Memoirs of a Wicked Magician - Chapter 139

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

Chapter 139
“Come now, have a cup of tea first. I mention it just in case you’re worried, but there’s no deadly poison like my specialty in this, I promise?”
Daphne winked playfully and brought over a teapot and cup from the corner of her desk. Then she began bustling about, steeping the tea with magic.
[That tea…. Just say your stomach’s upset and don’t drink it.]
But Od suddenly turned serious.
‘Why? Do you sense traces of magic or something? I can’t tell.’
[People don’t die from poison alone. Food poisoning exists in this world too, mind you. Consider where that teacup was buried just moments ago—in what kind of dust heap. This woman Daphne’s laboratory could very well become a breeding ground for plague…….]
‘Stop it. You just saw Daphne use Cleansing Magic.’
Liriope took a delicate sip of the tea as if Od were being fussy, and Od let out a pained groan in her mind.
Despite her cheerful and approachable demeanor, Daphne was a mage well-versed in Poison Magic. She also had a talent for restoring broken magical artifacts discovered in corrupted sanctuaries.
Because of this, many mages wished to take her as their mentor.
“Speaking of which, Liriope. I’m curious about something—why are you alone today? Where’s your sister? Could you call her over, perhaps? If neither of you has chosen a mentor yet, it would be good to consult with both of you at once.”
Liriope paused mid-sip at Daphne’s question.
“My sister has already chosen her mentor.”
“Really? Oh, how unfortunate. I was one step too late. Just who is this lucky fellow who snatched your sister away?”
Liriope simply smiled.
“You’ll find out later.”
A flicker of disappointment crossed Daphne’s face, but it didn’t linger.
She recovered her vibrant expression as if she’d never shown a moment of letdown at all.
“Well, at least you’re still here—I’m fortunate for that much. Of course, the competition to claim you is no joke, which is tiresome. Have you consulted with any other instructors?”
“No, Instructor Daphne. You’re the first.”
“Oh, how perfect. Now that you’ve seen me, there’s no need for you to make any tedious visits elsewhere.”
Daphne’s expression and tone brimmed with confidence that she would be chosen by Liriope today.
“Oh, and I should have some snacks to go with the tea somewhere around here. Just a moment!”
Moments later, she pulled from an Illusory Space a Picnic Basket decorated garishly with colorful ribbons.
“Ta-da! My special Magical Fortune Cookies!”
Daphne beamed as she whisked away the heart-patterned lace cloth covering the basket.
“Inside are cookies imbued with luck—Vitality Magic, Concentration Enhancement Magic, Tension Relief Magic, and more. Pick whichever one appeals to you! And just so you know, there’s no option to refuse! My special Fortune Cookies have no duds, so feel free to test your luck without worry!”
At that very moment, Daphne’s Mana stirred without any warning whatsoever.
“……!”
Like a coiled serpent spotting prey and slithering forward in silence, Daphne’s Mana, compressed and invisible, traced an unseen Magic Circle in her mouth.
[Remaining Mana: 12,980/13,800]
Liriope watched in real time as Daphne’s Mana plummeted.
[Remaining Mana: 5,100/13,800]
Liriope’s pupils dilated slightly.
‘What? What magic did she just use in secret?’
Moreover, with this degree of Mana expenditure, the spell was clearly substantial in scale.
Yet the movement of Mana had been so deft that even Liriope, who possessed keen senses, barely detected it—and because the Mana Circuit was unfamiliar, she couldn’t even discern what kind of magic it was.
[This insane woman dares to…….]
Just then, a savage voice ground through her mind like teeth clenching.
[How dare she use Virto’s Forbidden Magic before me? Does she have a death wish?]
Od’s voice was filled with disgust, as if witnessing filth or vermin.
‘Virto’s Forbidden Magic?’
Liriope frowned at his words, demanding explanation.
[Yes. Long ago, the Magician Council banned it as illegal and it fell into disuse. But I never thought it would have survived and been passed down even now.]
‘Illegal Trade Magic? So it’s different from the ordinary Trade Magic that high-ranking mages often use?’
Liriope recalled the Trade Magic that people today used legally.
Though commonly called Trade Magic, the official term was Balance Magic.
Two parties would swear to trade in good faith, place their goods on magical scales, and once the values were deemed equivalent, they would exchange what they possessed.
[Of course it is. This is merely Trade Magic in name, but functionally it falls far short of the title.]
Od continued with clear displeasure.
[Proper trade, by definition, requires mutual consent and equal standing, with fair exchange of desired goods. But this magic has a loophole—it’s designed to allow forced exploitation without the other party’s consent. The moment the recipient unwittingly accepts what the caster offers, they’re automatically considered to have agreed to the trade, and a compulsive force activates, forcing them to pay the price no matter what.]
Od shuddered, calling it a despicably sinister and contemptible magic.
Upon hearing that this illegal Trade Magic had been mainly used to enslave non-mages like property in those days, Liriope was startled.
[Though whether time has dulled it or this mage Daphne simply lacks ambition, the magic’s essence does seem somewhat diminished. From the look of it, she can only demand payment equivalent to the Mana in those pathetic cookies. Still, to resort to such a cheap trick…… it’s truly laughable.]
As Liriope listened to Od’s explanation, her doubts only grew.
No matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t fathom Daphne’s true intention.
Why would Daphne use such magic on her?
What could she possibly want from her?
[Liriope, accept the trade. I’ll show this pup of a creature exactly what price one pays for carelessly wielding forbidden magic.]
Liriope studied Daphne, who still wore that smile, then reached toward the basket.
“If I’m choosing one…… I’ll take this one.”
“Ah, an excellent choice!”
Daphne’s eyes sparkled as she urged Liriope on.
“Go ahead and snap the cookie in half! Who knows what incredible luck might be hidden inside?”
Since things had come to this, why hesitate?
Liriope broke the cookie without hesitation.
Crack!
And upon seeing what fell from it, Liriope’s eyes twitched.
“Wow, can you believe it! You drew the 1+2 Cookie!”
Daphne clapped excitedly.
Liriope was dumbfounded.
Two small cookies had fallen from the halved one.
She’d deliberately chosen the cookie requiring the most Mana—the one that would best expose Daphne’s true intentions, as Od had suggested—but she’d hidden this trick inside?
As Liriope stood bewildered, Daphne dropped her act.
“Perfect. You’ve received three cookies filled with high-quality Mana. Now, according to fair trade, I’ll demand three prices from you!”
Though the window hadn’t opened, a thin breeze blew from nowhere.
An unpleasant sensation, like a flying insect crawling across skin, grazed the nape of her neck.

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