t be in a completely righteous position, she wanted to be perceived as a femme fatale mistress if possible.
Perhaps it was a timid expression of her possessiveness towards Shin Siwoo and her jealousy towards his lover.
-Whoosh!
The sound of space opening.
Dorothy, waiting on a beach on a deserted island in the Pacific, turned around.
“Dorothy, I have brought her.”
First, R’lyeh with her navy blue hair came into view.
Next to her was a beautiful witch with blonde hair and star-like sky-blue eyes.
That must be Amelia Marigold, the ‘Perfume Witch’ who has been making a name for herself in the fragrance industry lately.
She was so highly sought after among the Exiles that even Dorothy, who had no interest in such things, had heard of her.
“……”
She was slightly impressed.
She had heard that Amelia had recently risen to the 23rd rank, but Amelia’s appearance was particularly outstanding even among witches who were known for their beauty.
Even in casual modern attire, her elegance and grace were reminiscent of a fairy from a fairy tale.
R’lyeh, the Tiferet Duke, and an unnamed pretty witch.
She didn’t particularly adhere to the one-man-one-woman relationship ideal, but he was a man with many sins.
“Are you the Witch of the Path?”
The Tiferet Duke, who had been hidden behind the two, stepped forward.
She had only glimpsed her through a low-quality crystal ball, so it was the first time Dorothy had seen her this close, and she was secretly surprised.
The first impressions of the most famous Public Enemy slayer in the modern world were these three:
She’s tiny.
She’s cute.
She’s pink.
She was a petite duke who seemed like she would make a ‘thump-thump’ sound with each step, and you’d want to hug her without thinking.
“Well, well, well.”
However, that impression changed slightly when you reached her firmly pursed lips and the sharp, wary look in her eyes.
A stern expression that revealed the will of a warrior who had trained for a long time.
Indeed, her unwavering gaze, which seemed like it would make you feel intimidated if you met her as an enemy, was piercing.
“I would like to hear the details of the situation.”
“Your tone is too aggressive. Show respect to my friend.”
R’lyeh had roughly explained the situation to her on the way from the portal.
Dorothy was, so to speak, R’lyeh’s aunt, the witch she trusted and was closest to.
Also, Elloa knew about the Witch of the Path.
She had memorized the appearance and misdeeds of all Public Enemies.
In that sense, Dorothy was not a priority for extermination.
Apart from being a weapons dealer, she had not committed any particularly outstanding misdeeds compared to other Public Enemies.
However, the above two cases did not guarantee trust in Dorothy.
No one could be sure how many snakes a Public Enemy who had lived for hundreds of years might be harboring.
In comparison, R’lyeh was an easy-to-deceive naive witch, regardless of her rank.
In the worst case, there was a possibility that it was Dorothy’s scheme to put Amelia and Elloa in trouble.
It was more likely to succeed if they followed the plan the two had originally made.
The perceptive Dorothy couldn’t have overlooked such suspicions.
She immediately got to the point.
“Shin Siwoo is currently a disciple of the Sword Witch.”
“A disciple of the Sword Witch?”
“Yeah~ that’s right. I met him in person just a few days ago, so it’s reliable information.”
“I need an explanation of how you met him.”
“Wait, let me explain. You’ve been trying to exclude me since earlier. Do you think I, who can see the vast ocean as if it were the palm of my hand, wouldn’t know your shallow tricks?”
R’lyeh suddenly intervened in the middle of the serious conversation between the three.
“Well, it’s understandable that you’re anxious. Dorothy is a close friend of mine. My friend’s achievements are the same as mine. If we rescue Siwoo, I will get the highest score.”
Amelia sighed softly.
She had even managed to handle the lessons of the mischievous twins, but R’lyeh was incredibly exhausting to deal with.
“That’s not it. R’lyeh, please explain.”
“Alright. Where should I begin this grand story… Ah, yes, I, born as the rightful heir to the Nukelavi Kingdom, honed my magic under a wise mother and teacher.”
As expected, the explanation started from her birth.
Seeing Elloa and Amelia starting to fidget, Dorothy gently persuaded them.
“Princess, would it be okay if I explained from here?”
