The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 101

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

The Natural Enemy of Mages Has Been Reincarnated – Episode 101
“If Zakar Patrick participates, we have nothing to worry about. Victory is already assured.”
-Though I must proceed in secret so my identity doesn’t come to light.
“Will you also assist when I face the Iron-Blooded Lord?”
-I suppose I must. You can’t guarantee victory against the Iron-Blooded Lord alone, especially now that your hidden techniques have been exposed.
“…Yes, that’s true.”
-Then spread the rumors early. If word gets out that the Dark Lord is participating in the territorial war, the Iron-Blooded Lord won’t be able to stay away.
“Understood. So this is what it means to catch three birds with one stone. The target, securing the corpse, and even Crious. We can handle everything at once.”
-I had planned to take my time, but since you made that mistake, there’s no helping it.
“…My apologies.”
-Don’t worry though. The other members of the Five Lords can’t interfere in factional disputes, so you won’t face much criticism even if you win. We can fabricate justification by claiming the Iron-Blooded Lord insulted you. Besides, the dead tell no tales, do they?
“Heh heh, quite right.”
-So you take the lead and wrap up this territorial war cleanly.
“Leave it to me.”
The communication ended there.
‘Crious. I’ll repay the humiliation from before through this territorial war.’
A bitter smile played at the corners of Maligore’s lips.

