Chapter 1173 – #279_Declaration of War (3)

#1167

One.
A group cannot become one.

Even groups united under one ideology are divided due to numerous factors such as differences in direction and methodology, and this has been proven many times throughout history.

It goes without saying that each member is a witch with a unique personality and whose purpose in life is to perfect ‘her magic.’

“The May Tea Party will become independent from the Chesed Society.”
“…”

Siwoo hid his sigh as he saw the president of the society, Schläfli Ishtar, calmly handing over the documents to withdraw from the agreement.

May Tea Party, founded in 1881, the symbol is a small turquoise teacup on a white magic circle background.
This mystical semiotics specialized society, which has 71 members, is an academic society under Chesed led by the 22nd rank ‘Witch of Pentecost’.

As a side note, it was an academic society that managed to conclude a partnership in the early days, with Siwoo stepping forward like a salesman, and he was also a key person in the now-suspended ‘Hunting Rights’ project.

“This is a time when even one person’s strength is precious. “I cannot but regret Ishtar’s decision.”
“There is no shame. But the mission given to me is not the war against Hexennacht. It may be a cowardly decision in Count Hesed’s eyes… “Not everyone can be like you.”

Siwoo sent President Ishtar away without saying anything.
She also didn’t say anything.

“… Hey, fuck that.”

I understand the situation.

Hexennacht’s ultimatum followed by a declaration of war arrived at Gehenna’s central city hall.

Perhaps the reason they didn’t launch a surprise attack right away was because they were claiming to be an empire that would start a new era?

Since the Duke of Erelim has turned to the enemy side, he may have assumed a significant advantage, so he may have started making excuses now.

In any case, what is certain is that a witch war of unprecedented scale is just around the corner.

Like in comics or movies, there was no picture of people coming together in the face of an external crisis and planning a picturesque teamfight without a single troll or escapee.

The academic alliance was swayed both inside and outside.

Among them, there were instances like the one just before where they opposed participation in the war and withdrew from the academic alliance, saying, ‘We will go our own way.’
Considering that honor is a very important element in Gehenna, he was even prepared to face social criticism.

Is that all?
The truth and truth academic society that remained in Gehenna was completely locked.

A large-scale barrier formed by fifteen great witches completed the fortification both physically and magically and blocked all exchanges with the outside world.
From Siwoo’s perspective, he wonders, ‘Why would they do something like that even though they’re in Gehenna?’ This would probably indicate an extreme refusal to participate in the war.

In fact, the Allied Forces tried to hold talks several times, but were unable to even get a foot in the door, let alone reply.

This is not just a problem within Gehenna.

Among the witches stationed at the location point, there are escapees.
The only consolation is that there are proud witches from the Association Alliance who volunteer to fill the empty positions.

I am keenly aware of the old adage that the war is not won by the one who fights well, but by the one who fights less.

But in fact, this situation was not much different in Hexennacht.

2.
Nightmare Witch, Barbara Milinoe.

She is an exploit that Gehenna has been keeping a close eye on since the past.
The hierarchy is high, but the biography so far is impressive.

Former Qliphoth founding member.
A war criminal who led the invasion of Gehenna during the Witch Wars.
The murder of witches amounted to double digits.
Attack and destroy location points all over the world.

He made great contributions to the founding of Hexennacht and was once a hardliner who opposed the Witch of Gold.

It is an SSS-level feat that exists in Tier 1 even on Witch Point’s wanted poster.

Unexpectedly, he himself did not have a great desire for power and his presence was not particularly noticeable due to being pushed out of various political battles, but it goes without saying that Ilshin’s skills and practical experience were outstanding.

Until the old witches joined, the three Witches of Gold, Aries, and Nightmare were considered Hexennacht’s strongest forces.

Her personality also played a role here.

Unless they are unique species that seek out fights, such as the Witch of Aquarius, the Witch of War, or the Witch of Swords, most witches avoid all-out war once they have established themselves to a certain extent.

In the past, even the Gold Witch who stood on the same battlefield as Barbara rarely went to the front lines after the 22nd rank.
I gave it to the Lehar Group or left it to the Solidus members.

