Chapter 212
Chapter 212
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 212
Chapter Title: Protection (2)
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1.
New emotions welled up within him.
Life as the lowest of the low in Gehenna.
It felt like just yesterday he was out in the autumn rain, shoveling the drains at Trinity Academy with thudding blows of his spade.
And now here he was, tilting a coffee cup alongside a high noble he once would've feared being hauled off for lèse-majesté just for daring to glance at.
Of course, calling their relationship truly equal was still a stretch, but hey—wasn't this something?
"I'm sorry."
Tiphereth launched straight into a long apology the moment she sat down.
She apologized to Siu, of course, but bowed her head deeply to Sharon once more as well.
"Not at all. Thanks to the Tiphereth Duke's notarization, we're much safer here in the present world now."
"However..."
"Tiphereth, this isn't getting us anywhere, so let's leave it at that. I'm sure Siu and Sharon understand. Besides, you asked to set this meeting up because you wanted to make it up to him, right?"
"You're right."
Tiphereth nodded slowly at Deneb's words.
Then she fixed Siu with a solemn gaze.
Siu tensed up in that moment.
He sensed something inexplicable in Eloa's eyes—a profound, unfathomable depth of emotion.
It wasn't quite suspicion.
Longing, wistfulness, regret.
A tangled mix of all that.
"I have nothing of value to offer as compensation."
Eloa had once possessed vast wealth befitting her ancient ducal lineage.
But that was ages ago—over a century in the past.
The witch Tiphereth's fortune had all been claimed by Wizpoint bounties, and any funds she earned since were reinvested into hunting Public Enemies and Homunculi.
"If it's about compensation, we're fine. It was a misunderstanding anyone could've made, and you apologized properly yesterday anyway."
"Yeah, we're good. Any witch would understand where the duke was coming from."
Siu and Sharon, who knew all this, had no desire to press the duke for more.
Especially Sharon—Eloa's actions had actually given her the courage to get close to Siu in one fell swoop, leaving not a trace of resentment behind.
In fact, if anything, she felt a twinge of gratitude.
"Still, I'm uneasy leaving you out here in the present world like this. Even with notarizations from me, the Jemernai family, and the Sua Branch Manager, that doesn't guarantee absolute safety."
That was true.
Even in a country renowned for its good public safety like Korea, murders happened.
Despite most crimes being solved and punished.
Likewise, no matter how authoritative the three witches' notarization was, there could still be any number of witches willing to take the risk and approach Siu.
With thoughts like 'If I don't get caught, it's fine' or 'I can't hold back anymore!'
At that point, the notarization's power became meaningless.
It didn't mean the notarization would guard Siu around the clock.
"Right."
"You may have heard from Deneb already, but the Nature Magic you wield is the Contract of the King of All Diseases."
"It was the one my apprentice Rafi used. No matter what weapon you hold, it lets you grasp and execute the optimal move."
Siu suddenly felt awkward.
Eloa said it was fine, and Siu had no idea why he had that contract, but it felt like he was clutching his dead student's keepsake that had coincidentally ended up in his pocket.
And he couldn't even return it to its original owner.
"No need for that look. We're talking about an irreversible fact here, aren't we?"
"Still, I feel bad..."
"It's fine."
Tiphereth took a sip of her coffee and continued.
"Anyway, what you need most is to fully internalize and master that contract. Get that down perfectly, and no ordinary witch will stand a chance against you."
"You mean..."
"I'll help you train."
Siu was mildly surprised, but Sharon's reaction was something else.
Both covered their mouths in shock, as if they never imagined the Tiphereth Duke would go that far.
Tiphereth's prowess in magical combat was beyond imagination.
Every Tiphereth in history had founded martial arts schools and styles, earning fame as grandmasters.
Learning combat techniques from her was priceless education money couldn't buy.
"If you could do that, we'd be truly grateful."
Siu had planned to politely decline most offers, but this time was different.
He accepted Eloa's proposal without a shred of feigned humility.
The battle with the White Knight and the department store massacre had driven home a point.
He couldn't keep drifting aimlessly without purpose.
He was no longer the slave of old.
No longer someone who rejoiced or despaired over whether a scrap of bread was hard or soft.
No longer someone any thug could boss around for menial chores with a flick of the chin.
No longer a powerless wretch who could barely save others at the cost of his life.
Now Siu had power.
Not just enough to scrape by protecting himself, but the ability to save others.
He was right in the middle of feeling the need to refine and hone that power.
"I don't think I'm anything special. But if something like this happens again, I want to achieve better results than this time."
Eloa froze for a moment upon hearing Siu's steadfast resolve.
Was it mere coincidence?
Or some unconscious echo of Rafi lingering in her 'vessel'?
"I want to grow stronger to protect others."
Siu's words perfectly matched Rafi's favorite refrain.
Eloa closed her eyes briefly.
Then she confessed her true feelings without reservation.
"To be honest, I don't fully trust you yet."
The previous day's talk hadn't revealed some crystal-clear truth.
Everything had just circled back to suspicion.
What Tiphereth trusted wasn't objective facts, but her subjective impression of Siu's character.
