Chapter 78
Chapter 78
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Self-Entrapment (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-Click
Deneb pulled a tiny wooden box from her bosom and set it on the table.
Amelia could tell at a glance that the outwardly shabby wooden box was no ordinary item.
Three layers to absorb shocks, three to prevent theft, four for sealing, and seven for preserving the contents.
A total of seventeen protective barriers enveloped the wooden box.
It was an absurdly secure setup.
The interior of that little box probably even halted the flow of time.
If someone stole it without knowing better, they'd rot away from countless curses before they could even peek inside.
What extended from Albireo's hand was a tiny key.
The key, which temporarily solidified mana to emit a specific pattern, touched the box.
With the sound of chains coiling tight, the barriers lifted.
When the box opened, nestled in red satin was a diamond of extraordinary size, radiating an iridescent pink sheen.
"The Steinmetz Pink, 62.2 carats."
"Known as the Queen of Diamonds. A rare treasure that's no longer produced."
Deciding to gift Amelia this jewel wasn't just because it could make for a pretty accessory.
Gems of all kinds were invaluable in alchemy and magic.
Diamonds in particular were essential for wands, large-scale barriers, or crafting artifacts, so witches' preference for big, beautiful ones went without saying.
A pink diamond of this size was so rare it was practically priceless.
It was far too extravagant just to buy out a single slave's ownership.
Sad but true—even if you pooled the price of every slave in Gehenna, it still wouldn't match this Steinmetz Pink.
In other words, Count Gemernai was that committed to fulfilling his benefactor's wish.
"........."
The count, brimming with confidence as he briefly explained the gem, realized something was off when he saw Amelia staring at the box with a blank expression.
"If the item doesn't suit you, we can offer an equivalent artifact or magical tool."
"Or prepare gold coins or dollars, if you prefer."
"What about artwork? We have pieces by famous painters that aren't well-known to the public. A Van Gogh, perhaps."
Deneb spoke as she closed the jewel box.
But there was no greed or hesitation in Amelia's eyes.
No matter how wealthy one was, anyone would feel tempted by such a treasure right in front of them. Yet hers were utterly clear and pure.
"Does Assistant Shin Siwoo know about this?"
"We've already discussed it with Siwoo—"
"That's not what I mean."
Amelia didn't even glance at the wooden box anymore.
"Do you know what reality awaits him if he leaves Gehenna?"
"That part..."
"I haven't explained it yet. But I plan to provide enough funds for him to stand on his own."
"No need for that."
Even as she said it...
The count, who had negotiated with tycoons, multinational CEOs, and high-ranking officials in politics and finance, could sense it instinctively.
Amelia had no intention of letting him go.
Even if the box held three or four more diamonds like this, her reaction would likely be the same.
They'd misunderstood from the start.
Their relationship wasn't just a formal master-slave bond between witch and exclusive servant.
It was bound by something a bit stickier—emotions.
Judging from Siwoo's eagerness to escape Gehenna as soon as possible, it seemed like a one-way street from Amelia to Siwoo.
"I'm sorry for wasting your time when you've made a special trip here."
Sure enough, Amelia brought the conversation to a close.
"I wanted to meet your expectations as best I could. What a shame."
"Separately from this, could you arrange a chance for me to speak with him alone?"
At this point, they'd have to propose alternative compensation to Siwoo.
Of course, whether he'd accept it was another matter.
What could they do?
"No, I'll explain it to him myself."
Amelia's response bordered on rudeness.
It showed no regard for the dignity of the House of Count Gemernai.
But the count understood quickly.
Sometimes, emotions transcend mere calculations of gain and loss.
Wasn't the jewel he'd offered to transfer Siwoo's ownership—an utterly irrational price compared to his actual worth—proof of that?
From Amelia's perspective, the count's actions might seem like tremendous insolence.
"Then take care."
Amelia didn't see the count off. She stayed alone in the parlor and sipped her tea.
2.
"This... is real, right?"
"Seems like it."
Albireo and Deneb, chased out of Amelia's mansion, trudged through the garden.
Truth be told, ever since they'd heard that Amelia Merrygold—who had social connections narrower than a pinhole, verging on nonexistent—had taken an exclusive slave, they'd had their suspicions.
She must cherish him a lot, or perhaps he was an exceptionally talented assistant.
That's why they'd prepared such an extravagant, luxurious offering, wasn't it?
"Good grief."
"She must be pretty pissed."
But they'd never imagined an outcome like this.
A witch in love with her own slave? Really?
And not just any run-of-the-mill witch, either.
A grand witch of the 22nd hierarchy, who'd climbed two ranks in a mere 150 years—higher even than Count Gemernai.
