Chapter 829
Chapter 829
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 829
Chapter Title: Diagnosis (2)
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1.
The goals of this examination were twofold.
One was framing it as a "light precautionary check-up just in case" so his other lovers—especially Amelia—wouldn't worry.
The other was uncovering the secret of his left arm, something even Yebin couldn't figure out.
In any case, with anyone else around besides Master, it might cause needless concern, so he'd politely cleared the room.
His lovers had insisted on staying despite his awkward excuses and their worried expressions, but when Master intervened, they all stepped out.
And so, the only ones left in the mansion were Eloa, Siu, and Gretel.
The rest had decided to tour nearby sights.
"Hold on a moment. I need to prepare."
Gretel left Eloa and Siu in the drawing room and headed back to her workshop.
Whatever she was preparing so diligently, they were already thirty minutes into waiting.
"What are you thinking about so intently?"
He must have been deeply lost in thought.
It took him a while to even notice Master gazing at him curiously from the side.
"Ah, the techniques I picked up in that dream."
Just two hours earlier.
In the dream, Siu had clashed with Eloa using powerful spells.
That mock battle had sparked all sorts of inspiration.
A completely different way of wielding power from what he'd used before.
It felt like catching a glimpse of a whole new realm.
To actually reach that level, he'd need to leap several stages ahead—but the power of inspiration was immense.
Dozens of spells he itched to test were already swirling in his mind.
If he could attain that dream realm.
If he could rise to a level where he could truly rival Master.
Then no ordinary danger would make him so much as blink.
Just as he'd vowed before, he could become the kind of magnificent man worthy of all these lovers.
Such a bold, youthful ambition set his chest burning hot.
"What?"
He'd shyly confessed his inner thoughts to Master.
Her eyes went wide before she burst out laughing, like she was tickling a puppy's paw with mugwort.
"Master, I'm serious."
"I know. Sorry. But... but... sorry... just stay like that a second..."
She tried to stifle her laughter by twitching her lips, but in the end, she clutched her stomach until tears pricked her eyes.
Siu had started out a bit annoyed, but even he couldn't help chuckling.
So what if it was embarrassing?
As long as Master was having fun.
"Vowing to become a wonderful man... To me, you already are."
"Even so, it's still embarrassing. At the very least, I need to reach a level where I can help when everyone's in danger, right?"
A boyfriend who got his ass kicked everywhere he went and kept vanishing on them, rotting his lovers' hearts away.
Could there be anything more pathetic?
"I get why you feel that way, and it's adorable... What, aiming to become Duke Keter or something?"
"Naturally."
"Take it slow. You're already growing at an unprecedented pace."
"By the way... Are you doing okay, Master?"
"Hm? Ah..."
Siu had seen the dream's conclusion and assumed Eloa had finally forgiven him after her long wandering.
But only she truly knew.
Once the mood had lightened a bit, he'd asked.
She tucked her pink locks behind her ear and glanced around.
Seeing no sign of Gretel returning yet, she suddenly threw her arms around Siu.
"Of course. I've never felt my heart this at ease before."
"That's a relief."
Their bond, forged in deep trust, needed no extra words.
He simply held Eloa gently.
"Ah, Master."
"What now?"
"Come to think of it, in the dream, you said something like this?"
As he spoke, he slyly slid his hand from her waist down to her rear.
Master flinched at the sudden, mischievous touch.
"That we'd make love once a day, for three hours straight..."
"Wh-wh-what are you talking about?!"
Eloa excelled in every way but one: she was terrible at lying.
She couldn't even bluff convincingly.
With her jumping in shock, legs clamped tight and staring sternly at empty air, how could he not see through it?
"Is that what you want too, Master?"
Looking back, that dream had reflected Master's deepest wishes.
Even tiny details could mirror the subconscious.
In that light, it was pretty surprising.
Master wasn't the type with zero sex drive, was she?
Unless...
"Actually..."
Her lips mumbled like a baby rabbit nuzzling for milk.
"Actually?"
"......"
Even after a long silence and his gentle prod, Eloa clamped her mouth shut again.
In truth, Eloa was wrestling with a dilemma.
Whether to bring up the "sexual desire color diagnosis" she'd done with Dorothy.
Dorothy had advised her that love between lovers wasn't shameful, nor was lust vulgar—so she should open up honestly.
But could values forged over a century-plus shift with a few words?
If so, were they even values?
