Chapter 4
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: How to Get Close to a Witch (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
'Witches mostly gather and live in a place called the Backside World.'
This much was known even to people too busy scraping by to bother looking into witches.
For example, if you keep hearing talk about soccer (monsters) around you, you naturally end up knowing a few famous soccer players (witches)... It was more or less the same flow.
So, monsters, magic, witches, Backside World—at the very least, everyone knew those four.
And to top it off, I was someone who cared way more about working out, gaming, and jerking off than witches.
"The address is in South Korea?"
I'd thought all witches lived huddled together in the Backside World.
"It can be in South Korea. I happen to live just five stops away myself?"
"Ah..."
"...Looks like you thought all witches live in the Backside World, huh?"
"Embarrassing as it is... yeah."
"Hmm. Witches obsessed with 'magic research' find the Backside World convenient, but if not, there's no need to live in that inconvenient dump."
"I see."
"How could anyone live without internet or YouTube?"
It'd drive you insane.
I nodded along agreeably and scanned the photo and personal details of the apprentice witch the Team Leader had handed me.
This gaming addict apprentice witch was named Neria. Neria Heka.
Witches made it hard to guess their age from looks alone, but helpfully, it said she was turning twenty this year.
Not that it mattered much, but since we were the same age, my eyes lingered a bit longer.
Beyond that, what caught my eye was her absurdly stunning witch looks, as expected.
I'd been deliberately focusing on the text, but after a short while, my gaze drifted back to Neria's photo.
Back again—and yeah, you probably get it from that phrasing, but I'd already looked at the photo five times in this brief span.
"That pretty, huh? Why does your gaze keep snapping back there? Ahaha."
"...She is pretty. This apprentice witch Neria... no, ma'am?"
"Just 'Witch Lady' is fine; no one'll nitpick. Later in bed, you can even drop the honorifics if you want."
"...Noted."
"And hey, I get it. Humans do random genetic gacha pulls, but we're ideally sculpted masterpieces by the moon herself."
"Gacha... yeah, sure. Right."
While I brushed off the Team Leader grinning like jealous much?, I straightened out the photo in my hand.
Long, pale blue hair. And pale blue eyes.
My gaze was drawn once more to that rare color you rarely see outside of dyes or cosplay.
And despite how light the shade was—something that could look awkward—it blended perfectly with her startlingly white skin.
Was her skin that pale from holing up in her room doing magic research—no, gaming?
Or did witches stay that white even under the blazing sun 24/7?
Idly lost in dumb thoughts, I forced my eyes back to the text.
Water Apprentice Witch or whatever—I just mentally filed away the witch-related details.
Knowing them seemed pointless beyond pretending I'd done my homework.
Stuff like that would probably just rub a hikikomori witch the wrong way instead of winning her over.
So, something I could subtly leverage...
I wanted to know what Neria liked and disliked.
"Games and reading books. Looks like nothing else for hobbies. Likes: unknown."
"Word from my friend, so you can trust it."
"Dislikes... Rude guys. Dumb guys. Guys oblivious to themselves. Pushy guys. Guys who drool over every woman. Men. Just men..."
"Also from my friend. That's what she said when I asked what kind of guy would work."
"...Were you planning to drag someone over by the collar?"
"Hmm... Just between us, maybe?"
What a mismatched balance.
I let out a deep sigh and did some light stretches.
First things first, maybe lose the dick?
If I turned into a TS bishoujo, she'd at least hear me out...
Nah, then the semen issue gets messy.
So, stuck with the male drawback unavoidable, but at least her likes overlapped with my hobbies a bit.
I gamed somewhat myself.
But could I keep a conversation going on just that?
I only gamed to kill spare time; from Neria's state, she could game all day without issue.
Bringing up games might not build rapport—instead, she'd think, Just some normie...
Put bluntly, she probably had that gamer superiority complex.
"At least it's easy to get to. Even if she's in South Korea, Busan, Jeju, or Dokdo would've been a nightmare, but Mapo-gu, Seoul..."
