Infinite Mage — Chapter 158: Clay Marsha (1)

Chapter 158: Clay Marsha (1)

As‍ soon as Amy⁠⁠ cried out, Tess’s‍ sabre pierced through‍⁠‍ Falcoa’s heart. Following⁠ this, Rian’s eyes‍ widened as blood‍ spurted from his‍ mouth.

There⁠‌ was no mistake‍ in Tess’s swordsmanship.‌ The sabre had‍ accurately penetrated Falcoa’s⁠ heart, and soon⁠‌⁠ it would cease‌‍‌ to function.

Falcoa⁠ sensed his impending⁠‌ death. He wasn’t particularly frightened. Perhaps,⁠ he mused, death‌‍ was the closest‍ thing to pleasure⁠‍‍ in this world.‍‍

“Marsha.”‍

Surprisingly,‍ the last word⁠ from Falcoa’s lips as he faced‍‌ death was the‌‌ name of his‍ commander. As if⁠‍ experiencing his life‍ flashing before his⁠⁠⁠ eyes, the corners of his mouth‌ faintly lifted.

‘Take⁠ me to the‍ battlefield.’
As Tess withdrew‍‌⁠ her sabre, Falcoa’s‌ body fell backward‍⁠ with a thud,‌⁠ collapsing, and then Rian, unable to endure the physical‍‍ pain any longer,⁠ fell to his⁠ knees.

“Rian! Are you okay?”‍‌

Amy⁠ hurried over. Rian⁠ forced a smile⁠‍ as he looked⁠ back at her.‌

“Hey,‍‌ Amy. Did you‍ take care of‍‌⁠ everything?”

“Tell⁠‌ me. Where and⁠‌ how are you‌‍⁠ hurt? Tess! How‍ could you stab him too?”

Amy‍‍‌ shouted at Tess,‌‌ sounding hurt, but‍ Tess was merely‍⁠‍ shaking the blood‌ off her sabre.‍‍⁠ Then, she suddenly‍⁠ smiled and winked.‍‍

“Hehe,‍ what are you‍‌⁠ talking about? What‌‍ do you take‌⁠ me for? I am confident in‌‍ my control of⁠ distance. I only stabbed Falcoa’s torso.⁠‍‍ Rian is unharmed.”

Amy⁠⁠ looked at Tess‌ with an incredulous‌‌ expression.

“But…⁠‍ there’s blood coming‍ from Rian’s chest?”‌⁠⁠

“What!”⁠‍

Tess’s⁠‌ eyes widened as‍‍‌ she inspected Rian,⁠ and indeed, thin⁠⁠‌ streams of blood‌‍ were oozing out,⁠ just as Amy⁠ had said.

“Rian!‍ Rian! Are you⁠‍ okay? Snap out‍‌ of it!”

As Tess’s face paled,‌ Rian, who had‍ momentarily lost consciousness,‍ waved his hand‍ dismissively and struggled‍⁠ to his feet.‌⁠

“Don’t‌‌ make a fuss.‌ It just went‌ in a bit‌‍ deep.”

“I’m‌ sorry, Rian. It’s⁠‍ my lack of‍ skill…”

“Don’t‌‍ say that. If⁠ it had been‍ any shallower, Falcoa‍⁠‍ wouldn’t have fallen.‌‌⁠ We both would⁠ have been in‌ danger then. Your‌ judgment was right.”⁠‍

“Hmm,‍⁠‌ but…”

Rian‍ truly believed that.⁠ No matter how‍‌‌ worried one might‌ be for a friend, deeper was better than insufficient.⁠⁠ That’s why Tess‌ could maintain her‍‌‍ utmost concentration.

“Ugh!⁠ This wound is nothing. Let’s go⁠ quickly. I’m worried⁠ about Shirone.”

Even⁠ amid their fight,‌ strange noises and‌ explosions had been⁠⁠‌ heard from inside‍‍ the building. It⁠‍‍ was clear that‌‌ the commander was‌ engaged in combat.⁠‍ The situation inside⁠ had to be more perilous than‍⁠ the battle with Falcoa.

At⁠‍⁠ that moment, the‍‍ wall of the‌‍ building burst open,‍‌⁠ and Shirone emerged.‍

“Shirone!”‍‌

Shirone⁠ teleported just before hitting the ground,‍‍‌ retreating ten meters. As his photonization‌ state dissolved, he⁠ managed a landing‌⁠‍ posture and was‌ pushed back along‌‌ the ground.

“Shirone,‍‌‌ are you okay?”⁠

“Don’t⁠ come closer!”

