Chapter 624
Chapter 624
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 624
Chapter Title: Desert Night (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After wrapping up his conversation with the Witch of Mercury and Alice, Si-woo returned to the jeep and prepared their sleeping arrangements.
Unlike other witches who could freely choose to sleep or stay awake in their perfect spiritual forms, she required at least a short period of essential rest.
It was the price of the 'contract' that granted her standard spiritual body reinforcement.
There wasn't even a proper lodging in sight—just the vast, barren desert.
He had been worried that sleeping in the car would be too uncomfortable, but his concerns turned out to be unfounded.
Fortunately, the off-road jeep was enormous.
Folding down the back seats turned it into something almost like a bed.
They temporarily unloaded the items piled in the trunk behind the seats, folded the seats to their limit, and laid out a mattress.
The result was a makeshift bed that was a bit cramped for two people but perfect for one.
As they were setting up the bedding like this...
Si-woo spoke up.
"Master."
"Hm?"
"Thank you."
"Have I done something worthy of your thanks?"
Eloa shyly covered her cheeks at the sudden expression of gratitude.
But Si-woo remembered it clearly.
He was referring to the time when Alice, in her characteristically witch-like way, had picked a fight with him—not quite malice, but close.
Eloa, who had shown no reaction to any rudeness directed at herself, had gotten coldly angry on his behalf.
"You were really cool."
She squirmed even more bashfully as he explained his gratitude again.
"I only did what was natural. You shouldn't just sit there like a fool listening—speak up for yourself next time."
To others, she was the dignified Duchess, but when it was just the two of them, how did she turn into such a shy person...?
That gap was utterly lovable.
And the privilege of seeing this side of her exclusively probably belonged to Si-woo alone.
"It's a tight fit, so I'll take the passenger seat."
Unlike Eloa, Si-woo could sleep at will, so he yielded the comfortable spot and climbed into the front seat.
At that moment.
Somehow, she was already in the driver's seat without him noticing.
"Shall we go watch the stars together?"
"Don't you need to sleep?"
"I caught a little shut-eye on the plane, so I'm fine for now. And we have plenty of time, don't we?"
The prophecy hadn't pinpointed an exact appearance time.
According to the file Takasho had given them, it would probably be tomorrow evening or night.
Just as she said, they had some leeway.
Besides, it was his first time in a desert since birth.
Even if all that was visible was sand and sky, the grandeur of nature offered endless sights to behold.
A leisurely glass of wine while gazing up at the stars.
Wasn't that the height of romance?
"Shall we?"
"Then let's head out."
"Not right here?"
"This spot is nice, but with the campfire and all, there's too much light."
"Got it."
The dim glow from the campfire and camp lamps was all there was, but it still counted as light pollution.
Eloa gripped the steering wheel, started the engine, and the two sped off into the desert night.
The desert night was refreshingly cool.
Compared to the daytime highs easily surpassing 40 degrees Celsius, the external temperature now read just over 11 degrees.
Thanks to the windbreaker that had shielded them from the scorching sun and sandstorms earlier, they could enjoy the perfect chill.
-Vroooom!
More importantly.
The distance they were traveling was farther than expected.
"Is there a good spot somewhere?"
"W-what do you mean?"
"Feels like we're going pretty far."
It had already been about five minutes since she took the wheel.
And the jeep was still charging ahead aimlessly.
"We need to get as far away as possible to see the stars better, right?"
If his master said so, then it must be.
Si-woo nodded roughly in understanding.
With some leisurely time for conversation now, he asked something that had been on his mind.
"Master, by the way, what exactly is the Prophecy Agency?"
It was a neutral organization managed by one of the ancient witches, the 'Witch of Apocalypse', which assigned apprentice witches to continue the line for those unable to bear children.
That much, he knew.
Eloa realized Si-woo wasn't asking something superficial.
She herself had once been assigned as an apprentice to Lapi, so she began recounting her memories.
"The Prophecy Agency is... like a lake rippling with encrypted information. A unique neutral zone that belongs to the present world yet doesn't."
"Like Gehenna?"
"Hm... It's hard to explain in words."
But she quickly ran out of words.
The factual description—as a lake where thoughts, concepts, and strands of fate materialized—could be conveyed.
But the agency's appearance was described differently by everyone who encountered it.
The only common point was a massive lake with an enormous, unapproachable tower standing in its center.
"Once this is over, how about we take a look around?"
"Can we?"
"Of course. The Prophecy Agency doesn't bar any witch. Exiles and even public enemies can enter the lake without hindrance."
"And you can see the future there?"
