## Chapter 1099 – #261_His Return (4)
#1093
1.
The Tree of Sephirot, the highest decision-making body that has shared history with Gehenna.
It could be said that most of the major and minor affairs within the city are decided here.
Long years of peace had turned it into an event attended only by the usual people, but since the launch of Hexennacht, it has regained a participation rate that is quite reminiscent of the past.
Today’s main agenda items are the ‘bestowal’ and ‘nomination’ of peerages.
In the case of the bestowal, it was to declare the long-absent Duke Keter vacant and to succeed the Count of Cagliostro in his place.
In the case of the nomination, it was a session to select someone to fill the vacant countship created by the promotion of the Count of Cagliostro.
As it was a position of extremely high importance, not only nobles with peerages participated in the decision-making, but also the opinions of the most renowned witches in Gehenna were reflected.
The conference room was filled with attendees, including heads of small and medium-sized academic societies, great witches of high reputation without peerages, executives of organizations, and public officials of major institutions.
“As the prophecy from the Prophecy Institution has confirmed, the demise of Duke Keter is final. The Tree of Sephirot, in accordance with its long tradition, intends to elect a new duke.”
After quickly skipping the formalities and intermediate procedures and having an appropriate discussion time.
Metis Gremory, who was acting as the moderator, declared.
“Now, we will begin the vote on the bestowal of the dukedom to Tia Cagliostro. Those in favor, please raise your hands.”
In Gehenna, cowardly anonymous voting is not recognized.
A witch must clearly express her choice and will, and bear the appropriate responsibility for it.
There were a total of 120 people sitting in the seats today who participated in the show of hands vote.
With 112 in favor and 8 abstaining, the bestowal of the dukedom to Cagliostro was decided with an easy-to-understand result.
As can be seen from the fact that the discussion time for the bestowal did not even take 5 minutes, it was not a particularly unusual result.
Cagliostro, the head of the Emerald Tablet, is like Duke Tiferet, the founder of the Location Point, and Duke Erelim, the head of the Truth and True Name Academic Conference.
If it weren’t for Keter, it wouldn’t be strange for her to be sitting in the dukedom.
“I, Tia Cagliostro, the Witch of Mystery, swear by my witch name that I will value the supreme tradition and strict order of Gehenna and fulfill my responsibilities as a duke.”
Without any fuss or fanfare, she finished her oath in a quiet atmosphere, and applause echoed in the conference hall.
An agenda that flowed as if it were the natural course of things, without opposition or fervent approval.
No matter what variables there were, the result would not have changed.
However, the next agenda is different.
“Now, the second agenda. The nomination of a witch to succeed the countship.”
The quiet conference hall suddenly became as hot as a heated frying pan.
This is because the number one hot topic in Gehenna recently has been nominated as a candidate.
The Demon King Shin Siwoo.
The young baron who has achieved feats worthy of his seemingly arrogant alias.
“It’s unreasonable. The peerages of Gehenna are bestowed upon those who have made achievements and contributions to this city. He is still a young witch who hasn’t even been here for 10 years.”
“You have to think about it the other way around. It’s only been 10 years. In just 10 years, he has surpassed the realm of a great witch. Although it hasn’t been verified yet, he is also the person who founded the Hesed Academy, an organization that breaks the existing format. Gehenna must also change.”
“Even so, he is a person who has been the subject of much discussion due to his promiscuous affairs and scandalous private life. If we put a person who is rumored to have his achievements as his lovers in a high position in Gehenna, it would be a disgrace to our honor.”
“Uh… no, that’s not true.”
While Count Adonai, who was about to add a word because he was Takasho’s friend, quietly closed his mouth, a heated debate continued.
Even after an hour, the arguments showed no signs of calming down.
“He certainly has various disgraceful rumors following him. But I would like to ask this.”
Count Cagliostro, no, the Duke, spoke for the first time.
“It is not my intention to disparage your honor. But among those gathered here, is there anyone who, when their loved one died, would decide to go to war against the powerful enemies of the Lehar Group and the Solidus Trading Company without a moment’s hesitation?”
It was quiet.
“Not just a glorious death at the end of an expression of anger. Is there anyone who can confidently say that they can kill the Witch of War and the Witch of Gold?”
Since the launch of the Hesed Academy, the Emerald Tablet has been in a long conflict with the Hesed Academy.
Although they had managed to achieve a dramatic reconciliation for some reason, the attitude that Duke Cagliostro was taking now implied something more than just harmony.
In response, Duke Erelim, who had been silent for a long time, also opened his mouth.
“I don’t think it’s a simple matter to judge. If we simply divide social distribution by the hierarchy of power, it is no different from the actions of beasts.”
“That’s right. That’s not what I’m trying to argue. If we are witches who are different from beasts, what should we value most? What value should we place the greatest meaning on and revere? What qualifications must we prove to ascend to the honorable position of a noble of Gehenna? To these questions, I would like to answer this.”
Duke Cagliostro slowly looked around and continued to speak.
“It’s responsibility. As is well known, he had a ‘Lotus’. It’s a relic created by the Witch of Cowardice in the past to save her apprentice witch. This is what I have personally investigated regarding this incident.”
At a gesture from Count Cagliostro, white papers were distributed to the witches.
