The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 124
—————
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 124
Silvana stared at Zeke McLafflin’s hand with a dazed expression for a moment.
He was demanding a leaf from Yggdrasil as though it were something he’d merely left in her care, and she couldn’t help but find it absurd.
“What’s wrong? Just bring it here already.”
[A leaf from the World Tree isn’t something anyone can simply obtain.]
“Then?”
[Without the Spirit King’s permission, it cannot be obtained, nor can it be taken to another dimension. The same applies to any object from the Spirit Realm.]
“So what you’re saying is, if I just get the Spirit King’s permission, I can obtain the leaf and bring it to the Human Realm?”
[Y-yes, that’s correct. However, there’s no way the Spirit King would meet with a human….]
“You won’t know until you try. A human entering the Spirit Realm is already something that shouldn’t be possible, isn’t it?”
[….]
“So just guide me to the Spirit King. I need to get my hands on that leaf.”
Silvana sighed at his stubborn demeanor.
[I won’t be responsible if you get expelled.]
“Fine.”
In truth, being expelled wouldn’t bother me at all.
‘I’ve already accomplished everything I came here to do.’
Though he was dead, I’d completed the quest to find Daryen, and I’d now met two of the elders.
All that remained was to leave the Spirit Realm, meet the remaining three elders, and complete the main quest.
And yet, the reason I was attempting to resurrect Elder Daryen was purely due to Carbollearos’s request.
He’d wanted to obtain clues about the dragon all this time.
‘It would feel a bit hollow to just clear the quest and leave. Might as well meet the Spirit King.’
There was also the fact that I didn’t know how to leave otherwise.
It would be even better if I could receive a leaf from Yggdrasil on my way out.
[Come this way. I’ll guide you to where the Spirit King is.]
With those words, Silvana flew toward the World Tree floating in the sky.
Though she had no wings like a spirit, there was nothing preventing me from flying through the air.
‘Fly.’
I lifted my body with magic and pursued Silvana.
I ascended along the massive trunk, passing through countless sprawling roots.
‘I didn’t realize it from a distance, but up close, it’s absolutely enormous.’
Even Korea’s tallest tower would pale in comparison to Yggdrasil.
After flying for quite some time along the endless expanse of the wooden pillar, I reached a branch thick with leaves.
[Come in here.]
“Understood.”
This place, covered in countless branches and leaves, was a jungle unto itself—utterly labyrinthine.
Grateful to have a guide, I continued deeper inside.
After venturing so far that I could no longer guess where I was.
[We’ve arrived.]
Silvana ceased her wing beats before a form shimmering with golden light.
[Spirit King, we have a visitor.]
[I am aware, Silvana.]
The light brightened, and another voice resonated through my mind.
Zeke instinctively realized that the source of the voice emanated from that luminescence.
“Are you the Spirit King?”
[Indeed. An uninvited guest, I see.]
There was something peculiar about the tone—as if he already recognized my existence.
Feeling a strange sensation, Zeke spoke with confidence.
“I’ve come to obtain a leaf from Yggdrasil.”
[To revive Elder Daryen, then?]
“You knew?”
[I observe all that transpires within the Spirit Realm. I know the path you took to enter, the deeds you’ve performed, and the conversations you’ve had. However.]
The Spirit King’s voice grew heavier.
[I cannot fathom how a human body elevated its affinity with spirits. Nor do I understand your true purpose in coming here.]
His tone carried concern—worry that I harbored impure intentions.
I sensed instinctively that I could not obtain the leaf without assuaging the Spirit King’s doubts.
“I’ll be honest with you. I came here to retrieve Elder Daryen.”
[A human more selfish than most ventured into the Spirit Realm seeking an elven elder? Why?]
“If I find him, I might learn the whereabouts of the dragon that vanished after the battle with the Lich Dragon.”
[A dragon? Now that I sense it, there is draconic power emanating from you. More precisely, from that necklace.]
“Exactly. This dragon is the one who survived that battle three thousand years ago.”
Zeke held up the necklace deliberately, as if to prove it.
As if to say: verify whether my words are true.
The Spirit King’s light brightened momentarily as if confirming the facts, then he spoke in an approving tone.
