Chapter 163: Late Lunch (1)
6UE“Huff, huff.”kP38
74u6MAfter observing the scene for a long time, Amy finally couldn’t stand it any longer and shouted.SvXMq
TWqmPo“Hey! Would you mind moving aside? How absurdly bold can you be? If people saw this, they’d think we’re the bullies and you’re the victim.”Cv969s
8S4JKMarsha glanced at Amy and burrowed deeper into Shirone’s embrace, pouting her lips in defiance. Amy could practically hear her patience snapping.7O5e
2p1X“I’ve had enough of you, seriously!”8Mtz
WYbIoFreeman stepped in to shield Marsha and pleaded.WpQ
4ajUxe“Let her be. She’s exhausted from crying.”XU5
RxfiZtAmy glared at Freeman and pointed her finger.DgWwUZK
Re00“Are you delusional or something? Do you know how much trouble you’ve caused us? It’s a good thing we won, but Shirone’s life almost ended today!”eWzg9Xt
4udWhat really angered Amy was the idea that a positive outcome was all that mattered. If Shirone hadn’t overcome today’s crisis, the aftermath would have been terrifying. Not only would Shirone’s heart have been crushed after losing his magic, but Amy, who had to witness it, felt like she’d returned from hell.JEIE
FOZsYg“I’m sorry. All the crimes committed while operating with the Parrot Thieves were under my orders. Marsha only fought the guild’s trackers. But if that’s a crime as well….”wCh5M
v4WGFNIAmy folded her arms and interrupted.xqNt
TRB“And if it is?”EWl
nyZpn“Then I’ll take responsibility for her life.”MrAgVJB
5mVGgMarsha shot up from Shirone’s embrace, approached Freeman with a huff, and kicked his backside.PaGdR2
SsW4“Don’t make me laugh! Who said I needed you to block my way to marriage?!”kPF
ulwluFreeman staggered but stood firm, like an old tree unmoved by Marsha’s tantrums.9D9pY5
SYtT8“Marsha.”oja1H
fNzHer shoulders trembled at Shirone’s voice, but she couldn’t bring herself to turn around. She had taken her frustration out on Freeman out of fear of this very moment. In the end, she spoke without turning.CVx
JSMSh“Um… I’m sorry about what happened. I know I can’t be forgiven.”WKff
yh4U“That’s right. You can’t.”DLL
qtCbmMarsha turned around, shocked. Shirone’s eyes were cold, the kindness he’d shown earlier gone without a trace.Vum
dUaRN“No matter the reason, you kidnapped and used an innocent girl. That’s something you should never do.”BdOnTrn
6w3OpWMarsha couldn’t argue and bowed her head. She had never bullied the weak before, but she didn’t want to make excuses. She had kidnapped Yuna, and the person most hurt by that was Shirone.UO1
0QGFYN“You’re right. I was truly a villain.”RdCrrx
vc6H“That’s right. You were.”lru3R
FeIsShirone spoke without hesitation. He had always been that way, treating people sincerely and without deception. He never confused or misled others.7TpogH4
oCl“I’ll be going. I hope you can endure. And I hope I never see you again.”F6ydeN
7AFk1GeShirone turned and walked away without hesitation. Pitying and understanding Marsha was all he could do.cbv4qI
PQT9dv“I’m sorry!”ccSUGwQ
Aa1RtvMarsha suddenly mustered the courage to shout. Shirone had refrained from making any judgments about what had happened.0gsit
q8ZB9NNJust like when she had stolen pottery at the market, she had to approach him first.mSm
Szbo“How can you just leave like this? I’m only getting started. At least give me a promise that we’ll meet again!”74YHa
z6wuRShirone stood still for a long time before turning back around. His gaze was still sharp, and Marsha felt nervous like a prisoner awaiting her sentence.Cloy5T
lWcZDe“If you’re really sorry, apologize to Yuna. Tell her brother Zis you’re sorry, too. Compensate them fully for what they’ve suffered.”EYF
wEP“Of course! I hate this kind of thing, too. I won’t make excuses, but I’ll apologize to both of them.”qFd4N
