Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: 4. Weekend Overtime (2)
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I quickly got dressed and stepped outside, only to find a cold drizzle falling.
I hadn't checked the weather forecast, but it looked like rain was in the cards for the weekend.
What rotten luck, having to head out to work in weather like this.
I popped open the umbrella I'd grabbed on the way out and made for the subway.
Luckily, the train was fairly empty.
Even with the combo of weekend + daytime + rain, there was a seat waiting for me.
Guess the heavens took pity on me after all the torment I've endured from Neria lately.
Living with a witch right in front of me, holding back my urges over and over—must be pretty pathetic, so here's a little treat, that kind of vibe.
I swam through those shallow thoughts for a good while.
Glancing at my smartphone clock, it was already 11:20.
Too early to hit the time Neria first suggested, but I should make it by the later noon deadline she mentioned.
After that, just chat it up with her master or whatever—haha ho ho—and call it a day.
Still no clue why she specifically wants to see me, though...
'Her apprentice holed up in her room, and the guy even gave her a handjob. Naturally piques the curiosity.'
Anyway, no danger here.
Play it polite, and it'll be fine.
Probably.
- The doors are opening.
Right on time, I got off the subway, and even on this platform, I could smell that distinct rain-on-concrete scent.
Seems the drizzle was falling here too.
That meant it'd take longer than usual to get where I was going, so I hurried out of the station to avoid being late.
"Excuse me."
I'd barely taken a few steps under my umbrella when someone called out from behind.
"Mind if I ask for directions? I'm new to the neighborhood."
"Ah... sorry. I'm just here to meet a friend myself."
"Oh, I see..."
Again with this.
Asking for directions.
Nothing surprising. Happens all the time.
Throw in some cult recruitment vibe, and it's like two or three times a week.
I'm used to hearing it and politely turning them down.
But...
"What to do..."
"......"
This time, it wasn't so easy to just go on my way.
Not because she seemed so troubled—
Or because I'm too nice—
No, it was...
Her looks.
"Could you maybe look at the map with me?"
"The map?"
"Embarrassing, but I'm terrible at reading them..."
"...Yeah, of course I can help with that."
"Thank you... I was worried you'd be in a rush..."
"......"
Young housewife type, maybe.
A delicate-looking young housewife.
That was my first impression.
From her outfit to the little details in her hairstyle—she seemed solidly in her mid-to-late twenties, a step above college age.
And if you picked the prettiest woman in that age group, she'd top the list, no question.
Soft lavender-blue eyes that felt oddly familiar.
Lush black hair sliding over her shoulders and chest.
And those curves cradling her hair, constantly snaring my gaze.
Even with her fragile, breakable aura, the rain mingling with the space between us suited her perfectly.
...Ah, Team Leader could be a contender in that age range looks-wise, but she's an immortal witch in the end.
Among humans, this woman was the most beautiful.
At least among those I've seen with my own eyes, sincerely.
"Here, my phone."
"Just a sec."
"I'll hold the umbrella."
"...Thanks."
Handing over her smartphone brought us closer naturally.
And peering at the screen together, inevitably...
Really, unavoidably, my eyes drifted to the view tugged into my peripheral vision.
Her figure, obviously.
That soft, pillowy body lifting her fallen hair—bet it'd feel amazing to touch.
But she was shorter than me, oblivious to my gaze, just pressing closer.
...Even with our bodies brushing a little.
Like it was no big deal.
"I'm trying to get to... this apartment marked here..."
"Hm. Station's this way, so according to the map, head left up ahead, then..."
"Yeah, left, then..."
"......"
...Wait,
Now it's not just a little,
It's getting really,
Blatantly close...
"...Keep going left, straight ahead... follow the road all the way...?"
Something felt off.
"...?"
Looking at the map she'd handed me, I noticed something by chance.
It was...
*****
"...Master."
"My Neria, you've been well. Your skin looks amazing."
"Yes, I've been fine. Got along great with the male prostitute you prepared too. So, I have a question for you first."
"Still as bold as ever—love it. But to me? ...Why'd you two come together?"
"...Yes."
"Ran into him just around the corner. That answer your question?"
Heading to the exact same apartment as me.
No— she was a witch.
And she'd come to the same floor, same door, flashing me a smile.
