The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 111

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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 111
“That man’s name is Todd Ward. He’s an 8-Circle Archmage of the Albitz Kingdom and Baluduk’s trusted subordinate.”
“Trusted subordinate? What does he do?”
“I don’t know the details, but I’ve heard he mainly handles troublesome matters at Baluduk’s side. It’s a sign of how much Baluduk trusts him with responsibilities.”
‘So he’s like a secretary of sorts?’
A sudden intuition struck me.
This was it.
If I traced Todd back, I could discover Baluduk’s location.
Since Todd was the only person I could track at the moment, there were no other options anyway.
“Turn off the device.”
“Ah, yes.”
Esca immediately pressed a button on the controller to deactivate the gravity field.
Feeling gravity return to normal, I headed toward where the device was located.
‘It’s quite large.’
A massive ring-shaped device, five meters in diameter.
Despite its absurd appearance, a single button press could bring down even birds soaring through the sky.
‘Not to mention turning mages and aura users into ordinary people.’
For something created in a place that emulated the medieval era, it was remarkably advanced technology. But then again, this was a fantasy world.
With magic and aura—those nonsensical forces—already pervading this place, nothing seemed particularly strange.
‘So Baluduk’s subordinate came here and left behind Arcnium?’
If that were the case, he must have arrived by teleportation, so I should definitely sense the flow of mana.
As I recalled the skill’s name and resolved to use it, I activated my power.
【Skill Activated: Backtrace】
The residual traces of mana became increasingly vivid.
‘With so much residue lingering, it’s certain that magic was cast here.’
The Backtrace skill’s effect was undeniable.
I could pinpoint exactly where the teleportation originated and trace the flow to its destination.
‘Northwest from here. By direction, it’s toward the Albitz Kingdom.’
That was when it happened.
[Analyzing the mana pattern.]
[Backtracing the mana flow of the pattern user.]
[Trace complete.]
[Acquiring the backtraced teleportation coordinates.]
After reading and analyzing the mana pattern, coordinates registered automatically.
‘This means I can teleport directly to where he went?’
I smiled and looked at Slave Number Three.
“Esca. I’m going to meet that subordinate.”
“What? You know where the subordinate is? How?”
“That’s a trade secret, so don’t ask. You use that head of yours to contact Baluduk. Tell him I’ve killed Azrahil and want his seat as a Forerunner.”
With that, I retrieved the shadow’s hood from subspace and put it on.
He was making thorough preparations in case his location was exposed during the teleportation.
“You have the communication device, right? Once you become a Forerunner, contact me. I’ll throw a celebration for you. Well then, I’m off.”
“Ah….”
Before I could even respond, Zeke McLafflin’s figure vanished in a flash of light.

* * *
Baluduk could say with certainty.
Among the 12 Pioneers, he was undoubtedly the busiest.
Twenty-four hours were scarcely enough for him as he formulated plans for his grand endeavor, issued directives, and orchestrated various projects.
‘His resurrection draws near now. The plan cannot afford any setbacks.’
Yet no matter how meticulous he was, perfection eluded him, and variables could not be ignored.
Though lately, such variables seemed to be multiplying.
‘First, it would be logical to eliminate Azrahil Johnston, the traitor who attacked Zakar Patrick.’
By now, contact should have arrived.
Just as he thought this.
The light of the communication device flickered.
“Esca.”
―Master Baluduk. It’s been handled.
“You severed Azrahil Johnston’s head?”
―Of course. It was nothing difficult.
Baluduk harbored no doubts upon hearing Esca’s confident tone.
It was only natural.
With a device that created a gravitational field and blocked mana simultaneously, any Forerunner could be subdued with ease.
“Understood. I’ll need to verify it myself, so bring the head to the designated location.”
―About the Forerunner position you promised….
“Once I confirm Azrahil Johnston’s head, I’ll appoint you immediately.”
―Th-thank you so much!
Baluduk ended the communication, leaving Esca’s excited voice behind as he provided the location.
‘I wish to verify it myself, but I lack the time given my current obligations. I’ll have no choice but to entrust this to Todd Ward.’
Baluduk’s hand reached for another communication device.

