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Infinite Mage Chapter 160: Clay Marsha (3)

Chapter 160: Clay Marsha (3)

The⁠​ students had also⁠​‌ become serious now.‌​⁠ They were all‌ staring intently at‌‌ Siina.

“But‌⁠‍ for that person‍ to die, they​ must spend a night with me.”⁠⁠​

The​⁠ male students’ faces‌ turned red.

“T-Teacher,⁠ that example is⁠‍‌ a bit……”

“There’s⁠‌​ no need to​ be embarrassed. I will never do‍ such a thing.‍ You gain powerful⁠⁠ abilities as a price for hanging⁠‌ something you never⁠ want to do.​ It’s an equivalent‍‌ exchange. Revealing the​​⁠ price can also‌ be a price,‌ but what’s important⁠​‍ is that the‍ Unregulated Eater truly​⁠ believes that. It’s‍‍ about injecting a very personal omnipotence⁠ into someone else​‌‌ with the power​​⁠ of omnipotence.”

The‍ students finally realized.​

An‍ Unregulated Eater was⁠ some kind of‍ human whose way⁠ of thinking had⁠‌​ completely diverged from⁠⁠‌ that of ordinary‌​ people.

“You‌‌‍ can’t learn just​⁠ because you try⁠​ to. The idiosyncrasies​​ of the mind‍ manifest through obsession​⁠‍ and bias. Unregulated‍⁠ Eating is said​ to be the​‍⁠ most feared existence​ for a mage.”‌

That⁠‌​ was all Shirone‍⁠‌ knew about Unregulated‍⁠‍ Eating. At the‍​‌ time, he thought‌‍ he understood, but​​ when it actually​‌ happened to him,‍‌ it was the​ height of confusion.‍

Above‌ all, he couldn’t​​ figure out why⁠ the Spirit Zone⁠ had suddenly disappeared.​ Since when? Even‌ though it was​ supposed to be‍⁠ triggered by restrictions‌‍ and a price,‌ Shirone had never‌‌ done anything to​ her.

‘No,‌​ there is! I definitely did……’

Shirone‍​‍ suddenly remembered the‍⁠ situation just before.‌‌⁠

-I⁠⁠ don’t mind if‍⁠ you kill me.‌

That‌‍‍ was the moment.‌ A magical incantation‍ known only to​‍⁠ him and Marsha.⁠

The‍​ moment she uttered‍⁠‌ those words, Marsha’s‌ omnipotence had infiltrated‍ his mind and‍ triggered the rule.‌‌‌

His‍ heart was pounding.‌‌‍ He had been‌​‌ caught by an‍⁠ Unregulated Eater. What⁠​‍ was going to​​ happen to him​⁠ now? He couldn’t⁠​‍ predict anything.

‘Keep​‍‌ calm. It’s just⁠​ that the Spirit​‌⁠ Zone has disappeared.‌ If I just⁠ stay sharp, I can get out⁠ of this crisis.’​

Unregulated​​⁠ Eating is like​ weighing the values‌‌ of the possible‌ and the impossible.‍‌⁠ Therefore, the price‍ to be paid⁠​‌ is inevitably large.‍

Probably,‌ when she said,⁠⁠ ‘I don’t mind‍‌ if you kill‌ me,’ she had⁠ to endure being‌​‍ vulnerable for quite‍‍​ a long time.⁠​ If he had‍⁠ attacked then, Marsha‌ would have died.‌⁠‍

But‍‌‍ why didn’t he⁠‍ attack? Was it⁠‌‌ because of Yuna?‌⁠ No, Yuna was‍ safe.

His‌‍ thoughts were not⁠ connecting. What on‍‌‍ earth was happening‍ to him?

‘From‍‍ the beginning. I’ve‍​⁠ been trapped ever‌ since I met‍​ Marsha.’

The⁠​ moment Shirone realized‍‌ that everything had‌ been scripted under⁠‌ Marsha’s direction, he‍⁠‌ felt chills.

She‌⁠⁠ had taken him‍‍‍ to a bar,⁠⁠ provoked him using‌ Yuna, and didn’t​‌ touch Yuna.

“All‌‍‌ for this moment?”‌‌

Marsha‌⁠ laughed triumphantly, as‌​⁠ if she had⁠​‌ seen through Shirone’s​ thoughts. Seeing his​⁠ bewildered face, she⁠ was so delighted‍​‌ she was about​ to go mad.​​​

“Ho​‍‍ ho ho! Of⁠ course, that’s right.‌‌ Ah, of course,‍ meeting you was​ a coincidence. I’m⁠ someone who turns​⁠ coincidences into inevitabilities.‍ There’s nothing wrong⁠⁠⁠ with laying the‍​‍ groundwork in any‌⁠‍ situation. This meticulousness‍​‌ is my charm,‌‍ isn’t it?”