Because there is more to lose.

But Barbara was different.
Barbara was willing to stand on the front lines in any situation and hog the spoils in keeping with her track record.

If there was something I wanted to get, I got it with my own efforts.

A witch is a transcendent person who has thrown off the shackles of humanity.

I wanted to call myself a seeker of magic, and I decided to burn everything to reach transcendence.
The cost of achieving one’s desires should not be ignored either.

This is because facing the price is the process of proving one’s qualifications as a seeker.

Even though she may be criticized for being stubborn, that is what Barbara thinks of as a witch.

Today too, she was planning to prove her status as a transcendent.

“Looking at the atmosphere, it doesn’t seem like it would be a quiet night.”

Olga Somnus, the ‘Witch of Sleep’, who saw Barbara walking in with a fierce expression, immediately followed her in a charming manner.

“You look very angry. “Are you having trouble communicating?”
“It can’t be possible. “A bunch of senile old bastards with no sense of seriousness whatsoever.”
“Just a little while ago, they said that since they have proven their qualifications, they should be treated with at least some respect.”
“It just came out. “Minimum respect.”

Next, Oksana Clavis, the ‘witch of enchantment’, approached and naturally placed her cigarette in Varvara’s mouth.

“Calm down.”
“I’m already cool, Oksana.”

Like Barbara, the two are founding members of Qliphoth and trustworthy colleagues.
He is also a collaborator in conspiring with this incident.

“So we’re doing it on our own?”

There is one purpose.
Hunt for Blanche Erelim, the witch of the constellations.

When she was an enemy, she was more dangerous than anyone else.

It’s natural.

The strongest witch except for Kether, who is nothing short of heavenly.
The orthodox members of the Jinri Jinmyeong Academic Society who, unlike witches, swear absolute loyalty to their leader.

After a series of incidents, the mere existence of Erelim and the Academic Council, which expressed neutrality, served as a deterrent to the war.

It would have been a great risk if they had changed their position and joined Gehenna, but with Erelim’s betrayal, the situation was completely reversed.

In other words, everything Erelim could give without risk was taken in return.
All that’s left is to get rid of her and completely eliminate her variables.

In addition to Oksana and Olga, elite hardliners are preparing for the hunt.

“It’s the 25th rank… “I’m really nervous.”
“How strong will you be?”

A witch’s power is difficult to quantify.

If you have two level 1 characters, you have level 2 power, and if you have level 3, it is difficult to say that you have two level 2 characters and four level 1 power.

However, there is a commonly accepted power law.

Even if there is a gap in hierarchy, if you have an advantage in numbers, you can hunt even a witch of a higher hierarchy.
If it weren’t for that, Duke Tiphareth would have been carrying out a massacre in Central and South America long ago.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of. I’ve just reached rank 25. I can’t control my power completely. Besides, I’m calm and vulnerable in the middle of enemy territory with no one to help me. “It’s the best timing.”
“Who said what?”
“A 25-tier brand is the best trophy you’ve ever hunted?”

As Barbara beckons, the witches emerge one by one from the darkness.

A total of twenty-one.

The people that Barbara prepared for her hunt were not novices, but the majority were professional hunters of rank 20 or higher.
Qliphoth’s anti-witch fighting group that requires a record of burying at least ten witches to join.

“It’s hunting time.”

This is the ‘Ghagiel Brigade’.

The hem of the cloak waved like a flag under the pale moonlight.

3.
Like Western Europe, Russia, a large country, has many abandoned castles.

In the past, wealth was concentrated only in the top class.
These are cultural property-class castles that were owned by nobles or the imperial family but were abandoned when they could not bear the cost of maintenance, or when the owner’s family was swept away by the waves of the Red Revolution.

These buildings are used in a variety of ways.
It was renovated and used as a psychiatric ward, or turned into a military facility during wartime.
In the current case, it is serving as a prison to monitor unsuspecting converts.

On the outside, it was an ordinary old castle that looked like it was only worth 1 billion won, so I bought it thinking, ‘That’s a bargain!’, But then realized that repairs would cost about 5 billion won. It was an ordinary old castle, but inside it was a more meticulous surveillance system than any psychiatric ward or military facility.

