Chapter 859
Chapter 859
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 859
Chapter Title: Gift Dilemma
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Honor and wealth don't always correlate in perfect proportion, but in Gehenna, they generally trace a beautifully upward-sloping graph.
"Kyaa...."
The day after the compensation from Risennu arrived, Siu stopped by the vault bank and withdrew every last bit from his personal safe.
Chests brimming with gold coins—heavy enough that anyone without a spirit body would struggle to lift them: one, two, three... a whopping ten in total.
The amount packed inside came to roughly 10,000 gold coins, about 8 billion won.
The remainder had been prepared as 24K gold bars, in line with the gold standard policy of the vault bank.
That's 456 bars at 1kg each.
That filled out the rest, another 36.5 billion won or so.
-Ching ching ching!!!
"Heeeuuung...."
He carefully laid out the gold bars like a mattress and sprawled atop them, bathing in the coins.
The pure, dazzling 24K gleam was so bright it made his eyes sparkle—even if it was a bit tacky.
Seeing the fortune he'd only known in numbers right there in front of him put him in absolute heaven.
This was the first massive sum he'd held in his hands as a witch—actually tangible, physical wealth.
Even blowing through 100 million won a year, it was enough to secure 400 years of retirement.
And the kicker? This was the money left after paying back his debt to mother-in-law Albreo.
That very morning.
Siu had marched into Albreo's office, chin held high, a massive chest tucked under his arm.
"Lady Albreo, your worthless son-in-law has returned in glory to settle his debts."
"Hee hee, looking sharp for once. Hand it over."
True to her businesswoman nature, the mother-in-law took the gold bar case Siu offered without batting an eye.
Of course, it wasn't like she was short on cash.
To her, what felt like a fortune to Siu was probably just three months' worth of liquor money.
Still, she seemed immensely proud that her perennial headache of a son-in-law had finally proven he could stand on his own two feet.
Thanks to that, he got showered in praise.
"Lately, thanks to you, Siu, I've been walking around with my shoulders squared. Everyone at the salon is green with envy."
"Glad I could finally be of help. Oh, and there's one more thing I wanted to mention."
"What is it?"
"From now on, I'd like to at least cover my own living expenses each month."
The mother-in-law's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"It just feels wrong to keep freeloading when I'm not exactly broke anymore."
"My Siu's all grown up. I'm so proud."
"No, no. I'm just finally starting to act like a decent human."
"I'll charge you fair market rent for the room you're staying in and the research annex. Just 542 pounds a month—that covers lodging, facility maintenance, service fees, research equipment management, and taxes."
"...Pardon?"
"That's the discounted rate. I waived food and equipment rental fees."
Albreo's figure was spot on.
In fact, extraordinarily generous.
Siu's suite had one bedroom, two living rooms, one parlor, and one office-cum-library.
It was an ultra-luxury setup, wallpapered floor-to-ceiling in extravagance.
Not to mention, a single fresh flower on the table was kept in perfect bloom by the skilled hands of the maids.
On top of that, a witch's research gear was pricey to begin with—and the equipment provided by Countess Jemernai was top-of-the-line high-end.
If they charged separately for rentals, the total would easily double, but even without, it far exceeded Siu's expectations.
"Too steep, right?"
"Ah, no. I'll pay it."
The mother-in-law grinned at Siu, whose pupils were quaking like in an earthquake.
He wasn't just saying it to be polite, but damn if it didn't make cold sweat bead anyway.
"I'm not scolding you, so relax. Providing room and board—and ensuring convenience for your lovers—is because you're the one who saved my darlings Odil and Odet's lives. That's a favor no amount of money can price. I have no intention of charging you rent like that."
"...Still, it feels bad."
"I appreciate the sentiment. You've shown it again today. A rare upright young man in this day and age."
Siu felt a bit sheepish somehow.
Albreo pondered a moment, then added teasingly,
"Minus the womanizing, that is."
Back to the present.
After his gold coin bath, Siu got up and gathered the scattered treasures from the floor.
"......"
This was his first big haul.
Sure, he could hug it tight and blow it all on personal indulgence, but since it was meaningful money, he wanted to spend it meaningfully.
"Alright, gifts it is."
The people around him who'd been so grateful—especially his lovers, who'd showered unlovely Siu with boundless love and support.
Time to get them presents.
With that resolve, he stood.
2.
The good news didn't stop there.
Sharon, who'd gone into secluded training after her enlightenment, finally emerged from her room.
Double celebration.
"Siu, do I look any different?"
Sharon bounced over with a smile like a garden in full bloom, hands behind her back.
Having spent so much time with her, Siu spotted the change instantly.
The aura of the mana field around her had shifted.
Different from her Rank 20 days—it meant she'd crossed a major hurdle.
"Leveled up?"
He hadn't dared hope, but there it was.
Sharon flexed her nonexistent bicep with a confident grin.
"Yep! From now on, I'm not just Sharon. I'm supreme master Sharon."
Sharon had been peak-level already, but magically speaking, this was astonishing.
Usually, advancing a single rank in the stigmata took a whole generation's effort through research.
