Chapter 778
Chapter 778
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 778
Chapter Title: Seoul and the Witch (5)
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1.
Twin trait.
Extremely curious.
"Heekyung?!"
"First time seeing the associate professor sneeze!"
Even trivial matters take on a whole new dimension when the twins get involved.
Odil and Odet circled Amelia with sparkling eyes.
But this meddling wasn't purely born of curiosity.
The twins had mustered some courage for this.
Associate Professor Amelia was still terrifying.
Even after a week of working part-time under her, the distance hadn't closed much.
It was a different kind of fear from Duke Eloa, somehow.
In the duke's case, it was just the awe from her reputation and seasoned presence—nothing truly frightening.
Eloa had always treated the twins more kindly than their own mentors.
Amelia, on the other hand... she was just hard to approach, that was the feeling.
"Your sneeze sounds so unique."
"It's kinda cute."
"It's just a sneeze? Totally normal?"
She'd only given a simple reply, but it felt like an unspoken follow-up was lurking: 'Curious about the weirdest things. Why not spend that time reading one more line of your papers?'
Her infamous iron-fisted lectures from her associate professor days had left a PTSD scar, naturally pressuring Odil and Odet into shrinking back.
But this wasn't ideal.
Associate Professor Amelia was a rival vying for the assistant's affection!
Cowering wouldn't do—they'd lose out on both fronts.
They had to stand on equal footing, just like that first eye-contact spat that kicked off the love rivalry.
To do that, they needed to get closer first.
Sharon had taught them you can't compete until you're at least friendly.
"No! It's definitely unique. And cute."
"See!"
Odil plucked a stray feather poking out from a sofa cushion.
She tickled under Odet's nose with it.
Odet wrinkled her nose bridge, lips flapping silently, then covered her mouth and unleashed a refreshing sneeze.
"Heh, heh...! Pfft-choo!"
"This is normal! A sneeze so hearty you can practically see the dragon breath!"
"Sigh, yeah!"
As the saying goes, chit-chat is the best way to bond.
But Amelia just blinked blankly, unfamiliar with this kind of talk.
Instead, another fish bit the bait.
"Hmph, what a frivolous topic."
Lurye, who'd been watching Roll Champs while wetting her throat with canned beer, sauntered over munching jerky.
"A true lady never sneezes, after all."
"Ugh, butt out."
"No tact. Zero tact."
"Attempting another childish provocation, are we? Dealing with greenhorns ignorant of the queen's dignity is exhausting. Do you think my patience with you young ones will last forever?"
"The Witch of Bluster arrives."
"Annoying!"
Amelia flicked her eyes to Lurye, then to the twins.
During her brief personal time, she'd skimmed a book.
Titled 'Easy Conversation Skills Lasagna'.
Amelia the memorization genius recalled the techniques from page 154, second paragraph, through page 156.
And realized this situation was perfect for applying them.
"What about Sharon sis?"
"Me? I think I just go 'Atchu!' or something?"
"Yeah, that sounds right."
This was the so-called 'Joining Trivial Small Talk' technique.
Not every relationship-building conversation needs a clear agenda.
Everyday banter—the kind you forget five minutes later—is actually stellar at closing distances and building bonds.
Step one: Listen and empathize first.
Step two: Toss in a question to make it easy for them to keep talking.
With her brain in overdrive, Amelia called out to Lurye amid her heated bickering.
"Miss Lurye."
"Hm? The blonde calls for me—what's the occasion?"
"I have a question."
"Permission granted."
"What does Miss Lurye's sneeze sound like?"
Lurye crossed her arms confidently, no hesitation.
"Did I not say? I don't engage in such vulgarity. Questioning my prior words—what impudent intent is this?"
"......"
Unfortunately for Amelia, Lurye was the perfect opponent to stump anyone but a tough conversational practice partner.
"Yap!"
The twins, spotting the opening, shoved two feathers into one of Lurye's nostrils.
A complete surprise attack—Lurye's only option was pure reflex.
"Luryeeeeee!!!!! Pffuha!"
A sneeze evoking a foghorn's blare.
The twins gloated as if they'd planned it.
"What? You sneezed."
"Always talking big."
"Y-You wicked brats!"
"Sound's hilarious. 'Luryeeeeee!!!!' right."
"I'm doing 'Odiloo!' for mine from now on."
"Then Sharon sis is 'Sharoni!!!'"
"Why me?!"
Having successfully pissed off Lurye again, the giggling twins froze.
"......"
Because Amelia, sitting right in front, was drenched in Lurye's sprayed saliva, her pupils shaking.
A chunk of jerky Lurye had chewed and spat was even dangling from her hair.
"A-Associate Professor..."
"Lurye! Kneel and apologize right now!"
"Y-You stuck feathers in my nose! You apologize! I-I didn't know!"