"I'm not saying you harbor malicious intent. But when the opponent is Ea Sadalmelik, no variable can be taken lightly. That's my honest belief."
There were two reasons Tiphereth was volunteering as Siu's temporary mentor.
One was to help him gain the skills to survive on his own as atonement.
The other was a faint hope that he might serve as bait to lure out Ea.
"Of course, I'll teach you with utmost sincerity to awaken your abilities. But make no mistake—it doubles as surveillance. If you don't want that, I'll prepare compensation another way."
Seeing Eloa meet his eyes unwaveringly, Siu felt trust rather than offense.
Truth be told, she didn't have to say a word.
He'd already shown he wanted her guidance.
If she'd stayed silent, she'd have gotten what she wanted effortlessly.
There was no need to bring up "surveillance" with its negative connotations and reveal her hand.
But Eloa refused to ride the mood and achieve her goal smoothly.
She laid all her cards on the table.
Because it was the right thing to do.
Deception and hidden motives were utterly foreign to Tiphereth's philosophy.
It might be rude to think it, but Siu could guess why Tiphereth had let Ea slip away so many times.
"Yes. Sounds good."
Siu nodded without hesitation.
With that, Siu and Tiphereth entered a temporary mentor-apprentice relationship.
2.
Not all issues were resolved yet, so Tiphereth departed, promising to meet again.
Deneb woke the twins and prepared to return to Gehenna.
"You're heading back after all?"
"Yes. After all this chaos, leaving the girls here feels too risky—even if I trust you, Siu."
"Fair enough."
"Thanks for taking such good care of them."
"No problem. I enjoyed it too."
Since they were leaving far earlier than planned, the twins' cheeks were puffed out in sulks, their lips protruding a good three inches.
Their hands roughly stuffed clothes into travel bags.
Odil, in particular, looked on the verge of tears.
"Master, can't we stay longer?"
"We barely spent time with Assistant..."
"The situation is what it is, girls. Quit pouting and pack your things already."
The twins dawdled.
They wore expressions like they'd rather die than do it, packing at a snail's pace.
Deneb sighed at the sight and turned to Siu.
"Might you visit our estate sometime soon?"
"Pardon?"
"You'll be getting your official citizen ID and travel pass soon. Meaning you can come and go from Gehenna freely, like any other witch."
"It's risky dragging the twins out here every time, so... if you visited once, we'd welcome you as an honored guest. With extra thanks for this incident."
"Assistant's coming to our house?"
"For real?"
The twins popped out of the room like they'd never been moping.
Pretending not to listen, but hearing every word.
"If Assistant comes, I'll make you spicy chicken stew! I've eaten plenty from you!"
"I'll make you poker rounds too!"
"Poker rounds are just white bread sprinkled with nuts and honey!"
"Sis's spicy chicken stew is all thanks to Lena prepping the ingredients and stuffing it! Sis just tosses it in the Dutch oven!"
"Odil, Odet—can't you two get along for just one day?"
Deneb and Siu exchanged wry smiles.
A moment of mutual understanding over shared woes.
"Must be tough."
"Nah, they're so cute it makes teaching them worthwhile."
Once preparations were complete, Odil and Odet bid final farewells to Siu and Sharon.
"It was short, but fun, sis."
"Next time, let's hang out and talk more."
"Yeah. It was nice having cute... I mean, pretty little sisters for once."
Sharon stroked Odil and Odet's heads side by side.
Next was Siu's turn.
The twins threw their arms around him one after the other.
Siu glanced nervously at Deneb, but she didn't seem to mind much.
Was he finally earning more acceptance?
Hugs were tolerated now, at least.
Though no one could guarantee anything beyond that.
"Assistant, you have to come! Absolutely! Before Thanksgiving at least."
"That's too late! At least within a month!"
"Sure. I'll drop by as soon as I get my citizen ID."
After hugging the twins one last time, Siu quietly asked Deneb.
"Before you go, could I ask one thing?"
"Of course."
"How's Baron Marigold doing these days...?"
Deneb's expression turned ambiguous at Siu's question.
Like 'Why ask me that?' or 'Don't you know better than I do?'
"Last I saw, she was her usual self. Holed up in that cabin again, too."
"I see..."
So that's how it was.
Siu fell silent, a complicated feeling washing over him.
What to call this...?
Yeah, "bittersweet" fit perfectly.
"Just personal curiosity, but... what did that note you gave me say? No, forget it— that was rude."
"Not at all. You went out of your way to deliver it."
The awkward lull passed with Deneb's gentle smile.
Unlike her earlier troubled look, her eyes gleamed with wise insight into the matter's heart.
"You seem pretty popular, Siu."
"Huh?"
"If I'd met you a bit sooner, I might've taken an interest myself."
"What's that out of the blue...?"
"Not sure if it's right to give this advice for the twins' sake, but..."
Deneb leaned in and whispered in Siu's ear.
"Sometimes, women just want to be held without a word. Especially the clumsy ones when it comes to romance."
"Pardon?"
It was beyond Siu's comprehension.
Not that he couldn't grasp the words, but accepting them was another story...
Deneb ended the one-sided exchange with a wink and led the twins away.
"Alright, troublemakers—time to go home."