The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 145

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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 145
The moment I invoked the demon’s sorcery, Terion—slain by Maligore—stirred and rose to his feet.
Yet the sight was grotesque; his neck hung half-severed, dangling loosely.
“Dieux et ripper—mend what is broken.”
With the incantation complete, the dangling neck sealed itself seamlessly.
‘Will he speak, I wonder?’
As I observed Terion, he recognized his new master and prostrated himself.
“This humble servant greets his master.”
‘Excellent—he’s become an undead with genuine intellect.’
He was the fourth sentient undead, following Zakar Patrick, Maligore, and Rita Rose.
‘Come to think of it, the Twelve Forerunners have never failed once.’
Did that mean I could kill the other Forerunners and transform them into undead as well?
‘This completes the Quest and grants me subordinates—truly a stroke of fortune.’
Joy filled me.
I could not help but feel elated.
Yet unlike my smirk, Carbollearos wore an expression of utter shock.
“Zeke. Did you turn this one into a subordinate as well?”
“Yeah. Turns out it works. It’s a shame I couldn’t make Dantalian a subordinate too.”
Dantalian had become embers the moment he died, leaving no opportunity to attempt it.
Carbollearos clicked his tongue in disbelief.
“Hah, anyone seeing this would think you were the Lich Dragon.”
“Enough. Let’s clean this up now.”
“Clean up what, exactly—”
Carbollearos fell silent as I approached the Altar instead of answering.
Right—there were still the kidnapped humans.
“Are you all right?”
The moment I drew near, the women flinched and trembled in unison.
Terror was written across their faces.
‘Of course they’re frightened. If they weren’t afraid after seeing me slaughter Dantalian and Terion so brutally, that would be strange.’
First, I sheathed my sword in the subspace to ease their anxiety.
“Please, don’t be afraid. I came to rescue you. As you’ve witnessed, I’ve killed both the Demon Faction members and the mage who kidnapped you.”
“Are… are they really dead? But that one over there is clearly still alive…”
One woman gathered her courage and pointed to where the undead Terion stood.
I immediately waved my hand to dismiss the summoning.
“That was merely my summon. It’s gone now, so you’re safe.”
I extended my hand personally, helping each woman down from the Altar.
The black chains that had bound them were conjured by Terion’s magic and had long since vanished.
“Ah… thank you.”
“Thank you so much.”
“Sob… thank you for saving us.”
“I thought I was done for.”
“I was so terrified.”
Some expressed gratitude, relief flooding through them at having survived, while others wept as memories of the terror that had driven them to the brink resurfaced.
Some had minds consumed entirely by worry for their fathers and villages.
―I was fortunate enough to survive thanks to this person. But what of my father, turned to stone? Are the others from my village safe?
Patricia’s expression grew heavy with concern, yet she remained unaware.
That Zeke McLafflin was reading her thoughts with eyes full of compassion.
“What is your name?”
“Pardon? P-Patricia.”
“Where are you from?”
“A place called Dion Village… but I don’t even know where this is…”
Zeke McLafflin turned to regard the women with a reassuring smile.
“I know the way. I’ll escort each of you back to your homes.”
“Really? You will?”
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
The people offered their thanks, but Zeke McLafflin barely acknowledged them.
A Quest occupied one corner of his vision.
【Sudden Quest: Safe Escort】
└The women held as sacrifices find themselves in dire straits, helpless and trapped.
└Escort them gallantly to their respective villages.
【Conditions】
└Escort to village 0/5 people
【Rewards】
└6th Circle Skill Proficiency +5,000

* * *
“Thank you so much, Zeke!”
“Then please, go on inside.”
Zeke, who had just brought the fourth woman, glanced at the message.
[Escorting villagers to safety: 4/5]
Only one person remained—a woman named Patricia.
‘Though calling her a woman feels like an overstatement.’
I had gleaned through mind-reading that she was merely sixteen, a year younger than Zeke.
A devoted daughter who cherished her father dearly.
“Let’s go. Dion Village is this way.”
“Ah, you know the path remarkably well. I thought outsiders wouldn’t know their way around such a rural place…”
“Well, this much is basic knowledge.”
