Chapter 746
Chapter 746
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 746
Chapter Title: Return of the Prodigal (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After the grand operation, Si-woo successfully escaped from Hexennacht.
From Eloa's perspective, the outcomes could be listed as follows.
The most important one.
Due to Eloa's carelessness, she had nearly lost him once more, but her disciple and beloved lover, Si-woo, had returned unharmed.
Next.
Eloa had not lost her title.
Contrary to the threats from Duke Ererim, stripping Eloa of her ducal rank was no simple matter.
It was true that Eloa commanded the respect of many witches.
At the very least, no one in Gehenna harbored any dissatisfaction or suspicion toward Tiferet holding the rank of duke.
Hexennacht's growth posed no real threat, and to proclaim that Gehenna remained steadfast, Tiferet's name was indispensable.
And then.
The accomplice who had kidnapped her disciple—a notorious criminal—had followed him, claiming to be his lover.
Of course, Eloa was not the type to blindly despise and reject all criminals.
The only criminals she sentenced to death without question were those guilty of "murdering apprentice witches."
This complex world could not be perfectly judged by simplistic dichotomies of good and evil.
Thus, Eloa's attitude toward Dorothy had been generally lenient.
It wasn't solely because her assistance had been essential in rescuing Si-woo; Dorothy was a witch who had committed no needless killing.
However, this opponent was the Sword Witch, who had clashed with Eloa several times in the past.
Eloa could not accept the Sword Ghost—a fiend who roamed the mortal realm under the pretext of venerating the sword and pursuing higher realms, challenging the strong to battles of life and death.
For such a loathsome criminal to serve her most beloved Si-woo as her husband.
For her dear disciple to accept such a criminal as his lover.
It was unthinkable.
Unacceptable.
She didn't even want to understand it.
Unsure what face to show her disciple, and prepared to cleave Rinne down at the first sign of any suspicious scheme, Eloa had shut herself in this dreary underground prison, leaving her long-lost disciple alone.
Since being locked in the underground cell, Rinne had merely knelt on the floor in meditation, and Eloa had no intention of exchanging words with her.
A call broke the long silence.
"Master."
Si-woo walked toward his master, whom he hadn't seen in ages.
"I'm here."
This incident had begun with his master's minor lapse.
Considering the anguish she must have endured while he was gone, it wouldn't have been strange if she had rushed over with tears streaming down her flushed face.
Yet her stern expression remained rigid even upon spotting him—as expected.
For his master, who had vowed to dedicate her life to purging evil criminals, there was no way she could tolerate Rinne's presence as his lover, no matter the circumstances.
But as Si-woo reached the spot where Rinne—still in her meditative posture, eyes now open—sat right beside his master...
He saw Eloa's pink eyes, glistening with moisture.
Unlike the gaze that seemed to desperately plead, 'Hug me right now,' 'Kiss me right now,' his master continued calmly.
"You're awake? I'm glad you returned safely."
"Yes, thanks to you, Master."
"How could it be thanks to me? I boasted loudly yet failed to prevent your capture... I have no face to show."
Eloa bowed her head deeply.
Even the single strand of hair sticking out drooped dejectedly.
As Si-woo cautiously reached out to wrap his arms around her shoulders...
"...Si-woo."
Eloa wordlessly brushed his hand away.
It was a simple motion, but the shock was immense.
For his master, who was more prone to loneliness than a rabbit, to refuse physical contact?
Especially after such a long, tumultuous reunion?
It wasn't just because Rinne was there.
It was a declaration that she would not let this matter slide easily.
"Not now..."
His master gripped her elbow with a pained expression in response to his startled reaction.
Her demeanor was cold, yet she seemed ready to spill tears at the slightest touch—a picture of utter turmoil.
"My lord."
Rinne, who had been watching, rose and gripped the iron bars.
Pressing her body as close as possible to draw nearer to Si-woo, she spoke.
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
She had lost consciousness the moment they left Hexennacht.
Thus, unaware of Si-woo's condition, she asked out of genuine worry.
-Whoosh!
At that instant, a sword swung, halting its blade right before Rinne's eyes.
A few strands of hair grazed by the tip fluttered away, severed.
"I warned you not to approach the bars."
"......"
The wielder was Eloa.
The fragile air from moments ago vanished; chilling killing intent radiated from her spine.
Even under the threat where the slightest movement could pierce her eye, Rinne stared at Eloa without blinking.
