Chapter 78 – #18_Self-Contradiction(3)
#76
1.
-Click
Deneb took out a small wooden box from his pocket and placed it on the table.
Amelia realized that the shabby-looking wooden box was no ordinary object.
Three layers to absorb shock, three layers to prevent theft, four layers for sealing, and seven layers of barriers for internal preservation.
A total of 17 layers of protective barriers surrounded the wooden box.
It was an absurd level of security.
The inside of that small box was probably even frozen in time.
If someone were to steal it without knowing, their body would rot away from countless curses before they could even peek at the contents.
What came out of Albireo’s hand was a very small key.
The key, which temporarily solidified magic power and emitted a specific pattern, touched the box.
With the sound of chains winding, the barriers were lifted.
When the box opened, what was visible was a diamond of unusual size, emitting a brilliant pink glow even among the red velvet.
“The Steinmetz Pink, 62.2 carats.”
“It’s also called the queen of diamonds. It’s a rare item that’s no longer produced.”
The reason Amelia decided to gift a jewel was not simply because it could be used for pretty accessories.
Various jewels are useful in alchemy and magic.
In particular, diamonds are used in the most important parts of making wands, large-scale barrier formulas, or artifacts, so there was no need to explain the witches’ preference for large, large diamonds.
If possible, it was better if it was pretty.
A pink diamond of this size was so rare that it was practically priceless.
It was too expensive to pay for the ownership of a mere slave.
It was a sad fact, but even if the value of all the slaves in Gehenna were combined, it would be cheaper than this Steinmetz Pink.
In other words, Count Geminai was that proactive in granting his benefactor’s wishes.
“………”
The count, who had been confident when briefly explaining the jewel, realized that there had been some misunderstanding when he saw Amelia staring at the jewelry box with a blank expression.
“If you don’t like the item, I can prepare a corresponding artifact or magical tool.”
“Or I can prepare gold coins or dollars.”
“How about works of art? I also have works by famous artists that are not known to the public. Like Van Gogh.”
Deneb said, closing the jewelry box again.
However, there was no greed or hesitation in Amelia’s eyes.
Even the richest person would be tempted if they had such an item in front of them, but she was so clear and pure.
“Does Shin Siwoo’s assistant know?”
“The agreement with Siwoo has already been completed…”
“That’s not it.”
Amelia no longer even looked at the wooden box.
“Do you know what kind of reality awaits him when he leaves Gehenna?”
“That part is…”
“I haven’t explained it yet. But I’m planning to provide enough funds for him to be self-sufficient.”
“There’s no need for that.”
Although she said this…
The count, who had negotiated with numerous heads of conglomerates, CEOs of multinational corporations, or high-ranking officials in the political and business world, could sense it.
Amelia had no intention of letting him go.
Even if there were three or four more diamonds like this, she would probably have the same reaction.
It seemed that he had been mistaken from the beginning.
Their relationship was not simply a business relationship between an exclusive slave and a witch.
It was made up of a slightly stronger emotion.
Judging from Siwoo’s desire to leave Gehenna as soon as possible, the direction of the emotion seemed to be a one-way street from Amelia to Siwoo.
“I’m sorry for wasting your time when you took the time to come.”
As expected, Amelia ended the conversation.
“I wanted to meet your expectations as much as possible. It’s a shame.”
“Apart from this, could you arrange a separate meeting for me to talk with him?”
Now that it had come to this, he had to offer Siwoo another compensation plan.
Of course, he didn’t know if he would readily accept it.
What could he do?
“No, I’ll explain it.”
Amelia’s actions could be seen as rude.
It was an act that did not consider the reputation of the Geminai Count family at all.
However, the count quickly understood.
Sometimes, emotions transcend human gains and losses.
Even the jewel he had offered to acquire Siwoo’s ownership was an absurdly irrational price compared to his actual value, wasn’t it?
From Amelia’s point of view, what the count had just done could be a great rudeness.
“Then, please take care.”
Amelia did not see the count off and remained alone in the reception room, sipping her tea.
2.
“Is this… right?”
“I think so.”
Albireo and Deneb, who had been kicked out of Amelia’s mansion, trudged through the garden.
In fact, when they heard the story that Amelia Marigold, whose human relationships were not just narrow but close to annihilation, had taken in an exclusive slave, they had already guessed a little.
That she was quite fond of him, or that he was a really excellent slave as an assistant.
That was why they had chosen such a grand and luxurious item for the transaction, wasn’t it?
“Oh my god.”
“She must be really angry?”
However, they had not expected this kind of ending.
A witch in love with a slave?
And not just any average witch.
She was a great witch of the 22nd rank, who had risen two ranks in a short period of 150 years, and was even higher in rank than Count Geminai.
It was not confirmed, but the circumstantial evidence was too clear.
It had become a difficult situation.
“By the way, are we going back like this?”
“What else can we do? Baron Marigold is so stubborn.”
