The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 207
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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 207
‘Let me check out my skills first.’
Zeke opened his skill window with anticipation, only to find himself disappointed.
[Basic Skill: Sorcery Research]
-Effect: Allows you to conduct research on sorcery with a higher level of understanding.
-Special Note: Automatically activated at all times.
The skill that came through was somewhat obscure.
‘What am I supposed to do with sorcery research?’
The sorcery mentioned here referred to the magic used in the Demon Realm.
Since I already possessed an abundance of magical knowledge, there was little need for further research.
‘Well, it’s better than nothing, I suppose.’
While the skill was underwhelming, it wasn’t as though I gained nothing at all.
[Hood of Darkness]
-Classification: Wearable
-Effect: Immunity to all dark-attribute magic. When in darkness, you can merge with the shadows. Magic stat increased by 50%.
-Durability: Infinite
-Usage Restriction: Bound to Zeke McLafflin
-Description: A hood worn by the Forerunner of Darkness. A total of 13 items exist, and you can receive set effects.
The item had surprisingly excellent options.
‘A 50% increase to my magic stat? This is incredible.’
Magic stat, which amplifies overall damage, increasing by this much?
That meant I would become even more of a monster than before.
‘And merging with darkness… It’s already dark out. Let me test it.’
After pulling it from my subspace and putting it on immediately.
[You merge with the darkness.]
[Your presence is completely concealed until you attack.]
My body was completely hidden by the shadows.
‘This is the perfect item for an assassin.’
There was no better item for ambushing than this.
I smiled with satisfaction and thought about what came next.
‘So all that’s left is to kill Stella and prevent the Heavenly Demon War?’
Of the 12 Pioneers who once ruled the world, only Stella remained.
With her reputation already tarnished by the Ber Kingdom massacre, she would likely try to trigger the Heavenly Demon War as quickly as possible.
‘First, I need to eliminate this gravitational field. Along with the one Esca Robins possesses.’
If a Quest appeared, it would likely be one telling me to kill Stella and prevent the Heavenly Demon War.
[A Main Quest has occurred!]
‘A Quest appeared right on cue.’
I nodded at the timely Quest and checked the message.
However, the mission content was slightly different from what I expected.
【Main Quest: You’ve Done Well, Esca Robins】
└Of the 12 Pioneers who once plunged the world into chaos, only Stella remains.
└But before you deal with her, first eliminate Esca Robins, who aided the Pioneers.
【Conditions】
└Eliminate Esca Robins
【Rewards】
└Acquire Skill ‘Mana Gun’
└Acquire Item ‘Magical Engineering Jacket’
‘Kill Esca?’
Now that I thought about it, I’d forgotten.
That he too, as a Forerunner, had contributed to the atrocities of the Heavenly Demon War.
‘If I hadn’t bound him through the Ancient Covenant and enslaved him, he’d still be helping the Pioneers right now.’
I’d always planned to kill him eventually after squeezing every last drop of usefulness from him, but I never imagined it would be now.
‘Why did she leave Stella alive? Saving the main course for later, is it?’
It was strange that a Quest to kill Stella hadn’t appeared first, but since there was still time, I decided to follow the Quest’s instructions.
‘Well then, might as well kill Esca and visit my family while I’m at it.’
Just as I was about to use teleportation.
A gravity field suddenly entered my vision.
I considered whether to destroy it or leave it be….
‘Since I don’t have Arcnium, I won’t be able to use it anyway.’
I decided to leave it and activated teleportation.
Flash—
In the Desolate Wasteland where light had erupted, only a massive ring-shaped monument remained.
* * *
The Demon Realm, where embers danced through the air, was always hot and humid.
Yet, in stark contrast, the interior of the Demon King’s Castle was remarkably cool.
Tap— tap—
[Hmm.]
The one drumming his fingers repeatedly on the armrest of the throne was none other than Demon King Beelzebub.
His fingers, which had been tapping incessantly as he pondered, suddenly ceased their rhythm.
‘It’s time.’
Through the mental space of the Luminous Portalsphere.
He sent a message to his subordinate via that pathway.
