City ​​of Witches 711

## Chapter 711 – #142_The Witch Of Gold (7)

#711

1.
It was a strange dream.

A vast lake where the end could not be seen.
Beyond the horizon, a sea of stars touching the black surface of the water.

Even with the thick fog that seemed to have volume, obstructing the view, a tall tower stood like a lighthouse in the middle of the lake.

Despite its vastness, the water level was shallow.
Even if one were to wade into the middle of the lake, it would only reach around the waist.

Though there was not a single breeze, beneath the constantly rippling surface, groups of bizarre, colorful lights repeatedly appeared and disappeared, weaving long threads.

Shiwoo stood blankly by the lake, merely watching the dance of the fine threads.

Suddenly, a wave, which should not exist in the originally calm lake, splashed and wet his toes.
Each time the overflowing water touched his skin, he heard whispering sounds that he could not fully understand.

It sounded like someone’s laughter, and sometimes like someone’s weeping.
At times, it seemed like kind, and at other times, stern advice.

Listening to the meaningless whispers, sometimes joy, sometimes sorrow, excitement, and disappointment.
A palette of various emotions painted over his mind, offering endless thoughts that came and went in vain.

A bright moon rose over the lake.

The constellations, which had been quietly showing off their presence, seemed ashamed to be compared to the brilliance of the moonlight and disappeared.
Looking up at the full moon, which shone like a large hole, it felt as if he would fall into the sky.

Along with a humming melody, someone walked on the lake.
The person wearing a seamless white dress was a girl who looked to be no more than ten years old.

Instinctively, he knew.
The little girl, splashing and dancing in the water, was a being who had existed for a long time, beyond even the witches’ comprehension.

And that belief turned into certainty the moment their eyes met from a distance.

An ego that had grown obese through countless lives.
Eyes that had been worn down and no longer shone due to the reflux of the world were not something a girl could possess.

The girl, having discovered Shiwoo, widened her mouth in surprise.
Then, as if playing a prank, she grabbed the ends of her dress and bowed with a giggle.

Words that were clearly heard in his ear despite the distance.

“My reverence to the king hanging upside down.”

It sounded like a sacred worship, and also like a mockery mixed with ridicule.

2.
…What the hell was that dream?

It was such a vivid dream that he muttered those words as soon as he opened his eyes.
It was so realistic that he could vividly picture the scene from before on the blurry ceiling.

He hadn’t understood it in the dream, but as the sleepiness faded, he could vaguely recall what the scenery resembled.

A huge lake, a tower.

It was very similar to the appearance of the prophecy institution that his teacher had told him about.
Could it be that the girl who danced and spoke strange words to Shiwoo was the Witch of Revelation who managed the prophecy institution?

Even if he tried to dismiss it as just a dream, the moment he made eye contact with her bothered him.
A baseless conviction that this couldn’t be a dream was wriggling in his heart.

“Ah…”

However, as the flickering ceiling became a very unfamiliar shape with a few blinks, Shiwoo realized that this was not the time to worry about dream interpretation.

The incident where he couldn’t stand Rosie’s evil deeds and beat her up.
The incident where the Witch of Gold entered the playroom and cast a powerful sleep spell.

Then, what was this bed?
He abruptly got up from the bed, where he wanted to stay for the rest of his life because of the soft scent and the fluffy blanket and pillow.
Where was this place?

“……”

First of all, the facilities were too good to be a dungeon.
One side of the room was covered with thick blackout curtains, with a dim interior space and a quietly burning candle.

Looking around carefully, it was like the room of a wealthy merchant from the Age of Exploration.
Luxurious decorations, seemingly collected from various parts of the East and West, added to that impression.

For example, there was a rug that reduced footsteps covering the entire floor, and it was quite impressive to Shiwoo, who had developed an eye for luxury goods.
A Persian silk carpet that was clearly handcrafted using the highest quality materials.

Considering that the carpet in the reception room of the Count’s mansion, which he had been stepping on without much thought, cost 1 billion won per piece…
If it was a carpet that covered the entire room of this size, he couldn’t even guess the price.

In addition, there were frames on the walls that seemed to display various gold coins, a horn that looked like it would be used for rituals in a tribal society was placed on a shelf, and something like a guard’s armor was standing in the corner of the room.
A fancy crown that should be displayed under the strictest surveillance in a museum was also carelessly strewn on a hanger.

Looking at it this way, it was reminiscent of a dragon’s nest that collected all sorts of eye-catching treasures.

However, it was a bit strange that a sense of dignified elegance was felt instead of the vulgarity of a snob who wanted to imitate the rich, even though it was just a messy pile of expensive items.

The impressions could wait.
First, it was important to figure out where this place was.
As Shiwoo got out of bed and was about to open the blackout curtains to look at the scenery outside.

“You’re awake, you temperamental male witch.”

Shiwoo, startled by the voice behind him, turned around.

The Witch of Gold, whom he hadn’t properly noticed earlier, was smiling brightly on the table, which was placed among the jumble of treasures.

He hadn’t noticed at all.
Her presence, shining brightly among the treasures piled up everywhere, was as natural as if they were one.