* * *
The Golden Eagle Mercenary Corps crossed the border and headed into the Baiso Kingdom.
Two days later, they arrived at the Ridermond Territory and met their employer.
“Welcome, welcome! So you’re the brave mercenaries who will help us!”
The employer, Count Petro Ridermond, was a portly man with a face glistening with grease.
He had hired several mercenary companies and gathered over a hundred mercenaries in one place, spreading his arms wide in greeting.
Unaware that an assassin named Zeke was among them.
“Thank you all for coming. Some of you might feel uncomfortable about this being a factional war, but don’t worry. While you stay at the Lord’s Castle, I’ll treat you generously. Attendants!”
As the count clapped his hands, people filed into the Lord’s Hall.
Nearly twenty male and female slaves, barely clothed, entered wearing chains around their necks and wrists.
“For all of you who’ve traveled such a distance, I’ve prepared a grand banquet in the great hall! Those who are hungry should head there and get food. Those who need women can pick from these slaves here and enjoy yourselves freely. Just in case, I’ve prepared men too, so feel free to use them if needed.”
‘Disgusting bastard.’
Zeke’s first impression of the count was garbage.
While slavery—the buying and selling of humans—was common on the Pangaea Continent, social perception of it was far from favorable.
It was common knowledge that among nobles who indulged in slavery, none possessed decent character.
Just watching the count smile wickedly while looking at weeping slaves made his nature abundantly clear.
‘He’s a man worth killing anyway, but this is revolting.’
The disgust wasn’t limited to Zeke alone.
Mary and Peter frowned just as much, and Chris and the other members of the Golden Eagle Mercenary Corps showed the same reaction.
But there were mercenaries who didn’t share that sentiment.
“Heh heh, I’ll pick this one. She’s the most appealing of the bunch.”
“Jerome, that one’s already claimed by me.”
“Just eat your meal. I’ll enjoy myself first and then pass her along to you.”
Some of the mercenaries laughed brazenly as they dragged the slaves away without hesitation.
Because society viewed slaves as less than human, few felt any sympathy for them.
As a result, all twenty slaves were gone in no time.
“Damn. They’re all taken already.”
“Ah, I should’ve moved faster.”
Several mercenaries grumbled with regret, though others seemed irritated by their complaints.
“This is really too much. How could they just take the slaves like that…”
Mary muttered softly, but there was no one to blame.
That was simply how society viewed slaves.
“That’s how the mercenary business works. Slaves are the exclusive domain of the nobility. When else would a commoner get to see expensive slaves like this?”
“How do you know so much about it, Peter?”
“I’ve seen nobles do this sort of thing often at the Magic Tower.”
In truth, he’d witnessed slaves being brought in for experiments, but he saw no reason to mention that to Mary.
Peter had no desire to be scolded by her.
“Heheheh, all the prepared slaves have been sold. I suppose we’ll have to move the rest to the party hall.”
At those words, the remaining mercenaries moved toward the party hall with disappointed expressions.
Zeke was moving as well when I encountered an unexpected figure.
“Hey, you. Aren’t you that Sword Mage I met in Hamilton Territory?”
“You are…”
The familiar-faced man introduced himself.
“I’m Deckard, captain of the Red Wolf Mercenary Mage Company. Remember? You cut off my leg before.”
I remembered.
We’d faced each other as enemies during the territorial war between Hamilton and Agos.
Now that I looked, the mercenaries beside Deckard were faces I’d seen before too.
‘Damn. These are all mages I’ve sliced up somewhere or other.’
No matter how true it was that yesterday’s enemies became today’s allies in the mercenary business…
Experiencing it directly was bewildering beyond measure.
But unlike me, the mercenaries didn’t seem particularly pleased.
“Never thought I’d meet the famous Sword Mage of the Golden Eagle Mercenary Corps. That’s good fortune.”
“If we’d faced you as enemies, my arm would’ve been next.”
“I’m grateful you let me live instead of killing me then.”
‘Grateful instead?’
It was an absurd reaction, but in the mercenary world where yesterday’s enemies became today’s allies, it wasn’t particularly strange.
The mercenary mindset was simple: as long as you were breathing, that was enough to be thankful for…
Though I couldn’t hide my reluctance.
“Your leg… are you alright?”
“Ha, I’m fine. Thanks to a good healer, I was moving around again in less than two weeks.”
“Yeah, being alive is what matters.”
“So you’re Zeke? You look younger than I expected. Impressive that you’re skilled with the sword and learned magic too.”
“Show me that impressive swordplay of yours sometime later.”
“By the way, something strange happened last time. My mana wouldn’t gather properly. Could it be…?”
“Ah, this is driving me crazy!”
The Red Wolf Mercenary Company threw comments at Zeke without hesitation.
As if they’d truly put the past behind them.
Regardless, when Zeke let out a loud cry, Deckard laughed and spoke.
“We were enemies then, but we’re comrades now, aren’t we? Let’s fight well together.”
“Well… I look forward to working with you.”
Could they possibly imagine it?
That Zeke intended to kill his employer and cancel the territorial dispute.
“What are you all doing? You must be hungry—let’s go eat.”
“Ah, yes.”
Zeke’s party headed to the banquet hall together with the Red Wolf Mercenary Company.
One had to fill one’s stomach before assassinating a count, after all.
“Wow…”
“They really prepared all this for us?”
The mercenaries gaped at the lavish feast spread before them.
Saliva pooled naturally in their mouths as they smacked their lips.
“Even though I just ate, my mouth’s watering.”
“Do nobles hold parties like this every day?”
“Let’s hurry and grab some plates!”
The mercenaries moved with eager haste.
Zeke also brought over buffet-style dishes and ate.
‘Since no System Message appeared, it seems the food isn’t poisoned.’
Given that the count had made a poor first impression, I’d suspected poison, but I was wrong.
Judging by how delicious it tasted.
“Have you all heard? They say the Dark Lord, one of the Five Lords, is joining the battlefield…?”
“Ah, I heard that too. There’s talk that the Iron-Blooded Lord is also stepping forward.”
“We’d better be careful not to get caught up in a battle between monsters.”
Zeke’s ears perked up at the conversation he overheard while eating.
‘I’ve heard that rumor too, but was the news about their participation actually true?’
I considered asking my master to confirm, but revealing myself as a mercenary would bring no benefit, so I decided against it.
I was too lazy to come up with an excuse anyway.
‘I just need to kill the count and nullify the territorial dispute.’
After eating enough, Zeke rose to prepare for the assassination.
I needed to scout the count’s chambers and his frequent locations beforehand.
‘But there’s one thing I need to do first.’
Zeke’s body moved toward the mages at the banquet hall.
‘I should copy some magic before I leave.’
The mercenary mages were conveniently gathered in one place (?), so I couldn’t miss this opportunity.
[Randomly duplicating 7 of Enrin’s spells.]
[Randomly duplicating 7 of Anders’s spells.]
…
…
Like a pickpocket weaving through a crowd, Zeke slipped past the mages, pilfering their spells without their knowledge.
After extracting spells from roughly seventy mercenary mages in total, I gained a staggering 13,300 proficiency points.
‘Now, shall I search for the Lord’s chambers?’
Slipping away from the party hall, Zeke made for a secluded corner of the Lord’s Castle before venturing further through its corridors.
I couldn’t wander about in my current form, so I needed to assume a different appearance.
‘Who should I become to move through the castle without drawing suspicion?’
The deliberation was brief.
One figure came to mind immediately.
‘That person would be perfect.’
Squelch—
Envisioning the face and activating my transformation skill, my features shifted in an instant.
It was none other than the face of Maligore Desbon, the Dark Lord.
‘Since the Dark Lord is the supreme commander, no one will stop me or question my presence in this form.’
Rumors had already spread that the Dark Lord himself would participate in the campaign, so no one would find his appearance unusual.
Click—
Pressing the Phantom Belt, I instantly changed into the armor Maligore favored.
Now, to any observer, I was the Dark Lord himself.
‘Shall I search for the Count now?’
With long, confident strides, I walked openly through the castle.
My primary objective was reconnaissance, but if the opportunity arose, I was prepared to kill the Count.
‘Ideally, I’ll do it without anyone knowing, but even if I’m discovered, it hardly matters. They’ll assume it was Maligore who killed him, not me.’
Assuming Maligore’s form was partly a precaution for such contingencies.
‘Where could the Lord be?’
As I wandered through the castle, I noticed there were far fewer people than expected.
Everyone was absorbed in the party, so I encountered almost no one.
“…Eek.”
‘Hmm? What was that sound….’
Suddenly, a brief cry—almost a scream—echoed from above.

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