Chapter 452
Chapter 452
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 452
Chapter Title: A Sudden Journey Together
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1.
My worries were mounting.
The fine Amelia had to pay to defer her imprisonment and exile was no small sum by any means.
Witches were generally quite wealthy.
Even a witch you'd commonly spot on the street could live comfortably in the mortal world just by exchanging some gold coins.
Take Sharon, for instance—the one I'd met in dire straits. Before the class action lawsuit drained her dry, she hadn't been a billionaire several times over?
Fortunately, Amelia's case had been settled by the committee coordinating compensation with the affected witches.
That said, the remaining debt was far from manageable.
Not unless you were someone like Jemernai or Yesod Count, with ventures in the mortal world amassing astronomical fortunes.
Right after the trial, I'd headed straight to see Amelia, only to run into Sophia.
"Sophia, have you seen Amelia?"
"Ah, Siwoo. About that..."
I'd wanted to see her immediately.
Regrettably, I learned she was rushing about handling various administrative procedures and verifying the inheritance her master had left behind.
"Did she head out right away?"
"Yeah, I even told her to at least say goodbye... but she insisted on wrapping everything up today, so I couldn't stop her."
"Did she mention when she'd have time free?"
"She said she'd finish by tonight and come see you herself tomorrow morning."
"Got it."
It had been a while since I'd last seen Chief Professor Sophia, too.
The last time was back when I was still a slave.
Running into old connections like this always brought a poignant sense of how much had changed.
"It was great seeing you after so long. I'll head back now."
I bowed politely to take my leave.
Sophia stopped me.
"You don't resent me, do you?"
Turning back, I saw her standing there, hands clasped demurely in front, eyes averted in shame.
Sophia had undeniably used me for Amelia's sake.
She'd occasionally step in when Amelia's tantrums went too far or her trials grew excessive, but she'd never offered a real fix.
If pressed on sacrificing me for Amelia's emotional growth, Sophia would have no defense.
On top of that, while Sophia had done nothing as Amelia suffered and spiraled out of control, I'd plunged into mortal danger to save her.
"I'm truly sorry to you. I'd have to obey with full remorse even if you commanded me to live naked for the rest of my life."
"No such order from me."
Her tone was light, but the sincerity shone through, so I smiled and fired back.
In truth, Sophia had played a key role in entangling me with Amelia and complicating my slave days.
Did I regret it? Not at all.
It was water under the bridge.
Sophia had been the first to offer a hand to the struggling Amelia, and I'd once benefited from her help at that Border Town inn. No desire to hold it against her.
"If you ever need my help, just say the word. I'll do whatever I can."
"Thanks. I'll ask if anything comes up."
Leaving Sophia with one last apologetic bow, I returned to the Jemernai residence.
2.
I'd finally come to understand Amelia's heart, belatedly though it was.
I wanted to embrace it all—the roots of her actions, her awkwardness, her flaws.
If Amelia still harbored 'love' for me, I wanted to return it in kind.
But first things first.
Polygamous harems might work in stories, but reality came with a tangle of procedures.
I needed prior permission from Sharon, the twins, and my master.
I hadn't properly explained things to the twins and Sharon that morning.
So I used the time until then to sit them down and lay out everything that had transpired between Amelia and me, step by step.
I didn't want to dredge up her painful past in exhaustive detail... but I touched on the essentials.
They were crucial to making sense of her behavior.
"...And that's the gist of it."
"......"
A long history of crossed wires, but condensed, it wrapped up quicker than expected.
The twins had been the most furious last time we discussed Yesod Count.
Cautiously, I checked on them first.
I was a little surprised.
Odil and Odet's eyes were rimmed red.
"Sniff... Odet, you're not crying like a child, are you?"
"Sniff... You're one to talk, sis... rubbing your eyes with your sleeve nonstop?"
"I just got an eyelash in mine. You know how my lashes are like butterfly antennae—super long."
"Me too. Same length as yours, so it stings extra."
I'd aimed for detached objectivity, no emotion, but clearly missed the mark.
Odil and Odet were wide-eyed, fighting back obvious tears, bickering with uncharacteristic lethargy.
"Ahem... So the vice professor had all that going on."
"I figured she was just mean, piling on homework daily..."
Glancing at Sharon next...
She stared unblinking at me, fat teardrops like chicken tears splashing into her cleavage.
This was the setup: endure their scolding, secure proper time to reconcile with Amelia.
Didn't expect tears all around...
Frankly, caught me off guard.
Was I secretly a storytelling prodigy?
The reactions suggested as much.
Sharon toddled over and crushed me in a hug.
