Chapter 132
Chapter 132
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Cleanup (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Why was the Gemernai Countess here?
Odile had clearly said the Countess was away in the mortal world and unreachable for about a month.
Wasn't it like getting invited to your girlfriend's house because her parents were away on a trip, fooling around like crazy, only to suddenly come face-to-face with the parents who'd returned early?
Of course, he'd never had such a horrific experience himself, so it was purely an analogy...
There wasn't even a chance to ask Odile what was going on.
"Odile, come here, dear."
The Countess's gaze shifted to Odile.
Her voice was soft and gentle, but it carried a gravity utterly unlike her usual tone.
The reproach and scolding laced within it were so vivid that even Siwoo could feel them plainly.
"Master, I-I'll explain everything."
"I'll hear your explanation later. Come here first, Odile."
Odile shot Siwoo an apologetic look that screamed she was sorry enough to die, then shuffled timidly into the living room.
Siwoo, feeling inexplicably cowed, followed her into the living room without thinking.
Deneb, her hair white as falling snowflakes, gently grasped Odile's wrist.
She held onto Odile's wrist for a long moment, as if conducting some kind of inspection, before letting out a sigh of relief.
The apprentice witch had suddenly announced she was staying out overnight, gone off late into the night with a man, and only returned at the crack of dawn. Checking whether the "vessel" had sustained any damage was a perfectly natural precaution.
Fortunately, after confirming no issues, Deneb flicked Odile hard on the forehead with a sharp pop!
"Ow!"
"Who gave you permission to stay out overnight? Do you have any idea how much we searched for you two?"
"I'm sorry... But the assistant woke up, and... I just couldn't bear to leave right away..."
"Listen up, Odile. This isn't something that's going to blow over easily. It's late now, so go upstairs and get some sleep. We'll talk more tomorrow."
Was it a mistake to take it as gospel that the Countess was away in the mortal world?
While Siwoo reeled in confusion, Albireo addressed him as well.
"Shin Siwoo, stay here with us."
"Master, let me explain! The assistant's innocent! I was the one who coaxed him into a night stroll and convinced him to stay at the villa!"
Deneb sliced through Odile's frantic defense with surgical precision.
"Odile, we'll speak with him ourselves, so go on upstairs."
"But..."
"Upstairs. Now."
Odile shrank back under Deneb's fierce glare, her eyes blazing.
It must have felt like watching your lawyer get thrown out of the courtroom right in the middle of defending you.
This is really fucked, isn't it? The thought looped endlessly in his mind like a broken record.
"Odile, I'd rather you didn't make me any angrier."
Albireo's icy voice made it impossible for Odile to dig in her heels.
She had never seen her master this furious before.
"I'll go upstairs, I am, Master. But please, promise me one thing."
"And you're saying this now?"
"I have to!"
Odile bellowed the words defiantly, steadfastly securing one final safeguard for Siwoo.
"If you harm the assistant, I'll never set eyes on you again. Never ever!"
"You insolent little...!"
Deneb moved to deliver another flick to Odile's forehead, even though the girl should have been on her knees begging forgiveness for her outburst.
Albireo, who had been sitting there sipping her beer, intervened.
"Deneb, that's enough."
"Sister! Listen to this brat's mouth! Who do you think messed up here? And what's with that outfit? Good heavens! Out in public in nothing but underwear and a cloak?"
"I said that's enough, Deneb."
Albireo waved her off casually before locking eyes with Odile.
Odile widened her eyes and strained not to look away.
She was aware she'd been the one primarily at fault, but Siwoo's safety mattered more than any scolding from her strict master.
"Odile, I swear I won't lay a hand on Shin Siwoo. There, happy now?"
Odile clamped her mouth shut and nodded slowly.
"It's far too late. Go get some rest. We just have separate business with him."
"Yes... Sorry for sticking my nose in..."
