Chapter 406
Chapter 406
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 406
Chapter Title: Chapter 406 - #87_간과(5)
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 406
Chapter Title: Overlooked (5)
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1.
It might sound surprising, but Gehenna actually has building codes based on city regulations.
Structures whose exteriors or interiors feel too detached from Gehenna's atmosphere or detract from its aesthetics simply don't get building permits.
It's a vague clause, but in short, it applies to buildings constructed using materials and processes you'd see in the modern world.
You can get a rough idea just by looking at the buildings owned by the Jemernai Count family, the Yesod Count family, and the various Location Points throughout Gehenna.
In truth, even if the legal restrictions were lifted, Gehenna wouldn't suddenly transform into a modern new city overnight.
Gehenna's builders don't know modern construction techniques in the first place, and importing all those materials would cost an astronomical fortune.
Besides, most witches residing in Gehenna have aesthetic tastes rooted in the past.
In a Gehenna where over ninety percent of the buildings are quaint and antique, the one mansion exuding the most modern vibe would have to be the Periwinkle estate in Lenormand Town.
It uses expansive glass walls generously to create a sense of openness, and halogen lamps are employed liberally in the interior lighting.
It's the kind of place where you'd imagine an eccentric Hollywood actress living.
I hadn't noticed before due to being preoccupied, but everything from the furniture to the interior decorations felt markedly different.
Since Si-woo still owed Periwinkle a debt he hadn't repaid, he headed straight to see her.
If you had to name the top contributor to resolving this incident smoothly, you couldn't leave out Periwinkle.
Without her Clover, the fight might not have even dragged on that long.
"Here comes my cutie?"
I wondered if I should head to the workshop like last time and was wandering around when Periwinkle came out to greet me.
Her navy-blue hair was pinned up like a princess's, and she wore a sparkling dress that might otherwise look tacky.
Typically called a sequin dress, covered in countless spangles—but in Periwinkle's case, each shiny ornament was a tiny gemstone.
With her inherently slender, beauty-queen figure and elegant demeanor, it suited her perfectly.
"Lady Periwinkle."
"I heard the story. Coming straight here right after waking up? How dutiful."
Before any small talk could begin, Si-woo bowed deeply enough that his head nearly touched the ground.
"Thank you so much. Takasho survived thanks to you as well."
That was the biggest reason Si-woo felt grateful.
Without Periwinkle, there wouldn't have even been a point to all the hardship battling Bianca.
"Enough of that. I already got my thanks from that friend of yours. A lifetime VVIP Rose Glass membership or something?"
Periwinkle chuckled nonchalantly and waved her hand dismissively before sauntering over and linking arms with Si-woo.
"But I still haven't received what we agreed on. You haven't forgotten, have you?"
"Of course not."
"But did you really defeat the Witch of Desire?"
Periwinkle looked at Si-woo with eyes full of disbelief.
Even though her Clover had produced the ultimate wildcard, there was still the insurmountable gap in Hierarchy ranks.
If Periwinkle herself had clashed with Bianca, she would've been utterly overwhelmed.
She might have barely escaped with her life.
Yet a mere Rank 1—no, a male witch at that—had successfully hunted down one of the most notoriously vicious Public Enemies.
It wasn't something you could easily believe.
Especially since their first meeting had been when he'd been defeated by a homunculus with seventeen eyes.
"Well... it's a long story. Truth is, I didn't deliver the finishing blow."
"The finishing blow...?"
Doesn't that mean Si-woo handled everything up to the very end?
Periwinkle, who had assumed from the rumors that other witches must have helped, was stunned.
"Yes, um... Baroness Merigold lent a hand. When she let her guard down."
Though his expression and tone betrayed complicated emotions, Periwinkle didn't notice.
His profile suddenly looked different to her.
Up until now, Si-woo had just been a somewhat special guy to Periwinkle.
He achieved things quickly, sure, but his magic was barely mimicry, and purely in terms of combat prowess, he was below her.
But this guy had actually taken down a Rank 22 Public Enemy?
He suddenly seemed even cooler and more imposing.
"...This is dangerous."
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
Witches are women first and foremost.
The instinct drawing females to powerful males runs deep.
It just hadn't come up before because no man could surpass a witch in strength.
"So, how should I fulfill the promise?"
That deep, resonant voice carried a subtle tremor.
His sidelong glance at Periwinkle felt oppressively intense for no reason.
To put it crudely—though it was unthinkable—Si-woo could pin down a resisting Periwinkle right here and ravage her at will if he wanted.
Periwinkle felt her throat catch with hot breath.
