City ​​of Witches 1165

Chapter 1165 – #277_Division(4)

#1159

1.
When discussing the ‘Witch Wars’ in history, the past invasion of Gehenna by Qliphoth can be cited as an example.

At the time, Qliphoth, the most powerful hostile force, crossed the gates all at once and attacked Gehenna. Gehenna suffered a lot of damage, but they united around Duke Keter and overcame the attack.

Considering the average hierarchy and the number of troops in the two groups at the time, there would be many differences from now, but at least there are records to refer to when preparing for war.

It is difficult to fully apply the standards of traditional military warfare to a war between witches.

Since they don’t need to eat, drink, or sleep, the supply system is not particularly meaningful.
Since both sides use ‘gates,’ long-distance transportation is also meaningless.

Since it is a fight between transcendents, large-scale manpower that only fills numbers is also of low importance.

So, what is important?

It is the analysis of major forces.

The key is how much analysis has been done on each individual’s magic and how well-prepared customized strategies and match-ups are.

In the strategic analysis room of the ‘Gehenna Academic Alliance’ established in the castle, preparations for this were being thoroughly made.
They were analyzing the self-magic of key figures through the location point DB, ancient books, and actual eyewitness accounts or experiences.

Among them, the main targets that the analysis room is focusing on are the three newly joined old witches who are currently serving as legion commanders of Hexennacht.

“The Witch of Proverbs, Orselia Limos. She is the strongest force in Hexennacht at this point.
She is a summoning-type witch, and her self-magic is ‘Erysichthon.’ It releases a hungry beast that serves in her body to devour everything.
Her last battle record was in Vienna, Austria in 1909, when she clashed with the homunculus ‘Great Emperor.’ This briefing was written based on eyewitness accounts from that time.”

When he lightly tapped the crystal ball that was displaying the video like a hologram, a scene that had already recorded hundreds of millions of views in the present world began to play.

It was the scene where the Russian dictator launched strategic nuclear weapons within his territory, but Orselia neutralized humanity’s most powerful weapon with purple smoke and walked out unscathed.

“Erysichthon goes through three stages of ‘release,’ and the phenomenon of purple mist scattering like this is the first stage. This smoke not only corrodes matter but also devours physical threats such as shock waves, heat, energy, and vibrations, and its digestive power is faster than the speed of a nuclear weapon explosion, as you can see.

This mist also provides an environment where Erysichthon can thrive, like filling the sea with seawater for saltwater fish.”

Next was a blurry and crude black and white photo.

In the photo, Orselia’s body was cracked in places, and the cracks had turned into the chewing organs of a different-shaped monster.

“This is the second stage of release. It is the stage where changes appear in the Witch of Proverbs’ main body. The purple mist begins to devour ‘magic’ or ‘magic’ itself.
Also, the integration of Erysichthon and the Witch of Proverbs begins, and she gains powerful regeneration and magic recovery abilities.”

There are no video or photo records of the final stage.
It is only passed down through oral tradition and eyewitness accounts.

“The third stage of release is the complete release of Erysichthon. It is known to emit tentacles that can perform high-speed free movement.
Considering that the Witch of Proverbs can fight indefinitely against an average witch, and that she has an advantage over most witches when dragging out a long battle, a quick elimination by a small elite force is required.”

Among the many witches.
Linne, who was sitting upright next to Siwoo, glanced at Siwoo.

Siwoo seemed to be trying to maintain his dignity as the head of the Hesed Society, but you could tell from his expression.
He had a ‘I’m so sick of this’ look on his face.

Basically, Siwoo really, really, really hates life-threatening battles.

But beneath that was a firm resolution.
If someone around Siwoo were in danger, he would not hesitate to step forward and face the danger.

“Do you have something to say?”
“It’s nothing.”

While Linne was mumbling, the head librarian of Gremory continued the briefing silently.

“Next is the commander of the Western Legion, the Witch of Verdure, Verda Tiamat.”

This time, a young face that was suitable for the title of a girl appeared on the hologram.

The witch with dark green hair and eyes was wearing a cloche hat that was popular in the 1920s and a matching outfit, carrying shopping bags in front of a department store scene.

It was a terrible fashion sense that made you realize where the saying ‘too much is as bad as too little’ came from, but everyone had a serious face.

“Since she is a witch who has hardly engaged in external activities for hundreds of years, there was very little information, but recently, she has appeared in the Western Army camp, and we were able to obtain a lot of information.

The Witch of Verdure is said to produce ‘verdure’ in the form of fruit-shaped artifacts, and it is reported that she is rearming the Western Army through this.”

In short, she is an artifact factory manager who mass-produces one-time artifacts.

It was said that ‘supplies’ between witches were not very important, but armaments are different.
If this many are attached at once, Verda’s danger, which strengthens the entire group, skyrockets.