“You’re truly impressive.”
Zeke shrugged at Patricia’s admiration, though in truth I had received some assistance from the plants.
The reason I moved like a guide despite knowing nothing of the geography was precisely that.
“Oh! I know the way from here. This way, please.”
Following Patricia as she took the lead, a pastoral village soon revealed itself.
Anxiety over her father seemed to quicken Patricia’s pace.
“Father! Father!”
As I searched for her father, cursed by petrification magic, I glanced about.
Then I spotted a familiar figure.
“Uncle Jake!”
“P-Patricia?”
Jake’s limping form was clearly in poor condition.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m… I’m fine… ugh.”
Jake clutched at his ribs as if they were broken.
Patricia grew concerned at the sight, but Jake waved her off.
“I was worried about you instead. Do you know how much your father fretted?”
“But Father turned to stone.”
“Ah, about that. He was freed a few hours ago.”
“What?”
Apparently, at some point her father had transformed from stone back into human form.
The moment Terion, the caster, died, the petrification curse was lifted.
“Where is Father now?”
“The instant he was freed, he left the village to find you.”
“Really?”
“But don’t worry. It’s been a while since he left, so he should be returning soon. Heh.”
At Jake’s pained expression, Zeke stepped forward.
“Wait just a moment. Let me treat your wounds.”
“Huh?”
As I invoked Blessing of Light, radiance spilled forth and enveloped Jake.
“Ah, ah?”
The throbbing pain in his ribs vanished as though washed away.
“That should do it.”
“Who… who is this person?”
“She’s the one who saved me from the mage.”
Jake, his eyes wide with astonishment, bowed repeatedly without regard for dignity.
“Th-thank you! Thank you so much!”
A brief moment passed.
Just as Jake had said, not long after, rustling sounds emerged from the Forest.
“Patricia…?”
From the direction of the Forest, her father Rant stood with eyes wide open.
“Patricia! My daughter!”
Rant rushed forward in joy but flinched upon seeing Zeke and his companions.
Especially upon seeing Carbollearos, dressed like a mage, his gaze became wary.
“W-who are you people? Could it be…?”
“Please, don’t be alarmed. We mean no harm.”
“Father. These people saved me.”
“They did…?”
Only after Patricia’s testimony did Rant’s wariness dissolve.
“Forgive me. I failed to recognize the saviors of my daughter’s life and…”
“Not at all. Given what you’ve endured at the mage’s hands, such a reaction is entirely understandable. I comprehend.”
At Zeke’s gracious demeanor, Rant’s eyes widened.
―He seems about the same age as my daughter, yet his manner of speech is remarkably mature. Could he be nobility?
With my Mind Reading skill activated, I decided to delve deeper into Rant’s thoughts to better understand him.
It was my practice to briefly read the minds of strangers upon meeting them, to gauge their character.
My judgment proved sound.
‘I thought he was just a farmer from a Rural Village… but he wasn’t?’
Rant was from the Holy Empire.
More specifically, from Varcan, the capital of the Holy Empire.
As a merchant there, he cherished those days as the pinnacle of his life.
He harbored grand dreams of one day earning a fortune and returning to the Empire to live lavishly without shame.
‘But it’s only a dream. How could I earn real wealth living in this backwater?’
Moreover, he seemed to desire a respectable noble as a son-in-law, yet in a desolate Countryside, such hopes were futile.
There were no opportunities.
But then…
‘What’s with that gleam in his eyes…?’
Seeing the fervent glint in Rant’s gaze as he looked at me, it seemed he viewed this moment as his opportunity.
His thoughts confirmed my suspicion.
“You appear to be nobility. Why don’t you take this opportunity to make a good impression on my daughter? She has excellent manners and impressive abilities—you’d make a fine son-in-law.”
Upon grasping the true intent behind that weighty gaze, Zeke found himself in an awkward position.
‘A son-in-law? This man is getting ahead of himself.’
How could he consider someone he’d just met as potential family?
And more importantly, no one had bothered to ask what I wanted.
‘Patricia couldn’t possibly have feelings for me.’
When I turned my gaze in that direction, I found Patricia with a slightly flushed expression.