"Oh, that's fine. My teleport's top-tier among witches, you know?"
"Impressive."
"It's not just 'impressive' and done? Teleport's basic magic, sure, but I'm not basic! Like, I'm amazing with chopsticks, or my handwriting's elegantly shiny, or..."
Got it. Got it.
I nodded understandingly and let the rest go in one ear and out the other.
Not that I didn't want to listen; it was just... no walls between people could be too few.
Honestly, overwhelming to keep up with.
She was capybara-level chill.
"Got a question, Team Leader."
"Such elegant formality... Oh, right. A question?"
"What if Neria slams the door in my face? Should I call you first?"
"No, no. Forcing it would backfire, so if help's needed, my friend will step in. Remember I said Neria's master is my friend?"
"Yes..."
"Since Dowon chose the hard path for social experience, I'll make sure my friend promises. Even if it means smashing the door down."
"......"
So it was all calculated, huh. I tabled that thought.
I got the gist.
If she's soft-hearted, she'll knock with me; if tough witch, she'll bust the door for me.
Real bad luck might've ended in just knocking together, but the Team Leader's promise dodged that.
Now left with...
"So I just... focus on, like, creampie-ing Neria somehow?"
This.
The Team Leader smirked, lifting her lip.
"Exactly. Worst case, make her unable to live without your dick?"
*****
The Team Leader said that, but sadly, I lacked the power to turn a woman like that.
Lack power? I'd never even tried.
At least I'd had some girl experience before the college entrance exam... Nah, that's a long story for later.
Anyway, per the Team Leader, making her dick-dependent was a stretch, but given a chance, I could probably get her comfy with sex like my exes.
The next day, after light training and job intro.
I visited a luxury apartment in Mapo-gu, Seoul, with my 'Nam Dowon' civil servant ID around my neck.
"Gotta cost a fortune to live here."
Separate income source?
Or money from her master who gave her the Heka name?
Even if she earned from gaming, this seemed excessively loaded.
Tension had me muttering nonsense inwardly as I rang the doorbell.
Ding-dong—
No real reaction to the first soft chime.
Not home?
Or headset blocking sound.
I ran scenarios and rang again.
Ding-dong—
This time, sounds from inside.
Maybe NEET day-night reversal, but apparently not.
One more ring risked instant bad end, so I stood stretching my facial muscles for a good first impression.
Smiling faces don't get spat on, so worth it.
Let's make this work somehow.
"Who...?"
"Ah, hello. Apprentice Witch Neria ma'am. From Seoul City Hall. The... 'Apprentice Witch Rehabilitation Support Department'..."
Guess no face yet.
Neria's voice came through the intercom, not door crack.
So I talked to it.
"Rehab... Oh. Master mentioned..."
"That's right. Could you open the door?"
"...Wait a sec."
"......"
"...Ah, shit, such a pain..."
The last bit was tiny, probably muttering to herself, not me.
Still, I'd braced for fuck off-level hostility, so this ending on a gentlemanly note? Pretty decent apprentice witch.
Some witches don't even open; this was polite.
Thankfully no lie—short wait, then footsteps to the door.
Beep- The door lock clicked open.
Pale blue hair from the photo peeked through the gap.
"...You're that guy, right? ...Semen guy."
"Probably."
"Come in. Embarrassing to talk in the hall."
Profile said 168cm, but she felt smaller.
Maybe the oversized—baggy, if rude—tee she wore.
And her absurd beauty matching the photo... secondary.
Considering her dislike list packed with men, this treatment was solid.
Semi-formal speech just now?
Banmal or slave treatment braced for, so semi-formal? Thrilling, nice.
And invited in regardless—50% to goal already?
Her mutter showed reluctance, but letting me in hinted at slight cooperation...
Might go smoother than thought.
"Pardon the intrusion."
"......"
Door shut behind my relieved self.
Neria paused, then spoke.
"Hey, male prostitute."
"...?"
"Stay quiet and leave. I'll cooperate this much since getting you fired would suck."
"...Pardon?"
"Use that room. Sleep or whatever, your call."