Chapter 662
Chapter 662
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 662
Chapter Title: Strange Date (3)
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Si-woo strolled down the alley, the pouch of divided herbs dangling and jingling in his hand.
Rinne remained utterly unchanged, as if nothing had happened at all.
Even so, thinking back to what had transpired with Rinne earlier felt a bit unexpected.
Rinne, who had unhesitatingly allowed him to take her from behind in hopes of growing stronger. He figured someone with her domineering, "I reign supreme over all heavens and earth" personality wouldn't care about rumors or reputation.
Yet she'd gone so far as to actively seal his lips...
Didn't that mean she felt a certain degree of shame? And by extension, that she'd endure any embarrassment if it meant gaining power?
Come to think of it, even this date—or whatever it was—had come about because she'd humored his flimsy excuses.
At any rate, his business in this alley was done.
But Rinne kept wandering only within the alleys, like she was prowling a labyrinth. Wondering if she had some destination in mind, he followed silently—only to realize the path they'd just passed was one they'd taken a mere five minutes ago.
They were going in circles.
Suspecting she'd lost her way, he asked.
"Master, what's next on the itinerary?"
"It's a date. After returning to Fragrant Moon Tower, we'll have sex in the tearoom."
Rinne answered as if he'd asked something obvious.
At that moment, Si-woo realized he'd overlooked one key thing.
"Master, do you even know what a date is?"
"Of course."
"Care to elaborate?"
"This is it."
"Ah."
Right.
Her confident strides forward had made him assume she had a destination in mind—but that was all Si-woo's misconception.
Rinne genuinely believed that simply walking these shady alleys together constituted a date.
"Master, this isn't what a date is."
"...?"
Rinne stared at him, as if asking what he meant.
"Shopping together can be part of a date, sure... but the vibe here is kinda off, don't you think?"
"Vibe?"
"Yeah, like a café, or a bar, or even a theater—places with a nice atmosphere."
"Why not here?"
Truth be told, he was puzzled why she'd pick this place as date territory in the first place. But explaining why it didn't work was surprisingly hard.
It's like trying to describe kimchi flavor to a Korean—it's just common sense to you, not to them.
Of course, convincing Rinne wasn't about dragging her to some secluded spot to grope her on this outing.
He still hadn't properly observed the Door, his original goal. At this rate, circling alleys endlessly, even spotting it from afar would be a pipe dream.
So he rattled off reasons, but Rinne didn't seem convinced.
"Well, truth be told, anywhere's fine as long as you're with someone who makes it fun."
In the end, experience led to such vague answers.
Should've thought harder.
"...".
Then.
Rinne suddenly paused, mulling over his words with a thoughtful frown. She stopped dead, eyes darting around, then nodded to herself.
He had no idea what point had clicked for her, but whatever.
"Fine. A bar it is."
"Yeah, somewhere with a good view, if possible."
After some back-and-forth persuasion, they finally exited the alleys.
Despite being on high alert amid all the witches, no trouble arose. Wherever Rinne passed, the crowds parted like the Red Sea.
They picked a decent-looking bar called 'Splorod' at random.
It clung precariously to the edge of a cliff overlooking the square—a bar with a unique, precarious perch.
The noise made ears ring louder than outdoors, cigarette smoke stung the nose. Bathed in blue lighting, with neon signs stabbing at the eyes here and there.
Including the central shelf stocked with every liquor imaginable, the vibe evoked a 1960s New York back-alley dive—not upscale, but a rowdy retro spot built for revelry.
He doubted Gehenna witches would frequent it without special reason. Even among witches, such differences were intriguing.
"...".
Such observations were brief.
The moment Si-woo and Rinne entered, the rowdy bar fell into chilly silence.
Save for some upbeat tune playing somewhere, everyone held their breath—or fixed piercing glares on the entrance.
In witch society, Si-woo was used to drawing stares wherever he went.
"Upstairs."
Evidently, so was Rinne.
Ignoring the murmurs entirely, she climbed the stairs stacked haphazardly with booze crates to the second floor. Si-woo hurried after, overtaking her.
The area was packed with bars. He had reasons for insisting on this one.
"Window seat."
The table he guided her to overlooked the cliff base—the sea where cargo ships passed, and the Door in clear view. Perfect vantage for pretending to enjoy the scenery while studying its structure. No way he'd miss this chance.
Si-woo and Rinne sat facing each other on plusher-than-expected sofas.
The second floor was less crowded and noisy than the first. Though it drew every eye around them.
Anyway, time to head down and grab drinks...
"Any usual you like?"
"Never drank. Get whatever you're having."
