Chapter 161: Clay Marsha (4)
C9ntYs“Touching someone who’s had their magic stolen will break the Pillage spell?”666txQM
wEGSSShirone was sure of the answer, despite the silence from Marsha.PYp
ezyHowever, something still felt off. If the condition for lifting the magic-stealing spell was merely contact, maintaining distance made sense.vxfWLe
jZ2CBut the problem was that Marsha was in a far too advantageous position. She had stolen numerous spells involving the Particle of God, while Shirone himself could only rely on Windcutter.45K
YAuurWasn’t this a fight worth engaging in? Yet she had moved dozens of meters away, as if terrified.
“A mindless Unregulated Eater…”MRCQS
hm32Shirone’s eyes widened. Everything now became clear in his mind.RR0wQ
skj88“I’ve got it! A mental gap. Marsha isn’t perfect.”wyRjQ0q
rOVZIt was a simple matter when he thought about it. If magic could be stolen just through contact, who would be able to defeat her? There had to be a price involved.20q
XcfQPShirone didn’t know what it was, but it had to relate to the trauma behind the Unregulated Eater.TM49Qqx
ZitAP5“An Unregulated Eater is a being with mental distortion. To harness such overwhelming power, their trauma must have been there from the start.”FDbzyg
MNPFiThus, he couldn’t come closer. Shirone had figured out how to break the Pillage spell, greatly increasing the chances of triggering that price.yJ9c
uv89Marsha feared not losing the stolen magic, but the terrifying consequence that would follow immediately after breaking the spell.jL836L
kiI7BzM“But she’s stolen countless spells up to now. How did she survive back then?”AWZkNF
7eJLHThe answer came quickly. As soon as Shirone found it, he charged at Marsha.HMHkW
zyyFT8There was no time to waste. Marsha was only stalling for time until reinforcements arrived.zXx6C4
ICFsaq6Magic deprivation achieved at the cost of her greatest suffering.P5S
e6yFE0If Shirone risked triggering that price, Marsha wouldn’t dare fight.2POoEJ
bW3Conversely, if he wasn’t that afraid, the magic-stealing spell wouldn’t exist in the first place.pUKi9s
1kozShirone was no longer afraid. There was still enough time. He had to capture Marsha before the reinforcements arrived.sFqhat
zTGNCYD“Hik!”IcQq
fxOMMarsha let out a groan and moved further away. Her face grew pale even if Shirone just closed in a little. Her playful speech and charming expressions had vanished.biOwi9G
lu98su“I can do this! I can get my magic back!”0r1kJ
wxC6hZHaving found hope, Shirone relentlessly pursued Marsha. Though tracking down a mage with Teleportation was nearly impossible on foot, he couldn’t stop with the life-stealing thief right in front of him.OhZ
kI9“Shirone! Watch out!”GEQGgU
cMdD5IAt Tess’s shout, Shirone looked up. Ten streaks of light thundered down from the sky.EnZyxi
E4qMarsha’s face brightened for the first time, while Shirone was so disheartened he could hardly keep running.A6zRZ
yOXHe had thought there was enough time, but he was wrong. The surviving subordinates had quickly arrived using a magic circle.MJfT3
GdK“Hohoho! They’re finally here. Now it’s all over!”XMJ57Y
tBrKTwenty Schema users crowded around Marsha, forming a protective barrier. Getting through that to capture her was impossible.Qeh13
PbBA“S-Shirone…”RfVr
wgXTAmy bit her lip, swallowing her tears.TmonRbF
e9ZWas it really going to end like this? Shirone might have to abandon his dream of being a mage.JSN
7jDU“This can’t be happening. I loved magic so much. I worked so hard…”7lYURQN
1LZShirone gazed at Marsha as if giving up on everything. His expression was one of utter emptiness.bFtgO8
1cse4O“Oh my, Shirone? Why are you looking at me like that? Ah, because of your magic? Don’t worry. You’re still young, so you can learn it all over again. Of course, you’ll never be able to use the magic I stole, even if it takes you your entire life.”vph
