Chapter 565
Chapter 565
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 565
Chapter Title: Sleeping with the Enemy
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1.
Unless you possessed convenient magic like my master or the Jemernai Count, you couldn't uncover the truth simply by asking questions.
So, what was needed to grasp hidden intentions?
Questions.
Lots of them.
It was easy to tell a single lie, but crafting a perfect one was far harder.
Through repeated questioning, you could spot contradictions or the loose threads connecting answers, gleaning fragments of the truth.
"Then... you've known the previous generation for nearly three hundred years."
"Three hundred and fifty-two years, as I said~."
"You brought the military manuals from the library yourself?"
"It's my field, so I gave her a few in case she got bored~. Didn't expect her to love them like that. As you heard, this submarine is one of the stock items I managed. Took some doing to smuggle it out."
But at least during their back-and-forth, Dorothy's words showed not a single discrepancy or slip.
Was he underestimating a witch's memory? Could such a straightforward method really expose her schemes?
A twinge of doubt crept in.
"Why do you call Rüye 'Your Majesty'?"
"You call her 'Your Highness' too, don't you~? It's cute. For the record, I used to call her 'Princess'."
Setting aside whether the notion of a "benevolent public enemy" even held water...
So far, Dorothy seemed no different from any ordinary witch who cared moderately for her friend's disciple.
Perfectly in tune with Rüye's whole kingdom fantasy, no less.
"Are the questions over~?"
"No, plenty left. How long do you plan to stay here?"
"Not thinking of sticking around long. Four or five days at most? I've got my business to run~. Can't just lounge around."
"This might be rude, but..."
"You've been rude plenty already—what's this?"
"...Doesn't it bother you at all that people are dying because of your business, Dorothy?"
Under the relentless barrage, Dorothy merely rolled her eyes skyward and let out a shallow sigh.
She'd answered every other question without a hitch, but this one made her pause.
"Sorry to disappoint the righteous investigator~, but I don't feel the slightest guilt."
It didn't seem like she was dodging so much as pondering how to bury this irritating topic for good.
"Someone's gonna do it anyway. You're mistaken~. What I sell isn't death. Just iron and gunpowder—or electronic gadgets. No different from a computer or smartphone if nobody points them at people."
If she'd been angling for a favorable impression, she'd have softened her tone a bit.
But Dorothy carried on without a shred of remorse, utterly unconcerned with flattering Siwoo—as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
If she were hatching some dark plot, wouldn't she at least pretend to be upright?
Her blatant sloppiness and arrogance somehow made her more trustworthy.
Irony at its finest.
"Has human history ever been free of bloodshed? No guns? They used swords and bows. No cold weapons? They picked up rocks and made do. Even if iron and gunpowder vanished from the whole world~, humans would just go back to killing each other with bare fists and stone axes."
"......"
"Since they're gonna kill anyway, better make it quick and comfy with guns and bombs, right?"
Her giggling delivery marked it as her brand of black humor.
He could have argued back easily enough, but there was no point dragging this out.
It wasn't directly relevant to their situation anyway.
It simply reconfirmed one thing: even if she was a "benevolent" public enemy, he could never get close to her.
"Fair enough. Can't argue with that. Anyway..."
This time, he cut straight to the core.
"If Rüye's stigma proved useful to your research, would you remove it?"
It was a blunt question that toed the line—especially knowing she was a public enemy—and exactly what he most wanted to hear the truth about.
If it made her snap and reveal her true colors, that would suit him just fine.
Dorothy's lip curled into a smirk.
"Not interested."
If only he could read her expression and tell lie from truth.
Then a pale hand shot toward him without warning.
He tried to pull back, but Dorothy was faster.
No.
Clearly, he had been much faster.
Siwoo specialized in body techniques and spirit body reinforcement—there was no way he'd get caught by such a sluggish grab.
Yet her hand connected solidly.
A bizarre sensation, like reality itself warping.
This had to be her autonomic magic at work.
Dorothy calmly slipped her fingers between his shirt collar and hooked them like a claw, yanking him toward her.
"What I'm interested in~ is you. A male witch. Seeing one in the flesh is just too tempting. Didn't realize you'd be this handsome~."
"Sorry, but I'm not interested."
"That's fine~. I like my men prickly."
He swatted her hand away and wiped away cold sweat.
This was no joke.
Even off guard, he'd let her hit a vital spot.
Given the distance between his collar and throat, she could have taken his life if she'd wanted.