"...Who the hell are you? You knew she was my master? Said you didn't know her face."
"...I had no idea, obviously..."
"So Master recognized you and brought you along?"
"Uh..."
No clue.
Didn't feel like recognition—more like genuinely asking for directions.
I kept quiet about the weird vibes and tilted my head; her master picked up instead.
"Wasn't recognition. I had you marked for 'mana recharge' later."
"......"
"......"
"Didn't know you were the guy she's been seeing lately."
Spotted me in passing, thought she'd squeeze me dry.
That's the gist in Korean.
"Proper introduction: I'm Erzel Heka, Water Witch and Neria's master."
"...A pleasure to meet you, Witch Lady. I'm Nam Dowon, with the Seoul City Hall Apprentice Witch Rehabilitation Support Department."
Erzel offered her hand.
I hesitated, then shook it; she gave a faint smile and shook lightly up and down.
Normal woman's grip strength—not witch-strong or anything.
Maybe that's why.
She still gave off that young housewife vibe, sans wedding ring, making me feel like I was doing something sneaky on the sly.
Housewife whose husband's away on a long trip.
Then beastly affair sex spilling into the neighbor's place.
Pretty common trope these days.
Of course, doing that with Neria's master would shred yesterday's praise coupon to bits, but still.
"Nam Dowon. Nam Dowon... Got it memorized. Helping my apprentice deserves that much courtesy."
"Thank you..."
Good news: Erzel only eyed me at first; now that she knows who I am, she's backed off clean.
No more subtle shoulder-and-breast presses.
See? Shaking hands, and nothing funny.
Time to relax a bit.
I gave an awkward smile at Erzel's words and gently pulled my hand free from hers.
...Side note: I ignored the other lavender-blue gaze tracking it from right beside her.
"I heard about you. Eve praised you to the skies. Said you really picked up a keeper this time."
"Haha..."
A keeper, huh. Like finding a decent stray cat.
The thought crossed my mind, but what could I do?
Witches might look human, but they don't think that way.
Class systems lingered among humans not long ago—stray cat treatment's no shocker.
"...And yeah, the hype checks out. Good balance, I'd say?"
"...Uh, Witch Lady, hold on..."
Stroking a favorite cat on a whim? Kinda par for the course, in a way.
Erzel, who I'd thought had given up, sidled up unlike her apprentice and started kneading my left arm.
"Oh my..."
As a witch, Erzel was a world-shaking beauty too.
Her slender fingers pressing in felt nice, no denying.
Her frail appearance struck perfectly at my tastes—I couldn’t help but fantasize that she’d be heavenly in bed.
But...
...That one pitiful glare shooting from the side was brutal.
Didn't know how to handle this.
"You into working out?"
"Master. What you're doing? Sexual harassment in today's world."
"...A rough guy now and then's nice. I see it as fine cuisine. Especially when he thinks he's got the reins and whispers dirty nothings—quite..."
"...Master."
"Busy tonight...? It's Saturday—plenty of time..."
"Master...!"
Neria finally cut in, but Erzel didn't flinch.
Just probing my schedule for 'mana recharge,' apparently.
No training covered this (come to think, Team Leader never really trained me).
But I had street smarts.
I picked words to avoid offending.
"Sorry, Witch Lady. I'm focused on giving Neria my all right now. Time alone with you... ...would be tough."
Semen's for your apprentice—can't argue that.
Plenty of guys out there besides me.
"...Hm."
Close enough to the right answer, it seemed.
Erzel stepped back with her hazy smile.
Turning to her apprentice, she said with a chuckle:
"Fair enough. Meeting on weekends shows dedication."
"...?"
"Hope to hear good news soon... Plus, Neria's one of my favorites..."
"......"
"No way it'd fizzle after handjobs, right...?"
"...N-No, of course not. Haha."
"Want Neria to discover the joys of mana recharge soon..."
"...I'll do my best."
No. Wrong.
Not about fizzling or dedication—
The very start was off.
I rushed to Neria's on a weekend not 'cause I'm a work-loving perv.
"......"
"......"
Neria, blushing right beside me, used you as an excuse to drag me here.
"......I'll make an effort too, Master."
...Dunno exactly, but something creaked in that convo.
Good's good, though.
I said nothing.