Rinne pulled out a few bills and handed them over instead of ordering.
Si-woo was mildly stunned.
As far as he knew, plenty of witches were heavy drinkers.
A modest indulgence to soothe long lives and lonely battles—the nectar gifted by the gods.
That same curiosity resurfaced.
What past had shaped her into this? Dorothy, whom he'd thought eternally unknowable, had her reasons too. Maybe Rinne did as well?
"I'll order then."
Definitely a luxury thought.
Wanting to understand her, thinking talk might bridge the gap. Far too soft for someone kidnapped into this mess.
This mentor-disciple bond was just a facade until he could bail with a parting shot anyway.
"No."
Still, dismissing it as pointless wasn't quite right.
Physically, Si-woo and Rinne were deeply entangled. Sparring by day in the training hall, sharing bodily conversations by night in the tearoom.
But that was it.
Si-woo knew next to nothing about Rinne herself.
To read a person's actions, peer into their past—that's the old saying.
With the stage set, he'd pry open her inner thoughts.
"Damn."
Figured it'd be fine for a quick trip down alone...
Descending the stairs, he immediately regretted it.
A dozen witches turned to him in unison, like the star of a play had appeared.
Should've brought Rinne? Even a blonde bombshell strolling naked into a dive full of grizzled guys wouldn't draw this much heat.
"...".
Best to play it cool.
Besides Rinne, no witch here outmatched him.
He kept a frosty expression and fierce glare.
No real psycho would start shit with Rinne upstairs.
"Welcome."
The bar's sole man—a sharp-shirted, vested black bartender shaking a mixer—greeted him dazedly.
Seemed baffled by the situation and who Si-woo even was.
"Two of your bestseller."
"Moscow Mule, my recommendation."
A cocktail he'd tried abroad.
Simple recipe too.
Pack a rough copper mug with ice, add vodka and lime juice. Pour in chilled ginger beer, stir, garnish with lime slice and mint—done.
Copper conducts heat well, so condensation forms fast, cooling your palm.
As he savored the thought, a witch spun her stool to face him.
"You're cute. How are you so delicately pretty?"
The usual sigh-worthy development.
"Got someone waiting upstairs. No time for chit-chat."
"I know. Just eye candy."
Simple reason.
Crowd psychology: one moves amid wary glances, they all swarm.
Sure enough, witches edged closer from the corner of his eye.
"Free tonight? Got a villa uptown—wanna see it?"
"Think you can handle the Sword Witch?"
"Man and woman playing? Handling what?"
"Not exactly single right now."
Stung by the curt refusal, the witch squinted, then smirked slyly.
"Ah, into guys then? Sword Witch's type, huh."
Quite the gutsy one.
Her eyes flickered—half bluff maybe.
Still, the Rinne shield worked wonders. Half the approaching witches turned tail at the mention.
Whatever Si-woo and Rinne's deal, no one wanted to tug a monster's whiskers.
"Be good, and I'll pay fat stacks. Show some charm."
Undeterred, this one pressed on—must have backup.
Finally getting a read on this city.
Too Gehenna-minded from the start.
Hexennacht: three parts public business, seven parts shady exiles who don't sweat it.
Bluntly, why was Rinne such an effective shield?
Her raw power, sure—but mostly because she's unhinged.
Not evil-crazy, but "who knows what she'll do if crossed" unpredictable.
Courtesy, meanwhile, just made you prey in survival-of-the-fittest wilds.
This witch? Si-woo could handle solo. Half-assing it would only invite more hassle later.
Plus, too much noise might draw Rinne—risking his facade crumbling. The Shin Si-woo she knew wouldn't flinch at this.
"Hey."
The witch blinked at the sudden casual "you."
"Huh? Hey? To me?"
"Fuck off unless you wanna get wrecked."
Laughter rippled through the bar at the spectacle; the bartender mixing Mule nearly passed out, gasping.
Fury flashed in the witch's eyes.
"This little shit? Know who I am?"
Chin trembling with rage, but Si-woo didn't blink.
"Don't, don't care. Get lost."
As she flushed and summoned mana, Si-woo raised his shadows in response.
One-on-one? No sweat. Shamelessly, even if backup came later, Rinne'd handle it.
Her snarl screamed charge, but his unflinching chill disrupted her mana.
Some fights you know without showing cards.
"You'll regret this. I'll pay you back."
"Bring Melona."
She ground her teeth and stormed out.
"Y-your... c-c-c-cocktail... is r-ready."
Right on cue, the bartender handed over two frosty copper mugs—in hilariously glitched AI speech.