Chapter 160
Chapter 160
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: Clay Marsha (4)
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Now, the students were serious. All of them were staring intently at Shina.
“But for that person to die, I must spend a night with him.”
The male students’ faces turned red.
“P-Professor, that example is a bit…”
“There’s no need to be embarrassed. It’s because I would never do such a thing. You gain a powerful ability in exchange for something you absolutely do not want to do. That is equivalent exchange. Revealing the price can also be part of the price, but what’s important is that the Irregular truly believes it. They inject their very personal omniscience into others as an omnipotent force.”
The students finally understood.
An Irregular was a type of human whose way of thinking was completely twisted compared to ordinary people.
“It’s not something you can learn just by being taught. It’s a singularity of the mind, manifested through obsession and bias. You could say that an Irregular Rule is the most fearsome thing for a mage.”
This was the extent of what Shirone knew about Irregular Rules. He had thought he understood it at the time, but now that he was on the receiving end, he was in a state of utter confusion.
Above all, he couldn't figure out why his Spirit Zone had suddenly vanished. Since when? Even if it was activated by a constraint and a price, Shirone hadn't done anything to her.
*No, I did! I definitely…*
Shirone suddenly recalled the situation from a moment ago.
—You can kill me.
That was the moment. A magic incantation known only to Marsha and himself.
The instant he uttered those words, Marsha’s omnipotence had infiltrated his mind and activated the rule.
His heart pounded. He had been caught by an Irregular. What was going to happen to him now? He couldn't predict a thing.
*Calm down. It’s just the Spirit Zone that’s gone. If I just keep my wits about me, I can escape this crisis.*
An Irregular Rule was like weighing the values of possibility and impossibility on a scale. Therefore, the price to be paid had to be as great as the strangeness of the ability.
Perhaps in the case of “You can kill me,” she had to endure a state of defenselessness for quite a long time. If he had attacked then, Marsha would be dead.
But why couldn't he attack? Was it because of Yuna? No, Yuna was safe.
His thoughts weren't connecting. What in the world was happening to him right now?
*From the very beginning. I fell into her trap the moment I met Marsha.*
The moment he realized every event had been orchestrated under Marsha's script, a chill ran down Shirone’s spine.
Taking him to the bar, provoking him using Yuna, and not harming Yuna.
“All for this moment?”
As if reading his mind, Marsha laughed triumphantly. Seeing his bewilderment was so enjoyable she could go mad.
“Hohoho! Of course. Oh, but meeting you was a coincidence. I’m the kind of person who turns coincidences into destiny. There’s no harm in laying the groundwork in any situation, right? I suppose this thoroughness is part of my charm.”
Shirone had to admit it.
She hadn't targeted him specifically. She had been running this operation on every single person she met in her life. All based on the small assumption that she might meet them again someday.
This meticulousness was precisely why Marsha had been able to evade the Magic Association’s dragnet.
“Shall we begin? Though I’m not sure what you can do.”
Marsha approached Shirone with a relaxed smile. In contrast, Shirone couldn't help but feel intimidated. He tried to cast Teleport, but it still wouldn't activate.
This state surely wouldn't last forever. But the concept of stealing an opponent's mental energy was a rule utterly foreign to Shirone.
*This is absurd. What kind of magic is this?*
Shirone felt he was in the greatest crisis of his life. Marsha's Irregular Rule was undeniably dangerous. It sealed off the Immortal Function itself, his last resort.
“Hoho! I'll take that, your mental energy.”
All the mental energy Shirone tried to use for Teleport flowed into Marsha. Using that power, Marsha fired another sound cannon.
“Ugh!”
Shirone turned and fled. For a mage to be running physically in a situation like this was a shocking sight, but if he were hit by a sound cannon while unable to use magic, he could lose his life.
“Huhu, I'll praise you for abandoning your pride. But the fight is already over. Not since you’ve been caught in my Deprivation.”
Irregular Rule: Deprivation.
She could deprive others of their ownership and steal from them. The magic she had cast on Shirone was called Plunder, an ability to steal the mental energy of a Spirit Zone.
Shirone put as much distance between them as possible. He had to buy time, whatever it took.
His calculation was that if his mental energy was being stolen just for not following her words, “You can kill me,” there had to be a time limit based on the principle of equivalent exchange.
*It worked!*
As expected, the Plunder was released, and his mental energy returned. Shirone, who hadn't been able to check the situation behind him, immediately cast Frenzy the moment he turned around.
The area flashed brilliantly, as if thunder was striking repeatedly.
The Frenzy he cast with intent in an open area had an effect that was, regardless of its power, beyond imagination.
“Phew, impressive. Truly amazing.”
Shirone glared at Marsha. The fact that she wasn't even approaching him meant she was clearly looking down on him.
In any case, if there was a time limit, he no longer needed to fear Plunder. No fool would fall for the same trick twice.
“Here I come!”
Shirone cast Teleport and rushed toward Marsha. But Marsha was still overflowing with confidence. And the moment Shirone entered her Spirit Zone, she held out her hand and muttered.
“Irregular Rule. Seizure.”
Simultaneously, Shirone’s Teleport was undone. Following his inertia, Shirone fell to the ground and skidded for several meters.
“Kugh! What?”
His magic had been nullified again. Had his mental energy been stolen this time too? But his Spirit Zone was still active.
“Huh? Huh?”
Shirone couldn't believe it. This kind of magic couldn't possibly exist in the world. The event that had just befallen him didn't feel real.
