The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 201

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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 201
Bandits are typically composed of commoners.
Highwaymen who despise honest work yet harbor endless greed.
Such rabble are called bandits, and when their numbers swell, they earn the designation of a Bandit Group.
Of course, there exist unnamed Bandit Groups as well.
Kaiphos’s Bandit Group fell into this very category.
“Boss, why don’t we give our Bandit Group a name?”
“If word of our name spreads, we’ll become nothing but an easy target for suppression.”
This was precisely why Kaiphos had refrained from naming his Bandit Group.
Despite commanding over twenty subordinates—more than enough to warrant the title—he kept them anonymous.
“We don’t need fame. We simply slip in and out, gradually fleecing merchants, and quietly line our own pockets. That’s all there is to it.”
“Still, it seems we’ve gained some notoriety. Look at them—they’ve brought knights along.”
“It’s inevitable. We’ve been operating frequently in this area lately, so rumors of bandits appearing here are bound to spread.”
Kaiphos, the leader conversing with his subordinate, fixed his gaze upon an approaching Merchant Caravan.
“Ten knights and twenty or so ragtag mercenaries…”
“Our numbers match theirs perfectly. Should we make a move?”
“How? We can’t even channel aura. What chance do we have against knights?”
“Then how do we rob them?”
A smile played across Kaiphos’s lips—he had a plan in mind.
“Isn’t there the Mist Forest nearby?”
“Surely you’re not thinking of using that method?”
“Exactly. Send your fastest men to lure them in. Two ogres should suffice.”

* * *
Kaiphos replayed the events from moments before.
‘The operation to annihilate the Merchant Caravan using ogres succeeded.’
Merely two of the creatures had obliterated ten knights entirely.
It was an inevitable outcome—ogres were the mightiest monsters, requiring at least an Aura Master to contend with them.
It was an operation that simply could not fail.
‘It would have worked perfectly… if that bastard hadn’t appeared.’
Kaiphos glared with wide eyes at the youth who had materialized so suddenly.
He knew well, having observed from a distance all this time.
The young man had emerged from nowhere, drawn his sword, and charged forward to shatter the ogre’s skull.
‘Could he possibly be an Aura Master?’
Impossible.
There was no way that mere boy, who appeared to be in his late teens at most, could be an Aura Master.
Then why had the ogre suddenly died?
‘Did someone else intervene?’
He scanned the surroundings for a third party, but only the youth had engaged in the battle.
In the midst of his confusion, the youth proved his worth.
Schwick—!
He split the remaining ogre’s head cleanly in two as if to demonstrate his power.
‘Ah…’
Only then did Kaiphos flinch and resolve to flee.
‘He’s… he’s definitely an Aura Master. An Aura Master for certain. And a high-ranked one at that…’
Otherwise, how could that terrifying ogre have fallen so pathetically?
Even if his entire Bandit Group charged forward, they could never overcome a single Aura Master.
“Everyone, retreat…”
Kaiphos’s eyes widened as he began to issue the retreat command.
A sudden gust of flames swept toward him.

* * *
Boom-crash-crash-crash!
Russell’s head snapped up in alarm at the sudden explosion.
Regardless of his reaction, I unleashed another inferno gust toward the Bandit Group.
Crash-crash-crash-boom!
“Argh!”
“Ahhh!”
“It burns, it burns!”
Screams and charred flesh scattered about, yet I felt no pity.
These were the very scoundrels who had moments ago sought to slaughter everyone and plunder the Merchant Caravan—were they not?
Everyone watching shared that sentiment.
“All taken care of.”
Having reduced twenty bandits to charcoal in an instant, I approached the seated Russell and extended my hand.
“Can you stand?”
“Y-yes.”
“It’s been a while, Russell.”

