Chapter 245
Chapter 245
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 245
Chapter Title: If I Could Burn Like That Sun -5
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Suppose two mages are playing hide-and-seek. Who has the advantage, the pursuer or the pursued?
The answer is the one running away. In a mage mirror match, the side with even a little more preparation time always holds the upper hand.
The fugitive has options. They can choose the battlefield, try to shake off their pursuer, or...
"Halt."
"W-Wait...!"
I slammed on the brakes and chucked a pebble at the wall around the corner.
A hidden magic circle flared red, spewing flames forward in a shotgun blast. The opposite wall exploded, leaving a massive hole.
I swirled my cloak to clear the black smoke and bolted again.
"Setting up a magic trap in this short time..."
"She must've noticed she was being tailed ages ago, and she's the aggressive type. She might turn around and ambush us mid-chase, so stay sharp."
Gulp. I heard Selbia swallow hard.
She looked pretty tense, but I wasn't worried about her freezing up in combat and becoming dead weight. She was a hardworking mage with solid instincts.
If I created an opening, she'd more than pull her weight.
"...Aren't you nervous, Professor?"
"Me? Nah."
I wasn't that tense.
I was confident in winning—or escaping if needed. Even in the worst case, I could save my skin. With the path to victory right in front of me, how could I be nervous?
After dismantling two more traps, I finally caught up to the target.
The target—Kravelin Render, or whatever his name was—stood stock-still in a small clearing, waiting for us.
His hair was a mess, his beard unkempt. He wore a tattered Crimson Magic Tower robe. If he hunkered down in an alley with that wild look in his eyes hidden, you'd mistake him for a beggar.
Yeah, his eyes. They burned with some insane fervor.
"Mages from the Crimson Tower? Here to kill me?"
"...Yes. Selbia of the Crimson Magic Tower, here to execute you."
"Same school, huh. Heard you did some rotten things. Karma's a bitch—it always comes back around. Guess this is your time."
"Hmph..."
Shh.
Something octahedron-shaped flickered into existence around him before vanishing. It felt familiar, like a glimpse of my own body. That was it.
One of the modules scattered across the world.
It orbited him now, apparently recognizing him as its master. That was actually good news.
What if the artifact he trusted got hacked and backstabbed him? That'd be a nasty surprise.
I subtly twitched my fingers, sending a faint signal. Transmitting a command to the module: Your true master is here. Quit wandering and come back.
While I whispered to the module, the target asked Selbia with a hint of fondness.
"...How's the Crimson Tower Master? Not ill, I hope. Still as beautiful and noble as ever?"
"Huh? Why ask that out of nowhere...? You were excommunicated."
"Not excommunicated. I just wanted to be worthy of her. Jealous fools who knew nothing slandered me and kicked me out."
"Don't make me laugh. The records are intact, and it's verified you ambushed and killed fellow mages!"
Kravelin fell silent for a moment, then muttered as if reminiscing.
"...They got in my way without knowing their place. I just said I'd burn people for more power. Buy worthless slaves in bulk and burn them—no violation of imperial law."
"That's human sacrifice! You were openly declaring black magic?!"
"Different. Definitely different. Doesn't touch the soul."
"That's ridiculous..."
Selbia shook her head like she'd heard madness. Burning people for fuel? Not normal. No different from a black mage.
Though he didn't see it that way.
Now it made sense why he'd torched the black mages' hideout and stolen my fragment. The city was oblivious thanks to the module's power.
Dozens, hundreds of citizens sacrificed? No one would care. A perfect setup. He'd been biding his time for mass slaughter.
Metamorphosis - "Flame Serpent of Courtship"
Purely condensed flames; absorbs weaker fire
Flames roared wildly around Kravelin, gathering into a point and shaping up. Pointed snout and fangs, elongated body—it became a massive living serpent of fire.
The head was human-sized, the body over ten meters long. It left scorch marks but no spreading fire. Purely condensed flames.
So that's the secret to his flame control.
"Mercenary work fattened my flames. I'll devour until this serpent becomes the sun, then offer it to the Crimson Tower Master..."
"......"
Kravelin's eyes gleamed with creepy lust. He'd stopped at nothing for her wish, only to get chased out.
Perfect timing—the comms linked up nicely.
Module, blast that Kravelin guy with a mental attack. I'll time a hidden flame harpoon from my sleeve!
"......?"
You've got to be kidding me.
Slacking off at this moment?!
No way...
Flashback: When Pingbalrez fell into a coma and the "Psychopath Module" activated, I'd smacked it to force a shutdown.
Did it hold a grudge? Now independent, it picks this critical moment to throw a tantrum?
"Hey, you psycho piece of shit!"
"...Shut up. Spouting nonsense. I'll burn you first for kindling."
Kravelin pointed at me.
The massive flame serpent surged forward, scorching the ground in a whirlwind. Dodging early wouldn't help. Had to time it perfectly, like threading a needle.
Now...!
"Thrust."
Before I could launch myself, flames erupted from the serpent's body, rocketing it forward a beat faster.
I accelerated with mana, but couldn't fully evade.
-Sizzle!!
Left arm severed
"Gaaahhh—!"
"P-Professor?!"
My left arm charred and tore off in an instant, scattering as ash.
I rolled on the ground, screaming. Searing pain left me defenseless. Losing a limb tanked my mudra-forming and circle-drawing efficiency.
A bolder foe might press, but a wimp like this couldn't counter while I "couldn't" even chant. I was effectively neutralized.
...Or so he'd think!
My arm wasn't burned. It was fine. I'd "retracted" it before the serpent could bite.
I wasn't human anymore. An information lifeform. Like a cat sheathing claws, I converted my arm to data and tucked it inside my torso.
