The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 112

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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 112
“Huh? Why…?”
As I responded with a bewildered expression, Todd let out a snicker and flashed a mischievous grin.
“You made quite a clean kill, didn’t you? I had no idea your skills were this impressive.”
“Ah…”
Realizing the reason was trivial, I swept away the heart that had lurched in my chest.
At the same time, irritation flared within me.
“You startled me, you bastard!”
“Hahaha, but seriously, it was such a clean cut?”
“Well, that’s because I used a device, naturally.”
“A device?”
“Something like that.”
The gravity device I was developing was classified information that no one but Baluduk could know about.
No matter how loyal Todd was, there was no need for him to know.
Todd was perceptive enough not to pry any further.
“The confirmation is complete. It’s definitely Azrahil Johnston.”
“Of course it is.”
“Then I’ll report to Baluduk that the target has been eliminated without issue.”
“But what are you going to do with that head?”
“This?”
I’d asked just in case the fake head might be exposed, but my worry was unfounded.
Whoosh!
Todd ignited flames and burned it away without hesitation.
“I had orders to dispose of it immediately once confirmed.”
“Ah… right.”
On the surface, I feigned bewilderment, but inwardly, I was exultant.

* * *
Having completed his task, Todd Ward teleported directly to his Cabin.
He then rapped on the communication device three times.
“Baluduk. I’ve confirmed Azrahil’s head.”
-Are you certain it was Azrahil?
“Yes. I’m certain.”
-Understood. As promised, I’ll elevate Esca to the position of Forerunner.
Todd Ward assumed Baluduk would end the communication after those words.
However.
-Todd. I’ve found someone new to work with us.
“Yes?”
Baluduk was saying something Todd Ward hadn’t anticipated.
-Work has been overwhelming lately. You’ll need to assist me directly at my side.
“Me, me personally?”
-Yes. So I’ve found someone to replace you. Make sure the handover is thorough—don’t miss a single detail.
“Ah… then when will my replacement arrive…?”
-I’ve sent him to the Cabin. He’ll arrive if you wait.
“Ah, understood.”
With that, the communication ended, and Todd Ward felt a moment of bewilderment.
‘He’s sending someone to replace me? And I’ll be helping Baluduk with more important work?’
In a sense, it was no different than a promotion.
Todd Ward’s lips curved upward with satisfaction.
The prospect of not having to handle menial tasks anymore was certainly encouraging.
‘At last… am I finally stepping into Baluduk’s grand endeavor…?’
He’d been helping all along, but he’d never shown it—the dissatisfaction had always been there.
Unable to contain his joy.
Creak—
The Cabin door opened.
“Is Todd Ward here?”
“You are…?”
A boy who appeared to be around sixteen entered and bowed respectfully.
“Greetings. I’m Zeke McLafflin, the new recruit. I was told to find Todd Ward here and receive a handover…?”
“Ah, so Baluduk sent you. You’ve found the right place. Come here.”
“Yes, sir!”
The boy, Zeke, closed the door behind him and stood before Todd Ward with rigid posture.
“Relax. I don’t bite.”
“Ha, no sir.”
“So you’re Zeke. You look quite young—how old are you?”
“Sixteen, sir.”
“At that age, how did you catch Baluduk’s eye?”
“It seems to be due to exceptional magical talent.”
“Is that so? What Circle are they?”
“Sixth Circle.”
Surprise flickered across Todd Ward’s eyes.
“Oh. Already Sixth Circle at that age? That’s truly remarkable talent.”
“Thank you for the compliment!”
“Don’t be so tense.”
Todd Ward tapped my shoulder as if to ease the tension, his expression warm and friendly.
“It’s not like I’m getting involved in anything unsavory. The thing is, I’ve been given the opportunity to serve Baluduk more closely now.”
“Is that so? Congratulations!”
“So I’d help if anything came up, but there’s absolutely no reason for me to cause you trouble.”
Todd Ward’s smile hadn’t faded since moments ago.
“I’ll give you a thorough handover, so don’t be afraid. Understood?”
“Yes! Thank you!”
“You’ve got good discipline. I like that.”
Todd Ward wore a smile that seemed impossible from someone who had just slaughtered an entire village minutes before, and began teaching me various things.
“What’s written here are the village names. I’ve compiled a list with only villages that won’t cause problems.”
“So I need to visit these villages? What am I supposed to do there?”
“Your job is simple.”
Todd Ward’s eyes turned chillingly cold in an instant.
“You’re going to kidnap children. Only those eleven years old or younger. Infants are fine too—just round them all up and bring them back.”
“What about the residents?”
Todd Ward looked at me as if I’d asked the most foolish question imaginable.
“Leave evidence behind? Of course you have to slaughter them all.”
“I… see.”
“The villages I’ve marked with a line are ones I’ve already exterminated. Since they’re already taken care of, there’s no need to visit them.”
“Where do I take the kidnapped children?”
“There’s a Cave over there. I’ve converted it into a Prison. Want to go take a look while we’re at it?”
Todd Ward stepped out of the Cabin, and I hurried to follow.
After wandering through the Forest for some time, I discovered a Cave hidden by overgrown vegetation.
It was a Cave that felt artificially constructed, just as he’d said.
“There’s sound-dampening magic cast here, you see? Refraction magic makes the Cave appear sealed off. But if you venture deep into the Cave like this…”
Todd Ward, who had been leading the way, suddenly stopped and warned me.
“Cover your ears. It’s going to get loud.”
“Pardon? Loud?”
As I continued walking behind him, at some point—
“Help us! Please help us!”
“Mister! Please let us see our dad, okay?”
“I’m hungry… please give us something to eat…”
“Waaah! Waaah!”
A deafening shriek tore through the air.
