Chapter 622 – #126_Desert Night (2)

#622

One.
Master returned not too late, but not too soon.
That is, by the time the sun has completely set and campfires all over the sandy plains begin to emit black smoke.

“You’re in trouble.”

In case of emergency, she took out her contract sword and stowed it back in the space, shaking her head and brushing off the fine sand that had dug between her hair.

“What happened?”
“It seems that the information has leaked to more places than expected. The other witches gathered here are also aiming for the devil of the labyrinth.”

As she said, there are well over 40 witches gathered at the campsite.
The only time I’ve seen this many witches in the present world was when I went to the docking station at Incheon Port in the past.

And that was bad news for Siu, who was trying to monopolize the homunculus.
Having a witch like that meant that there would inevitably be competitors.

“Does this happen often?”
“In what case?”
“In case the appearance of the homunculus was observed in advance and the witches flocked like now.”
“Hmm, it’s not that many, but I can’t say it’s too few. It’s an event that must happen at least once every 10 years, whenever the oracle of the prophecy agency is interpreted. It’s an opportunity to definitively subjugate the homunculus, which is hard to find in normal times.”

If so, the witch who asked Takasho for information seemed to be a bit soft-spoken.
Or maybe the information itself wasn’t that advanced.

“How does it usually go at times like this?”

In response to Siwoo’s question, Elroa pointed out her window.
There was a blank space in the middle based on the invisible line.

“Can you see? They are divided into two categories.”

At first glance, it seems that they are lighting a fire or setting up a tent here and there, but upon closer inspection, it seems that about 40 witches are camped out in two camps.

“One belongs to the location point or the witch of Gehenna, and the other side is an outcast. Usually the witch who catches it first gets everything. It’s not uncommon for fights to break out over it.”
“Isn’t there any merit?”
“No, if he had, he would have run away if he had seen me.”
“Aha.”

It was a really clear explanation up to that point, but she added a few words.

The achievement was to avoid places where witches gathered unless the same achievement was organized.
Not to mention the witches of Gehenna or Wich Point, they are not trusted even by the outcasts.

“So what are you going to do?”
“…….”

Anyway, I was able to draw a rough picture.
It’s not a duo raid with Master, it’s probably a battle for artifacts.

If you’re unlucky, you can come this far and hit the bullshit.

However, when I turn around, I am worried about the hardships of getting here.
Moreover, it may be difficult to find an opportunity like this again.

Was the homunculus jumping out of nowhere to grab it?
Besides, if it’s a named mob enough to be named, it’s clear that it will drop a decent legacy.

“I’ll try to do something.”
“Okay. Then let’s move the car.”

2.
Since Siu and Eloa belonged to Gehenna, they naturally parked outside the camp.

Witches who stared at the fire in front of the bonfire and smoked cigarettes while lying elongated.
Just looking at the way they stayed, I felt quite bizarre incongruity because they were all refugees fleeing the war, but they all looked the same.

I could feel the gazes of the witches, who had been idle for a while, heading this way all at once.
The chatter that followed immediately reached Siwoo’s ear, who was quite far away.

“What? Isn’t that Shin Siwoo?”
“Who is Shin Si-woo?”
“You don’t know that man witch? These days are famous.”
“Is that him?”

A long spear wrapped in a black ribbon around the eyepatch on the left eye.
Shiu, who was said to have the body of a mere man and possess magic comparable to that of a great witch, was treated as a legendary Pokémon even among witches.

Some of these groans are also heard.

“Let’s pack up. If it’s Duke Tiphareth, it’s an attack….”
“These damned docking station idiots say it’s rare information!”
“I blew the plane ticket.”

I also hear this nonsense.

“Wow…. Crazy…. Damn handsome I’ll eat your face and live 100 years….”
“Ask for a fleet.”
“Are you crazy? Don’t you see Duke Tiphareth next to you? Come on.”
“Apprentice Witch?”
“It’s not like that, but there must be something. You two came all the way here.”
“Oh my gosh…. It’s a romantic relationship.”

Whether it was because he had stayed so long in Gehenna, or because of the background, these whispers almost alleviated.
Although she was still teased and looked upon.

“You guys are trembling.”

It’s been a long time since I’ve had such an enthusiastic response, so I was embarrassed.
The master next to me is also very shy and turns around busily here and there.

“Looks like we’re lovers.”

To be more precise, you seem to remember only the last words.
The hand brushing his sleeve was fidgeting, hesitating whether to hold her hand or not.

“I’m just supposed to be over there, I think I came here for no reason?”
“It would be better to be as close as possible to the area where they are scheduled to appear. As soon as you come out, you will open the labyrinth, so wouldn’t it be advantageous to be as close as possible?”
“So is he….”

Still, it seems that Master’s prestige is higher in this world than in Gehenna.
She had witches who came to say hello or see Siu, but she never became like an idol who was swept away by her sasaeng fan.

