Chapter 632
Chapter 632
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 632
Chapter Title: Labyrinth (3)
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1.
Alice wasn't in a good mood.
She already resented having to grace this dingy desert just to scrape together some entertainment funds.
And with the place already packed full of witches, plus an indefinite waiting time dragging on, her hysteria gauge was skyrocketing toward maximum.
Even when the long-awaited homunculus labyrinth finally appeared, it didn't change much.
Because the moment the labyrinth emerged, yet another irritating factor was locked in.
This labyrinth was too complex and vast for hierarchy to reliably determine entry order.
She'd tested detection spells several times as a precaution, but they couldn't even pick up the other witches.
Out of all those witches, the only ones teleported alongside her were Manya and Malysha, who had been stuck in the same camping car. The rest must have been scattered everywhere.
And what did that mean...?
It meant she was truly about to play a fair-and-square treasure hunt with those other witch bitches.
Plus, factoring in travel time, she'd blown nearly a week in opportunity cost, only to possibly return empty-handed without a single dime.
"Alice sis! Come here! There's a suspicious door!"
"Malysha, are you an idiot? It's just a door. Sis, those stairs over there look more promising."
"Manya, Malysha. This isn't a game, so shut your mouths already, please?"
Malya and Malysha were fanning the flames of her smoldering rage, all hyped up like they were on some casual treasure hunt.
Did those girls even remember whose money paid for their clothes and food?
"Do this right. We're here to make money."
"Got it."
"Sigh, a serious sis is so cool."
Unlike the two slacking off, Alice kept her tension high.
She might look like some luxury-loving playboy who dragged Manya and Malysha around as arm candy, but Alice was a battle-hardened witch.
To handle her massive debts, she'd always taken on tons of commissions, crossing countless battlefields in the process.
And in her eyes, the labyrinth's current state—far more complex than expected—hinted at the potential to turn into a battlefield at any moment.
A structure more intricate than anticipated, an expanse too vast to gauge what other witches might be up to, and with greedy witches and exiles thrown in...
Plenty of people might show up hunting something other than the homunculus.
"Manya, you're maintaining the concealment spell properly, right?"
"Of course, sis. This is how I make my living."
So even though her hierarchy was low, she had Manya—the Witch of Night Mist, expert in stealth and concealment—keep the veil up.
"Sis, do we really need to do this? Who's gonna ambush us? Not even that psycho Della's here."
"Malysha, Gehenna witches might team up. Even I can't handle a bunch ganging up on me."
After briefly spitting the truth, Alice sweetened it a bit.
"Of course, I'd be fine, but protecting you two might be tough."
"Sis..."
"Oh my, how thoughtful..."
Simpletons.
While scanning the surroundings, Alice suddenly halted.
"Manya, max out the concealment."
"Yes!"
"What? Someone there?"
Malya and Malysha instinctively held their breath and peeked out carefully after Alice.
There, a man strolled casually with a long spear slung over his shoulder like some loafer.
The male witch who'd been glued to Tiferet Duke's side, the talk of the town.
"......"
A brilliant idea sparked in Alice's eyes.
Her pupils blazed with dollar-sign greed.
"Sis?"
Manya eyed the suddenly silent Alice in confusion.
"Keep the spell up. Follow him slowly. Whoever it is, if we're spotted, they'll get a beating."
"Yes."
"Punishment from sis might be nice... Kidding."
And so the three trailed the male witch, stifling their presence as much as possible.
About five minutes into the silent, sluggish pursuit, Malysha blurted out.
"Sis, what does that guy even know?"
"Huh? What're you talking about?"
"I thought we were chasing that Si-woo guy 'cause he knows about the homunculus?"
Absurd. Glancing at Manya, she wore a dumb 'Wasn't that it?' look.
Alice had assumed they'd get it, but both were way off base.
"Are you blind? This is an opportunity."
"Blind's a bit harsh..."
"Our love for sis blinded us..."
"You're driving me insane."
Exactly.
An incredible opportunity she'd never even dreamed of had arrived alongside the labyrinth.
Its complexity and size exceeded expectations.
And that male witch looked like a lost lamb separated from Tiferet.
A bit risky, sure, but investments were always high risk, high return.
"Malysha, how much do you think that male witch impersonator's worth?"
"What do you mean?"
"How much could we get for kidnapping and selling him?"
"Sis! No way...!"
Malya and Malysha paled.
They weren't idiots.
They just hadn't imagined Alice making such a reckless choice, so it hadn't crossed their minds.
"At least 100 million bucks. Minimum. Sell him right to a witch who loves guys, and we might get way more. Who cares about the homunculus now?"
"But sis, he's Tiferet Duke's disciple, right?"
"How do we handle the fallout...?"
"I know a witch who specializes in this stuff. And look at this maze. Who's gonna know? It's just us."
"...Still, this is..."
