The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 194
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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 194
The Saint’s words—that she would speak with him—delighted Zeke McLafflin.
Not because she’d accepted his confession as it appeared.
She’d walked straight into his trap.
‘Exactly as I thought. I knew you’d accept my confession, Stella.’
The First Forerunner couldn’t possibly be ignorant of his true identity.
She couldn’t refuse him.
‘It’s the perfect opportunity to blindside her.’
That was why Zeke had made his confession with such confidence.
He’d known she would accept.
‘Now I just need to extract information through Stella.’
Zeke’s gaze shifted to the Quest window that materialized at the edge of his vision.
[Meeting the Saint – Complete!]
[Sudden Quest cleared!]
[Reward: Random Stats increased by 5,000.]
[Reward: 7th-tier Skill Proficiency increased by 10.]
[Proficiency remaining until 2-star Achievement: 14/100]
【Sudden Quest: Extract information about the Heavenly Demon War!】
└You have met Stella, ranked 1st among the 12 Pioneers.
└Obtain information about the Heavenly Demon War from her.
【Conditions】
└Obtain information about the Heavenly Demon War
【Rewards】
└Random Stats increased by 5,000
└7th-tier Skill Proficiency increased by 10
The moment the Quest completed, a new one materialized.
A mission to extract information from Stella.
For someone like Zeke who could read true intentions, it wasn’t a particularly difficult task—but the rewards were disappointing.
‘Only 10 proficiency again?’
At this rate, when would he ever reach 9-star?
Well, he accepted the Quest with the hope that greater rewards would come later.
“We can talk here.”
Zeke had just entered a certain room, following Prisciel Christenson.
A space for two alone.
With no one around now, it wouldn’t be strange if she suddenly changed her demeanor and tried to strangle him—but….
‘Not a chance.’
Now that she knew he was a descendant of a god, Stella wouldn’t dare attack him.
What fool would try to overpower an opponent who could sever both magical power and magical energy?
‘Then what’s her real motive for accepting my confession?’
Zeke stared directly into the Saint’s eyes and attempted to read her thoughts.
―I’ve already contacted six demons through the Luminous Portalsphere, so I should get some kind of response. Until then, I just need to play along and buy time.
As expected, that was exactly what I intended to do.
Until the six demons arrived.
‘So six demons have manifested in the Human Realm to capture me?’
Zeke McLafflin smiled wickedly, pleased with this valuable information.
―What’s so funny about that? Am I really that amusing? He’s grinning like some lovesick fool.
Prisciel Christenson misinterpreted his expression and inwardly scoffed, though her outward demeanor remained gracious beyond measure.
“Zeke? Would you perhaps like some tea?”
“Tea? That sounds wonderful.”
“Then please wait just a moment.”
The saintess smiled sweetly and disappeared, returning moments later.
She carried a teacup in both hands.
“Please, try this. It’s made from Raphli leaves—it should sharpen your mind.”
“Thank you, Saintess. You’re truly kind.”
“Not at all.”
Her radiant smile was indistinguishable from that of a celestial being, yet I knew her true intentions.
―Hehe, drink it quickly. Once you do, you’ll become a slave to the Mados Religion, just like those other fools who drank the holy water.
The tea contained a drug designed to enthrall people toward the Mados Religion.
‘The hallucinogenic agent that Azrahil created before—she’s added it to my tea as well. Recently, she’s been putting it in holy water to actively expand the religion’s followers.’
What could the Mados Religion possibly be planning with all these new converts?
Curious, I delved deeper into her true thoughts.
‘She intends to use the followers as sacrifices for the Heavenly Demon War.’
Summoning an army to the Human Realm required an enormous number of sacrifices.
Those sacrifices were humans—an essential step to opening the Heavenly Demon War.
‘She plans to use thousands of humans as sacrifices to open the Heavenly Demon War. That’s why she’s been expanding the Mados Religion’s followers. After all, there’s no more convenient tool for controlling people than religion.’
It was a truly despicable scheme.
Something I could never accept as a human.
Rage surged within me, but my Composure skill allowed me to conceal it.
