Memoirs of a Wicked Magician - Chapter 74

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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 74
Looking at Cameron’s expression, it seemed he believed a noble behind Liriope had helped her rather than considering her a true genius.
In other words, it was as if he thought she’d received some sort of early education.
Of course, Liriope made no effort to correct Cameron’s misunderstanding.
Since he was content to nurture his own delusion and treat Liriope with increased caution, there was no reason to disabuse him.
In any case, the very next day, Liriope was finally released completely from the Underground Education Chamber.
That day, combining Contamination Adaptation Training with theoretical instruction, Cameron had her read inside the Cubic Chamber, and once again Liriope passed the test with such composure that Cameron grew weary of it.
The book’s contents covered the general topography of the outer regions of the Contaminated Holy Ground and the dangerous creatures that inhabited them.
“Very well. You may go up to the first floor now.”
Cameron, who had initially seemed irritably amused, now regarded Liriope with a composed and careful gaze.
“You appear to be on a different level entirely compared to the other maggots. I’ll permit you to ascend to the surface, but understand—your education is far from complete. Should I call for you, return to the chamber immediately.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“When you go up, someone will come to guide you. During my instruction of the other children, he’ll oversee your individual sessions. He’s your senior, so conduct yourself with proper respect and avoid any insolence.”
Liriope offered a polite bow and headed toward the first floor.
* * *
“Ah, so bright.”
Sunlight glimpsed for the first time in nearly four days was truly warming.
[Coming out this quickly? Less than a week, let alone a month. Though I suppose those lessons were far too simple for your level.]
Liriope savored Ode’s praise like music, drinking in the clean air and warm light streaming through the corridor windows for a moment.
As he had said, she had originally planned to keep pace with the Magic Tower’s average, but that plan had been abandoned long ago.
The reason was obvious enough…….
‘Sister must be somewhere above.’
Liriope’s gaze fixed on the ceiling overhead.
She tried to suppress the impatient urge to rush to Caliona, but her resolve wavered.
Contradictory as it was, now that she’d reached the surface, a strange hesitation had taken root.
A peculiar dread and unease bubbled up inside her.
‘What if sister treats me like a stranger again?’
If she’d somehow suffered amnesia and forgotten Liriope, or—like before the time regression—had come to dislike her and decided to stop treating her as a sister…….
Liriope might be so devastated she’d want to lock herself away in the Outer Estate again.
[Hmph. If that happens, that bastard Velkius would come running with joy. He’s been conspicuously absent these past few days—I wonder if something’s finally gotten under his skin.]
At that moment, Ode snorted derisively. Liriope’s lips twitched slightly.
She furrowed her brow for a different reason and glanced up at the ceiling once more.
Just as Ode had said, Velkius, who could reach her from anywhere and at any moment, had not shown his face for days—making her mind restless.
‘…… When I was in the Outer Estate, he came by almost daily.’
Which floor of the Magic Tower was Velkius currently occupying?
Liriope knew little about him beyond the fact that he was a mage from the Inner Estate—one of the Tower Master’s adopted children.
Perhaps it was because, save for Evangellin, she’d never directly encountered any of the Inner Estate mages before the time regression?
True, she knew the names of a few among them, but Velkius remained strangely unfamiliar.
Yet that made no sense, did it?
There was no way Liriope hadn’t even heard his name, given that he’d been such a formidable mage since boyhood.
In fact, after a year of contemplation, Liriope had arrived at a conclusion.
‘The most likely possibility is that he died young, never reaching adulthood.’
If Velkius was fated to die early, then Liriope’s ignorance of him would make sense.
The timing would likely be before she began to seriously notice the Tower Master’s adopted children.
That is, before she happened to become entangled with Evangellin.
‘Which would place me at sixteen or seventeen years old…….’
As Liriope lowered her gaze, long lashes shadowed her eyes.
Would her heart feel any lighter now if Velkius had confined her to the Outer Estate a year ago and treated her harshly, or done something unreasonable?
