The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 138

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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 138
‘This bastard?’
Zeke McLafflin felt a surge of irritation at Terion’s provocation, but he had no choice but to suppress it.
The Quest hadn’t appeared yet.
‘What should I do?’
His opponent wanted to fight, but he wasn’t prepared for it yet.
‘If there’s no Quest, there’s no reason to fight at all.’
The man was picking a quarrel, but not to the point of needing to be killed.
And there was still no evidence that he was truly evil.
Because of this, Zeke had no choice but to avoid the fight.
Of course, his opponent wouldn’t simply let him go.
“Where do you think you’re running?”
The moment Zeke took a few steps backward, Terion quickly cast a spell with sharp perception.
Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble— Boom!
Piles of stone erupted from the ground, instantly blocking his escape route.
The light from the entrance that had been visible moments before was now swallowed by complete darkness.
“You have nowhere to retreat. One of us will survive, and we’ll settle this here.”
“Must it be this way?”
“Hmph, the boy is quite fearful. Or should I say perceptive? Judging from how you’ve already predicted the outcome of this fight?”
Terion’s lips curled into a smirk.
He seemed to believe that Zeke McLafflin was afraid and trying to avoid the battle.
‘For now, it’s best to leave this place. There’s nothing to gain from fighting right now.’
Zeke McLafflin turned away without hesitation.
Did that action touch a nerve?
“I asked where you’re going!”
The enraged Terion extended his staff.
Rocks weighing thousands of kilograms materialized in midair along with a magic circle.
Whoosh!
They were launched toward Zeke McLafflin.
If they made contact, he would be crushed into pulp without question.
But the moment the rocks touched Zeke McLafflin’s body—
“…What?”
The rocks vanished as if absorbed into a space beyond another dimension.
It was only natural that shock appeared on Terion’s face.
There was no preparatory motion, no trace of mana being used, yet he had made his attack disappear like magic.
It was a technique he had never seen before.
But the most astonishing part came next.
His opponent had perfectly replicated his own attack and sent it back at him.
“Don’t die.”
Along with those words, countless rocks appeared.
The constructs that Terion had created turned their bombardment toward me instead.
Boom-boom-boom-boom-crash!
The Cave trembled violently, as if an earthquake had struck.
Fortunately, I deployed a shield in time to block the assault, but thick dust obscured my vision.
Only after the dust settled did Terion realize something.
That bastard had already vanished in the chaos.
“Damn it all!”

* * *
‘Good. He won’t be able to follow me now that I’ve used teleportation.’
Having escaped the scene in an instant through teleportation, Zeke McLafflin reflected on what had just transpired.
‘Why didn’t a Quest appear when I saw one of the 12 Pioneers?’
The system was like a life navigation device, guiding me toward proper growth.
Looking at every Quest so far, this was undeniable.
It had never failed to help me.
It had never forced an unfair choice upon me.
‘Yet this time, I couldn’t comprehend it.’
As I tilted my head in confusion, I turned toward the commotion I could hear beyond the 450-meter range of my senses.
Boom-boom-boom!
The vibrations reached all the way here—he must be furious.
‘The woman he admired abandoned him and chose a new man instead. Then he fought him in single combat but fled in disgrace? I’d be furious too.’
Chuckling to myself, I kept Terion within my hunter’s sensory range while observing the situation unfold.
Though I had retreated because no Quest appeared, I didn’t want to lose track of this Forerunner I’d finally found.
But then.
‘Hm?’
Bewilderment flickered across my eyes.
‘Who is that?’
My senses had detected another presence confronting Terion.

