Chapter 150
Chapter 150
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: The Debt Witch (5)
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Sharon and Siwoo strolled together down the night streets.
They didn't forget to stop by her attic room and grab a bundle of flyers on the way.
Each holding a stack in one hand, they amiably covered every alleyway corner.
"This spot looks good."
Sharon's reputation for thorough poster placement wasn't exaggerated. She carefully scouted each location without skimping on any.
In truth, Siwoo's decision to help Sharon wasn't just about making amends.
Of course, he did want to apologize, and he genuinely wanted to lend her a hand to some degree. But Sharon's presence was essential to him as well.
First off, homunculus hunting.
Homunculi posed a clear threat to humans. Not just harm—they hunted and devoured people or caused disasters.
Siwoo didn't fancy himself a hero or superhero who could save everyone.
Still, if innocent lives were at stake and he had the power to save them, shouldn't he at least do what he could?
However, as Sharon had pointed out, hunting homunculi inevitably meant clashing with witches.
In her case, she'd backed off after seeing the Gemernai ring. But not every witch would be so compliant.
Having Sharon by his side for joint hunts would greatly boost his safety.
Beyond that, as a proper witch, she could offer advice on his magic research.
Siwoo's magical knowledge was lopsided—deep in specific areas but lacking breadth.
Magic research demanded creative shifts in thinking and inspiration, but solid foundational knowledge was essential too.
You had to gather the blocks before puzzling out how to stack them.
Finally, she was the one person who could be a true friend to Siwoo, isolated with no real connections after his lifeline snapped.
How boring and lonely had his short time in this world been?
Just having someone nearby who wouldn't forget him brought a strange comfort, no matter how much time passed.
Of course, even setting aside these calculated reasons, he wanted to help her.
"...So, you want to tag along and hunt homunculi together? Learn some magic on the side?"
"Yeah. I've hit a wall I can't break through alone."
"Hmm..."
Sharon pondered for a moment.
"Well... I get that you want to help, but homunculus hunting is no joke. You could really die. A casual mindset won't cut it."
"Can't you give me one chance?"
"If I do and you up and die on me, I'd feel guilty. You said you've taken down a three-eyed one before?"
"Yeah."
Sharon hummed again, stroking her chin in deep thought.
If she'd planned to exploit Siwoo, she wouldn't be agonizing like this.
"Alright, let's scout and hunt together. But the moment I say it's dangerous, you fall back. That's the condition."
"Got it."
"And in exchange for helping with your magic, I take all the profits from the bounties."
"Fine by me."
Siwoo had no intention of overreaching on homunculus hunts anyway.
And he didn't want to mooch off her debt repayments, so it was a fair deal.
"Thanks."
"No biggie. Win-win, right?"
No.
Strictly speaking, it sounded like a solid contract. But looking closer, Sharon gained nothing tangible.
She'd hunted solo just fine until now.
Even knowing Siwoo could use magic—a beginner at that—she didn't grill him on his skills.
And handing her all the bounty money in exchange for magic lessons?
For Sharon, it was all downside: wasted time, no upsides.
It was obvious this "contract" was just her kind way of helping an out-of-place newcomer adapt.
So Siwoo decided to express his gratitude in kind.
"I'll add a condition too. Can't just be taking."
"No need, really."
"Late-night snacks after every scout."
"L-Late-night snacks?"
Sharon, casually pasting a flyer to a utility pole, whipped her head around.
Her long hair swayed.
Her eyes, round like a startled cat's, sparkled under the crimson streetlight.
"I eat them often anyway. One more mouth won't hurt. Eating alone gets boring."
"W-What kind of snacks...?"
"Whatever hits the spot that day. Crabs like yesterday, or chicken with draft beer. Plenty of late-night spots around here."
"Crabs... draft beer... chicken..."
Like Pavlov's dog hearing the bell, Sharon's mouth hung half-open, drool trickling from her lips.
Seeing her favorites light her up like that filled Siwoo with satisfaction.
Based on yesterday's experience, this condition was a hit.
Sharon hastily wiped the drool with her sleeve and composed herself.
"Well! If you're offering that much, turning it down would be rude, huh?"
"Right? I'd be heartbroken."
"Hurry up and finish pasting!"
"Sure, sure."
Sharon bounced around with excitement, practically skipping as she slapped up flyers. Fitting description.
After several alleys, she'd checked the watch around her neck multiple times while posting.
"Why keep glancing at the time? Got a date?"
"Time?"
