The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 156

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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 156
Despite his confident declaration, Zeke McLafflin’s eyebrows twitched as he read the Quest notification.
An unexpected message had appeared.
[The ‘Raber Archbishop Escort’ Quest has been upgraded to a new Sudden Quest.]
【Sudden Quest: Subdue the Forerunners】
└The Water Forerunner Ilena Yates and the Flame Forerunner Pyreo McLaurin have revealed themselves to assassinate the Archbishop.
└Subdue them both and protect the Archbishop.
【Conditions】
└Subdue Ilena Yates
└Subdue Pyreo McLaurin
【Rewards】
└Random stat increase of 3,000
└6th tier skill proficiency increase of 15,000
└Acquire skill ‘Equanimity’
The Sudden Quest I had been working on was upgraded to a new one.
Perhaps because of that, the rewards were just as generous as any other Quest.
‘But I thought a kill Quest would appear—subduing them instead?’
Every Forerunner-related Quest so far had been about killing.
I’d killed them, obtained skills and items, and gradually assembled the set effects.
That’s why I was confused.
If I killed them here, I’d lose not only the skills and items but also the set effects.
‘What do I do?’
After thinking it through, the answer was already clear.
‘I have no choice but to follow the Quest.’
They’d fed hallucinogens to believers and now casually poisoned the wine without hesitation.
On top of that, they kept attempting assassination.
Creatures whose very existence was a cancer on society deserved no mercy, yet I held back.
No—I had to hold back.
‘Sigh… I’ll keep them alive to extract information, at least.’
To be precise, it was because of the Quest, but regardless, those bastards were as good as dead.
I’d inflict suffering equivalent to death.
‘The point is, as long as I don’t kill them, it’s fine, right?’
A sinister smile spread across my lips.

* * *
A chill ran down my spine.
In all my years, Pyreo had experienced that bone-deep sensation of dread only twice before.
Once when I faced Seire, my guardian.
And once more when Baluduk’s overwhelming magical power crushed down upon my entire body.
Now, it seemed, I would have to add a third instance to that list.
Because I had just witnessed Zeke McLafflin grinning like a demon itself.
‘Damn it. That bastard really is a descendant of God. I can’t gather even a shred of magical power, can I?’
No matter what desperate measures I attempted, I couldn’t accumulate even the tiniest amount of mana.
Without mana, I couldn’t manifest magic, and so I could only stand there like a fool as my opponent closed the distance to arm’s length.
‘D-damn it. M-my legs won’t move.’
It wasn’t fear that kept me rooted in place.
A binding spell had already ensnared both my feet, holding them fast.
‘M-mad, selfish bastard. Using magic yourself while blocking others from using it….’
Where else could such a cheating ability exist?
‘If it comes to this, I have no choice. I’ll have to use the demonic power I’ve kept hidden all this time.’
Though I had never spoken of it to anyone, I possessed demonic power.
Through Seire’s grace, my body had been transformed into one ideal for absorbing the demonic essence of mana stones.
Thanks to this, I harbored potential far beyond what my rank as the seventh Forerunner suggested, though I had kept that strength concealed.
‘The moment I reveal my ambitions, the other Forerunners won’t stand idle.’
But now was not the time to be choosy about my methods.
My opponent was advancing with sword drawn, intent on my death.
‘If I use demonic techniques powered by this essence, you’re a dead man.’
With that conviction, I reached out my hand confidently.
The moment my palm made contact—
I unleashed the demonic technique I had learned from the Demon Faction.
A vicious spell that evaporated all the blood from the body, leaving nothing but a desiccated husk.
But there was one crucial detail I had overlooked.
A descendant of God didn’t merely block mana—he blocked demonic power as well.
“What are you doing?”
‘D-demonic power isn’t gathering either?’
While my opponent remained composed, panic flooded across my face.
‘N-now that I think about it, this bastard even subdued Dantalian, the Demon Faction’s commander.’
How could I possibly defeat someone who crushed even a demon general with such ease?
That’s why Seire had ordered me to observe his abilities without engaging him directly.
That fact came back to me far too late.
‘Ah, I was careless. In the chaos of the moment, I forgot that crucial detail.’
I had always regarded demonic power as my secret trump card, believing it would work even against Zeke.
Even though I had already heard that he could block both mana and demonic power.
‘I’m finished.’
I was lowering my hand from her shoulder with an uncomfortable expression.
Thwack.
Something flashed before my eyes, and her arm fell away as if it had never been attached.
Then came the searing pain.
“Aaaaaaahhhhh!”
“How dare you lay your filthy hands on me?”
Zeke brushed off his shoulders and swung the feather blade once more.
Lower this time.
Slice!
One leg severed cleanly, and Pyreo’s balance collapsed.
“Gaaahhh, gaaaaaahhh!”
“Does it hurt?”
Pyreo had no leisure to answer.
He could only writhe on the ground, lost in the agony of his severed limbs.
Zeke’s gaze shifted from the pitiful sight before him.
Ilena flinched as our eyes met.
“Come here. Since you two are a set, I’ll make you match….”
Ilena fled before I could finish speaking.
There was nothing more she needed to hear.
Since it was merely running, I walked leisurely after her.
How far could a mage who didn’t even exercise regularly possibly run?
With a contemptuous expression, I transformed the feather blade into a staff and aimed it at Ilena.
“Bind.”
A first-circle spell that ensnares the ankles.
Simple, but devastatingly effective against ordinary people who couldn’t cast magic.
Ilena had become little more than a helpless civilian.
“Ugh!”
Trapped by her bound ankles, Ilena’s face twisted in anguish.
“Do you know who I am, you bastard? I’m famous as one of the 12 Pioneers….”
“Ilena Yates. Sixth-ranked among the Forerunners. Now you’ll be reduced to one of the Seven Pioneers, I suppose. Ah, once you and Pyreo are dead, that makes five, doesn’t it?”
“…You even knew our names?”
Her face registered genuine shock.
It made sense—knowing someone was a Forerunner was one thing, but learning their names was another matter entirely.
“Go to sleep.”
I transformed the feather blade back into a sword and severed Ilena’s limbs.
“Kyaaaaaahhh!”
“Stop your whining.”
One arm, one leg—both fell away with dull thuds.
Having made Ilena match Pyreo’s condition, I applied healing magic solely to stanch the bleeding.
If she died from blood loss, I’d inadvertently fail the Quest.
‘System, we’ve definitely subdued them at this point, right?’
The two figures, unable to mount even the slightest counterattack before being caught and dragged down, were nothing more than insects with their limbs severed.
The sight of them struggling to rise on a single leg was, in a way, almost pitiable.
An unquestionable suppression.
The System, arriving at the same judgment, sent over the Quest results.
[Ilena Yates Suppression Complete!]
[Pyreo McLaurin Suppression Complete!]
[Sudden Quest Cleared!]
[You have gained 3,000 random stats as a reward.]
[You have gained 15,000 Sixth-Tier Skill proficiency as a reward.]
[Proficiency remaining until 8-Star Achievement: 33,843/100,000]
[You have acquired a new basic skill as a reward.]
[Basic Skill: Equanimity]
―Effect: Maintain composure under any circumstance.
―Special Condition: Always active.

