Chapter 243
Chapter 243
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 243
Chapter Title: The Witch's Hypercar
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1.
The night air had grown quite chilly.
Siu had come out near the Wizpoint building and was wandering around the area.
With all sorts of administrative facilities clustered together and massive corporate headquarters lined up one after another, the phrase "the heart of Seoul" didn't feel out of place at all.
Plenty of cars raced down the roads, but hardly anyone walked the sidewalks.
The people lined up neatly at the bus stop were probably the lucky ones.
The towering buildings blazed with light for the sake of office workers pulling overtime, making them forget it was nighttime in the city.
As he paced back and forth in front of the bus stop along the main road, a low growling sound rumbled from the distance.
"What’s that?"
"Looks like a toy."
"Hey, hang up for a sec."
"Let’s take a picture."
Men waiting in long lines for the bus after grueling days, women slumped with exhaustion, middle-aged men wearily pressing their temples—they all began turning their attention to the exotic supercar that had appeared smack in the middle of downtown.
Jet-black with a luxurious sheen like a limousine.
A low-slung body, sleek aesthetic curves rare in mass-market cars, massive side air intakes gulping down air, an elongated hood, and a horseshoe grille.
Siu wasn't much for cars, but even he got it right away.
This thing was filthily, insanely expensive.
The taxis that usually charged like maniacs and the aggressive buses were all giving it a wide berth, practically trembling. That said it all.
"Ah..."
The hypercar cruised leisurely along the inner lane, scattering a deep, throaty exhaust note. Then, with a stylish illegal U-turn, it screeched to a halt right at the bus stop.
Right in front of Siu, who had no good reason for loitering roadside.
A sky-blue license plate bore the word "Diplomatic" instead of a region code.
Any random onlooker might peg it as some oil-rich Middle Eastern royal out for a joyride, but...
Somehow, it all made sense.
He'd momentarily forgotten that some witches were so filthy rich their sense of money went haywire.
Sharon and Eloa, whom he'd observed up close for a good while, had been unusually frugal witches.
"Long time no see?"
The passenger-side window slid down. Kybele Periwinkle leaned over, her gradient sunglasses catching the light as she greeted him.
Green fading to pink, evoking a Maldives sunset.
Now that he looked closer, they were less sunglasses and more fashion colored lenses.
He couldn't see much of her outfit, but she was dressed to the nines, like a movie star.
"Hop in."
All eyes turned to Siu.
Eyes and more?
Who's that guy? Does she know him? Host club ace? Chaebol heir? The whispers flew.
They rang so clearly in his ears that his face burned hot.
Unable to take the pressure, Siu scrambled into the car.
The door had barely shut before the sports car—whose engine oil change alone ran 30 million won—glided away smoothly, leaving only the crowd's murmurs in its wake.
2.
Siu cautiously took in the two-seater sports car, a first for him.
It had sounded massive from outside, but the interior was surprisingly hushed.
Hushed enough to savor the old pop tunes playing tastefully, without a hint of distraction.
The seats, dashboard, even the door pads—all wrapped in premium cowhide.
So luxurious that sitting on it felt sinful, like it cost more than human skin ever could.
The form-fitting seat, ergonomically perfected, offered lounging comfort despite the tight space.
Parents always warn not to ride in strangers' cars.
But a ride like this? Even they'd eagerly pile in.
"Craving anything?"
"No, I'm good."
"Body holding up?"
"All thanks to you, ma'am. No complaints."
Kybele Periwinkle, who had pulled him from the brink of death before.
Siu knew full well how transcendent a Grand Witch was.
The 15th hierarchy: where instinct and Nature Magic fused as one.
From this realm onward, a witch suffered no self-inflicted wounds from her own mana—unless she willed it.
Her body's mana, the essence of human survival instinct, rejected self-harm outright.
Autonomous defenses against external threats stemmed from the same principle.
The 20th hierarchy lay five full steps beyond that.
There, a witch's Nature Magic warped the world's very principles and mysteries.
Defying natural laws, physics, the fabric of reality itself—that was the mark of a true Grand Witch.
Siu had crossed paths with countless Grand Witches back in his slave days, but tension like this? It had been ages.
Maybe because he couldn't read her game.
"Why so wound up? Loosen up—don't like the ride?"
Gliding without a single red light, Kybele Periwinkle glanced over.
She tossed a sly look through her shimmering lenses.