A complete and utter disaster.
That was the emotion I felt the moment I laid eyes on the reality within the Cave.
“What… what in the world is this?”
Deep within the cavern, numerous iron cages had been set up, each one crammed with a dozen or more children no older than eleven.
“How many in total?”
“Around a hundred, I’d say. Even with all the effort I’ve put in, this isn’t that impressive. I’ve ransacked thirty villages and this is all I’ve managed to gather.”
How many parents had I killed in the process of abducting all these children?
I stood there, mouth agape in shock.
“Kidnapping the kids is hard enough, but the real pain is something else entirely. This.”
Tap, tap—
Todd Ward rapped his knuckles against a large barrel positioned outside the cages.
“There’s food in here. I have to ration it carefully to keep the little brats from starving. Like feeding livestock, basically.”
“So you’re saying we need to provide three meals a day?”
“Are you insane? With this many mouths to feed? Once a day is fine, or even once every two days if I’m feeling lazy.”
“What if they starve to death?”
“They won’t. I’ve been doing this for half a year and the ones still alive are thriving. Well, the infants might die soon, but that’s whatever.”
So that’s why the children looked so emaciated.
I stared at them with an impassive gaze, then turned away.
“What are these children being used for?”
“I don’t know the details. Baluduk just said he needed sacrifices.”
“That’s all?”
“Yeah. That’s everything here. Let’s head to the Cabin. There’s more to hand over besides this.”
Todd Ward cast an alarm spell on the Cave before heading toward the Cabin.
The alarm spell was meant to guard against any unexpected intruders, he explained.
He was more meticulous than I’d expected.
Once we returned to the Cabin, I listened to Todd Ward explain various details.
“Well, that completes the handover.”
“Is it really over?”
“Yeah. I’ve already told you everything down to the smallest detail, so there’s nothing left to explain.”
“Thank you.”
I offered my thanks with a bloodless smile.
“Then I suppose you should die now.”
“Yeah, you’re right… huh?”
Todd Ward’s ears doubted what they’d just heard as something felt off.
“What did you just say?”
“Die, you trash.”
Before the words even finished leaving my lips, I conjured an Aura Blade in my palm.
“Wha—”
Something flashed past, and in that same instant—
Thud—
Todd Ward felt the sudden emptiness where his arm used to be.
“Ugh, uaaaagh!”
Only then did Todd realize the severed limb on the ground was his own arm, and he desperately gathered his mana.
“You bastard!”
In the blink of an eye, a mana bullet formed and shot toward Zeke’s head like a cannon blast.
Splat!
“Haha! Serves you—”
Todd’s lips curled upward at the sight of the head bursting, but his smile vanished just as quickly.
The head he thought had exploded was dissolving into wisps of smoke like a phantom, and Zeke’s body was doing the same.
“What… what’s happening…?”
[You don’t understand the situation, do you?]
A voice echoed from empty air.
Todd spun his head around frantically, but couldn’t determine the direction.
[You’re trapped right now. In my illusion.]
“What? An illusion?”
[Well, not now. It started the moment you entered the Cabin.]
“Damn it! What the hell are you talking about!”
He immediately tried to gather mana and blow away everything around him.
Slice!
“Ugh, uaaaagh!”
His attempt was thwarted as his other arm flew off.
[Ah, that one wasn’t an illusion. I actually cut it.]
“You… you bastard. Where are you! Stop hiding and show yourself!”
[Hiding? I’m right in front of you.]
“What?”
Todd’s eyes flew wide open, but there was no one before him.
He thought it was a trick, but Zeke—no, I was telling the truth.
I really was right in front of him.
He simply couldn’t see, blinded by the illusion.
“Tsk. Killing trash like this quickly would be a waste. Even if it takes time, I should make his death more agonizing.”
I cast a pain-amplification spell on Todd before severing his legs.
“Kraaaagh!”
Todd collapsed, but I didn’t hesitate and cut off his other leg as well.
“Guaaaah—!”
“So noisy.”
I blocked his screams with an illusory barrier, and silence fell as if someone had muted him.
Todd thrashed about like an insect with his limbs severed, but I paid him no mind.
My attention remained on the Quest that had appeared minutes ago.
【Sudden Quest: Impersonate Todd Ward】
└Found the cabin of Todd Ward, a trusted subordinate of Baluduk Rahbez.
└Extract the necessary information from him, then kill him and assume his identity.
【Conditions】
└Extract necessary information
└Eliminate Todd Ward and assume his identity
【Rewards】
└Random stat increase of 1,000
└5th-tier skill proficiency increase of 50,000
For a sudden quest, the rewards were extraordinarily generous.
Conditions I couldn’t ignore.
This was precisely why Zeke McLafflin had designed the illusion to deceive Todd Ward.
To extract the information.
‘Torture would have been too difficult to extract what I needed, so I fabricated it as a handover. Creating a fictional new recruit named Zeke McLafflin.’
The communication with Baluduk had been genuine up until that point.
But from the moment Baluduk mentioned finding someone new to work with, everything was an illusion I had crafted.
Even if I didn’t know Baluduk’s face, I could design an illusion around his voice.
That was when Todd Ward fell for it.
‘Ever since then, he’s been handing over information to this fictional person.’
Having extracted all the information I needed, I gazed down at Todd Ward, who was writhing in agony.
My eyes held no compassion—cold and merciless.
“This should be enough. You can go now.”
Thud!
“I need to save the children quickly.”
My Aura Blade pierced through Todd Ward’s heart.

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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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