Chapter 765
Chapter 765
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 765
Chapter Title: Modern World Picnic (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1.
Various incidents had delayed it somewhat, but the time for sorting out relationships had finally arrived.
The officetel was empty after lunch, with the mother-in-law having left first.
Si-woo and his lovers gathered closely together in the living room.
It was all to discuss how to handle Rinne and Dorothy.
As the assistant who saved their lives, in a love-hate relationship, as cohabiting lovers, as disciples who had transcended their master-disciple bonds, and through the official letter from the Nukelabi Kingdom.
These were precious connections formed by overcoming hardships one after another.
Every single one was an irreplaceable treasure to Si-woo.
Until now, they had all tolerated each other's presence and smoothly agreed to a polygamous arrangement.
Of course, they already considered this level of understanding to be more than generous.
But this time, things were a little different.
Dorothy and Rinne were public enemies.
With their already highly irregular setup, whether to accept the two of them hinged entirely on Si-woo's powers of persuasion.
Moreover, since Si-woo—who had caused them so much worry regardless of the circumstances—was making this brazen request, he was kneeling alone on the floor.
"We already knew the assistant had seduced even the public enemies... but this is insane."
"No wonder you get along so well with Sharon sis... You demon of lust!"
"And you already have cute apprentice witches like me and Odet as girlfriends. You're saying you'll add more?"
"I absolutely refuse! I don't want more rivals!"
The twins raised their twin glares side by side in protest.
As apprentice witches from the Gemernai Count Family—one of the elite among elites in witch society—their animosity toward public enemies was fierce, just as expected.
"You little ones, behave yourselves. Do you know who contributed the most to Si-woo's rescue? It was Dorothy, my friend and subject. Though a public enemy, she is a witch who knows loyalty."
Lurye stepped forward to defend Dorothy.
"You idiot! That means another rival for you too!"
"Do you think I would fear that? How bold of you chicks to think you can rival me."
"You're really okay with this?"
"Of course I'm not thrilled about love rivalries with my dear friend. But without Dorothy, there would be no Si-woo here today. How could I refuse when the person herself claims her right? I repay grudges fivefold and favors tenfold. That is Lurye Nukelabi's creed."
Lurye displayed an unexpectedly magnanimous demeanor.
Of course, to Si-woo's eyes, it looked like blatant nepotism...
"Suddenly acting all grown-up..."
"With that chuunibyou speech pattern..."
The twins seemed to find Lurye's words plausible enough that they resorted to personal attacks instead of direct rebuttals.
"What about the Witch of the Sword? She's a real bad witch!"
"Yeah! She's even the culprit behind this whole mess!"
"That's none of my concern. She'll handle herself."
As expected, Lurye drew a sharp line the moment talk turned to someone she didn't know.
Odil, who had been pondering something, spoke up.
"Assistant, have you ever heard of Stockholm syndrome?"
"You're definitely a victim of gaslighting. There's no other way you'd want to make your kidnapper your girlfriend!"
"That's not the case. But since explanations are needed, that's why we've gathered like this..."
At that moment, Eloa gently took hold of Si-woo's wrist.
"Si-woo, I have something to say this time as well."
"I'll listen attentively."
"Everyone gathered here, myself included, are women who became entangled with you through various incidents."
"That's true."
"You've given to them, and they've given to you. No one here would disagree that we're in a relationship of mutual gratitude. Isn't that the same reason you're trying to embrace Rinne and Dorothy?"
"Yes... it is."
"You are a witch, and thus the society you belong to is witch society. But aside from you, aren't all witches women?"
Eloa was usually a compassionate mentor who rarely scolded Si-woo harshly.
The only times she spoke at such length like this was when something was seriously wrong.
"So I worry that every time a connection forms or gratitude arises, your lovers will keep increasing."
Si-woo could guess what his mentor meant.
In other words, wouldn't such situations repeat endlessly?
Fortunately, though, Si-woo already had an answer prepared for that.
"This will be the last time."
But Odil, Odet, and Sharon were shocked by Si-woo's declaration. Even his mentor's eyes widened slightly.
"Really?"
"For real?"
"Seriously?"
Lurye was the 'bring it on' type, and Amelia never opposed Si-woo's decisions anyway.
But the twins seemed truly moved, their eyes even glistening with tears.
"I... I thought you'd take in like twenty more before calling it quits."
"I thought you'd never stop."
"I'm sorry for all the worry I've caused you until now. Starting from this incident, I promise there won't be any more like this."
"N-no, it wasn't that much worry!"
"As long as the assistant is safe... we were mostly okay with it."
The twins weren't just saying lip-service words upon hearing Si-woo's reform pledge.
Of course, more romantic rivals were never a good thing.
It meant less time to monopolize the assistant, after all.
When Sharon sis first joined, the twins had fiercely opposed it...
