Memoirs of a Wicked Magician - Chapter 119

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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 119
“By the way, Liriope, have you decided on a guide mentor?”
“I’ve almost made up my mind, but I haven’t committed to anything yet. What about you?”
“I’ve… decided.”
“Really? Who?”
Liriope and Caliona approached Milena, speaking in hushed tones.
Milena was caught by an eager instructor and stammering helplessly.
“Miss Milena? Is that truly a carefully considered answer? I don’t understand. You’re turning away from me to seek another guide mentor?”
“I—I’m so very sorry… But you see, I have a severe allergy to green hair…!”
But Liriope and Caliona couldn’t help the flustered Milena immediately. A crowd of other people descended upon them at once.
“My, what adorable sisters have arrived.”
“Caliona, Liriope! Come this way. I was just about to contact you both after hearing from Samuel—I’ve already arranged a consultation slot!”
“Don’t cut in line. These two have a prior appointment with me.”
“Proud? You were busy recruiting another student just moments ago, and now you’re sneaking your way in?”
There were high-ranking mages actively mounting aggressive recruitment campaigns to take the sisters as their disciples.
Their personalities and abilities were wildly varied, making it difficult to choose just one.
“Instructor Daphne, I heard you succeeded in restoring a new magical artifact yesterday. Congratulations.”
Still, Daphne was the instructor Liriope was most positively considering at present.
A female mage with a warm demeanor and voluminous, curly hair. She broke into a broad, delighted smile at Liriope’s words.
“Thank you! This project was no simple task—I suffered through a whole month of grueling work. But it was rewarding, truly! We’ll be holding an exhibition of this Grand Mage D’s works soon, so do come see it!”
Daphne boasted playfully with a wink. Liriope smiled softly in return and promised she would definitely stop by.
At that moment, envious and vigilant gazes shot in their direction.
The eyes of mages on the 40th Floor tier seeking Daphne’s disciple position mingled with those of instructors hoping to become Liriope’s guide mentor, radiating intense heat.
In truth, whoever she chose as a guide mentor risked retaliation from slighted mages.
So if she were to choose at all, it was better to select the most excellent mage among them as her mentor and silence all others utterly.
Or alternatively….
‘I could simply endure all the disadvantages and choose no one at all.’
Once she broke through the 50th Floor after waiting a bit longer, even more accomplished high-ranking mages would surely take interest in her.
Liriope recalled how Salome, a 7th-Rank mage who went into seclusion before the Time Reversion, had taken Caliona as her disciple.
“Liriope, I won’t choose a guide mentor from among the mages I’ve just met.”
So when Caliona said this later, Liriope was not surprised.
“Ah, I had a feeling you’d say that. Of course, all those mages are wonderful, but I think there’s someone else who’d suit you better.”
Liriope and Caliona had slipped away to a secluded spot to avoid the growing crowd.
Within the banquet hall where countless people had gathered, all manner of gossip and rumors circulating in the Magic Tower were whispered about.
From hushed rumors that Instructor Proud and Solea were actually secret lovers, to rumors about the Magic Power Enhancement Elixir that had even captivated Liriope.
And then there were outlandish ghost stories—tales that someone had wandered alone through the dark Magic Tower late at night and spotted shadows that should have been in the Contaminated Holy Ground.
Liriope let such rumors drift past as mere entertainment while she sipped her drink.
The beverage tasted remarkably sweet and refreshing when drunk with a parched throat, but something crucial seemed to be missing.
‘I do miss wine at times like these… But sister will never let me have any.’
Liriope smacked her lips regretfully and merely sipped her juice.
In Liriope’s assessment too, it would be best if Caliona waited a while before taking Salome as her mentor.
With her abilities, Caliona would inevitably break through the 50th Floor soon. Then Salome would take notice of her.
‘But… why is it? Sister’s growth speed seems slower than before the Time Reversion.’
Liriope had been climbing the Magic Tower sequentially with her sister, having Od constantly urge them on, just as Caliona had once waited for her at the 20th Floor.
For a while, Caliona’s growth speed was as if she had wings on her back. But once she reached the 40th Floor level, it felt as though she’d encountered an invisible wall.
That was precisely one of the reasons why Liriope now wanted to create the Magic Power Enhancement Elixir.
