Page 365

1.

“Ugh!”

Just as Siwoo had expected before, things just wouldn’t go smoothly so easily.

There were three kinds of experiments he needed to run.

One, checking the barrier’s shielding.

Two, securing samples of the Red Branch’s distortion rate whenever it reacted to a strong enough force.

Three, controlling the distortion field after removing the protective ribbon and exposing 5% of the spear.

The first one was easily done, but the moment he tried to do the second one, he immediately stumbled upon a wall.

Because even the slightest force would make the Red Branch go crazy even though it was still covered up by his ribbon.

The same thing happened when he exposed a tiny part of the spear’s blade.

Even the surface of the mana water—which was supposed to be pretty much unreactive—rippled crazily because of it as it spitted out droplets of water everywhere.

He had to soak the spear into the mana water again after a really brief time of experimenting.

“It seems like you’re having trouble.”

“Huh?”

The countess, who had only been watching from the side, suddenly joined him and came into the bathtub.

Without giving Siwoo a chance to say anything, she reached out to the Red Branch from behind him, assuming a pose similar to back when they were fishing in the Rabbit River.

“Woah, it really is cold…”

Siwoo stared at her surprised, but she just smiled carefreely at him.

“This time, I’m going to help you, so why don’t you try again?”

He could feel a soft feeling from behind his back.

The countess’ body warmth—which was like the antithesis of the mana water’s coldness—warmed his back.

At the same time, he sensed the countess casting a barrier that enveloped his body.

“You can take it out. Don’t get hasty, just do it carefully.”

“Okay.”

Following her instructions, Siwoo pulled out the Red Branch out of the mana water again.

As the aftereffects of it going ham just now was still there, the spear was still vibrating like crazy, but the countess casually took control of its distortion field without batting an eye. ??

“You were handling it too roughly, you need to gently caress it, just like this…”

“Like this?”

“Mhm, yes… That’s it… Do it just like that until you’re used to it.”

From then on, the countess kept giving him guidance on his experiment.

If the spear’s distortion field acted up again to the point that it was hard for him to handle it, she’d guide him and tell him what he needed to do to solve the problem.

After that, he’d use the countess’ guidance as a basis to his calculation and settle the issue promptly.

One thing worth noting here was, even Siwoo, who was able to see the flow of magic as long as he removed his eyepatch, had difficulties to see where the problems that he encountered lied.

But the countess managed to find out all of them purely by instinct.

Once again he realized that her feat in achieving the 22nd rank wasn’t just for show.

“Is it like this…?”

“Yes, yes, that’s correct. Good job.”

“…”

“Alright, now try doing everything from the beginning again…slowly…”

“…”

At one point, his mind became clear from all distractions.

Using the countess’ guidance as the trigger for him to concentrate…

He could no longer feel the coldness of the water that felt like it was trying to rip his skin apart, and the countess’ warmth on his back.

With the countess’ voice as his navigator of some sort, his concentration reached its peak.

He suppressed the red waves that danced around as if they were possessed, one by one, calculating everything to the point that he felt his brain was being fried.

Ignoring everything else that was happening around him for the sake of accomplishing his goal.

2.

The countess glanced at Siwoo.

“…”

He had been in a trance for five minutes.

Not only that, he had been responding less frequently to her guidance, seemingly pouring all his focus into the experiment.

This level of concentration he was showing was terrifying, even for the countess.

He wasn’t just using her guidance to imitate her.

Instead, he used it to carve his own path.

Considering that it hadn’t been long since he first studied magic, this kind of mindset showed how incredible he was, and how promising his future would be.

If he had been a woman, became a witch in a proper way and inherited a matured brand… I wonder how quick his growth would be?

The countess never ever once thought that her talent was lacking, but seeing this man’s talent, it made her think that her talent pale in comparison by a lot.

Maybe his talent is on par with Duchess Keter…

You’d probably need this kind of talent to pry your way through the unreachable 30th rank…

…Pfft, what am I even thinking about?

Meanwhile…

“…”

Inside that spacious bathroom, only the sound of the ribbon—rustling against the Red Branch’s surface, and the dripping sound of the mana water could be heard.

Also, the faint sound of two people’s breathing.

“Mr. Siwoo?”

The countess quietly called out to him.

By this point, he seemed to be unable to hear his surroundings anymore.

She called out to him once more to confirm, and…

“…”

He still didn’t give out any answer.

It was clear that he was completely trapped in his own world.

The countess, who was still touching the spear while embracing his back, licked her lips.

She actually didn’t even realize that she was doing it, she just did it because her throat felt dry.

I’ve noticed it before, but… His back is so wide…and also…hot…

Seriously, I can’t even feel the mana water’s coldness anymore because of it.

“I’ll help you a little more.”

As she said that, she tightened her hug a little.

She could now feel his buttocks pressing against her lower abdomen.

The pair of cheeks felt completely different than a woman’s.

Goodness, they’re so hard!

It feels like they’re all muscles down there!

“A-Ahem…”

She let out an awkward cough before opening her mouth again.

“Or do you prefer doing it on your own? I can let go now if you want me to.”

Of course he didn’t answer her this time either.

So, the countess took her hands off the Red Branch and placed them on his waists and abs instead.

Goodness, this firmness…

The splits are rough, just how I like it…

“I can’t believe such a thing exists…”

His strong latissimus dorsi1, biceps, and forearm muscles that were abundant with masculinity were left bare to her eyes. She was holding a strong urge to rest her chin on his firm-looking rear deltoids2.

