Infinite Mage — Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5)

Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5)

“I‍ don’t know anymore.‍‌⁠ Who are you,‍ really? Why is‍ everything a lie?⁠ What do you⁠ gain from deceiving⁠⁠‌ people?”

“Why⁠ should I tell you? You’re just‌ trying to use‍ me! If you really care, then‌ just leave! I’ll‍ trust you if‌‍ you do! Please,‌ just go!”

“I’m‌‌‍ asking, what’s real?!”⁠‍

Marsha⁠‍ flinched at Shirone’s⁠‍ shout.

“Don’t‌ just say it⁠ hurts! Tell me‍ where and how‌ it hurts! Only‍⁠ then can I decide whether to‍ leave or not! You paint the⁠‌ world with all‌ these lies.”

Shirone‍‍⁠ shouted, raising his‌ fist as he‍⁠⁠ approached Marsha.
“I can’t see how much pain you’re really in!”‍

A strong voice rang‌ out from behind‌ them.

“Marsha! Noooo!”

Amy‌ and Tess turned‍‍‌ around. Freeman, eyes wild, was charging⁠ at Shirone with‍ incredible speed.

“Unbelievable!⁠ He took a direct hit to⁠‌ the face!”

Amy⁠ was stunned as‌⁠ if she’d seen a ghost. It‌‍ was impossible to‌ survive a face‍ burnt by Flame‌ Strike.

“As⁠ if we’d just‍ let you pass!”‍‌⁠

Freeman⁠‌ leapt as Tess⁠ tried to block‍ his path. He‌⁠ drew his weapon‍ and lunged at‍ Shirone, soaring past‌ Tess’s height with⁠⁠‍ a massive leap.⁠‌‌

Turning around, Rian swung‌⁠ his sword at‍⁠⁠ Freeman. Though his⁠‌ muscles burned with⁠⁠‍ pain, he couldn’t let Freeman get‌ past them and‍ undo all their‌‍ efforts.

“Aaaargh!”‍

Freeman⁠‍‌ was caught by‌ Shirone’s Slow Magic⁠‌ like anyone else. He was bound⁠‌ to be split⁠⁠ by Rian’s sword.‍

But⁠‍ Freeman did not⁠ retreat. He had‍⁠ to protect Marsha,⁠‍ to somehow pull‍ her away from‌ Shirone.

At‍‍ that moment, Rian‍‍ and Freeman both‍ froze in shock.⁠⁠ Rian couldn’t strike,⁠‌ and Freeman couldn’t‌‌ reach Shirone.

Shirone‍‍ sensed the situation⁠⁠ behind him and‍ suddenly released his⁠⁠ Slow spell.

Time⁠ magic had the⁠‌ unique advantage of⁠ working equally well‌ in both offensive‌ and defensive modes.‍

Even⁠‌ so, Shirone’s fist‍‌‍ swung through the⁠‌ air in a broad arc.

All⁠‍ Marsha could do was watch as‌⁠ the cruel boy’s⁠‍ fist approached to‌‌ shatter her.

Shirone’s⁠‌ punch landed squarely‍⁠ on Marsha’s face. Her head turned,‌ and she crumpled⁠ to the ground⁠ as if struck⁠ by a tremendous⁠‍ impact.

“Ma-Marsha.”‌‍

Freeman’s‌‌ face went pale.‌ Marsha couldn’t accept⁠ what was happening,‍‌ staring blankly at‌⁠ the ground with⁠ a lifeless expression.⁠⁠

Shirone‍‌ realized that his‍ magic had returned,⁠ while Marsha’s mind⁠‌ had been emptied‍ of all magic.⁠

“Marsha.”‌‍

Freeman‌‍ approached, his face‍⁠ contorted with grief.‍ His subordinates returned‍‍‌ from the teleportation⁠‍ magic circle, appearing⁠‍⁠ behind the building.‌‍ But none dared‍ come closer.

Marsha‌ lay collapsed. They⁠‌‌ all knew what‌ that meant.

“Are⁠ you alright?”