But he had treated her with extraordinary kindness.
As Velkius himself had said recently, he’d allowed her to do everything she wished save for leaving the Outer Estate or directly communicating with outsiders.
So during that year spent in the Outer Estate, Liriope had sufficient time and effort to develop her plans for the future and hone her magical abilities.
Moreover, watching Cameron place the children in the Cubic Chamber, remove them, and periodically cast Purification Magic, she’d discovered something anew——.
‘Comparing them now, I see it more clearly. My magic has unconsciously become far too similar to his.’
Of course, it was undeniable that Ode was her true teacher.
Ode had directly guided her mana through the pathways of magic.
She’d been taught countless magical principles beyond Liriope’s imagination, ancient and great magics now erased from the world, and had selflessly transmitted the secrets to deepening the power and depth of mana.
Yet among all the magic Liriope had witnessed and felt firsthand, the one that had imprinted itself most powerfully on her mind was Velkius’s magic.
Magic so beautiful merely to observe.
Liriope had never seen such beautiful magic before.
She had never felt such a thrill, not even from Caliona whom she loved so dearly, nor from Kallix, the Southern Tower Master whom she’d respected before the time regression.
Of course, Ode had endlessly tried to correct her thinking, insisting that ‘the magic he himself had used in life was far greater and more perfect.’
Perhaps it was because, as a mage, Liriope had glimpsed in Velkius the very pinnacle she wished to reach?
That her heart refuses to obey, even though she’d decided long ago to keep him beyond the line.
Thump-thump-thump-thump!
But then a strange sound suddenly reached Liriope’s ear as she was lost in thought.
How to describe it? It was like the frantic, chaotic footsteps of an excited puppy bounding forward.
“Li, Liriope! Liriope, oh……!”
And a voice desperately calling her name followed in its wake.
Turning in bewilderment, she saw a girl with orange hair streaming wildly, rushing toward her.
“Liriope, I’ve missed you so much……!”
In mere seconds, the girl reached her and pulled Liriope into a fierce embrace.
“Milena?”
Liriope immediately recognized who it was, though she was somewhat taken aback.
“You’re my guide?”
Knowing that such roles were entrusted only to high-performing students, Liriope could scarcely hide her surprise.
“Yes! I’m, I’m the new guide! I tried really hard to see you as quickly as possible!”
Milena, with tears welling in her eyes, embraced Liriope so tightly she seemed ready to burst, pouring out the intensity of her feelings.
“Liriope, I missed you so much! I missed you so badly I thought I’d die! Without you, I felt like I wasn’t even living these past days! But I believed your words, that I should wait here first, and I’ve kept on living steadfastly until today……. Hic!”
[This girl…… I felt it even in the Outer Estate, but her dependence has evolved even further. Is it because you inadvertently neglected her?]
“There, Milena…… You came first as I asked and waited well, didn’t you? You did well. I’m even happier that you’re my guide today.”
At Liriope’s praise, Milena was beside herself with joy, like a dog receiving a bone.
“But come now, let go for a moment. It’s been so long—let me see your face. We didn’t even greet each other properly last time.”
“Yes, yes!”
Liriope, too, had not expected such a warm greeting and was inwardly flustered, but she hid it and tried to loosen Milena’s hold.
Yet Milena only repeated her assent, showing no sign of releasing her.
Then, from behind Milena, a cold girl’s voice cut through the air.
“Milena, how long do you intend to keep doing this?”
“……!”
“Isn’t it your job to show the new student to her room? Stop wasting time in the corridor and hurry up.”
Only then did Liriope become aware of the presence of someone standing behind Milena.
Caliona, with a voice as cold as her face, stood regarding them with narrowed eyes full of displeasure.
Liriope’s lips moved reflexively, but no sound escaped her startled mouth.
Caliona’s expression was just as cold and indifferent as when Liriope had last seen her days ago.
The memory of Caliona before the time regression surfaced, stealing her words.
‘Sister……?’

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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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