A list of the achievements of those who lost their lives at the hands of Siwoo was listed.
It was a known fact that not only Herya and Lydia, but also many other prominent figures were designated as targets of revenge and paid the price for their sins.
What the witches were paying attention to was a different part.
“As you can see, not a single innocent victim was harmed. Furthermore, not a single human was injured. When I learned of this fact, I was deeply impressed.”
Duke Cagliostro finally summarized her opinion.
“He would have had an easy path. If his goal was simply to fill the lotus and save his lover, there were other ways to target weaker enemies.
Like many achievements, there would have been ways to secretly attack humans.
But Shin Siwoo chose to walk a thorny path and upheld justice.
A person who knows responsibility knows trust, knows honor, and also knows how to fear his own power. I, Tia Cagliostro, dare to say that he is a person who is not lacking in carrying the weight of the countship of Gehenna.”
A quiet silence fell.
Even Duke Erelim only let out a short sigh and did not refute it.
“We will now begin the vote on the nomination of Shin Siwoo for the countship. Those in favor, please raise your hands.”
Amidst the witches who were each expressing their complex feelings, Count Gremory proposed a vote.
It is never easy to gain the recognition of a witch in Gehenna.
Not only are each of the members of society arrogant transcendents, but the life of a witch is difficult to judge by a single life.
When evaluating a witch, they look at the achievements and feats that have been contributed by her predecessors, and the predecessors of her predecessors.
It was almost impossible for Shin Siwoo, who had not even been a witch for 10 years, to prove himself in such a short period of time.
“The vote count is in. 77 in favor, 30 abstaining, and 13 against. Therefore, Shin Siwoo is designated as the next successor to the countship.”
But.
Even if it is an unpleasant and disliked person, they give the appropriate treatment to those who are qualified.
That is the dignity of a Gehenna witch.
2.
Siwoo entered the cabin in the Gulpina tree forest where Amelia was having her prenatal care.
“……”
Amelia was sitting in an armchair, wearing rimless glasses, and reading a book.
She was wearing a loose dress and had a blanket over her because of the cool autumn breeze.
She was so engrossed in reading that she didn’t even know Siwoo had come in, and the sunlight streaming through the window scattered over her abundant blonde hair, making her look like a real fairy.
“Amelia.”
“Siwoo.”
Amelia, who had been expressionless, brightened up like a puppy who hadn’t seen its owner for a long time at Siwoo’s call.
“I bought some strawberries, would you like some?”
“Yes.”
“Before that, let’s say hello.”
Siwoo stopped Amelia from getting up and whispered with his ear close to her belly.
Before, it was barely noticeable, but now her lower belly, which was bulging even over her clothes, could be felt.
Amelia giggled as if tickled and stroked the back of his head.
“Hi, Sprout, how are you doing these days?”
It was the baby’s nickname that Amelia had given him while Siwoo, the sinful father, was causing chaos in the mortal world.
When Siwoo left, she was about 8 weeks pregnant, but now she was already in her 15th week, which could be considered the middle of her pregnancy.
She had to go through a time when she had a lot to worry about and needed to be taken care of, all alone, so what kind of bad father was he?
“Yes, Sprout is healthy.”
A falsetto voice was heard from above, as if imitating a baby’s voice.
Amelia, who rarely showed any aegyo, was so surprised that she looked at him, but she turned her head away as if she was embarrassed.
“You don’t have to feel sorry anymore.”
“But I still feel sorry.”
It seemed that Amelia’s ultimate aegyo itself was intended to alleviate Siwoo’s guilt.
Amelia, who was rather oblivious and often showed unexpected reactions, was now able to sense other people’s feelings to this extent.
Is this the greatness of a woman who has become a mother?
His heart swelled.
“Are you uncomfortable? Are your hands and feet cold, or are you unable to eat anything? Or do you want more strawberries?”
“No, I really don’t have any of that. It seems my spirit body is strong.”
When he asked while gently rubbing her feet over her sleeping socks, Amelia smiled brightly and answered.
Seeing that smile, he felt sorry again.
“I should spend more time…”
If he could, he would like to stay by Amelia’s side all day and play the role of a husband.
But he can’t.
Now there are really a lot of things to worry about.
He also had to conduct the basic undergraduate courses of the Hesed Academy, which had been temporarily suspended after a trial run, and he had to prepare for the changing flow of the world.
In Siwoo’s view, the war between Gehenna and Hexennacht was no longer a far-fetched delusion, so he had to move Las Werphanas well to prevent it.
Amelia, who had been staring at Siwoo sighing, twitched her lips and opened her mouth.
“Are you very busy, Siwoo?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Be honest. Are you very busy today?”
“I’m free today.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Then are you tired today?”
“I’m not tired either.”
Amelia, who had been asking persistently, nodded and said carefully.
“Actually, there’s something a little uncomfortable.”
Surprised, he asked, and Amelia showed a slightly stiff coquettishness and twisted her body slightly.
“I think my breasts have gotten a little bigger… Could you check for me, Siwoo?”
It was the 15th week, past the 12th week when sexual intercourse was okay.
To prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, they had refrained from having sex even after reuniting.
But this kind of temptation…
Is there any need to hesitate?
That evening, Siwoo gave Sprout some slight noise between floors.