Shirone⁠‌ shouted urgently. The⁠ fact that the⁠ usually calm Shirone‍‍ was so agitated‍‍‌ alarmed his friends,⁠ who stood frozen⁠‌⁠ in their tracks.⁠‌⁠

“It’s‌ not over yet. The Sound Magic‍ is dangerous if‍ you get closer.”‌

Marsha’s‌‍ Sonar could freely‍ control targeted and⁠‍⁠ area attacks. It was clear that‌⁠‌ the already exhausted‍‍ trio would be⁠ ensnared by powerful⁠‍ Sound Magic if⁠ they approached.

“Pretty‍‍ impressive. To withstand‍⁠ me for so long.”

Bending‍⁠ over as she‍‌ exited the building,‍‍ Marsha approached with‌‍ a smile. However,‌‍ her smile faded⁠ as she passed‍⁠ Falcoa’s corpse.

Falcoa‌ was dead.

Though⁠⁠ he was a mentally unstable man,⁠⁠‌ he had indeed‌⁠ lived an amusing‌‍ and unrestrained life‍ among life’s misfits.⁠ The name Parrot,⁠ which had made‌⁠‍ a mark on⁠⁠ the continent, was⁠ imbued with his⁠⁠ blood.

‘No⁠‍ regrets then, Falcoa.’‌‌

Marsha knew without looking. A man who‍‍ might have thought‍ dying by the‍‍ sword was a far more glorious⁠⁠ end than a heart attack induced‍‌ by addiction.

But‌ that was where‍‌⁠ her sentiment ended.‌

It‍ was surprising that‌ a mere student‌ had taken him down, but considering‍ Falcoa’s body had⁠‍ been ravaged by‌⁠⁠ years of drug⁠‍‍ abuse, it wasn’t‍⁠ unusual.

Marsha‌‌ refocused on confronting⁠ Shirone. She had⁠ suspected as much⁠‍ when she breached‌ the first barrier,⁠ but facing him‍ directly confirmed that‍⁠‌ his magical combinations⁠‍ were exceptionally well-balanced.‍

His⁠ Teleportation was of‍‌ a high standard,‌‌ and she was⁠‍ pleased with the‌‍ potency of his⁠ core offensive tool,⁠ the Photon Cannon.‌⁠‍

The laser was ideal⁠⁠‍ as a siege‌⁠ weapon, and although the defensive magic⁠ Wildfire required precise‌ timing, it could⁠ be converted into⁠ an offensive spell‍‍ if necessary.

The balance set by‌ a mage after‌‌‌ long contemplation and⁠‍ evolution.

Above‌ all, what pleased‌ her the most‍ was the uniqueness⁠‌ of Shirone’s magic,‍ which couldn’t be⁠ learned from any‍ other mage— it⁠ was exclusively his.‌

“Unlocker’s‌ magic, huh? Interesting.⁠‌ I’m starting to want it.”

As‌‍ Marsha mused, Shirone‌ was also analyzing‌ the variables of‌ the situation, having‌ emerged onto the⁠ open ground.

Despite⁠ numerous penalties inside⁠ the building, there were no disadvantages‍ now. Most importantly,⁠⁠ there was no risk of hostages‍ being harmed, so‌‌‍ he could unleash his full power.‌‌⁠

“Things‌ will be different‍ now. I will⁠‍ never forgive you.”⁠‍

“Hehe,‌ Shirone, you will‌ forgive me.”

“On‍ what basis? Your⁠ actions have crossed‍‌ the bounds of‌⁠‌ humanity.”

“That’s⁠ the thing, actually…”‌

Marsha⁠‍ stuck out her tongue mischievously and‌ shouted.

“It was all a joke!”

Shirone and his group‍⁠‌ were baffled by⁠‍‌ her words. Then‍‌ Marsha shouted towards‍⁠‍ the building.

“Yuna!‍ It’s okay to‌‌ come out now!”‌

Her⁠ voice boomed, amplified,‍‌ echoing towards the‍ sea.

Moments⁠ later, the door of the building⁠ opened, and a pretty young girl‍ walked out.

“Could‍ it be, that‌ girl is Yuna?”

“Yes,‌ that’s Yuna. As‌ you can see,⁠‌‌ she’s been here⁠‌⁠ comfortably without any‍⁠ problems. So, Shirone,‌⁠ are you not‍⁠ angry anymore?”

Shirone‌⁠ was speechless. Even‌⁠ with his exceptional⁠ insight, he couldn’t⁠⁠⁠ guess what Marsha‌ was thinking.

“Oh,⁠‌‍ you still don’t‍ get it? Was‍ I just playing‌‌ a prank on‍‍‌ my little sister,⁠ and you got⁠‌ all worked up⁠‍ over that? Everything‍ I told was‍ a lie. So‍‍⁠ forgive me, okay?”‍

Yuna⁠⁠ bowed to Shirone and his group.⁠

“My‍ sister did nothing‍⁠‍ wrong. In fact,‍‌ Marsha saved me.”⁠‌⁠

Rian, frustrated, spoke up.‍‍

“What‌‌ the heck is⁠ going on? Can‌ someone please explain⁠ this to me⁠ instead of staying‌ silent?”

