Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Comfort (3)
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1.
Siwoo felt a warmth enveloping his back.
Odile's body, so much smaller than his, wrapped around him like a cozy cushion.
His mind, chaotic and bouncing around like a ball, had calmed down a little.
The aimless vector of his heart felt somewhat sorted out.
"Feeling better?"
Siwoo slowly pulled away from Odile.
Odile, who had been hugging him like a giant teddy bear, gently released his shoulders.
He knew it was just temporary numbness.
Once time passed and Amelia's contrasting image resurfaced, he would surely suffer again.
Even so, Siwoo wiped away the lingering moisture in his eyes and flashed a grin.
"It feels like ages since I last saw you, Lady Odile."
"What, doing formal greetings now?"
Odile smiled back at Siwoo's grin.
For some reason, the tip of her nose was flushed red, too, as if she might burst into tears any second.
Sniffling, Odile grabbed Siwoo's wrist and plopped down onto the sofa.
"Come on, sit."
"You don't need to stay up? It's already so late."
The grandfather clock by the fireplace now pointed to 3 a.m.
It was the dead of night, when even the plants slumbered, yet Odile brimmed with energy.
Siwoo belatedly recalled something he hadn't thought of amid the rush.
"Wait. This is the villa, right?"
"Yeah."
"You don't need to head back to the mansion?"
"I got permission to stay out tonight. Don't worry about your assistant."
Only then did Siwoo let out a sigh of relief.
He had nearly felt terrible if she'd snuck out without permission just to look after him because he'd crawled in here.
Staring intently at his face, Odile spoke up.
"You seemed like you had a ton to say when you got back. But seeing you now, it feels like yesterday. Weird."
"Is that so? It feels like it's been forever to me."
"Where do your memories pick up? Do you remember us visiting the hospital every week? Going to the big bathhouse together?"
The moment he heard "big bathhouse," Siwoo froze stiff.
Thinking back, he did recall tremulously trailing after the twins all the way to the bathhouse back when they were young (or whatever the right term was).
It had been such a memorable experience that it was vividly etched in his mind.
For instance, Odile meticulously washing his dick...
"I have memories from after I got older. But nothing after collapsing. Thanks for coming every week."
"Of course we'd come! Who'd you get hurt for?"
Odile swung her legs idly on the sofa as she spoke.
She was frowning just a little, like she felt bad, so he gave her head a light pat.
No particular reason.
He just felt like it.
"........."
Odile, who had seemed subtly excited just moments ago, instantly calmed the second Siwoo stroked her hair.
She neatly folded her hands on her lap with a peculiar expression.
Siwoo started to wonder if he'd overstepped and pulled his hand away, at which point Odile finally spoke.
"This is the only time I'll let you pat my head without asking."
"Yeah, got it."
It was awfully cute.
Somehow, just chatting like this was enough to hold his sad memories at bay, all thanks to Odile's innate positive energy.
"But Assistant, has your eye not healed? You're still wearing the eyepatch."
"Ah, this is..."
Siwoo hesitated over whether to explain.
He had no idea what exactly had happened, but right now, his left eye was functioning like a witch's 'Stigma.'
It absorbed ambient mana, generated it on its own, and housed his Self-Generating Magic.
Where before he'd had to calculate spells from 1 to 100 step by step, now it felt like 50 to 70 were already done for him at the start.
If magic's three basics were synthesis, transformation, and deployment, the Stigma automatically handled synthesis and part of deployment.
Siwoo just tweaked a few variables in the transformation phase, and it manifested on its own.
He could even decide the paths it took right then and there, making the speed incomparable.
The issue was that Self-Generating Magic aside, there was no historical precedent for a man bearing a Stigma.
Library records occasionally mentioned witches who'd crafted their own Stigmas, but never a 'man.'
That meant any decent witch would flip her lid and chase him down as prime research material.
"Sorry, shouldn't have pried..."
"No, it's fine."
While Siwoo wavered on whether to tell Odile, she apologized first.
She must have assumed he hadn't overcome the disability.
"........."
"........."
Odile broke the brief silence first.
"Assistant, wanna head up and sleep now? It's late."
Odile stood from the sofa and dusted off her rear.
But despite suggesting they go up first, she dawdled suspiciously by Siwoo's side.
What did she want...?
Siwoo tilted his head.
"Shall we?"
"No, wait—are you tired, Assistant?"
Odile suddenly backpedaled.
Honestly, he wasn't tired at all.
Having passed out drunk since dinner, he felt fresh as if it were morning.
"No, not tired, but..."
"Then wanna go on a night walk with me?"
"A night walk?"
"I've never seen Tarot Town at this hour. Kinda curious."
A walk.
No point climbing into bed now—he'd just toss and turn with his unsettled mood.
Might as well breathe some crisp night air.
"Sounds good."
"Yay! I'll get ready!"
"Ah, what about Lady Odette?"
"Odette's asleep, so let's leave her be."
Grinning with excitement like she hadn't just yawned, Odile scampered off somewhere.
She returned soon after, a large hooded cloak thrown over her clothes and beer bottles clutched in both hands.
"Ta-da! I prepped a whole case to toast your awakening."
"Th-this..."
Siwoo took the chilled beer bottle, his hands trembling.
The familiar brown glass, the bold logo font, the serrated aluminum cap.
It was all too recognizable.
KASS.
"Got it 'cause you said it's the most famous beer from your hometown. There's more in the carriage too—lemme know if you want some later."
"Odile..."
"No over-the-top thanks, okay?"
He'd thought he'd cried it all out earlier, but now emotion welled up again.
Seeming to anticipate another tight hug, Odile sidestepped slyly.
Yet she grinned all the while, clearly pleased he liked her gift.