"Anyway, mind if I ask some questions now~? I've answered yours so sincerely."
"...What is it?"
She hadn't shown a whiff of suspicion up to now.
Worried he'd misjudged an innocent, a sense of obligation stirred.
Not that he'd answer everything, of course.
"Will you let me study you?"
"Hard pass. That's the thousandth offer like that."
"Figured. Any male witch would pique everyone's curiosity."
Dorothy spun toward Siwoo and crossed her legs.
Her sensual, hourglass figure evoked an elegant flask, white thighs gleaming through the falling hem of her skirt.
What kind of nun's habit had a side slit?
The sudden exposure threw him off balance.
"Then... a personal question. Which part of me~ catches your eye the most?"
The words triggered an instinctive scan of her body.
A reflex beyond his control.
Her breasts, propped on the table, looked even larger head-on than Senior Professor Sophia's.
Her overlapping thighs seemed plush beyond soft, practically begging to be gripped; her hips spilled over the chair, contrasting a wasp-thin waist that bordered on unreal.
Ash-gray locks and cool silver eyes.
Even with slightly downturned corners, she exuded a hypnotic languor. Stunning.
If a goddess of motherhood existed, she'd look like this.
Knowing full well this was her ploy, he tore his gaze away—but too late.
A sly grin played on Dorothy's lips.
"Enjoyed the view? Now rate it~."
"Your tits. They're fucking huge."
Spitting it out in sheer frustration only deepened her smile.
Sure, he liked pretty women with big chests, but he wasn't idiot enough to fall for a public enemy's seduction.
The conversation was running dry anyway.
The door swung open, and Rüye trotted in.
Time to call off the near-interrogation.
"Did you have a good talk?"
"Yes~ Your Majesty~. Quite enlightening."
"Looks like I was mistaken for now."
"Splendid! Splendid! See? I told you two would get along!"
"Yes, quite the humorous sort, as Your Majesty said."
"Right~? And so handsome."
Rüye halted mid-stride at Dorothy's remark, eyeing the pair alternately in that pose.
"Handsome?"
"Yes~. Total stud."
Rüye's face soured instantly.
Siwoo clocked Dorothy's teasing right away, but Rüye stared at her with utmost seriousness—until she spotted the blatantly exposed thigh.
"Where! Where were you looking!"
"Ow! Ow! Why pick on me!"
Rüye lunged and pinched Siwoo's side viciously.
Hurt way more than the earlier slap.
"Dorothy! What's with that lewd outfit!"
"Your Majesty~, my nun habit always had that slit?"
"Then you shouldn't cross your legs! Or are you trying to seduce the Nukelavi Kingdom's envoy? Cease at once! We have enough impure witches to purge already!"
Whether Dorothy was a bad witch or a good one, he couldn't say.
One thing was clear: personally, they were a terrible match.
He wouldn't pay to befriend her.
Yet Rüye seemed thrilled beneath her outrage.
Her friend and her disciple hitting it off? Happiness cubed.
So maybe playing along with Rüye's whims wouldn't hurt?
Besides, begging "keep away from Dorothy, she's a public enemy" had already proven futile.
Worse case: an irked Rüye ditches Siwoo to hang solo with Dorothy.
Better to keep both in sight.
Worst came to worst, if Dorothy meant harm—Rüye was 23rd Hierarchy, Dorothy 22nd.
With the hierarchy gap plus home turf advantage, even an untested Rüye wouldn't go down easy.
Just fend off a few opportunistic strikes exploiting her guard, and the risk plummeted.
"By the way, Dorothy—when do you plan to head back?"
"Oh my, already plotting my exit~? How hurtful~."
"Nonsense! I want you to stay as long as possible!"
No opening for Siwoo's "that's a bit..." interjection.
Same answer as their earlier Q&A.
"I'd love to stay longer too~, but war drums are beating soon. Probably about a week."
"Is that so? What a pity. We can finally play poker as a trio..."
Rüye moped like parting already.
Dorothy eyed her, then telekinetically dragged a carrier from the bar corner.
"By the way, Your Majesty—a gift~. First-edition military magazines! Full ten years' worth!"
"Kyaaaa! Mine! All mine!"
Rüye slid across the floor on her knees, clawing into the carrier like a mole flinging dirt.
"......"
A fresh reminder: he needed to keep his wits sharp.
And so began the peculiar cohabitation of Dorothy, Rüye, and Siwoo.