Chapter 763
Chapter 763
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 763
Chapter Title: Modern World Picnic (2)
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The brand-new condo provided by Big Mother-in-law was quite spacious.
The living room, complete with a sofa and table, was generous enough to rival any standard apartment.
But with everyone packed in so tightly like this, it felt bustling and crowded, just like a big family gathering on Chuseok.
The Gemernai household, Amelia, Eloa, Lurye, Si-woo, and even Sharon had joined, making nine people in total.
Al bireo clapped her hands sharply to draw everyone's attention before speaking up.
"Now that Si-woo is back safe and sound, we should at least throw him a welcome party. Has everyone eaten?"
"Not yet."
"Perfect timing, then. My sister and I still have a bit of business to wrap up here in the modern world. How about we all go out for lunch, Si-woo?"
"Lunch? Sounds good."
"Then I'll make a reservation at a nearby restaurant."
Si-woo quickly stopped Deneb as she deftly pulled out her smartphone.
A restaurant was fine, but this condo had its own time-honored tradition for meals.
"Um, Little Mother-in-law."
"Yes, Si-woo?"
"A restaurant sounds great, but... how about we just order a ton of modern-world food instead?"
In a youthful hub like Sinchon, food spots were everywhere.
Fine dining was nice, but didn't they enjoy that every evening back at the Gemernai estate anyway?
Since they'd come all the way to the modern world, he wanted to savor some hometown flavors—and share them with his lovers, too.
"Delivery food...? You sure that'd be okay?"
"Yeah, yeah. We'll order a bunch of different things. King crab, too."
"What do you think, sis?"
"It's Si-woo's welcome party. If that's what he wants, we should go along with it."
Big Mother-in-law nodded readily.
"Ho ho, a chance to taste modern-world cuisine? Most intriguing indeed."
"Yay! Awesome! I want samgyeopsal! And add some raw oysters, too."
"Assistant! That kimchi jjim from before was so good. Make sure to add raw oysters."
The triplets licked their lips in anticipation.
"K-Kimchi jjim...?"
Amelia's eyes lit up at the mere mention of kimchi jjim, practically trembling with excitement.
"Yep, yep. I'll order now, then."
Si-woo felt a swell of satisfaction at his brilliant choice as he opened his smartphone after ages to fire up the delivery app...
-Click!
And slammed it shut just as fast.
"......"
It was perilously close—enough to send a chill down his spine.
Come to think of it, he'd been messing with Sharon earlier and had left that video from last night playing before locking the screen.
The moment the pattern unlocked, a feast of flesh tones exploded into view.
"Gulp..."
He swallowed hard and glanced around, but no one seemed to have noticed...
"Si-woo?"
Or so he thought.
And worst of all, it had to be the one person he absolutely couldn't get caught by.
"Step outside with me for a sec?"
Al bireo shot him a glare laced with murderous intent as she beckoned him out.
2.
The rooftop, where a cool breeze was starting to pick up.
It was a spot Si-woo frequented back when he stayed in the modern world—to smoke or train with his master.
He'd visited so often, even in the dead of winter, that the chill didn't faze him much now, but he still felt a bone-deep frost creeping in.
"Hoo..."
Al bireo, who'd arrived first, lit a cigarette between her lips.
A plume of bitter smoke trailed long from her exhale.
"Si-woo, I'm exhausted too. I don't want to deal with this kind of stress anymore. It's too vulgar even to speak of..."
She'd always been quick to anger before, but now she seemed too worn out even for that.
Her weary reprimand carried a hint of tears.
"You're not some ordinary human male—we've verified that thoroughly, so no issues would arise later. I've turned a blind eye when the twins sneaked off for their little escapades."
"Mother-in-law."
"I tried to understand it as something lovers do. I'm not familiar with it myself, but you're in love, right? But... but... did you really have to record a video?"
To Al bireo, the twins were precious apprentice witches.
Daughters she'd raised from tiny bundles.
She could reluctantly accept them sharing a bed, but recording and keeping it? That was beyond the pale—even if she trusted Si-woo's character, that he'd never show it to anyone or force them into it.
It was a mother's love for her girls.
As her foolish son-in-law, he understood completely.
There was always the risk of a leak, even from a minor slip-up, or it falling into the wrong hands.
Her scolding—"Why are you so careless?"—was entirely justified.
"Countess, I know it looks bad, but... yesterday was the first time. I don't have any videos or photos of the twins, obviously. I swear I won't do it again."
"Really?"
"Should I show you my photo gallery?"
At his earnest explanation, she blinked and replied.
"...No need. You're not the type to lie, Si-woo. Then I must've been too harsh on you for no reason. Sorry."
She bowed her head in apology.
Relief mingled with regret in those violet eyes, so like the twins'.
"No, no... please don't. It was totally understandable."