Rl11z9“Even so, it doesn’t erase what you’ve done. I can’t forgive you for what you did.”GlvuR
DXdTuhVMarsha’s shoulders drooped, and tears welled up in her eyes.J8K
9XpASpu“But if you’ve truly decided to live a new life, I can forget the past.”JnpMX
DU0Marsha quickly looked up, then hugged Shirone like a child, sobbing.KzgJgUp
gt6“Waaaah! I was wrong!”jkxz
0XUxbEShirone couldn’t comfort Marsha as she cried in his arms. He had never made a decision like this before.qFDdRcZ
Hhh5Some people live tougher lives than others, and not everyone can fight for their beliefs.ScYL3
hOMThat’s why Shirone decided to forgive her.vUjIooJ
v3kDZoIf he was the starting point of her transformation, he felt he had to see it through.UuZ00s
CymGtU“Clay Marsha…”fUfvKpN
iVDNnPerhaps that’s why Shirone suddenly realized that the strong and intimidating Marsha was actually a small woman who could fit comfortably in his arms.Dnl7I
vMOfOMarsha led Shirone and the others into the building. With two mages having fought there, nothing was left intact.48DH
9YrLacTheir friends could imagine how fiercely Shirone had fought.S8Js9H5
2Pg“Let’s head upstairs. I’m starving after that fight. I’ll make us some food, though my cooking isn’t great.”5egmC
6074The second floor was the only usable space, with just a few broken flowerpots on the floor.cVbP1U
ImdyZZ1They waited for the food to be served, with Yuna also sitting at the table. She seemed much better now that the tension had eased.hRHtn
eR3OHaving set out at dawn without eating a single meal all day, they were starving. Since waiting for food was unbearable, Marsha served soup and bread right away.8DV2
NehrAs soon as the food was ready, they dug in, filling their stomachs eagerly. Despite his injuries, Rian ate the most.elu
0rE“Can you no longer use Pillage?”eKzQ
RtCBHMMThe most notable part of the battle for Shirone was definitely Pillage. Although it wasn’t as rare as an Unlocker’s magic, it was a unique ability in the magical society.wXkyrc
M8cucT0“Not really. Pillage won’t work anymore, but scars engraved in the heart don’t heal so easily. They tend to leave their mark.”RFV7
jq4tD“I see. Hmm.”YBZq
Yd7oUQAs Shirone trailed off, the perceptive Marsha smiled brightly.T7hL6a
6eJdYt“Don’t worry. I won’t make any more evil magic. The rules can be changed a little.”2Nk9VeH
UQDKShirone nodded in surprise. This was practical knowledge he couldn’t learn at school.ATc
ANuNg1M“So do you have any rules in mind?”12pYC
WWzIqRb“Not really. Let me think… How about I go to the magic academy and create magic to seduce a handsome blonde?”Gcl17x
iwEuShirone gave her a nervous smile. After all he’d been through with Unregulated Eaters, he couldn’t just take it as a joke.C8DiOo
6YyA4Marsha caught Amy’s sharp glare and tried to reassure her.JVG
kiz085i“Haha, don’t worry. It’s not Shirone.”0MO
4ORz“Oh, really? Then who is it?”gesMpKU
M5sk“Someone who attends the academy, is blonde, and handsome.”C70
evUKAmy remained silent. Arguing with an Unregulated Eater who saw the world in her own way was pointless.Q6GM2
z51EFreeman put down his spoon and said seriously.SDidm
OVCgef“How about magic to seduce a man with no eyebrows?”PCy4fPY
c9CJ“Pfft!”iG8VTM
kNaZGMmMarsha spat the soup back into her bowl. She hadn’t expected such brazen words in this situation.09V
rGhVSLu“What nonsense is that? Have you gone mad?”zS6
eKG8y“Why? I didn’t say it was me.”cdfoH
XXbtZBS“What other person with no eyebrows exists besides you and a monkey?”7emTjR
dnYE“But monkeys aren’t people.”0OMWoP
0T4RJ“No! I’m saying you’re a monkey! By the way, you lost, didn’t you? What a pathetic coward. How many times did I tell you not to use that Reverse Technique Tree, huh? Huh?”JGw
fbAxMarsha jabbed a fork into Freeman’s temple.VQLxn
