The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 1

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Natural Enemy of Mages Has Been Reincarnated – Episode 1
My name is Choi Kang-jun.
Despite the formidable sound of my name, I am far from the strongest.
Quite the opposite, in fact.
“P-please, save me!”
“Run!”
“Aaaahhhhh!”
Flames consume the city in an endless inferno.
The Dragon Army of Death ravages the world without mercy.
I can only watch helplessly as it unfolds before me.
How could anyone possibly stop the Dragon Army, hailed as the mightiest monstrosity since the Gate incident?
‘Not with these pathetic stats, that’s for sure.’
My gaze falls upon my status window.
Cursedly useless, every last bit of it.
[Name: Choi Kang-jun]
[Tags: F-Rank Hunter, Orphan, Powerless, 28 Years Old]
[Strength: 18 / Intelligence: 13]
[Agility: 16 / Stamina: 15]
[Recovery: 10 / Resistance: 10]
Considering the average adult male stat is 10, these numbers are utterly pathetic.
Hardly worthy of the title “Hunter.”
But the real problem lay elsewhere.
[Basic Skills: Interpretation, Analysis, Rune Absorption]
[First Awakening Skill: Mana Absorption (1-Star)]
[Second Awakening Skill: ???]
[Third Awakening Skill: ???]
[Fourth Awakening Skill: ???]
[Fifth Awakening Skill: ???]
[Sixth Awakening Skill: ???]
[Seventh Awakening Skill: ???]
[First Awakening Skill: Mana Absorption]
-Achievement: ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ (1-Star)
-Type: Active
-Proficiency: 0/100
-Effect: Absorbs detected mana to randomly increase stats. You can sense mana that touches your body.
-Cooldown: None
-Special Notes: You can only acquire one stat increase per day. The skill can be toggled on/off, and you can choose to absorb only within a desired range. Upon reaching 9-Star achievement, the Second Awakening Skill will unlock.
‘Absorb mana? What kind of garbage skill is this…’
No matter how many times I look at it, it’s absurd.
Those unfamiliar with it might question why this is trash, but trash it undoubtedly is.
Even in a world overrun with Hunters, I’ve never encountered mana.
You think I’m wrong?
You think I just haven’t found it?
If someone dares to say that, I’d love to refute them.
‘Then you find it, you bastard.’
Eight years have passed since I awakened after brushing with death.
I’ve already explored every conceivable possibility.
I’ve ventured into high-tier Gates, faced boss-class monsters beyond my level, and encountered extraordinary items.
Each time, I’d approach and activate my Mana Absorption skill, but the message that returned was always identical.
[Mana does not exist.]
[Mana does not exist.]
[Mana does not exist.]
…
…
[Mana does not….]
‘Whoever designed this system created a completely useless skill.’
My initial joy upon awakening felt utterly foolish in retrospect.
Despite being an eighth-year Hunter, my skill’s achievement rank remained stuck at 1-star—and this was why.
‘How can I raise proficiency and achievement if I can’t even use the damn thing?’
A sigh escaped me, but I had no time for despair now.
The world was on the verge of annihilation.
Boom—crack!
Crack—boom!
It had been ten days since the dungeon break erupted and the Dragon Army poured forth from the Gate.
In just that span of time, the world had descended to the brink of collapse.
Elite Hunters stepped forward to contain the Dragon Army, but it was futile.
There was no force on Earth capable of stopping tens of thousands of Dragon Army creatures, each equivalent to an A-rank Hunter.
Even the SSS-rank Hunter known as a one-man army was no match.
Not against that boss dragon—the one the size of a building.
“Roooooaaaaaarrrrr—!”
Watching the boss dragon annihilate an entire city with a single breath from afar, Choi Kang-jun turned his head.
‘I don’t have time to admire the view. It’ll be heading this way soon.’
My gaze shifted to the people beside me.
“We can’t stay here. We need to move.”
“Understood, Hunter.”
“We’ll follow your lead, Hunter.”
I hurried down from the rooftop with the civilians, putting distance between us and the boss.
All an F-rank Hunter like me can do is help those who haven’t evacuated in time.
Direct confrontation with the Dragon Army is impossible.
Without Hunter equipment, I’m no different from an ordinary person.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
“Is anyone there? Help me!”