"You're right. These misunderstandings stem from your usual behavior too."
Her inner worries seemingly eased, Big Mother-in-law perked up a bit.
The fragility faded as she slipped back into her natural villainess-lady tone, poking Si-woo's chest lightly.
He felt guilty for the brief but intense anguish he'd caused her.
"Sigh, if only you'd been this diligent from our first meeting... I could've closed my eyes in peace."
She smiled wryly and offered Si-woo a cigarette.
A warm smoke between mother-in-law and son-in-law.
Now that he thought about it, this was their first proper one-on-one chat in ages without him clutching his shins protectively.
Usually, solo talks with her meant bracing for the extreme.
"Do you plan to proceed with the succession as is, Al bireo?"
"I have to wrap it up within three years, as planned. This modern-world trip isn't just a picnic. Even after we pass it on, it's about reminding the retainers whose servants they truly are—so the twins can lead properly."
"......"
Her views on succession were rock-solid, as always.
Unlike Yesod Countess, the doting-daughter fanatic, she'd always shown intent to leave a clean brand.
Never once prying about the branding succession research using Si-woo's magic amplification was proof.
And chewing on it, it left a profoundly bitter taste.
Al bireo and Deneb would vanish from the world.
Here they were, chatting casually, but in just three years—no more talks, no more ordinary scoldings.
She was living a life with euthanasia already scheduled.
Knowing that was the essence of a witch didn't stop the melancholy.
"Hee hee."
Her soft chuckle drew his eyes forward to Al bireo, demurely covering her smile.
"Don't make such a grave face. Isn't it good for you too, Si-woo? No more nagging mother-in-law butting in everywhere."
"As if."
"Say what you will, I just can't hate you. That's why even those sharp-witted twins are head over heels."
"Isn't it natural to feel sad?"
"Not at all. The world is cruel, and its inhabitants far more heartless than you'd think."
She tucked a wind-tossed lock of hair behind her ear and continued.
"So be Odil and Odet's companion, Si-woo. Hold them steady when they waver, comfort them when they're down—a reliable partner."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"I believe you, Si-woo."
-Clunk.
Someone followed them up then.
His master, in track pants and a windbreaker—perfect for agility.
"Finish your chat and come on in."
Al bireo tactfully stepped aside, and Eloa approached Si-woo hesitantly.
"Miss it, huh."
"Yeah. This is where you first taught me to fight, Master."
Eloa leaned on the railing, trying for casual small talk, but to Si-woo, she looked like she had a ton to say.
"That fledgling's grown into quite the witch now."
"Thanks to my excellent master, no doubt."
Excellent master...
Not quite.
Eloa was wrestling with considerable self-reproach.
She knew peeping on lovers was utterly deplorable.
And if she'd soothed her loneliness alone while watching? That crossed into unforgivable criminal territory, beyond mere fetish.
Even for Eloa, begging Si-woo's forgiveness or confessing was no easy task.
So her trailing him up here was for a different matter.
"I'd like to discuss the treatment of the Sword Witch and Path Witch with you."
"Ah, I saw the key you left. But..."
"I'll visit Duke Errelim soon. Citizenship might be a stretch, but I'll negotiate to clear their criminal status at least."
"Really?"
"We hold leverage, and Duke Errelim still needs my reputation. Shouldn't be too hard."
Eloa replied calmly to Si-woo's leaping joy.
Not because she'd wronged him, of course.
Eloa was the type who compartmentalized: this is this, that is that.
"I hate to impose, but... you okay with that?"
"The Path Witch, maybe—but I never figured I'd be close to the Sword Witch. I neither trust nor rely on her."
But returning to Seoul after so long let her confront old memories.
Haunting the modern world as a vengeful ghost.
Never doubting her "justice" for a second.
Crashing apart upon hearing her revenge target was gone.
Her own crumbling self-portrait.
And the memory of the world's most beloved disciple who'd held her together.
"But I trust you. Your character, your integrity, the kindness that strives to see the good in others."
"Master..."
"I'll talk with her. I don't truly know who the Sword Witch is, after all."
On the way back from 'Coward Witch Paola Sochitl's' funeral—the one who'd caused Seoul's disaster.
Eloa had told a Si-woo who felt oddly unsettled.
That the world's affairs don't divide neatly like a knife cut.
No one is purely evil or purely good.
She'd said it so sagely, yet failed to live it herself.
"Thank you so much."
Whatever the case, it was great news for Si-woo.
He didn't fully buy Linne's saying that harmonious concubines made for household peace, but getting along was preferable, right?
"Master, could we go today, then?"
"Today? No issue. We'll grab food to go."
Linne had asked Si-woo to join her travels.
From her position, the modern world was the only option.
Who knew when another safe escort like this would come? Perfect timing, really.