I Refused To Be Reincarnated
Chapter 505: The Mad Archmage

Chapter 505: The Mad Archmage

Meanwhile, the Tide Caller planted her hands on her hips and leaned back, her golden embroidered cape fluttering with the arrogant movement, and spoke in a half-serious... half-mad tone?

"You’re now my prisoners. Wait until I negotiate with The Beast Emperor. Oh! By the way, you should stay away from any natural water source from now on."

A deep furrow creased his brows as he forgot about the madness he felt and focused on the water part.

"Why?"

The Tide Caller blew her blue hair dismissively with her hand and whistled an innocent tune.

"I wonder why. Maybe because the Kraken will command all the nearby water beasts to kill you? Yes, yes! That should be a good reason, don’t you think?"

Her words sent another chilly wave crash into him for a second.

Then, he shrugged.

’After I repair the puppet, it can send them all it wants. It’ll only help me become the best fisherman!’

After all, he doubted the colossal deep sea dweller had many tier-seven underlings, meaning he’d fight tier-six at most. And truthfully? He had no fear of them!

A grin split his face as he sighed in relief, then focused on the powerful archmage towering over him.

He observed the white pants wrapping her long legs, her shirt of the same color engraved with pulsing blue patterns, and the golden chain connected to her heavy cape.

’Even if she looks mad, she wins a few points for her style.’

An inner chuckle relaxed his mind before his eyes narrowed in solemness.

’I can’t let her contact the emperor. Our relationship was only one of business and ended after I conducted Kwame’s ritual, so he won’t offer anything to free me. She didn’t even mention Shepard, meaning he’s a nobody in her eyes. I’m on my own here, and I’d better not let others learn what I’ve been doing.’

Even if he didn’t believe she would kill him, her mental state forced a seed of doubt into his soul.

’I still need my tendons, and she’s the only one who can get them now that the Kraken cursed me.’

He massaged his eyes, his shoulders slumping under the situation’s weight.

After a brief silence, a steely glint flashed in his eyes, and he opted for action and negotiation before things could worsen.

"Archmage Tide Caller, I have a deal to offer you."

Before he could continue, she cut him off.

Through gritted teeth, she spat in his face, "I hate that title! I’m Marina. Don’t use the name forced upon me by that crazy magus!"

He froze at her words as his eyes rolled in their sockets.

’Literally, everyone hates the magus. Not that he cares since he can crush them all.’

His lips twitched as he corrected himself.

"Archmage Marina. I’m an alchemist and enchanter and want to offer you my skills. In exchange, I only want the mythical tendons used by this city’s former inhabitants to build their ships."

"Not to leave?"

Her finger pushed her lips upward pensively.

Then, she smirked at the silly demand and answered with a ridicule-filled voice.

"I’m this world’s only tier-seven alchemist. What can you brew for me, huh? Even as an enchanter. Are you better than Moira? Do you think you can craft tier-seven items?"

He coughed to swallow his laughter as he pushed himself off the ground and matched her eyes.

With two short words, he sent her back a step despite the power difference between them.

"I can."

"Lies! She’s the best enchanter since Durgrim’s era. I warn you! If you can’t prove your claim, I’ll send a hundred million liters of water crash on your body... Ah! You’re a ghost! On your soul, then, to punish you!"

A finger pointed at him, she yelled, refusing to believe his words but also to forsake them.

Was it because of her unstable mind, or was she unwilling to lose a potential opportunity? No matter the reason, he thanked her mentally as he shook his shackled hands.

"I can prove it to you now if you remove them for a minute."

"Sure. If you try anything stupid, I’ll send one billion liters of boiling water to scald your soul."

She waved her hand, dismissing the handcuffs and allowing his mana to flow naturally through his still-hurting circuits.

Unfazed by the threat and free to summon his weapon, he outstretched his palm and called for his macuahuitl.

In a show of glistening light particles, the blade’s wooden frame glinted to life under the magical barrier encasing the city. The sharp teeth protruding from it followed as the engravings pulsed to life before Marina’s widening eyes.

"That’s a tier-seven weapon I crafted myself. Oh! I used Durgrim’s knowledge and added a bit of alchemy and transmutation to boost the materials."

Like a demon, his smirk split his face, showing his white bony teeth as his nose rose in pride.

Just like him, Marina’s bright lips reached her eyes as she assessed the blade’s quality in a second and started ordering items one after another.

"Durgrim’s successor! I want a staff! And a dress. No, no! I want an entire wardrobe of enchanted clothes!"

He nodded at her demands, knowing better than to anger a half-mad powerhouse.

"What do I get if I do everything you’re asking for?"

"Hmm."

Marina’s blue hair fluttered as she tilted her head left and right before her eyes lit up.

Outstretching her finger at him, she proclaimed loud and clear.

"You’re an alchemist, too. Starting today, you’ll become my disciple! That way, The Beast Emperor won’t monopolise you, and you’ll remain with me forever. Hahaha!"

"..."

’Did I just go from a temporary prisoner to a full-time inmate?’

Like a deflated balloon, his head sank, and his shoulders slumped.

"I’m already Shepard’s disciple and must go to the School of Astral Projection in a few months. They’ll look for me and create trouble if I don’t return."

He bit his lips, trying to reason with her even if he knew she would refuse, considering her flushed face and excited smile.

"Shepard? That amateur who’s not even a century old? Pah! I’ll teach you two millennia of lost and forbidden knowledge! Ah! But don’t tell it to the magus, or he will torture my soul."

"..."

He rolled his eyes at her, finding it hard to believe she was one of the only three archmages on the