Naturally deceiving him. Smoke's my home turf.
It worked. Who'd think, "That guy's got limb-retraction powers—watch out"?
Free ambush ticket acquired.
Your turn, Selbia! I'll hit 'em hard—you distract!
"Ah... uh..."
Oh.
My smoke show broke Selbia's spirit too.
Yuna or Yuri would've caught on. They knew me, my style. They'd adapt instantly.
But Selbia didn't. She knew past-me. Perception gap led to this. My mistake.
Plan B. Since she's shocked...
"...Selbia, run! I'm fine!"
"......!!"
More fuel.
Take it all. I'll play the damsel in distress.
Instantly metamorphose her here, and we win...!
Not a gamble. Solid odds—I'd watched her grow. Ninety percent sure. She was at the door.
Suck in those emotions. Face yourself.
And bloom!
Over Selbia's eyes, past images overlaid the present.
He always stepped forward for her. Beaten by village elders, sold off somewhere...
Even now.
"...Lost an arm and still this slippery."
"You're slow! Can't finish a tired mage with that thing? No wonder Crimson Tower kicked you out!"
"I'll savor killing you."
Struggle.
Crazy mage fires harpoons from his sleeve—the serpent whips its tail, absorbing weak flames harmlessly.
Serpent lunges, mouth agape—he barely dodges, throwing himself desperately.
Kravelin Render's metamorphosis was offense and defense in one. Especially absorbing fire magic, making him Crimson Tower's counter.
Yet her childhood friend fought on, arm gone.
"Get away from him...! Fierce Breath of the Flame Spirit!"
Selbia blasted fire to help, but one serpent twitch erased it. Futile.
"Flame Spear, Spiral Explosion...!!"
All her mana poured in, every effort compressed—even that didn't help. Situation worsened.
Hands trembled. Lifetime of magic useless—how? What now?
Terror surged.
Lose him forever? Finally reunited, so close to reclaiming memories...
"Urk...?!"
"How long you gonna hold out? Not running. Protecting her? Then burn her first—see if you quit."
Kravelin's eyes turned to Selbia. Serpent's maw gaped, charging her.
Trajectory unreadable. Straight but wavy. Dodge sideways? It'd curve instantly. Heat and pressure crushed.
Her childhood friend dodging this was the real monster.
Just before it swallowed Selbia.
"—Selbia!"
Graaah!
Explosion-propelled childhood friend rolled, cradling her. Serpent scraped past, skin burning from proximity alone.
Used explosion as thrust?
Battered in blood and sweat, he mustered a weak smile.
"...Leave this to me and go. I'll buy time. Got a way."
"What about you...?!"
"You run first, I'll slip out. Trust me?"
Lie.
If he had a way, use it now.
He staggered up, firing magic to draw attention, stepping forward. His back shimmered like a mirage—dizzying.
"......"
Heart pounded despite danger.
Selbia realized: He lost memories, but what she loved stayed the same.
He was always him. She'd been the one averting her gaze.
Stubbornly denying he was her childhood friend... that was her.
Greed?
Wanting to cure his amnesia not to reclaim him, but for him to see her?
Two rivals, leagues ahead. Wanted to stand beside him, even borrowing nostalgia.
Not just as a student.
Waited for him to call her childhood friend.
"...Pathetic."
Pathetic.
...If reunited, so much to do. Waited ten years, sunflower-longing for sunlight.
Share village memories, praise her efforts, beg headpats, hold hands.
Chatter till sunset to stars, confess unspoken heart on the wind.
Fill irreplaceable loneliness.
But greed kept her silent. Him die unconfessed?
No.
Hated this ending.
Even if he forgot her, love unreturned—better than him dying. A hundred, thousand times.
What Selbia truly wished...
"......"
Plip. Plop.
Tears on cheeks? No, rain from sky.
Regret too late.
Selbia rose unsteadily. Must do something.
Finally, heart's shape formed.
What she emulated in him.
He helped others.
But none helped him back.
So...
She wanted to be the one who helped him.
Selbia wanted to be his sun.
So.
Plip-plop. Pouring—!
Rain hammered ground. Drops hit serpent, steaming skyward.
Downpour didn't weaken it. I sighed deeply. Time to bail.
Forfeit recovering that orbiting data shard. Self-destruct it instead—buy escape time.
Would've been nice if it'd come when asked. Feigning stagger to input "self-destruct, Siri."
Plip, plop.
Selbia walked through rain, slow and steady.
No confusion, no fear. Eyes shone with resolve. Deep breath, straight gaze at me.
"If I say I'll burn just for you... weird?"
"...Sudden, but honestly? Thrilled. Grateful someone's got my back."
"Good. Glad you think so."
...Bloomed?
Hiding excitement, I watched. She looked smug, like bragging test scores to big bro.
"No need for Kravelin Render or 'Portal of Champions.' Don't need those crutches—I'm already the Crimson Tower Master's disciple. And."
"And?"
"Wish Ticket's obsolete too."
"......?"
Stunned by her life-goal cancellation. Metamorphosed to dark evolution? Nah, face wasn't that grim...
Selbia stood protectively before me, ignoring my puzzled look.
"Took my childhood friend's arm? Pay it back tenfold. Kravelin Render."
"Useless thing cowering while your ally suffered—what can you do now? Curious."
"...This time, I'm protecting. Watch from there. Big bro."
Zzzzz...
Flames and light leaked from Selbia's body. A beam shot from her chest to my heart.
Her emotions flowed. Protecting me. Felt so admirable—I burst laughing.
Instinct said: Her metamorphosis was for me.
Top-tier power, but only activates with me nearby. Her wish to stay by childhood friend, embodied.
Selbia blazed like the sun. Halo above her head.
Her form resembled an angel. Thus.