It wasn't confirmed, but the evidence was glaringly obvious.
This put them in a bind.
"Anyway, we just heading back like this?"
"What else can we do? Baroness Merrygold's being that stubborn."
"Still, we should let him know things got messy. Prepare some other compensation."
"If we hand him a gift directly, she might see us in an even worse light. Better to pass it through the baroness later."
That said, it wasn't so serious that the count agonized over it for more than ten minutes.
Since time immemorial, wasn't the rule with matters of the heart to stay out of them?
"He'll figure it out on his own."
"Kinda feel bad for him now."
Deneb and Albireo, having come away empty-handed, boarded their carriage and moved on to the next topic.
It concerned the witch who'd smuggled herself into Gehenna not long ago.
"Any leads on that one?"
Deneb shook her head at Albireo's question.
"She's no amateur. We've deployed familiars and hired a few witches, but nothing."
"Could she have already returned to the mortal world?"
"Unlikely. Nothing's happened yet."
If an exile was spotted in Gehenna, they'd be permanently eliminated, no questions asked.
For her to risk that and enter meant she had some crucial objective.
There'd been no disturbances inside Gehenna.
She was probably holed up in a blind spot in the surveillance net by now.
"I'll contact Count Adonai and have him track Gehenna's fund flows. She might be here to buy something."
"Got it. I'll select three and send them to the Red Roof Salon."
Thoughts of Siwoo and Amelia quickly faded from Count Gemernai's mind.
His days were too packed to dwell on such trifles.
3.
Even the diligent habits of a slave who'd toiled for five years couldn't defy the laws of fatigue preservation.
After a night of naughty fun with the twins—eleven rounds, no less.
Plus, only two or three hours of sleep.
It was only natural to roll around in bed doing nothing, fall asleep, and wake up in the afternoon.
"My sleep schedule's wrecked."
When he opened his eyes, the sun was already dipping low.
The vivid red sunset rolled over the grassy hill, leisurely dyeing the drifting clouds in pastel hues.
This would make tomorrow a pain.
"Ughhhh..."
Siwoo stretched languidly.
Lounging like this after so long felt like being royalty.
-Flutter!
Then came the sound of papers scattering.
From right on Siwoo's bed, as he bolted upright.
"What the—?"
Siwoo scanned the bed.
And spotted something all too familiar.
He gathered them up.
"........."
Magic circle drafts he'd slaved over sleepless nights to devise for escaping Gehenna.
About two hundred sheets, fluttering across his bed.
It snapped him wide awake.
No matter how much care he'd put into them, drafts stashed under a pile of straw in the stable or in a box wouldn't crawl back to him on their own because they missed their master.
That scenario was creepy enough, but the possibility now in his head was horror of horrors.
Siwoo's eyes shook as he stared at the drafts, then swallowed hard.
His senses were sharp; this was no dream.
So who brought them here?
Not so much brought as tossed carelessly, it seemed.
Siwoo hurriedly collected and sorted the drafts, stuffing them into a drawer.
"Hoo..."
Cold sweat dripped down.
Those magic circles were his one insurance policy.
Even if they found out he could use magic, they mustn't learn he'd planned to escape Gehenna with it.
In that sense, the stable had been the safest vault.
No one had visited in five years, and even if a witch stopped by, no one would dig under a stinking straw pile for hidden items.
So who...?
-Clink
Siwoo's head whipped toward the door connecting the bedroom and living room.
A faint sound—like a teaspoon tapping a teacup.
Meaning someone was in the living room.
Probably the one who'd tossed the drafts.
Sweat poured like he'd just washed his face.
His heart pounded wildly.
He cautiously gripped the doorknob, twisted, and opened it.
There sat Amelia on the sofa, legs crossed, leisurely sipping black tea.
The last rays of sunset flooded through the balcony window.
In that world ablaze in crimson.
Her ice-blue eyes, chillingly beautiful and serene, swiveled to Siwoo.
"Sit."
Amelia spoke to Siwoo, stiff as a log.
The worst-case scenario.
Amelia would've deciphered what those magic circles were for.
Siwoo felt his mind go blank.
All his plans crumpled like wastepaper.
Should he have hidden them more thoroughly?
But it was five years.
No one had found them in five years.
Had she known all along?
Was she savoring his futile escape attempts like watching a lab rat?
Sitting at the table, he saw Kifusi cherry cake, but it held no appeal.
Next to it: paper and pen.
Amelia flipped the paper over.
It was covered in dense magical formulas.
She selected one and slid the paper to Siwoo.
"Solve it."
"Associate Professor..."
"Solve it."
Her tone brooked no further talk.
After agonizing hesitation, Siwoo reluctantly picked up the pen.