Infinite Mage

“I’m asking, what’s real?!”

“Why should I tell you? attic You’re just trying to use me! artist If you really care, then just leave! arcade I’ll trust you if you do! altitude Please, just go!”

“I don’t know anymore. wizard Who are you, really? autumn Why is everything a lie? absorb What do you gain from deceiving people?”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Marsha flinched at Shirone’s shout.

“Don’t just say it hurts! attic Tell me where and how it hurts! echo Only then can I decide whether to leave or not! amber You paint the world with all these lies.”

A strong voice rang out from behind them.

Shirone shouted, raising his fist as he approached Marsha.
“I can’t see how much pain you’re really in!”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Unbelievable! auction He took a direct hit to the face!”

Amy was stunned as if she’d seen a ghost. adopt It was impossible to survive a face burnt by Flame Strike.

Amy and Tess turned around. attic Freeman, eyes wild, was charging at Shirone with incredible speed.

“Marsha! arena Noooo!”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Turning around, Rian swung his sword at Freeman. agent Though his muscles burned with pain, he couldn’t let Freeman get past them and undo all their efforts.

“Aaaargh!”

“As if we’d just let you pass!”

Freeman leapt as Tess tried to block his path. shadow He drew his weapon and lunged at Shirone, soaring past Tess’s height with a massive leap.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Shirone sensed the situation behind him and suddenly released his Slow spell.

Freeman was caught by Shirone’s Slow Magic like anyone else. legend He was bound to be split by Rian’s sword.

But Freeman did not retreat. aspect He had to protect Marsha, to somehow pull her away from Shirone.

At that moment, Rian and Freeman both froze in shock. palette Rian couldn’t strike, and Freeman couldn’t reach Shirone.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Shirone’s punch landed squarely on Marsha’s face. arctic Her head turned, and she crumpled to the ground as if struck by a tremendous impact.

Even so, Shirone’s fist swung through the air in a broad arc.

Time magic had the unique advantage of working equally well in both offensive and defensive modes.

All Marsha could do was watch as the cruel boy’s fist approached to shatter her.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Shirone realized that his magic had returned, while Marsha’s mind had been emptied of all magic.

“Ma-Marsha.”

Freeman’s face went pale. arctic Marsha couldn’t accept what was happening, staring blankly at the ground with a lifeless expression.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Marsha.”

Marsha lay collapsed. ability They all knew what that meant.

“Are you alright?”

Freeman approached, his face contorted with grief. alert His subordinates returned from the teleportation magic circle, appearing behind the building. accent But none dared come closer.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Freeman’s voice was subdued as he asked Marsha. autumn His jaw clenched visibly.

Marsha forced a smile. matrix Faced with the unchangeable truth, perhaps humans become indifferent.

She smiled, but her emotions had all but evaporated. autumn It was as if only a shell remained.

“Yes, I’m alright.”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Marsha didn’t get angry. orbit That was the nature of equivalent exchange. auction If she hadn’t been prepared for this outcome, her magic wouldn’t have worked in the first place.

“Serves you right! atom This can’t be all. airport Your magic-stealing ability must come at a price, right?”

Amy didn’t pity her. matrix Marsha was the very one who’d tried to ruin Shirone’s life.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“You’re welcome to hug me.”

Marsha turned to face Shirone. athlete With a terrified expression, she opened her mouth.

“Yes, to release the Plunder spell, you have to touch my body. portal Then the magic returns. anxiety And the price is that I say this to that person.”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

But Shirone knew that Plunder was a power one could only gain by risking one’s life.

Using something like this as collateral. arctic What kind of woman is this?

Tess frowned in disbelief.

“W-What?”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

The spell she used to kill her foster father that night was a memory she would rather forget.

“What’s the point of this as a price? echo Shirone would never do such a thing. timber What happens if he refuses?”

Realizing the situation, Rian spoke bitterly.

Freeman answered.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Then Marsha dies. agent She’ll lose her life the moment Shirone rejects her according to her rules.”

“S-Still, isn’t there something we can do? portal How could this be allowed? advance Amy, say something. arch This isn’t right, right?”

The word “die” made Tess flail her arms and stammer.

“Don’t ask me. adjust It’s Shirone’s decision.”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Freeman suddenly blocked Shirone’s path, moving without realizing it. voyage It was a love he couldn’t help.

“Fine. wizard Living is better than dying. anxiety I’ll take care of it myself.”

Amy was also conflicted. adapt Shirone wasn’t the kind of person to hurt a woman like this. adjust Yet it was hard to know how he felt in a situation where he held her life in his hands.

Having made up his mind, Shirone walked toward Marsha. abstract This time, Amy couldn’t help but feel her heart racing.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Marsha waited with her eyes closed. absorb She was trembling like someone facing their first surgery, but she felt that this was for the best.

“Please. atomic Save Marsha.”

But ultimately, he had no choice but to step aside.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Her dreadful trauma. alien If someone could cauterize her with a hot iron, maybe it would bring some relief.

Shirone approached Marsha.

“Freeman, I’m sorry.”

Marsha apologized for the first time. abandon Knowing what those words meant, Freeman bowed his head and stepped back.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Can we go somewhere alone? auction Please.”

