City ​​of Witches 1084

Chapter 1084 – #258_Return

#1078

1.
The dimensional barrier was lifted.
Lydia no longer had the strength to maintain the Golden Garden, and Siwoo had no reason to keep the barrier up.

“……”

With the battle over, Siwoo returned the crimson branch he held to its magical form.
The crimson branch, made of distortions and twists, vanished like scattered flower petals of various colors.

“Cough! Cough…!”

As he coughed, dark red blood stained his palm.
This was because the damage, which even the numerous distortions and the lotus’s regenerative abilities could not fully handle, had accumulated in various places.

It was truly a miraculous victory.

If Lydia hadn’t depleted her power against R’lyeh.
If Lydia, concerned about her own consumption, hadn’t taken a life-risking gamble and had instead planned for the future.

If she had used her influence, with the Solidus Merchant Guild at the forefront, to confront Siwoo.
Or if she had faced Siwoo as a 24th-tier being just a year or even a few months later.

The outcome of the battle might have been completely different.
Lydia would have been a hundred times more formidable opponent.

But ‘what ifs’ are meaningless in the face of what has already happened.

The result does not change.

Although Siwoo was battered, he stood on the beach where the waves crashed.
Lydia, with both legs and one arm gone, was staring blankly at the night sky.

The lotus was slowly absorbing everything from Lydia.

“……”

The fact that Lydia regained consciousness at that moment was because of the ‘Immutabilis,’ a magic that prevented instant death, which she had used during the battle. It had reached an even higher level with her tier ascension and was desperately clinging to her lifeline.

It didn’t hurt.
She simply had no sensation.

Lydia’s golden eyes slowly followed Siwoo.

“…Got a cigarette?”

Siwoo lit a cigarette and placed it between Lydia’s lips.

Though she was an enemy, a foe.
She was a formidable rival worthy of respect.

How should he describe this strange bond that had blossomed in just 30 minutes?

Was it cheap pity, a rookie’s sympathy, or just the arrogant leniency of a victor?

Whatever it was, it was a shallow sentiment he could afford to have, knowing that Dorothy could return.

“What is this… cheap stuff…”
“…Really now.”

Lydia inhaled the smoke with a languid voice, as if she hadn’t fully woken up from the night.
Lydia’s life was slowly fading, like sand falling in an hourglass.

Siwoo looked at the rising lotus and said.

“Last words. If you have any, say them. You don’t have much time left.”
“Haha…!”

Contrary to Siwoo’s expectations, Lydia burst into laughter, a sound like golden coins jingling.

Although it was mixed with a wheezing sound like a patient with lung disease, and her appearance was pathetic as she faced death, her laughter was elegant, exuding dignity and experience.

He couldn’t help but laugh.
Lydia had also uttered such lines at the deathbeds of countless losers.

Was this the feeling of the defeated, lying powerless and writhing?

“If I die, a war will break out.”

It was Lydia’s ability that had kept the explosive public enemies under one roof.
The Solidus Merchant Guild, having lost its center, would be devoured by the Qliphoth and collapse, which would mean the collapse of the political balance of Hexennacht.

“It won’t be easy for you to handle.”

Siwoo looked into Lydia’s eyes.

He didn’t see the plea or servility of someone begging for their life.
Instead, an irrational madness flickered in Lydia’s golden eyes, which had been losing their light as she was dying.

She had lived by greedily seizing what she wanted.
Among a pack of jackal-like public enemies, she had used any means necessary to finally build a vast kingdom.

She had affection and possessiveness.
But for Lydia, the idea of the Solidus Merchant Guild remaining after her death was nothing short of disloyalty.

The Solidus Merchant Guild should disappear into the annals of history, like an empire that had crumbled with the death of its emperor.

She thought so without a shred of doubt.

“So, I’ll give you a gift.”

Then what about the Las Werfanas?

The stepdaughters who had followed Lydia’s orders.

Should they, who had lost their mother, their sisters, and Lydia, also be buried alive?
Where should they go, those who had given Lydia blind faith and love?

Lydia had made arrangements in preparation for her death.

The location of those arrangements was Gehenna.
Although it was enemy territory, it was a safe zone where no public enemy could easily get their hands on them.

Lydia held out a ring on her remaining hand to Siwoo.

“In Gehenna, if you show this ring to the vault bank… you can open my vault.”

Lydia’s panting was getting faster.
Her vision was already gone, and the cigarette smoke had no scent.

“There’s a will there, my daughters… the Werfanas… will become… your loyal dogs…”

This arrangement was something Lydia had prepared for her daughters in case she inherited the position in the distant future, or in case she died.

However, in the latter case, Lydia wasn’t sure if this arrangement would actually be used.

Because there was no guarantee that whoever killed Lydia would be a good shepherd to lead the lost lambs.

If it was a ruthless public enemy with no blood or tears, the Las Werfanas would face a fate worse than simply being lost.

But even if it was the enemy who had taken Lydia’s life, there was a successor in front of her whose goodness she could trust.

Shin Siwoo, who had been willing to risk revealing his identity during his revenge to avoid involving innocent people.
Shin Siwoo, who had overcome several crises and won victories by overcoming unfair gaps.