"No, love it. Just surreal. Never dreamed I'd ride something like this."
"Right? Only three in Korea. Government gifted it as thanks for the hotel."
No wonder the plate stood out...
Korea wasn't some broke third-world backwater handing out billion-won cars for a hotel.
Likely: Witch builds Seoul hotel => Stays long-term for oversight => Bonus Public Enemy and Homunculus hunts benefit them => Gifts to keep her pinned here.
Pure speculation, of course.
"Awesome."
Kybele Periwinkle burst out laughing at his reply.
As he shot her a puzzled look, she glanced his way.
"Still so tense you're looking dopey."
"Ah—belated, but thanks again for the save."
"Not what I meant. Oh yeah, how's that girl? The Evergreen one?"
"Unconscious, but out of danger, from what I heard. Thanks to you. Truly grateful."
"Whatever. Wasn't charity."
Her final words sent a chill spidering down his spine.
Truth was, that vibe kept him from relaxing and enjoying the ride.
No such thing as freebies in this world.
How would she cash in on two lives' worth of debt?
Better to ask straight than stew awkwardly—they'd arrived.
A signless fine-dining spot in Myeongdong.
"Said you weren't hungry, but I booked it special. Shame to bail—join me?"
"Not like I can say no."
"Perfect answer."
Kybele Periwinkle tossed her keys to the valet without a backward glance and strode ahead.
The restaurant could pack maybe 100 seats tight.
Vast, high-ceilinged like his old pigsty days, but tonight? One lone table draped in white cloth, an island in emptiness.
"This way."
She took her seat as if it were natural, staff-guided, ordered an aperitif, and tucked a napkin at her neck.
"Rented the whole place?"
"Crowds have their charm sometimes. Not tonight. Siu, right? To Siu's safe return—cheers."
"Thanks."
They clinked glasses awkwardly; she smirked and sipped her wine with elegant poise.
Siu sipped too, stealing a glance across the table.
Earlier, she'd been right beside him—no real chance to look. Now? Plenty of time.
A witch through and through: beauty to topple nations.
Dark navy hair—an impossible natural shade—pinned up casually, yet perfectly harmonious.
It suited her that well.
A shirt dress clung to her voluptuous curves, top buttons undone to bare cleavage rivaling Sharon's. Full rosebud lips gleamed redder than the wine, laced with a spoonful of sensuality.
And that natural tear mole? Seductive enough to ensnare any man at first glance.
An aura honed from innate allure, wielded by a woman who knew exactly her weapons.
"Go ahead, stare all you want. Won't wear thin."
Kybele Periwinkle—eyes seemingly closed, savoring her wine—flashed him a knowing smile.
Siu panicked; hadn't expected to get caught.
"Knew you were staring, huh?"
Her laugh rattled the chair; Siu realized he'd been had.
Kybele Periwinkle was worlds apart from ditzy Sharon or sloppy Duchess Tiphereth.
Foxy as they come.
"If I may be bold—you asked me for a favor that day."
"Right. In exchange for offing that drowned witch."
"Mind sharing what it is first?"
"Nothing tough."
Siu swallowed hard.
"Grant me 100 favors."
He barely choked back "That's straight-up gangster."
As he mulled if she meant it, Kybele Periwinkle smirked and drained her second glass.
"Zero jokes land with you. Why so grave? Loosen up the speech. Not gonna devour you."
If casual came on command, no one would struggle.
Kybele Periwinkle toyed with her fingertips, murmuring, "Hmm, what to ask?"
Plainly delighting in his squirming.
"Ah! Perfect. Stick by me forever after."
"Pardon...?"
"Travel with, drives like today, occasional dinners—thoughts?"
Siu finally clocked her angle.
Should've guessed from the contact point pitch.
She wanted a pet-like male escort glued to her side.
And that? Tough to swallow.
"Sorry, can't do that. Grateful for the lifesave, but..."
"Fair? Then one day—no, two. Hang out with me."
Her demand flipped like a pancake.
Lifetime down to two days.
Delivered so breezily, sincerity blurred into jest.
"Well?"
"That? Happy to oblige."
"And one more: act the natural boyfriend. Hate stiff and dull. Won't ding you for manners."
"I'll give it a shot."
"Then first—your tale? Male turned witch, from the source."
He hesitated briefly, but the amuse-bouche arrived right on cue. With it, he unspooled his blue-collar life story.