The moment Siwoo's safety was assured, Odile bowed as if all the energy had drained from her body. She mouthed Sorry, assistant to Siwoo and headed upstairs.
Yes.
The ordeal might be over for Odile, but for Siwoo, it was only just beginning.
"Why don't you sit down so we can talk?"
Albireo gestured invitingly to the sofa across from her, where Siwoo still stood awkwardly.
No more need for stale metaphors like sitting on pins and needles.
This was a landmine sofa.
They'd extracted a promise not to harm him, but if the Gemernai Countess decided otherwise, ruining a nobody like Siwoo would be child's play.
The conversation began as Deneb, finished scolding Odile, settled onto the sofa.
"First off, it's a relief to see you're on the mend."
"I'm sorry I couldn't come visit sooner. Though I suppose that's just polite small talk."
Unlike Albireo's courteous greeting, Deneb's words bristled with barbs.
Her sharp violet gaze felt like it was piercing right through his chest.
"Deneb."
"Fine, I'll stop. Sorry, Shin Siwoo."
"No, it's okay."
Deneb took several deep breaths, huffing and puffing.
She seemed surprisingly emotional, a stark contrast to her initial impression of refined poise and serenity.
But when it came to her apprentice witch, it made perfect sense.
Siwoo pulled himself together and focused.
His entire future could hinge on how he handled his words from here on out.
"I have some questions. I'd appreciate honest answers, no lies."
"...Yes."
"What exactly were you doing out with Odile at this hour?"
The very first question choked him up.
He'd been told not to lie, but he had no idea if spilling the full truth was the right move.
Admit to toying with Odile's back entrance right in front of the Countess, who was like a parent to her?
Dig too deep, and Odette's deflowering would come to light too.
Was she seriously expecting him to say that?
He'd sooner bite his tongue off.
"We took a night walk."
"That's all?"
"A k-kiss... Yes, we kissed too. I'm sorry."
Deneb stared exasperatedly at the ceiling, pressing the back of her hand to her forehead, while Albireo regarded Siwoo with calm eyes.
Siwoo sat bolt upright with his knees pressed together, praying fervently, Please stop here, please just stop here.
His prayers must have gotten through, because Albireo slowly closed her eyes and shifted the topic.
"No need to apologize. Romantic feelings between a young man and woman are only natural, especially since you've garnered so much affection from our twins."
"Anything beyond kissing? Nothing weird, right?"
"Deneb, if you're going to keep interrupting, maybe step out and cool your head."
Deneb slipped in a spine-chilling follow-up question during the brief lull, but Albireo shut it down.
"Odile's vessel is perfectly fine, and regardless, Shin Siwoo is a benefactor to the Gemernai house. We can't just rashly condemn his actions."
"I know, I get it, but... Hoo... Hoo... No, I can't. Gimme some booze."
Deneb snatched up the beer bottle and chugged it down.
Even a Countess so obsessed with etiquette apparently lost half her wits when the twins were involved.
Siwoo was genuinely thankful they were sisters.
If it had just been Deneb, it would have escalated into a full-blown catastrophe.
"Sorry. I let my emotions get the better of me."
"Ah, no. I'd have done the same in your shoes. Please, lift your head."
Deneb, having bowed her head briefly in apology, now appeared to have regained her composure.
Thank goodness.
"First and foremost, I must express our gratitude. Not once, but twice, you saved our twins with your courage and wisdom."
"I offer my respect to the heart that stands fearlessly against injustice and upholds righteousness, transcending all notions of status."
"We should have done this sooner, but as you know, you'd been unconscious the whole time."
"Though it's belated, allow us to convey our heartfelt thanks here and now."
The two Countesses bowed in unison, and Siwoo waved his hands awkwardly, just as he had before.
He hadn't done it for thanks.
His body had simply moved on instinct amid the chaos.
"No, please. I only did what I felt I had to."
