The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 136

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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 136
‘Zeke is… quitting mercenary work?’
Zeke, renowned as a Spell Swordsman, was undoubtedly the ace of the Mercenary Company.
The client who had requested to meet Zeke did so precisely because of that unique condition—being a Spell Swordsman.
‘If he leaves the Mercenary Company under these circumstances…’
Chris shook his head as if he didn’t even want to contemplate it.
“What’s wrong, Captain?”
“Ah, no. It’s just so sudden.”
“Isn’t it written in the contract that I can leave the Mercenary Company whenever I wish?”
“That’s true, that’s true. But tell me… what’s your reason for leaving? Did our Mercenary Company disappoint you in some way, or was there something inconvenient, or…?”
“No, nothing like that. I simply can’t continue mercenary work for personal reasons.”
In Zeke’s gesture of waving his hand to dispel the misunderstanding, there wasn’t a hint of dissatisfaction.
It didn’t feel like mere courtesy—it felt sincere.
Of course, Zeke was hiding the real reason.
‘I can’t exactly tell him I’ve maxed out my Magic Replication proficiency.’
The reason Zeke had joined the Mercenary Company in the first place was to meet as many mages as possible.
That way, he could rapidly increase his Magic Replication proficiency.
Indeed, thanks to the territorial battles fought within the Mercenary Company, he had accumulated considerable proficiency.
‘Though the proficiency rewards from Quests were actually greater than what I gained from replicating magic from mages…’
Regardless, by joining the Mercenary Company, more Quests had naturally emerged, and he’d even formed a connection with the Forerunners, hadn’t he?
In the end, he’d reaped substantial benefits, and joining the Mercenary Company had been a worthwhile decision.
‘But now there’s no reason to fight territorial battles anymore. Magic Replication has reached 9-Star.’
He’d acquired over 1,200 spells, ranging from 1st Circle to 9th Circle in variety.
Now he was worthy of being called a legitimate 9th Circle mage.
‘What I need to focus on now is Demonic Aura Absorption.’
Raising Demonic Aura Absorption to 9-Star and achieving the 7th Awakening Skill.
The difference between a Hunter who had undergone 7th Awakening and one who hadn’t was staggering—enough to elevate a Hunter’s rank by at least two tiers.
‘That’s why I’m so obsessed with proficiency.’
To raise proficiency, I needed demonic aura, and its source lay with the Lich Dragon.
Now, instead of hunting mages, I needed to search for the Lich Dragon.
There was no need to waste time on mercenary work.
“Thank you for everything, Captain Chris. I came here today to tell you this.”
“Hmm… I understand your position. But Zeke, before you leave, could you do me one favor?”
“What is it?”
“There’s a client here looking for you right now. I’d like you to meet them.”
“A client? Who?”
“You’ll find out when you meet them.”
For some reason, Chris seemed reluctant to reveal the client’s identity to those around him.
Noticing this, Zeke didn’t press further and simply nodded.
It was a simple request—just meeting someone—so there was nothing difficult about it.
“I will.”
“Good, let’s go right now.”
“You two wait here. While you’re waiting, get to know each other a bit.”
Zeke McLafflin departed.
Carbollearos and Carse turned their gaze toward Peter McLafflin and Mary.
“….”
“….”
An awkward silence hung between the four of them.

* * *
‘Who came looking for me?’
Zeke McLafflin followed the Captain with curiosity, and soon found himself face-to-face with the visitor.
“So you’re the Zeke who’s famous as a Demon Swordmaster? You’re younger than I expected.”
The man before him appeared to be in his mid-fifties, bearing the unmistakable presence of a powerful warrior.
“Ah, allow me to introduce myself first. I’m Kalos, serving as the Guard Captain of the Hormos Merchant Alliance.”
‘Guard Captain of a Merchant Alliance?’
A Merchant Alliance was an organization where multiple merchants pooled their strength to pursue economic interests.
Among them, the Hormos Merchant Alliance was a massive organization spanning the territories of the Holy Empire and the Braham Kingdom.
‘If he’s the Guard Captain of such a place, he’s no ordinary figure….’
Now I understood why Chris had asked me to meet with this visitor.
The Mercenary Company wouldn’t want to waste the time of someone who had come all this way.
A Guard Captain of a Merchant Alliance would possess the strength to command a Mercenary Company.
‘But why would such a person seek me out?’
The question was answered quickly.
The man named Kalos broached the main topic.
“Our Alliance has taken on a guard mission at the request of the Holy Empire. It’s a mission to escort an important figure across the Labteran Mountain Range to the Braham Kingdom. However, the journey is perilous, so we turned our eyes toward the Mercenary Company to recruit additional forces. That’s when I heard news of a Demon Swordmaster named Zeke. So I’ve come to hire you.”
In short, he wanted to hire me as supplementary personnel for their guard mission.
It made sense that he’d taken notice upon hearing the legendary title of Demon Swordmaster.
“Are you hiring only me?”
“No. I intend to requisition several members from the Golden Eagle Mercenary Company as well. Captain Chris here recommended that you have many skilled mages. What do you say? The compensation will be generous.”
“Hmm….”
I hesitated before answering.
The compensation itself didn’t matter much.
I had recently gathered everything of value from the Elf’s treasure vault, so I lacked for nothing.
Rather, what occupied my thoughts was the Quest that had suddenly appeared before me.
【Sudden Quest: Accept Kalos’s Proposal】
└Kalos, the Guard Captain of the Hormos Merchant Alliance, is seeking mercenaries to perform a guard mission with him.
└Accept his proposal, participate in the mission, and build your reputation.
【Conditions】
└Accept Kalos’s proposal
【Reward】
└6th Awakening Skill Proficiency +3,000
The proficiency boost was exactly what I needed most right now. Of course, I should accept it.
Yet the words of acceptance wouldn’t leave my lips.
I had intended to leave the Mercenary Company, but the Quest was holding me back like an anchor.
Was accepting this proposal and participating in the mission truly the right choice?
No one but a god could know how my decision would influence the future.
So I could only make the most pragmatic choice available to me right now—the one that offered immediate gain.
Besides, I had no leads on the Lich Dragon at the moment.
“I’ll do it.”
“Good. It’s decided then.”
“But I have a condition.”
“A condition?”
“You mentioned needing skilled members, right? I know four of the finest mages. Let them come with us.”
“If their skills are genuine, there’s no problem.”
“They are. All of them are 5th Circle or higher.”
I lifted the corners of my mouth with confidence.