* * *
With my intervention, the incident had reached its conclusion.
I confirmed the wine contained a lethal poison, and discovered the Forerunners were behind it.
I also captured the assassins—Pyreo and Ilena.
“Speak! Why did you target me? What did you Forerunners hope to accomplish by killing me?”
Archbishop Raber bellowed at Pyreo and Ilena, bound in restraints.
But there was no chance those two would open their mouths easily.
They merely curled their lips in contempt.
“Won’t you talk?”
But when I growled, they couldn’t help but flinch.
Those who inflict pain naturally inspire fear in their victims.
Though that didn’t mean they’d divulge information.
“This is a waste of time. Just kill us.”
“What will happen first—our lips opening, or you giving up? Feel free to find out. Even if death comes, we’ll never give information to the likes of you.”
Pyreo and Ilena’s resolve was unshakeable.
Perhaps it was because they’d lost their limbs and would spend the rest of their lives as cripples.
They had no attachment to life.
But there was one fact they didn’t know.
That I possessed a skill to read their true thoughts.
‘So that was it. They intended to provoke the Holy Empire by assassinating the Archbishop. They meant to deepen the conflict between the Elos Church and the Mados Religion in earnest.’
Their lips remained sealed, yet I extracted information effortlessly.
In fact, their silence was all the better.
Their minds were brimming with rich details and memories.
For information gathering, it was truly the most superior skill imaginable.
“What should we do? They won’t open their mouths….”
Prisciel worried from beside me, but I didn’t mind either way.
I had already obtained all the information I needed.
‘These are people I could kill without issue, but I can’t do that without a Quest appearing.’
The absence of a Quest meant it wasn’t the right time to kill them yet.
It meant there was still more use to be had from them.
‘I should observe the situation until the next Quest comes down. Sorry, but I can’t share the information either.’
I had already read their thoughts and gleaned all the necessary information, but I couldn’t reveal that here.
The moment they discovered I could read minds, the skill’s effectiveness would plummet.
With the situation at a standstill, Raber Archbishop let out a frustrated sigh.
“Prisciel. Let’s talk outside for a moment.”

* * *
The Archbishop who had stepped outside looked at Prisciel following behind him.
“So what now? They show no intention of opening their mouths.”
“I know. I don’t have a good solution either….”
“This is frustrating. Zeke McLafflin captured the Forerunners for us, yet we can’t extract any meaningful information….”
Raber attached the title “McLafflin” to Zeke as a mark of respect.
Watching him so easily subdue the Forerunners, he couldn’t help but feel admiration.
Prisciel felt the same way.
“Zeke McLafflin is remarkable. To subdue two 9-Circle Forerunners at such a young age….”
“Indeed. Without Zeke McLafflin, my soul would have long since met Elos. I would have failed my mission in this land. There could be no greater sacrilege.”
“I also owe my life to Zeke McLafflin. I nearly drank the poisoned cup.”
“Yes. Without Zeke McLafflin, we would all have faced disaster. The Mados Religion followers who already drank it are beyond help, but….”
Less than twelve hours had passed, so we didn’t know what had become of the followers, but they were as good as dead.
The responsibility lay with the Forerunners who had poisoned the cups.
“Is Zeke McLafflin truly all right? I clearly saw him drink the poison….”
“He said he was fine, but I can’t help but worry. Could he have told a white lie to spare us concern….”
“Given Zeke McLafflin’s character, that’s entirely possible.”
The conversation suddenly shifted to Zeke McLafflin’s health, but soon returned to the original problem.
After exchanging a few more words, they reached a conclusion.
“We have no choice but to transport them to the Holy Empire. We can’t keep them here indefinitely.”
“That would be best. If we handle them according to law, they’ll give up and reveal information.”
“Yes. Let’s do that.”
The two of them re-entered the house.
“Zeke McLafflin. We’ve discussed it, and we’ve decided we need to transport them to the Holy Empire. It seems we won’t reach a conclusion this way.”
“Is that so?”
“So I was wondering… could you do me a favor?”

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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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