Memoirs of a Wicked Magician - Chapter 28

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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 28
Though she had reacted savagely at the sight of him, she hadn’t immediately revealed murderous intent—so there was a chance, or so she’d thought.
“I saw him.”
“Who?”
“That boy everyone calls Seoh. The one who was about to take off his clothes and give them to me a moment ago.”
The other members of Zed’s group who’d accompanied the search had been caught by the silver-haired boy’s magic and crumbled to dust without leaving so much as a corpse behind.
The dead leave no testimony, making them perfect vessels for blame.
Besides, that wretch had been one of Zed’s followers—never exactly a paragon of virtue—so she felt no remorse about pinning the deed on him.
Of course, she could have laid Liriope’s actions at the feet of the silver-haired boy who’d actually attacked them, but it seemed to her more effective to target someone Zed already knew well.
“That bastard…! Damn it, I knew something was off about his eyes—he dares strike me from behind and run?!”
As expected, Zed thrashed about the cave, hurling objects in a frenzy.
“Then could it be the others with him have all turned traitor to that piece of garbage? The damn dogs, every last one of them mocking me…!”
Even in the midst of his rampage, Liriope kept glancing nervously at the small entrance they’d hastily barricaded with stones, worried their sister might get hurt.
Fortunately, Cassel seemed to have the sense to remain hidden—no sound of her presence carried from outside.
“…I thought you’d bled out and died. And then that boy, Seoh, attacked me too—I couldn’t just stand there.”
Liriope paused mid-explanation, her voice trembling at the memory, and lowered her gaze.
“So I ran without thinking and only just made it back.”
“If you’d been the one who attacked me, you would’ve come looking for your sister the moment I collapsed. It doesn’t make sense that you’re crawling back here after all this time.”
[I had originally planned to do just that, but things changed in ways I didn’t foresee. That contractor of yours—the more I see him, the more I can’t tell if he’s unlucky or blessed. Or perhaps in his case, it’s more accurate to say he has a talent for surviving misfortune?]
In any case, the current situation was turning out rather favorably.
“Zed! I-I’m sorry. We lost the fire starter…. Huh? Twenty-eight’s back?”
“You lost him?! You useless piece of shit!”
The members of Zed’s group who’d just returned became convenient outlets for his rage.
“You’re all equally pathetic! Pack your things now! We’re moving to the next location immediately. Those vermin will have to follow us to survive anyway, so we can deal with them soon enough.”
No one could stand against Zed in his current state.
The children, pushed along by his ominous momentum, scrambled to prepare for departure without a word of protest.
[There’s no choice right now. I’ll have to watch for another opportunity later.]
Liriope closed her eyes, suppressing the turbulent emotions that threatened to boil over.
The way circumstances kept circling back, trapping her once more in Zed’s grasp—it was absurdly frustrating.
Yet leaving this place mixed in with the group wasn’t without its advantages for Liriope.
Even if the capricious silver-haired boy changed his mind and returned, having companions might prove helpful after all.
Though when she recalled the overwhelming magic he wielded, she had to wonder how much difference a few companions would really make…
For now, she decided to focus on the positive aspects.
A few deep breaths calmed her racing heart, and soon she’d regained her composed expression.
“Say, Zed. Before we leave, about us choosing a manager like you said…”
“What? Shut up if you’re going to talk nonsense!”
“Ah, I see. I’ll bring it up later.”
Kam had approached Zed with brave words, as if she had something to say, but the fierce glint in his eyes sent her retreating hastily instead.
Liriope went to gather Kaliona and witnessed something even stranger.
Milena’s face bore marks of violence that hadn’t been there before.
“Hey, Milena. If anyone asks later, you tell them straight that we’ve appointed me as manager. Got it?”
Seeing Kam’s swaggering demeanor and Milena’s dark expression, Liriope could guess what had transpired during her absence.
The other bound children were also watching Kam with weary looks.
“H-hey there. Let me help you carry your sister. Isn’t it hard doing it alone?”
Liriope quietly observed Milena as she approached, trying to help despite everything.
Milena, embarrassed, hung her head and tried to hide the red bruises blooming across her cheekbones.
“Move faster, you slugs! Zed said to hurry!”
Kam suddenly found her nerve and began swatting the stragglers’ backsides with glee—she looked like a cunning fox riding atop a tiger.
Liriope glanced back as she followed Zed’s group.
All that stretched across her vision was the Barren Land.
Yet Liriope sensed that an invisible shadow was following her silently from behind.
* * *
“Chief! What do we do now?”
Dino, lying flat against the dirt to hide, spoke urgently as he watched the group disappear into the distance.
“Hell if I know.”
Beside him, the red-haired boy Cassel screwed up his face and focused intently on the scene before them.
‘What the hell is going on here?’
Something about the situation inside the cave had felt off, so he’d hidden his group, but afterward he couldn’t figure out what had actually happened.
Even Liriope, who’d brought him this far, was now moving with the group contrary to her original plan.
“Chief, I don’t know what’s going on, but what if we’ve been played again?”
“Quit babbling and stay quiet. I’m thinking right now.”
“Thinking? Come on, chief—you’re way too naive sometimes, and it’s become a real problem!”
“You want to try that again? Is this really how you talk to your superior?”
“Tch! Just be honest with me. You started that trouble at the restaurant to get their attention, didn’t you? And you’re trying to be nice to her now for the same reason, right? John, who lived in the same neighborhood before, called guys like you a woman-crazy guy—someone totally obsessed with girls.”
“What? That’s complete nonsense! Absolutely not!”
“Yeah, right. Isn’t it though? Hey, Fin. You think I’m right, don’t you? Isn’t the chief hilarious?”
Dino, teasing relentlessly, had carelessly addressed someone who wasn’t there and suddenly froze.
Cassel also stopped his hand, which had been about to flick Dino’s forehead.
A moment later, his hand changed direction—now gently ruffling the darkened expression of his subordinate’s hair.
“Hey, forget that nonsense and look over there. See how she keeps glancing back? I don’t think she’s looking for us.”
At Cassel’s words, Dino lifted his head again, his spirits slightly lifted from before.
Dino suspected they’d been duped again, but Cassel’s intuition told him this situation wasn’t what Liriope had wanted either.
Still, with their numbers so clearly disadvantaged, Cassel and Dino couldn’t afford to step forward now.
Liriope seemed to understand as much—she soon cut off the searching glances she’d been casting about, careful not to draw attention.
“Let’s follow them for now.”
“So he really is a woman-crazy guy…”
“No! Damn it, I’m not! It’s just—those people seem to have information, so following them might benefit us too!”
And so the two of them quietly began trailing the girl who stood on that strange borderline—not quite allies yet, not quite enemies.
Neither knowing what lay at the end of that path.

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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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