The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 159

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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 159
The McLafflin Family Estate in the Decan Kingdom.
Gerard McLafflin sighed as he worked through documents in his study room.
“I wonder what Zeke and Russell are doing right now….”
A year had already passed since his sons left home under the pretense of the successor’s trial.
When they parted back then, Gerard had been utterly composed.
After all, he had previous experience sending his eldest son, Peter, away under the guise of magical training.
‘I thought I could endure this too. Just two more years and I could see my sons. But….’
That was no longer the case.
His face was filled with anxiety and worry, and every morning his heart clenched with dread.
The fear that his children might return as cold corpses.
‘At least when I sent Peter, I had no such worries….’
And that was only natural.
Magical training was akin to studying abroad.
Since he had sent Peter to the Magic Tower, an educational institution, there was relatively less to worry about.
But what about Zeke and Russell?
Weren’t they thrown out with nothing but their bare bodies and no support?
An environment entirely different from Peter’s situation.
Though he hadn’t shown it, his worry was immense.
“Sigh….”
As he sighed, the study room door opened and Dalpred Bigsland entered.
“Master.”
“Your face looks grim from morning. Are you starting another day worrying about your sons?”
“You knew?”
“How could I not understand the heart of a disciple I’ve watched over for forty years?”
Their bond was long.
The two had formed a master-disciple relationship since Gerard was a boy.
“I cannot hide anything from you, Master.”
“Is it truly that worrying?”
“It can’t be helped. Not a single word of contact in a year. No news at all….”
“I’ve heard news of Zeke, though I can’t speak for Russell.”
“Ah, you mean that Sword Mage from the Golden Eagle Mercenary Company?”
There were rumors circulating in society.
A Sword Mage named Zeke had performed brilliantly in the territorial conflicts between Hamilton and Agos.
It was a rumor so widespread that hardly anyone in mercenary circles remained unaware of it.
“It could be someone else with the same name, could it not?”
“As you know, Zeke is a Draconian. He possesses superhuman strength beyond humanity, and he demonstrated his magical talent with silent casting at the Royal Court Mage Order—like a true Sword Mage. But the same name as well? What do you think the odds of that are?”
Indeed, if someone wielded both sword and magic and shared the same name, the probability that the rumored Zeke was his own son was high.
“If that Zeke really is our Zeke… then I find myself worried in another way. What if he becomes entangled with unsavory people because of his reputation as a Sword Mage….”
“Hah, you sent him on the successor’s trial telling him to gain renown, and now you worry because his fame has grown? By that logic, all famous people would meet untimely ends.”
“…Did I view things too negatively?”
“Not at all. You’re the very embodiment of worry itself.”
Gerard fretted endlessly about how his fame might entangle him in misfortune, but to Dalpred’s ears, it sounded like the complaints of someone blessed with abundance.
Seeing his discouraged disciple, Dalpred threw out a mischievous jest to lighten the mood.
“Stop worrying only about Zeke and worry about Russell too, why don’t you? Russell would have felt hurt if he’d heard that.”
“Of course I worry about Russell as well. Have you heard any news about him, by chance?”
“I haven’t heard anything either. No idea what he’s up to or where.”
“….”
Silence descended, and fresh worry bloomed in its wake—but wasn’t there a saying that no news was good news?
The two decided to think positively.
“By the way, Gerard. How is your training progressing? Any breakthroughs?”
“Well… I still haven’t grasped even a hint of the Ninth Circle.”
“Seventeen years have passed, and you’re still stuck at the Eighth Circle? With your talent, you should have reached the Ninth Circle long ago. Something feels off.”
Dalpred had lacked the natural gifts to reach the Ninth Circle until he turned seventy, but Gerard was different.
A prodigy mage of the Decan Kingdom who had achieved the Eighth Circle in his late thirties.
At this pace, having now entered his mid-fifties, he should naturally have ascended to the Ninth Circle by now.
Though he had accumulated sufficient mana, even his master couldn’t fathom why the additional mana rings hadn’t yet manifested.
