Chapter 167
Chapter 167
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: The Witch of Contracts (2)
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1.
The border control office, prepared for witches traveling between the present world and Gehenna, was packed with crowds in the lounge connected to the 'gate', as many witches passed through every day.
A witch with light pink hair reminiscent of spring cherry blossoms, tied back tightly, walked out with firm steps.
Magenta eyes sparkling not with coquetry or charm, but with pride and conviction.
A slender mouth pressed firmly shut, and subtle lines tracing her delicate frame.
For some reason, the witch hurrying to the center of the lounge with short, quick steps exuded the charismatic aura of a resolute ironclad warrior.
The witches, who had been chattering away in their respective corners of the lounge, fell silent all at once upon spotting the girl.
And then they quietly bowed their heads.
"........"
They recognized her immediately from her distinctive appearance, which stood out even among witches.
The Witch of Contracts, Duchess Eloah Tiferet.
But it wasn't just her ducal title that made them bow.
She had slaughtered hundreds of homunculi and slain double-digit foes, not for her own sake, but to protect the safety of other witches.
Thus, no matter how headstrong or self-centered a witch might be, they all paid their respects before her nobility and achievements.
Eloah acknowledged their reverent nods with a glance and immediately headed toward the person she was looking for.
"It's been a while, Lady Deneb of Gemernai."
"Duchess Tiferet, I hope you've been well."
The witch with striking white hair greeted Eloah with a smile, her body wrapped in an elegant mermaid dress.
Upon receiving the duchess's message, she had handed her minute-by-minute schedule over to Albireo and come alone to meet her.
And for good reason—the Gemernai family profited by purchasing the legacies and spoils from the duchess's feats.
They had to provide VIP treatment to a premium client who supplied them with high-quality magical tools and artifacts nonstop.
"Where is Ea Sadalmelik?"
"Shall we move somewhere else to talk? I've prepared a carriage."
"Let's go quickly."
Eloah strode past Deneb with passionate intensity, just as expected.
At a glance, she seemed to be maintaining her composure as best she could, but to Deneb, it looked like emotions packed tightly inside, ready to explode like a bomb at any moment.
After wandering the present world for the past century without so much as setting foot in Gehenna, she had returned the instant she heard Ea was dead.
There were crystal orbs for long-distance communication and remote letters, but she wanted to confirm it with her own eyes and ears.
The two sat facing each other in the elegant carriage.
The moment Deneb settled into her seat, Eloah spoke up.
"Ea Sadalmelik is dead? Is that true?"
"First, my condolences. Last winter, the Witch of Aquarius illegally entered Gehenna to ambush Baroness Merrygold and died in the battle with her."
At that moment, Deneb saw it.
Eloah's resolute expression, which had endured self-flagellation so steadfastly, crumbling away.
She probably hadn't believed it.
That's why she had come to Deneb, who gathered the most accurate information above all else.
"That can't be."
"Duchess..."
"It can't be. Ea Sadalmelik is tenacious and thorough. The body? Did you find the body?"
Eloah leaned forward with such ferocity that she nearly lunged at Deneb.
Honestly, it was a bit worrying.
If she couldn't hold back her anger and punched the carriage lightly, this ultra-luxurious vehicle would collapse like a mountain lodge buried in a landslide.
"No body was found. But considering the unique properties of Baroness Merrygold's Self-Generating Magic... it's as good as confirmed that it evaporated without leaving a corpse."
Particle magic, which scatters the finest particles to interfere with others, literally disassembles the target into pieces.
Deneb herself had rushed to the scene upon hearing from the twins and found Amelia clutching Siwoo, screaming in anguish, with Sadalmelik reduced to a heap of flowers without a single wound on him.
Moreover, their battle had been overwhelmingly one-sided.
In a fight with that level of skill disparity, letting Sadalmelik escape?
Unlikely.
As Deneb explained these details, Eloah's expression grew more and more crumpled.
The duchess struggled to steady her rough breaths, a mix of emptiness and frustration.
"The witch who fought Sadalmelik was Merrygold, right? I need to meet her in person. I just can't believe that cunning vixen is dead. Arrange it for me."
Eloah's tone burned with unyielding determination, refusing to give up.
Deneb, on the other hand, was troubled.
She had heard from Sophia about Baroness Merrygold's condition.
Holed up in the cabin where she lived as an apprentice witch, issuing a clear "no visitors" decree and secluding herself.
From the circumstances, it seemed she had broken up with her beloved slave for some reason and was drowning in sorrow.
"Well..."
Deneb hesitated, but Eloah showed no sign of backing down.
If refused, she would track Merrygold down on her own anyway.
In that case, it might be better for everyone if Deneb arranged the meeting.
"Sigh... Yes, let's go right now."
"Thank you."
The carriage jolted into motion toward the delphinium forest where Amelia lived.
2.
It was a monotonous daily life.
An excessively lethargic and numb routine, at that.
Since Siwoo left, Amelia had been doing what she was best at.
Immersing herself in magical research to bury all her sorrow and pain.
Drowning herself in something to avoid recalling painful memories.
The happy life in the cabin, once filled with warm colors, was gone.
Just like before she met him, she was left in a colorless world, fleeing from what she couldn't bear.