But‍ neither Amy nor‌ Tess responded.

It‍‍ was a clear⁠‌⁠ mockery. The issue‍ was the motive.‍‌ What exactly was‍‍ Marsha’s intention behind⁠ all this?

That’s⁠‌ what Shirone was⁠ pondering.

It‍‍⁠ wasn’t just a trivial prank. The‍ Parrot Mercenary Band‍‌ had been wiped‍⁠‍ out. Falcoa was‍‍⁠ dead. Yet all‍⁠ this was claimed⁠⁠‍ to be a mere falsehood.

“If‌‍ that’s really the‍⁠ case… send Yuna‍⁠ over here.”

Rescuing⁠⁠ Zis’s little sister⁠‌‌ was the priority.‍‌ However, Marsha, still‍‍ sporting a playful‌ smile, shook her⁠⁠ head.

“Yuna,⁠⁠ go back inside.‍ I’ll send you‌‌ to your brother‌‌ later.”

Yuna‍‌ nodded and returned‍ to the building.‍

Shirone‍‍‍ was infuriated. What‍ exactly did Marsha‌ want with this⁠‌ situation?

He‌ couldn’t discern her‌ purpose or meaning.⁠ It seemed she‌‍ just wanted to‌‌‍ stir up trouble‍ like a child.‌

“What are you trying⁠‌⁠ to do? What‍‌ do you want?”⁠

“Hehe,‍ why? Yuna is⁠‍‌ safe, isn’t she?‍ Isn’t that enough?‌‌ Oh, did you want to be‍ the hero who‍ rescues her?”

“That’s‍ not it, but…”‍‍‍

“Now⁠‌ you understand, right?‌ I did nothing‍ wrong. The bad⁠‍ one is you,⁠‌ Shirone. You made me sick to‍ my stomach. That’s‌‌‍ why I’ll never‍‍ hand over Yuna‍‌⁠ to you.”

Shirone‍ entered his Spirit⁠ Zone. Marsha’s blade-like⁠ Attack Form was‍‌ already targeting his‍⁠‍ brow.

“Hmph!⁠⁠ I won’t be‍⁠ taken down this time.”

Though Shirone spoke boldly,‌⁠ he was internally‍‌‌ conflicted. Marsha had⁠ removed the motive⁠ for their fight.‌‍ Yet she still‍ emitted a belligerent⁠ intent to kill.‌

“Calm‌ down. She’s hostile⁠ toward me. That’s⁠‍ reason enough to‌‌ fight.”

If⁠‍ it was a tactic of deception,‌⁠ he couldn’t just‍⁠ stand by. Plus,⁠ with the hostage‌ safe, he wouldn’t⁠ be at a disadvantage as he⁠ was inside the building.

However,‌⁠‍ breaking Shirone’s expectations, Marsha deactivated her⁠‌‍ Spirit Zone and,‌‍ spreading her arms‌ as if disarming‌⁠ herself, said to⁠ him,

“You⁠‍ can kill me‍‌ if you want.”‍⁠

Shirone’s‍‍ heart sank. He‌‍ understood the significance⁠ of the words‌ she had just⁠‍ uttered.

It‌ was the spell‍ she had memorized⁠‍ each time she‍‍ was beaten by‍‌ her foster father.‍‍⁠

Marsha‍⁠ was serious. She‌‍ genuinely wanted him‌‌‍ to end her‍‍ life.

“What‌ are you, Marsha?‍⁠ Who exactly are‌‍⁠ you?”

***⁠

Magic⁠‍‌ Association Interrogation Room.‌

Sakiri,‌⁠ a certified Grade⁠‍‌ 5 mage and‌ investigator, wiped the‍‌ sweat from his‍ brow. His sleeves‍‌ were rolled up‍‌ to his elbows,⁠ and more than half of his⁠⁠‌ shirt buttons were‍ undone.

Clearly,⁠‌‌ he was the‌‌‌ picture of exhaustion.⁠ However, the muscles⁠ of his arms,⁠‌⁠ clutching a metal‌ club, still bulged with apparent strength.

“Whew,‌‍ had a rest,‌‌‌ shall we start⁠‍ again?”

“Ughhh…”⁠

Lucas,⁠ who had fallen to the floor,‌⁠ groaned.

He‍‍ was the vice-captain‌‌ of the Parrot‌‍ Mercenary Band, which‍‌‌ had raided the‌ Magic Association following⁠ Arcane. However, at‌ that time, he‌ had been incapacitated by Siena’s Absolute‌ Zero magic, resulting‌ in both legs‌ being severed.

