Chapter 328 – #72_I’Ll Designate You(4)
#326
1.
If there was a difference in the wandering life with Clara’s joining, it was that a base camp, however poor, had been created.
A bonfire was lit, and a tent to block the sandstorms was set up.
Also, sometimes, I was treated to a warm meal.
Of course, it was Clara who took the initiative to provide it.
Clara, who was considerate and cheerful, understanding others’ feelings.
Perhaps it was because I was grateful to her for not asking for anything and just staying by my side that I spoke first like this.
Originally, I had no desire to tell anyone.
Not even Sophia.
As I stared at the crackling bonfire, Clara handed me a warm chamomile tea.
And so, a long story began.
“The reason I hunt down public enemies… is because I owe Duke Keter.”
“Ke, Keter? Ah, no, sorry. Please continue.”
Clara flinched as if startled.
In fact, Duke Keter was someone that ordinary witches would never encounter.
A transcendent being difficult to approach even among witches.
An absolute being who would not hesitate to engage in fratricide for the sake of balance.
That was the strong perception.
There was not a single witch who had a personal relationship with Keter, and there were hardly any witches who had even had a brief conversation or transaction with him.
In most cases, being associated with Keter meant the death of that witch.
“Hunting down homunculi and public enemies on the kill list in exchange for saving one person’s life. That’s what she asked for.”
“Ah…”
The reason Amelia couldn’t run away, no matter how painful and unprepared she was.
It was because Siwoo’s life was at stake.
If the contract was not fulfilled, Keter would take Siwoo back without any hesitation.
Keter in history had only shown such an iron-blooded path.
“…Is it someone you love?”
Amelia paused at Clara’s infinitely cautious question.
She couldn’t figure out what answer would be best.
So, slowly, she began to unravel from the beginning.
The inner thoughts she had never shared with anyone.
“At first, he was just… a slave.”
A slave who had refused her night service.
At that time, Amelia was arrogant.
Arrogant and foolish.
The responsibility as a witch that she had unexpectedly inherited after losing her teacher.
In those days, she was trapped in a thick wall of self-righteousness, looking only at the square sky.
“At our first meeting, he refused my request, and I took that as an insult.”
A mere slave dared to refuse a witch’s request, a baron’s request at that.
The childish and immature anger that came from that.
Like a child who hadn’t received a gift they liked, she unilaterally poured out her anger.
“I deliberately called him out to do chores, made things difficult for him. I tormented him.”
At first, it was just a way to vent her anger.
Because he was annoying, because she hated him, because she was irritated.
At the time, she deceived herself with noble excuses, but the essence did not change.
Amelia was just being petulant.
So a day passed, a month passed, a year passed, and three years passed.
Even though she made him do all sorts of chores, she occasionally glanced at his figure as he silently carried them out.
Unlike other slaves who were busy bowing, his stubbornness was annoying, but at some point, she found herself following him with her eyes.
After that, she called him for other reasons.
Because she was afraid that Siwoo would notice the emotions that Amelia herself couldn’t define.
She only tormented him with an overbearing attitude.
“I kept, kept calling him. Making him do chores by my side, because at those times, he would look at me. I secretly liked that… I just kept repeating the same mistakes.”
In the end, she didn’t realize that the rift was deepening.
She didn’t even know what kind of emotion she had.
Amelia, who convinced herself that it was because her pride was hurt.
It was only Siwoo who had a hard time because of Amelia’s dishonesty.
“It must have been hard, it must have been painful. Why… why can I only think like this now?”
Just because she didn’t know doesn’t mean she can be forgiven for her sins.
That point was agonizingly painful.
“I regret it… I want to turn back, but…”
“……”
“I don’t know how to treat him. What kind of expression he will look at me with, what kind of gaze I will meet. I’m scared… I can’t bear it…”
“Amelia…”
She was afraid to see Siwoo again.
Amelia still remembered Siwoo’s figure, resentfully cursing herself as if spitting out blood.
How did Amelia’s appearance look to Siwoo, who didn’t know anything?
She was afraid, so afraid of the betrayal he must have felt after regaining all his memories.
She still kept the note he left behind after time had passed, without even daring to open it.
If the content of that note was the same as Amelia’s imagination.
Then she would really lose the strength to move forward, and then Siwoo would also die at Keter’s hands.
“Amelia.”
Amelia wasn’t good at talking, so it wasn’t a very well-organized outpouring of her feelings.
She had just endlessly rambled on about her own thoughts.
Yet, Clara looked at Amelia with eyes that seemed to understand everything.
“Have you talked since then?”
“……”
Amelia shook her head slightly.
Clara went a little further and asked.
“Have you asked for forgiveness?”
“When everything is over… then I’ll go and ask for forgiveness.”
Amelia knew that this was also a cowardly act.
If Siwoo knew that Amelia had gone through all sorts of hardships at the cost of his life, he wouldn’t be able to be angry.
Because he was the one who had saved Amelia’s life, who had tormented and abused him, with the single phrase, ‘It’s not right.’
Even though she thought she had done him a great wrong, she was relying on his kindness.
“Hmm…”
Clara looked at Amelia, who was staring blankly at the teacup she held in both hands.
She was like an immature and clumsy child.
Like a selfish girl who regretted tormenting a boy she had a crush on.
Thin, abundant blonde hair that seemed to be spun from gold.