Shirone‍​ couldn’t help but‌‌​ agree.

It⁠ wasn’t that she⁠ had targeted him‌​ to approach. She⁠​ had laid plans​‌‌ for everyone she⁠‌ met in life.‍‌ Just the small​⁠ assumption that they⁠‌ might meet again‌ someday.

“Shall‍⁠‍ we start then?⁠‌ I’m not sure⁠ what I can‍‌‌ do.”

Marsha‌​‌ approached Shirone with⁠‌ a leisurely smile.⁠⁠​ In contrast, Shirone​​‍ couldn’t help but​⁠​ feel intimidated. He​‌⁠ tried to teleport,‍ but it still‍ wouldn’t activate.

This‌‌ state was clearly​ not going to‍ last forever. However,‌​​ the concept of‌ stealing the opponent’s‌‍‌ mental strength was​​​ extremely foreign to​ Shirone.

‘It​ doesn’t make sense.​‌ Where in the‌⁠ world does such‍⁠ magic exist?’

Shirone​ felt the greatest‍ crisis of his‍ life. Marsha’s Unregulated​⁠‌ Eating was clearly‌ dangerous. It completely‌ sealed off even‍ his last bastion,‍ the Immortal Function.​

“Ho​​‍ ho! I’ll gladly​ take your mental⁠‌⁠ strength.”

All‌ the mental power‌‍⁠ Shirone had intended​ to use for⁠​‍ teleportation flowed into‌ Marsha. Using that‍ power, Marsha fired‍​ the Sonic Cannon​‍ again.

“Keuk!”‍

Shirone⁠ turned and ran.‍ It was a shocking sight to‌ see a mage⁠​ running in such⁠​​ a situation, but​ if he was‌ hit by the⁠‍‌ Sonic Cannon without​‌ being able to​‍ use magic, he‌ could lose his⁠ life.

“Hehe,‍ I’ll commend you‌ for abandoning your‌‌ pride. But the⁠‌⁠ fight is already‍​ over. Now that⁠ you’re under my⁠ Deprivation.”

Unregulated‌​ Eating Deprivation.

She⁠​ could deprive and⁠ steal from others.‍ Among these, the‍​​ magic she had‌ cast on Shirone‌ was called Plunder,⁠ an ability to‍‌ steal the Spirit‌ Zone’s mental power.​⁠​

Shirone‍⁠⁠ moved as far​‌⁠ away as possible.‌​​ He had to⁠‍‌ buy some time.​‍‍

‘I⁠‌ don’t mind if‍ you kill me.’⁠‍ Just by not‌⁠‌ complying with those⁠‍‌ words, if mental‍ strength was stolen,‍‌ then considering it‌‍ as an equivalent​ exchange, there had‌‌ to be a time limit.

‘It’s⁠⁠ done!’

As​‌⁠ expected, the Plunder​‍​ was released, and‍‌ the mental power⁠ returned to him.​​​ Unable to assess‍​ the situation from‍‍‌ behind, Shirone turned‍​ around and immediately​ cast Wildfire.

Thunder⁠⁠‌ rumbled as if‌ striking all around,⁠ and the area‍‍⁠ flashed brightly.

The⁠‍⁠ effects of Wildfire,​ which he cast⁠‌​ with all his​‌ might in an​‍​ open field, were​ beyond imagination.

“Whew,⁠ cool. That’s really​ amazing.”

Shirone​ glared at Marsha.​⁠​ The fact that‍ she didn’t approach​ him indicated that‍ she must see⁠‍​ people as nothing⁠⁠⁠ but water.

At​​ any rate, if​​ there was a time constraint, there‍⁠⁠ was no longer‌⁠​ any need to​ fear Plunder. He‍‌​ wouldn’t be foolish‍⁠ enough to fall‍‍ for the same​‌​ trick again.

“Here‌‍​ I go!”

Shirone​​⁠ attempted to teleport‍‍‍ towards Marsha. However,‌​ Marsha still overflowed‌‌ with ease. And⁠‌ the moment Shirone​ entered her Spirit​​ Zone, she stretched‌‌ out her hand​ and murmured.

“Unregulated⁠ Eating. Pillage.”

Simultaneously,‌ Shirone’s teleportation was​​ released. Following the‍⁠ inertia, Shirone slid​⁠ several meters across‍‌ the ground.

“Kuk!‌​⁠ What?”

The‍⁠ magic was released⁠ again. Had his‌​​ mental power been⁠​ stolen again? However,⁠ the Spirit Zone​‌ was still maintained.⁠

“Huh?⁠​​ What?”

