Chapter 665
Chapter 665
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 665
Chapter Title: The Bizarre Date (6)
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"Thinking she could boss around the world's Dorothy with a flick of her chin, that innocent little Landa figured one word from her would make even the Sword Witch turn hostile."
"A reckless girl like that comes back red-faced after getting chewed out—how could she not show up~?"
Even with voice modulation, it was Dorothy's signature drawling tone, instantly recognizable.
Hidden within that lazy drawl were thorns sharp as needles.
The thorns were aimed squarely at Landa.
The blue-haired witch who'd been raging at Si-woo just moments ago, demanding apologies and throwing empty threats.
"Yes?"
Landa's face turned into that of a bewildered new recruit.
"Isn't that right? Or am I wrong?"
Landa blinked as if her brain had frozen, then bit her lip hard.
She grasped the situation in an instant.
Landa hadn't made a foolish choice, nor was she an idiot.
If she had been a fool from the start, she never could have built such high standing in public society from the unstable 19th Hierarchy.
She would've ended up captured by some vicious criminal, reduced to a lifelong slave doing their laundry and counting coins.
Her position as the Gold Witch's right-hand woman and a key executive in the Solidus Merchant Group stemmed from her keen political instincts and swift profit-loss calculations.
Building on her money-laundering expertise, she'd dipped her toes into various interests and factions just enough.
The key was never plunging too deep into any one side, maintaining an exquisite balance.
That way, she became an untouchable figure, no matter the faction—"mess with her, and it'll bite you back."
That's why she could make such brazen requests of Dorothy.
Even knowing the woman was the Sword Witch, she could strong-arm her.
All because she trusted her rock-solid position.
Especially since Hexennacht began, the Gold Witch and Sword Witch had been locked in a subtle war of nerves.
If the Sword Witch pushed too hard, it'd give Landa—and the entire Solidus Merchant Group—an excuse to retaliate.
All other factors considered, it had been a sound judgment.
First, her personal ties with Dorothy.
She and Dorothy had shared some steamy nights.
Plus, Landa had consulted for her on money laundering multiple times, forging solid business links.
Dorothy would need Landa's help going forward, making this a pretty coercive ask.
The man-witch's backer being the Sword Witch? No big deal.
Dorothy was 22nd Hierarchy like Rinne, but unlike the lone-wolf Rinne, she wielded considerable influence.
And a man-witch was just a male prostitute, wasn't he?
If she lodged a formal complaint over the insult and the Sword Witch covered for him, it'd be smearing her own face.
A sharp spanking short of taking his life—Rinne would go along with that, and Dorothy could play referee.
Or so she'd thought...
"Dorothy. You do know what you're saying, right?"
To think she'd backstab so openly.
"Is the Sword Witch really that scary? I heard you were a witch confident in her skills... How petty. It's laughable."
"But~ the one who didn't mention Rinne was you, wasn't it?"
That was true.
She'd figured it'd be easier to get cooperation that way.
"Should've just told her upfront. Knew you'd tuck tail and run like this."
Dorothy's mocking sneer sent a chill racing through Landa's scalp.
Dozens of ways to make Dorothy's life hell flashed through her mind.
No.
No need to dirty her own hands.
Just pulling back would give Dorothy endless headaches.
"Act like this, and you think you can still count on my help down the line?"
"Hmm~ That'd be a problem."
Dorothy stroked her chin and let out a sigh.
Not a shred of seriousness in her eyes.
Making Landa wonder just what she was basing that confidence on.
"From the start~ your news came too late. I'm closing up shop."
"...Pardon?"
"And you? Don't you think you're getting a bit too cocky?"
Only then did the missing puzzle pieces click for Landa.
She'd had no clue why Dorothy would shutter a thriving business right when war meant money-printing galore.
But now Dorothy no longer had to humor Landa's "adult circumstances."
Dorothy, who had seemed so reliable.
Her saint-like benevolent smile carried a crushing weight.
"You're cute, so I'll let it slide this once. Now~ off you go, somewhere out of sight."
"......"
Landa had fallen for her own half-baked scheme.
At Dorothy's blunt dismissal, she stormed out of the tavern with a face even redder than when she'd arrived.
2.
"Thank you for the help. I don't know who you are, but I'm grateful."
Si-woo greeted her formally, mindful of Rinne.
Without Dorothy's timely assist, things could've turned bloody.
"I'm Dorothy. They call me the Witch of the Old Quarter. Feel free to call me Dorothy sis~."
"...Si-woo."
The two conversed like total strangers.
The reason went without saying: Rinne was right there.
She was dead drunk and out of it, but better safe than sorry.
"......"
Time passed, and the alcohol fully took hold of Rinne, leaving her staggering.
One slight trip of the leg, and she'd crash noisily—no trace of her usual razor-sharp edge.