"Thanks so much."
"Eh, no big deal."
Siwoo followed after Odile, who walked lightly like a smug cat with her nose held high, as they left the villa.
2.
This was a first for Siwoo—strolling at such a late hour.
Tarot Town, always brimming with bustling energy, now held its breath quietly under the night dew.
The buildings lining the streets stood dark, casting only shadows.
It was so still that if Odile yelled "Rawr!" once, the whole place might come tumbling down.
"Hmm~ Feels like another world."
Odile skipped along with bouncy steps, swinging a beer bottle in one hand.
Siwoo trailed leisurely behind, the cheap beer lifting his spirits.
Compared to the draft at the White Whale tavern, it tasted downright awful—like piss—but that only made it more endearing.
It was a flavor he'd missed so badly.
"Assistant, is that really tasty? I honestly don't like it—want mine?"
Odile, strutting like a singer on stage under the moonlight, watched Siwoo savor the beer like holy water and smiled as if she'd spotted something bizarre.
Of course it wouldn't suit her, raised on top-shelf craft brews—factory swill loaded with additives.
"Yeah, it's nostalgic. Would be perfect with some chicken here."
"Chicken? Like hen?"
"You brine chicken in salt, coat it in batter, and deep-fry it. Eaten everywhere back home, country regardless."
"Huh, something like that exists."
The night was so quiet they spoke almost in whispers.
As cool air filled their lungs and they traded idle chatter, they arrived at Tarot Town's fountain square before they knew it.
No stalls hawking wares, no barkers calling out.
The bumpy cobblestones lay silent, bereft of clopping hooves and rumbling cart wheels.
The grand fountain at the center sprayed a silvery veil fluttering in the breeze, serenely overlooking the quiet streets.
"Pretty."
"Yeah."
They stood stock-still before the fountain for a long while, watching it spout water.
The splashing against the surface seemed to have a calming effect on the heart.
"Wanna get closer? Might splash a bit."
"Sure."
Odile took Siwoo's hand and led him near the fountain's edge.
He could see coins glinting on the bottom.
"You know? The lucky coins tossed in here get collected by city hall for fountain upkeep."
"News to me."
"Huh? Isn't that a gold coin?"
"Gold?"
By Siwoo's estimates, one gold coin was worth around 800,000 won.
Taking Gehenna's dirt-cheap daily necessities into account, it was still a hefty sum.
Someone nuts enough to chuck that into a fountain?
Lots of merchants around—some Gehenna-style luck ritual?
As Siwoo peered into the fountain lost in thought, Odile gave his back a poke.
Pointing out the gold coin must've been setup for this.
"Gah!"
"Eek!"
Siwoo suddenly lost his balance and instinctively grabbed Odile's cloak, sending them both tumbling into the fountain together.
-Splash!
A refreshing splash echoed out.
It was only waist-deep, so no need to flail, but their dramatic dive soaked them head to toe, hair included.
He wasn't mad—just let out an incredulous chuckle.
Never dreamed she'd shove him straight into the fountain.
"What the hell was that?"
"Ugh, Assistant! Nice reflexes—going for mutual destruction like that."
"Just panicked and grabbed."
"Anyway."
Odile, looking like a drenched squirrel, made no secret of her annoyance and shook her head like a wet dog.
Then she grinned and said,
"I've always wanted to jump into this fountain. No chance when people's around."
"What about my vote?"
"You looked so down, figured I'd make you swim it off together."
But Odile hadn't anticipated one thing.
This fountain drew straight from groundwater, so the water was shockingly cold.
And though spring had warmed the days, nights remained brisk.
"Damn, it's freezing in here."
"Yeah? Don't tense up—I'll lift you out."
No ladder, so she'd struggle alone.
Not like it was built for swimming, after all.
"Hold on first."
Odile briefly stopped Siwoo from playing footstool and waded over through the waist-high water.
"Remember our contract, Assistant?"
"Contract?"
"Yeah. The deal for the music box."
"Ah."
Having just ruminated on it recently, the memory was crystal clear despite the time passed.
Odile had barged into his room with the proposal.
One: they'd go to the sacred mountain together.
One: prove that touching her back hole felt good.
And the last one probably...
"You were gonna teach me about love."
Love.
After the mess of a day, just hearing the word soured his mood.
The kind of 'If this is love, I don't need it!' sentiment that made him glad he'd stuck to solo living all his life.
Odile's face drew close.
Her big eyes, sparkling purple irises, and strands of hair plastered to her cheeks were all in sharp focus at that range.
"After you collapsed, I read some books and such. Couples in love all do these dumb things. Figured mimicking might teach me something."
"Dumb things?"
"Yeah. Like this."
Odile inched closer, tugged his collar, and pressed their lips together.
Honestly, up until their lips met, he'd planned to refuse.
His emotions weren't sorted enough yet.
But the instant her rough tongue slipped between his lips.
Something exploded inside him.
His tangled feelings drew him in like a gentle invitation to lean on, and he wrapped his arms tight around Odile's waist, plunging into a deep, tongue-filled kiss.
"Puha!"
The kiss itself wasn't that long.
Flushed red from Siwoo's eager response, Odile quickly pulled away.
She gazed at him for a long moment with trembling eyes, then a soft smile curved her lips.
Soon, she shyly covered her mouth and giggled.
Seeing Amelia overlap with that image—wasn't that a huge diss to Odile?
Oblivious to Siwoo's inner guilt, Odile beamed brightly and said,
"Kissing while soaked from falling in a fountain. Doesn't it look super stupid?"
The hazy overlay of Amelia on Odile faded away.
The one smiling before him was Odile.
Only then could Siwoo finally manage a smile.
"Yeah, it does."