He was qualified.
He was qualified to receive the legacy of Lydia Magnus.

“Now, you’re… their godmother… Si-soon.”

Lydia’s body began to tremble as she desperately uttered each word as if spitting out blood.

Unable to inhale the cigarette any longer, Lydia suppressed her convulsing body and asked one last question.

“How was my magic…?”

Siwoo answered.

Upon hearing that answer, Lydia smiled crookedly.

“You’re… such a… unlucky… bastard…”

The Witch of Libra, or the Witch of Gold Coins.
The head of the Solidus Merchant Guild, and the godmother of the Las Werfanas.
The leader who had led the largest public enemy group in history, and the third great witch to reach the 24th tier.

Lydia Magnus’s heart stopped completely.

2.
The sensation of a soft blanket was felt.

Appropriate humidity and temperature.
A comfortable sleeping environment where the feeling of the pillow against her cheek was lovely.

“Hmm~”

This was definitely oversleeping.

Otherwise, it couldn’t be this sweet.

Dorothy fluttered her long eyelashes like butterfly antennae and smiled contentedly as she tossed and turned.

Besides, there was a good smell.

There was the sound of clattering dishes, the sound of something bubbling, and the savory smell of soybean paste stew tickled her nose.

Soybean paste stew….

Dorothy had tasted all the delicacies of the world, but her taste was surprisingly common.
When she visited a place for business, she always preferred street food in the night market to fancy Michelin restaurants.

Skewers grilled over charcoal with sweet and tangy Southeast Asian seasoning and beer that was lukewarm rather than cold.
Halal Guys, which seemed to emphasize quantity over quality, with generous portions of meat and pita bread, topped with a distinctive white sauce.
Or the swollen chow mein that came with orange chicken in a square box.

But Korean soybean paste stew was a rather peculiar position for Dorothy.

Was it the unique, pungent smell of fermented food that was polarizing?
Anyway, she remembered not liking it very much.

When Siwoo first served it as his hometown food, she had thought to herself, ‘Ugh, I don’t like this.’

But love is a ridiculous magic.

It’s a ridiculous magic that makes you love other things that the person you love likes.

The taste of soybean paste stew, which she didn’t like very much, became likable just because it was his hometown food.
She closed down her successful business and threw money into the air just to see him smile.
She kicked away the respectable position guaranteed by Hexennacht and volunteered to be a hunter in Gehenna….

“…Huh?”

Dorothy, who had been slowly drifting, sensed a sense of incongruity and suddenly sat up.

Hexennacht, Gehenna, hunter, Lehar Group, Herja, death.
The languid peace was gone, and the revived memories made Dorothy’s eyes flash open.

Her eyes were slightly curved, giving her a flexible impression, but her gaze was sharp, taking in all the information around her.

This was an apartment.
Judging by the interior style, it was probably Korea.
The scenery outside the window was also a typical Korean factory-style apartment complex.

What had happened after that?

“Oh my, you’re already awake?”

Then, a voice that instantly released all of Dorothy’s tension was heard.

“Darling.”

Siwoo, wearing an apron and holding a ladle in his hand, entered the bedroom from the kitchen.

Dorothy was slightly surprised to see Siwoo.
This was because the atmosphere around him felt thick, as if he had become a completely different person.

It wasn’t the somewhat clumsy experience he had gained from the charisma project (which Dorothy found adorable).

It was the composure of a strong person, with an inner strength that could be felt even though he was smiling gently.

“Come on, come here.”
“What, what? What’s going on all of a sudden? Is this a hidden camera?”

But why was Siwoo here?
And why was she suddenly in a Korean-style apartment?
Then what happened to the attack?
Had it been resolved somehow?

“Darling~ I’m heavy, you know?”
“What do you mean heavy?”

Siwoo, who had picked up the confused Dorothy, sat her down in front of a lavishly set table.

“This is Shin Siwoo’s special Korean course. It’s nothing special, but I tried my best to prepare it.”

Soybean paste stew, rolled omelet, various side dishes, white rice.
That was it.

“It’s really nothing special.”

Dorothy, who playfully teased Siwoo, who was acting cute, picked up a spoon and took a large spoonful of soybean paste stew.

After a little time, the confusion subsided.
At this point, something came to mind.

“I… I died.”

Otherwise, there was no way such a fairytale-like happiness could unfold.
Because Dorothy had clearly had her head cut off by Herja’s axe at that time.

So, this meant that she had either gone to heaven, the afterlife, or was just a brain in a vat, imagining the happiest moment for Dorothy.

“Is it that bad?”

But the realism that hit her the moment she put a spoonful of soybean paste stew in her mouth.
And Siwoo’s hand overlapping hers on the back of her hand.
His expression, as if he had lost a precious treasure and barely found it again, told her.

This was not heaven, the afterlife, or a brain in a vat, but a clear reality.

“Darling, I’m really confused… What happened? Kyaa!”

Siwoo hugged Dorothy tightly.

“……”

His shoulders were shaking.
Dorothy’s eyes widened, and then she gently smiled and stroked his shoulder.

“What is it~ How embarrassing… It’s okay~ It’s okay~ I really won’t leave you now.”

After a long journey, Dorothy had returned to Siwoo’s arms.