Chapter 698
Chapter 698
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 698
Chapter Title: Torment and Choice (4)
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1.
The day of the revenge match drew near.
Around evening, as the promised time with Lodge Alu approached, Si-woo went looking for Linne.
He had obtained permission from her, who had shut herself away in her room without even sparring yesterday, but he was still bound to her for now.
He figured it would be best to pay his respects one more time before leaving the mansion.
It was also a matter of showing formal respect to his master.
However, to cut to the chase, Si-woo couldn't meet Linne.
Whether she had gone out or not, he searched every corner of Fragrant Moon Tower but couldn't find a trace of her.
He waited about an hour afterward, but with the appointment time pressing, he asked Ye-bin to relay a message and left the mansion.
It was something unimaginable in the past.
He would have quietly waited for Linne to return, gotten permission late, and set off then.
But since last night.
Since he had immersed Linne in pleasure and pulled her out, her attitude had become subtly softer.
She wasn't one to show emotions outwardly, so it was an "perhaps," but he could sense that atmosphere from her demeanor when granting permission to go out yesterday.
A fortunate turn.
In the worst case, she might not endure the shame and lash out, or forget the sweetness of pleasure and summon him to her chambers day and night.
Maintaining a proper distance without harboring resentment was the perfect balance and favorability adjustment.
"Are you in?"
Si-woo arrived at Lodge's mansion, not far from Fragrant Moon Tower.
Since it wasn't a mansion small enough for a knock to be heard inside, he headed straight to the reception room.
"Are you in? I've arrived."
Truly, it was a beautifully and elegantly decorated building no matter how many times he saw it.
Because it was so spacious, even though his call echoed grandly, there was no reply or sign of anyone.
"I came on time, but..."
The clock on the wall opposite the fireplace showed it was well past the promised 7 o'clock.
Making his early arrival feel pointless, Lodge seemed to be away.
"Let me think..."
This might be a stroke of luck.
p>It was a chance to freely wander Lodge Alu's workshop, and perhaps check on Manya and Malisha held hostage in the "playroom."
But after a bit more calculation, he quickly gave up.
It wasn't out of common sense that wandering someone else's house freely was rude.
Lodge Alu was a public figure, and Hexennacht was a city of public figures.
The fact that the mansion housing the workshop was left open without even locking the door meant there was likely a substantial security system inside.
While Si-woo found her highly suspicious, Lodge had shown transparent goodwill like glass.
There was no need to provoke her caution with mischief.
"Hm."
Instead, he decided to spend the time productively with the memo pad and pen on the table.
Yesterday, using his rare free time, he had pondered strategies for the position board to defeat Lodge, but it was still incomplete.
He planned to deliberate once more with a crash-study mindset.
Truthfully, he didn't have high hopes for today's match.
Even with talent and cheats, there were still many shortcomings to catch up to her overwhelming experience in one go.
Thus, today's game plan was to firmly grasp her patterns and style, suffer a loss as close to a draw as possible.
Lead to a revenge match like today without special demands.
If lucky, win.
-Clack clack
"Huaaah..."
Lodge Alu returned to the reception room over two hours past the promised time.
Two-tone dyed hair, deep blue at the base fading to mint at the edges.
Red-violet eyes as unique as her flamboyant hairstyle.
Earrings that jingled with every step.
Nothing much different from last time up to here.
But unlike her punk leather jacket and jeans, she wore an end-of-year awards ceremony look—a red off-shoulder dress.
The glossy red satin fabric, smooth enough to shimmer, adorned Lodge beautifully.
"Oh?"
"You're late."
Having grown inwardly anxious from the excessively long wait.
If Lodge lost interest in him, arranging another such opportunity might be difficult.
"Ah, right right! Nice to see you! I forgot."
But seeing her face, which looked exhausted like a rich daughter dragged to a social party, brighten fully, it seemed his worry was unfounded.
She kicked off her dangerously high heels that might sprain an ankle and stood barefoot on the carpet next to Si-woo.
"Sorry, did you wait long?"
"No. The mansion is so nice, time flew by."
"Really? I hate how stuffy it looks. I use it since it's inherited, but it smells like an old lady from the countryside."
"Ah, well. I like it."
A flattering remark met with a terribly awkward response.
Once again confirming that being energetic doesn't always mean good social skills.
Lodge plopped down next to Si-woo, draped her arm over the backrest, and casually crossed her legs.
An "agogo" uncle-like sigh mixed with champagne and strong perfume scents wafted out.
Guessing from her outfit and smell.