In the end, Siu got no answer from her.
"Ready. Follow me."
Right then, Gretel—who'd finished her preparations—called out.
Gretel's workshop looked utterly transformed from when Siu and Eloa had first stepped in.
To the point where he wondered if they'd wandered into a different room.
"Pretty niche setup, huh?"
"You mocking my magic?"
"Not at all, but..."
The once-pristine office-like space, with just a workbench, now resembled a hardcore occult shop.
Dim blackout curtains, a small cauldron bubbling with green liquid, a pentagram drawn in blood on the floor, and more.
The classic "evil witch's lair" straight out of a fairy tale.
With all her witch experience, Siu realized it was just setup to bolster the symbolic array.
"It's not really my taste either."
"I figured. But... is that real?"
Siu pointed at the skull cradling a candle like a candlestick.
Gretel blew past the trivial question without a second glance.
"Strip first."
"Pardon?"
One might think, 'This situation again?'
Master was eyeing Gretel with full-on wariness.
"Gotta strip for the diagnosis. Do I really need to spell it out?"
"Why snap like that? Fine, got it."
Then again, judging by his scout senses—honed dodging countless witches' advances—no trace of lust clung to Gretel.
Off came the shirt and pants, revealing his well-honed muscles.
Not to brag, but if he'd stayed a mathematician in the modern world, would he have built a physique this fine?
Muscles blending function and form, accented by scars large and small that amplified his masculine appeal.
"Nice muscle grain. So this is how men are built. Wait—no, this is training layered on top."
Suddenly, a cold hand pressed against his chest.
It glided down over his abs and thighs.
Master bit her lip hard from the sidelines.
But Gretel paid no mind, appraising every inch of Siu's body with a dry, professional gaze.
"What're you waiting for? Strip, I said."
"Even the underwear?"
"To glimpse the soul's essence, you return to your primal state. Or were you born in panties?"
Gretel's sharp barb cut without a hint of softness.
Siu unnecessarily glanced at Eloa before fumbling off his underwear too.
He was starting to feel weirdly accustomed to baring himself to total strangers.
As his dangling member swung free, Gretel's eyes widened just a fraction.
"...Way above average."
"Enough!"
The instant Gretel reached to grab it, Eloa surged forward, unable to hold back.
"Restrain yourself if it's not essential."
"Shape's hilarious. I'm the doctor here. You think I'd lust after a patient over some nudity?"
Gretel wasn't wrong.
Proof: Master couldn't draw her usual sharp line.
"Master, why not wait outside? It'll be fine."
"But..."
"Was gonna suggest it anyway. Constant interruptions from the side are a pain."
In the end, Master stationed herself right outside the door, leaving Siu alone with Gretel.
No sudden seductive shift from Gretel, either.
Picky personality aside, her professional integrity seemed ironclad.
"How long do I have to stand here like this?"
"Lemme look a bit longer. First male witch body I've seen."
Gretel circled the awkwardly naked Siu, prodding here and there with her hands.
Seemed her professionalism extended to witchcraft too.
"Tell me your symptoms while you're at it. I'm listening."
"Got it. Just avoid the sides—they're ticklish. But there's one thing you need to promise."
"What?"
He wasn't sure how much he could safely share.
But Dorothy had taught him: to survive witch society going forward, his soft side so far wouldn't cut it. Sometimes, he needed to project a ruthless edge.
"If my condition leaks out, I won't sit idle. Keep it strictly secret."
"......"
"Of course, I don't think you—Gretel, overflowing with a doctor's sense of duty—would leak patient info. Just in case. Just in case."
His first stab at a veiled threat wrapped in persuasion.
Felt awkward as hell coming out.
Did it land?
"Scary male witch, huh."
Gretel threw her head back and laughed, baring her teeth.
First time he'd seen that expression. Total miss on the intimidation.
"...That obvious?"
"Adorable. Now I get why you're so popular."
"Anyway, keep your promise. I'm not the scary one—but there are plenty outside who are."
"No need to worry. Secret's sworn on my witch's honor. And I'm a witch who values her reputation."
With that firm assurance, Siu spilled plenty.
Mana-copy ability during sex. His left eye coming from Keter. The trigger for his left arm acting up.
Gretel reined in her laughter and listened intently.
Interest flickered in her eyes as she nodded through to the end, then positioned Siu dead center in the pentagram.
"Alright. Time to scan."