City ​​of Witches 1003

Chapter 1003 – #241_학회 창립식(4)

#997

1.
Sharon, Alice, Periwinkle, Sophia, Amelia, R’lyeh, Eloa.

The seven individuals Siwoo initially put forward as department heads.

This wasn’t the complete lineup, and he stated that he would be going through a process of recruiting to establish new departments. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a sufficient number.

Of the magical horizons that had developed over a thousand years, the fields these seven could cover wouldn’t even amount to 1%.

Nevertheless, the venue was filled with a quiet frenzy.

“Really? Is it really going to be run with just those people?”
“The tuition is going to be ridiculously expensive.”
“Who cares about tuition? Look at the lineup.”

Self-generated magic was a magic written with a semi-independent code.

For a high-ranking witch to properly edit the self-generated magic of a lower-ranking witch, they would need to separately understand that ‘code’ for at least a year. That was too unrealistic, so Siwoo excluded it.

However, if the self-generated magic was rooted in common magic, it was a bit different. If self-generated magic was the ‘spines’ of a sea urchin, then this was the part corresponding to the ‘sphere’ of the sea urchin.

Since this was the area covered in academic journals and societies, it was somewhat systematized and based on a common understanding.

It was possible to give and receive teachings to a certain extent.

Even so, it was like picking a star from the sky to receive teachings in this common magic from a witch above the rank of a Great Witch.

You either had to be close, pay an exorbitant amount for a home visit, or act as a lackey or assistant, groveling to get one thing at a time.

But now, you could attend such classes as much as you wanted by joining the society and paying a set tuition fee. Moreover, the people teaching were experts in their respective fields, worthy of being called the best.

To give an analogy, it was like opening an investment university where the faculty consisted of Warren Buffett, Philip Fisher, John Templeton, and so on. For the witches, it was like an academic amusement park had opened.

The selected department heads went down, and Siwoo stood on the podium again.

The noisy atmosphere immediately quieted down.

“In addition to this, we plan to establish partnerships with various societies and request department head and professor positions. Our current goal is to open at least 12 departments and appoint at least two professors under each department.

Of course, I believe you still have various questions. Whether such a system can really be maintained.”

After calmly finishing what he had to say, he took out a music box from his pocket.
An artifact that endlessly played a song of tranquility.
It was something filled with memories, so he had kept it, but now it was broken due to the distortion field of the Red Branch.

“This is an artifact that the Geminae Back family gifted me when I first became a witch and went out into the mortal realm.”

The presentation of the vision was over.
Now it was time for self-promotion.

“Around that time, I struggled to even defeat a weak homunculus. Therefore, I needed an artifact to hide my presence to protect myself.”

He lived in fear of being noticed by the evil-aligned exiles or the public, and he was too scared to go outside the boundaries of the location points.

“Now, less than 10 years later, I have defeated Urshula, the Count of Hexennacht. I have ended the chaos of the mortal realm caused by the floods and stand on this podium as the head of the society.”

No witch who had heard the rumor that a male witch had been born could have predicted this.
That a being they had all thought of as research material would achieve such a feat.

“But I did it. I proved what everyone said was impossible. And. It will be the same this time.”

A declaration that might seem arrogant at first glance.
A firm conviction and confidence in himself.
Even the way he spoke, with clear diction and emphasis on the important parts.

He perfectly showcased everything he had practiced.

“Once again, everyone. Welcome to the Hesed Magic Society.”

Siwoo spread his arms, signaling the end of the founding ceremony and introduction, which had lasted less than 10 minutes.

2.
The welcome address was skipped.
The founding address and society introduction lasted 10 minutes.

That was all the time allocated for the official schedule.

Considering that other official events usually lasted at least an hour for various reasons, it was very short.
This was possible because they had boldly omitted various roadmaps and detailed treaty clauses.

They had even skipped the introduction of the Tiferet mansion, which they had prepared with a large sum of money.

However.
It was all the more intense because it was short.

The after-party included a meal, performances, and a party.

While the Gehenna musicians were playing their instruments on the stage, no witch was paying attention to the food or music.

Questions kept popping up.

“What other societies are going to be established?”
“What kind of societies are they going to recruit here?”

“They didn’t even tell us how the classes will be conducted. Is it possible to take classes in two or three departments at the same time?”
“Seven years is too long. Are there no short-term curriculums?”

“Reports and projects? They say we have to achieve meaningful results to move on to the next course. Does that mean we’ll be stuck here if we don’t pass?”
“The tuition is important. If they present unrealistic costs after all this, how many people will actually attend?”

“Can our society also form a partnership?”
“Why is this founding ceremony so unfriendly?”

The people who had been introduced as department heads had left the venue as soon as the founding address was over, so they couldn’t ask them directly.

Of course, not only good things were being said.
Due to Dandelion’s exposé article, Shin Siwoo’s reputation was at its lowest.

Even if they had forgotten it for a moment due to the shock, the aftermath was inevitable.