The weight of having none other than the Gemernai Countess bow to him, the sudden praise that left him bashful, the anxiety over how things might still go south—it all blended into a confusing salad of emotions.
Albireo, having gracefully concluded the thanks, spoke first.
"Is your body fully recovered now?"
"Yes, fortunately..."
"Baron Merrygold must have been overjoyed. She never left your bedside, day or night."
"........."
Siwoo's face went rigid the instant the name Merrygold came up.
He still wasn't calm enough to hear it without losing his composure.
It felt like the turmoil he'd barely managed to shove aside with Odile's help had roared back to life.
"Baron Merrygold went to incredible lengths to save you. She even called in the Witch of Healing, and honestly, just watching her dedication left even me in awe..."
Deneb, aware of Amelia's crush on Siwoo, was subtly highlighting her efforts.
His life had been saved by Amelia's desperate struggles, after all, so she casually assumed there might have been some progress between them.
But when Siwoo's expression soured sharply, she realized something was amiss and trailed off.
Siwoo hastily smoothed his features, but the awkward tension had already settled in.
Albireo deftly steered the conversation elsewhere.
"...In any case, let's discuss your reward. A reward ample enough for you to understand its worth."
Siwoo squeezed his eyes shut, feeling his stomach roil.
Amelia. Amelia. Amelia.
Don't think about it now.
Stretch your legs where you find a place to lay your head.
Wasn't the Gemernai Countess his one and only lifeline out of Gehenna?
No need to make a fool of himself.
"My wishes haven't changed, then or now. I want to return to the mortal world."
He would leave this place.
Once back to a peaceful, ordinary life, all these headaches would fade away.
Five years of fixating on that one goal meant his resolve wouldn't waver now.
Returning to the mortal world was the sole unwavering beacon in Siwoo's life amid the chaos of coming to love those he once hated and hate those he once loved.
"Hmm..."
"Just to be thorough... Has the Baron explained to you what happens if you venture into the mortal world?"
"Pardon?"
Things that happen in the mortal world?
Did she mean witches would set their sights on him now that a man who could wield magic existed?
And with the "Stigma" apparently manifesting too, he might need to be extra cautious.
Still, risks he could handle.
He had the music box from Odile, and only a tiny handful knew about the Stigma anyway. As long as he kept it hidden...
"We have no desire to dissuade you or block your path to the mortal world."
"Shin Siwoo may be a rare prize enough to make most witches drool, but repaying our debt of gratitude takes precedence."
"Thank you. That means a lot."
"However... You should at least hear what awaits you upon your return. If your mind remains unchanged after that, we'll respect your decision."
The mood turned abruptly grave.
A bit disconcerting.
He'd thought departure meant the end, but apparently not.
"Take off your eyepatch."
"Pardon?"
Albireo pointed to Siwoo's left eye as she spoke to the bewildered young man.
"We need to confirm something."
Was revealing his eye the right choice here?
Siwoo trusted the twins.
A little immature and rowdy at times, but the innocent Odile and Odette would never betray him—he was certain of that.
But what about the Gemernai Countess?
Could he trust her solely because she was their master?
"We absolutely won't breathe a word or leak it carelessly. I swear it on the name of Gemernai."
Siwoo hesitated a moment longer before loosening the eyepatch draped slantwise over his eye.
As he opened the covered eye, a brilliant golden iris gleamed forth.
Albireo recognized it on sight.
"Just as I thought. A Stigma has taken root."
"Good heavens..."
Siwoo's body had reverted to its youthful state, as if time itself had turned back.
Even minor imperfections had been flawlessly mended, yet he'd worn the eyepatch without fail—something Albireo had suspected.
Deneb, on the other hand, gaped in utter shock, clapping a hand over her mouth.
"That's right. Is that a problem?"
"Not immediately, but it carries more than enough risk of turning into a major headache."
"I'll hear you out."
The Gemernai Countess continued her explanation before Siwoo, who leaned in earnestly to chart the course of his future life.