Shirone⁠ couldn’t believe it.⁠⁠ Such magic couldn’t⁠ exist in the​‌‌ world. He couldn’t‍ believe that what​⁠ was happening to⁠ him was real.⁠⁠

Watching⁠‌⁠ Shirone’s bewildered face,‌⁠ Tess turned to‍‌ Amy and asked.‍‌‍

“What’s‌‍‍ going on? Did⁠⁠‌ something happen to‍⁠​ Shirone?”

“I⁠‍⁠ don’t know. The​ Spirit Zone hasn’t‍⁠ disappeared. But the‍⁠‍ fact that the⁠ teleportation was released‍ means……”

At‍ that moment, Amy⁠ shivered as she‌⁠ suddenly realized.

No,‍⁠ it couldn’t be.⁠‍​ That would be‌‌​ too cruel. Shirone‌‍ had put so‌⁠ much effort into⁠​ reaching this level.‌‍‌

Amy’s⁠ ominous premonition became‍⁠ reality. Shirone incredulously‌​ examined his body⁠‌ and muttered.

“I‍‍ can’t cast magic.”⁠⁠⁠

“Hehe,‌ exactly. Unregulated Eating‌⁠⁠ Pillage is only‍⁠⁠ possible if Plunder‌‍ has been applied.‍‌⁠ Of course, there’s‌ also a restriction‌‍ that you have​‌ to see the‌ opponent’s magic directly.”​

Marsha⁠ explained kindly with‍ a smile, though​ she never provided‍ more information than​​ necessary, essentially taunting​⁠⁠ her opponent.

Shirone‌ shook his head.​​ It didn’t make‌‌‍ sense. Even if​ such restrictions existed,​ the idea of​⁠‍ unconditionally stealing the​ opponent’s magic violated​ the principle of⁠​‌ equivalent exchange.

“Wow,⁠‍‍ such cool magic‍‍ has been created.‌​​ I’m so happy.‍‍‌ Sound magic was‍⁠​ annoying. Thank you,⁠ Shirone. You’re really​⁠ a kind brother.”⁠‍

Light​‌ spheres gathered before​⁠‍ Marsha’s eyes. It​ was the magic‍‌ that gave mass‌⁠‌ to light, Photon​ Cannon.

Shirone⁠‍ hastily dodged to‍⁠​ the side. Simultaneously,​ a heavy flash​‍‍ struck the spot‍‍‍ where Shirone had‍​ been.

Fragments⁠ from the ground​ stung Shirone’s face.⁠​ The feeling of‌​⁠ being hit by‍⁠‌ his own magic‌‍ was truly dreadful.⁠​‍

“Phew,‌​⁠ this consumes a lot of mental⁠‌‍ power? How did⁠⁠​ you handle it?‍ Really amazing, Shirone.”⁠‍

Shirone​ sprang up and‍‍‌ glared at Marsha.‍‍

He​‌ couldn’t contain his‍ anger this time.⁠ No, it was⁠‍‍ frustration. The resentment‍​‍ of having all⁠ his magic stolen⁠⁠ made his body‌ tremble.

“But​‍ it’s cool. The​ ability of an‌‌⁠ Unlocker.”

Marsha​‌‌ smiled contentedly and⁠ even flaunted a laser.

As‍‌ he watched the‌‌⁠ approaching laser scraping‍ the ground, Shirone‌ couldn’t react at‌‍​ all. Even his​‌‍ teleportation had been‍‌‍ stolen.

Just​⁠ then, Amy ran‍ over and grabbed​​‍ Shirone, performing teleportation.⁠‍‍ She too was⁠ low on mental‍ power and couldn’t⁠‌⁠ move far. Rian​ and Tess rushed‍ over to shield‌ the two of‌ them.

Marsha‌‌ watched them mockingly.‌​

The​​​ knights were a disgrace, and Amy​‌ was struggling even‌ to perform teleportation.‍‍ Moreover, Shirone, their​⁠ only hope, had‍‍‌ become an ordinary⁠ boy after losing⁠⁠‌ his magic.

“That’s‍ what I said,‌⁠​ didn’t I? You‌ can’t win against​‍ me.”

The‍‍‌ situation was indeed‌​ miserable. Especially the‌​‍ psychological shock Shirone‍ received was tremendous.‌‍‌ An ordinary person‍ might have cursed‌ Marsha and thrown‌​⁠ a fit until‍ fainting.

“Shirone,‍‌ snap out of‌‌ it. The battle‍⁠‍ isn’t over yet.”‍⁠

“But‍ my magic, my……⁠‌⁠ magic.”

Shirone’s​ voice trembled.

Amy‌​‌ understood. If it‌⁠ had been her,‌ she might have​‍⁠ collapsed from hysteria.‍

To‌ a mage, magic⁠‍⁠ was everything. The​ mere thought of‌​⁠ having it completely⁠​ taken away was⁠ enough to send​ chills down her‌ spine.