“You must be tired. You can stay in bed a little longer. I’ve restricted your magic use. It’s my first time putting a restriction on a man, so I might have overdone it.”

She was right.
He wondered why his body felt heavier than usual, but the operation of the main parts of his magic circuit was restricted.

Of course, Shiwoo, who had a trained spirit body, could still perform combat in this state, but if the opponent was a witch, it was practically no different from being reduced to a state of no resistance.

The cause of the restriction was the necklace.
It looked like the same artifact that Alice was wearing.
However, the function of the eye with the brand was still working normally.

“First of all, thank you for helping me.”

If he included the fact that he had been captured as a slave in Gehenna, this was his fourth kidnapping, following R’lyeh and Linne.

At this point, he could be proud of being a professional at being kidnapped.

Being frightened, panicking, and causing a ruckus was a bad idea.
It was better to prioritize understanding the situation by gaining the kidnapper’s favor with polite speech.

-Thump!

Lydia put down the pen she was holding with her white-gloved hand.
Then, she got up from the table where she had been working and approached Shiwoo step by step.

“Of course, you should be grateful. If it weren’t for me, the Qliphoth would have torn you to pieces and thrown you into Gehenna. Why did you do such a thing?”
“I have anger management issues.”
“Hmm, you’re from Korea, right? Were you a public service worker by any chance?”
“I completed my active duty service.”

Saying that he couldn’t stand the injustice or whether he had done his duty as a human wouldn’t be of much help.
After all, the other party was also a public figure.

The point was why the Witch of Gold had helped Shiwoo in his predicament.
Her intentions couldn’t be pure, so it was important to understand the surrounding context of her intentions.

However, fortunately, it seemed that the Witch of Gold, Lydia Magnus, did not have the unique madness of a public figure, regardless of her schemes.

Even with Eia, Bianca Rosie, and even Linne, there was a glimmer of madness that made one think, ‘What is this?’, but Lydia was a little different.

If he had to say, she was like a businesswoman who moved based on rationality?
Somehow, he was reminded of his mothers-in-law.

“I can hear your brain working hard all the way over here?”
“……”
“You were a smoker, right? Have one, it’ll calm you down a bit.”

Lydia, who approached Shiwoo with a gentle voice, took out a cigarette from a case.
She put one between her lips, decorated with red lipstick, and at the same time, offered one to Shiwoo.

-Click!

Lydia and Shiwoo, who had lit a fire with a flame from her fingertip and started smoking together.
In that gap, he glanced at her, who had lowered her gaze.

Hair that was a slightly darker color than Amelia’s.
Golden hair, the color of which made one wonder if it could exist naturally, like his teacher’s, was neatly cut at shoulder length.
And her golden eyes, which looked like they were decorated with melted pure gold rather than amber or hazel, were very seductive.

He had never believed in things like luck with money, but he had a vague conviction that Lydia was destined to amass a huge fortune just by breathing.

“Sit down and smoke comfortably.”

Lydia recommended one of the two sofas placed facing the blackout curtains.
On the table between the sofas, there was an ashtray and a seemingly expensive champagne in an ice bucket.

“Where is this place?”
“My bedroom.”
“Why did you help me?”
“I know you have a lot of questions, but you also know that I’m not trying to harm you right now, right?”
“…That’s right.”

She was right.
If Lydia had wanted to, she could have put Shiwoo in a difficult situation just by leaving him there.

Although Linne was his temporary teacher, it was uncertain how far she would act as a breakwater for Shiwoo, who had violated the rules of Hexennacht.

Judging from the circumstances and Linne’s attitude towards Shiwoo, he could only speculate, ‘Maybe she abandoned me?’

Also, she could have pulled out the brand while he was unconscious, but she didn’t.
Perhaps Lydia’s previous statement that ‘our interests may align’ had not yet expired.

“It’s almost showtime. Shall we relax and watch it while we talk?”
“I understand.”

Lydia, who was sitting with her legs crossed and leaning against the backrest, flicked her fingers.

The curtain that had been blocking the entire wall opened like a theater curtain, revealing an unexpected sight beyond the transparent glass wall.

3.
Dorothy, Amelia, and Eloa were discussing future countermeasures.
While they were searching for the best strategy with serious expressions, R’lyeh intervened with a serious expression.

“Dorothy, it seems like something has gone wrong.”
“Yes, yes, what’s the matter, Princess?”
“You are well aware that I am an excellent diviner.”
“Of course~”

Of course, R’lyeh’s self-magic had nothing to do with astrology, and as far as she knew, the only ones who could properly divine were the Witch of Fortune or the Witch of Revelation, but she agreed for now.

“Therefore, I have cast a conch shell divination in anticipation of the grand rescue plan. Now, look at this.”

R’lyeh took out a conch shell with a solemn expression, like a prophet who had foreseen the end of the world.

“Look, if you look at the grain of this dried sea snail, it is a divination that says ‘things may seem to be going well at first glance, but in reality, everything is going wrong.’ In this case, we must not take the current situation too lightly and prepare a better plan.”
“Yes, yes, I will make sure to prepare.”

Dorothy nonchalantly stroked R’lyeh’s head and replied.