"You went through hell... Must've been tough, huh?"
"Ancient history now—barely remember. I'm good."
I'd always sidestepped questions about my Gehenna days.
Sharon hearing the gritty details of my slave era for the first time.
She'd assumed public slaves had it easy-ish, but the specifics hit hard—sorrow swelling up.
Plus, Sharon was a natural crybaby.
Sub-minimum wage labor, crappy dorm assignment, all the grunt work...
I got Amelia's side, but right now? Not seeing her in a good light.
"S-something's pricking at me..."
"Y-yeah..."
Meanwhile, the twins—who'd first approached to use me, though our bond transformed post-Ratipundium survival.
Lots of help since, sure, but they'd bulldozed 'sex ed' ignoring my say-so.
Couldn't comfort boldly like Sharon; sweating bullets instead.
"Anyway, if you, Odil, and Odet are okay with it, I'd love some time together—even just a bit. Master's a separate visit."
Sharon dabbed her tears with a handkerchief and nodded.
Couldn't warmly view her past torment of Siwoo, but if he was fine, forgave?
Plus, all that suffering to save his life—what could she say?
"Like I said before, I'm cool with it. Siwoo drowning in love? Always a win."
"Thanks for getting it."
The twins' turn.
"Odil, Odet."
"Knew it'd come to this eventually."
"Makes sense—Vice Professor Amelia's got history hogging the boy assistant."
"What's one or two more now? They can't touch us anyway."
But the twins' easy approval stemmed from more than that.
They knew she'd scrambled hardest for a cure when I collapsed unconscious.
And implemented that kill ledger to save me afterward.
In a way, they owed their continued bond with me to Amelia.
Couldn't blank that and throw a tantrum.
Spelling it out felt awkward, though.
Instead of verbosity, they ignited rivalry.
"But when you get back, join the council! Can't let even a vice prof freeload!"
"Right, totally!"
3.
Night had deepened.
After tossing sleeplessly, I stepped out for a walk.
No real destination.
Letting my feet lead, I somehow ended up at Trinity Academy.
I'd dropped by before hunting Amelia, but back then, my mind wasn't this relaxed?
Now, I could take in the corners more, landscapes steeped in five years of joy and sorrow.
"Ugh..."
First, the long, winding drainage ditch hugging the compound wall.
Prime reason I loathed rainy days.
Trinity's ancient build had turned that ditch into a crocodile-worthy dungeon.
The stable—my bed for five years.
Barely maintained to begin with; once I vanished, it crumbled to ruins.
They say time gilds the past?
Thoughts from when escape loomed vivid: magic research grind...
Nostalgia...
"Nah, not nostalgic."
Just a sudden high—like I could conquer anything now.
Library, my official haunt; true corridors and lecture halls gleaming like they charged admission.
True to its storied legacy.
So much had shifted for me, yet these grand halls shone in midnight hush, defying a millennium's passage.
That's when.
"......"
No prior arrangement.
My academy visit pure whim.
Yet like fate, across the candlelit corridor stood a witch's silhouette.
Clutching a tome as big as her torso, draped in her master's relic cloak: Amelia Merigold.
Approaching each other, we halted mid-corridor.
Don't overcomplicate it.
After time apart, undone business...
Just make it right going forward.
Assuming her heart still held 'love'...
The mood lent itself to a natural kiss—should be fine.
Such thoughts swirling, one hit me.
I was tense.
Unexpected reunion.
Thoughts overwhelming—not knowing how to face Amelia sparked the reflex.
Greet? Probe trial feelings? Floundering.
"Siwoo."
Amelia spoke first.
This backdrop evoked old days.
When she was vice professor, I her dedicated slave.
"Yes, Amelia."
"Siwoo... if you're okay with it, would you travel with me...?"
Never saw a trip invite coming out of nowhere.
Travel? Abruptly?
Today's standout—massive fine and reparations—reframed her bold pitch.
Nighttime flight?
Mouth agape, staring—she elaborated.
Voice too serene for absconding.
"I want to travel with you, Siwoo."
Sophia said she'd been dashing admin errands, balance sheets.
Realized debt insurmountable? Eyes quivering on her.
"If you're okay with it... Siwoo."
Then it clicked.
Her ostensibly calm face? Forced blank mask.
Eyes and fingers betrayed her.
Fidgeting hands shredding her hem, glistening gaze.
Summoning every ounce to voice this.
Amelia pulling a runner? No way.
Silly misread—laughed lightly.
"Truth is, I was gonna ask you."
And so, Amelia and Siwoo's impromptu journey was set.