Chapter 844
Chapter 844
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 844
Chapter Title: The Thesis (3)
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Siu managed to calm down Lurye, who was grumbling, 'How dare they interrupt our marital bliss! I'll give the big landlady a piece of my mind!' before stepping out of the room.
He'd dressed neatly, figuring it was a guest visit after all.
It was the suit Amelia had taken him to Flora's tailoring shop to get fitted for back in the day.
Of course, since he'd bulked up with muscle far beyond what he had then, he'd had it altered once already.
Albreo pointed it out with a flick of her fingertip.
"Siu, your tie's a mess."
"Oh, how's it now?"
"Still looks awkward. Come here. With all those girlfriends, can't you tie your own tie?"
Normally, those words would sting like thorns, but today they just felt like a light tickle.
Albreo's slender fingertips grasped his tie.
Her eyelids blinked slowly and languidly from eye level lower than his, focused intently.
"……."
Siu swallowed for a moment.
To explain ahead of time, this was just a conditioned reflex.
Deneb and Albreo were twins who looked just like Odil and Odet.
The only differences were their hair colors and usual outfits.
At this close distance, combined with an unusually intimate gesture from her, she naturally overlapped with little mother-in-law in his mind.
He tried not to think of her that way usually, but with her gentle touch brushing near his neck at such proximity, goosebumps prickled his skin.
Anyway, this distance felt a bit burdensome.
Even so, he'd shared intimacy with Deneb multiple times.
They'd even navigated life-and-death struggles together, so if they weren't son-in-law and mother-in-law...
Wouldn't they just be a couple who'd overcome misunderstandings and trials together?
Of course, little mother-in-law wouldn't see it that way at all.
"Something wrong? You're staring."
"No, nothing."
"Jeez... I'm kindly showing you how for once, and you're not even paying attention. Let me do it again. Now, focus."
She deftly tied the knot and adjusted it side to side.
It was a classic Esquire knot that suited his sharp suit perfectly.
"Got it."
"Yeah, you should be able to do it yourself from now on, right?"
He shook off the improper thoughts and nodded.
"Um, Albreo."
"Yes?"
"This might sound silly."
"Go on."
"You're not mad today?"
Albreo glanced toward the door where Lurye was likely gnawing on a pillow, then let out a chuckle.
"It's not the first time, and you showed up unannounced— that's on me."
Even so, normally she'd have kicked his shins twice by now.
He couldn't fathom this sudden shift in demeanor.
"Thanks to you, I got to puff up my chest a bit at the salon. Maybe I'm feeling generous since I reaped some benefits?"
"What do you mean?"
"It means I've confirmed you have at least one real talent."
"Ah."
He got it.
It was probably about the thesis.
"I was truly amazed. To elevate a spell you'd tinkered with alone to that level... Didn't you know? All of Gehenna is buzzing about your paper right now."
"Really?"
Albreo extended her gloved hand, and Siu naturally escorted her.
As they strolled down the hall, he pieced together the situation.
In short, the paper he'd submitted without much thought was drawing a flood of hot reactions and attention.
The reason big mother-in-law was beaming was surely because her son-in-law had gained recognition in the 'research' field most vital to 'witches'.
"Don't tell me today's guest is...?"
"Yes, she seems very interested in your paper."
"Who is it?"
"Baroness Luisa Moiety, the 'Transmutation Witch'. 21st Hierarchy, Meigas of the Emerald Tablet."
"Meigas?"
"Yes, practically the second-in-command right below the academy president."
The Emerald Tablet was the second-largest academic society after the Truth and Names Academy.
A Meigas-rank member was one of the prestigious ten limited spots.
Just hearing she was a baroness of the 21st Hierarchy hinted at her stature— someone extraordinary was taking interest.
"She almost never leaves her workshop, so it must've really impressed her. Oh, I was surprised too. Who knew you had such ability."
Albreo's voice, bright and crisp as she spoke, sounded almost like a song.
It might be the most lively tone since he'd known her.
"You said you got advice from Baroness Sophia and wrote it that way on purpose, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Then you can probably guess why Baroness Moiety is here."
"Professor Sophia said this could make money..."
He hadn't expected a great witch— and a baroness at that— to show up personally, though.
Albreo smirked at Siu's honest words.
"She'll have brought a gift. Just check the terms, and if you like it, answer her questions."
"Feels like one-on-one tutoring."
"Exactly. The gift is the tuition."
"Hmm..."
His original goal had been a secretary and breaching the main gate; tech transfer profits were secondary.
Still, he wanted to capitalize fully on this rare opportunity.
Who knew when another would come, and it was a chance to profit without risk.
He owed mother-in-law the equivalent of 8 billion won right now.
"So, how much should I accept as a gift?"
"What do you mean?"
"Like a set amount?"
"It's your achievement, so it depends on whether you like it or not. But don't feel pressured to refuse. Politely declining is no breach of etiquette."
