The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 131

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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 131
From Carbollearos, I learned the full story of what had transpired.
Three thousand years ago, when the dragons were defeated in their battle against the Lich Dragon, they were left with only three choices.
Death, capture, or escape.
Carrocksina, a Blue Dragon, had fallen into the second category.
She had been seized like a slave and forced to perform all manner of menial tasks.
“And you’ve lived like that for three thousand years?”
“That’s right….”
The horned female dragon lowered her head with a melancholic expression.
Three thousand years of slavery—it was almost incomprehensible.
‘This is insane. Even calculating it at minimum wage, how much would that be?’
From the perspective of a modern person like myself, it was utterly beyond comprehension.
“Didn’t you ever think of escaping during all that time? Or rebelling?”
“If that had been possible, I would have broken free long ago.”
“Is the Lich Dragon really that powerful?”
“Extraordinarily powerful. Those who sold their souls to demons are immortal beings, and they’re superior in every way—strength, magical power, draconic force, everything. A young dragon like me is nothing but a plaything to them.”
‘Well, they said the ancient dragons sold their souls to demons to extend their lifespans in the first place… so most of them must be from that era.’
As I was thinking this, I suddenly became curious about her age.
“How old are you?”
“I’ve just passed 3,542 years old this year.”
“…That’s considered young?”
“Among the Dragon Race, we live up to ten thousand years, so isn’t that young?”
Fair point—by human standards, she’d be around thirty.
‘But three thousand years ago, she would have been only around five hundred years old.’
By human reckoning, she’d been kidnapped during a war when she was just a child of about five years old.
‘Now that I think about it that way… she’s actually quite pitiful.’
As I gazed at the female dragon with sympathetic eyes, I suddenly realized something.
“You remember your age precisely?”
“Dragons are beings who know no forgetfulness.”
‘Come to think of it, Carbollearos, how old are you?’
―If you include the years I spent in spirit form, I am 8,529 years old this year.
‘Wow….’
So he was quite an ancient dragon after all.
There was no end to my amazement.
Then the enslaved dragon spoke up.
“Human. I’ve heard that you are a descendant of a god. I’ve also heard that you can help me.”
“Carbollearos said that? That I could help you?”
“Yes. He said that since he lacks a physical form, he cannot help me himself, but you, as a descendant of a god, are different. He told me to trust him once and entrust myself to you. That’s what he said, but….”
The enslaved dragon’s eyes filled with skepticism.
“Honestly, I don’t understand how you could possibly free me. Or whether you even have the will to help me at all.”
“Why do you think that way?”
“Because all humans are the same. They’re not creatures who help without conditions.”
Contempt resonated in the enslaved dragon’s voice.
Disillusionment toward humanity.
It was an emotion any dragon would possess.
Unlike elves, humans were not on particularly friendly terms with dragons.
‘I’ve heard that dragons are the race who know humans best, having polymorphed into the human world. They’ve even waged tribal wars driven by endless greed, so it’s hardly strange that they’re fed up with them.’
But.
I was willing to help the dragon before me.
Precisely because a Quest window had appeared.
【Main Quest: Defeat the Lich Dragon】
└Blue Dragon Carseapinus is being held as a slave by the Lich Dragon.
└Defeat the Lich Dragon and liberate Carseapinus from slavery.
【Conditions】
└Defeat the Lich Dragon
【Rewards】
└Acquire new stat ‘Dragon Force’

* * *
Humans are creatures of forgetfulness.
But dragons are different.
Once seen, they never forget.
In some ways it appeared a blessed intellect, but to others it was a cursed talent.
Blue Dragon Carseapinus belonged to the latter.
An old memory of humans that suddenly surfaced tormented her again and again.
‘All humans are selfish. Greedy and willing to abandon all principles for their own gain.’
During the time I was enslaved under the Lich Dragon’s grasp.
The first humans I encountered as a race tried to assault me.
It mattered not whether my true form was a dragon or anything else.
Blinded by my beautiful appearance, they rushed at me like rutting beasts, and some even proposed deals.
Of course, once I displayed dragon strength, they would either fall silent or change their demeanor, but when I polymorphed into human form, their reactions were typically the same.
‘That said, there weren’t only wicked humans.’
There were those who showed pity or interest in me, unable to escape slavery, and tried to free me.
But the moment they learned my true identity was a dragon, and that a Lich Dragon stood behind me, their attitudes changed instantly.
‘They must be frightened. Dragons are legendary beings to humans. But….’
Was it not too much to stab me in the back for dragon scales, to become the first dragon slayer, or to summon reinforcements?
‘Humans are all the same. They never help others out of pure goodwill.’
The humans I encountered never deviated from that mold.
I felt it clearly when enslaved under the Lich Dragon’s grasp.
And it was not confined to the past alone.
Even now, powerful humans called the 12 Pioneers look down upon me.
Don’t mistake it for merely borrowing the Lich Dragon’s prestige.
They are naturally gifted mages who, despite being human, received inhuman power.
‘Even I, a dragon, could not stand against the 12 Pioneers.’
There’s no way around it—I’m bound by a curse.
Forbidden from wielding any power through dragon force.
That’s why I maintain this frail human body.
Though it’s given me a hatred of humans as a result.
‘Most humans react the same way when they see me. That human called Zeke McLafflin will be no different.’
Carbollearos had explained that he was a descendant of gods, but I held little hope.
After all, wasn’t the original still human?
‘He’ll probably refuse, saying he won’t help me…’
That’s what I expected, but the words that followed made Carseapinus doubt her own ears.
“I’ll help you.”
“…What did you just say?”
“I’ll free you from slavery.”
“How could you possibly do that?”
It was a rather blunt response to someone offering help, but for her, it was a natural question.
So many humans had come before, claiming they’d free her because they were captivated by her appearance.
“By defeating that Lich Dragon, of course.”
“You say it so easily.”
This was an expected response.
The humans who claimed to help her treated the Lich Dragon as merely a monster slightly stronger than an ogre.
They never considered that if it were so simple, I wouldn’t have been imprisoned for three thousand years.
But as always, I couldn’t help but hold onto hope when someone offered to help.
Perhaps this descendant of gods would be different.
‘No. He’s the same. He’s still human, after all.’
The hope that had risen from my distrust of humans faded away.
Regardless, once Zeke McLafflin accepted the Quest, he had no choice but to help.
“I can help, right? Or would you rather stay a slave?”
“Of course not!”
“Then I’m helping?”
“Do as you please!”
“Your reaction is something else. You’re yelling at the person trying to help you.”
“Hmph! I’ve seen plenty of humans like you!”
The way she crossed her arms and turned her head away showed she’d lost credibility from the start.
It seemed the only way to prove my sincerity was through action.
“What did you say your name was? Carseapinous?”
“It’s Carseapinus, human!”
“That’s too long, so I’ll just call you Carsea.”
“Who gave you permission to shorten my name….”
“Carseapinus. Stay behind and watch quietly. And remember this well.”
Zeke McLafflin stepped forward with unwavering confidence as he spoke.
“Today is a historic day for you.”