“…Then my teacher said… Hmm? Is there a problem?”
“It’s too long.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, you seem busy, so I’ll finish it quickly.”
“I understand. Try to summarize it well.”
Although R’lyeh was arrogant, she knew that listening to the direct advice of a loyal subject was a virtue of a ruler.
R’lyeh stepped back as easily as she had surprised Amelia and went off to pick up starfish and seashells.
“She seems to follow you well.”
Seeing that, Elloa spoke to Dorothy in a slightly softer tone.
The fact that R’lyeh, who had been so arrogant, followed her so well gave her extra points.
Elloa was also lenient and fond of apprentice witches and young witches.
“I love her very much too. She’s really like an apprentice witch.”
Meanwhile, Amelia couldn’t hide a sense of unease.
As soon as R’lyeh disappeared, she poured out the questions she had been holding back.
“How is he doing? What did you do when you met him that makes you think he’s safe?”
Dorothy explained as much as she knew about the situation and the plan she had made with Siwoo.
That he had secured a relatively solid position as a disciple of Linne.
That he didn’t seem to be in any immediate danger.
That Dorothy would deliver the ‘door’ magic formula to him when they made contact again soon.
However, in the process, the Hexennacht’s entry and exit portals were restricted, and there was a possibility of being tracked, so she was asking them to intercept the witch who had followed them to the outside.
However, despite hearing the good news, their expressions were not very bright.
In this case, the problem was not the content of the message but the reliability of the messenger.
“There are many parts that I don’t quite understand.”
“Tell me anything. I’ll answer you sincerely.”
“Why are you going so far for Siwoo? Simply because he’s R’lyeh’s lover?”
“Hmm~ you could say I’m his local wife?”
The moment she heard the words ‘local wife,’ Elloa’s eyes widened.
And soon, Amelia showed the same reaction.
“Ah, we had a very hot time that day too.”
Their gazes landed on Dorothy’s chest.
Despite wearing such baggy clothes, her curves and volume were not hidden.
She had breasts bigger than Sophia’s.
They suddenly realized that Siwoo, who was promiscuous when it came to women, wouldn’t have passed her by, even if all other aspects were praiseworthy.
Dorothy felt a sense of satisfaction.
She had succeeded in making the mistress statement more confidently than she had expected.
She continued her subtle boasting as if it were nothing special.
“When we first had relations in Akula, it was for the purpose of treating the mark wound. But I fell completely for him, you know? And there are other things I’m grateful for.”
In fact, more than the sex itself, it was the fact that he had corrected the relationship between Dorothy and R’lyeh, which had almost gone wrong.
The fact that he had allowed R’lyeh to enter Gehenna.
The fact that he had made her realize that there was a different kind of strength than what Dorothy knew, the strength of bonds, was even greater, but she subtly omitted it.
That was why she felt a little embarrassed.
“So that’s what happened.”
“Oh? Didn’t Siwoo tell you?”
If that was the case, why hadn’t he told them properly?
While hiding her troubled heart, Elloa spoke.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t believe it just based on that. Please understand.”
“I know~ I heard the Duke hates Public Enemies a lot.”
Dorothy nodded as if she didn’t care at all.
Then, she gestured to Elloa.
“Can I borrow your ear for a moment?”
“Me?”
“Yes, Duke. He told me that if I told you this, you would believe me.”
Elloa approached Dorothy with a suspicious expression.
Dorothy’s lips moved slightly, and she said the name of an animal.
“Rabbit.”
Elloa tilted her head and asked again.
“Rabbit?”
Then she suddenly realized.
A secret between Siwoo and Elloa that no one else but Sharon would know.
The fact that he had told Dorothy that could be said to be the most effective proof of trust.
Apart from that, when the flustered Elloa looked up, she saw Dorothy smiling and sending a meaningful look.
“Heh heh, he told me to say that, but what does it mean? Is it a code?”
Elloa, who had turned her gaze away, feeling like she knew everything, said to Amelia.
“I think we can trust this person.”
“Yes? What did you talk about…”
“I guarantee it in the name of a witch.”
Amelia couldn’t ask any more questions at the sight of Elloa’s extremely serious expression.