“Shirone!‌‌‌ Get up! We‍ have to keep​ fighting!”

Shirone‌​‌ staggered but managed‍‍⁠ to stand up.​‍‌

As​‌​ befitting his strong​‌‍ mental strength, the‍‌‌ thought that he​​‌ must not give⁠‌‌ up arose instinctively.​​⁠ But the emotional‍‌‌ wound was too⁠⁠‌ deep.

“How‍‍⁠ exactly? How am⁠‍⁠ I supposed to​‌⁠ fight?”

“Think‍⁠ rationally! Where in‍‍ the world is​​ there magic that​ can easily steal‌‌ like this? According‌‍ to the principle‍​‍ of equivalent exchange,‍‌ there must be‍‌ huge risks involved.”⁠⁠

Shirone⁠ suddenly came to⁠‍ his senses. Now​ that he thought⁠‌ about it, he‌​ was right. He​ had been so⁠ preoccupied with having⁠ his magic stolen⁠⁠‍ that he hadn’t⁠⁠ noticed, but Marsha’s⁠ Pillage couldn’t just⁠ be activated so⁠⁠ easily.

First,​‌ it had to‌⁠‌ be under Plunder.‌​ And she had⁠ to see the​​ magic she intended⁠​ to steal. The​⁠‌ conditions were stringent,‍⁠⁠ but even these‌‌‌ two constraints made⁠ Marsha’s Unregulated Eating⁠ unreasonably overpowered.

Amy‌⁠ desperately persuaded Shirone.⁠

“It‍ was stolen easily,‌‌ so it can​‌ be regained just‌ as easily. No,​ it should be⁠ even easier to​⁠‌ retrieve than it⁠​ was stolen. That’s‍ equivalent exchange. So⁠⁠ never give up.”⁠​​

“Alright.‍ I’ll try.”

Shirone‌​‍ regained his courage.‍​ Not that any⁠​​ particular means had​ appeared, but he‌​⁠ couldn’t just sit⁠ down and cry.​

“I⁠⁠ don’t quite understand⁠‍⁠ what you’re saying……”​⁠

Rian,‍​​ who had been‍ listening, spoke up.‍‍​

“If⁠​⁠ stealing requires seeing​ the magic directly,‌​ then magic not⁠‌​ shown should be​‍‍ usable, right? Like⁠ the Windcutter magic‌⁠ you showed at⁠‍‍ home.”

“Ah,‍‌ right.”

At⁠‍‍ that moment, a strong thought penetrated‍​ Shirone’s mind. That’s​​⁠ right. Strictly speaking,⁠​ from the victim’s‌ perspective, Pillage was​ better than Plunder.⁠ At least the⁠​⁠ Spirit Zone could‍⁠⁠ still be operated.‍‍​

“Right.‍​⁠ I have no⁠ choice but to‍ physically confront her.⁠ Thanks, Rian.”

Amy‍ whispered as she‌​‌ wrapped her arms​‍​ around Shirone’s waist.‌​⁠

“I’ll‍​⁠ approach with teleportation.‍ From there, you⁠​​ try to do‍ something with Windcutter.”‌​

Amy‍‌‌ put all her⁠​‌ strength into performing‌‍ teleportation. As the​ two of them‌ split the air⁠ with light simultaneously,​​​ Marsha also teleported‍‌ away.

The⁠‌ magic stolen by‌‍ Pillage could only‌⁠​ replicate the opponent’s‍ knowledge exactly, making​⁠‌ it impossible to‍⁠ adapt if the​‌ operating principles were‌ unknown.

That’s‌ why even Marsha,​​ who had stolen​‌ Shirone’s teleportation, couldn’t‌‌‍ attempt techniques like‍ Patrol or Rainbow​‌ Drop.

Amy​‌ persistently exploited this​ aspect. With dazzling​‍ movements, she approached⁠⁠ Marsha and threw⁠​‌ Shirone at her.‍⁠

Shirone​ reached out his‌‍ hand towards Marsha⁠‍ and cast Windcutter.⁠‍‍ Since it wasn’t​ his specialty, it⁠‍ was difficult to​‍‌ hit unless he​‍‍ approached closely.

However,⁠ this disadvantage turned​ into a blessing​​‌ in disguise. Because​ Marsha had moved‌⁠ much farther away⁠‍ than expected.

‘What?’⁠‌​

Marsha’s‌‌‍ movements were strange.‍ No matter how‌‍ unfamiliar she was​‍‍ with the magic,‌⁠ she could have​ tried something like‌ Photon Cannon or‍ Wildfire against Windcutter.⁠‌

But​⁠ she chose to‍⁠ retreat. And quite‌​​ far at that.‍

“Could⁠‍​ the constraint of‌​⁠ Pillage be……?”

A possibility flashed in​ Shirone’s mind.

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