“In the end, didn’t he not say a single word about the scandal?”
“It’s like he’s just introducing his lovers as department heads. Was I the only one who almost laughed at that part?”
“I was trying so hard to cover my face with my fan.”
“A member of a society that’s been turned into a harem. I wonder if I’ll be able to attend classes properly because I’m so embarrassed?”
“Professor! I have a question! When was your first kiss with the society head? Kyaaa!”

On the other hand, Shin Siwoo’s rather impressive transformation was also being re-examined.

“More than that, hasn’t his vibe changed a lot?”
“Yeah. He looked like a child even during the last paper verification… Is it true that a position makes a person?”
“I hate to say it because it hurts my pride. But he’s damn handsome.”
“I know, right?”

“No, I think he’s been hiding his teeth. Now that he’s got everything ready, he’s finally revealing his ambition.”
“That’s too much of an overinterpretation…”

“But… if his girlfriends are that amazing, doesn’t that mean he has his own unique charm?”
“Yeah, if it was just one or two, I wouldn’t think much of it… But isn’t the Tiferet Duchess also his lover?”

The public opinion was still split, but the carefully crafted charisma project was having an effect.

“Oh? There’s Shin Siwoo.”
“Where? Wow…”
“…Can’t he seduce me too?”

At that moment, Shin Siwoo, who had briefly left his seat, reappeared in the banquet hall.
Instead of the slightly comfortable attire he had worn earlier, Shin Siwoo was dressed in a tailcoat for the ball that would soon mark the end of the after-party.

His appearance, dressed like a Northern Duke, was enough to make the witches who had been off guard lose their composure.

He was walking around, shaking hands and greeting key figures, but they were all top-tier witches.
Ordinary witches couldn’t easily approach him, and instead, they just stared at him.

“He’s talking to the Head Librarian?”
“Where? Wow, it’s true?”

Shin Siwoo, dressed smartly, was having a quiet conversation with the Head Librarian.
The reason it was called a quiet conversation was because a soundproof barrier was activated around the two of them.

“What are they talking about?”
“They’ve been talking for over a minute already.”
“Societies usually have data-sharing agreements with the Secretariat, so isn’t it something like that?”
“He’s handsome…”
“Hey, Count Gremory is smiling…?”

Then, the Head Librarian covered her mouth and smiled slightly.
Shin Siwoo, who had always been expressionless, also gave a wry smile in response.

“No way, is he also acquainted with the Head Librarian?”
“I heard he’s also friends with Count Yesod.”

The witches were confused by the rare scene.

“If he smiled at me like that… I’d give him my life.”
“He looks good… I wonder if he’ll dance?”

The witches were captivated by his charm and beauty.

As the meal was roughly finished, the musicians changed their sheet music.

The hosts from Rose Glass lined up, and the tables where food and drinks had been displayed were cleared away.

The curtains were fully drawn, and the candles on the candelabra burned with a brighter light.

The ball that would mark the climax of the after-party was about to begin.

“What’s your name, lady?”
“Shall we dance?”
“It would be an honor if you would grant me the opportunity to dance with you.”

It was a somewhat excessive fervor, but the cheerful waltz that began to play along with the brilliant sunlight loosened the atmosphere in the venue, which had been like a pressure cooker.

About 20% of the witches, who were not particularly interested in dancing or had personal research or schedules, left, but many guests still remained in the ballroom.

It was also part of a witch’s dignity to engage in appropriate conversations and actions at the appropriate place and time.
The witches who had been talking about nothing but Shin Siwoo and the Hesed Society also checked their attire, raised their chins, and looked for partners.

“Next time.”
“I want to rest now.”

The hosts from Rose Glass were talented individuals who had been trained as proper dancers, but unfortunately, there was now a much stronger competitor.

“…….”

The new aristocrat and society head, Baron Shin Siwoo, was leisurely observing his surroundings with a relaxed expression, like a flower on the wall.

But unexpectedly, no one asked him to dance first.

It was the same even after a waltz had started and ended.

“…What are you going to do?”
“You do it.”
“No way. Are you crazy?”

It wasn’t just because they didn’t want to stand out.
Most of the witches who had remained until the ball wanted to stand out more than anyone else.

However, there was still an unresolved suspicion about him.

The suspicion that he had been manipulating various witches using his handsome looks and unique position.
It would be one thing if he asked them to dance first, but if they approached him, it could lead to another scandal.

Siwoo was also feeling troubled, although he was putting on a poker face.

If it ended like this, it would be quite embarrassing.
It wasn’t just that all the hard work he had put into practicing would be for nothing.

It would prove that, despite presenting a new society and an innovative vision as the society head, he had still not shaken off the aftermath of the scandal.

Public opinion was like a flow.

The moment the story of ‘No one asked the lecherous baron to dance, hahaha!’ was created, the charisma project itself would be damaged.

Asking his lovers, acquaintances, or the recruited department heads wouldn’t help at all.

Just as he was agonizing over his anxiety, a woman boldly crossed the center of the ballroom, which had become quiet after the dance had ended.

“Shall we dance the next song together, sir?”
“It would be an honor.”

The prospective bride of Takasho, who had been quietly watching Siwoo from afar.
It was Countess Adonai.