She could barely keep herself together, let alone pay attention to Dorothy.
Strike now—could she even react properly?
And with this town so close to the Gate, maybe escape together using Dorothy's citizenship?
Such thoughts did cross his mind.
But in the end, he held back.
Even if he had to abandon Alice and the two witches, Ye-bin was still back at Hyangwol Pavilion.
And turning every witch surrounding this area into an enemy? The risks were too steep.
Even with Dorothy's help.
"What's the deal between you two?"
"Master-disciple relationship."
"Since when?"
"About ten days. We're staying at Hyangwol Pavilion right now."
So they exchanged just enough info to avoid raising Rinne's suspicions.
Dorothy swept her silver eyes over Rinne.
"What'd you feed her, and how much, to get her like that?"
"Half a glass of cocktail."
"Is something wrong?"
Dorothy tilted her head.
She was harboring the same doubts as Si-woo.
No matter if it was her first time drinking or if she was naturally weak to it—a spirit body was still a spirit body.
Moreover, Rinne was a great witch of the 22nd Hierarchy, with autonomous defenses fully active.
For her to be this wrecked by alcohol alone was suspicious in itself.
-Thud!
Rinne had at least pulled herself together around other witches nearby.
But once they boarded the empty elevator, her tension snapped.
She slammed her head straight into the door and collapsed.
"......"
And lay there stock-still.
"Well, damn."
"Sigh. Mind holding the aphrodisiac ingredients for a sec?"
Si-woo handed the materials to Dorothy and checked under Rinne's nose.
No way she'd actually died, but the fall had been so dramatic he had to be sure.
She was breathing steadily.
"Now what?"
"What else? Piggyback her."
"Still so soft and squishy? Weren't you the one captured?"
"She refused the drink, but since she's on my back now, feels wrong to just ditch her."
With Rinne fully out cold, Dorothy started chatting casually.
"Come here a sec. Leave that."
"Huh?"
As he half-stood, a soft sensation enveloped his entire body.
Before he could react, Dorothy locked her arms around his waist, trapping him tight.
Her signature voluptuousness melted into him.
"What is this?"
"Stingy treatment for your local wife? We were so~ hot together."
"Even so, the situation..."
Si-woo's heart skipped, half-worried Rinne might wake or overhear—but Dorothy didn't care, shoving him against the wall.
"Don't need my help?"
"Of course I do."
"Then stay still. Get noisy, and she'll wake up."
With that, she mashed her plump lips against his.
Her slick tongue forced its way between, parting his lips.
The ten-second kiss ended.
A bold smile, the thrill-seeker's grin unique to her kind, played on Dorothy's lips.
"Haa~ I missed this feeling."
"...You go all out when it's not your problem."
"What's wrong? She's out cold."
True enough, Rinne was still face-down on the floor in the same sprawled position...
"Still gotta be careful."
Si-woo pried her hands off and hoisted Rinne onto his back.
Her steady breaths tickled warmly by his ear.
"Rinne's in this state, and you're not bolting right away... Means there's someone else to round up? Rinne?"
"No chance."
"You're such~ a playboy. Half-thought you'd seduced Rinne too. If so, I'd have spanked you good in Lurye's place."
"...With your help, could we escape right now?"
"Not yet. You so much as twitch, all eyes on you~ I need to prep too."
No telling how much help Dorothy could provide, but it was a golden opportunity.
No one else moved as freely through Hexennacht like her.
They arrived at Hyangwol Pavilion with Rinne on his back.
Dorothy slipped in after him like it was her own place.
"Master. Master."
He pulled out a blanket, spread it, and laid Rinne on top.
A light pat on the cheek and a call of her name—her eyelids fluttered open heavily.
"......"
Unable to properly assess the situation, she just lay there staring at Si-woo.
Her eyes still lacked any spark of reason.
"You're really wasted, so I brought you back. Blanket's down—get some rest. Want water?"
"...No need."
"Then I'll step out."
"Wait."
As he turned to leave, Rinne grabbed his wrist.
With all his guilty secrets, Si-woo flinched.
Then she undid her belt.
He first thought she just felt stuffy.
No way she'd still be thinking of that in this state.
"Today... I'll take it on my stomach."
But Rinne shattered his expectations.
Frowning from the hangover, she still demanded sex.
Seemed Si-woo's back had blocked her view of Dorothy.
She'd even forgotten Dorothy had come along.
"Hold on! Master!"
Si-woo hadn't anticipated Rinne's drive—or her blackout level—and tried to stop her too late...
Unfortunately, Rinne spotted Dorothy only after she'd flipped onto her stomach and slid her panties down.
"......"
"......"
Dorothy stared at Si-woo and Rinne in stunned bewilderment.
Rinne stared back at Dorothy, ass bare and dangling.
The two bewildered gazes clashed in midair.