Sharon blinked at his question, then realized with an "oh."
"Oops, my bad. I forgot to explain. This is my homunculus detector artifact."
She fiddled with the chain around her neck, arms crossing behind her head. Her jacket shifted, revealing the generous swell of her chest jiggling.
A waist slim enough for one hand... and breasts like that...
Who could blame a man's instincts for wandering?
Siwoo coughed and looked away. Oblivious, Sharon tilted her head and placed the item in her palm.
Siwoo stared at it intently.
Not a proper pocket watch as he'd thought. No hour, minute, or second hands—just a needle painted red at one end, like a compass.
"Homunculi all wrap themselves in backworld barriers. This detects the tiny spatial distortions they cause. Picks up anomalies within 150 meters."
"Can I take a closer look?"
"Sure. But be careful—cost me 12,597,800 won at the Incheon Port contact point."
"Got it."
Siwoo took the compass gingerly.
Small enough for a wristwatch. Under the glass cover, a rotating plate showed directions, with the needle spinning lazily in the center.
Silver, probably. The back was engraved with Gemernai's black-and-white bird emblem.
As expected, another twin relic.
"Cool."
"Right? So how'd you find homunculi without a detector?"
"Just spotted them with my eyes."
"What?"
Sharon gawked at him.
She hadn't been this shocked learning he used magic.
Was it that big a deal?
"I've got a stigma in my left eye. Not sure if that's why, but I can see mana flows. Even outside backworld barriers, homunculi look like warped shadows."
"........."
Since they'd be partners, he shared the trade secret.
But Sharon just gaped, speechless.
"That shocking?"
"N-No... If I'd met you ten years sooner... I'd have saved 12,597,800 won. My heart hurts thinking about it..."
"You paid over ten million and they didn't even give change down to the won?"
"Jerks said they had no small bills."
"Ten years ago, I'd have been a regular student anyway."
"Yeah, just realized that. Makes it hurt less."
Silly banter.
Someone who remembered him.
Siwoo couldn't help smiling. He'd missed people more than he thought.
"Hey."
Suddenly, Sharon's face thrust into his.
Even this close, it didn't fill his vision.
Her curious eyes blinked huge.
Out of nowhere—like she might kiss him.
"Yeah?"
Flustered by her sudden closeness, Siwoo slipped into polite speech.
Ignoring it, Sharon tapped his eyepatch.
"Mind if I take a real good look at your eye?"
"Sure, whatever."
It's not like it'd wear out from showing. Easy request.
Siwoo lifted the patch.
A golden iris gleamed, utterly unlike his black right eye.
He'd checked it in the mirror once. Unique design.
No oddities in the vitreous or pupil.
But golden fractals radiated from the pupil like branches, replacing the iris.
Unlike a formal stigma—clearly hierarchical on a witch's lower abdomen—this was an ambiguous, uncountable pattern.
"Whoa..."
Sharon leaned in nose-to-nose, peering intently.
Lips pursed in wonder, eyes blinking. His surprised reflection stared back from hers.
"Amazing. Never seen a stigma like this. How'd it turn out fractal-shaped?"
Truth be told, Siwoo barely registered her magical curiosity.
No time—her face was too close, and she seemed oblivious.
Breathing in her scent naturally.
Witches all had this intriguing trait: each smelled wonderful.
Sharon, attic-dweller though she was, was no exception.
What to call it...? Fresh tangerine mixed with sweet, benzoin-vanilla notes?
Anyway, intoxicating. Wanted to keep inhaling.
Then the problem hit.
"Something wrong? You look uncomfortable."
"Nah. Done now?"
"Yeah, got a good look."
After seconds of her hair and scalp's aroma, he stiffened with arousal.
No massive lust surge, yet his pants strained.
Good thing he wasn't in jeans.
"Thanks for showing. Let's finish the rest."
"Uh, yeah."
Siwoo readjusted his patch and paused handing back the compass.
"What?"
"The needle's pointing one way."
Spinning like at the North Pole moments ago, now fixed dead ahead.
Sharon confirmed it, swung her arm—and flashed like a magical girl transforming.
When the light faded, she wore full witch regalia: peaked hat, wand, robe, short-hemmed dress, frilled petticoat like pom-poms, riding boots.
All in a blink.
Not like a magical girl—like one straight out of anime.
"Perfect timing. As your senior, I'll show you what homunculus hunting's really like."
Clothes swapped in seconds, Sharon bolted with Siwoo toward the needle's direction.