Chapter 1136 – #269_Possession And Non-Possession (5)
#1130
1.
Human relationships sometimes require one to play two roles simultaneously.
Like how Elroa is both Siwoo’s lover and his teacher.
Elroa loved Siwoo very much.
Enough to stand by his side without hesitation, even if the world turned against him.
Enough to offer her heart without a moment’s hesitation if one of them had to die.
Enough to accept his whims and tantrums, no matter what he did wrong.
That was probably the side of ‘lover’ Elroa Tifereth.
But as mentioned earlier, Elroa was also Siwoo’s teacher.
To firmly wield the rod when her disciple tries to stray down the wrong path.
Not to just indulge him, but to scold him for his mistakes.
These are the virtues a teacher must possess.
“Huuu…”
Elroa rested her chin on the window frame and let out a long sigh.
Her breath fogged the glass window, which was covered with freshly fallen snow, before disappearing.
Her beloved disciple had recently committed adultery with Periwinkle.
Even if it was a one-time mistake, it was a wrong that Elroa had to sternly rebuke without any room for argument.
Of course, she had heard about Periwinkle’s strange machinations.
Since Elroa’s first awakening to ‘sex’ was through (forced) voyeurism of Periwinkle and Siwoo’s stormy mating, she knew what kind of relationship the two had in the past and how they were living.
In modern terms, they were probably ‘former sex partners.’
Surprisingly, she didn’t feel much jealousy towards Periwinkle.
After all, Elroa herself had the audacious desire to be both a teacher and a lover, didn’t she?
Moreover, Periwinkle had done Siwoo and his lovers, including Elroa, an unpayable favor, so she had no desire to criticize or attack her.
But Siwoo was different.
Her beloved disciple had clearly promised, ‘I will not take on any more lovers.’
A promise is a promise because it must be kept, and breaking a promise means a loss of trust.
Even Dorothy was very upset by his actions, wasn’t she?
Having betrayed the trust that was the lifeline of their relationship, Elroa had no choice but to punish Siwoo as his teacher.
“Haaaa…”
Elroa sighed even longer than before and pressed her forehead against the cold windowpane.
The day Siwoo was caught cheating.
With a heavy heart, Elroa firmly scolded Siwoo for about 30 minutes and imposed a strict punishment.
‘From today, do not come to see me for a week. This is your punishment. Reflect on your mistake and do not repeat it.’
If she had to put a name to it, it was a 7-day ‘No Teacher Access’ sentence.
This was a punishment for Siwoo, but it was also a harsh one for Elroa.
Not being able to see him when he came to greet her every morning.
Not being able to meet him even though they were in the same mansion and only 5 minutes away.
Not being able to share love at night, all of this was very difficult for Elroa.
Especially since the last time she saw Siwoo, he had looked so dejected.
“Was I too harsh…?”
She sometimes forgets because he has accomplished so many great things, but Siwoo is still young.
He’s just a little over thirty.
Was she too harsh in scolding him for a small mistake and imposing such a cruel punishment?
His last expression lingered in her mind, and she wanted to go and comfort him right away.
“No. That’s why I must guide him to the right path. That is a teacher’s duty.”
Elroa shook her head and resolved her mind with a soliloquy.
But that was only for a moment.
Worry began to sprout again.
“…Is he eating well?”
But in the end, she was just endlessly watching the window, looking towards Siwoo’s academy office all day long.
She was a teacher who was worried about her disciple, whether awake or asleep.
Then.
-Bang!
Suddenly, she heard the sound of the door opening.
Two ears perked up above her pink hair.
This was clearly Siwoo’s footsteps.
Elroa’s heart began to pound wildly.
“Siwoo.”
It was Siwoo.
Her beloved disciple.
There were still a few days left until his punishment was over, but he had come to Elroa’s quarters.
Elroa, who felt like she could float away just by being able to see him, quickly regained her teacher persona.
No, she couldn’t.
She couldn’t indulge him.
She had clearly said a week, but her disciple had broken his promise as he pleased.
Depending on the situation, she had to scold him even more harshly.
Of course, if he showed enough signs of remorse…
She would say that she wasn’t entirely unwilling to forgive him.
“Teacher.”
Siwoo burst into the bedroom where Elroa spent more than 90% of her day.
Elroa, who barely managed to lower her lips that were about to curl up again, asked with a solemn expression.
“Siwoo, didn’t I clearly tell you not to come for a week? Is something the matter?”
“I’m going to ejaculate inside Periwinkle.”
As soon as she heard those words, Elroa reflexively set Siwoo’s sentence.
A 30-day ‘No Teacher Access’ sentence.
Elroa wanted to cry.
2.
