Chapter 304
Chapter 304
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 304
Chapter Title: Before the Trip
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Quite some time had passed since Amelia had taken a rest in the workshop, courtesy of Clara's kindness.
Unlike her first impression, Clara turned out to be an incredibly delicate and attentive witch.
She didn't pry with questions or probe into the details, yet she paid close attention to Amelia's every move.
Not in a way that felt burdensome.
Nor in a way that made Amelia think she was being overly fussed over.
She always kept just the right distance, silently staying by her side.
Amelia, utterly exhausted and frayed at the edges, found herself forgetting her pains little by little each time she noticed those small gestures of care.
Absurdly enough, just having someone there beside her, feeling that she was being looked after, was enough to clear the blockage in her chest and let her breathe again.
"Good morning, Amelia."
Clara was busily preparing something in the kitchen.
In truth, this "kitchen" in the workshop was a space too vague to call by any proper name.
It wasn't separated from the living area, nor was it kept particularly clean.
It was just a hole that resembled a hearth and a pit that looked like a stove, tucked inside.
But while Amelia had stepped away to wash up briefly, it seemed Clara had tidied it—the fine sand-like residue was completely gone.
"Just wait a bit, okay? I'm making food. Not sure if it'll turn out great since it's been a while..."
True to appearances, she was cooking for Amelia.
Truth be told, Amelia didn't feel like eating anything, let alone cooking.
But in her position of receiving such unconditional kindness, she wasn't so shameless as to complain about every little thing.
"...I'll help."
"No, no! No need. Just sit there quietly and wait. It's almost done."
"Still."
"It's fine! I said it's okay."
Reluctantly yielding to the repeated refusals, Amelia sat at the table.
Clara breathed fire from her mouth to light the stove and hearth herself.
Then, with practiced skill, she heated oil in a wok and tossed things in with plops and splashes.
The sight of a witch called the Dragon Witch spewing flames hot enough to melt steel just to cook was rather comical.
But it wasn't enough to bring a smile to Amelia's face.
Grateful as she was for Clara's kindness, she couldn't fathom why the witch was going to such lengths for her.
The rumors painted Clara as kind to everyone, but having that warmth directed at her felt unfamiliar and awkward.
These hands were already stained with blood.
Smeared only with unforgivable sins and irredeemable regrets.
"There, all done!"
Negative emotions were like poison, gnawing away at oneself from within.
Just as dark clouds of melancholy threatened to engulf Amelia, three plates of appetizing food were set before her.
Clara explained each dish like a chef presenting their creations.
The meal she'd prepared by hand for Amelia was local traditional fare from the area.
First, a food with a visual like chickpea fritters deep-fried in oil.
"This is falafel! Ground chickpeas and various other beans, then fried. Dip it in the tomato sauce on the side."
Next, a bird with its insides hollowed out, stuffed with rice, and baked in the hearth.
"This is hamam! Edible pigeon stuffed with rice and roasted golden. Dip in the tomato sauce too!"
Something that resembled a Salisbury steak.
"This is kofta! Think of it as a hamburger made from minced lamb packed with spices. Dip in the tomato sauce, same as the others!"
With that introduction, Clara stood there without sitting, arms crossed, watching Amelia with sparkling eyes.
Her nose was stuck up proudly, as if begging for lavish praise.
"Thank you."
"Say something else besides that."
"...It's amazing."
Clara's lips curled mischievously at the praise before she finally sat down and handed over plates, forks, and knives.
She even served portions onto Amelia's plate herself.
"I made plenty, so don't hold back. If it's not enough, just say so."
Meals prepared with such care after days without.
Amelia stared blankly at the plate brimming with gentle warmth.
"Why..."
"Hm?"
"Why are you doing all this for me?"
She craved this warmth.
Yet she didn't want it.
She feared it would weaken and break the resolve she'd barely built.
She feared failing to carry out the death list and bringing about the worst possible end.
"I'm leaving tomorrow."
And so, Amelia resolved once more to go it alone.
To press on as she always had, leaning on no one else's warmth, vowing to stand solitary. She spoke in a cold, detached tone.
For someone who'd accepted so much help until now, it was a clear rejection.
Clara's eyes widened in surprise.
Amelia expected her to be at least annoyed.
But her reaction didn't fit any scenario Amelia had imagined.
Clara smiled broadly.
It was a pure smile, free of any calculation, discomfort, or awkwardness.
"Perfect timing, then. Eating a hearty meal before a trip puts you in a great mood."
"......"
Amelia silently picked up her knife.
The pigeon meat, crispy on the outside and tender within, sliced cleanly without a sound.
As instructed, she dipped it in tomato sauce and brought it to her mouth.
"How is it? The best, right?"