* * *
“Thank you for saving us!”
“Th-thank you!”
Russell and I left the Merchant Caravan’s gratitude behind and moved to a quieter place.
It was to sit together and catch up after so long apart.
“This spot is nice.”
“Yeah.”
“What have you been up to all this time, Russell?”
“Well… there’s been quite a lot going on.”
Russell carefully recounted everything he had endured over the past year and three months.
‘You’ve been through so much, second brother.’
To become someone worthy of the position of family head, he had driven himself through hardship.
‘If he’d revealed his magical abilities, he could have lived a comfortable life.’
His refusal to settle for the status quo and his determination to forge ahead on his own terms—it was truly admirable.
“Brother, you’ve endured so much. You’re remarkable. You must have grown tremendously in spirit.”
“That’s right. The me before leaving the family and the me now are completely different people.”
Russell seemed to take pride in his own transformation.
“Though I’ll need to work harder to keep up with you.”
“Me?”
My eyes widened in surprise at the sudden mention of myself.
Russell laughed at my reaction as if amused.
“I actually know. That you’re Zeke, the Demon Swordsman of the Golden Eagle Mercenary Company.”
“Ah, you knew?”
“Exactly. Rumors travel faster than feet, but I couldn’t be certain that this Zeke was truly you—not until I saw you shatter an ogre’s skull with your blade.”
A being who could cleave an ogre’s head in a single stroke and wield flame magic besides.
What else would you call such a person if not a Sword Mage?
“When I first heard rumors of the Sword Mage Zeke, I thought it was someone entirely different. The Zeke I knew had natural talent for magic, but couldn’t wield a blade to save his life.”
Russell spoke with a smile, his curiosity evident.
“How did you manage it? I’ve never seen you handle a sword in all my years.”
“Well, about that…”
Zeke, having anticipated this question, feigned confusion and trotted out his prepared excuse.
“What? You’re saying you’re one of those legendary Draconians?”
“Yes. Father and several others already know.”
Since Draconians were known for their innate strength and magical talent, no better excuse existed.
“Ha! My younger brother is a Draconian with talent for both blade and magic. That’s truly astonishing.”
Russell accepted Zeke’s words at face value.
He simply marveled genuinely, patting Zeke’s shoulder.
It was only natural—without being Draconian, there was no way to explain such abilities.
“I’m proud of you, my brother! Born into a mage family, I worried endlessly when your talents didn’t bloom early, thinking your path would be difficult. But my concerns were unfounded, weren’t they? You’ve made a name for yourself in the Royal Mage Unit, earned renown as a Sword Mage in the Mercenary Company, and become someone worthy of historical record! Truly magnificent, absolutely magnificent!”
Russell lavished praise without restraint, yet his thoughts were far darker.
-It would take a lifetime to catch up to Zeke. This succession trial is my complete defeat.
The thought of yielding the position of family head to his younger brother consumed his mind.
Reading those thoughts, Zeke chuckled softly and broached a subject he should have raised long ago.
“I have no interest in becoming family head anyway, brother.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll concede the position to you. So please, don’t burden yourself with worry.”
Russell was startled by words that seemed to pierce straight through his heart.
“You’d renounce the position of family head? Didn’t you enter the succession trial because you wanted it?”
“No. I was never interested from the start. I only accepted to kindle competition and drive in you.”
“What?”
Russell’s face registered shock, but an even more surprising statement came from Zeke’s lips.
“So let’s stop here and return home, brother.”
“Return home?”
“Let’s abandon the succession trial and go back. Father is looking for me.”
“Father is…?”
Though the succession trial required two years to complete, Zeke explained why he had no need to wait.
“You may not realize it, but the current situation is dire. Those called the 12 Pioneers are plunging the world into chaos, and they’ve targeted our family repeatedly.”
Of course, he didn’t elaborate on the specific circumstances—that they’d targeted him in particular.
“And since I’m renouncing the position of family head, the trial ends here. Though I haven’t told Father yet.”
Zeke patted Russell’s shoulder, working to convince him to leave.
“Go and tell him yourself. Tell him I’m renouncing the position of family head. That only you have the qualifications to be family head.”
“How can I say such a thing? It’s too much pressure.”
“Either way, you’re going home. Everyone is curious about you. Especially Grandmother.”
He was referring to Russell’s mother and legitimate wife, Christina.
Was it because he thought of his mother, who would be worrying about him?
Russell’s heart wavered.
But Christina wasn’t the only one worried about him.
‘I have to send him back for Russell’s sake. Better than living so dangerously like this.’
Russell was the only person who had taught me what it meant to have a brother.
I wanted Russell to live a peaceful life.
Soon enough, whether the persuasion had worked, Russell’s head began nodding up and down.
“You’re right. There’s no reason to insist on the trial when my family is in danger. I’ll go back.”
“That’s the right decision.”
“You’re coming with me, right?”
I shook my head.
“I have other business to attend to.”
“Where are you going?”
“The Western Continent.”
“What?”
Russell, startled, asked for the reason.
“What business do you have there?”
“I heard rumors that there are Draconians like me, so I wanted to investigate.”
It was the same excuse I’d given Gerard, but Russell didn’t press further.
“I see.”
Instead, he dropped a bombshell.
“Then I’ll come with you.”
“Pardon?”
“Why not? It’d be better to go together, wouldn’t it? I might even be helpful.”
“…”
“I won’t be in the way.”
“No, that’s not the problem…”
‘It’s dangerous.’
I couldn’t bring myself to say those final words aloud.
To explain why it was dangerous, I’d have to confess everything—starting with the Lich Dragon.
“I can’t allow it. You need to return to your family. This is something I must resolve alone.”
At my stubborn expression and resolute tone, Russell quickly gave up.
“Well, if you’re going to be like that… fine. I doubt any persuasion would work anyway.”
“That’s wise. Then I’ll be going now.”
“Yes. Take care of yourself.”
“You too.”
With those words, I cast teleportation and vanished.
Russell’s expression turned to one of shock.
“Teleportation? I thought he was 6th Circle, but he’s 7th Circle or higher? Huh… Draconians really do advance quickly.”
Russell marveled at the revelation, clicking his tongue before turning his body.
Toward the direction where his family awaited.

* * *
Berhiman Harbor, the closest port to the Western Continent.
Zeke McLafflin had arrived there.
‘I managed to get here thanks to the coordinates, but….’
Beyond this point, there were no coordinates leading to the Western Continent.
‘No, there is a way. I just need to gather information.’
The Thieves Guild was the finest instrument for obtaining information.
A place where coin exchanged hands for secrets—akin to a black market corporation in modern times—it was impossible not to utilize.
‘There must be the information I need there.’
But how could I locate the Thieves Guild?
As I pondered this question.
[A sudden Quest has occurred!]
The Quest materialized as if it had read my very thoughts.

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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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