Siwoo, who took off her blindfold, confirmed that the reason was not all.
Not all of them were very high in the hierarchy.
In the first place, the fact that Siwoo can grasp the hierarchy with the Mystic Eye means that he is less than the Great Witch.
She seemed to be staying at around the 18th tier if she averaged out.

“I haven’t seen you in a long time. Duke Tiphareth and Mr. Shin Si-woo.”

Among them, I saw a familiar face.

Bright red hair and deep ruby ​​eyes like a burning flame.
She was Baron Della Redcliffe, the only Grand Witch of this faction.

Just as experiences change people, so too do witches.
When I first saw her, she didn’t feel like a vicious, vicious young lady.

She’s not her trademark red dress, but rather modest attire, considering it’s a desert, and not her shoes, but clunky walkers wrapped around her feet.
Even so, her elegance was not going anywhere, so her aristocratic dignity came out in her greeting as she lightly lifted the hem of her skirt.

“Thank you again for stopping her best friend from running amok the other day. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to her again for taking care of the peaceful funeral.”

Having said that, Della asked, turning to her own truck.

“It won’t change, but would it be all right if I invite you two over for dinner?”
“Of course, I will take it as a thank you.”

After her willing nod, Elroa gave Della a light pat on her shoulder, as well as her affection and consolation.

The uproar of Paola Xochitl.
It was one of the most unforgettable disturbances in Siwoo’s memory.
Perhaps it will occupy the upper rank among the difficulties of the cases that have been involved in so far?
Even that master was in a state of disrepair and had to recuperate for several months.

The case culminated in Della, who had donated her entire fortune to Wichi Point, and Paola’s body was salvaged and given a funeral.
The profile of Della, unable to cry and staring blankly at the remains of her close friend, gave Siwoo quite a bit of thought.

“I’ve been hearing a lot about you lately. They say they subjugate homunculus?”
“Not to the extent of listening to Duke Tiphareth.”

And Della, who met again, had changed to the point of wondering, ‘Is it the same person?’
First of all, the arrogant tendencies and greed that could not be shaken off even if they were respected are completely invisible.

If I had to compare it, it would be the benevolent yet strong eyes of a nurse who volunteered to be at the forefront where bombs rained down.
Her experience of losing her dear friend seems to have left her with a lot to think about.

“Can you wait a minute?”

A campfire covered with a board to prevent sandstorms from hitting it.
Della skillfully grilled bacon and eggs in a cast-iron pan over a campfire that had turned into a small oven.

Beside her, a teapot full of soot hung and steamed out.
Seeing that he is skilled at flipping fried eggs, it is not something he has done once or twice.

By the time the smell of browned food melts in the desolate night desert air.
Della took out her barley bread and made it into a sandwich, topped with bacon and eggs that had been grilled with her butter.

The side drink was a mixture of brandy and black tea in a ratio of 1:9.

“I don’t know if it will suit the Duke.”
“It can’t be, what a wonderful dinner.”
“Thank you, I will eat.”

It was insignificant compared to the luxurious mansion meals I always ate, but it felt like a delicacy because it was a place like this.

I had a quick bite before boarding the light plane on the way, but I only confirmed that Central Asian food was not to my liking.
The spices are also very strong, and above all, there is no joke that comes up from the meat through the strong spice scent.

“Did you come for subjugation?”

While Della and Eloa were talking, Siu became somewhat of a marginalized person.

It is said that after the death of Xochitl, she has been wandering around her world, subjugating the homunculus.
It was atonement for her close friend, whom she could not save too late.

“Yes, originally, I was going to get rid of her with only the devil in the labyrinth dealt with….”

Della, like the other witches gathered here, came in contact with her oracle.
However, she says that she was greeted by about 30 witches and witches who came after hearing news of her.

“Originally, I just wanted to go back. There is no need for so many people to gather.”
“He is too.”
“But as you can see, a faction has formed between the Exiled and the Gehenna side witches. It remained to balance.”

Unlike Siwoo, who chews on the meaning of balancing, Elroa quickly grasped the truth about her.

“Is there an Archwitch over there?”
“Yes, Mercury Witch.”

No one ordered it, but as you can tell from the camp where they split up, the outcasts and the Gehenna witches don’t get along very well.

From the point of view of the witches of Gehenna, the outcasts are pre-criminals, and from the point of view of the outcasts, the witches belonging to Gehenna are unlucky misers.

If Della is left out of this situation, only the Archwitch will remain on her side, which means that the balance of power has collapsed.
If the balance of power collapses, an accident may occur in which one side overtakes the other side.

If it is in the middle of the desert without proper surveillance equipment, there is a high possibility that the goal of emotion will lead to the exercise of skill.

Della therefore remained in this position and took on the role of her counterweight.
This was also an altruistic figure that could never be imagined if you recall the previous Della.

“It was a lot of hard work.”
“I was just here.”

Della, who humbly lowered her gaze and answered, asked for a favor.

“I’m sorry to ask you this, but could you talk to the Mercury Witch? Just for the sake of safety.”

Elloa smiled benignly at Della’s completely different appearance.
She gladly complied with Della’s request.