Freeman’s⁠‍ voice was subdued⁠ as he asked‍‍‍ Marsha. His jaw⁠⁠⁠ clenched visibly.

“Yes,‌ I’m alright.”

Marsha‍‍ forced a smile.⁠⁠ Faced with the⁠ unchangeable truth, perhaps humans become indifferent.‌

She⁠‍‌ smiled, but her‍⁠ emotions had all‌ but evaporated. It‍⁠ was as if only a shell remained.

Amy‍ didn’t pity her.‍‍ Marsha was the‍‌⁠ very one who’d‍ tried to ruin‍‍ Shirone’s life.

“Serves‍‍⁠ you right! This‍ can’t be all.⁠ Your magic-stealing ability must come at a price, right?”⁠

Marsha⁠‍‍ didn’t get angry.‌ That was the⁠‌ nature of equivalent⁠‌ exchange. If she‍ hadn’t been prepared‌ for this outcome, her magic wouldn’t⁠‌ have worked in‍⁠ the first place.

“Yes,⁠‌ to release the‌ Plunder spell, you‍ have to touch⁠ my body. Then‌ the magic returns.‍ And the price‌ is that I say this to‍ that person.”

Marsha⁠ turned to face⁠ Shirone. With a terrified expression, she‌ opened her mouth.⁠

“You’re‍ welcome to hug⁠‌ me.”

Tess⁠⁠‍ frowned in disbelief.‌⁠⁠

“W-What?”‌‌

Using‌ something like this as collateral. What⁠ kind of woman‍‍⁠ is this?

But‌‍⁠ Shirone knew that Plunder was a power one could‍‌ only gain by‍‍‍ risking one’s life.‌‌‌

The‍ spell she used⁠ to kill her⁠⁠⁠ foster father that⁠‍ night was a memory she would⁠ rather forget.

Realizing‌‍ the situation, Rian⁠ spoke bitterly.

“What’s the point of‌ this as a price? Shirone would‌‍‌ never do such‍⁠ a thing. What⁠ happens if he‍‌⁠ refuses?”

Freeman‌‌ answered.

“Then‍ Marsha dies. She’ll lose her life‍⁠ the moment Shirone‍ rejects her according‌ to her rules.”‍‌

The‍‍ word “die” made⁠ Tess flail her arms and stammer.⁠‍‌

“S-Still,‍‍ isn’t there something⁠⁠ we can do?‍ How could this⁠⁠ be allowed? Amy,‌‌ say something. This‌⁠‌ isn’t right, right?”‌

“Don’t‍ ask me. It’s‍‌ Shirone’s decision.”

Amy‌ was also conflicted.‍ Shirone wasn’t the‍ kind of person⁠‍ to hurt a woman like this.‍ Yet it was‍‍‍ hard to know⁠ how he felt in a situation‌ where he held‌ her life in‍‍ his hands.

“Fine.‌⁠ Living is better‍⁠ than dying. I’ll‍⁠ take care of‌‍ it myself.”

Having‌ made up his‌‌ mind, Shirone walked‍‌⁠ toward Marsha. This⁠‍ time, Amy couldn’t‌ help but feel⁠ her heart racing.‍⁠

Freeman‍ suddenly blocked Shirone’s⁠ path, moving without⁠‍‌ realizing it. It‌ was a love he couldn’t help.

But‌ ultimately, he had‍⁠‌ no choice but‌ to step aside.⁠

“Please.‍ Save Marsha.”

Marsha‍‍‍ waited with her‌‌ eyes closed. She‌‍ was trembling like‌ someone facing their‍‍ first surgery, but she felt that‌ this was for‌ the best.

Her⁠ dreadful trauma. If‍ someone could cauterize‍‍ her with a hot iron, maybe⁠ it would bring‌‌ some relief.

“Freeman,‌ I’m sorry.”

Marsha‍‍ apologized for the⁠ first time. Knowing‍ what those words‍ meant, Freeman bowed⁠⁠ his head and‌ stepped back.

Shirone‍ approached Marsha.