B3iJWatching them bicker, Amy suddenly realized something. It was certainly strange that Freeman was fine after being struck directly by her Flame Strike.CtH0CqF
7PPxzp“Reverse Technique Tree?”r0J
dlF9G7Those who trained in Schema often layered multiple schemas for building up techniques. The base schema formed the foundation, and others were layered on top as options.rG3Crg
RiXReversing them suddenly was the Reverse Build.SFrtgFG
roOX6tSchema users called this “Reversal,” a defensive build used only in life-threatening situations.NM78
MFh6uRGunners prioritized agility and precision and based their schema on sensory or neural enhancements. Defensive builds for regeneration or cell activation had to be added as options.CKYv48
DJOecZ1Freeman, a gunner himself, wouldn’t have been any different.zMj
SezAccording to Marsha, Freeman fought using the defensive Reverse Build from the start.jyGmrh
DIaS8OiThis explained why his face remained unscathed despite being burned by Flame Strike.aIZsgx
G05“That last speed he showed when saving Marsha was incredible.”8CNPQp6
UOZKThat must have been the gunner’s normal speed without a reversal. The realization left Amy boiling with rage.BdFwpW
ge3nFreeman, perhaps sensing her mood, spoke up.gYBq3k
e9qnU“If not for the Reversal, the opponent would have used a different strategy. It’s not about being strong or weak. You just adapt to the situation, and courage is a skill too. You were stronger than me, Amy. That’s all.”8DZBLx
jFklj8vMarsha rested her chin in her hand, chuckling softly. Her cowardly eyebrowless Freeman could now speak quite manly.57QJ
Y9YRjDjReceiving praise from her opponent, Amy felt slightly awkward.QTGAw6u
2CNzT“Well… you were pretty impressive yourself, old man.”20eR4
dOKoXQ8“Thanks. But I’m not an old man. I’m the same age as Marsha.”Joo
LoZIul6“So what? You might be her age, but you’re still an old man to me.”AwKKL
OvmhZnFreeman sulked and returned to his bread. He wanted to ask why Shirone called Marsha “sister,” but his timid nature held him back.ov0
V42hOnce the playful banter died down, Marsha’s expression turned serious again.q1tyNd
CALSJ“Anyway, Shirone, if you’re aiming to become a mage, you should be wary of Unregulated Eaters. I know it sounds strange coming from me.”6Y5
5krvNKS“No, I want to know. Please, tell me more.”IYbUO6
gPBle“Well, the Pillage spell I used wasn’t all that efficient. The concept of stealing another’s magic is overpowered, but it’s just a possibility rather than an effective battle strategy.”hriPG
l9dFRShirone agreed. If he had to risk his life for an ability, he wouldn’t choose Pillage. There were too many limitations on stealing others’ powers.Q3gFSQ
9lMTQcJ“I’m a special case. Most Unregulated Eaters are unique, but their magic isn’t created for combat. Others use much more effective and versatile abilities.”C7Ftl
q2lNU“I see. In hindsight, it was terrifying fighting you. I never thought there was a way to seal Immortal Function.”tdaZ0f
9rms95“Haha, sorry about that. But you’re right. Nothing’s impossible in magic, and nothing is absolute either. You beat me because you found my weakness, right?”9cS
WCAaSA2“Yes. If Unregulated Eaters base their magic on trauma, I thought attacking that trauma persistently might create an opening.”hpcxF
8ctF54“Exactly. It’s a battle between conditions and prices. When fighting an Unregulated Eater, figuring out how their magic works is more important than their combat power. But I think you’ll manage just fine.”TT0CV
vJxY2E“I learned a lot this time.”z937tz
Fl6oShirone answered sincerely. This battle had shown him how vast the world was and how many outstanding people there were.J0FpF
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