* * *
“Damn it! Damn it all!”
Boom! Crash! Thunderous explosions!
A tempest of mana swept across the surroundings.
The cave became a complete disaster, rubble scattered everywhere.
Though I faced the danger of being buried beneath collapsing stone, I vented my fury without restraint, unconcerned with the threat.
Time passed.
Having erected a barrier early on to escape the danger of being crushed, I emerged from the pile of collapsed rocks.
Still fuming, my expression remained bitter.
“That bastard. When I find out where he’s gone, I’ll kill him. Then Carrocksina will have no choice but to accept me again without her trusted subordinate. Kekeke.”
It was then that I laughed like a madman.
[A sweet scent emanates from you.]
Startled, I whipped my head around.
Rustle—
A figure emerged from the undergrowth.
No—it was far too massive to be called human.
Nearly three meters tall.
Dressed like nobility, yet with bat wings spread ostentatiously.
Eyes that pierced through a person, and pupils slit like a cat’s.
I froze at the sight of something that looked nothing like a human.
Or rather, I was crushed beneath the demonic aura flowing from the being before me.
[Wrath is the hottest and sweetest of all emotions.]
“W-who are you…?”
[I know you serve Carrocksina.]
“…!”
At the mention of Carrocksina’s name, I could discern the identity of my opponent.
Any loyal servant would know that the Lich Dragon herself receives orders from demons.
The moment this realization struck me, I immediately prostrated myself.
“G-great one! I am honored to stand before you!”
[You recognize me, it seems. Yet this is the first time I’ve laid eyes on you.]
“That is because…”
[You’ve glimpsed it from over someone’s shoulder. You’ve even eavesdropped on Carrocksina and me communicating through demonic consciousness.]
My eyes widened in shock.
‘How… how did you know that?’
It felt as though the being could read my very thoughts.
I was astonished, yet simultaneously confused.
‘This is my first time seeing them too, so how did they know I serve Carrocksina…?’
[You’re curious about how I discerned you serve Carrocksina, aren’t you?]
“…!!!”
[As you suspected. I can read human thoughts. Though only those of insignificant creatures, mind you.]
‘Can you read minds, bird?’
The moment Terion heard those words, he immediately tried to stop thinking.
Or rather, he attempted to, but failed.
[You’re not the type who can empty your head. There’s no point trying in front of me.]
“Ah….”
[You seem quite confused. And full of questions, it seems.]
“W-well, to be honest, yes.”
[Then I should answer you.]
The demon’s yellow eyes blazed with light.
[My name is Dantalian. As you can see, I am a demon, and I hold the position of the 71st Legion Commander among the 72 ranks of the Demon Legion.]
‘A Legion Commander?’
For such a distinguished being to personally visit the Human Realm.
I was astonished, but Dantalian shook his head.
[There’s nothing to be so surprised about. I haven’t fully manifested yet, and I cannot exert my full power. I’ve simply taken a brief moment to conduct reconnaissance.]
“Reconnaissance…you say?”
[I recently lost contact with Carrocksina. I visited the Illusion Cave, but found no traces, so I followed your magical aura here. I recognized you because I read your thoughts, naturally.]
“Ah….”
[Now that I’ve read your mind, it seems you’re also searching for Carrocksina.]
“Y-yes, that’s right!”
[How fortunate—the first human I encounter upon manifesting shares the same purpose.]
Terion agreed with that assessment.
An opportunity to borrow the power of a great demon—no one else could offer such a thing.
So I immediately cried out.
“I know where Carrocksina is! Just moments ago, I encountered someone claiming to be her subordinate!”
[I’m aware of that as well. I’ll need to read your memories in detail to confirm the facts.]
‘You can read memories too, not just thoughts?’
[Indeed. Come closer then.]
At Dantalian’s gesture, Terion approached without hesitation.
To find Carrocksina, I had to secure Dantalian’s cooperation.
That determination overcame even my fear of demons.
Thump—
As the massive palm settled atop my head, my skull seemed to shrink to the size of a baseball.
The time required to read memories was but an instant, and the hand withdrew immediately.
[An intriguing human indeed.]
For the first time, Dantalian bared his teeth in a smile.
[A magic that absorbs the target’s spells, stores them in a dimensional rift, and then releases them again. It’s a technique I’ve never witnessed before.]
“Pardon?”
What was this demon talking about?
Magic absorption? A dimensional rift?
Those thoughts flashed through my mind instantly, and I realized my mistake too late, attempting to clear my head, but Dantalian had already read it all.
[That human you met a moment ago—the one who serves Carrocksina. I read his memories and discovered he possesses a unique technique: absorbing magic and releasing it back unchanged.]
“Ah….”
Terion recalled the battle that had just transpired.
The moment the rocks he’d summoned touched that creature, they vanished as if they’d never existed.
‘Then he duplicated them exactly and sent them right back at me.’
Now that I think about it, he hadn’t duplicated them at all—he’d stored them in a dimensional rift and released them.
[A human wielding techniques even demons cannot perform. Or perhaps… if it were Beelzebub, it might be possible….]
Dantalian’s eyes gleamed with an unprecedented curiosity and hunger.
[If I find that human, I can also locate Carrocksina.]
“That’s right. We must find him immediately.”
[But it’s impossible for me. My time in the Human Realm is limited, and I cannot yet manifest my full power. Therefore, I shall give you an order.]
At the word “order,” Terion prostrated himself once more.
“Command me as you will!”
[Find that human who serves Carrocksina. Capture him and bring him before me. I wish to meet this human myself.]
“Ah. Are you perhaps planning to interrogate him…?”
[No. I shall make him my new subordinate to succeed Carrocksina.]
“Pardon?”
Terion couldn’t help but wear a dumbfounded expression.
He wanted to make that creature—whom he’d gladly tear to shreds—his subordinate all of a sudden?
[I’m intrigued by his unique ability. I’m curious how he came to possess such power. Of course, finding Carrocksina would be welcome too, but locating that human takes priority. Do you understand?]
“Y-yes, I understand.”
[Once you’ve found and subdued him, summon me. I shall instruct you on how to summon me to the Human Realm.]
As Dantalian explained the summoning method, his entire body erupted in crimson flames.
Crackling and scattering sparks, he slowly dispersed into nothingness.
[Disobey my command, and death alone awaits you. Do not forget this fact, human.]
“….”
Watching Dantalian vanish completely, Terion muttered under his breath.
“How am I supposed to find him?”

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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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