“I spoke too hastily… That’s how it happened.”
Elroa was so shocked that she was almost out of her mind, but after hearing the situation, there was no reason to be angry or scold him.
Siwoo tries to help people who are in difficult situations.
Some might see it as being a pushover, but how many people had been saved by his kindness and gentleness?
“Of course, it’s not to fulfill my desires. I mean, it’s just to lay the groundwork for interpreting Periwinkle’s self-nature magic.”
Magic replication is random and limited to one person, once.
It’s a spinning wheel of what magic you’ll get.
Given Periwinkle’s magic characteristics, which had given up on control and chosen to stack them up, the probability of getting a ‘dud’ was very high if she only picked one.
Her self-nature magic only had meaning when all 20 pieces were gathered.
She guessed that it would only slightly improve her luck, at best.
Nevertheless, this task was important.
There was a big difference between starting from 0 and starting from 1 when dealing with a specific self-nature magic.
It was no coincidence that Siwoo, who had a poor foundation and was a self-taught witch, was put in charge of the basic department, which required a broad understanding of various fields.
“……”
After listening to the explanation, Elroa remained silent.
The misunderstanding had been cleared, but after listening to his words, she had a new concern.
“Are you sure about this?”
Based on Gretel’s diagnosis and prophecy, there were only two slots left before Siwoo was consumed by his inner unconscious.
In other words, this was the last time he could replicate magic.
Siwoo was also aware of this, and he also had some regrets.
Being able to replicate one of the self-nature magics was an enormous power-up event.
It might sound a bit trashy, but if he used his position as the head of the Hesed Academy to scout for good prey, he could make a huge leap forward.
Even if he didn’t feel the need right now, he might regret today’s choice someday.
It was also burdensome that he could no longer rely on his unconscious unless he was prepared to have his body completely taken over.
Since he didn’t have the lotus either, he really had to make his way on his own now.
You never know what might happen in life, do you?
Just like how he never knew that he would be with his precious lovers like this three years after his life as a slave.
“Yes, I’m prepared.”
But even with all of that, it wasn’t a reason not to help Periwinkle.
“Why are you asking me after making your own decision?”
“I thought I should tell you anyway.”
Elroa was trying hard to play the role of a strict teacher, but in the end, just like how there were no parents who could win against their children, there were no teachers who could win against their disciples.
“Alright, if you have time, would you like to have a meal?”
“Oh, is it Teacher’s special dish? What’s on the menu?”
“…It’s a delicious rabbit.”
“Hmm, rabbit is delicious.”
Elroa, who had raised Siwoo’s hand as he was salivating, put her finger in her mouth and chewed on it.
The sensation of the soft tongue, the chewy lips, and the teeth gently biting her finger joints was quite sensual.
“…Ah.”
“……”
He understood what it meant.
Although there were still a few days left in his punishment period, Elroa glossed over the matter.
She believed that Siwoo had reflected enough by now.
It was definitely not because she had missed him so much during their time apart.
That day at lunch.
Siwoo ate Teacher’s full rabbit course very deliciously.
3.
After that conversation, which ended in a break, Siwoo didn’t show his face to Periwinkle.
Since they had been sleeping and waking up at almost the same time for the past month, the unexpected loneliness was great.
“Well, it’s for the best.”
Periwinkle actually thought it was a relief.
She thought she was keeping her distance, but she was clearly conscious and concerned about him.
She felt so empty after not seeing him for just a few days.
“Did we even get attached…?”
It was dangerous.
Periwinkle knew best how dangerous a relationship that seeped in like a stain across a clear line was, since she was drawing a clear line.
If Siwoo hadn’t come out and said he would ‘solve it,’ she might have unknowingly started to rely on him.
The human heart was complex even for Periwinkle, who had controlled magic through mind control for a long time.
At the end of it, there would probably be a similar tragedy.
Periwinkle checked her luggage one last time.
She would also decline the Mistilteinn that Siwoo had promised to give her, and she would resign from her position as a scholar and department head.
She was planning to leave for the mortal realm.
She would spend some time on a luxurious staycation and clear her complicated mind.
“…But I’m still grateful.”
It would take some time, but she had gathered and organized as much data as possible so that Siwoo could continue his research on Mistilteinn on his own.
She had also left a personal gift with a short letter on top of it.
“Periwinkle, excuse me.”
When Siwoo, who had visited his lovers to persuade them after Elroa, visited her mansion (which had a modern interior that was barely within the city’s laws).
Thank you.
We may never meet again, but take care.
May your steps be filled with good fortune.
From your pretty older sister who buys you good food.
There was only an empty mansion and a short letter she had left behind, just a hair’s breadth away.