"Master!"
Not expecting such forceful aggression, Si-woo reached to grab Eloa's wrist.
He understood his master's feelings, of course.
Only he had spent time with Rinne.
His master knew nothing of Rinne's circumstances, her position, or how many times she had risked her life for him.
Yet his master's arm remained unmoving, even as he clutched her wrist.
"No matter how many lovers you take, I have not reproached you."
Instead, she continued in a voice heavy with gravity.
"I believed I had no right to monopolize you, nor to deny your right to happiness."
"Master, please hear me out."
"But this woman is different. Do you think it makes sense to take a blatant criminal as a lover? It seems I've been too lenient with you all this time."
Knowing better than anyone the life his master had lived, and how much she must be swallowing her tears while scolding him, Si-woo couldn't utter a single word in defense.
"I know what you're about to ask of me."
He had heard from the others about the proposal Si-woo received from the Golden Witch and Duke Ererim's behind-the-scenes machinations.
Duke Ererim had brazenly tried to secure Si-woo in secret.
The reason she couldn't openly make an issue of this provocation was likely because evidence of her backroom deal with Hexennacht had surfaced.
Having schemed darkly despite invoking the revocation of a ducal title, she had no grounds to stand on.
Setting aside Eloa's personal fury, a formal protest as a 'duke' would make ensuring Rinne and Dorothy's safe return straightforward.
If Eloa, renowned for lifelong enmity toward criminals, vouched for them, the other witches wouldn't object much.
That was what Deneb meant by, "The key lies with Duke Tiferet."
"You're a kind soul, so I can see you getting swept up in sentiment and making a misguided choice. You couldn't just abandon someone who helped you."
"That's right. I want to help her."
"I'll set a condition. Dorothy is no concern. If you deny that the Sword Witch is your lover and promise never to see her again, I'll stake my honor to ensure both their returns."
"Master..."
"This one is a sinner and a villain. This time, put aside the whims."
This was the utmost concession Eloa could offer.
"Duke Tiferet."
Then Rinne called out to Eloa.
Eloa's gaze turned icy.
Her eyes, devoid of any warmth, quietly reaffirmed her intent to reject once more.
"If my past is the issue, I'll atone."
"Atone? You say it so easily."
Facing Eloa, who growled deep in her throat, Rinne calmly uttered brutal words.
"Sever both my thumbs so they can never heal. Cut my ankles, gouge my eyes. Seal my stigma with your magic even."
The content she stated so matter-of-factly was utterly horrifying.
If Eloa had devoted her life to revenge, Rinne had devoted hers to the sword.
For her, losing the thumbs to grip the sword, the Achilles tendons to plant her feet on the ground, and her eyesight meant death as a swordsman.
Sealing the stigma meant death as a witch.
"If I cannot stand by my lord's side, kill me instead. I have no attachment to life."
Rinne was willing to accept all that in the name of atonement.
Yet Eloa didn't so much as blink.
"Don't call him your lord."
"He is my lord. I vowed to dedicate the rest of my life to him fully."
"I clearly told you not to."
"I have no desire to quarrel like jealous wives."
"I'm not his wife, and you will never be his concubine."
If one extracted just the dialogue, it might sound like a cute squabble between master and lovers, but the atmosphere was brutally tense.
Si-woo quickly intervened.
"Master, what if we do it this way?"
In truth, he hadn't planned to beg his master without thought.
He had intended to fully explain the circumstances and consider Rinne's 'atonement' in another form.
Like with Alice, he planned to request Rinne's deployment to the sorely understaffed Location Point under the pretext of unpaid service.
With a 22nd Hierarchy combat witch joining, it would aid in stabilizing the chaotic times.
However, that had been a naive plan, unaware of how deeply distrustful his master's heart had become.
He explained earnestly, but his master showed no intention of accepting Rinne under any circumstances.
"I absolutely refuse. If the mortal realm is in chaos, I'll exert myself more. The enemy of my enemy isn't necessarily my ally."
"Master..."
"...I need some rest. You should rest too."
As if she could hear no more, Eloa left as though fleeing.
Just refusing Si-woo's request had left her utterly exhausted.
"......"
Si-woo watched her go, unable to even call out to her.
Thus, only Rinne and Si-woo remained in the underground prison.
Si-woo turned his gaze forward again.
On the chair where his master had sat, a keyring used for the prison bars and shackles lay placed far too neatly to be an accident.