"Well... good question. What should we do?"
"Don't you have something in mind?"
Seeing Si-woo tilt his head in genuine puzzlement, Periwinkle couldn't hold back any longer.
"How about we start with something a bit rough?"
2.
"Hoo..."
On the bed still radiating heat.
Periwinkle leaned back against the headboard, exhaling cigarette smoke leisurely.
Si-woo sat beside her companionably, tapping ash into the ashtray between them.
Where the blanket didn't fully cover her, Periwinkle's skin was mottled with angry red handprints.
The result of Si-woo firmly pinning her down as she thrashed in ecstasy, trying to escape.
A slight pull on the blanket would reveal her breasts covered in bite marks.
Despite having received three creampies in the rear entrance he'd first claimed, Periwinkle felt oddly unfulfilled.
"Got something on your mind, sweetie?"
Si-woo had definitely ravished her body passionately.
He'd pinned her firmly when she crawled away on all fours, unable to endure being impaled repeatedly, and relentlessly targeted her ass no matter how much she protested.
But something felt different from before.
Periwinkle, confident in her figure and face, had expected a scorching, intense night.
The pleasure was great—beyond expectations even—but Si-woo's words and actions felt oddly businesslike.
And for good reason.
He was clumsy at hiding his true feelings.
"Tell your big sis. You look like you need some advice."
"......"
"Your heart was all over the place. Guilt?"
"Sorry to make you worry. I should be trying even harder."
Truth was, he had a lot on his mind.
Normally, he'd strut around like a triumphant general.
But too many things still nagged at him.
Three in total.
First: Amelia.
He hadn't properly thanked her for saving him from Bianca.
Her stunned, frozen expression upon seeing his cold gaze, doing nothing.
Why she was in the modern world.
Whether she'd read his note after their bitter breakup, and what feelings she held looking at him now.
And so on.
Second: Kether Duke's ulterior motives.
He couldn't fathom her intentions at all.
Why had the Kether Duke, in seclusion for decades, suddenly passed the "vessel" to him?
Why heal his body?
Why intervene in the incident to subtly erode his psychological aversion to tentacles?
Not knowing a single one was the problem.
His final concern was somewhat connected to the second.
Now that he'd formally begun relationships with Sharon, the twins, and even his master, he couldn't just sleep around indiscriminately like before.
He didn't know Kether Duke's goal in scheming, but now that he knew of the scheme itself, he couldn't act the same way.
Sleeping with Periwinkle was because he owed her an immense debt—not something he could easily repay. He planned to end things with Yesod Count soon anyway.
"Actually..."
Of these, only the third directly involved Periwinkle, so Si-woo confided just that much.
Periwinkle listened intently while lighting a fresh cigarette, then chuckled.
"Ah, sorry sorry. Wasn't laughing at you. You're just too cute."
"I'm serious here, what's so funny..."
"You're too innocent. Sigh, I got scared thinking you weren't into me. That's why you avoided kissing the whole time during sex?"
Periwinkle pinched Si-woo's cheek affectionately, as if he were adorable.
No wonder it felt off.
Anyone else might think he was lying out of dislike, but Periwinkle knew what kind of person he was.
He was seriously agonizing over this.
"It's funny because polygamy wasn't that strange just a few decades ago. Plenty of countries still allow it legally."
"It's not really a legal issue though..."
Periwinkle calmly shared her thoughts.
"You're handsome, capable. You'll have women flocking to you your whole life. Stories of great heroes with multiple wives and concubines aren't ancient history."
"...Feels embarrassing. I'm no hero."
"A man who hunted a Rank 22 Public Enemy? You need to understand your own situation better."
But Si-woo still looked frustrated.
Periwinkle put more effort into explaining.
"Why do humans love only one person? Just my take, but maybe because time is limited? Human life is too short to fully devote to one, youth even shorter."
"That's..."
"If you're prepared, if you're confident... why feel guilty about love?"
It felt less like wanting endless sex with him and more like advising a cute little brother on romance.
"If you're sorry, just love that much more to make up for it?"
"......"
"Go see her first, sort out your feelings. I haven't collected all my debt yet. This lingering awkwardness leaves us both unsatisfied, right? Find your own answer. If you really don't want to do it with me, I'll suggest another way to repay."
"Lady Periwinkle, you really feel like a reliable big sister."
"Took you long enough? I'm older than you, you know."
Periwinkle leaned in and planted a light kiss on Si-woo's cheek.
"Oh, right. Should've said this sooner."
She flashed a brilliant smile.
"Welcome back safe."
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