* * *
Among the 12 Pioneers, there was only one person who was hardest to reach.
Terion Maldorado.
A native of the Baiso Kingdom like Zacar Patrick, known as the Forerunner of the Earth.
He was also someone who had been deliberately ignoring Baluduk’s contact for years.
The reason was simple.
He had received orders from someone far above him.
“You called for me, Carrocksina?”
A woman appeared before Terion, who was bowing deeply in obeisance.
She was a woman with striking black horns atop her head.
“Terion. Have you heard anything from Baluduk?”
“I wouldn’t know. I haven’t even checked the communication channels.”
“Good. Continue to cut off contact with him as you have been. I’m saying this out of an abundance of caution, but our meeting must remain secret.”
“Of course. How could it be otherwise?”
“Yes. More importantly, how is the task I assigned you progressing?”
“I’ve already set the wheels in motion. A response should appear soon.”
“Is that so? Very well. We’ll meet again in a month.”
“Before you leave, may I ask you something?”
Terion spoke cautiously, and Carrocksina nodded.
“Speak.”
“Why did you choose me specifically among the 12 Pioneers….”
Terion ranked ninth among the Forerunners.
Among a group of celebrated monsters, he occupied a relatively weaker position.
He had always wondered what aspect of himself had prompted her to take him as a subordinate.
This was a question that had lingered in Terion’s mind all this time.
His master was a Lich Dragon with demons as her backing, after all.
To a question he had never asked before, his mistress Carrocksina let out a hollow laugh.
“What a foolish question. Isn’t the reason obvious?”
“The reason being…?”
“I need to use your exceptional power in the earth element to invade the Spirit Realm.”
“…Is that all?”
“What other reason could there be? Ah, and your relatively independent position from Baluduk was also a factor in my selection. Are your doubts resolved now?”
“…Yes.”
Though he answered, Terion’s expression did not appear particularly relieved.
“Then I shall return in a month with good results.”
“Understood.”
Moments later, mana gathered and light flashed brilliantly.
The instant Terion Maldorado vanished via teleportation, Carrocksina let out a derisive snort.
“Foolish human. He seems disappointed because that wasn’t the answer he was hoping for.”
Terion Maldorado had likely wanted to hear that I chose him because I favored him.
Not because I made him my subordinate for his abilities.
I was well aware that Terion Maldorado grew subtly excited whenever he saw me.
“In any case, human males are all the same—the moment they lay eyes on a beautiful woman, master, subordinate, nothing matters. Such foolish creatures, utterly lacking in sense.”
How dare a mere human presume to covet a Lich Dragon.
The disgust was so overwhelming that I nearly burst out laughing before the urge to kill him on the spot took hold, but I had to keep him alive to breach the Spirit Realm.
His power to move the very earth was something even I, a Lich Dragon, could not accomplish with ease.
‘Once I breach the Spirit Realm, I won’t need to concern myself with that cursed old human’s whims. Or rather, the demon race backing him.’
If I earned recognition for breaching the Spirit Realm, the status of the demon race who served as my patron would rise.
Conversely, the status of the demon race backing Baluduk would fall.
That was why I proceeded with this operation in secret from Baluduk.
Everything was for the demon race standing behind me.
‘To repay the debt I owe to that being who made me a Lich Dragon, I must absolutely breach the Spirit Realm.’
The reason I created the Illusion Cave was also to repay that debt.
To offer every human corpse that came seeking me as a sacrifice.
“Now that I think about it, that human called Esca was supposed to come looking.”
The First Forerunner had said so.
That a human named Esca Robins would come, and to extract information from him.
It was a tedious task, but the demon race backing the First Forerunner was a being of even higher rank than my own patron.
Though it displeased me, I had no choice but to comply with the request.
“Carseapinus, I should have that slave girl report on the situation.”
I had already learned of the human intrusion into the Illusion Cave through the alarm spell I’d set at the entrance.
Though I didn’t know how far they’d progressed.
Perhaps that’s why—
“Hey, you slave! Where have you been? I was looking for you—”
I couldn’t help but be taken aback by the humans who appeared alongside the slave.
“What? Did you bring them here on your own?”
“I, well…”
Pushing aside the hesitant Carseapinus, a man stepped forward.
“Are you the Lich Dragon?”
“Esca Robins?”
“Esca’s the one in the back. I’m Zeke McLafflin.”
Zeke McLafflin flashed a broad grin.
“And I’m the human who’s about to beat you to a pulp.”

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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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