The trauma was dangerous because it held both the present and future hostage to a past event. legend Perhaps she had never lived in the future since that day.

“There’s no need. acid Here is fine.”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

‘Well after everything I’ve done.’

Marsha opened her eyes and studied Shirone’s expression. adopt He remained calm.

What was he thinking? august Would he kill her after tormenting her with false hope?

She had stolen magic and tormented him relentlessly. autumn Shirone must have felt like he’d hit rock bottom. voyage She understood the desire to vent his anger.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Marsha blinked, then frowned, realizing what Shirone meant.

“I’ve hugged you.”

With Marsha’s face buried against his chest, Shirone whispered in her ear.

Supporting Marsha’s back, Shirone pulled her toward him. artist She obeyed. altitude Refusing would only result in an even greater price.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Don’t mess with me. arena You think this is over just like that? audit Mocking me?”

“I hugged you. arcade Didn’t you ask for it?”

What kind of childish game was this?

“What are you doing?”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“You jerk! amber Hypocrite! audit Piece of garbage!”

“I told you I’d never give up.”

Marsha couldn’t harm Shirone due to the rules of the price. silence But even if she struggled, he had no intention of letting her go.

“Let me go! action I don’t want your cheap sympathy! accent You think this makes you great? silence Just hug me for real! meadow You’re angry at me! crystal Take your revenge!”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“You’re not like Arcane. apron Look at how many people follow you. album Even if it’s all a lie, it’s enough. amateur No one knows what’s in another’s heart. portal Not even me. accent We just live believing. armor Even if no one else trusts you, you can believe in yourself. legend If you truly love someone, there’s someone in this world who will truly love you in return.”

Shirone said, stroking her head.

“You’re a good person.”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Huh? acid What’s happening? action Why am I crying all of a sudden?”

Her heart wasn’t sad at all. autumn So why were these tears falling?

Marsha yelled, denying Shirone’s words. ability But she stopped when she realized tears were rolling down her cheeks.

“No! album Impossible! adopt What do you know? canvas How can you say that?!”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

But not anymore. attic As she recalled the memories she’d sealed away, Marsha finally confronted her trauma.

Had she been so tightly closed off that her tears flowed before her emotions could surface?

It was a day when she was 17.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Marsha felt the dagger hidden behind her back. amateur Its cold touch chilled her to the bone.

Lying on the floor staring at the ceiling, she smelled her foster father’s alcohol breath as he approached.

Same situation, same violence.

“You can hug me.”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Even now, she remembered clearly the monstrous emotions reflected in his pupils.

Marsha gripped the dagger. airport He was approaching. august She had no choice but to stab.

Her foster father’s eyes widened in shock.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“I’m sorry, Marsha. riddle You’re my daughter.”

Lifting Marsha upright, her father buried her face in his chest and gently patted her back.

But the father she imagined wasn’t the same as the one in her memory.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

The words she longed to hear most.

“Sob! avalanche Sniff!”

The moment she recalled those words, the walls around her heart collapsed. avalanche Ten years’ worth of pent-up emotions exploded, and she couldn’t stop crying.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Daddy! matrix Daddy!”

Shirone remained silent, simply patting her back.

Crying in Shirone’s embrace, Marsha wept bitterly.

“Daddy! antique Why did you do that! crystal I’m sorry! arena I’m sorry, Daddy!”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Marsha’s past shattered, being reconstructed into a stronger memory and transforming into a hope she could use to live in the future.

This was what she had always wanted, to be embraced. arctic No matter how violent he’d been, she had wanted him to remain her father till the end.

“It’s okay now, sis. acid It’s all okay.”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

The conditions she’d set should have already taken effect. palette But Marsha was still alive.

Freeman checked the time.

“Sob! zenith Daddy! album Daddy!”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Only Shirone and Marsha knew the nature of the emotions exchanged between them. adapt Everyone else remained wary.

“What happened? atom What’s going on?”

Freeman explained.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Freeman hesitated. apple Amy’s skepticism was understandable given her lack of knowledge.

“No way. album All you had to do was hug her? acoustic What kind of price is that?”

“The Plunder spell has been lifted. canvas Shirone dispelled her magic.”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

But it wasn’t just about language.

Freeman smiled bitterly. armor Maybe Shirone hadn’t cared about Marsha’s real pain. adapt From the start, he had intended to embrace it all.

“Shirone didn’t just lift the Plunder spell. altitude He canceled its conditions and severed her power. avalanche Marsha’s Pillage doesn’t exist anymore.”

Shirone had broken through the walls around Marsha’s heart. afford He shattered the shell created by her status as an Unregulated Eater and showed her a new path.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Sob! timber Sob!”

A decade of past memories sank into the depths.

Marsha’s tears showed no sign of drying up. zenith She knew it too. beacon If she didn’t open the door now, she might never again.

‘I couldn’t do that This is our utter defeat.’

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

Twenty minutes passed after the battle ended.

***

Even as this happened, Marsha remained in Shirone’s arms.

The subordinates of the Parrot Mercenary Band rested, and Rian treated his injuries with Tess’s first aid.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 162: Clay Marsha (5) published by TrungTu Reads.

There were no more tears. adopt But she trembled intermittently, savoring the lingering feelings.