“P-please! Save me! Ugh!”
My footsteps faltered at the desperate cries for aid, but I forced myself to ignore them and ran through the alley with the others.
‘There’s nothing I can do in this situation. The Dragon Army are monsters that even A-rank Hunters barely manage to face.’
Thanks to my Hunter equipment, I’m somewhat stronger than an ordinary person, but that’s all—I can’t even use skills.
And yet I’ve somehow survived ten days in this hell.
Even I have to admit my luck has been extraordinary.
‘No, wait—how is this luck? I’m an absolute fool.’
While top-tier Hunters from every nation were being slaughtered, I could only watch helplessly.
Even as citizens were torn apart by the Dragon Army, I had to force myself to look away.
All I could do was guide people to safety.
Perhaps because I was at least a Hunter and seemed reliable, the citizens followed me willingly.
Together, we endured for survival.
But it seems this is where it ends.
“Grrrrrrr—”
‘Damn it! Damn it…!’
The moment I turned the corner, I came face-to-face with a Dragon Army creature.
“Run! Get back and run!”
“What about you, Hunter?”
“Don’t worry about me—go, now!”
“I’m sorry, Hunter!”
As the people retreated the way they came, a sense of pride welled up within me, stronger than fear.
‘At least I protected the people I rescued.’
But that satisfaction was fleeting.
‘Damn it, I’m going to die now.’
Facing off against a single Dragon Army creature that even A-rank Hunters struggle to defeat.
It didn’t feel real.
‘After enduring so much for survival, to end like this…’
Rather than surrender to despair, I gripped the sword in my hand with all my strength.
I couldn’t retreat with a fiery abyss before me.
I had to buy the citizens behind me time to escape, even if just a moment.
“Groooaaaah—!”
“Come on then!”
Before I could even raise my blade to defend, the creature’s claws flashed and pierced through my body.
Or rather, they nearly did.
Just before they reached my heart, the monster’s movement stopped.
‘What? What’s happening?’
I stared at the motionless creature as if time itself had frozen, bewildered.
And it wasn’t just the creature.
My body froze as well.
The entire world came to a standstill.
That was when an unexpected message appeared.
[You have entered the moment of death.]
[Conditions have been met.]
‘Conditions? What conditions are you talking about?’
The system offered no answer.
It simply continued spilling out its proclamations.
[Confirmed: You are an Awakener with an error.]
[Your abilities and circumstances are deemed incompatible. A special privilege is hereby granted.]
‘A special privilege? What is this?’
Awakeners are what Hunters are called.
I had never heard of any Hunter receiving such a privilege.
[You have received the special privilege ‘Reincarnator’.]
[You may reincarnate and begin a new life.]
[Upon reincarnation, this will connect to the special privilege ‘Savior of Humanity’.]
[Will you reincarnate now? Y/N]
[Selecting Yes will grant reincarnation; selecting No will release the time freeze.]
‘Reincarnate…?’
The system offered a choice, but who would select No in this situation?
If time resumed, I would die instantly.
‘This is… a blessing in disguise! I choose Yes!’
My silent affirmation was enough—my body became enveloped in radiant light.
[You have selected Yes.]
[Your abilities have been analyzed, and the optimal location has been found.]
[Reincarnation commences.]

* * *
Blink, blink.
I flutter my eyelids experimentally.
Wiggle, wiggle.
I move my fingers tentatively.
Only after rolling my eyes in every direction does certainty crystallize within me.
‘I’ve been reborn. Reborn as an infant!’
The message I saw at the very end was no illusion.
I truly received the chance to be reborn, and here I am, born as a baby.
‘Everything is hazy and blurred—I can’t see clearly—but there’s no doubt I’ve become an infant.’
My limbs respond to my will, twitching and moving, confirming this body is truly mine.
Unbelievable as it seems, I’ve been given another chance to face the Dragon Army.
A chance through rebirth.
‘I’ll have to start from the beginning, but honestly, that’s better. When I awaken this time, I might get a better skill than before.’
As long as I don’t get that garbage skill—Mana Absorption—anything else will do.
Without that curse, I can grow overwhelmingly stronger.
After all, I possess invaluable knowledge of the future.
‘Since I’ve been reborn with a healthy body, I must have returned to some point in the past, right?’