He⁠‌ had been beaten‍‍ for hours.

Had he not protected⁠ his body with‌ a Schema, he⁠ would have been‍‌⁠ dead long ago‍‌ from the beating.‌⁠

“Here⁠ it goes. Clench⁠⁠ your teeth.”

Sakiri‍ swung the club⁠ again. The barrage⁠ of blows made⁠‍ Lucas crawl on‍‌ the floor with‍ his arms until,‍ exhausted, he rolled‍ over.

“Aaaaah!⁠ Please stop! Ask⁠⁠ something before hitting‍⁠ me! I’ve told⁠⁠ you I’ll tell‌‍‍ you everything!”

“Wait.‌‍‍ We’ve got a thousand to reach.”‍

“You crazy son of‌⁠ a bitch!”

Sakiri‍‍ counted internally. Five hits left. Now‍ four. Three.

Finally,⁠ with the last‍ blow aimed at‍⁠‌ the ribs, he‍ tossed the club‍‌‍ aside with a sense of relief.

The‌ club clattered noisily‌‌ as it rolled‌ across the floor.‌

“Whew,⁠‍‌ that’s refreshing. Got‍‍ my workout for⁠⁠‍ today.”

“Why…⁠‍ why are you⁠⁠ doing this…”

Lucas⁠ clutched his aching‍‌ stomach and wept.⁠‌

Though‍ recruited into the‌ downgraded Parrot Mercenary‍ Band and quickly‍ rising to vice-captain‌‌ due to his outstanding abilities, he⁠‌⁠ had been a formidable villain even‍ in the face‌‌ of Arcane.

But in front of‌ Sakiri, he was‌⁠‌ no better than‍‌ gum stuck to⁠‌‌ the floor.

Sakiri grabbed Lucas’s hair and hurled him‌‌‍ towards a chair.‌

Lucas‌ crashed heavily and‍ clung to the‍‌ chair, while Sakiri‌ sat down across‌ the desk and‌ said,

“Sit‍‍ down, before I cut off the other arm too.”⁠‍

Lucas,⁠ using his arms, barely managed to‍⁠ seat himself. Then,⁠‍ Sakiri silently scrutinized⁠ the files the‍‌‍ investigators had compiled⁠‍ for a long‍ while.

“Investigator,⁠‍ just send me back to prison.⁠‍ I’ll tell you⁠⁠ where Marsha is.”‍‍

“No⁠ need. What kind‍ of woman do⁠ you think she‌ is, to still‍ be there?”

“Dammit!‍ Then why the‌ hell did you‍ beat me?”

As‍ Sakiri flipped to‍ the last page‌ of the file,‌‍ he slammed his fist on the‌ desk in irritation.‌⁠

“Do‌⁠⁠ you know what‌ kind of criminal‌‍‍ I hate the‌ most? Murderers? Home⁠⁠ wreckers? No, escapees.‌ Does the state⁠ look that easy⁠‍‌ to you? Even if you’re swollen⁠ with pride, a B-grade criminal like⁠ you escaping? Your‍‌⁠ life is over.‍ You’ll never see‍‌ the sun again.”⁠

Lucas‌ gulped. Sakiri’s words‌ were not a threat but a statement of fact.‌‌‌

His‌‍ readiness to deliver‍ a thousand blows⁠‍ was evident from‍ his disposition.

“Anyway,‌⁠ let’s start. You’d‍‌‌ better listen well.⁠⁠ My daughter is⁠⁠ four years old,⁠‌‌ the age when she’s supposed to⁠ be showing off‍‌ in front of daddy. But I haven’t been home‍ in days! Let’s‌⁠ try to keep⁠⁠‍ living. Got it?”⁠

“What⁠ do you want‍‍⁠ to hear?”

“Forget‌‌ everything else, tell‍‌ me about Marsha. Spill everything you⁠ know about her.”‌‌

That‍ was all Sakiri‌‌ wanted to know.⁠⁠‍

Clay‍ Marsha. Though a political criminal classified⁠‌ as an A-grade‍ criminal, she hadn’t‌‍‌ caused much uproar,‌ making her hard⁠⁠ to capture.

The biggest problem was‍ the scattered intelligence‌‍ on her. Sometimes she was reported as a fire‍⁠ mage, at other‌ times as using‍⁠ ice magic.

Considering⁠‌⁠ that, she was⁠ highly strategic and‍ meticulous. Even using⁠‌ all available investigators‍‍ to track her‍ had not clarified her routes of‌ movement.

Thus,⁠ Sakiri had summoned⁠⁠⁠ Lucas. From the‍ start, the operation‌⁠ had been misguided.

What‍‍ really needed to⁠‌ be known was⁠‌ not where Marsha⁠⁠⁠ was but Marsha‌‍ herself.