Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Fortune After Adversity
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"Assistant, if you've gained some new insight, there's something you have to try out, right?"
Odile urged Siwoo, who was half-dazed as he repeatedly stared into his palm.
She clearly wanted to see his new ability in action.
In truth, Siwoo wanted to manipulate this shadow right away too.
If he incorporated it into his existing magical knowledge, he was confident he could wield far more advanced spells than the homunculus had used earlier.
However.
"It's too much."
Siwoo gave a wry smile.
"My internal circuits are all torn up, so I can't use it right now."
The external wounds were just the twelve needle punctures and his swollen ankles, but inside was a different story.
The overheated magical circuits still throbbed with intermittent pain.
"Oh right, yeah. Want to head back to the mansion first then?"
"Yeah! Let's ask Master to heal you. It'll get you better way faster than just letting it sit."
Would that really be okay?
To heal Siwoo's body, they'd inevitably reveal that he'd used magic.
Sophia and the twins already knew about his magic—three people in total—but still.
After a moment's hesitation, Siwoo expressed his refusal.
"I'm fine."
It was true he'd saved the precious apprentice witch's life, but regardless of the circumstances, it was also true he'd fooled around physically with her.
As long as those three kept their mouths shut, what could go wrong? But he still felt uneasy.
A seasoned witch who'd lived over a century might pick up on the suspicious vibes right away.
"Worried about your magic skills getting found out?"
"That'll be fine. We'll put in a good word for you. She might even give you an amazing gift!"
Whether they'd overlooked that detail or not, the twins seemed eager to introduce Siwoo to their master.
After firmly declining, Siwoo began sorting out the situation.
In truth, just thinking about how to smoothly cover up this mess was already giving him a headache.
Nearly half the Latifundium Tree was snapped off, and the traces of battle were obvious—could they really make it seem like nothing happened...?
"Hmm... What to do? We'd love to back up whatever story the assistant wants."
"But even if we say we took down the homunculus, Master won't believe it. Plus, you took the Gnosis egg, Siwoo."
"Isn't there a spell to restore everything to normal?"
"This level of destruction? No way."
He hadn't really expected much from the question anyway.
He'd discussed options with the twins on the way out of Spirit Mountain, but the scale of the incident was too massive.
No matter what, Gemernai was bound to take notice of Siwoo.
"...No real solutions, huh. I'll think on it some more."
The twins had originally insisted it wouldn't matter if their master found out anyway.
So why did he still feel so uneasy?
But Siwoo and the twins' worries soon became moot.
The moment they stepped out of Spirit Mountain, two figures appeared right in front of them.
"Ah! Master!"
"You little troublemakers!"
Two women strode up simultaneously, each flicking Odile and Odette on the forehead.
Who else could they be?
They were the apprentice witches' master and the current Countess Gemernai.
Albireo Gemernai and Deneb Gemernai, teachers to Odile and Odette.
2.
With the abrupt encounter, Siwoo could only observe the two Gemernais—Albireo and Deneb—after boarding the carriage.
To be more precise, he got a chance to study them while the two masters sternly scolded the twins.
"Master, it's not like that...!"
"Who told you to go into Spirit Mountain on your own!"
"We kept warning you it was dangerous after detecting the mana disturbances!"
"...We're sorry..."
What to say first?
It was surprisingly unexpected.
Having only seen the tomboyish twins, he'd imagined the Gemernai countesses as lively types who might bounce around too.
But seeing them in person felt like gazing upon serene noblewomen.
"So a homunculus appeared!"
"While we distracted it, the assistant went boom! And took it out with magic."
"Look at these two? Grinning like they did something great!"
"Uwuuu...! It hurts... It hurts..."
Of course, right now as they scolded the twins, they perfectly resembled doting mothers.
"Go stand over there with your hands up."
"Hing."
"Yes...."
After about thirty minutes of explanations and reprimands, the noisy carriage quieted down as the twins knelt side by side with hands raised.
"Whew.... Deneb, prepare some tea."
Albireo brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear—perhaps her head was overheating—and approached Siwoo, who sat rigidly like a stone.
"I hear you saved our little troublemakers?"
Albireo spoke first.
Her purple eyes and black hair matched Odile's perfectly, but otherwise, she was completely different.
Her hair was neatly pinned up in a bun, and her micro dress accentuated her curves, making her seem incredibly mature.
Perhaps it was her bountiful chest, rivaling even Sophia's.
At first, she'd eyed Siwoo suspiciously, but by the end of the twins' explanations, her gaze had softened.
Thanks to their fervent, near-praiseful defense, her eyes now brimmed only with warm goodwill.
"I only did what needed doing."
"Oh, so humble."
As Siwoo bowed his head in response, Deneb poured tea into his cup.
She seemed to be the younger sister.
What struck Siwoo most upon first seeing the two countesses was Deneb's appearance.
Though unmistakably twins like Odile and Odette—from features to build—they had one glaring difference.
Deneb possessed snow-white hair that set her apart from Albireo.
Her eyebrows and lashes were all pure white too, giving her an air of mystery and sanctity.
So that's why they're called the black-and-white pair.
Siwoo nodded inwardly.
"A slave from the present world, right?"
"Wielding magic like that without a stigma. Impressive."
The teatime naturally began.
He felt unnecessarily tense.
Two pairs of eyes—identical save for hair color—gazed intently at him.