[Indeed, a dragon’s soul resides within. Would it be acceptable if I conversed with that dragon?]
“Yes. But wouldn’t you need to wear the necklace to communicate? How would you—”
[That presents no difficulty. I can simply materialize the soul into human form. Like this.]
Before I could finish my thought, the Spirit King unleashed a torrent of light.
The luminescence, shaped like a grasping hand, penetrated the necklace and extracted something from within.
It was a translucent, ethereal figure of a woman.
“What? What have you done to me?”
“Carbollearos? Is that really you?”
“Zeke? Can you see me?”
“I can. The Spirit King extracted your soul temporarily, it seems.”
“I see.”
“But why did he materialize you in a female form?”
[Because that dragon’s true gender is female.]
At the Spirit King’s answer, my mouth fell open in shock.
‘Carbollearos was a female dragon?’
All this time, I had assumed she was male based solely on her manner of speech.
‘So that’s why she had accessories like necklaces and brooches?’
Now I understood why the treasures in that vault had seemed so feminine.
“Why do you keep staring?”
“Just… curious.”
“I suppose it is refreshing for me as well. It has been an eternity since I last took human form.”
I kept my surprise about her gender to myself and simply watched the Spirit King, silent.
I was curious what Carbollearos wanted to discuss.
[Dragon. Ancient being who has lived through millennia of history. You say what you wish to know is the whereabouts of a fellow dragon?]
“Indeed, Spirit King. If you possess any knowledge, I beseech you to share it.”
[I apologize, but I have dwelt solely within the Spirit Realm and know nothing of this matter. No dragon has ever entered the Spirit Realm before.]
This meant Carbollearos was the first dragon to ever enter the Spirit Realm.
Regardless, disappointment was plainly written across the female-form Carbollearos’s face.
Until the Spirit King continued speaking.
[Though I know not whether the dragon lives or dies, I do know something of how the battle with the Lich Dragon concluded.]
“Truly? Then please, tell me!”
[The dragon suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of the Lich Dragon.]
Carbollearos’s expression, which had been brightening, turned rigid in an instant.
[Those who sold their souls to demons possessed overwhelming power. Over two hundred dragons were annihilated, reduced to less than half their number.]
“….”
[That is the extent of what I know to be true. How many dragons survived, where they scattered—these I cannot say. Yet one thing I know with certainty.]
“What is it?”
[The demon who corrupted the Lich Dragons prepares for war once more.]
War? The demons had only one enemy.
There was only one possibility.
“You cannot mean they intend to ignite the Celestial Demon War anew?”
[Indeed. Though I know little of Human Realm affairs, the demon-kind defeated in the Celestial Demon War prepare their vengeance. As proof, one of the Lich Dragons—their very limbs and fangs—has attempted to invade the Spirit Realm repeatedly.]
“A Lich Dragon… attempting to invade the Spirit Realm?”
Both Zeke McLafflin and Carbollearos widened their eyes, unable to hide their shock.
This meant the Spirit King knew the whereabouts of at least one Lich Dragon.
“Tell me the name and location of that Lich Dragon!”
[If I tell you, will you stop it?]
“I will—”
Carbollearos began to answer immediately, then stopped and turned to me.
Those doe-like eyes of the young woman Carbollearos had become sought my permission.
“Zeke McLafflin. Will you help me? I cannot do this alone.”
“….”
No immediate answer came from my lips.
‘Hunt a Lich Dragon? What’s in it for me?’
Honestly, I had no intention of moving unless a Quest appeared.
Perhaps that was why—
The Spirit King, who had been silently observing, finally spoke.
[Human. If you promise to dispose of that Lich Dragon, I shall grant you the Yggdrasil leaves you desire.]
“Hmm. Just one?”
As Zeke McLafflin haggled, the Spirit King fell silent, clearly taken aback.
[Name your desired number.]
“The more, the better.”
[I can provide up to two.]
“Merely two? Is that all you offer in exchange for eliminating an external threat?”
[…Very well. Three? I shall even permit you to carry them into the Human Realm.]
“That’s naturally expected, but three is still too meager.”
Crossing my arms, I negotiated openly, and the Spirit King’s luminescence flickered with bewilderment.