Yet Sharon had done it mere months after becoming a witch.
And that in a state of imperfect inheritance, having spent most of her witch life paying off debts without real research.
Especially after she'd despaired so recently over being "useless."
Her achievement shone all the brighter.
"You're amazing. You really worked hard. Sharon's the best! So cool! I'm proud! I love you!"
"Ufufu, it's all thanks to you. I was up all night agonizing over papers, then bam! Revelation hit. My life's greatest luck is you, Siu."
"Aw, says you."
Sharon nuzzled his cheek like an affectionate cat.
She looked genuinely blissful.
The joy of a loved one was his own, so Siu's lips split in a grin too.
"Sharon, I have a gift for you."
"A gift? What kind?"
"Close your eyes."
"Gonna kiss me?"
Sharon puckered up cutely and held out her hand.
His lips brushed hers softly, then pulled away—leaving a paper envelope in her palm.
"Hm? What's this?"
"Open it."
Sharon tore into the envelope with a rustle, peering at the contents.
An A4 sheet reeking of bureaucracy, a green passport, ID card, bankbook.
"Hmm?"
"Look at this first."
Siu picked out the property deed for her.
Sharon's pretty mint-green eyes scanned the document slowly.
"Wh-what's this? What is this?!"
"I put the officetel we lived in under your name. And here's ID, passport, bankbook all in your name."
"......"
Sharon stood there blankly, mouth agape for a while.
He'd bought the officetel from mother-in-law, then used a business card from a high-up politician grandpa to register Sharon's identity info.
And slapped the officetel under that name.
Flashy and expensive didn't always make the best gift.
...Though on second thought, it was pricey for a one-off, but who cared?
Sharon had so much to thank her for.
This was what he'd settled on after pondering what'd mean the most to her.
Sharon's big eyes grew even wider.
Dewy teardrops welled up like pretty dewdrops.
Her lips quivered, then she waved her hands frantically.
"I-I don't need something like this. House prices here are insane! We can't even go often.... I can't accept it."
It was a place full of precious memories from tough, grueling days together.
Of course she'd be thrilled.
More than that, knowing Siu had picked up on her feelings and prepared this made her happiest.
But a brand-new officetel in Sinchon? No way it was cheap.
Shed heard he'd come into money, but after all the help shed gotten, could she accept something so extravagant?
"I'm so grateful, Siu. But I absolutely can't take this. I'd take something else."
Sharon shoved the deed back into his chest.
"Hey~ just take it. No trouble."
"I can't! Really, I can't! How could I accept something so burdensome?!"
"I'll cover the property taxes too."
"No! I won't let you! Buy yourself something nice instead! Eat something yummy!"
Sharon and Siu bickered playfully.
The difference? She was dead serious and flustered; he was smirking slyly.
Her reaction was so spot-on it made him chuckle.
"...Can I really accept it...?"
After a long lover's quarrel, Sharon—half-forced to take the papers—asked in a teary voice.
"Of course. Especially from you."
Siu felt like a cool boyfriend for once.
Sharon bit her lip hard, then threw her arms around his neck and kissed him fiercely.
A quick reminder of basic facts: for women, the ultimate erogenous zone is the brain, and the best aphrodisiac is love.
The gift's heartfelt impact, brimming with Siu's affection, was more than enough to turn demure Sharon into a lewd kitty.
"Mmmph, haa.... Siu, undress me...."
"Sure, sure. Let's go to the room."
"No, undress me right here, now."
This was the hallway.
A corner near the stairs, so they could hide quick if footsteps approached—but still outside.
Far riskier than sneaking it in a store changing room.
"What if someone comes?"
Sharon mashed her soft breasts against him full-force, tongues entwining hotly.
Her lust-glazed eyes overflowed with enough to stir him plenty.
"Haa.... Sharon's Siu's. Do whatever you want with me. Make me do super embarrassing stuff."
Sharon fidgeted her hands, unbuttoning her shirt and hooking a finger into her bra to tug it down.
Her pale, pristine breasts and perky nipples peeking out looked far more appetizing, soft, and sweet than any strawberry cake.
"What kind of embarrassing stuff?"
Siu grabbed her ass, breathing ragged.
The grip was killer, anytime.
"Nngh.... Show off Sharon getting pounded while bragging... Walk me naked if it makes Siu happy. Today, Siu's the master, and Sharoni's master's toy...."
The cutesy voice and new self-reference "Sharoni."
Proof she'd fully gotten into it.
"Haaang...."
Siu undid her skirt buckle, rolled down her panties, and nibbled her ear.
To the shuddering Sharon, he commanded,
"Strip naked and suck."
"Yes, master...."
In the dim hallway corner, Sharon clamped her mouth shut, face beet-red.
And to celebrate her rank-up, Siu fired a white fireworks salute into her belly.
"Ehehehe.... We did something pervy for real."
"Yeah...."
"Let's do it again sometime, okay?"
As they hurriedly cleaned up, dressed, and Sharon leaned against him blushing, Siu realized:
This kind of thing seemed to happen every time he gave a gift.
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