Otherwise, they would surface.
His gaze, steeped in resentment.
His voice, choked with betrayal.
Amelia spread out a sheet of paper and jotted down the magic formula that came to mind.
If nothing surfaced, she rewrote everything she knew from scratch on a blank page.
If even a shred of mental capacity remained, she had to exhaust it all.
That way, she wouldn't have time to feel the pain.
It had been the same when her master passed away.
Thanks to that, Amelia had been able to forget the pain a little and hide from the grief that desperately called for her.
But there was a slight difference compared to then.
Even though it was the exact same situation, the exact same method, she couldn't become completely numb or forget it all.
Even as she buried stray thoughts in intense magical research, when the sun set and night fell, one person rose vividly in her mind.
Shin Siwoo.
Crumple.
Her heart plummeted, and the corner of the white paper in her grip crumpled.
"......."
It was because she still had stamina left.
Because she hadn't pushed herself until her mind went blank as paper.
As Amelia reached for a fresh sheet to fill it again, she sensed a commotion outside.
"I'll get permission first."
"No, I'll go myself."
A faint crease formed on Amelia's otherwise expressionless forehead.
She had clearly asked everyone not to visit.
Irritation welled up.
She wasn't asking for much.
She just wanted to be alone, was that too much to ask?
The cabin door burst open, and two women entered.
One was the somewhat familiar face of Deneb from Gemernai; the other was a witch with pink hair Amelia had never seen before.
"What is it?"
It was only natural for a curt question to slip from Amelia's lips.
Deneb, seemingly aware of this, apologized profusely with a deeply sorry expression.
"I'm truly sorry for the sudden visit. She has some urgent questions about Ea Sadalmelik..."
Before Deneb could finish, the smaller witch than Amelia popped forward and spoke.
"Baroness Merrygold, sorry for barging in without permission. Can you tell me about what happened the day you clashed with Ea Sadalmelik?"
"For context, this is Duchess Tiferet."
So urgent she skipped introductions and dove straight in—that was Eloah—while Deneb introduced her on the spot.
Upon learning her identity, Amelia understood why she had come.
The fact that Duchess Tiferet's apprentice witch had been murdered by the Witch of Aquarius was a major incident even Amelia, insensitive to rumors, knew about.
The hostility in Amelia's eyes softened.
She knew the pain of losing a loved one.
Amelia offered seats to Tiferet and Deneb.
"I'll prepare some tea."
3.
"...And that's how I witnessed her final moments with my own eyes."
"......."
Amelia recounted the events of that day with as much sincerity as she could muster.
Her chest occasionally stung when Siwoo's involvement came up, but still.
As expected, the duchess had pushed herself to visit Amelia just to hear if Ea was truly dead and how it happened.
Amelia understood that sentiment.
A once-in-a-lifetime chance for revenge.
It might have ended in utter futility, but Amelia had taken it from her.
Though in that situation, Amelia had no other choice.
"My condolences."
With those words, she ended her consolation.
Tiferet rose weakly from her seat.
"Did you ever lose sight of her briefly or notice anything unusual?"
"No."
"Any signs of illusion magic or spatial teleportation?"
"None."
"I see... Thank you."
Her voice faltering as if drained of energy, Eloah expressed her gratitude—transformed from the person who had first entered.
Her once sharp, upright eyes drooped pitifully, and the dignified tone befitting noble exemplar had weakened to that of an invalid.
Eloah trudged out of the cabin, leaving only Deneb and Amelia at the table.
Deneb took a sip of the now-cold tea and set down her cup.
"The duchess couldn't maintain her composure."
"I know."
"I could see she would show up uninvited if left alone, so I accompanied her despite the impropriety."
"It's fine."
"Then we'll take our leave."
Amelia's calm forgiveness made her seem better off than expected.
Or was she?
As Deneb departed after her farewell, she compared Amelia's past and present selves.
When she first entrusted the twins to Trinity Academy, Amelia had looked like a living doll.
Even to another witch, she was strikingly beautiful, but gave off an artificial vibe devoid of human emotions.
In contrast, the second time—when acquiring ownership of Shin Siwoo—she brimmed with vitality.
Though tinged with reluctance and faint anger, negative as they were, she unmistakably felt joy, sorrow, love, and hate like a living being.
If asked which her current state resembled more, it was undoubtedly their first meeting.
She appeared fine on the surface, but an underlying chill emanated, sharp enough to slice fingers like a razor at the slightest touch.
"Is she disheartened?"
But Deneb wasn't Amelia's nanny; she had no obligation to force care upon her.
Deneb approached Eloah, who was walking far ahead.
"What are your plans now?"
"...I don't know."
"Shall I prepare a room at the mansion for you to rest?"
"No need. I still have things to do. I missed the Red Knight. I have to hunt it down before it spatial jumps again."
"You're heading out right away?"
"Yes."
To Deneb, Eloah seemed to be pushing herself too hard.
She had abandoned even magical research, living for revenge and to prevent the same sorrow from repeating.
With one of her century-long goals suddenly vanished, emptiness and futility must be crushing her.
"It was nice seeing you after so long."
She could stand to let go a little.
With that thought, Deneb asked.
"...Where are you headed?"
"Korea."
Eloah answered.