But their mindset had changed a bit now.
They had built friendships with the bickering Sharon sis, and even got along well with the recently joined Lurye.
For the twins, who used to always play just the two of them, friends were increasing in their own way.
They didn't like more rivals sharing the same man they loved.
But they did like more friends who shared the common point of loving the same man.
It was this complex, subtle feeling.
Perhaps because of that, the twins nodded more readily than expected.
"Well, if the assistant puts it that way... I get it."
"Me too. Lurye isn't wrong either."
"You've thought it through well."
"Thank you for understanding."
Now it was time to explain in detail what had happened with Rinne.
And who she was.
It would be a very long story.
2.
The conversation started at 4 PM and only wrapped up as the sun began to set.
Si-woo, who had decided to stop by Gehenna with his mentor to bring Rinne and Dorothy, brought up the slightly delayed topic while strolling down the street.
It was a heavy subject, so he broached it carefully now that they were alone.
"Mentor, there's something I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
"I met Eaa Sadalmelik at Hexennacht."
Even as he spoke, Si-woo felt a twinge of unease.
To his mentor, Eaa was an irreconcilable enemy, unfit to share the same sky.
The mastermind she had pursued for a century out of deep grudge.
Her edge so sharp from endless honing that it could shred anything, yet so brittle it might shatter at the slightest impact—like a single sword.
The grudge ran so deep it had utterly transformed his mentor's first impression of her.
Si-woo continued while watching his mentor's face turn expressionless in profile.
"And though I couldn't pinpoint her exact hierarchy... it seemed she'd regained power beyond her prime."
Even saying this filled him with faint worry.
The one time his kind mentor turned icy was in matters related to the Aquarius witch.
"As I thought."
But unexpectedly, she nodded readily.
"Did you know?"
"There were multiple sighting reports from the South American location point branch. Her survival was already taken as fact."
This wasn't the scattered rage of old.
It was a refined hatred, piling up heavily layer by layer.
Si-woo read it in Eloa's pink eyes.
"I must make her pay with my own hands."
Si-woo lightly embraced his mentor from behind as she murmured her short vow.
Her public image was that of a noble purger and martial goddess, but his mentor wasn't as strong as she appeared.
She was clumsy with expressing emotions—curling up to cry when sad, suffering in silence when hurt.
"I'll be with you then."
Eloa glanced back up at him.
Her blazing blue eyes softened a touch.
"What are you saying? I'm always with you."
Then she pressed Si-woo's hand to her cheek, rubbing against it as if asking to be stroked.
Our mentor is so cute!
Solemn around others, but endlessly adorable when alone—that was her charm.
Especially this upward gaze while nuzzling his hand: a plea for a kiss.
Street or not, who cared?
As Si-woo leaned down slightly and Eloa rose on tiptoe for a light kiss...
"Fucking hell, you rented the whole street? Go to a motel."
A man's voice thick with mockery came from behind.
Both Si-woo and Eloa had extraordinarily keen senses.
They weren't the type to miss such blatant shouting.
Turning at the absurd provocation, they saw a tattooed pig of a man in a fluorescent short-sleeve tee—clutch bag in hand—strutting about despite the weather.
Witches naturally drew eyes with their national-treasure-level beauty.
Though they carried Park Young's talismans to muffle their presence, a street kiss was too eye-catching regardless.
"Don't~ honey~ why~ people will hear~"
"Fuck it, let 'em hear."
Beside him was a woman pretending to restrain him while smirking, plus four or five thug-looking friends.
Birds of a feather—one and all, cartoonishly villainous.
The instigator locked eyes with Si-woo and spat phlegm before blabbering.
"What're you staring at?"
Rather than instant anger, Si-woo let out a hollow laugh at 'this is how it happens.'
Street punks held no fear anymore.
"Me?"
Si-woo pointed under his chin to confirm.
Eloa tugged lightly at his sleeve.
"Si-woo, just let it go."
"They're openly picking a fight."
"Those with power must cultivate restraint to match. They're mere riffraff, aren't they?"
"If you say so."
He wanted to teach them manners, but his mentor's will came first.
As he turned to walk away, treating it like stepping in shit, louder mockery poured out.
Their crude banter drilled into his ears.
"Look at him scamper off scared."
"Yo, bro. You always go full agro around pretty girls."
"Ruining my good mood."
"Check out that chick's hair dye. Total pingchang vibe."
"Did she dye her pubes too?"
Envy and jealousy spewing as put-downs and sexual harassment.
All aimed squarely at his female companion, the mentor.
Any reason to hold back?
"Mentor, I'll clean this up in three minutes."
"Acting tough then bolting? Peak comedy. Pathetic pussy-ass bitch."
His own insults barely registered, but hearing his disciple abused, the mentor readily permitted.
"Don't injure them too badly."