* * *
“Why, why are you doing this, my lord? What possible grudge could you have against our village….”
“Shut up and bring them. Unless you want to die.”
“That, that’s impossible… Aaaah!”
A bolt of mana tore through the Village Chief’s abdomen.
The mana bolt was a simple spell like Magic Missile, but when wielded by an 8-Circle mage, the outcome was entirely different.
“C-Chief!”
“I’ll say it again. Bring all the children.”
Witnessing the murder unfold before their eyes, the village men hesitated for a moment before steeling their resolve.
They decided to stand against this mysterious mage who had appeared without warning and begun his rampage.
Each grasped farming tools like scythes.
“W-we may not possess special abilities like you, but we are fathers!”
“E-even if we lose our lives, we cannot surrender the children!”
“So these insects won’t listen to reason.”
Mana erupted from the tip of the staff.
Boom-crack-boom!
Todd killed ten villagers where he stood.
But that choice meant he would not obtain what he desired.
“Damn it. They all scattered like rats.”
Todd surveyed the village and clicked his tongue in frustration.
Not only the children, but every remaining villager had fled, leaving the settlement utterly empty.
“I was told to bring the sacrifices within the deadline, but… this isn’t as simple as I thought.”
Too lazy to track down the vermin and with no reason to linger in the abandoned village, Todd departed.
There were plenty of villages like this anyway.
After demonstrating his power and threatening them to surrender the children, those who valued their lives would comply.
He had already gathered and confined quite a few children that way.
Though the number still fell far short of what was needed for the sacrifice.
‘Well, Baluduk said to work at a leisurely pace, so there’s no rush.’
Todd hastily buried the corpses with magic, cleaned up, and used teleportation.
With a flash of light, the location changed.
He had returned to the Cabin he was using as a temporary base.
It was then, while reviewing the data written on parchment and selecting the next target village.
‘Hmm?’
Baluduk’s communication device flickered.
“Baluduk?”
―Todd. How is the work progressing?
“Ah, of course. I’m gathering the children steadily.”
―Good. Gather as many as possible. The more sacrifices, the better.
“Understood.”
―By the way, I have a task for you.
“What task do you wish me to undertake?”
―Esca has allegedly slain Azrahil Johnston. Find him and confirm whether he truly succeeded in killing that wretch, then report back to me. I shall provide you with the meeting location.
“Understood, sir.”
After receiving the coordinates, Todd Ward asked cautiously.
“Should I depart immediately?”
―Yes.
“I shall proceed as ordered.”
After ending the communication, Todd Ward grasped his staff once more.
Gathering mana, he recalled the coordinates of the location where he was to meet Esca.
“Teleport.”
With a brilliant flash, his form vanished.
The cabin, now empty of all souls, fell into profound silence.
Or so I thought.
Until Zeke McLafflin emerged from the darkness.
“So that wretch is Baluduk’s trusted subordinate.”
Removing the hood of my shadow cloak, I employed a backtrace skill to gauge the direction in which Todd Ward had vanished.
Both the direction and coordinates aligned perfectly with the location Esca had mentioned meeting at.
‘So he’s gone to verify Azrahil Johnston’s head.’
Based on the conversation I had just overheard, there was no doubt he had departed to meet Esca.
Yet it was a pity.
‘If Baluduk had confirmed it himself, that would have been ideal.’
Then I could read the lingering traces and immediately track Baluduk’s location.
‘That would be optimal, but… I mustn’t act hastily. Even tracking his subordinate should lead me to Baluduk.’
For now, searching the cabin took priority.
The first thing that caught my eye was a collection of documents on the desk.
Parchment was covered in dense script written in the continental common tongue—mostly village names and their locations.
Several had been crossed out with ink.
‘From what I heard earlier, they’re gathering children. Something about sacrifices.’
Could it be that these place names here are villages, and they’re visiting each one to abduct children as sacrifices?
‘But sacrifices for what purpose?’
Regardless, it was clear that Baluduk and his associates were engaged in heinous acts.
I could have pursued and killed him on the spot without hesitation, but now I needed to find clues that would reveal Baluduk’s location.
Before he returned.
However.
‘Nothing.’
After searching for roughly ten minutes, I found no clues of significance.
‘Will I have no choice but to wait for him to return?’
Just as I was about to don the shadow hood again and conceal myself in darkness.
A sudden Quest notification appeared.
My pupils dilated gradually as I examined the Quest.

* * *
Esca waited at the location Baluduk had designated, his face taut with anxiety.
In one hand, he held the counterfeit head of Azrahil Johnston.
‘Could Baluduk actually be showing up in person?’
If that were the case, I needed to inform my master Zeke McLafflin as quickly as possible.
He desired to find Baluduk more than anyone else.
Gripped by such thoughts, I waited in tense anticipation.
A flash—
A figure materialized alongside a burst of luminescence.
‘Ah, Todd.’
An 8th Circle mage and one of Baluduk’s most trusted subordinates.
“What troubles you, Esca? You wear the expression of disappointment.”
“Nothing.”
Esca, a 9th Circle mage, spoke casually without deference.
Even if Todd held the position of second-ranked subordinate, I surpassed him in raw power.
Moreover, I was soon to become one of the 12 Pioneers.
I could not afford to compromise my dignity now.
‘Of course, this all assumes he believes the head is truly Azrahil Johnston’s.’
Todd’s gaze fell upon the head tucked beneath Esca’s arm.
“Is that… the head of Azrahil Johnston?”
“It is.”
“Allow me to examine it. I must verify its authenticity.”
Esca’s heart raced as he surrendered the head.
Todd scrutinized it meticulously, turning it this way and that without any sign of displeasure, when suddenly his brow furrowed.
“Esca. How did this come to pass?”

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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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