[What? You mean you didn’t go through all that suffering just to use it yourself?]
‘I’ll use it, and sister will use it too. It’s a two-for-one deal, really.’
Liriope felt a pang of guilt and offered her excuse.
‘Besides, the last attempt turned out reasonably well. The quantity is sufficient too.’
However, whether it could produce results without side effects, as Belkiers had promised, required separate verification.
Not because she doubted Od’s formula, but because there was a possibility that Liriope had made some error in the process.
[Hmm… I thought something was odd from the moment you grew obsessed with the Magic Power Enhancement Elixir—something you didn’t urgently need. Now I understand.]
But suddenly, Od pierced through Liriope’s innermost thoughts with sharp discernment.
[You’re worried your sister can’t absorb your Mana anymore like she did before the Time Reversion, so her strength has fallen, aren’t you?]
At that moment, Liriope’s hand holding the glass trembled sharply.
Od clicked his tongue at having struck the mark and reproached Liriope.
[You were pointlessly digging holes in the ground. Didn’t I tell you that thanks to that fool Belkiers, your sister’s Magic Core is now functioning properly? Of course, I don’t know how remarkable your sister was before the Time Reversion….]
Od paused, seeming to gauge Caliona’s current state, then added:
[But from what I can see, the wall blocking your sister now doesn’t seem to be about Mana.]
‘Then what? If it’s not about Mana… is it a matter of proficiency or something like that?’
[No. Your sister already has enough skill to ascend beyond the 50th Floor.]
Not a Mana problem, and not a proficiency problem either?
Liriope grew even more puzzled.
“Sister, could it be….”
Since the topic had come up naturally, she felt it would be good to discuss this matter with Caliona, so she opened her mouth.
“Dear me, the banquet on the 40th Floor tier is far more distracting than I expected.”
But just then, someone happened to address the sisters.
“Seeing you here in such a secluded spot, Miss Caliona and Miss Liriope, it seems this gathering isn’t entirely to your satisfaction?”
The identity was unexpected.
“Examiner Gawain?”
Turning her head, a young mage in particularly flamboyant attire came into view.
His rainbow-colored hair was even more striking than his clothing.
His blue eyes curved as if smiling, yet remained cold as ice.
He was the examination proctor Gawain, whom Liriope had seen a few times before.
“Hello.”
Liriope and Caliona greeted him nearly in unison. Then Gawain’s gaze, inscrutably meaningful, fixed upon the two of them.
‘What is this? Why did he suddenly approach us?’
Liriope felt a flicker of wariness at Gawain’s unexpected approach.
It was surprising both that Gawain, the most notorious of the examination proctors, had suddenly appeared at this banquet, and that he had initiated conversation with them.
“I was merely passing through, so there’s no need for such caution. Rather, those above are busy preparing for the approaching Flooding Period, while those below enjoy leisure at banquets such as these.”
Gawain turned his head and gazed at those enjoying the banquet with an expression caught between a smile and a sneer.
“Though it’s fortunate, isn’t it? You two are still at the 40th Floor tier, so you’ll be assigned to the outer perimeter during this Flooding Period as well. Miss Caliona in particular may be quite relieved that things will work out as she wishes.”
And with those words casually dropped, both Liriope’s and Caliona’s expressions shifted at once.
“But now that you’ve come this far, don’t forget that you cannot walk safely forever.”
Gawain smiled slightly at the two, whose composure was wavering.
“Then, Miss Liriope, I’ll see you at the 50th Floor Examination soon. And Miss Caliona—after the banquet ends today, please come to my research chamber.”
Liriope watched the man who had left those cryptic words depart with a hardened gaze.
[That one just warned you both, it seems.]
Liriope’s thoughts aligned with Od’s.
Gawain had deliberately sought them out today.
‘From the tone of his voice, he seemed to think we—especially sister—are deliberately lingering at the 40th Floor tier.’
“Sister, what did Gawain mean when he said—”
“Liriope.”
Caliona too was staring at the spot where Gawain had vanished, her eyes cold and settled.
Then she abruptly covered Liriope’s mouth and made a bombshell declaration.
“I’m going to choose Gawain as my guide mentor.”
Liriope’s ears could scarcely believe what they heard.

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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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