Chapter 352
Chapter 352
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 352
Chapter Title: Chapter 352 - #77_가정교사(2)
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 352
Chapter Title: Home Tutor (2)
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1.
"Shall we take a look?"
"Yes, I'll untie it."
Inside the barriers layered like a croissant, Siu carefully released the ribbons.
At the same moment, the Red Branch—which had been rotting away unused for so long—finally revealed itself.
This was the first time he'd fully undone the ribbons since acquiring it.
He could never predict what effect the distortion field might have, so he'd always sealed it by layering fresh ribbons over the corroded ones.
The weapon was seamless from its willow-leaf blade to the shaft.
True to its name, the Red Branch gleamed with an ominous crimson, like freshly spilled blood.
-Crackle!
The instant all the ribbons peeled away,
red waves spread out as if lying in wait.
At the same time, thin barriers like plant roots lunged toward the viscountess with ferocious momentum.
Just like a venomous serpent striking at the trainer who had confined it to a jar.
-Clang!
But Viscountess Yesod's response was as composed as a seasoned trainer's.
Before Siu could even react in surprise, the barriers enveloping the lab contracted in an instant, wrapping around the crimson spear.
The same thing happened several more times until the Red Branch was encased in nineteen thin barriers, finally suppressing its rampage.
"What happened?"
"The constant emissions built up inside from the crude shielding and burst out when released. Like shaking a bottle of champagne and popping the cork—foam everywhere."
The viscountess spoke casually, but Siu felt a chill.
If she hadn't blocked it so effortlessly, that distortion field and barrier density would've been far from ordinary.
Had Siu undone the ribbons alone without a second thought, he'd have suffered serious injuries.
As he reflected on the crisis he'd unwittingly averted, a sudden question arose.
"Until now, the basic shielding method sufficed. If the distortion field had been accumulating, wouldn't it have already overwhelmed my suppression seals?"
"It was probably biding its time. Waiting for the slightest lapse in vigilance to unleash everything at once."
"……."
But her answer only left Siu baffled.
Biding its time?
The Red Branch was just a ritual weapon.
A tool.
Yet her tone implied it had a will of its own.
Viscountess Lucy merely ran her eyes over the branch, ignoring Siu's confusion.
She even reached into the barrier to touch it directly.
"This... it's beyond the category of artifact or ritual weapon. Incredible. For a single ritual tool to produce ever-changing barrier patterns... It's struggling to break free of my restraints. What is it made of? Probably not any material from this world."
Her detached voice carried the witch's innate curiosity laced with admiration.
"What do you mean?"
"A typical 'ritual weapon' is just a tool in the end. It only acts passively according to processes preset or designed by the user."
When Viscountess Yesod withdrew her hand from the barrier, Siu couldn't help but gasp.
One of her fingers was grotesquely twisted, as if shattered in multiple places—a mutation from the 'distortion' of her etheric body.
"But this is different. Like a virus reacting to an immune system? It's trying to corrupt its surroundings in varied ways without any separate commands. I could believe it was a witch cursed into spear form."
"Oh? Now that you mention it..."
Hearing that, Siu recalled something.
The Witch of Cowardice had sacrificed countless souls and bonds to maximize the Red Branch's power.
He explained everything he knew to the viscountess as best he could.
"...And so, something like a vile evil spirit might have taken root in it..."
"Heh, hardly. No such thing as evil spirits. But I see it's a special ritual weapon, at least."
The viscountess chuckled as if at a amusing joke, then cast another spell.
Her distorted finger returned to normal.
The Red Branch continued occasionally spewing barriers and thrashing inside, but she defended against it all without issue.
"Excellent. It's a research subject that's sparked my interest for the first time in ages."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"Now, about the schedule? Five days a week, excluding holidays and the day before. Minimum four hours a day as Diana's home tutor.
After her lessons, two hours of private study with me. On holidays, I'll make time to assist with your research, Mr. Shin Siu."
Twenty-four hours a week as Viscountess Yesod's student plus research assistant.
It was such favorable terms Siu wondered if it was too good to be true.
Just from that brief display, he'd gauged her profound mastery of barrier magic.
Siu nodded readily.
"Sounds good to me."
The viscountess smiled at his nod and removed her gloves.
She extended her hand.
"In our family, we seal contracts like this."
"A handshake?"
"Exactly."
Siu clasped her outstretched hand.
It was incredibly warm and soft, like a silver perch.
"Then, looking forward to working with you starting tomorrow."
"Likewise. Oh, and I'll seal the Red Branch for you."
"I'd appreciate that."
The viscountess kindly resealed the Red Branch before leaving the mansion.
2.
Diana's reclusive life had now stretched into its second week.
