Chapter 743
Chapter 743
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 743
Chapter Title: The Prodigal Returns
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Right after the grand escape drama concluded.
Si-woo, who had entered Gehenna, promptly lost consciousness.
Even if there was hardly any physical exhaustion, the mental drain was no joke.
One common misconception is that mental labor has no limits.
But in reality, thinking and concentration have limits just like stamina.
Just as you can't force someone who struggles with ten pull-ups to do a hundred even under threat of death,
concentration beyond a certain threshold can't simply be overcome with willpower alone.
Yet the self-discipline spell 'Stairs' he'd received from Linne had forcibly made it possible.
It had compelled him to grasp new magic by stepping over countless impossibilities and his own limits.
As a backlash, his overworked brain demanded rest, and the relief of finally reaching safety caused him to black out.
"Ugh..."
Si-woo awoke from a deep, sound sleep in a comfortable bed.
A familiar ceiling.
The ceiling of the Gemernai Count Family manor, specifically the treatment room where he often lay when injured.
The clean scent of disinfectant from the sheets, mingled with pleasant body fragrances wafting gently.
"Mm-nya..."
"Hng-mmu..."
For some reason, his thigh felt oddly heavy. Lifting his head, he saw the twins using one of his legs as a pillow, snoring away.
Odil and Odet, their soft cheeks squished flat against him, clinging tightly.
Who knew their faces could bring such joy.
Gazing at their angelic, baby-like expressions, he felt a warm father's smile spread across his face, relishing the reunion. Only then did he belatedly notice something heavier than usual between his legs.
"...Kuuh... Kuuh..."
Nestled between Si-woo's legs was Lurye, fast asleep with her head buried there. From the looks of it, she'd somehow claimed the prime spot in the center between the twins.
"Si-woo, you're awake?"
"Lady Amelia."
The weight wasn't just on his lower body.
Turning his head, he saw Amelia in her pajamas, beaming at him with a wide smile.
Her dimples and neat teeth on full display in that unguarded grin—one she showed only to him, exclusively his to monopolize.
"Sleeping next to you really is the best."
As he gently straightened her slightly tousled hair, she nuzzled her cheek against the back of his hand like an obedient puppy, eyes closed.
She didn't stop there, planting little kisses on his cheek and forehead.
It was undoubtedly an extravagantly luxurious bed setup that any man would envy.
All remaining tension melted away.
Having braved all sorts of ordeals, he'd finally escaped Hexennacht and returned to Gehenna—it now felt truly real.
"We're really back..."
"Of course. I believed you'd return safely."
"How long was I out?"
"A full day."
"Oh, right..."
There were two people missing from the bed.
One was his mentor, the other Sharon.
Seeing Si-woo's puzzled expression, Amelia's face darkened slightly for some reason.
That wasn't the only thing nagging at him.
Unlike those two, who might have their own circumstances, Si-woo had urgent matters to confirm.
To shake off Hexennacht's pursuers, both Linne and Dorothy had fled to Gehenna.
Regardless of the circumstances, they were wanted criminals.
Them entering Gehenna was a grave issue incomparable to exiles like Alice or Zlata setting foot here.
He had to check on it.
He bolted upright, but couldn't just dash out immediately.
"Um..."
These moments always made him feel so guilty.
They'd risked their lives to rescue him, and now he had to leave right away because other women were on his mind.
Amelia insisted it was fine, but how could anyone's heart be so neatly divided?
Even though he'd inadvertently assembled this harem legion, Si-woo couldn't hide his inner guilt.
"Si-woo, it's okay."
Amelia pulled back the covers and sat on the bed, as if understanding his feelings, then drew him into a hug like embracing a treasured possession.
"I'm one of the people who's benefited from your kindness."
Her attitude was simply one of understanding and comforting embrace.
Every time he saw such behavior from Amelia, it never failed to amaze him.
"This might not be the best timing to say it, but... you've really changed a lot."
"Caretaker, what are you talking about?"
Amelia playfully mimicked his old assistant professor tone in retort.
Thanks to that, he could leave with a much lighter heart.
"Sorry. I'll be right back."
"It'll be quicker to go straight to Countess Albireo. She's probably in her office now."
"Got it. I'll return soon."
After blowing a light kiss on her forehead, Si-woo carefully slipped out of bed without waking the triplet trio.
Glancing back, he saw Amelia covering the three with the blanket and waving.
"It's a heartwarming, touching sight..."