[Agreed. Five… I cannot offer more without risk. It could destabilize the order of the Human Realm.]
“Are Yggdrasil leaves truly that remarkable?”
[Of course. They can resurrect the dead and cure any ailment without exception.]
“How does one use them?”
[The effect manifests upon consumption. For corpses, simply place the leaf in their mouth.]
After learning the usage, I nodded and waited for the moment.
And finally, the system responded.
【Sudden Quest: Find the Lich Dragon】
└The Lich Dragon threatens the Spirit Realm.
└Accept the Spirit King’s proposal and locate the Lich Dragon.
【Conditions】
└Find the Lich Dragon
【Rewards】
└Random Stats increased by 1,400
└5th Tier Skill Proficiency increased by 70,000
‘It should have issued the Quest from the start.’
What I had been waiting for was the Quest.
Even without it, I would have acted for the Yggdrasil leaves alone….
‘But it’s better to receive the Quest regardless, isn’t it?’
Moreover, completing this Quest alone would allow me to reach 9-Star Proficiency and awaken my 6th Tier Skill.
For me, it was an irrefusable Quest.
Inwardly satisfied as I accepted the Quest, the Spirit King, unaware of my decision, grew increasingly anxious.
Because I had not given a clear response.
[Humans are truly a greedy species.]
“Pardon?”
[Seven. I cannot concede further, human.]
‘The leaves keep increasing?’
For me, who intended to conclude negotiations at five, two additional leaves were essentially free.
Naturally, I could not be displeased.
“Alright. I accept your proposal.”
[Good…. Then I shall provide you with information about the Lich Dragon.]
After hearing the information, I received leaves from the Spirit King as well.
[Here, the seven leaves of Yggdrasil as promised.]
The leaves, wrapped in light, gently settled into my palm.
[Please, I beseech you to eliminate the Lich Dragon that threatens the Spirit Realm.]
“Don’t worry. Now that I’ve been compensated, I’ll handle it thoroughly.”
[….]
The Spirit King offered no particular response.
If he had possessed a face, I suspected he would have looked utterly exasperated.
Carbollearos, by contrast, wore an expression of genuine delight at having found a lead.
“Thank you for accepting, Zeke. Once we find the Lich Dragon, I’ll be able to learn about my companion. Let’s leave the Spirit Realm and search for him at once!”
“Wait. There’s something I need to do first.”
I decided to ask the Spirit King just in case.
“Could you revive an elf named Daryen as a courtesy?”
[All I can do is send you back to the Human Realm.]
“Tch, I’ll have to use one of my leaves then.”
I stored all but one leaf in my subspace and asked how to return.
[Once your task is complete, I shall send you back to the Human Realm along with the elf.]
“Okay. Then, let’s part ways here.”
[Understood. I shall return the dragon to his original form as well.]
Before the words even finished, Carbollearos’s form faded away smoothly.
-Hmm? Did he return to the necklace in his original state?
“Seems like it. Then I’ll be going, Spirit King.”
I waved at the luminous form that was the Spirit King, then teleported beneath Yggdrasil.
The moment I appeared where Daryen had been, the earth spirit Grinder startled in surprise.
[Yikes, you scared me! Appearing out of nowhere like that—my heart nearly stopped! Huh? What do you have in your hand?]
“I brought leaves from Yggdrasil.”
[What? The Spirit King gave those to you? To a human, no less?]
“Using one isn’t wasteful at all.”
I immediately crumpled the leaf and placed it into Daryen’s mouth.
The effect was instantaneous.
The elder Daryen, who had been dead, let out a groan and raised his upper body.
“Ugh… Did I doze off…?”
“You’re awake?”
“Huh? You are…?”
Daryen looked at me with wide, startled eyes.
Then, as understanding dawned, his eyes grew even wider.
It was only natural to be shocked—a human had entered the Spirit Realm alongside him.
“I’m sure you have many questions for me, but let’s discuss the details once we leave.”
Before I could even respond, light suddenly swirled around me, and the Elder vanished.
The same fate befell me.
The Spirit King was sending me back to the Human Realm.
[Heir of the divine. May fortune guide your path forward….]
As I departed the Spirit Realm, the Spirit King’s voice echoed faintly behind me.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————