“The strengthening of the legion’s power is also a strengthening, but her own military power cannot be taken lightly. The Witch of Verdure is also a strong person who survived the barbaric era.”

It would be ridiculous if the skills of an old witch, who was ranked 23rd and had a different mindset from the witches of the time, were easy.

“Next is about the Witch of Time, Ellara Chronos. As her name suggests, she manipulates time with her self-magic….”

The head librarian of Gremory’s report continued late into the night.

2.
Linne was certain.
That an unprecedented war in history, an unprecedented danger, was approaching.

She felt this even while watching the expansion of Hexennacht, which was slowly reaching a stalemate.

This was far from the result of logical thinking or rational reasoning, and was purely close to Linne’s intuition.

But she had lived as a witch for hundreds of years.
She had fought hundreds of life-threatening battles.

Her sense of smell, which was particularly sensitive to the smell of blood, told her that a grand, blood-stained path would soon unfold.

For Linne, who had honed her life in chaos while standing close to death, this kind of intuition had reached a kind of prophetic realm.

“……”

Linne quietly polished her sword.
Polishing her sword was something Linne always did to calm her wavering heart.

Her husband would be at the forefront of the battle.
Siwoo’s position was nominally a support unit, but in the end, he would be a firefighter thrown into the most intense battlefields.

Given his personality, he would not neglect his role.
He would also not back down.

The unprecedented clash in history might put her husband, who had overcome countless deaths with his outstanding skills and wit, in danger.

“……”

According to the organization of the Academic Alliance, Linne also belonged to the same support unit.
But that was only according to the organization, and Linne had decided on her role in her heart.

Her role was to die before Siwoo.
To protect her husband by throwing herself into the most dangerous moment.

Siwoo was her savior who pulled her out of a life like hell, and the reason for her life.
Because she loved him.

If she could protect him by throwing away this one life like a piece of straw, she felt like she could close her eyes with a smile.

It was a truly selfish reason, so Linne did not bother to tell her husband about this resolution.

However, at this point when she had resolved to die, there was one thing that bothered her.

No, rather than bothering her, it would be more accurate to say that she was sad about an unfulfilled wish?

“Do you have any worries?”

The question came from Sharon.

Linne and Sharon might seem like a slightly heterogeneous duo, but Sharon was someone who could easily get along with anyone.

Sharon, who had easily become close to Linne, who exuded a unique atmosphere, spoke to Linne, who was sighing deeply and roughly polishing her sword.

“It’s nothing.”
“Hmm, if I can help, I’ll help. Don’t think too hard. We’re all family, right?”
“…Family?”
“Of course. We’re family.”

Linne was still expressionless, but she was slightly moved by the resonance of the word that touched her heart.

Sharon had a pureness like the summer sun that didn’t calculate or think about anything complicated.
Although the two had lived different lives and had different backgrounds, it was one of the reasons why Linne liked Sharon.

Unlike Dorothy, who was like a sly raccoon and would only tease her if she cautiously asked for advice.
If it was Sharon, wouldn’t it be okay to express this concern?

“You’re right. I have a concern.”
“Well, it’s this kind of world. It would be harder not to have any worries. Tell me. I’m known for giving good advice, you know?”

Sharon put down the documents she was diligently organizing and puffed up her chest a little.
Linne carefully combined the words in her head and cautiously revealed her worries.

“I want to live with my husband like a father and daughter.”
“Father and daughter?”

Sharon’s unique imagination bloomed and created a scene.
Perhaps because the formula of Siwoo’s daughter = Malika had recently been created, the result of her imagination was bizarre.

Linne, expressionless, was lying in a baby crib with a pacifier in her mouth.
In both hands, she held baby rattles like dual swords, and she was wearing baby pajamas with fish patterns and a baby headband.

The word ‘baby’ was used five times in the description.

‘Goo goo.’

Linne, who was babbling in a clear voice that would put an announcer to shame, was approached by Siwoo, who was shaking a baby bottle.

‘Oh my, is our Linne crying again? Is it time for formula?’
‘(Nods)’
‘Let’s have some formula, Linne. Oh, you’re eating well.’
‘Slurp slurp.’

Sharon’s head was spinning.
But she barely held on to her sanity and asked cautiously.

With the thought of ‘It can’t be.’

“If it’s father and daughter… like Malika?”

Linne’s eyes widened slightly.
This was because the existence of Malika had greatly influenced the recent strengthening of this desire.

As expected, Sharon was someone who carefully observed the hearts of others.
Was it possible to predict even that?

Linne nodded in agreement with admiration.

“That’s right.”
“……”

‘I shouldn’t have asked!!!’ Sharon’s chorus echoed from left and right.
If it was something this deep and serious, she would have pretended not to know!

“Thank you. It was a concern I couldn’t solve alone.”
“Well… I guess so….”

But it was too late, so the in-depth consultation between Linne and Sharon began.