"...It's delicious."
"Eat more, eat more."
The first proper meal since leaving Gehenna was incredibly warm... and kind.
2.
"Hmm, hmm-hmm, hmm-hmmm~..."
Sharon entered the classroom humming a cheerful tune.
The passionate night she'd spent with Siu the previous evening had been pure bliss.
It had banished any need to worry about how to approach him henceforth, even erasing thoughts like, "What if Siu chooses someone else over me?"
Clad in the armor of surging confidence, Sharon felt invincible.
The lecture hours, once reminiscent of brutal warfare, no longer held any terror for her.
"Let's see~"
But the twins' checks on her were still in effect.
If they scurried to Count Albireo and tattled, "Master! Master! Big Sis Sharon broke her promise and had sex with the assistant!", who knew what fallout that might bring.
In other words, she still needed to exercise some caution.
She wasn't grinning too idiotically, was she?
Was her happiness too obvious? Sharon checked her face in the window glass.
Her mouth was practically at her ears, so she schooled her expression and straightened her prim witch robes once more.
Right, act normal, like always.
Face the twins calmly, without getting too excited.
They'd played dirty first, so she'd fight fire with fire!
With such resolve, Sharon flung open the classroom door.
-Bang!
"Did everyone do their homework?"
"......"
"......"
A chilly silence hung over the usual cozy classroom.
No joke—the temperature seemed to drop five degrees the moment she crossed the threshold.
Definitely abnormal.
From the twins' perspective, they'd gone to greet Siu before Sharon and even witnessed the brazen kiss right in front of them.
In other words, they'd landed a powerful preemptive strike.
Sharon grinning ear-to-ear would have been perfectly natural.
Then a single thought crossed Sharon's mind.
Should she have put on a more angry face, too? Pulled down those annoyingly upturned lip corners?
-Gulp.
Sharon swallowed hard.
"Hello, Big Sis Sharon."
"Hello."
"Uh, y-yeah..."
But contrary to Sharon's worries, the twins greeted her politely.
Even with soft smiles.
Thankfully, they didn't seem to have noticed anything off.
"Hand in your assignments. Grading this one might take a while, so let's proceed with the lesson."
"Yes, Big Sis Sharon."
"Yes, Big Sis Sharon."
"Huh?"
Did she hear that wrong?
The form of address felt somehow different from usual.
Sharon brushed it off as nothing and collected the twins' homework, continuing the class.
And so, the endless lecture hell unfolded once more.
Once seated, it was five straight hours of torture without lifting the pen from their hands even once.
As Sharon filled and erased the blackboard repeatedly, the twins, pushed nearly to collapse, were finally freed as dusk fell.
-Tap tap.
As Sharon organized her materials, Odil and Odet slumped over.
"Phaa..."
"Haaah..."
"Alright, that's it for today. Since tomorrow's a holiday, you can turn in the assignment with some leeway, right?"
"Wait! Big Sis Sharon!"
Before the merciless lecture concluded with Sharon's equally merciless homework decree, Odil cut in urgently.
"What's up?"
"W-We were planning a one-night, two-day beach trip with our assistant over the holiday..."
"Come with us, Big Sis Sharon!"
"Beach?"
Sharon eyed the twins suspiciously.
She'd assumed they'd sneak off with Siu without a word to her, but now they were inviting her on a group trip?
If they hadn't suggested it, Sharon—who was at least outwardly upholding the contract—would have no pretext to tag along.
It'd be like sending salt to the enemy.
"Yes! We have a villa by the Blue Strait!"
"Wouldn't it be fun to go together? So, could you maybe skip the homework just this once?"
"We'll review thoroughly!"
If Sharon insisted on homework, the twins would have to grit their teeth, go play, and still slave over assignments.
But then Sharon couldn't join Siu at the beach.
Conversely, if she waived it, the twins could enjoy themselves.
And Sharon could accept their invitation and join the fun.
Choosing the former meant everyone suffered a loss; the latter brought some rivalry but mutual benefit.
It wasn't a plan born of pure impulse, which made it all the more credible.
"Is that so?"
"Please! It's our first beach trip with the assistant!"
"We beg you too!"
The Blue Strait was a modestly sized sea between the edge of Border Town and Tarot Town.
Yet it boasted unpolluted sandy shores, emerald-blue waters, and was one of the finest resorts where swimming was possible year-round.
Water play with Siu there.
At the Jemernai family villa, no less, outclassing any ordinary resort?
Just imagining it lifted her spirits already.
Sharon nodded readily before the twins' tense faces.
"Sure! Let's do it!"
"Yay!"
The twins bounced around as if ready to flip somersaults in the air.
And so, an alliance of convenience was forged between enemies for symbiosis.