There was also his gluteus maximus3 that was firmly touching her stomach…

It went without saying while Siwoo was concentrating on his task, the countess was busying herself by inspecting the physical wonder that was Siwoo’s body; placing her hands here and there while leaning her chin on his back.

I really shouldn’t do this…

If he were to find out what happened, it would be really bad…

Contrary to what her inner monologue said, the countess kept doing what she had already been doing. But at that moment, a completely unhinged thought passed through her mind.

Wait… If he’s so unresponsive that he wouldn’t react to everything I do to him…

His…hard…thing…

If I were to touch it, wouldn’t he also not notice it?

The countess found herself swallowing her saliva as she seriously contemplated that.

Wait, what am I even thinking?!

**Groping a man without his consent is just an assault! An assault!

His muscles are one thing, but that part in particular? Unless I have a good reason for it, I shouldn’t even—

Huh? A good reason for it…?

“Mr. Siwoo.”

“…”

“Your pants seem to have fallen down a little… I’ll help you fix it.”

The countess noticed that Siwoo’s pants—completely soaked by the mana water, were sliding down ever so slowly.

And so, she decided to use that as an excuse to sneak a very, very light touch.

She then pulled his pants up and tightened it.

Of course, she purposely brushed her hand against his manhood while she was at it.

“Ah…”

And she found out that the enormous manhood that she felt the other day wasn’t an illusion.

It was currently in its normal state, but its presence was already grand enough.

This revelation made her legs weak, and she pulled her hands away with a regretful feeling.

“Haa…”

Perhaps it was because she secretly hoped for his reaction.

The countess let out a deep sigh, watching Siwoo trying to control the Red Branch’s distortion field without paying any attention to her.

3.

Diana was on her way to the outdoor bathhouse, to calm herself down.

But on the way, she found her mother and Siwoo walking together, presumably for their ‘private tutoring’.

Since they were quite far apart from where she was, she could only see her mother chatting happily with Siwoo following her a distance behind.

“…I don’t care anymore.”

Contrary to the words of complaint that came out of her mouth, Diana’s eyes followed those two people closely.

However, she didn’t try to think what it was that those two were going to do this time.

Because currently, she wanted nothing but to float around in the enormous bath, maybe while having a chat or two with someone.

But then she realized something.

“Wait, that direction they’re going to…”

That path only leads to two places, the restaurant and…mom’s private bathroom…

She knew that her mother didn’t usually eat lunch, so there was no reason for her to go there. That meant, by a simple elimination, their destination would be…

“No way…”

Ignore it, ignore it.

Though she tried her best to feign ignorance, her feet just refused to move.

Is the content of that book I read yesterday all true…?

…This is a great opportunity to find out, right…?

Because she was genuinely curious about the love affair between a man and a woman that she had only ever experienced through books.

As expected of an exemplary apprentice witch, her curiosity pushed through and managed to set her discomfort and aversion aside.

“…Ah, I don’t know anymore…”

And so, she hastened her steps and headed towards the countess’ private bathroom.

Her heart was pounding faster than back when she was sneaking into her mother’s secret library.

Just like a spy, she sneaked and stood right beside the red silk that covered the bathroom’s entrance just a few moments after the other two entered.

“Huu…”

Sweat dripped down her forehead.

If they were to catch her peeping on them, who knows what they would do to her.

She wanted to confirm everything with her own eyes, but unfortunately for her, the private bath was quite small.

If she were to go inside the room where the bathtub was, there would be nowhere she could hide herself in.

And so, she just held her breath and quietly listened from where she was.

Her mother’s familiar voice entered her ears.

“This time, I’m going to help you, so why don’t you try again?”

Her sweet voice echoed through the bathroom.

If it was anyone else, they wouldn’t notice it, but Diana could easily tell…

That her voice was different from the usual gentle voice that she normally heard.

It was a tone higher than usual, as if she was trying to seduce someone.

“You can take it out. Don’t get hasty, just do it carefully.”

Take what out…? Huh? What are they talking about?!

Diana unknowingly gulped, leaning in closer to listen.

“You were handling it too roughly, you need to gently caress it, just like this…”

“Like this?”

“Mhm, yes… That’s it… Do it just like that until you’re used to it.”

Diana felt a tingling sensation, as if she had just been electrocuted.

With this, everything was clear to her.

While it wasn’t as explicit as in the novel, they were definitely doing something lewd inside.

Her mother and her tutor, Siwoo, were having that kind of affair inside.

Gently caress…?

Diana combined the knowledge she had learned from reading her mother’s books with the content of the conversation that she had just heard.

Take something out, then gently caress it…?

What are they talking about?

Is it mom’s chest…? Or is it Shin Siwoo’s…

“Is it like this…?”

“Yes, yes, that’s correct. Good job.”

“…”

“Alright, now try doing everything from the beginning again…slowly…”

“…”

Hearing her mother’s voice getting smaller and smaller, as it got mixed with her breaths even more, Diana finally mustered his courage.

She lifted the curtain to the bathroom a little and took a peek inside.

And she saw it.

Siwoo standing in the bathtub with his shirt off.

With her mother hugging him from behind.

Though she didn’t seem to have undressed herself, from their posture and the position of her hands…

It seemed like she was caressing his penis from behind.

Unable to endure the sight anymore, Diana quickly left the scene.

1. The part of your back muscles that stretches from right behind your arms down to your hips.2. Shoulder muscle.3. Buttocks muscle.