* * *
“What’s your name?”
“Didn’t I mention it earlier? Carbollearos.”
“What’s your relationship with Zeke?”
“I’m not sure what you’re implying.”
Carbollearos genuinely looked confused.
Mary placed her hands on her hips and eyed them both with suspicion.
“You’re not dating, are you?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Why do you talk like that?”
“What’s wrong with how I speak?”
“Hey, Mary, wait.”
Peter quickly grabbed Mary’s arm and pulled her away.
He was equally startled when Carbollearos and Carse suddenly appeared, but this was turning into a confrontation.
Peter whispered, deciding he was the only one who could stop this.
“These are the companions Zeke brought back from his travels. If he sees you clashing with them like this, what do you think he’ll think?”
“Clashing? I was just asking a simple question…”
“That was less a question and more an interrogation. And from what I can tell, those women aren’t ordinary.”
“What? Not ordinary? What do you mean…”
“Don’t you feel it? The mana subtly emanating from both of them?”
Only then did Mary observe Carbollearos and Carse more carefully.
Indeed, an unusual shimmer of mana rippled around them both.
“From what I can tell, they’re quite skilled—at least 7th Circle or higher.”
“7, 7th Circle or higher?”
“So don’t needlessly provoke them. Handle this flexibly, flexibly.”
Meanwhile, Carbollearos seemed displeased with Peter and Mary’s reactions.
You could tell from the way he pouted his lips.
“Hmph, what are they whispering about so much?”
“Carbollearos.”
Carse, who had agreed to call him Carbollearos to keep his identity hidden, crossed her arms and wore a sullen expression just like Mary.
“Why is that female human showing hostility toward Carbollearos?”
“How should I know? Cold-hearted humans, the lot of them.”
After all, Carbollearos had seen Peter and Mary frequently as a pendant.
That’s why it wasn’t awkward for him like it was for Carse.
Rather, it felt familiar to Carbollearos.
But it seemed Peter and Mary felt differently.
The way they’d been watching this side warily the whole time made that clear.
“I’ve even hidden the horns on my head, yet I can’t fathom why they’re so cautious.”
“Indeed.”
Currently, neither Carbollearos nor Carse had horns on their heads that would reveal them as dragons.
Even when polymorphed into human form, one could intentionally conceal horns to that degree.
Yet despite their caution, Carbollearos couldn’t help but feel hurt inside.
They didn’t seem as well-disposed toward him as he was toward them.
Just then.
“Hmm? Zeke’s arrived.”
I saw Zeke and Captain Chris walking toward us.
Another man was following behind them.
When Mary and Peter noticed the man and looked at him curiously, Chris introduced him.
“This is Kalos, the escort captain of the Hormos Merchant Alliance. He’s come seeking mercenaries to assist with an escort mission in the Holy Empire.”
The fact that the escort captain of such a massive alliance had come here in person made Peter and Mary’s eyes widen considerably.
The other two dragons, however, wore indifferent expressions.
“Haha, three women of considerable beauty, no less. I’m beginning to think I should relocate to the Decan Kingdom.”
Kalos’s eyes gleamed with admiration at the women’s appearances, including Mary’s, before he broached the main topic.
“As the Captain mentioned, I’m recruiting additional personnel and seeking several mercenaries. Zeke, the renowned Demon Swordsman, said he’d introduce some excellent mages, and these are them, yes? Zeke?”
“Yes. These four here are all mages of 5th Circle or higher. My condition is that I work alongside them.”
“Hmm.”
Kalos scrutinized the four of them in turn with narrowed eyes, as if gauging the concentration of their mana.
“They certainly seem to have talent, but as an aura user, I can’t quite assess them. Would you mind demonstrating some magic?”
“Of course.”
With that reply, Zeke gestured to his companions.
They were to demonstrate magic worthy of proving their abilities.
Though my companions realized they’d been suddenly assigned a task, they accepted without complaint.
After all, I was originally a mercenary.
I was always planning to follow Zeke wherever he went anyway.
That’s why Peter and Mary demonstrated their 5th Circle magic without hesitation.
Slave No. 4, Carse, also proved her abilities by using 5th Circle magic with keen intuition.
But.
“….”
Only Carbollearos maintained her silence.
The others had formed slave contracts with Zeke, but she had not.
“Carbollearos?”
“Zeke. What are you doing right now? Don’t we have things we need to do?”
“I know that. But your memories haven’t returned yet. Let’s wait while taking on escort duties until then.”
Though Zeke spoke as quietly as possible, Kalos’s hearing as an Aura user was far from negligible.
‘Lost her memories?’
Kalos’s eyes widened in surprise, and upon seeing Carbollearos nod, he had to widen them even further.
Whoooosh!
‘That, that’s…! 9th Circle magic—Hellfire?’
She was wielding magic at a higher level than expected.
“If you’re going to show it, you might as well show it properly.”
At Carbollearos’s sudden action, even Zeke couldn’t help but open his mouth.

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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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