Chapter 707
Chapter 707
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 707
Chapter Title: The Witch of Gold Coins (3)
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1.
Gehenna was beginning its seasonal makeover, the once-peaceful spring sunlight now gently scorching skin as it welcomed the lush green season.
The temperature wasn't oppressively hot yet.
The sky was a crystal-clear blue, impeccably transparent.
Even a ill-tempered witch holed up in some attic couldn't help but wear a generous smile as the breeze brushed past leaves to tickle her cheeks.
Yet, was it the eerie tension and silence flowing through the room that had formed this low-pressure system?
Dark, gloomy clouds hung over the Gemernai estate.
Al bireo gazed up at the sky weeping as if in sobs, her eyes heavy with worry.
On the table sat wine, a quill pen, and stacks of documents.
It looked much the same as usual at a glance, but for Al bireo's desk—known for her preference for tidy efficiency—it was an utter mess.
Just like the state of her mind.
"Haa..."
The twins' sighs, heavy enough to crater the ground.
Deneb, steeped in alcohol and showing no signs of leaving her room.
Even Sharon and Amelia's every gesture, clearly holding back out of consideration for Al bireo's guilt.
Her sighs had many causes, but they all boiled down to one.
Her son-in-law had ventured into the mortal world and gone missing.
And the reason he'd gone there? Al bireo had more or less forced him out.
Lurye had the means to cover the donation herself.
Al bireo had sent him off under the pretext of testing him, though ill will had played no small part in it.
She'd never liked him from the start.
The bastard who hadn't just stolen one of the twins, but both Odil and Odet outright. And he was surrounded by women everywhere he went.
After causing all sorts of headaches, he'd shown up with a new girlfriend in tow—no, that wasn't enough; he'd even charmed the little mother-in-law, making her say things like, "Your sister who doesn't know love is so pitiful!"
"I'm seriously going to lose my mind."
Al bireo prided herself on being a rational person, and reality bore that out.
Proof? That worthless son-in-law was still alive.
From that rational standpoint...
Si-woo's capture was purely a consequential issue.
If it had been a case that absolutely required victory, she was confident she could prove zero fault even in court.
Who could've predicted trouble with the Tiferet Duke right there?
She had no intention of shifting blame to the devastated duke, but strictly speaking, the greatest fault lay with the duke for failing to respond appropriately on-site and prevent his disappearance.
Even so, she couldn't fully shake the sense of debt weighing on her heart.
If human relationships could be severed as neatly as with a ruler, the world would be far simpler.
Al bireo vividly remembered Deneb's reaction the moment news of Si-woo's disappearance reached them.
'It's because of you, sis.'
That venomous glare of resentment.
'This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't driven Si-woo out.'
Al bireo was bold by nature, unflinching at most threats, but in that instant of receiving Deneb's blame, the ground seemed to crumble beneath her.
She and Deneb had bickered over big and small matters since childhood, but she'd never faced genuine anger and resentment like that.
'I'm sorry, sis... I'm so sorry... I must've lost my mind...'
'No, you were just shocked. It's my fault too.'
Deneb had eventually come to her senses, bursting into tears and begging forgiveness.
That didn't ease Al bireo's shock, though.
No matter how grand a countess or long-lived great witch she was, the resentment from blood kin cut to the bone.
Deneb hadn't stepped out of her room once since then.
Not content with harboring improper feelings for her son-in-law, she'd even lashed out at her beloved sister—how deep must her heartache run?
Al bireo couldn't even claim her innocence, just picturing Deneb writhing in self-loathing and despair over her loss.
So she'd thrown everything into the search.
Having done it just recently, she'd gotten the hang of it, perhaps?
Under Al bireo as command center, they'd pinpointed his whereabouts and confirmed he was alive in mere days.
But the real problem came next.
His kidnapper was the 'Witch of the Sword'.
The abduction site: the city of public enemies, 'Hexennacht'.
She'd known of Hexennacht's existence.
At first, when the rumors surfaced, everyone—including Al bireo—thought it was just minor unrest from Keter's absence.
But the city had exploded in size over months, absorbing exiles and public enemies, reaching danger levels comparable to Cliport at its peak.
Cliport's once-nominal public enemies had reformed around this city, with roughly half of all exiles joining them.
That left over a hundred presumed great witches in residence.
Their numbers were still inferior to Gehenna's in raw count, but given that most exiles and enemies were battle-hardened survivors of brutal fights, a frontal assault was out of the question.
They didn't lack a 23rd Hierarchy figure either, and if hierarchy rank alone could crush them, the Tiferet Duke wouldn't have repeatedly failed against South American public enemies.
