Chapter 738
Chapter 738
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 738
Chapter Title: Drama of the Fugitives
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1.
Dorothy, who had rendezvoused with the 23rd Hierarchy trio—Lurye, Eloa, and Amelia—returned to Hexennacht to obtain the magic formula for the "Gate."
At this point, with such a tight connection between Dorothy and Si-woo, the trio's role wasn't all that significant.
As long as the formula made it to Si-woo, she planned to complete the dimensional magic formula and slip out as quietly as possible.
No matter how many 23rd Hierarchy witches there were—three of them—even a frontal assault had realistically low odds of success.
It would only put the hostages at greater risk.
His lovers knew this too, which was why they fully took on the role Dorothy had requested.
That role? In the unlikely event that pursuit crossed through the portal into the present world, they would intercept the chasers.
Unlike Gehenna, Hexennacht had only about ten passages connected to the present world, making it easy to stake out and wait.
However, even with Lurye's guarantee, Dorothy was still a public enemy.
She didn't expect unlimited trust just because she was handed the keys to such a critical operation.
So when one of them offered to accompany her into Hexennacht, Dorothy accepted without much surprise.
In terms of raw power, the Tiferet Duke would have been the most reassuring partner.
But she was far too famous.
Her mana pattern was widely known, making her unfit for this kind of covert op.
Lurye had been the most eager volunteer, but Dorothy talked her out of it.
The cute princess lacked real combat experience and wasn't exactly cautious by nature.
By process of elimination, it naturally fell to Amelia Marygold.
The Perfume Witch came from a line that rarely ventured outside.
In other words, there was zero chance her identity would be exposed during the mana pattern check at entry—the most critical screening point.
"Don't be~ so tense. Nothing's gonna happen."
Dorothy puffed on her cheroot as they bypassed the long entry screening line.
Unlike new public enemies or exiles, her identity was vouched for, allowing swift entry procedures.
"...Got it."
Amelia fiddled nervously with her necklace, her face tight with anxiety.
This necklace was a product developed in collaboration with the Solidus Trading Company and Bianca.
An artifact "collar" designed to enslave witches by restricting their mana usage.
Dorothy planned to pass Amelia off as a slave she'd captured in the present world and stroll right in.
Of course, that alone wouldn't cut it.
There might be witches here who recognized Amelia's face, and a 23rd Hierarchy slave would draw unwanted attention on its own.
That's where the veil Amelia wore came in.
Like Dorothy's nun outfit, the "Veil of the Nun"—crafted with the power of absolutes—disguised the wearer's appearance and abilities.
The most special thing about it? Just like Dorothy's "Revelation," it performed its function with virtually no magical traces.
It was an essential item for any public enemy living in the present world—originally meant for use if she ever had to extract Si-woo solo.
"Will this really be okay?"
Amelia had been holding her tongue despite the obvious tension radiating off her.
But as the immigration office drew near, her anxiety won out, and she spoke up cautiously.
"It'll be fine. My self-alteration magic can't be detected by standard scans."
Fair enough—she had every reason to be on edge.
From Amelia's perspective, Dorothy wasn't someone she could fully trust, and this place was a den of public enemies no different from a witch's hornet's nest.
Considering that, Dorothy gave a more detailed rundown of the situation.
"Hexennacht is in a~bsolute desperation to grow its numbers as fast as possible. You know that, right? So what happens if they make entry screenings super complicated? Getting into Hexennacht isn't that~ hard. Getting out is."
"And my name carries some weight around here."
True to Dorothy's bold claim,
"Processing complete. Fail to register the slave at city hall within seven days, and there will be penalties."
"Thanks~! Take care~"
Dorothy shrugged.
"See?"
2.
The day to meet Si-woo was just one day away.
Having smoothly acquired the final code, Dorothy first returned to her mansion with Amelia.
"Just change your shoes and come in."
Even Amelia, who'd been wound up tight, felt a sliver of relief.
Compared to Gehenna, it was similar in scale to the townhouse in Tarot Town.
The difference? While Gehenna's places reeked of old nobility villas, Dorothy's mansion evoked a present-world tycoon's modern retreat.
It wasn't just her place—Hexennacht as a whole had that vibe.
The floor-to-ceiling windows with a clear view of Arcadia Town reminded her of the hotel she'd shared with Si-woo in the present world.
Remembering their trip together, Amelia felt a wave of impatience wash over her.
Word was Dorothy knew where he was staying.
Couldn't they meet right now?
