Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Mage Heroine (2)
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-Clack. Clack.
"Intruder, sleeeep..."
"Twiiiiist..."
"Dizzzzzzy..."
-Thud.
-Thud.
-Thud.
The Reverser continued her relentless ascent through the Mage Tower.
Every tower resident she encountered tried to bar her path, but not one lasted even five seconds before collapsing, utterly neutralized.
-Clack. Clack.
-Thump. Thump.
And so, as the tower's inhabitants fell one by one, only the sharp echo of the Reverser's heels and Is's steady footsteps reverberated through the halls.
"Stop right there."
Bellinda appeared before the Reverser.
Standing alone, without a single ally, she blocked both the Reverser and Is.
"Hehe, Sister... you're Bellinda, aren't you?"
The Reverser gazed at her with eyes full of amusement, like she was something adorably naive.
Bellinda, the sub-tower lord and a grand master of illusion magic, was undoubtedly formidable—but she was still no match for someone who had amassed power over centuries.
"A chance to be supplanted by the black sheep."
True to form, the Reverser intended only to rob Bellinda of consciousness.
Unnecessary killing was one of the things she despised.
"Ugh..."
And just like the others, Bellinda clutched her head and staggered.
She would collapse to the floor in less than five seconds.
"I won't let you!"
But defying the Reverser's expectations, Bellinda turned her staff toward her own head.
"Trauma." ⟨ Trauma ⟩
As her brief incantation ended, a near-black purple light burst from the staff's tip.
In that instant, her eyes swirled with violet haze.
"Urgh, uuuugh...!"
Her face contorted in agony, saliva dripping as she let out tortured groans.
She looked just like someone enduring brutal interrogation.
The Reverser knew the Trauma spell well.
It dragged forth the target's most excruciating memory, amplifying negative emotions like terror.
And Bellinda had cast it... on herself.
For one reason alone.
"Hoo... Hoo... You won't go any further."
To halt the Reverser and Is.
Up ahead waited her senior, Prelia; the Hero, Ruin; the Saintess, Ariana; and...
'The Tower Lord...'
Blind, the benefactor who had raised her to this point.
"Hoo... Sister, you've got sharp instincts."
As if reading her thoughts from that gaze, the Reverser flashed a sinister smile and slowly approached Bellinda.
-Clack. Clack.
"Someone worth any sacrifice to protect. Admirable resolve."
She nodded with approval.
In that moment, her eyes gleamed gold.
"Perfect material for a true reversal."
"!!"
Sensing the danger, Bellinda raised her staff—but the shotel whipped through the air, slicing it clean in two.
-Thud.
The staff clattered to the ground in useless splinters.
"...Rending Memory!"
"Rending Memory!" Staff or no staff, she chanted the spell.
"Reverse." ⟨ Reverse ⟩
It was effortlessly nullified.
"Sister. You're undeniably talented... but you picked the wrong opponent. Still, that was a novel way to spark my interest. In the reversed world to come, I'll welcome you as my right hand."
"I would never serve the likes of you... There's only one I would devote my life to!"
Realizing her magic had no effect, Bellinda whipped a dagger from her robes and charged the Reverser.
'Just one strike, that's all I need...!'
Victory was never her goal. She only prayed to delay this human-shaped monster from reaching the ones above, even if just for a moment.
But the moment she saw the Reverser make no move against her dagger... Bellinda knew something was terribly wrong.
-Smack!
"Gahk!"
Something solid and heavy slammed into her back.
-Boom!
"Kek, krrgh..."
She crashed to the floor in an instant. Frantically looking up, she saw the culprit.
"Sir Is..."
"You'll be fine."
Is pressed his foot down on her back—just enough pressure to reassure her.
"Grrk...!"
His stance looked ready to kill, prompting the Reverser to raise a hand.
"That's enough, brother."
She smiled with saintly warmth down at Bellinda, then knelt to meet her eyes.
"You... will never achieve what you want...!"
"Hehe, will I? To the black shee—"
Dismissing Bellinda's venomous curse, the Reverser prepared her black magic.
"Vanishing Memory." ⟨ Vanishing Memory ⟩
Suddenly, a chant rang out, cutting her off.
"This is..."
The voice came from the stairs.
She looked up to see a man wearing a mask shaped like a raven's face.
"Psyche Tower Lord, I presume?"
The Reverser smiled with intrigue.
She tried to engage him, but he wordlessly drew two staves from his robes.
One in each hand, he channeled his mana.
"Rending Memory. Lost Sensation." With each staff, he unleashed a different spell straight at the Reverser.
"!!"
The speed was blinding. Is lunged to intercept, but arrived a step too late.
"Great One!"
The spells struck the Reverser dead-on.
Is desperately reached for her.
"This... is surprising."
Hand to her forehead, the Reverser staggered.
Seizing the opening, Blind thumped his long carried staff against the floor and approached Bellinda.
"To-Tower Lord..."
"Bellinda, are you all right?"
"I'm sorry... I yelled at you to flee... and showed you this pathetic sight..."
"No. You did splendidly, Bellinda."
"Krrk... Tower Lord, run. That woman... that woman..."
"Is far too strong for us?"
"...As humiliating as it is, yes. I've guarded you for years, so I can say it. That woman... she's a monster."
"Hmm... I see."
Blind set his staff aside and placed a hand atop Bellinda's head.
-Swish. Swish.
He stroked her hair with gentle care.
His voice was warm as he spoke.
"Bellinda. I said I'd never rank my disciples... but I must tell you this. You were my greatest disciple."
"To-Tower Lord...?"
Her face flushed crimson at his sudden words.
She looked up in bewilderment, and Blind—blind as he was—seemed to sense it and gave a soft chuckle.
"Bellinda. When I'm gone, this Mage Tower is yours to lead."
"...Tower Lord?"
His next words sent a chill through her; something felt profoundly wrong.
She gazed up at him with trembling eyes.
"Isn't it?"
"A blind man like me has no business running it anyway. But you—you can nurture this place without me, better than anyone."
"Tower Lord? Tower Lord!"
Bellinda reached out frantically, but Blind was already striding toward the Reverser, staff in hand.
"No! Please, no! Tower Lord! Tower Lord!"
In that moment, she realized.
Blind was marching off to face the Reverser... heedless of his own life.
She had to stop him. Desperate, she tried to rise—but the lingering effects of the Reverser's spell and her self-inflicted Trauma left her body limp and powerless.
"No! Please! Come back! Tower Lord!!"
Her wails tore through the air, raw and heartbreaking.
Blind ignored them, a bitter smile on his lips.
Instead, he came face-to-face with the Reverser.
"Impressive devotion to your disciples, brother. A fine teacher, parent... and man."
"Haha, far too lofty for the likes of me."
With that, Blind assumed his stance.
The Reverser smiled at him and waved Is back.
"I've faced over twenty Mage Tower Lords in my time... I'm curious if you'll prove different, brother."
"Haha, then it should go exactly as you desire."
Blind touched his mask, then removed it and let it fall to the floor.
His face emerged—not his usual serene expression, but one tinged with quiet fury.
"My love for my disciples doesn't yield to anyone... so I'm quite angry right now."
Blind opened his eyes.