“Once you reach the Ninth Circle, Decan’s national strength will grow considerably stronger. Then we wouldn’t have been caught so helplessly in that previous attack.”
“Indeed. I too wish to reach the Ninth Circle as soon as possible.”
The attack Dalpred mentioned referred to when Rita the Wind God had stormed the Royal Palace before.
An incident where the King had nearly been assassinated while all eyes were fixed on the Wind Giant.
As Dalpred recalled that harrowing moment, he suddenly remembered something peculiar about that time.
“That man I faced back then.”
“You mean Esca Robins?”
“Yes. When I stood against him one-on-one, didn’t I tell you? For some reason, I couldn’t use magic in his presence.”
“Yes. You mentioned repeatedly how you experienced that strange phenomenon where mana wouldn’t gather. You also said you couldn’t understand why he let you live.”
Dalpred nodded as if he still felt the same way now.
“He had more than enough time to kill me then. Yet why did he only cast a sleep spell and leave? I still can’t help but wonder about it.”
He wondered, but there was no way to resolve it.
Since that prisoner named Esca had escaped from the Underground Dungeon, he hadn’t been found anywhere.
As a sigh escaped, a knock sounded from outside the Study Room.
“Master. You have visitors.”
“Visitors? Who?”
“Duke Jose Deporte and Lady Sillis Deporte, sir.”
“Ah.”
Gerard’s expression suggested he’d expected this.
“They’ve come to give gifts again, haven’t they….”
“Again? Didn’t they come last week?”
“Yes. They come almost every week.”
Though he’d found it strange at first, the Deporte Family’s visits had become so frequent that he’d simply accepted it as routine.
“He visits every week to bring gifts, but I can’t quite discern his true intentions.”
“Why not ask him directly?”
“On the surface, he claims it’s to strengthen our bonds, but… it’s difficult to grasp what lies beneath.”
“Ha, well now. So there’s another reason my disciple’s face has grown more lined with worry.”
Dalpred Bigsland rose from his seat with a hearty laugh.
“Come. Let us discern Jose’s true intentions and ease my disciple’s concerns this very day.”

* * *
“Father.”
“Hmm?”
“Prince Zeke isn’t here, is he?”
Jose Deporte nodded at Sillis’s words.
“No. I heard he won’t be returning for some time due to the succession trials.”
“I see…”
Sillis lowered her head, her expression tinged with disappointment.
Jose was somewhat taken aback by his daughter’s demeanor—one he had never witnessed before.
Had she ever worn such an expression because of a man?
Not in his recollection.
“Do you miss Sir Zeke so much?”
“N-no, haha… that’s not it.”
“Oh? Then why do you always follow me to the McLafflin Family Estate?”
“That is… well…”
“Speak truthfully. Are you considering Zeke as your betrothed?”
“No.”
“I said speak truthfully.”
Unable to continue deceiving her father’s persistent questioning, Sillis finally relented.
“…Yes, that’s right.”
“I thought so. I feel the same way.”
“Father?”
“Fortunately, our thoughts align.”
Seeing her father’s warm smile, the anxiety that had weighed upon her heart vanished entirely.
She had harbored a fear that he might oppose the idea.
But now things were different.
She had gained a steadfast ally.
“Then… the reason you’ve been consistently visiting the McLafflin Family all this time was…”
“Yes. To forge a connection with the McLafflin Family and secure your marriage prospects. A union with Prince Zeke, that is. So worry not. I shall support this endeavor wholeheartedly!”
For once, Sillis’s thoughts aligned perfectly with her father’s.
A radiant smile bloomed across Sillis’s lips.
“Father… thank you.”
“Now then, tell me. When did you first come to care for Sir Zeke?”
“W-well, that’s….”
Sillis’s face flushed a deep crimson.
She lowered her head and spoke in a voice barely above a whisper.
“F-from the very beginning….”
“When I saved you back then. Hahaha! I knew it.”
When she had been trapped in a nightmare of illusions by Brahm’s Illusionist, Azrahil’s assault.
