The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 108

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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 108
After the territorial dispute was rendered void.
With time to spare, I found myself staying at the Reinhardt Family Estate, lost in contemplation for some time.
‘How can I draw out Baluduk….’
I possessed a communication device that Zakar Patrick had carried.
Simply striking it three times would establish immediate contact with Baluduk.
But he would not come easily.
Recalling Zakar Patrick’s words, he was not a man of such simplicity.
-My master is meticulous and deeply suspicious. Since he formulates plans, issues directives to the Forerunners, and oversees everything, he will approach this with great caution.
-Hey. But why do you keep calling him master? Do you want to return to his service?
-That could never be. The only person I serve is you. If it has caused you discomfort, I shall change my address to Baluduk instead.
-Drop the formality.
As I recalled the conversation with my subordinate, I exhaled deeply once more.
Crious, noticing my expression, spoke up.
“Zeke. What troubles you?”
“Nothing, sir.”
“Nothing, he says. You’ve been sighing so heavily the ground might cave in.”
“I worry that the Dark Lord might be targeting me….”
The likelihood was nonexistent even if one died and returned to life, but Crious, unaware of Maligore’s death, could only nod in agreement.
“I understand your concern. Though I know not why he suddenly cancelled the territorial dispute when he was preparing for war, having faced an assassination threat, one cannot help but worry.”
….
“If only he had fought cleanly and ended it, there would be no need to tremble in such anxiety. Why did he cancel and vanish instead….”
For Crious, who had no inkling that he was already dead and had become my subordinate, everything was shrouded in mystery.
“In times like these, the answer is to abandon idle thoughts and train. Come, let us spar lightly together for once.”
“Yes, master.”
I stepped before Crious, wooden sword in hand.
If I could gain enlightenment through sparring, I might also gain aura.
With no better approach in sight, I resolved to at least gain aura.
“Then I shall begin.”
My wooden sword swung fiercely through the air.

* * *
Immediately after the sparring match ended.
Returning to my room, I couldn’t help but smile.
Crious had been right—sparring would clear my thoughts.
A method to ensnare Baluduk had finally come to me.
Click—
After locking the door, I waved my hand through the empty air.
“Tablette de l’Impôt de Navres—emerge, my servant.”
Zakar Patrick materialized in a prostrate bow, wreathed in smoke.
“You called for me, master?”
“Yes. I have a task for you.”
“Speak your command. I shall execute it without hesitation.”
“You need to act.”
“Act… you mean perform, sir?”
Zakar Patrick listened as I outlined the plan in broad strokes.
Perplexity soon clouded the undead’s features.
“Can you do it?”
“It is possible, but… as an undead, I fear I may struggle to convey genuine emotion convincingly.”
“Look at your expression right now. You’re doing fine. What’s the difference between you and a living person?”
“… I shall attempt it.”
Unable to muster a proper excuse, Zakar Patrick nodded reluctantly.
A short while later, after I had briefed him on various details and precautions, I asked to confirm.
“You’ve memorized all the dialogue?”
“Yes.”
“Then shall we begin?”
Seeing him nod, I withdrew a communication stone from the subspace and handed it to him.
“Contact them immediately.”
Zakar Patrick tapped the communication stone three times with solemn resolve.
A moment passed.
-Who is this?
An old man’s voice crackled through the stone.
“It is I, Baluduk.”
-Zakar? Is it truly you?
“Of course. Have you forgotten my voice so quickly?”
-You haven’t contacted me in ages! Where have you been? What have you been doing?
His sharp tone suggested he had searched extensively for Zakar Patrick.
“My apologies… I was ambushed and required considerable time to restore my body.”
-Ambushed? What do you mean? Who attacked you?
“Azrahil Johnston… he was the one who attacked me.”
Baluduk fell silent on the other end of the stone.
I can tell without a doubt that he’s wide-eyed with shock.
-So it was that bastard’s doing after all…?
“Did you know, sir?”
-I merely suspected he might have attacked you.
“I see….”
-Tell me more about what happened in detail.
Zakar Patrick swallowed hard and explained the attack he had endured.
Of course, it was all a script—a performance.
“When that bastard pressed the button on the device in his hand, the mana within my body became unstable and the Circle wavered. It was only an instant, but in that moment, I couldn’t move properly. It made it impossible for me to evade Azrahil’s strike.”
-But how did you survive?
“Fortunately, the Dark Lord sacrificed himself at that critical moment, allowing me to preserve my life. After that, I hid to avoid Azrahil until my body recovered. Since the communication device was in the Forbidden Chamber, I could only find it now. I apologize for the delayed contact.”
-There’s nothing to apologize for. That bastard Azrahil deserves to be torn to shreds.
Judging by the anger evident in Baluduk’s voice through the communication device, he seemed to believe Zakar Patrick’s excuse.
Phase one of the operation was a success.
“We must find that bastard Azrahil immediately and kill him. Do you have any idea where he might be?”
-Even I don’t know the whereabouts of the Forerunners. Moreover, that bastard doesn’t even carry a communication device.
“Is there anywhere that comes to mind? Anyone who has spoken with him recently?”
-Esca spoke with him a few days ago. At that time, he reported to me that something felt like a betrayal was brewing.
“Then give Esca a heads-up beforehand. If Azrahil makes contact, tell him to capture him by any means necessary.”
-I’ve already contacted Esca about this.
“What? Already?”
-I determined that Azrahil was the cause of your disappearance. It seems my suspicion was correct.
Zeke McLafflin, listening from the side, curled the corners of his mouth upward in a smirk.
With this, phase two of the operation—connecting with Esca—was also a success.
“How fortunate that measures are being taken so quickly.”
-We can only call it fortunate once we’ve captured Azrahil. Even if we cast the net, if that bastard doesn’t get caught, it’s all for nothing.
Concern was evident in Baluduk’s voice, but there was no need for it.
‘I’ll be the one disguised as Azrahil who makes contact with Esca.’
Disguised as a fish, I’ll get caught in the net.
Then I’ll reveal my true form and devour them all.
That was the picture Zeke McLafflin had envisioned.
Baluduk naturally had to be part of it.
Everything was an operation to draw him in.
‘But if I tell him to come directly, he might catch on. So I need to lay the groundwork first.’
At Zeke McLafflin’s eye signal, Zakar Patrick nodded and spoke in an excited tone.
“That bastard is dangerous. He’ll use some strange device that blocks mana, so Esca alone won’t be able to subdue him. To handle this properly, more Forerunners will need to step in.”
-Don’t worry about that. I’ve already thought of a way.
“It needs to be a foolproof method.”
-I said don’t worry. Do you think I’m not good at what I do?
“…I understand.”
-If the Dark Lord had died, I would have absorbed him as a subordinate.
“That is… we were unable to recover his corpse.”
-I see. Then I shall target the Iron-Blooded Lord next time. Very well. Rest for now. I will contact you again when there is work.
As those words faded and the light of the communication device dimmed, Zakar Patrick drew a sharp breath.
“Phew… It’s over. I thought I would die from the tension.”
“A dead man complaining. Though I must admit, your performance was convincing.”
“Thank you. Now it all depends on whether Baluduk will come or not.”
“It seems he has some plan to capture Azrahil… but I cannot say for certain whether he will show.”
“For now, we have cast the bait. We must wait and see.”
“That’s right. Leave the rest to me from here on.”
“Understood, master.”
After sending Zakar Patrick beyond the dimensional rift, Zeke McLafflin rose from his seat with a grave expression.
“Now it is my turn to act?”
Azrahil Johnston had begun to move.