“Introducing a man to Father for the first time… It feels wonderful, but also a bit embarrassing.”
‘Patricia has feelings for me?’
Judging by the way she glanced shyly in my direction, it seemed to be true.
How naive could she be, falling head over heels simply because I saved her life?
‘She’s kind. Her devotion to her father speaks to her pure heart. But…’
I had no time to dwell on such matters.
I was far too busy with my Quest.
[Escorting Villagers to Safety 5/5 Complete!]
[Sudden Quest Cleared!]
[You receive 5,000 Sixth-Tier Skill Proficiency as a reward.]
[Remaining Proficiency Until Seven-Star Achievement: 20,219/30,000]
‘The Quest is finished. Now it’s time for the Holy Empire escort mission?’
Conveniently, someone who had served in the Holy Empire stood right before me—I could ask them what I needed to know.
Reading thoughts alone had its limitations when gathering information.
“I have a question, if you don’t mind?”
“Of course! Of course! What would you like to know?”
Rant responded with deference despite his youth, his eyes brightening as if ready to answer anything, and Zeke spoke.
“I’d like to learn about the Holy Empire.”

* * *
[Ugh—!]
The moment my soul returned to my true form in the Demon Realm, I coughed up blood.
My loyal subordinate Rahimos rushed over in alarm.
[M-Master Dantalian! Are you alright?]
[I’m… fine… *cough*—!]
The legion commander spewing black blood once more was clearly anything but fine.
[H-how did such a deep wound… Your soul is severely damaged!]
[*Gasping* *Gasping*… My power… Has 20% of my strength truly vanished?]
[That’s not the issue now! Your soul is in tatters!]
Even after returning to my true form, I couldn’t regain consciousness easily.
Realizing the severity, Rahimos rushed off somewhere.
To request reinforcements.
Moments later.
He returned with a man of refined, aristocratic bearing.
It was Seire, the legion commander ranked 70th in the hierarchy above me.
[I came because I heard things were dire, and indeed you’re practically on death’s door.]
[S-Commander Seire….]
[Ah, spare your words. Let me examine the wound first.]
Soon after, demonic energy flowed from Seire’s body, enveloping mine.
[Hmm, the soul damage is severe. How did this happen?]
The answer came from Rahimos.
[Master Dantalian manifested in the Human Realm just moments ago.]
[The Human Realm?]
Surprise flickered across Seire’s face.
[Did you meet your end in the Human Realm?]
I nodded slowly.
[So that’s why your demonic energy fell short by 20%. But the Human Realm—there shouldn’t be anyone capable of handling Commander Dantalian. Moreover, those insects of the Human Realm shouldn’t be able to inflict direct damage on a demon’s powerful soul, should they?]
[That’s precisely what puzzles me as well.]
[Tell me, Dantalian. Who exactly did you fight?]
Seire’s gaze fixed on me, and Rahimos too looked at me with curiosity.
[The opponent was… a descendant of a god….]
[You jest. That’s merely legend.]
[I speak truthfully, Commander Seire. He possessed extraordinary abilities—capable of blocking not just mana, but demonic energy itself….]
[Blocking demonic energy?]
[Yes… That’s why I was rendered helpless. I couldn’t cast any magic whatsoever….]
It was humiliating, but I had to speak honestly.
If I was to gain Seire’s aid.
[My soul will gradually recover if I enter the hellfire. But in the meantime, my demonic energy will continue to diminish, and I won’t be able to command my legion.]
After a moment of silence, I continued, resolved.
[Commander Seire, please lead our legion. It would be better than passing command down the ranks.]
[You would truly hand over your legion to me?]
[Yes. In exchange, please take revenge on the one who did this to me. Don’t you have a Forerunner serving you in the Human Realm, Commander Seire?]
[I do. Indeed I do.]
[Relay information to that subordinate. Information about the Divine Heir…. And….]
Even as exhaustion weighed upon him, Dantalian’s eyes gleamed with fervent intensity.
[Kill him and bring his soul to the Demon Realm. I won’t be satisfied until he’s been torn to shreds.]
His gaze burned with murderous intent.

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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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