"Did you come from a party?"
"Ah, yeah. Annoying but unavoidable schedule. Anyway, they're all such bitches..."
"All-Mother Club or that place?"
"Same building."
A social gathering of public figures.
Instantly imagining a blood-soaked feast of multinational, multiracial beauties casually bisecting someone.
A demonic realm he'd refuse even for a fortune, so he didn't pry further.
Lodge, who had been resting with her bare feet on the table and head thrown back, finally lifted her hips.
"Charged up! You waited this long for position board, right?"
"Yes, I've practiced a lot, so prepare yourself."
Lodge, giggling itchily, poked his side unnecessarily.
"Bet again this time?"
"That's more fun."
"Aren't you getting too cocky thinking I went easy last time? I need to stake something proper this time too. Anyway, follow me."
Though she bluffed threateningly, he wasn't too worried.
No matter how capricious Lodge was, sturdy Linne backed Si-woo.
If it was an unreasonable demand risking his safety, she could naturally defend against it.
He followed Lodge, who picked up her scattered heels on the floor and climbed the stairs.
He thought they were heading straight to the playroom, but after passing three doors down a long hallway, he grew puzzled.
Among the rooms passed, there was a bedroom with a spacious bed.
"Where are you going?"
"Here. Ta-da!"
Opening a folding wooden door on one wall, candles lit up in the dressing room's candelabras.
Wardrobes lined left and right: modern clothes on the left, witch attire on the right, packed full.
Straight ahead were drawers for underwear and undergarments, and a vanity, with all sorts of accessories scattered messily on top.
"What is this?"
Lodge, perhaps intentionally showing her alluring side profile over her shoulder, grabbed Si-woo's wrist and pulled him.
"Since I made you wait so long, I thought I should give a reward."
"It's fine."
"Yeah yeah, I'm fine too. So help me change clothes."
His expression naturally turned complicated and subtle.
Did she drag him here to help her change as a "reward"?
"By the way, I'm no-bra."
Lodge added conviction to the suspicion with a lecherous smile.
A sigh escaped.
According to Alice's testimony, Lodge, disinterested in anyone but women, wouldn't suddenly seduce a male witch.
So this impulsive act was half teasing, half prank.
He absolutely hated getting caught in annoying whimsy and caprice.
What use was a beautiful body?
Swallowing a pretty poison mushroom just for its looks would only cause trouble later.
As mentioned before, Si-woo had seen too many pretty bitches.
"Are you impotent? Or gay?"
"Neither, but you're not my type, Lodge."
"What? You're not mine either. Then, unzip my back."
"That much I can do."
Lodge pouted at Si-woo's apathetic reaction and turned her back.
Since she hadn't achieved her goal yet, it was wise to play along at an appropriate level.
The red fabric parted smoothly, revealing healthy, vibrant flesh between.
A scenery so dazzling that past Si-woo would have been scared to even look.
The zipper was longer than expected, running down past her hips, fully exposing even her butt crack.
"Huh?"
Having assumed underwear awaited since she mentioned no-bra, Si-woo was dumbfounded.
Seizing the moment, Lodge's intentional telekinesis flung the red dress off, rolling to the floor.
"Oh my! Eek!"
Turning fully to show her body while pretending to cover her breasts and crotch.
Easy to tell it was fake because her nipples blatantly poked through her fingers.
The piercing on the perky tip sparkled brilliantly under the dressing room's bright light.
"Heh heh..."
Lodge's gaze blatantly scanned Si-woo's face, then she let out a silly laugh as if to say "I win."
Sniffing the air, she continued.
"I smell an aroused male."
"......"
"Breathing shallow and rapid, and above all, dilated pupils. Like you want to devour me. So? Still not your type? Better than Alice?"
He wasn't dull enough to miss the sharp competitive spirit beneath the playful tone.
Though utterly disinterested in men, she disliked that Si-woo's desire didn't turn to her.
Truly childish personality and provocation.
Any healthy man would show physiological arousal at a beautiful woman's nudity, but...
He didn't bother stating it.
Instead, he raised his hand in surrender.
"Sorry for lying. It's really turning me on."
"Mm-hm, right? But no touching. If you really want, demand it in a bet."
She was subtly tiring in a new way.
After all the twists and turns, Si-woo finally entered the playroom with the changed Lodge.
2.
At the same time.
"......"
Linne was still waiting for Si-woo.
-Click
Linne slightly opened the lunchbox, reset the perilla leaves she had personally plated over the eel rice, then closed the lid again.