* * *
At the moment the communication with Zakar Patrick ended.
Baluduk immediately contacted Esca.
“Esca. Zakar Patrick is alive.”
-What!? Truly?
“Yes. He was unable to contact us due to his injuries all this time. The attacker was Azrahil.”
-So the culprit was Azrahil, as expected.
“Indeed. So now I entrust this to you. You remember our previous conversation, yes?”
-You mean the promise to elevate me to the rank of Forerunner if I bring you Azrahil’s head? Of course I remember. I will contact Azrahil first and lure him in. Leave it to me.
“Good. Arcnium will have his subordinates place the device at the designated location. See that you finish this task well.”
-Have no fear. I will bring you his head without fail.

* * *
Esca ended the communication and shot to his feet.
There was no time to waste.
‘I need to get to the device location and prepare everything.’
Once Baluduk’s subordinate brought Arcnium, I would connect it to the apparatus.
And after making all necessary preparations, I would summon Azrahil.
To Yellow Spring Valley, where the device awaited.
Just as I was about to use teleportation to set my plan in motion, it happened.
The communication device in my pocket flickered to life.
‘Azrahil?’
Surprised by the unexpected contact, I composed myself and answered calmly.
“Azrahil?”
-Esca. I have something I need you to do.
“Actually, I was just about to contact you.”
-Really? What a curious coincidence. Why don’t we meet and discuss it in person?
“Of course. Though I’m pressed for time at the moment, so I’ll send you the location shortly.”
-Understood. Whatever it is, make it quick.
“Yes. It won’t take long….”
The communication cut off mid-sentence.
A furrow creased my brow, but only briefly.
Once my lips curved upward, they refused to fall.
“Heh, he’s actually reaching out to meet me himself. Whatever his purpose, I’ll personally escort him down the Yellow Spring path. And today.”
My smile deepened.
“I become one of the 12 Pioneers.”

* * *
Zeke McLafflin had just ended the communication and released Azrahil’s appearance.
‘It seems they’re preparing something to skewer me.’
Whatever it was, it certainly wouldn’t be a welcoming ceremony.
‘I don’t know what trap awaits, but I won’t fall for it easily.’
I simply needed to wait here, and once Esca contacted me, I would head to the agreed location.
Even knowing it was a trap, I felt no particular concern.
‘The real question is whether Baluduk will come or not.’
I had made myself a target to lure him out, and I’d laid the groundwork that Esca alone would have difficulty capturing me.
If Baluduk and Esca came to attack together, that would be ideal.
However, I couldn’t ignore the possibility that he might not come.
‘If Baluduk doesn’t show… I’ll simply have to choose a backup plan.’
Regardless, as long as I stand at the apex of their hierarchy, there’s no reason for me to be caught.
With such thoughts, I waited at ease when Esca’s communication arrived.
Zeke shifted back into Azrahil’s form before receiving the call.
-Azrahil. How would you feel about meeting at Yellow Spring Valley?
“You mean the place next to Elbroad Territory?”
-Yes, that’s correct.
“Very well. Head there.”
After ending the communication, Zeke let out a low chuckle.
There happened to be a teleportation coordinate near the meeting location.
‘I can reach it in one go.’
Using the transformation function to perfect my disguise as Azrahil down to my clothing, I rose to my feet.
“Teleport.”
Soon, brilliant light engulfed my body.

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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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