“Still, I think we should tell him that things have gone wrong. Or prepare another reward.”
“If we give a gift ourselves, she might see it even more negatively. It would be better to deliver it through the baron later.”
Even so, it was not a serious problem that the count had been pondering for more than 10 minutes.
Originally, it was said that one should not interfere in matters between men and women, wasn’t it?
“He’ll figure it out.”
“I feel sorry for him for no reason.”
Deneb and Albireo, who had struck out, got into the carriage and brought up the next topic.
It was about the witch who had recently illegally entered Gehenna.
“By the way, did you catch her tail?”
At Albireo’s question, Deneb shook his head.
“She’s not an easy one. I’ve released familiars and hired a few witches, but there’s no news.”
“Is there a possibility that she’s already returned to the mortal world?”
“Low, nothing has happened yet.”
If an exile is spotted in Gehenna, they are permanently eliminated regardless of the reason.
The fact that she entered Gehenna while taking such a risk meant that she clearly had an important purpose.
There was no disturbance inside Gehenna.
She was probably crouching in a blind spot of the surveillance network right now.
“I’ll contact Count Adonai and ask him to track the flow of funds in Gehenna. She might have come to buy something.”
“Okay, I’ll pick about three people and send them to the Red Roof Salon.”
In Count Geminai’s mind, the matter of Siwoo and Amelia was quickly forgotten.
His day was too busy to keep thinking about such trivial things.
3.
Even the diligence of a slave, which had been built up diligently for five years, could not overcome the law of conservation of fatigue.
Having done lewd things with the twins all night and firing 11 shots.
Moreover, the sleeping time was only about 2-3 hours.
It was natural to wake up in the afternoon after lazing around in bed and falling asleep.
“My sleep pattern is ruined.”
When he opened his eyes, the sun was already setting.
The bright red sunset was dyeing the clouds that were rolling leisurely over the grassy hill in pastel colors.
This meant that the next day would be hard.
“Ugh…”
Siwoo stretched to his heart’s content.
Living a lazy life like a grasshopper, even for a long time, made him feel like royalty.
-Flap!
At that moment, he heard the sound of a bunch of papers scattering.
Right from Siwoo’s bed, where he had just gotten up.
“What is it?”
Siwoo looked around the bed.
And he found something very familiar.
Siwoo picked them up.
“……..”
The initial drafts of the magic circle that he had been researching while cutting down on sleep to escape Gehenna.
About 200 sheets of paper were scattered on Siwoo’s bed.
It was a feeling that woke him up completely.
No matter how much effort he had put into writing them, the initial drafts of the magic circle that had been left under the straw pile in the barn, in a box, would not have crawled in on their own to see their master.
That was a horror in itself, but the possibility that came to mind now was a horror of horrors.
Siwoo’s eyes trembled as he looked at the drafts, and he swallowed hard.
Judging by how clear his senses were, it was definitely not a dream.
Then who had put them there?
No, rather than putting them there, it looked like they had been thrown there carelessly.
Siwoo quickly gathered the drafts, organized them, and shoved them into a drawer.
“Hoo…”
Cold sweat was dripping down.
That magic circle was Siwoo’s only insurance.
Even if the fact that he knew how to use magic was discovered, the fact that he was planning to use that magic to escape Gehenna should not be known.
In that sense, the barn was the safest storage.
It was a place where no one had visited for five years, and even if a witch happened to visit, she wouldn’t search under the straw pile where a musty smell was coming from to find something.
Then who did this…
-Click
Siwoo’s head turned sharply towards the door connecting the bedroom and the living room.
It was a very small sound, but it was the sound of a teaspoon hitting a teacup.
That meant that someone was in the living room.
Probably the person who had thrown these drafts there.
Sweat was dripping like he had just washed his face.
His heart was pounding like crazy.
He carefully placed his hand on the doorknob and twisted it open.
What came into view was Amelia, sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed, leisurely drinking tea.
The last rays of the setting sun flooded in through the balcony window.
In a world of burning red.
Her chillingly beautiful and coolly shining blue eyes turned to look at Siwoo.
“Sit down.”
Amelia said to Siwoo, who was stiff as a log.
It was the worst situation.
Amelia would have been able to interpret what this magic circle was made for.
Siwoo felt his mind go blank.
The plans he had made so far were crumpled up.
Should he have been more thorough in concealing them?
But it had been five years.
No one had ever found them in five years.
Was it possible that she already knew?
Had she been enjoying the sinister voyeurism of watching a lab rat trying to escape?
He saw Kiphy’s cherry cake on the table, but he didn’t even glance at it.
Next to it were paper and a pen.
Amelia turned the paper over.
There were dense magic formulas written on it.
Amelia picked one of them and handed the paper to Siwoo, saying.
“Solve it.”
“Associate Professor…”
“Solve it.”
A voice of rejection that no longer allowed conversation.
After hesitating for a long time, Siwoo reluctantly picked up the pen.