For the record, Lurye also feared Amelia quite a bit from their bad first impressions.
The result: twins and Lurye all terrified.
"I-It's fine."
Today, Amelia learned the perils of small talk.
2.
"Haa! This place! Is! Total paradise!"
Si-woo headed to the Levana Grand Bathhouse for his original goal.
More precisely, it was the private pool-slash-villa provided to the four exiles as temporary lodging.
Zlata, in a bikini, lounged in the hot spring water, raising her cocktail glass.
Visibly tipsy.
Her healthy Latin bronze skin glistened, but her eyes sparkled even brighter.
Always buried in baggy hippie clothes, who'd have guessed this sister had such an aggressive figure.
Spotting Si-woo, Zlata splashed out of the bath and hooked arms with him.
"Cheers to your eyes! Want a drink, lil' bro?"
"Looks like you're doing well."
"Of course! My god! My god! Me, an official Gehenna citizen! I knew I could count on you, kid!"
"Thanks to you, we escaped safely."
Without Zlata's help, escape would've been impossible.
No hideout, no collaborators.
Those flashy promises weren't empty lies, so Zlata got her due reward.
"You're a man of honor, as I knew from first sight."
A successful life-reversing bet.
Zlata, who'd cooperated reluctantly at first, now saw Si-woo as pure good luck now that things had gone smoothly.
She rambled on about how stunning Levana Grand Bathhouse was, how badly she'd wanted to come to Gehenna, and how Hexennacht—the alternative they'd scraped up—was a total shithole by comparison.
"Swing by the workshop when you have time. I'll treat you to the best meal. Anyway..."
Her excited chatter suddenly shifted as she slicked back her wet hair.
The playful eyes turned serious, her voice dropping low.
"The Host Bar VIP membership?"
"Brought it. Check your bag—business card's in there."
"Thanks, lil' bro. Not holding out on me, right?"
"Of course not."
Si-woo gave a wry smile at her coquettish wink.
Her grabbing everything owed didn't feel unpleasant.
It was her right, after all.
"What're your plans now?"
"Oh, while you were down, I talked with the Gemernai Count. Struck a sweet supply deal. Gonna chill and run my shop in Taro Town. Your backing's no joke, huh?"
"Pardon?"
"I saw it all? Gemernai and Yesod Counts, Tiferet Duke, those terrifying heroes, the Witch of the Deep Sea, and another insanely strong witch—all scrambling to save you. How'd you build connections like that? Normal witches can't even get tea time with them."
Her gaze flicked pointedly to Si-woo's crotch.
As if she knew everything.
"Wanna build some 'connections' with your big sis?"
"Truly grateful, but I'll pass."
"Cold as ice."
Zlata laughed it off, not serious anyway.
Fine, seeing her safe and thriving was enough.
Next: check on Alice and her trio in the same villa.
"Lady Zlata, where are Alice and the others?"
At Alice's name, Zlata's face soured.
"Ugh, not great to gossip, but those chicks are nuts. Seriously, they haven't left the bed all day?"
"Still?"
"Plenty of big rooms, great soundproofing—no issue. Wanna peek? Go for it."
"Guess I'll visit later."
Seems the three were having a steamy time.
Si-woo just asked to pass on greetings and headed to Ye-bin in Taro Town.
His mentor had said it'd take time anyway—wait.
He didn't want to worry his other lovers by revealing his left hand issue, so this gap was perfect for a check-up.
3.
Meanwhile, the meeting wrapped up far quicker than planned.
Eloa looked for Si-woo, but her disciple was nowhere.
Perfect timing.
She'd asked him to step out anyway to settle things with someone.
—Clank
"Come out."
"......"
Linne, freed from the underground cell, rubbed her wrists sore from long chains.
Her blade-sharp eyes gleamed steadily, unbowed.
Eloa had heard all about Linne from Si-woo in detail.
The memories from her treatment, why she became a sword ghost, how she'd risked her life multiple times to protect him.
Si-woo's insistence on accepting her as his final lover wasn't baseless.
And if his words were true, Linne wasn't a foe Eloa needed to eliminate.
Yet Eloa hadn't found a clear answer.
She didn't doubt Si-woo.
But the long path of her life rejected Linne's existence.
In that hesitation, Eloa chose a simple path.
Stepping into the vast garden, she deployed a barrier realm and drew her contract sword from subspace.
"Draw your sword."
Linne gazed skyward unperturbed.
Little light pollution made the night sky pitch-black, moonbeams pouring down vividly.
"Gehenna's moon is beautiful."
—Shing
Gripping her great tanto and small tanto with the chill ring of steel, Linne eyed Eloa.
"Fine night for a blade dance."
"Agreed."
Witches speak with magic.
Swordmasters speak with swords.
Eloa and Linne both knew this well.