“Slurp. Mmm, this tea is delicious.”
“Ah… really? It is, isn’t it?”
Watching me drink the tea without the slightest suspicion, the saintess felt a flutter of internal panic.
―What? Why is there no change?
I showed no signs of foaming at the mouth or any emotional disturbance whatsoever.
There was a reason for this.
[Harmful hallucinogenic compounds have entered your system.]
[Your resistance completely negates the harmful compounds at 100%.]
My Resistance stat had already exceeded ten thousand, and I was wearing the Extreme Toxin Vest, which granted immunity to poisons.
In martial arts terms, I was in a state of absolute immunity to all toxins—there was no way it could work.
―Damn it. If the poison had worked, this would have been easy to resolve. So the descendants of gods are immune to toxins as well?
Prisciel Christenson ground her teeth but concealed her expression behind her teacup.
Zeke peppered her with difficult questions as if applying a law against displeasing remarks.
“Are we dating now?”
“Pardon?”
“You said you were interested in me. So doesn’t that mean we’re dating?”
“Ah, that’s… complicated. Given my position…”
“So you’re not interested in me?”
“That’s not it. If that were the case, I wouldn’t be having this conversation with you.”
“Then we are dating. Starting today, right?”
“I…”
The saint’s mouth fell open slightly, as if reality had struck her in response to Zeke’s relentless confession.
Zeke pressed forward like a difficult customer, regardless of her reaction.
“What? We’re not dating? But you said you liked me.”
“Well… I suppose it depends on how you look at it?”
“Don’t be like that. Be clear about it. Are we dating or not?”
“W-we are dating. It’s embarrassing to say it myself, but…”
Watching the saint feign shyness, Zeke let out a soft chuckle.
She’d fallen for it.
“If we’re dating, then we can do various things together, right?”
“Huh? V-various things? What do you mean?”
“The kinds of things couples usually do. Like kissing, for example.”
“…”
Zeke caught that momentary shift in her expression without missing a beat.
Though it vanished quickly, replaced by an awkward smile.
“H-ha… ha… those things can be done later gradually, so there’s no need to rush…”
“We’ll do it eventually anyway, so why not do it now? Should we try right now?”
As Zeke leaned in close, she startled and stepped back.
“No, why are you being so hasty?”
“The faster we progress, the faster we’ll grow closer.”
It was absurd logic, but it was enough to put the saint in a bind.
―What? You’re telling me to sleep with my enemy? Are you insane? I’d rather die than do that.
Watching her curse inwardly like that, I had to admit she was impressive.
Her outward expression was perfectly innocent.
‘Should I stop teasing now? I’ve gathered enough information anyway.’
Even in the midst of this, Zeke had seen through Stella’s true thoughts.
He’d grasped all the plans and preparations needed for the Heavenly Demon War, future strategies, and military strength.
He’d extracted every piece of information there was to extract.
Satisfied with that, the system issued a response.
[Information about the Heavenly Demon War obtained!]
[Sudden Quest cleared!]
[You gain 5,000 random stat points as a reward.]
[You have received 7th Circle Skill Proficiency +10 as a reward.]
[Proficiency remaining until 2-Star Achievement: 24/100]
While savoring my tea and reviewing the completion message, Stella suddenly closed her eyes.
‘She’s logging into the Luminous Portalsphere.’
Their exclusive communication channel—the virtual space known as the Luminous Portalsphere.
Within it, Stella was gathering certain information.
That information flowed directly into Zeke’s mind.
‘Six demons have issued orders to Stella. To lure me to their location.’
At this welcome news, Zeke’s lips curved upward.
He’d been wanting to face the demons anyway.
“Ahem, Zeke? Shall we move to another spot?”
“Pardon? Why?”
“You said it earlier, didn’t you? That lovers should be capable of doing all sorts of things….”
Prisciel offered an enchanting smile.
“It would be embarrassing to do such things here, so wouldn’t it be better to change locations?”
Everything I desired.
“Very well.”
* * *
Zeke followed Prisciel down the Forest Path.
