City ​​of Witches 906

Chapter 906 – #197_The Witch Exists (4)

#900

1.
Count Kohav, instructed by Duke Erelim to conceal both prophecies that could quell the current situation.

After much deliberation, she made her choice.

It is noble to trust and follow a loved one.
However, it is even nobler to correct a loved one when they make the wrong choice.

Certainly, humanity has made remarkable progress in the last 100 years.
However, it was still too early and too hasty to conclude that humans should be ‘feared.’

Duke Erelim’s stance was too extreme.

It’s not just about the humans dying in the present world.
She doesn’t believe that the rules Duke Keter has upheld are entirely correct either.

However, the growth of Hexennacht, which freely exploits humans, will become unstoppable.
If Hexennacht gains that much power, Gehenna will also be threatened.

In Count Kohav’s view, it was that side that needed to be wary.

Moreover, can a prophecy be hidden forever just by hiding it?
Rather, someday, unintentionally, for some reason, the fact that Duke Erelim hid the prophecy might be revealed.

If Gehenna is put on the defensive and Hexennacht gains the upper hand due to this concealment order, it would be an act of treason.

“…Indeed.”

The two prophecies that were interpreted.

One of them is somewhat absurd and unrealistic.
But the other one is certain.

“The person who will use this prophecy most correctly is…”

It goes without saying.

The founder of the Witch Point and a witch who has dedicated herself to the stability of the present world more than anyone else.
The Martial God.
Duke Eloa Tiferet.

Perhaps Duke Tiferet wouldn’t feel the same, but Count Kohav felt a personal liking for Tiferet.
Of course, not a liking between lovers, but a liking as a witch to another witch.

Indeed, how many would dislike her, who is righteous, upright, and without a single flaw?
There was no one more suitable to entrust the prophecy to.

The connection with the present world, which had just been restored.

After hesitating, Kohav sat in front of the remote communication device.

2.
Communication from Count Kohav.
For about 30 minutes, she was told about an astonishing truth.

[That’s all. Currently, it’s probably the most certain way to resolve this situation.]
“To be honest, it’s hard for me to believe your words at face value.”

Frankly, she was not a very trustworthy person.

To Siwoo, Count Kohav was a prickly, orthodox witch who made his prosthetic arm but only worked as much as she was paid.
To Eloa, Count Kohav was Duke Erelim’s closest aide, whose intentions were unknown.

Didn’t they completely break ties after Duke Erelim traded Siwoo’s custody when Siwoo was kidnapped by Hexennacht?
Now, it was hard to believe a prophecy delivered by that closest aide.

[I know. It’s natural for you to react that way. I’ll send you both the original and the interpreted versions of the prophecy. Please check them.]
“If what you say is true… why did Duke Erelim hide the prophecy?”
[Because he judged that humans would become a threat to witches. And I don’t agree with that judgment. That’s all.]
“I understand for now. I’ll contact you if anything is needed.”

The crystal ball flickered once and then went silent.
Soon after, the images of the original and interpreted versions of the prophecy, which had been spread out for easy viewing through telekinesis, appeared.

She had sent the data immediately after the conversation ended.

“This, it really seems like it could be a solution?”

Siwoo, who had examined the data as soon as the communication ended, spoke in a slightly excited tone.
Eloa also agreed with his opinion.

The prophecy says.

It is true that the Creation Witch put an intentional flaw in the homunculi.

More precisely, the closer humans get to the mysteries, the more the homunculi are designed to attack humans.
If a certain number of humans understand the mysteries, all functions of the homunculi are set to annihilate 80% of humanity.

As science has developed along with history, and the contact between the upper class and witches has increased, the homunculi have begun to attack humans.
The fact that the homunculi’s behavior changed drastically after the scene of the Reverse Witch sinking the fleet was broadcast supports this.

This setting, designed to degrade the brilliantly built civilization and technology, is called ‘the Flood’ in the prophecy.

In summary, the Creation Witch was wary of the potential of humans and feared a situation where humans with excessively powerful abilities would oppress witches.
Therefore, she arranged for balance through the Flood.

This is the existing conjecture and the truth derived from Duke Erelim’s prophecy, packaged as a ‘hypothesis.’

However, the other part of the prophecy showed that the Creation Witch’s thoroughness did not end there.

“What do you think, Master? Do you think the prophecy is real?”
“It’s rational and reasonable.”

The Creation Witch did not simply arrange for the Flood.
She had set up a safety device in preparation for an emergency.

For example, if the ‘Flood’ starts too early due to coincidence or accident, there is a possibility that more humans than the set value will die.
There is also the possibility that the Flood will bring an end to humanity, and the same witches will not be able to respond at all.

And if humanity is completely destroyed, witches will also be unable to continue their lineage.

Well, there are countless other variables.