2B4W“The Sound magic was also stolen from someone else, right?”l4b
VIemdcy“Fufu, right. You know I have a thing for stealing. Why are you suddenly so petty when you claimed to understand me before? You easily paid 50 silver for that vase, but now you can’t give up your magic? What, too precious to share?”xeNGZ
W5f9RifAmy screamed in anger.eQZIm
YAI68“Shut up! How can you say that? What did Shirone ever do to you?”9qiGdc
z8eHow could someone be like that? Not content with just stealing Shirone’s magic, Marsha seemed intent on crushing his entire life.bAMQ2
jMzC80“Hohoho! That’s hypocrisy. There’s no one good in this world. They pretend to care, but they’re always hiding selfish thoughts behind their kindness.”cMe
MTH69Though Marsha was cursing the world, all Shirone heard was her cursing one person.lHM
jQ7wHer father.z4yatZ
5EJoTKxHe had taken in the orphaned Marsha and raised her until she was seventeen, but realizing that those years were shaped by a twisted desire must have left her devastated.SVWah
SlKCaThat’s what made Unregulated Eaters so terrifying: their power was rooted in human trauma.8vDz
IMs23mAFor ordinary mages, omnipotence complemented their omniscience. For Unregulated Eaters, however, omnipotence twisted omniscience.mIGu
4JaTZL“It’s so painful that even their thoughts get distorted. That’s the Unregulated Eater.”hpv
dgi1That twisted humanity manifested through magic, and now Shirone understood why the Magic Association didn’t recognize it as magic.qzxRC
xNzEI“You have my sympathy.”qSRy
GaU7MMarsha’s eyes sharpened. Who was he to pity her?YKM7w1
0RzShirone, who had lost all his magic, was the one deserving pity, falling victim to his own hypocrisy.vPAZE
ssy9“Hmph! Now you’re trying to win me over? After trying to kill me? Do you think I’ll let you off?”06ti60
1tV3B9“Actually, I’m not sure myself. I don’t know how much you’ve suffered.”gmHPv
Nxf4“Hoho! Finally admitting it, huh? No one cares about the pain of others! That’s human nature! Everyone’s just awful.”7Y8Mi
3Obw2UZ“So… I’m coming to you now.”bwb9px
rbkiCfvMarsha’s heart skipped a beat. There’s no way he could get here with 20 subordinates standing guard.ztiC
qJOCQ“You might be right. Maybe it’s hypocrisy. But I still believe we can share our pain. If you truly show your wounds, I can see the real pain within you. So show me. I need to see the real suffering.”1FP
yKbz6“Don’t spout nonsense. Why would I accept pity from you?”fRsfzbg
0CnRlt6“I’m going to break the shell trapping you and see for myself how deep your wounds go.”lZckXT
YauwU5i“Don’t come any closer! I’ll die if you do! If I die, you’ll never get your magic back!”Eoiak
spJW0CcWith a terrified look, Marsha screamed. The wound was so deep that even a feather landing on it would be excruciating. And Shirone wanted to open it up? And dig through it?pxYULy
Y870NiP“I promise never to abandon you. Whatever the pain, I’ll bear it.”VZj
8nvWhen Shirone finished speaking, Marsha’s subordinates drew their swords and blocked his path.ap4POy
nCtV“Don’t let him through! Cut his head off!”1PI
nWEuShirone looked at them quietly before turning to Rian.JScNxv
JsDPQ“Rian, protect my side.”aRQa4s
uahRian was the most injured among them, barely able to move, but he stood up without a word and slung his sword over his shoulder.KaA
oOYVI2zTess spoke up, following behind.peVA
YJ9hf“Wait, I’ll do it. I’m not as hurt as Rian.”9x4Dud
WXNe1K“It’s okay, Tess. This is what my lord asked of me.”fbwkDQ
TwH“But in your condition…”NhSZ8J
4JhShirone shook his head.rsy
ArjViMk“Tess, Rian has to guard me. I can’t let anyone else shed blood.”IhC
QXc“Blood? What blood?”22M
ZjgquwAs Shirone slowly advanced, he spoke to Rian.Rz2M42
EMWI13“Rian, cut down anyone who tries to attack me.”dPnTap5
xdCLRian couldn’t understand his request. He had no magic, and even walking was a challenge. Charging into enemy territory meant certain death.qzeOrQj
