Memoirs of a Wicked Magician - Chapter 107

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 107
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An old saying goes that to catch a tiger, you must enter its lair yourself.
There was also wisdom in knowing your enemy and knowing yourself—a formula that guaranteed victory.
“Magic Tower Master, thank you for making time for such an abrupt request.”
This was why Liriope had resolved to meet Seraphina in person today.
“I know you’re terribly busy, but I truly wanted to see you again.”
Of course, recalling that shocking encounter left her afraid and uneasy, but her desire to revisit and verify what happened that day ran deeper still. Od had agreed to this course as well.
It stood in direct opposition to Belkiers’ warning to keep her distance from Seraphina, which did trouble her somewhat.
‘The Magic Tower Master’s actions last time were certainly threatening, but… I didn’t sense any killing intent from her.’
So moments earlier, Liriope had boldly fired her Mana skyward toward the Top of Magic Tower.
Caw!
As expected, a familiar raven soon descended through the clouds.
And in an instant, powerful Spatial Displacement Magic unfolded, transporting Liriope directly before Seraphina.
“Well, Liriope. I must admit, I didn’t expect you to come seeking me first.”
Unlike last time, when she’d been forced to her knees, Liriope now found herself seated in a chair.
The space where Seraphina received her was no longer the dark, desolate room of before, but a bright, warm Indoor Garden.
Beautiful flowers bloomed everywhere, and the sweet scent of chocolate eased the tension in the air.
The crushing pressure that had weighed on her body before was also far gentler this time.
So unlike then, when she hadn’t dared open her mouth, Liriope was able to offer her greetings with proper courtesy.
“In fact, Belkiers has been hounding me relentlessly about that day.”
The faint sound of footsteps on grass naturally drew her attention.
“So for his sake, I had planned to grant you freedom for a time.”
The presence drawing gradually nearer finally came to rest directly behind Liriope.
“But what could possibly have driven you to seek me out?”
Seraphina rested her hand on Liriope’s shoulder, leaning forward.
Silk-like black hair fell like a curtain across Liriope’s right field of vision.
“Surely Belkiers told you to be wary of me. Yet you appear again before me without fear?”
On Liriope’s left shoulder, a woman’s gentle touch contrasted with cool skin temperature.
Like a fish caught in a net, Liriope felt her vigilance spike, and her lips trembled slightly.
“…I was not afraid.”
A youthful voice, careful yet unbroken, echoed through the garden.
“Of course I was anxious and nervous, but… the thought that I wasn’t alone gave me the courage to face you again, Magic Tower Master.”
“Not alone?”
Seraphina repeated Liriope’s words slowly, as if intrigued.
“So you trust Belkiers, who stands behind you.”
A flicker crossed Liriope’s eyes.
‘She hasn’t detected Od’s presence.’
The first thing she’d wanted to confirm was now clear.
Of course, this assumed Seraphina wasn’t deliberately feigning ignorance.
[I’ve felt it before, but this Magic Tower Master Seraphina is a monster beyond my initial assessment. Even now, she’s weaving roughly thirty spells as easily as breathing.]
Od, unaffected by Seraphina’s pressure, began a rapid analysis.
Meanwhile, Liriope continued her conversation with Seraphina.
“Everything happened so suddenly last time that I couldn’t even properly greet you. It’s been weighing on me ever since.”
[Surprisingly, today she hasn’t deployed aggressive brainwashing magic. Still, seven spells are concentrated on Liriope.]
“I’ve actually admired and respected you since childhood.”
[Emotion Manipulation Magic, Thought Reduction Magic, Mental Distortion Magic, Abnormal State Confirmation Magic, Confession Magic, Lie Detection Magic, and Mana Measurement Magic.]
“…You’re the greatest mage of our age that I know.”
Liriope felt her blood run cold at the spells Od enumerated.
[And directed outward from this space: Mental Control Magic, Protection Barrier Magic, Locking Magic, Binding Magic, and Vision Sharing Magic. On herself: Mana Control Magic, Detoxification Magic, and Purification Magic. Plus the trivial maintenance spells for this garden—Air Purification Magic, light adjustment, humidity, Temperature Control Magic, Soundproofing Magic, and more…]
“Moreover, by good fortune to have caught your eye, you even extended a special offer to me last time.”