For example, humans and witches achieve perfect harmony, making the Flood unnecessary.
Or a problem occurs in the homunculi’s system itself, causing a Flood that deviates from its design purpose.

The name of the device created to prepare for such situations is….

“A Sluice Gate….”
“Looking back, we should have thought of it. The homunculi are not a single super-entity connected by a single will, so why do they all behave in the same way as if someone gave them instructions?”

Eloa said, looking through the records of the prophecy with Siwoo.

According to the interpretation, the Sluice Gate is a device that can set the behavior patterns of all homunculi.

It is not possible to manipulate them one by one like the Witch of a Thousand Hands did with her familiars.
It is also impossible to give them specific instructions like the King of Beasts.

However, if desired, it can stop the Flood, or conversely, make the Flood never end.

If they succeed in seizing the control key of the Sluice Gate, they can save the people who are suffering from the Flood.
They can also save the people who were dying from the homunculi even before that.

“Does it mention the location too?”
“The pocket space where the Sluice Gate is hidden will be revealed at the same time as the Flood. This part is the location and the time.”

Nothing is certain yet.
It might be a conjecture, or it might be that Count Kohav, under the influence of Duke Erelim, gave them manipulated data.

“Let’s check it out.”
“I’ll help too.”

Still, there was enough reason to examine it.

2.
A dark room, covered by a sunshade curtain.
In the midst of the suggestive lighting and the wafting incense, white, writhing bodies are intertwined.

Four women, soaked in sweat, sprawled like baggage on the microfiber.
Their skin color, hair color, and eye color are all different, but none of them are not beautiful.

Each of them was a witch, so it was not that strange.

There was a witch sitting half-up on the bed, drinking wine, in a way that was more than just sensual.

The very person who turned the present world upside down not long ago, and a member of the Qliphoth.
The Reverse Witch, Urshula von Himmelslauf.

“Hmm….”

She, with one eye covered by a black eyepatch, made a displeased sound and furrowed her thick eyebrows.
It was because an unwelcome guest had arrived without an invitation.

“That’s strange.”
“What is?”
“I’m sure I said that if I saw that ugly face again, I’d kill it.”
“You did say that. But I had no choice this time. To borrow the power of the Cowardly Witch, I had to imitate that appearance.”

The gaze, like a stab with a knife, landed on the face that was half-melted and hideous, as if burned.
The Cowardly Witch died two years ago, so it was on Lilith’s face, wearing that mask.

She had come in that state when they met last time too.

Urshula, who was trying to raise her magical power, let out a hollow laugh and waved her hand.

“Get lost. I have no business with you anymore.”

As the center of the moderate faction collapsed, the hardliners who seized power in Hexennacht re-established the name of the Qliphoth, which had become half-defunct.

The purpose of the Qliphoth is to break away from Keter’s rules and rewrite new ones.
The degree of their hardline stance was so firm that they would not avoid war with Gehenna in the process.

Hexennacht was showing signs of division after passively allowing a preemptive attack.
At this rate, they might self-destruct without any major battles.

Therefore, what the Qliphoth chose was proof and performance.
They tried to create a historical turning point that had never existed before, to promote unity and solidarity.

The performance they chose was to sink the most elite fleet of the present world and widely announce the existence of witches to the world.

However, there was a problem with this.

Although Keter is gone, the Witch Point is still intact.
If they pulled off such a stunt without any countermeasures, Duke Tiferet would lead the witch forces and come charging with glaring eyes.
The possibility of Gehenna actively intervening could not be ruled out either.

Above all, while they were racking their brains over dresses and ballrooms for a successful debut.
It was the Whispering Witch who offered a hand to the Qliphoth.

“Why are you being so cold? Do you think your play would have ended smoothly if I hadn’t played the role of a hype man?”
“Who asked for your help? I’m done being nice. Get lost if you don’t want to see blood.”

It was undeniable that she had received Lilith’s help.

But that alone was unsettling.
As far as Urshula knew, there was no witch who had a good ending after getting involved with the Whispering Witch.

She refused to get involved with such a demon of destruction twice.

“Okay, don’t get angry. You’re so fierce. Then I’ll just leave this here and go.”

With those words, Lilith disappeared.

Even though a witch like Urshula had been watching her the whole time, she left no trace, as if she had been a phantom from the start.

“……”

Urshula carelessly cast her one eye on the pieces of paper fluttering at her feet.

Witches are creatures that cannot resist curiosity.
Urshula, using telekinesis to gather the papers and flipping through them one by one, chuckled.

“Ha…. Look at this bitch?”

Now she seemed to understand.
Why the smart ones who lived by their own standards lost their lives by falling for Lilith’s coaxing.

Lilith’s whispers had a sweetness that made you want to reach out, even though you knew it was dangerous.

Like the fruit of good and evil.
The scent of a sweet fruit, ripe to the point of almost rotting.