Thirty years.
Even if I’ve only gone back twenty years, I can reverse humanity’s ruined fate.
If I pose as a prophet based on my future knowledge, I can rally the most renowned SSS-rank Hunters and prevent humanity’s extinction.
‘I can do this. If I’ve returned to the past and been reborn on top of that.’
The real question now is how many years back I’ve come.
I’m curious which country, which family I’ve been born into.
But as a newborn, my vision remains murky and my hearing is still poor.
‘Well, I’ll figure it out gradually.’
I thought casually, but information came far sooner than expected.
It was around the time my hearing developed and I began to pick up voices.
“^$%@@#@@#$#@#@”
“@#^#@#$!@#!@#@!”
‘What are they saying? It’s not English.’
Someone is speaking, but I can’t understand a word.
‘I don’t know what language this is, but it’s definitely not Korean.’
I feel a pang of disappointment—it would have been nice to be born in Korea.
‘Still, I’m alive and reborn. That’s what matters.’
Rather, I, Choi Kang-jun, couldn’t help but feel thrilled at this fresh start in a new world.
No matter which country I was born in, I would become an Awakened One and prevent humanity’s extinction.
That’s what I believed.
Until an unexpected message appeared before my eyes.
[Your hearing has been restored.]
[Your basic passive skill ‘Interpretation’ activates.]
“Darling, isn’t our Zeke absolutely beautiful?”
“Haha, what more can I say? Just looking at him fills me with such laughter—he’s utterly precious.”
“Even though he’s a boy, how can he be so beautiful and lovely? Hehe.”
“Oh, Zeke’s opening his eyes. I hope we didn’t wake him.”
“Wait a moment, Zeke. Are you hungry? Mother will bring you some milk.”
The incomprehensible voices automatically translated themselves, resonating clearly within my mind.
‘What is this?’
I realized my name was Zeke McLafflin, but I was far more startled by the system window that had suddenly materialized before me.
‘The system already… exists?’
That meant I had awakened from birth.
Though I couldn’t believe it, system messages began scrolling upward as if to dispel my doubts.
[Your vision has been restored.]
[Your stats have been reset to match an Awakened One’s level.]
[Your tags have been reset due to the changed environment.]
[New tags have been registered.]
‘What is all this?’
Upon seeing my status window, I was utterly dumbfounded.
[Name: Zeke McLafflin]
[Tags: Reincarnate of Pangaea Continent, Youngest of the Duke Family—the greatest magical house of Decan Kingdom, Illegitimate child, Newborn adorable baby]
[Strength: 1 / Intelligence: 1]
[Agility: 1 / Stamina: 1]
[Recovery: 1 / Resistance: 1]
[Basic Skills: Interpretation, Analysis, Rune Absorption]
[1st Awakening Skill: Mana Absorption (1-Star)]
[2nd Awakening Skill: ???]
[3rd Awakening Skill: ???]
[4th Awakening Skill: ???]
[5th Awakening Skill: ???]
[6th Awakening Skill: ???]
[7th Awakening Skill: ???]
‘The Mana Absorption skill is still here?’
I thought I had awakened from birth, but that wasn’t the case.
My previous system had simply carried over into this reincarnated body.
‘…So I’m supposed to live my entire life with this garbage Mana Absorption skill?’
I was ruined.
That was all I could think.
At this rate, I wouldn’t be able to grow properly.
But there was a more fundamental problem than that.
[You have received the privilege ‘Savior of Humanity’.]
[You have been reincarnated into a new dimension and granted the qualification to save humanity.]
[Cultivate your strength on the Pangaea Continent, where magic and aura abound.]
[Once you possess the power to save humanity, you will be able to return to your original dimension.]
This was not the Earth I knew—it was a fantasy world.
Not my original world, and they want me to grow stronger here?
‘How am I supposed to grow stronger when I can’t even use Mana Absorption? If that’s the case, they should’ve at least swapped out my skill for something else!’
The absurdity of it all struck me, but only for a moment.
‘Wait… magic and aura…?’
Choi Kang-jun recalled the message he had heard just before his reincarnation.
‘The System said it analyzed my abilities and found the optimal location. Could it be…?’
The realization came late.
I had been reincarnated into a place overflowing with mana.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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