u7pGa“Alright, I’ll handle it.”YyOba
57uOD1hBut Rian obediently followed Shirone. A sword doesn’t judge; it just follows its master’s orders, even at the cost of its life.SdDb8
w1oESMarsha trembled with rage.TkKD
Fl2P“Check my wounds? Share my pain? Nonsense, bullshit.”6RDs
Q3hhRhBShirone was just trying to get his magic back by lying through his teeth.TMxUsl
34IwAThat’s humanity. Even when they pretend to be kind, they only seek to satisfy their own greed.ZOh1
tsrF“Kill him! Kill that brat now!”NCFy0
qwpAt Marsha’s cry, her 20 subordinates lunged forward. Enhanced by Schema training, they closed the gap swiftly, raising their blades high.jpa3n7
36rRian grasped the hilt of his sword tightly. How long he could hold out was uncertain, but even if he was decapitated, he planned to press forward.gGk
BGsssA swordsman in the lead jumped up, slashing down toward Shirone’s head. Gritting his teeth, Rian prepared to strike back.TdvKp
gbQOABut at that moment, the swordsman’s body turned to light and soared into the sky.IBYPlex
qJ1gmA sharp noise from a Teleportation spell tore through the air.hjWMov
ity9NMarsha watched in a daze, and Amy and Tess stared from the other side, also perplexed.uXNi
amp2S4“What are you all doing? Attack! We’ll win this no matter what!”Omx4XA
csfM3jAt the command, three swordsmen launched their assault. But they, too, were whisked away into the air before they could strike Shirone.2Wktj
GbQLMarsha’s lips quivered.lhjXmwS
shvOoShirone was approaching, and with each step, subordinates disappeared with a loud noise.JFrihS
jBumPUG“What is this? What’s going on?”kXCdEf
UHbheAmy was the only one who understood the situation, but even her voice trembled.ztb4m
GaQMOA“Amazing. I knew he had an exceptional magic sense, but I never imagined this.”mBgrpr
N7Q8When had Shirone anticipated this moment?YbSjXa
ic9aWhen Marsha’s subordinates arrived? Or when he figured out the limits of the Pillage spell? No, it was probably when Rian told him about Windcutter.Pqw91El
cOK2qO3“What is it, Amy? What is Shirone doing now?”6xvpn
FiB“It’s magic. Slow Time, a spell that reduces the speed of time.”lTSoi
95mz1NqConnecting theoretical omniscience directly with omnipotence was only possible for Shirone. Even Amy hadn’t expected he could do this.y33WZLs
vxr9WMarsha must have been equally unprepared. Shirone, once entangled in lies and conspiracies that drained his power, now brought his insight to the surface, disrupting Marsha’s calculations.UM7
bm53“Slow Time? Is that really Slow Time?”f40SNA5
j8KgTess scanned the battlefield again. From the outside, everything appeared normal. The only observable change was that any enemy who approached Shirone flew away.WoC
swJbKtBut Rian, inside Shirone’s Spirit Zone, saw something completely different.Fyboez
eFfKxpoOnce someone stepped into Shirone’s Spirit Zone, their body would flash with light and then move agonizingly slowly.XQa
dH5g3Those who reached the level of sublight speeds could warp the zone’s time. Shirone couldn’t stretch time as dramatically as Alpheas, but he could easily double its relative distortion.UDMss9p
57bQ“So I just need to cut them down?”n1ZFa
yH5Rian prepared to slash at the approaching enemies. Their eyes were filled with terror, knowing they were doomed. They quickly activated their teleportation bracelets and vanished.Fep8
2T2With the enemies retreating even before the fight, Rian snorted dismissively and continued following Shirone.EVQG
zIbD9NSScreeching noises from teleportation filled the air. Now, only three subordinates stood between Marsha and Shirone, but even they fled as Shirone advanced.yeXMR
Hn0Once again alone, Marsha trembled with a ghostly pale face. She was trapped in a cycle of terrifying thoughts.w0kJ
r1b“Don’t come near! If you do, I’ll die! If I die, you’ll never get your magic back!”FFndeq
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