"Sis, let's just go for the homunculus."
Alice glared at Malysha and Manya as they waved her off and backed away.
Money that would take years choking on sand for might roll in overnight...
And they thought it wasn't their business?
Offended, but Alice reined in her patience and dangled a carrot instead of the whip.
"Cooperate quietly and keep your mouths shut, and Manya gets that Bentley she wanted. Malysha, I'll buy you Hermes bags worth that much."
"B-Bentley?"
"H-Hermes bags?"
Malya and Malysha's eyes glazed over.
Now, they saw the male witch as a display of luxury bags and Bentley keys.
"Keep vigilant watch without gaps."
"I'll wrap him up with my sealing spell and sneak him out. Hide him somewhere good first, then act clueless."
"They'll never know it was us."
Alice nodded in satisfaction at their eager commitment.
"Let's watch a bit more for now. He hasn't contacted Tiferet yet, but confirming won't hurt."
As they'd worried, it wasn't easy.
Making an enemy of Tiferet Duke meant handling it cautiously and swiftly.
"Yes, sis. Let's make a big score."
"Can't play in the shallow end forever."
Just as they tailed him in perfect sync, they reached what looked like a banquet hall.
"You're not fooling anyone hiding there. Come out."
Accusing glares shot toward Manya.
"Can't you do anything right?"
"Shut up! Malysha! Sis! I didn't mess up. Really!"
"Sigh..."
They'd observed enough anyway.
This space was plenty big enough for a battlefield.
"Scare him good so he doesn't resist. If he fights back sloppily and hurts himself, the price drops. Don't let him squirm and ruin the vibe. Count of three, then go. One, two, three. Ready..."
Action.
"How'd he notice? I hid us perfectly."
"Your spell sucked, Manya."
"Shut your mouth, Malysha. Alice sis, it wasn't like that. Really."
"Fancy yourself a witch? Got some tricks, huh?"
Honestly, she was a little surprised.
As Manya said, concealment was her livelihood.
Alice had confirmed no disruptions until just now.
"Cute face, huh. Sis, can I play with him later?"
"Eyes down. Tch, strutting 'cause your master's backing you."
Manya and Malysha immersed in their roles, slowly closing in on the male witch.
Soon, they were close enough to count each other's eyelashes.
He stood there blankly, as if baffled by the situation, then let out a deep sigh.
"Hello, you're Alice, right?"
"Calling sis by name like that?"
"Still not getting it, huh?"
Manya and Malysha crossed their arms, flanking him.
Their delinquent vibe felt practiced, like they'd done this before.
No wonder—they'd scared plenty of religious zealots the same way, eyeing women like prey.
"What's going on here?"
He clearly looked flustered.
His furrowed brow, hand drifting to the back of his head, zero witch veteran aura—just pure parasite energy.
Proof: he'd let them approach this close so calmly.
She could kill him in an instant if she wanted.
"Pretty flustered, huh?"
"Tiferet Duke's skirt must've been nice and warm."
Manya and Malysha giggled.
His dumb reaction genuinely amused them.
"A newbie witch seducing a duke with your looks to get treated like a disciple."
"Must've been hilarious for exiles like us? Saw your neck stiff before—stiff down there too?"
"Want big sis to check?"
"Malysha, Manya, ease up. He's gonna cry."
Alice even let out a rare chuckle.
The guy was a total sheep.
Separated from mommy, predator baring teeth at his scruff, yet bleating cluelessly.
No wonder—with his pretty face alone, he'd gotten protection from Tiferet Duke and the Gemernai Count family. Life must've been a breeze.
While some scraped by suffering for dumping polluted water, others toured homunculus hunts comfy as could be.
Perfect timing for her bruised ego.
"Hey, please don't do this."
"Hear that, Manya? 'Please don't do this~' Like that."
"Jerk off here as apology, and maybe we'll forgive you."
"You crazy bitch, what's that filthy talk?"
"What? Sounds fun."
Just watching him panic in the growing menace felt like unraveling her inferiority complex.
"If I was rude before, I apologize. I'm truly sorry. Can't you just let me go?"
After hesitating forever, he finally grasped the situation.
Out came the groveling she'd been waiting for.
Even his reluctant answer was this pathetic.
"Apologize? Yeah, good boy."
From the start, they'd shown clear hostile intent.
No way they'd send him back to Tiferet unscathed to snitch.
Plan was to toy with him a bit, capture alive, and anonymously auction him off.
"Not into jerking off myself—too gross to watch. Kneel, lick my shoes clean while apologizing, and I'll consider it."
Alice, Manya, and Malysha watched expectantly.
"Kneeling in 10 seconds flat."
"A male whore got pride?"
As they mocked his twitching knees, a weird sound hit their ears.
"Sssss..."
The sound of sucking air through clenched teeth.
Source: the male witch, head half-bowed.