[As we discussed, defending against all the magic aimed at you would be conspicuous, so I’ll merely weaken their effects. And there’s something strange about this woman that I can’t quite name—I’ll need to examine it more carefully. Continue your conversation carefully while I work.]
“Belkiers hated the idea, but I must confess, when I first heard it, my heart wavered. Infinite strength and endless life—who wouldn’t be tempted by such things?”
Even without Od’s warning, Liriope had to steel herself to face Seraphina.
“So why would I fear you?”
Under Seraphina’s Confession Magic and Lie Detection Magic, it was impossible to speak falsehoods.
“I simply didn’t want to hurt Belkiers’ feelings, so for now I wanted to honor his wishes.”
It was better to hide what truly needed hiding, to speak none of it aloud, and instead carefully draw forth only the shallow truths that could be exposed.
“In truth, I wish to grow closer to you, to earn your favor.”
This, at least, was genuine.
Liriope truly did wish to grow closer to Seraphina.
To be kept at her side and used by her as she did with her other children, close enough to share even a fragment of the mysterious secrets hidden within that dark heart.
Seraphina studied Liriope for a long moment, as if verifying her sincerity.
In the silence, her spine felt stiff and aching.
“You need not fear me.”
Then, after a pause, low laughter drifted to Liriope’s ears.
“No one welcomes your existence as gladly as I do.”
A scented hand passed over Liriope’s shoulder, brushing lightly against her pale throat.
“For someone bold enough to seek me out, you seem remarkably tense. Come, drink your tea. It will calm your nerves.”
Liriope could not bring herself to meet Seraphina’s gaze directly as the woman sat across from her.
Had her guard slipped without her noticing?
Abnormal reverence tangled with instinctive caution, paralyzing her thoughts.
She felt as though she should drop to her knees and become Seraphina’s teacup stand rather than share tea with the Magic Tower Master.
[Snap out of it!]
‘Ah, that stings!’
Od stirred her Mana, jolting Liriope back to clarity.
She grasped at her reason and lifted the teacup.
But she stopped before taking even a single sip.
A large spider writhed inside the sweetly-scented teacup.
‘If the Thought Reduction Magic and Mental Distortion Magic are active… should I drink it?’
[Don’t. She’s withdrawn those two spells. The spider is an illusion—false. She’s observing your reaction. Just tell her the truth.]
“Um, Magic Tower Master, there’s a spider in the teacup. Should I drink it anyway?”
“How strange. How could such a thing happen? I’ll have a fresh cup brought for you.”
Liriope couldn’t tell if this was Seraphina’s idea of a joke or something else.
Seraphina tilted her head slightly, her voice still warm with amusement.
“But Liriope, is this why you’ve sought me out—to show me that your will differs from Belkiers’ will?”
Liriope forced herself to overcome the resistance in her heart, slowly lifting her gaze.
At last, Seraphina’s form came into view.
Today, Seraphina had covered half her face with a black lace veil. All Liriope could see were her gracefully curved crimson lips and her elegant jawline.
Just that—and how it dazzled her eyes.
“Yes. Of course I don’t want to upset Belkiers, so it seems this will take time. But if someday I could serve you closely…”
Liriope’s voice turned almost entranced.
“Then I would wish to become someone who understands you more deeply than anyone else.”
Yet she did not forget what she needed to extract from this encounter.
“And I will do my utmost to discover what you truly desire.”
“What I desire, you say…”
Seraphina slowly echoed Liriope’s words, savoring the taste of tea as she spoke.
“Yes. Even I, who is said to have touched the Gate of the Horizon—the very peak of what mortals may reach—possess something I have yet to attain.”
Then a smile, chilling in its intensity, curved her crimson lips.
“I have long harbored two great desires, yet tragically, one remains an eternal loss of the past that I shall never achieve. Fortunately, however, the other still awaits.”
Liriope unconsciously held her breath at Seraphina’s whispered words.
“To become the Master of the Black Land.”
Her meaning seemed somehow distinct from the mission of all mages—the Reclamation of the Corrupted Holy Site.
“To place the fallen, abandoned holy site entirely beneath my feet, to claim everything within it. That is my greatest wish, my solemn vow to accomplish before death claims me.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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