Eloa nodded.
"The moment you immerse yourself in the lake alone, countless futures unfold. But most of that information is indecipherable. Only permitted prophecies can be understood."
"Then what's an oracle?"
That was the core of his curiosity.
What exactly was an oracle that drew so many witches to seek it out?
"An oracle is one of the rare decryptable futures. Witches of the numerology school who reside near the agency sell them for exorbitant prices. It's better to see it for yourself than hear my explanation— it'll hit home more. You're far from succession, so you won't receive any prophecies, though."
Eloa smiled endearingly at her curious disciple and gripped the wheel again, staring straight ahead.
Si-woo didn't notice, but her expression was profoundly serious.
Hadn't they gone far enough?
She spread her senses wide, scanning for presences around them.
Fortunately, no witch was diligent enough to pursue their midnight drive.
"This should be good."
Even so, exercising caution, Eloa pulled the jeep close to a dune and pulled out her beloved brandy from the bag.
"Wow, the stars look amazing from here."
"Take your time admiring them. Care for a drink?"
"Sure. Your unworthy disciple will pour."
Aside from their voices, a suffocating silence blanketed the area.
The desert under the brilliant moonlight sparkled as if bathed in silver.
To Eloa, such scenery was familiar beyond mere beauty.
Over a century of hunting homunculi and public enemies, with about 30% spent in deserts like this.
If she were alone, she never would have bothered driving out for such a routine view.
In other words, the reason they were about 10km from the witches' camp was singular: to spend a passionate night with Si-woo.
Showing him the stars was just a bonus.
Though Eloa and Si-woo had crossed the master-disciple boundary into an official relationship, the frequency of their intimacy was markedly lower than with his other lovers.
It rivaled the twins sneaking off to outposts while watching for the Gemernai Count's eyes.
Of course, the moment she was in his arms was pure bliss.
Yet pangs of guilt and self-reproach for bedding her disciple lingered.
Thus, in Gehenna where discovery was a risk, she subtly avoided intimacy, and when they did unite, she always drank until thoroughly intoxicated.
"Wait here a moment?"
But this was the middle of a desert with only the two of them.
Perfect conditions for secretly sharing love.
"Where are you going?"
"It's a bit chilly. Just grabbing another layer."
With calm acting, Eloa slipped away from Si-woo and rummaged through the suitcase in the back of the jeep.
She'd packed it remembering how he'd gone wild for the bunny girl outfit.
Plan was to change, wrap herself in a large towel, and pop out in front of him...
"Ugh... Uh..."
Was she too eager?
The thought of Si-woo suddenly appearing made it impossible to dress properly.
Even last time, it'd taken ages with Sharon's help.
Doing it in this confined space was even harder.
"This won't do..."
As Eloa struggled alone with the leotard...
Left alone longer than expected, Si-woo walked over to the jeep.
He'd meant to help if she was having trouble with her clothes... but.
The tires were tall enough to clear her waist, making the jeep high up.
Through the window at eye level, he glimpsed a pale object twitching.
"......"
It was bunny ears.
The perky bunny ear headband.
Part of the bunny girl outfit she'd worn at the harvest festival.
He'd half-suspected when she dragged them out far to stargaze, but dismissed it as overthinking.
His master was always so passive.
Most times, it happened when he visited her room or when drinks led to kisses and naturally to more.
She never set the stage like Sharon or Amelia.
Yet here she was, making excuses to drive them out alone—and preparing a costume, no less.
Adorably lovable.
She hadn't noticed yet, so he could pretend not to see, but mischief bubbled up.
-Clunk!
"......!"
Si-woo flung open the door, and his master—mid-dressing—stared at him with wide bunny eyes in shock.
She'd only managed the bunny ear headband, cuffs on her wrists, and the bowtie on her shirt collar.
Stockings and heels undone, her naked body exposed.
More tantalizing than fully stripped—his master's nude form was right there.
"Si-woo! I told you to wait!"
Her face flushed pink like her sudden hair color change, she frantically tried to cover herself.
But her ample breasts and toned body were too much for two arms.
Glimpses of creamy skin dazzled the eyes.
"Oh ho, an event?"
"This isn't that! I just wanted to try it on after so long. Now get out!"
She knew that wasn't a convincing excuse.
The usually fierce tigress of a master fuming shyly just looked like a squeaking scared bunny.
She probably had no real intention of stopping him.
"I'm coming in."
She didn't push him away as he climbed into the back seat-turned-bed.
-Click!
The door shut.
Soon, the off-road jeep with its excellent suspension began to rock wildly.