Being this close, yet possibly never seeing him again—her heart burned with anxiety.
"Wanna drink this?"
A glass of whiskey appeared right under the nose of Amelia, who sat on the sofa wearing a troubled expression.
"Take this off first, please."
"Sure thing."
Once the collar was off and her mana restored, Amelia gave Dorothy a curt thanks.
"No need to be~ so tense. Our job is just to watch and make sure he escapes smoothly—jump in only if there's trouble."
"Do we really have to wait until tomorrow?"
"I ge~t the impatience, but the Sword Witch is sharp and suspicious. Changing plans last-minute could cause issues."
"I know, but..."
Even as she said it, Dorothy felt a nagging unease deep down.
What was it? Nothing she could pin down exactly.
Just that the city's overall buzz felt off—unsettling.
More great witches patrolling Dignity Town than usual.
Security seeming tighter than normal.
But with no solid intel, no point in ramping up the anxiety.
"We've got time to kill—wanna chat?"
She was planning to head out soon anyway to gauge the city vibe.
For now, Dorothy decided to ease the tension in Amelia's shoulders a bit.
She perched on the sofa arm, sipping her whiskey, and casually broached the subject.
"What about?"
"Figured you had some questions."
"Not really."
Dorothy scrutinized Amelia's face closely as she said that.
Beauty aside, she had this icy beauty vibe?
The calm type—total opposite of the bubbly Lurye.
And clearly, not great at lying.
That "not really" from a face brimming with unspoken curiosity? Yeah, right.
"Rea~lly nothing you're curious about? We should get along. Gotta stick together for a week."
Amelia hesitated for a moment.
"Why go this far for Si-woo?"
"Lurye told you—he's a precious friend, and I owe him a~ ton in all sorts of ways."
Dorothy had seemed emotionless at first, reasons unclear, but after this exchange, she pinpointed the subtle distance with Amelia.
It was obvious.
The moment she said "precious friend," a faint relief washed over Amelia's face.
Of course, Amelia wasn't trying to monopolize Si-woo.
Nor did she plan to in the future.
But Dorothy was a public enemy, not part of Gehenna.
It wasn't prejudice against her status—it was fear of what might happen if Si-woo left Gehenna with her.
And accelerating that unease? Dorothy's terrifying bust, impossible to hide even under the nun habit.
"......"
Every glance at that voluptuousness—seeming even bigger than Sophia's—stirred a quiet complex.
At the same time, self-loathing bloomed for feeling jealousy and impatience in such a dire moment, doubling her gloom.
"Hmm~"
Dorothy, ever perceptive, had already pieced it together from Amelia's subtle expressions.
She got it.
Hearts don't run on logic alone.
Dorothy herself had just felt competitive pangs toward Amelia and Eloa.
"Sure, we're a~ bit closer than regular friends."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm in a~wful shape because of him. Like, he has such a solid grip on my weaknesses that I can't even squirm—total plaything."
Amelia flustered at the sudden risqué turn.
No idea what Dorothy's angle was.
But her mood was already sour enough—now this felt like a challenge, and irritation flared.
"Why bring that up? If it's pointless talk, I'd rather meditate."
"But you've been staring at my chest since earlier. Can't just ignore that it bothers you."
"I wasn't."
"You were~. Fifteen times."
"Not fifteen. You seem awfully proud. My friend Sophia's about the same. Nothing special."
"Yeah, yeah~. Anyway."
Dorothy took a sip of whiskey before continuing.
"So why're you doing something this dangerous?"
"...Because I love him."
Amelia said it without a second thought.
"...Nice."
In a way, Dorothy envied it.
To casually drop a cringey word like "love."
She probably couldn't say it her whole life.
Her personality wasn't pure enough for such innocent, cute words.
Dorothy reached out and ruffled Amelia's hair.
"Your face looks way~ better than that death glare from before."
"Wh-what?"
"Means relax~ a bit. A guy smooth enough to charm a beauty like me won't end up in a pinch. Who knows—maybe I'll snag the Sword Witch as a girlfriend too."
Only then did Amelia realize this was Dorothy's way of looking out for her.
The chain of negative thoughts snapped, heat flushing her head and banishing them.
"...I could've handled it without the consideration."
Somehow reminded her of Sophia's cheeky vibe.
Did all big-chested witches have that?
"Still, thanks."
"Good, good. Now behave for a bit. Gotta check the streets."
Shortly after leaving the mansion, Dorothy received shocking news.
Rumors that the Sword Witch had committed murder in Hexennacht and fled with a male witch.