Sillis had been saved.
By Zeke, her destined counterpart.
From that moment on, her heart had belonged entirely to Zeke.
Even now, wasn’t she here at the estate simply to see him?
‘While I’m at it, I might as well make a good impression on my future father-in-law.’
Of course, Zeke’s feelings came first, but Sillis was confident.
Confident that she could make Zeke hers.
“What are you thinking about that keeps making your face turn red?”
“Huh? Ah, n-no, I’m not.”
“Your speech is getting all jumbled too. That’s rather suspicious.”
“Ah, please stop staring at me!”
“Hehehehe.”
Jose was delighted, teasing his daughter.
Footsteps echoed from a distance.
The future in-laws and two ladies appeared from afar.
They were Gerard McLafflin, his first wife Christina, and his second wife Daina.
“Ahem.”
Jose and Sillis quickly stopped laughing and straightened their clothing.
But there was an unfamiliar face standing beside Gerard.
‘The Duke of Bigsland? Isn’t he the Grand Duke McLafflin’s mentor?’
The three families known as Decan’s three greatest magical houses had gathered in one place.
“Duke Deporte. It’s good to see you again today.”
“Haha, I had a gift I wanted to give you. Here.”
Jose greeted them warmly and presented the gift he had prepared.
“These are potatoes, a specialty of our territory. I’ve selected only the cleanest and finest ones, and they have an excellent flavor.”
“Oh, you shouldn’t have… Thank you as always.”
“Thank you so much, Duke.”
“We’re always grateful.”
Gerard’s wives standing beside him bowed respectfully.
They didn’t forget to offer their kind words.
“Lady Sillis grows more beautiful each time we see her.”
“Thank you, madam.”
“I think she would be perfect matched with our Russell….”
For Christina, the first wife, Russell was the only son she could truly trust.
Right now, due to the succession trials, I cannot say where he is.
“Come over here for now and let us share some tea and conversation.”
The group moved to another area and began drinking tea while talking.
“I had no idea the Duke of Bigsland was here.”
“Heh, I didn’t expect you to seek me out either. I hear you bring gifts every week?”
“Yes.”
“Since we’re on the subject, let me ask you directly. Duke Deporte. What is your reason for visiting so frequently?”
Though somewhat startled by the blunt question, Jose answered calmly.
“Well, I wished to build a relationship with the renowned McLafflin Family….”
“I didn’t ask for such a mundane answer. I want to know your true intentions.”
“….”
“I won’t force you. But know this—if you continue to hide your schemes like this, we cannot view it favorably.”
Jose sensed it instinctively.
If he tried to deflect again here, the relationship might be severed.
With no choice left, Jose spoke after a sigh.
“Very well, I shall be honest.”
“I’m listening.”
“The truth is….”
Jose’s gaze turned toward Sillis beside him.
“I was attempting to build this relationship in hopes of finding a fiancé for my daughter here.”
“Ah, I see.”
Dalpred showed no surprise.
His reaction suggested he already knew.
Gerard and the other ladies had suspected as much.
“So you came seeking a fiancé?”
“Welcome. A lady of Sillis’s caliber is certainly not something our family would refuse.”
Sillis was a first-rate daughter-in-law candidate—lacking nothing in appearance or background.
If she were to be matched with his son, it would be cause for celebration.
Especially Christina’s lips curled upward in delight.
“When our Russell returns and hears this, he’ll be absolutely thrilled. What man would refuse such a beautiful young lady? Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Well… that is….”
Duke Jose seemed flustered for some reason.
Gerard, failing to notice the oddity, chimed in from beside him.
“So you had Second Prince Russell in mind as a fiancé. That’s wonderful to hear. I was just wondering who to match Russell with….”
“Wait a moment, Duke McLafflin.”
Jose, unable to listen further, cut him off.
There was a need to clear up the misunderstanding.
“The fiancé we had in mind is not Second Prince Russell.”
“Pardon? Then…?”
There was no need to ask further.
Because only one person remains.
“Sillis has feelings for Prince Zeke.”

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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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