Amelia had casually suggested going to see Countess Albireo, but...
To Si-woo, it sounded like 'better to take the scolding first.'
He'd brought Lurye back not long ago, and now he'd dragged in Linne and Dorothy too.
On top of that, he planned to request citizenship for Zlata—god knows what thunderbolt would come crashing down.
Thinking back to the Lurye incident last time, both his shins might snap, leaving him on crutches for a while.
"Haa..."
Perhaps because of that, even strolling the ornate hallway felt like wandering a haunted house, chills unrelenting.
Passing the lined-up candelabras like a pilgrim, heading to Big Mother-in-law's office, flashbacks played in his mind.
As he dragged his unwilling feet along.
A conversation echoing through the late-night hallway.
"Sis...! ...That's too much!"
"...So, are you... out of your mind?!"
No.
It was closer to a heated argument than mere conversation.
Loud enough to pierce the thick, soundproof oak door and reach the hallway.
Closer to the door, the voices grew louder.
"Forget it! What do you know?! You think I'm still some snot-nosed apprentice witch?!"
"What makes you think you can raise your voice like that?! So I'm wrong?!"
The arguers were the twin mothers-in-law.
Si-woo swallowed hard.
The situation was more serious than he'd thought.
Bad timing?
Should he come back later?
"......"
Yeah, better come back.
Statistically, slip in during afternoon tea time when Countess Albireo was in the best mood.
The quarrel was so intense it even sparked such hesitation, but regrettably, the dilemma didn't last long.
"Deneb! Don't you dare move! I haven't finished yet!"
"Fine! Try and stop me!"
-Bang!
He collided with Deneb Gemernai, who burst out the door almost kicking it open.
"Ah..."
"Oh, hello."
He was startled.
Not just because of the awkward timing.
As far as Si-woo remembered, Little Mother-in-law was someone who minded her appearance even in the dire moment trapped in that fish tank together.
A cultured countess who maintained her poise and demeanor without a single flaw.
Tears of anger and a flushed nape could be excused, but her off-shoulder dress, which accentuated her rounded shoulders, was crumpled and wrinkled.
Si-woo knew from experience that silk dresses got like that after rolling around in bed.
To reach that state, she'd have to have rolled for about a week— the creases were that severe.
Her usually impeccable chignon, without a single stray hair, now stuck out like a sea urchin, spiky and unkempt.
Unless Albireo and Deneb had grabbed each other's hair, this would've taken a week without grooming.
No trace of her usual light makeup, and instead of perfume, a heavy stench of alcohol wafted from her.
"Lady Deneb. It's been a while—hope you've been well?"
Deneb's eyes trembled violently upon spotting Si-woo.
She covered her face with both hands.
"I-I don't know you... Si-woo, forget it. Just forget what you saw..."
Whether it was an illusion that she looked like a girl caught bare-faced by her crush, Deneb spun away from Si-woo and yelled at Albireo.
"This is all your fault, sis...!"
"Haa, you're driving me insane..."
In truth, the reason for Albireo and Deneb's fight was simple.
After Si-woo was kidnapped to Hexennacht, Deneb had stopped eating and secluded herself in her room, weeping.
Albireo hadn't immediately told Deneb that Si-woo had returned safely.
Not out of hatred for her sister.
With her son-in-law back, the twins would surely be glued to his side.
Dropping an emotionally peaked Deneb into that would create an unholy mess, which deeply worried her.
The problem was, somehow getting wind of it, drunken-mode Deneb confronted her with 'Why didn't you tell me right away!' and insisted on seeing Si-woo immediately.
For Albireo, now aware of Deneb's affections, that was highly displeasing.
Likewise, Deneb resented her sister—who'd provided the pretext for Si-woo's kidnapping—shamelessly restricting their meeting.
The argument escalated.
They'd been slinging unforgivable barbs in a mudslinging match.
Unaware of the circumstances, Si-woo could only lament his fate for walking into the worst possible moment to face the music.
"Lady Albireo, I hope nothing's been amiss...?"
Albireo's desk faced the office door directly, so escape was impossible now.
Breathing raggedly like Deneb, Albireo gestured stiffly with a hardened expression.
"Close the door and come in."
"Yes, ma'am."
He'd never imagined a mere face-to-face could be this terrifying.
Si-woo left a mental last will and testament as he shut the door.
-Bang!
A cold silence flowed behind the firmly closed office door.