Memoirs of a Wicked Magician - Chapter 51

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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 51
Milena approached Liriope and, this time, grabbed her hand firmly with trembling fingers.
“Th-thank you, Liriope…. You’re the first person to accept me so completely. So from now on, I’ll only listen to what you say.”
She went on, cycling back to the beginning again, uttering twisted words laden with a desperate, blind devotion to Liriope without pause.
“As long as you recognize me—that’s all I need. Sob, I think I’ll really be fine with just that now. I don’t need anyone else. I only just realized that’s not what I truly needed….”
Her eyes shone with a brilliant light that bordered on madness, containing only Liriope.
Liriope met that contradictory, twisted blindness with steady, unblinking eyes.
‘This child truly hasn’t changed.’
People could change easily with just a small catalyst, but among them were those who never lost their fundamental nature even before countless opportunities.
This girl before her was precisely such a case.
‘Milena—foolish enough to refuse to stand alone despite being fully capable, yet demanding to parasitize someone to survive.’
It made sense that she’d lived precisely such a life even before the Time Regression.
In Liriope’s memory, Milena spent her entire life endlessly seeking someone to depend on, only to be used and discarded.
To speak frankly, goodwill and pity accounted for only about twenty percent of why Liriope had spoken to her in that moment of despair.
It was cruel, but the remaining eighty percent was cold calculation of her high utility value.
To be specific: if the number written on the Note had been less than five, Liriope would never have made such an offer to Milena.
That number indicated the permitted number of people who could use the exit.
In the future Liriope knew, Milena accomplished what others could not easily achieve.
Among mages of External Residence Origin, she was one of only two exceptional individuals who would become the adopted child of a Magic Tower Master.
One was Caliona, Liriope’s older sister. The other was this girl standing before her now.
This weak girl who would become ‘Milena Belegot’ in the future.
Milena, who would later become the hound of the Northern Magic Tower Master and wreak destructive havoc like a tempest, stacking mountains of countless corpses.
Who could imagine that such a formidable woman had been this unremarkable in her youth?
“Very well, Milena.”
Regardless, there was no doubt that Milena had wanted this situation.
So Liriope decided to put the bridle on this girl while she was still an undeveloped beast, granting her desire.
“From now on, listen only to me.”
If a life spent parasitizing someone else was her only satisfaction, wouldn’t it be better to become Liriope’s—someone who at least harbored a modicum of pity and goodwill toward her?
“That’s all you need to do.”
And so Liriope squeezed the warmth in her palm like a noose, tightening her grip.
Milena, seeming utterly blissful in this moment, turned to her with a smile so peaceful it felt strange.
“Yes, yes! I will! I’ll do exactly as you tell me…!”
The change was felt in that very instant.
“Hhhhaaahh.”
“…!”
From not far away, a foul, putrid breath scattered through the air.
From the battered body of the Boy, a thick black liquid dripped and spattered.
The flower that bloomed using him as its host continued to grow, feeding on that unholy power, ravaging the Boy’s already failing body further.
Even in that state, Zed did not die—he dragged himself forward toward them.
“Hhhaaahh, l-last…. Hhhaaahh, o-one more….”
An obsession toward the final prey remained like pure instinct, driving him forward.
“Eek! Z-Zed? Why, why, why isn’t he dead yet…!”
Milena screamed in terror at the horrifying sight of Zed approaching.
“Milena, run!”
Liriope seized Milena’s hand and began sprinting toward where the exit lay.
“Liri!”
“Come on, hurry! This way!”
The companions waiting nearby also bolted forward in panic.
Fortunately, Zed’s movements were sluggish. So without needing to confront him, they only had to reach the Lake.
Ironically, Zed—who normally seemed to fear nothing, violent and reckless as he was—harbored a severe phobia of water.
It posed no problem in daily life, but after nearly drowning in the past, he especially avoided deep water like this that would completely submerge him.
Before the Time Regression, Zed had intended to contaminate the children in the group who came this far, then kill them.
He’d meant to escape the External Residence alone that way—by filling his Mana Gauge rather than using the exit.
It was only then, before the Time Regression, that Liriope learned Zed had a water phobia and couldn’t use the exit.
That detail certainly remained consistent with before the Time Regression, but….
Why had Zed, once merely an ordinary boy, become such a monster this time?
Moreover, since parting with him in the Blue Forest and meeting him again now, Zed carried a far more concentrated Corrupting Aura than before.
A low, ominous sound rumbled.
“…!”
Then, in that moment, an ominous surge of Mana flowed from behind.
Unbelievably, even in that state, Zed was attempting to cast magic.
Moreover, its intensity and magnitude were beyond anything compared to before.
[Liriope!]
‘I know!’
Liriope bit her lip hard.
“Liri, what are you doing!”
Caliona’s urgent cry reached her ears as she stopped alone and began drawing Mana from her Core.
A sharp, piercing sound cut through the air.
But Liriope remained isolated from the outside, concentrating as she began tracing a Magic Circle in empty space.
Swift teal Mana unfolded into a gorgeous pattern that dazzled the eye.
Caliona spun back around, calling Liriope’s name as she ran toward her.
What was needed this time was a single-use Defensive Barrier—one that didn’t need to last long. Instead, it had to be larger, thicker, and more solid.
Her older sister’s arm, arriving just in time, pulled Liriope close, shielding her from the incoming fireball.
A massive impact thundered.
And finally, the powerful magics collided head-on, sending out violent waves.
But it was not only Liriope’s Defensive Barrier that met Zed’s magic.
Water Magic erupting from Caliona also weakened the force of the blazing fireball.
Caliona had only begun using magic after entering the External Residence, but true to form as Liriope’s proud older sister, her power and skill were already worthy of admiration.
Yet… something felt wrong.
Far more Mana than Liriope had calculated drained from her Core in massive chunks.
And it flowed directly into Caliona, adding force to the Water Magic she had created.
As the Mana suddenly poured out, Liriope’s vision spun.
[This—! Of all times! Liriope, get away from your sister right now!]

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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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