“Why are we entering the forest?”
“I have a cabin in this area.”
“A cabin?”
“It’s my personal sanctuary—a place I visit whenever I need rest. Hehe.”
Her words about leading me to the cabin weren’t a lie.
Even my Eye of Truth confirmed it as genuine.
‘But it’s still a trap. Though how she doesn’t realize I know this remains a mystery to me.’
Yet there was something else Prisciel didn’t know.
“Hmm? Who is that person?”
She hadn’t expected to encounter a familiar old man on the path.
―Wait, Baluduk? What’s he doing here?
Watching Prisciel feign surprise, Zeke was bewildered.
‘What’s going on here? Didn’t Stella know Baluduk was coming?’
Since Zeke already knew Baluduk’s face, he felt no shock, but Prisciel did not.
Weren’t they supposed to be on the same side?
Yet she appeared thoroughly confused by this unexpected situation.
Baluduk felt the same way.
―I waited for the descendant of the gods to warn him about the demons’ operation, but what is this situation? Why is he coming with the saintess?
It seemed Baluduk had been waiting near the location where the operation would unfold to alert me to the trap.
But now it appeared he didn’t realize the saintess was actually Stella.
‘This is a mess, isn’t it? Baluduk didn’t know the First Forerunner was a Saint?’
All this time, he’d submitted to her power and followed her without even knowing her true identity.
‘So Stella hid the fact that she’s a Saint and got exposed, while Baluduk came to help me in secret and got exposed too?’
Either way, this situation was nothing but advantageous for me.
I couldn’t afford to waste this opportunity.
A Quest had even appeared at just the right moment.
【Main Quest: Slay Six Demons!】
└Six demons have manifested in the Human Realm at 20% of their power.
└Eliminate them all and send them back to the Demon Realm.
【Conditions】
└Eliminate Andromalius
└Eliminate Seire
└Eliminate Belial
└Eliminate Amducias
└Eliminate Kimeries
└Eliminate Andrealpus
【Rewards】
└Acquire Skill ‘Serpent’s Hell’
└Acquire Skill ‘Demonic Stone Tracker’
└Acquire Skill ‘Masterful Strategist’
└Acquire Skill ‘Virtuoso of Melody’
└Acquire Skill ‘Dark Aura Blade’
└Acquire Skill ‘Demonic Arts’
An enormous Main Quest had appeared.
‘These rewards are no joke.’
A Quest that would grant me six skills in total.
First, I needed to play along as if I’d fallen into the trap.
Fortunately, Baluduk handled it with practiced ease.
“Heh heh, this old man has lost his way, but could you young folk show me the path?”
He pretended not to recognize me.
“Of course, sir. Please come this way.”
Wearing the expression of an exceptionally kind youth, I guided Baluduk toward the Cabin.
Baluduk’s face immediately showed distress.
“This doesn’t seem like the right way…?”
“This path leads out too. Isn’t that right, Saint?”
“Ah, y-yes, that’s correct.”
Prisciel had no choice but to agree, since she needed to lead me to the Cabin, and Baluduk could only whisper in a low voice.
“Listen, descendant of the gods. Hear me out. You’re walking into a trap right now. We need to turn back the other way.”
‘Why would I abandon such a sweet Quest and turn back?’
Internally objecting, I simply smiled and volunteered to guide the way.
“This way. That’s right, isn’t it, Saint?”
“Ah, yes. That’s correct.”
Unlike Baluduk, who fidgeted nervously at the thought of Zeke possibly encountering demons, Prisciel made no effort to conceal her bewilderment.
I couldn’t fathom why Baluduk was even here.
“Baluduk.”
The Saint whispered softly into Baluduk’s ear.
“What are you doing here?”
“Are you the Saint Stella?”
“I’ll explain that later—just answer the question.”
“I’ll answer you later as well.”
Stella’s brow furrowed, but Baluduk followed Zeke in silence.
She followed behind Zeke as well, equally perplexed.
I was almost grateful that Zeke was walking willingly into the trap.
Yet Stella remained oblivious that she herself had already been ensnared.
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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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