"Yes, thank you for seeing it in a good light..."
"Hold on first."
Two hands reached for Siwoo's cheeks simultaneously.
The sweet-scented fingertips brushed his skin, and the lingering ache throughout his body vanished cleanly.
"Your body was such a mess, so we healed you."
"Feeling okay?"
"Th-thank you. It feels much better."
It was astonishing.
In less than a second, all pain evaporated instantly.
His ragged mana circuits and swollen ankles were healed in a flash.
As expected of a countess Gemernai.
Their house was famed for magic tools, but their magical prowess was profound.
"We're grateful you bravely saved our tomboys, but avoid such reckless magic in the future."
"Yes, I'll keep that in mind."
"Still, taking down the homunculus shows real spirit. I'm impressed."
"I don't deserve such praise."
Siwoo bowed deeply again.
For the same reason as before, he found the situation deeply uncomfortable.
They were treating him like a benefactor now, of course.
He'd saved their beloved daughters—no different from a hero.
But if they learned what he'd done to Odile and Odette's back doors, would this warm reception continue?
"When one receives grace, it's only right to repay it."
"Whatever you desire, just say the word."
The twins' peculiar synchronized speech unfolded before him without a single hitch.
As if sharing thoughts.
Whatever the phrasing, Siwoo already had his answer prepared for what the Gemernai countesses might want.
"Could you help me leave Gehenna?"
He couldn't take back words already spoken, but he still felt constrained.
Especially with both staring at him intently.
"........"
"........"
It wasn't a difficult request, yet the countesses' silence stretched on.
Growing anxious, Siwoo ventured a follow-up.
"Is it too much to ask?"
"No, it's an incredibly easy request. Just unexpected."
Unexpected?
What was unexpected about a slave tired of life here wanting out?
As Siwoo tilted his head, Deneb continued.
"I figured someone who'd achieved enough to defeat a homunculus in such harsh conditions would have more attachment and passion for magic."
"Gehenna's the best place to learn it, so I assumed you'd want to stay."
That was true.
At first, Siwoo's sole drive for magic research was escaping Gehenna at all costs.
But time changes perspectives.
Magic, once just a means to an end, brought him new fulfillment and curiosity.
Decisively, Ain's display today still shocked him, making his heart race.
"Yes, I want to go home."
Even so.
He still wanted to go home.
Cola, chicken, pizza, noisy car horns, smog-filled cityscapes, full-HD porn—all of it tugged at him.
"That's really all you want?"
"You've earned the Gemernai house's grace. We could give you citizenship and hire you as a research assistant."
The Gemernais found Siwoo's modest wish puzzling.
But their interest soon waned.
For Siwoo, escaping Gehenna was a lifelong dream, and this table was the negotiation for his freedom.
To the Gemernais, it was just a minor request from one slave wanting to return to the modern world.
An effortless concession.
"We'll handle the procedures right away."
"Where are you registered? The academy, so city hall?"
"Ah..."
That's when he remembered something he'd overlooked.
"Well... actually, I'm Amelia's exclusive slave. Will that be a problem?"
"Exclusive slave?"
Though they quickly composed themselves—perhaps for decorum—Siwoo caught the fleeting dismay on the twins' faces.
This feels ominous.
"Hmm..."
"What to do..."
A light sigh.
Siwoo's foreboding soon became reality.
"In Gehenna, an exclusive slave means private property. If you were just city-registered, paying your price would settle it, but here we need Baroness Merrygold's permission."
"Don't worry too much. With adequate compensation, she won't hold onto you."
If he'd known, he'd have endured the scolding and avoided becoming Amelia's exclusive.
As Siwoo's expression darkened like 'I shouldn't have taken that coin back then!', Albireo spoke.
"Don't worry too much."
"We'll prepare an offer she'll find satisfactory."
"Thank you."
And that's it?
The witches sipped their tea and said no more.
"Um, so when can I leave?"
"With countess duties and negotiating materials..."
"About a week?"
Just that?
He'd waited five years.
A week was nothing.
Stunned by the freedom voucher, Siwoo suppressed the urge to cartwheel right there.
Wasted three years on magic research?
Without it, he wouldn't have earned this boon.
"Thank you!"
"It's nothing."
"Only right we do."
What Amelia might say was uncertain, but surely no issue?
Gemernai countesses were notoriously wealthy.
The compensation they'd offer to repay a debt would satisfy even her.
"Then we'll go check Spirit Mountain's condition first. Trouble makers~"
"Yes!"
"Yes! Master!"
Odile and Odette, hands raised in the corner, rushed to the table the moment permission came.
"Did you give proper thanks?"
"Of course!"
"Gratitude demands fitting courtesy, regardless of status."
"It's not just material—sincere bows are needed too."
Albireo and Deneb bowed to Siwoo first.
"We've incurred a debt hard to repay."
"Thank you again."
"Pl-please, lift your heads. I don't deserve this."
Siwoo was startled.
No matter that he'd saved the twins, he was just a slave, and they were countesses.
One of only seven in this world.
"Showing proper respect to a benefactor is a noble's virtue."
"May mana bless your path."
The Gemernais kissed the back of Siwoo's flailing hand in turn, then nudged the twins forward.
"Assistant, thank you so much for saving us!"
The twins hid embarrassed smiles and bowed politely from the waist.