Amelia Merigold, who exuded a chilling beauty even to a fellow witch.
Should I comfort her a little more?
Or should I push her from here?
Not yet.
It seems Amelia needs a little more time to think.
“Thank you for telling me.”
“……”
“I think anyone can make mistakes. I may not be of much help, but if it’s too hard… tell me sometimes.”
“Thank you.”
“What are you thanking me for! We all help each other out.”
Clara’s cheerful laughter, half-forced.
Amelia’s face, which had been heavily frowned, also had a little bit of ease.
2.
Rose Glass was still doing business successfully today.
The atmospheric system that Takasho quickly introduced helped eliminate the long lines of witches in front of the store.
Moreover, whether Periwinkle’s praise was just flattery or not, the third floor was being operated as a cafe, as a bar that sold decent drinks in a decent atmosphere.
They were even trying to secure a new customer base.
“Haa…”
Siwoo, who had been a conversational partner for more than 10 witches today, returned to his office and puffed on a cigarette.
Now that he had some experience, the stress from the reception itself was less than before.
But it would be a lie to say that dealing with witches who expressed curiosity as if they were looking at rare creatures was easy.
Therefore, he had requested a break for about an hour a day under the pretext of dinner time, and he was resting now.
Then, a commotion was heard from downstairs.
“I’m telling you, we’re really close with Assistant Shin Siwoo!”
“We’ve prepared the money like this, what’s the problem?”
The peeping voices, full of complaints, were heard from beyond the window.
When he peeked out, he saw the familiar faces as expected.
The twins, dressed in modest dresses and wearing half-bonnets, were arguing at the entrance of the store.
“That’s… because many other people are waiting…”
Liam was sweating profusely at the sudden appearance of the troublemaking customers.
Well, he was said to be a newbie in his first year of Gehenna life.
He was still just an apprentice witch, but it might be too much for him to deal with the twins, who were incredibly assertive and had an enormous my-pace.
“Odile, Odette. It’s been a while. Liam, it’s okay, let them in.”
““Assistant!!!””
The twins, who had found Siwoo in the second-floor window, jumped through the window without Liam letting them in.
It was the twins’ trademark, jumping through the window.
When Siwoo opened his arms, the twins fluttered their skirts and each snuggled into his arms.
“What brings you here?”
“We came because the Assistant didn’t even show his face!”
“We came because we missed you. I heard you got a new job?”
“Isn’t that too much?”
“That’s right! You should have told us too!”
The twins rubbed their cheeks against Siwoo’s as much as they wanted, welcoming him.
It felt like they were being welcomed as if they hadn’t seen each other in three years, even though it seemed like it hadn’t even been three days since they last saw each other.
Odile and Odette, who were cute no matter when he saw them.
“I’m sorry, I’ve been a little out of it lately.”
“If you’re sorry, welcome us with a pat on the butt. Normally, we would never allow this kind of greeting, but… we’re making a special exception for the Assistant.”
“That’s right! I’ll even allow you to touch inside my drawers, for reference.”
“Yes, yes, I will. Not inside, though.”
He patted the twins’ butts, which were subtly sticking out while they were in his arms.
His mind and body were tired, but the soft, squishy sensation felt through his clothes was truly healing.
After finishing the strange greeting, Odile and Odette asked a barrage of questions with their eyes sparkling with curiosity.
“By the way, Assistant, what happened? A job? And you’re pouring drinks and being cute to other witches?”
“Did your teacher take away your credit certificate? If so, we can help…”
“Ah, I’m just helping a friend.”
Siwoo told the twins the whole story.
There was no need to say it at length, nor was there any need to add or subtract anything.
A friend had opened a new store, but business wasn’t doing well, so he was helping out with promotion.
And that he was just pouring drinks and having conversations.
“Whew, I thought the Assistant had become a voluntary sex education teaching material.”
“I was also worried, but I’m glad.”
Only then did the twins seem relieved and stroked their chests.
“Anyway, now that it’s like this, we’ve come to buy the Assistant’s time. We don’t want to lose the Assistant to other bad witches.”
“We even broke our piggy banks, so you’ll play with us, right?”
“No… that’s a bit difficult.”
It was a kind gesture, but it seemed difficult.
Siwoo was not a designated target now, but a promotional totem.
Of course, he had to prevent anyone from monopolizing him, and that was no exception even for the twins.
“Why!”
“Why!”
Their cheeks, which had been full of anticipation, were now puffed up with dissatisfaction.
They had come so excited, even breaking their piggy banks, and Siwoo didn’t feel comfortable just sending them away.
“Instead, I’ll be free after work today. Would it be okay to meet then?”
“Today?”
“At night?”
“Yes, I was thinking of stopping by the mansion soon. It would be nice to have a drink together then.”
“Yay! Great!”
“I’ll prepare some really good drinks!”
The twins were overjoyed at Siwoo’s suggestion.
He wanted to enjoy this healing a little more, but his break time was also coming to an end.
He said goodbye by patting the twins’ heads.
“I have to go back too. I’ll see you later.”
“Assistant! Is it okay if we watch the Assistant work?”
“Yeah, I’m curious about what you do.”
Watch?
There was nothing he couldn’t show.
The waiting list was already incredibly long, but if Siwoo gave Takasho a heads-up, it wouldn’t be difficult to set aside a seat.
Siwoo readily nodded.
“Then I’ll get you a table near me.”