Like a vampire whose VP drained in sunlight, she kept the curtains drawn dark and burrowed under the covers.
How babies were made.
The true process of male-female reproduction.
How far a witch could debase herself in pursuit of mere pleasure.
The sexual knowledge revealed through her mother's Devilish Deliveryman had shaken Diana to her core.
At first, she was appalled and disgusted.
The vulgar, stimulating content even filled her with deep disillusionment toward her mother.
Her mother—who preached endlessly that chosen witches, especially nobles, must uphold chastity and proper conduct in pursuit of magical truth—had secretly written dozens of such books!
She felt nauseating revulsion.
But...
To say it was only revulsion and disgust would be a lie.
"……."
Even after first sneaking into the secret room, Diana repeatedly hid in her mother's study.
To read the rest of Devilish Deliveryman.
If it was filthy and repulsive, she could just look away and avoid it.
No need to peer into the abyss.
Yet she was curious.
Every night, pressing her head to the pillow vowing, "Tomorrow, I won't go," her eyes would still sparkle wide.
What depraved, explicit scenes awaited in the next part?
What crude words would the novel's witch and deliveryman exchange this time?
She couldn't resist the curiosity. In the end, she devoured every written page of Devilish Deliveryman volume 3.
"This world... isn't beautiful..."
What lingered in Diana's mind was the final scene she'd read.
Though only text, her vivid imagination turned it into near-vivid footage replaying in her head.
It was the witch making love to the deliveryman.
Right beside her sleeping apprentice witch, no less—an outrage against heaven and earth.
'Ah, the child's asleep... Please, move somewhere else...'
'Your mouth says that, but your other mouth is honest. Clenching so tight, isn't it?'
'No! It's not!'
Recalling such scenes from the novel made her heart pound like arrhythmia.
Just lying still, her limbs tingled as if she'd come in from midwinter and sat before a warm hearth.
That prickling sensation crawled over her body like ants.
According to the novel's descriptions...
This was arousal. Or lust.
In truth, such sensations were utterly alien to Diana.
Thus, she couldn't define that ambiguous feeling hovering like a silkworm's hue.
"Ugh..."
Diana buried her head deeper into the pillow.
"No way that's it."
First, she denied it.
The values she'd built her life on, plus the rigid notions instilled by Viscountess Yesod's education, were clashing chemically with this new knowledge.
She recalled the novel's contents, struggled to forget, grew curious again, and despaired at her own fascination with such vulgarity.
And so, another of Diana's days slipped by.
-Knock knock knock
A knock sounded.
Diana had barred even her personal maid from entry, so it had to be Viscountess Lucy outside.
"Darling, may I come in?"
"...Yes."
Her heart felt heavy.
Since discovering the novels, she had no idea what face to make around her mother.
That was why she'd been skipping their daily dinners together for days.
"The morning sun was so lovely today. Why live in such gloom?"
"...It's more comfortable this way."
Viscountess Lucy approached the bed with a voice full of concern.
She pulled up a chair beside it.
With a gentle, affectionate tone, she stroked Diana's hair with a soft rustle.
"Diana, have I been pushing you too hard lately?"
"...No, it's not that."
"No, I think I have. I've been so stubborn. I only wanted my precious daughter to succeed... but it must have burdened you. I'm sorry, darling."
That kindness was just like her mother always showed.
She wasn't off-base at all.
But seeing her mother apologize so warmly for nothing, dutiful daughter Diana couldn't simply turn away.
After a slight hesitation, Diana turned to face her.
A tender mother's smile graced the viscountess's lips, tears glistening in her eyes.
"Oh, seeing your face after so long makes me so happy. Come here."
"Okay."
As the viscountess opened her arms, Diana nestled into her embrace.
"Oh! Who'd you get this cuteness from? You little rascal! You!"
"M-Mom! That tickles..."
After the rustic skit of Diana squirming shyly under a barrage of cheek kisses and the viscountess's beaming grin,
the viscountess cleared her throat and got to the point.
"Anyway, for my moping daughter, I've prepared a surprise gift."
"A gift?"
A sudden gift?
Confusing, but no reason to refuse.
"Yes, one you couldn't receive until now. I think you'll love it. Come in."
"Yes, ma'am."
-Thud thud thud
A deep male voice replied, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps.
It didn't take long for Diana's eyes—still in her mother's arms—to widen round.
"It's been a while, Lady Diana Yesod. I'm Shin Siu, your new home tutor."
Dressed impeccably in butler attire with slicked-back hair.
A man bowed politely, his outfit so pristine it was annoying.
There stood the greatest nemesis of Diana's life.
The male witch who had dealt her humiliating defeat and bartending victory at the host club.
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