The‌‍ trauma was dangerous⁠ because it held‍‍ both the present‌ and future hostage‌ to a past‍‌ event. Perhaps she‌‍ had never lived‍ in the future‌ since that day.⁠‍

“Can we go somewhere‌ alone? Please.”

“There’s‌‌ no need. Here‌‌‌ is fine.”

Marsha‍‍ opened her eyes‍⁠ and studied Shirone’s‌ expression. He remained calm.

What‌ was he thinking?⁠‍ Would he kill‍ her after tormenting⁠‌ her with false‌ hope?

‘Well⁠‍‍ after everything I’ve⁠‌ done.’

She⁠⁠ had stolen magic‍‍ and tormented him⁠ relentlessly. Shirone must‌ have felt like‌‌ he’d hit rock‍‌‌ bottom. She understood‍⁠⁠ the desire to‍ vent his anger.‍

Supporting‌⁠ Marsha’s back, Shirone‍‍ pulled her toward him. She obeyed.‍‌ Refusing would only‌ result in an‌‌‍ even greater price.‍‌

With‌ Marsha’s face buried against his chest,⁠ Shirone whispered in‌‍ her ear.

“I’ve‍‌‌ hugged you.”

Marsha⁠‌‍ blinked, then frowned,‌‍ realizing what Shirone‍⁠ meant.

What⁠ kind of childish‍⁠ game was this?‍‌

“What are you doing?”⁠‌

“I‌⁠ hugged you. Didn’t‍⁠‍ you ask for⁠ it?”

“Don’t mess with me.⁠ You think this⁠‌ is over just⁠ like that? Mocking‌ me?”

“I‌ told you I’d⁠ never give up.”‌

“Let‍ me go! I don’t want your‍ cheap sympathy! You think this makes‍⁠‌ you great? Just hug me for‌ real! You’re angry‍ at me! Take‍ your revenge!”

Marsha‌ couldn’t harm Shirone⁠⁠ due to the‌‍ rules of the‍‌‍ price. But even⁠‌ if she struggled,⁠ he had no intention of letting⁠ her go.

“You‌‍ jerk! Hypocrite! Piece⁠⁠ of garbage!”

“You’re‍ a good person.”‌‍

Shirone said, stroking her‌ head.

“You’re‌ not like Arcane.‍‌ Look at how‍ many people follow⁠‍ you. Even if‌ it’s all a lie, it’s enough.⁠⁠ No one knows‌ what’s in another’s⁠ heart. Not even⁠‌ me. We just⁠ live believing. Even‍‌ if no one⁠ else trusts you,⁠⁠ you can believe⁠ in yourself. If‌ you truly love⁠‌ someone, there’s someone‌⁠‌ in this world‌‌ who will truly‌ love you in‍ return.”

“No!‍⁠ Impossible! What do‌ you know? How can you say‍⁠ that?!”

Marsha‍ yelled, denying Shirone’s‌‌ words. But she‍ stopped when she‌‌⁠ realized tears were‍‌ rolling down her‌‌‌ cheeks.

Her⁠ heart wasn’t sad‍ at all. So⁠ why were these‍ tears falling?

“Huh? What’s happening? Why‌‌ am I crying‌ all of a sudden?”

Had⁠ she been so‍ tightly closed off‍‌ that her tears‍‌‌ flowed before her⁠ emotions could surface?‍

But‍ not anymore. As‍ she recalled the⁠ memories she’d sealed away, Marsha finally⁠‌⁠ confronted her trauma.‍

It‍⁠ was a day‍ when she was‍ 17.

Lying on the floor‌‍ staring at the⁠ ceiling, she smelled‍ her foster father’s‍ alcohol breath as‍ he approached.

Same‍‍ situation, same violence.‌‌‌

Marsha⁠‌ felt the dagger⁠‌ hidden behind her‌ back. Its cold⁠‍ touch chilled her‍ to the bone.‍

“You‍⁠ can hug me.”

Her‍‍ foster father’s eyes⁠ widened in shock.‍

Even‌ now, she remembered‌‌ clearly the monstrous‍ emotions reflected in‌⁠ his pupils.