Watching Shirone's confusion, Tess turned to Amy and asked.
“What? Did something happen to Shirone?”
“I don’t know. His Spirit Zone hasn't disappeared. But the fact that his Teleport was canceled…”
At that moment, Amy realized with a start and her body trembled.
No, it couldn't be. It absolutely couldn't. Wasn't that too cruel? After all the effort Shirone had put in to reach that level.
Amy’s ominous premonition became reality. Shirone muttered, looking over his own body in disbelief.
“I can’t cast magic.”
“Huhu, that’s right. Irregular Rule: Seizure is only possible if the target has been affected by Plunder. Of course, there’s also the constraint that I have to see the opponent’s magic with my own eyes.”
Marsha explained kindly with a smile. Of course, she would never give away any information beyond what was needed to mock her opponent.
Shirone shook his head. It didn't make sense. Even with such constraints, unconditionally stealing an opponent’s magic was absolutely impossible under the principle of equivalent exchange.
“Wow, to think I’d get such a cool magic. I’m so happy. Sound magic was getting annoying. Thanks, Shirone. You’re such a good little brother.”
A sphere of light gathered before Marsha’s eyes. It was Photon Cannon, the magic that gave mass to light.
Shirone hastily threw himself to the side. At the same time, a heavy flash of light struck the spot where he had been.
Fragments from the ground stung Shirone’s face. The feeling of being attacked by his own magic was truly terrible.
“Phew, this consumes a lot of mental energy, doesn't it? How did you handle it? You’re really amazing, Shirone.”
Shirone shot up and glared at Marsha.
This time, he couldn't hold back his anger. No, it was injustice. The agony of having all his magic stolen made his body tremble.
“But it’s wonderful. The power of an Unlocker.”
With a pleased expression, Marsha showed off his laser as well, intending to provoke Shirone further.
Even as he watched the laser approaching, scraping along the ground, Shirone couldn't react at all. His Teleport had been stolen as well.
At that moment, Amy rushed over, grabbed Shirone, and cast Teleport. She too was low on mental energy, so they couldn't move a great distance. Rian and Tess ran over to shield the two of them.
Marsha watched them mockingly.
The swordsmen were battered, and Amy struggled to even cast Teleport. Moreover, Shirone, their only hope, had his magic stolen and had become an ordinary boy.
“See, what did I tell you? You can’t win against me.”
It was certainly a miserable situation. The mental shock Shirone had received was especially immense. An ordinary person would have been cursing Marsha, crying and screaming, before fainting.
“Shirone, get a grip. The battle isn’t over yet.”
“But my magic… my… magic.”
Shirone’s voice trembled.
Amy understood. If it had happened to her, she might have collapsed from sheer indignation.
To a mage, magic was everything. The thought of having it all handed over to someone else was enough to send shivers down her spine just by imagining it.
“Shirone! Get up! We have to keep fighting!”
Shirone staggered but forced himself to his feet.
True to his strong mind, the thought that he shouldn't give up surfaced like an instinct. But the wound to his heart was far too deep.
“How? How am I supposed to fight?”
“Think rationally! What kind of magic in this world can steal magic so easily? According to equivalent exchange, there must be a huge risk involved.”
Shirone snapped to his senses. She was right. He had been so fixated on his magic being stolen that he hadn't noticed, but Marsha’s Seizure could never be activated without a price.
First, he had to be caught by Plunder. And she had to see the magic she intended to steal. These were certainly tricky conditions, but even with these two constraints, Marsha’s Irregular Rule was still ridiculously overpowered.
Amy desperately tried to persuade Shirone.
“If it was stolen easily, it can be reclaimed easily. No, it should be much easier to get back than it was to steal. That’s equivalent exchange. So don’t you dare give up.”
“Alright. I’ll try.”
Shirone found his courage again. It wasn't as if he had a plan, but he couldn't just sit there and cry.
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about, but…”
Rian, who had been listening until now, spoke up.
“If she steals what she sees, then can’t you use magic she hasn’t seen? Like that Wind Cutter magic you showed us at home.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
At that moment, a powerful thought pierced Shirone’s mind. Yes. Strictly speaking, from the victim's perspective, Seizure was better than Plunder. At least he could still operate his Spirit Zone.
“Right. There’s no choice but to face it head-on. Thanks, Rian.”
Amy wrapped an arm around Shirone’s waist and whispered.
“I’ll get you close with Teleport. From there, you’ll have to manage somehow with Wind Cutter.”
Amy poured all her remaining strength into casting Teleport. As the two of them flashed through the air, Marsha also cast Teleport to move away.
Magic stolen through Seizure only replicated the opponent’s omniscience; without knowing the principles behind it, application was impossible.
That was why even though Marsha had stolen Shirone's Teleport, she couldn't attempt techniques like Patrol or Rainbow Drop.
Amy relentlessly exploited that point. After approaching Marsha with dazzling movements, she threw Shirone forward.
Shirone extended his hand toward Marsha and cast Wind Cutter. Since it wasn't his specialty, it was difficult to even hit her without getting close.
But that very weakness turned into a blessing in disguise. Because Marsha had created a much larger distance between them than he had expected.
*What?*
Marsha's movement was strange. No matter how unfamiliar she was with the magic, she should have been able to use Photon Cannon or Frenzy to counter Wind Cutter.
But she chose to retreat. And very far, at that.
“Could the constraint of Seizure be…?”
A single possibility surfaced in Shirone’s mind.