Even if the surveillance object shows even the slightest movement, an immediate warning is issued, and barriers and magic circles spread everywhere are prepared for all variables.
In order to block the possibility of escaping using the ‘door’, the nearest car was located more than 600km away, and all lakes nearby were evaporated.

As soon as anything suspicious is seen, a standby team from the nearby central corps is prepared to be dispatched and end the situation.

“Isn’t it like a fairy tale?”
“What are you talking nonsense all of a sudden?”
“Isn’t it a picture of a princess going to rescue a princess who has been captured in a castle guarded by a dragon? “We are a warrior party.”

What Oksana said is complete nonsense.

The person who is alone in that castle is not the poor princess, but the most powerful duke who can kidnap even a dragon.
Gagiel’s role is also assassination, not rescue.

However, unlike his babbling nonsense, his movements were quick and rapid.

In an instant, the security system was neutralized, and the witches on guard duty quickly abandoned their duties as soon as they saw Barbara’s face.
Even if it was a mission, no fool would dare to face the notorious hard-line elite for the Duke of Gehenna, who was half-captive and half-propaganda.

“Entering.”

Barbara opened the large gate and entered the castle.

“It kills the mood.”

Still, since the VIP was a VIP, there was a heavy atmosphere in the Goseong, which had been neatly renovated, as if it had been stagnant.

The silence, as if time had stopped, seemed to ward off even the inevitable struggle.

We headed straight to where Duke Erelim would be.

Even though she knew that the surveillance around her was disappearing one by one, she stayed locked in her room, making her presence known.

“This is so calm. I should have known you were coming here. You don’t have the courage to make a fuss in front of shabby achievements, right? Huh? “A princess trapped in a dragon’s castle.”
“You told me earlier not to talk nonsense…”
“I’m trying to get my form back, so shut up.”

Erelim, who had her back to the door, turned her head expressionlessly at the provocation of the murderous Varvara.

4.
“Do you think it would have started by now?”
“Why are you so quiet? “I like watching fights.”

Orselia asked, looking at Verda in front of her dressing table, her hair in a roll and her eyebrows eagerly rolled up.
Orselia smiles at the sight of Verda engrossed in her makeup while gently shaking her legs.

Still, because he looks young, his every action is full of charm.
The flesh will definitely be soft and sweet.

“Take no interest. “I’ve seen enough of Erelim’s magic before.”
“Well, it was like that. Still, it’s an opportunity to get a glimpse of what the 25th rank is like.”
“What happens if you peek? And I hate Erelim’s magic because it makes me feel gloomy when I look at it.”
“So who do you think will win?”
“Fuhahaha!”

Verda laughed at Orselia’s question, but then suddenly got nervous.

“Ah! That sucks! My makeup! Orcelia! Do you know how much effort it took?! “I told you not to talk to me!”
“Even if I don’t talk to you, it’s ruined. Verda has seen the magic of Erelim the most, so answer me. “Are you curious?”
“Common sense tells us that Erelim cannot win. “Even though Barbara is a bitch, she wouldn’t have gone to write a diary, and she would have been leading the ‘Gaggi El’ under me.”
“Hmm.”

Although it is a group of about 20 people, its eliteness goes without saying.
Orselia considered the odds of Barbara achieving her goal and the odds of not doing so were 50 to 50.

No matter how high the 25th rank is, the Gagiel Brigade, which includes the Nightmare Witch, is the largest force of the hardliners in the past.

“But…”

Verda, who was grumbling and removing her dirty eyeliner with a remover, stopped.

“Ah… As she spoke, she even erased her shadow…”
“… “Can I do it for you?”
“You can’t wear makeup.”

She quickly threw her makeup supplies on the vanity table and finished her sentence as if she wasn’t really interested.

“Because theory is different from practice. Realistically speaking, if you fight a thousand times, will you win at least once?”
“Once in a thousand… “Who?”

Verda narrowed her eyes cutely.

“What are you asking? Of course it’s Barbara. Do you expect common sense from Erelim? “She’s crazy.”