In other words, it was like negotiating a squid price— play hardball.
The trickiest part.
"Ah, I see why you're asking. I wasn't clear enough."
As she spoke, Albreo seemed to remember something and tugged lightly at Siu's sleeve.
"The 'gift' for 'tutoring' is a one-on-one deal. Accepting Baroness Moiety's gift doesn't mean you can't teach other witches. In crude terms, no need to squeeze her dry alone."
In essence, he could take gifts from everyone who came asking and teach them all.
But one question arose.
"If I tutor the baroness, can she then teach other witches?"
"Siu, as I said before, Gehenna is a trust-based society. Stealing someone's work stains your witch reputation irreparably."
"Like treating someone as the guy sneaking meat out of an all-you-can-eat buffet."
"...What's a meat buffet?"
With that slightly offbeat exchange concluded, Siu finally met Baroness Moiety.
2.
The reception room right next to the Countess's long gallery.
Even in the famously opulent Jemernai Countess's estate, this was the room reserved for the most esteemed guests.
Baroness Luisa Moiety sat on the sofa, hat removed, sipping the black tea a maid had brought.
Home visits in Gehenna had strict rules.
Even for fellowship and info exchange, etiquette and decorum were mandatory.
Baroness Moiety, immersed in magic research within the academy, still knew basic manners.
For instance, a guest removing their hat indoors without the host's invitation signaled 'I'll be staying 30 minutes or more.'
Based on such customs, a home visit right after dawn could be seen as rude.
Yet this time, Baroness Moiety willingly risked the impropriety.
Not out of disdain for male witches through colored glasses.
A paper from a male witch handed to her by a fellow witch.
She wanted to meet its brilliant author first and foremost.
To debate it as soon as possible.
To reach even higher realms.
Her heart pounded with that drive when she heard footsteps.
-Thud thud
The male witch she'd only heard rumors of.
One she'd never seen in person entered with a straight-backed, vigorous stride.
Baroness Moiety's eyes widened bit by bit.
The hand holding her hat loosened unconsciously.
"Baroness Moiety, it's an honor to meet you. I'm Shin Siu."
A deep, resonant voice from a head taller than her.
A well-trained physique evident even under the fine suit.
An eyepatch obliquely covering one eye, elevated to fashion on a statue-like face.
A paradoxical beauty, refined yet brimming with masculine charm.
Even the subtle aura of seasoned poise and leisure from his restrained movements.
This being offering a handshake differed from every 'man' Baroness Moiety had ever defined.
Of course it did.
He wasn't just any man; he bore the stigma.
But the Shin Siu she'd imagined was a green rookie witch, genius or not.
She never expected someone with the charisma of a northern archduke...
"……."
"Baroness?"
Realizing her mouth was agape, Baroness Moiety hastily covered it.
Then, belatedly gripped his hand, which stared curiously at her.
His thick, powerful grip— utterly unlike a woman's— sent a shiver down her spine as it met hers gently.
"Hello. Sorry for the early intrusion."
"No issue."
But Baroness Moiety was a proper witch.
She hadn't received such lax etiquette training as to lose composure on a first meeting.
She pulled out soulless small talk: the weather lately, the impressive artworks in the mansion.
But why did it keep surfacing?
Memories of a high noble she'd fallen for at first sight at a ball before becoming an apprentice witch.
She'd been very young then, pining in lovesick agony without ever speaking to him.
Since dedicating her life to the path of magic, this was the first time that memory resurfaced.
"I was deeply impressed by your paper, so I came to seek your thoughts on a few questions."
Baroness Moiety pulled a small box from her bosom and cracked it open slightly.
"I've prepared a token for your valuable time."
Inside the half-open box gleamed a small ruby, blood-red like a pigeon's blood.
"Ooh."
The imposing presence he'd exuded moments ago vanished; Shin Siu peered at the box with curious eyes.
Normally, appraising a 'gift's' value was done swiftly in about three seconds— mutual courtesy.
If someone stared long, others would think, 'What's this about?' or 'Is this not enough? Just say it.' inwardly annoyed.
But Baroness Moiety smiled softly.
Such a splendid man couldn't be swayed by mere greed, right?
"Seems you like it. Researching alchemy or elementals too?"
"Ah? Uh? Yes. Right."
"As you see, it's pigeon-blood from Myanmar's Mong Hsu mine. I cut it myself, with certificate included."
"If converted to gold coins, what's its value?"
"Ah, you haven't been a witch long, have you?"
To show such bluntness!
Baroness Moiety chided herself.
"I paid about 1,000 pounds for it at auction twenty years ago."
Asking price directly was rude among rudenesses, but so what?
His fresh, naive attitude even felt refreshing.
"Good. Shall we get started then?"
Seeing him grin uncontrollably, Baroness Moiety swelled with immense pride.