Marsha gripped the dagger.‍‍‍ He was approaching. She had no‌ choice but to‌ stab.

But⁠⁠‍ the father she‍⁠‌ imagined wasn’t the same as the one in her⁠⁠‍ memory.

Lifting‍ Marsha upright, her father buried her‌‌ face in his‌ chest and gently‍ patted her back.‍⁠⁠

“I’m‍ sorry, Marsha. You’re‍⁠ my daughter.”

The‌‍‌ words she longed‌‌‌ to hear most.‍

The‍ moment she recalled⁠ those words, the‌ walls around her‌‌ heart collapsed. Ten‌ years’ worth of⁠‍ pent-up emotions exploded,‌⁠ and she couldn’t‍ stop crying.

“Sob!⁠‍‍ Sniff!”

Crying‌ in Shirone’s embrace, Marsha wept bitterly.‌

“Daddy!‍‌ Daddy!”

Shirone‌‌ remained silent, simply‌ patting her back.‍

“Daddy!‍⁠ Why did you⁠‍⁠ do that! I’m‍ sorry! I’m sorry,‌ Daddy!”

This⁠ was what she‍ had always wanted,⁠ to be embraced.‌⁠ No matter how⁠ violent he’d been,‍⁠ she had wanted‍ him to remain‌‌‍ her father till⁠ the end.

“It’s‌⁠‍ okay now, sis.‌‍‌ It’s all okay.”‍‌

Marsha’s‌⁠⁠ past shattered, being⁠‌‌ reconstructed into a stronger memory and⁠⁠ transforming into a hope she could⁠‍ use to live‍ in the future.‌‍

“Sob!‍ Daddy! Daddy!”

Freeman‍ checked the time.

The‌‌ conditions she’d set‍‌ should have already taken effect. But‍ Marsha was still⁠‍ alive.

“What‌ happened? What’s going⁠‌‍ on?”

Only‍‍ Shirone and Marsha‍‍ knew the nature of the emotions‌ exchanged between them.⁠ Everyone else remained‌ wary.

Freeman⁠‍⁠ explained.

“The‍‌ Plunder spell has‌⁠ been lifted. Shirone dispelled her magic.”‍‌

“No‌ way. All you‌ had to do‍ was hug her?‌⁠ What kind of‍⁠ price is that?”‍

Freeman‌ hesitated. Amy’s skepticism‍ was understandable given⁠ her lack of⁠ knowledge.

But it wasn’t just about language.

Shirone‍ had broken through⁠ the walls around‌‍‍ Marsha’s heart. He‌‍ shattered the shell‍‌ created by her‍ status as an‍ Unregulated Eater and⁠ showed her a new path.

“Shirone‌ didn’t just lift‌ the Plunder spell.‍ He canceled its⁠‌ conditions and severed⁠ her power. Marsha’s‍‌‍ Pillage doesn’t exist‌ anymore.”

Freeman‍ smiled bitterly. Maybe⁠ Shirone hadn’t cared‍ about Marsha’s real⁠ pain. From the⁠⁠ start, he had‍ intended to embrace‌⁠ it all.

‘I‍⁠ couldn’t do that‌⁠ This is our‌‍ utter defeat.’

“Sob!⁠ Sob!”

Marsha’s⁠‍ tears showed no‍ sign of drying‍ up. She knew‌ it too. If‍ she didn’t open‍ the door now, she might never‍⁠⁠ again.

A decade of past‌ memories sank into⁠‍ the depths.

***‍

Twenty minutes passed after the battle ended.‌‌

The‌‌‍ subordinates of the⁠⁠ Parrot Mercenary Band‍ rested, and Rian‌ treated his injuries‌‍ with Tess’s first⁠‌ aid.

Even‍ as this happened,‌ Marsha remained in‍ Shirone’s arms.

There‌‌‍ were no more‌‍‍ tears. But she‌‍ trembled intermittently, savoring‌⁠⁠ the lingering feelings.‌‍‌