Even if they miraculously punched through to the core, there'd be no guaranteeing the hostage's safety—making it a failed plan from the start.
So now they were working on covert contact with Hexennacht, but...
Even that was hitting dead ends.
No matter how influential the Gemernai family, there were limits to dealings with public enemies. They'd washed up in this helpless impasse.
The rain continued pouring outside the window in this no-win situation.
2.
She'd repeated the same mistake.
Drunk on the joy of their private date, she'd failed to prepare for contingencies.
In a situation demanding constant vigilance, she'd made love in the camper all day.
If only she'd been more vigilant beyond mere guardian contracts.
Or better yet, dissuaded him from coming to the mortal world the moment he mentioned it.
Would the outcome have been different?
No one else to blame.
It was all Eloa Tiferet's fault—foolish, foolish master.
She'd repeated an unforgivable lapse, helplessly losing the disciple she'd vowed never to lose again right before her eyes.
If this had been before meeting Si-woo, such carelessness from complacency wouldn't have happened.
This was punishment.
For an unforgivable sinner dreaming of love, doomed to live without absolution her whole life.
For one who'd sworn lifelong atonement and penitence, yet tasted happiness.
Punishment for growing sentimental, weak, and dull.
After Si-woo's disappearance, Eloa had severed her ties.
She left apology letters for Amelia, Sharon, and the twins, then departed alone for the mortal world.
She didn't want to drag others into this danger.
She wanted to take responsibility.
She couldn't charge in recklessly without preparation.
Her cheap life was of no consequence.
But a single failure could threaten his safety, so she pursued perfection.
Eloa secretly ambushed exiles who hadn't joined Hexennacht or witches privy to its internals.
And the public enemies faced a Tiferet enraged at the brink of losing her disciple once more, witnessing just how far she could rampage.
In just over three weeks, Tiferet returned to Gehenna with three public enemies in tow.
To replenish her spent mana and head back out.
As Eloa prepared to leave again—leaving interrogation to Countess Al bireo—she encountered an unexpected situation.
"I'm sorry. T-Tiferet Duke, your exit privileges have been temporarily suspended."
"What did you say?"
The immigration officer—a familiar face—looked utterly mortified.
Gehenna's 'gates' were flawless magic, but lately they'd been glitchy in all sorts of ways.
Backdoors opening occasionally, portals disabled for 'maintenance.'
But a temporary suspension of exit privileges?
Time was of the essence.
She couldn't afford this waste.
Eloa didn't raise her voice or cause a scene.
She simply exuded calm, icy rage.
"Say it again."
Even unintended, white killing intent gleamed in her eyes.
That intent perched precariously on a foundation of swollen patience, ready to collapse at the slightest imbalance.
"I-I'm terribly sorry... but Tiferet Duke, you cannot go to the mortal world!"
She knew it wouldn't happen, yet an image flashed of a sword drawn from her waist slicing the officer's throat.
Still, the officer squeezed his eyes shut and fulfilled his duty.
Hearing that scream-like response born of fear, Tiferet realized she was bullying a subordinate and withdrew her killing intent.
Her impatience and anxiety didn't fade, though.
"Why?"
"It's Sephirot's decree."
At those words, fury surged.
Called Sephirot's decree, but Eloa knew who held real power after Keter's seclusion.
Hadn't it been proven at Amelia's trial?
"Erelim Duke's orders?"
"......"
A silent affirmation.
Eloa stormed off toward Erelim Duke at the Truth and True Name Academic Conference.
Her footsteps and breaths came rough and ragged.
3.
Meanwhile, at that very hour, Akula was in an uproar—Lurye pushing to reclaim Si-woo immediately after completing her trial, Dorothy desperately trying to dissuade her.
"Dorothy! Do you doubt the combat prowess of Us and Akula? Tell Us the harbor's location at once!"
"Your Majesty, that's not it."
"Why make it so complicated! Our plan is thus."
Lurye pointed at the paper with her baton.
"Hexennacht is a vertical city, with the sea at its lowest level, correct?"
"Yes, that's right, for now."
"See? All the world's seas are Our domain, so the geographical advantage is Ours as well. First, we'll bring the submarine right to Hexennacht's docks and give them a taste of a nuclear shower. Then, in the chaos, rescue Shin Si-woo. Simple, no?"
"No, that absolutely won't work."
"Why not!"
With the thrill of completing the trial compounded by the shock of Si-woo's kidnapping, Lurye refused to calm down. Dorothy reportedly had to soothe her at length before explaining the situation.