And as if waiting for this very moment, a response came immediately.
[You called for me, great king?]
It was none other than the fallen angel Stella.
[The time has come.]
Beelzebub continued in his usual monotone voice.
[The day of our vengeance against the Celestial Realm draws near.]
[Then, then….]
[Open the Gate. We shall commence the Heavenly Demon War that we have prepared all this time.]
[Understood. I shall prepare immediately.]
Satisfied with the response, a faint smile crossed Beelzebub’s lips.
* * *
“Sigh….”
Christina harbored considerable discontent with her circumstances.
Needless to say, she was satisfied with her connection to the great magical family known as the McLafflin Family.
In Decan, there was hardly anyone who didn’t know of this prestigious magic family, and she had even secured the position of Grand Duke, the highest rank a duchess could attain.
With wealth and honor in her grasp, living a life without want—how could she possibly harbor any grievance?
‘Everything else is fine. But….’
Christina’s discontent stemmed from Daina, the second wife.
Everything began after she entered as a concubine.
‘How dare he take a new wife while I, the legitimate spouse, still live….’
When Gerard announced he would take Daina as his wife, it felt as though her heart had shattered.
What woman would be pleased to see her husband’s affection turn toward another?
No matter how prevalent polygamy was in this society, a woman’s heart remained the same everywhere.
‘Fine. I can accept a second wife. But this…this is unacceptable.’
The world’s current view of the 12 Pioneers was nothing short of catastrophic.
The reason was none other than the recent mass slaughter of citizens in the Ber Kingdom.
An unprecedented atrocity—the Forerunner of Frozen Bonds had indiscriminately massacred hundreds of citizens and soldiers without any justification.
Because of this, the 12 Pioneers faced unprecedented condemnation, and the McLafflin Family had been threatened multiple times by these Pioneers.
All because of Zeke McLafflin, none other than Daina’s son.
‘Why must we suffer like this because of that bastard Zeke?’
With their lives constantly threatened and forced into hiding, discontent was inevitable.
Especially when it was all because of Daina’s son—someone she despised so deeply.
Yet what truly frustrated her was having nowhere to voice these grievances.
Gerard would undoubtedly remain unmoved, not even raising an eyebrow at her complaints.
‘He’ll probably coddle the youngest again, protecting him as always. Tch!’
Christina’s jealousy intensified with each passing day, and she knew there was only one way to escape this predicament.
‘Russell must become the successor. He absolutely must!’
If Russell won this succession trial and became the family head, she could finally show them all.
She could dispose of that despicable Daina as she pleased.
And her son Zeke as well.
‘I’ll cast them all out. I’ll make them feel every ounce of suffering you two have caused me—down to the bone.’
Even if Russell disagreed, she was confident she could persuade him.
After all, what son would refuse his mother’s words?
But there was one crucial fact Christina overlooked.
Everything depended entirely on the assumption that Russell would become the successor.
‘If Russell doesn’t become the successor, driving out Zeke and his mother becomes impossible.’
And unfortunately, the one most likely to pass the succession trial was none other than Zeke himself.
‘How could that wretch possess Draconian talent? I thought he was a half-wit who couldn’t even sense mana…’
If Zeke became the successor?
What would become of her and Russell?
‘We’d probably be cast out like dogs, just as I intended for them.’
Daina and her son were surely thinking the same thing.
Perhaps they were even secretly raising toasts to celebrate.
The likelihood of Zeke becoming the successor was undeniably high.
‘No. Before that happens, Russell absolutely must become the successor…’
But Christina’s spirits soon sank.
How could she harbor any hope when she didn’t even know if Russell was alive or dead?
‘Sigh… Russell. I wish I could at least know whether you’re alive or dead.’
A knock sounded at Christina’s door.
“Mother, it’s me.”
It was her eldest son, Peter.
“Come in.”
Peter had once been a promising candidate for succession, but his scheme to conspire with the Tower Master and sell Zeke as an experimental subject had been exposed, resulting in his exile to a distant land.
His ability to remain with the family was largely due to Zeke’s intervention.
-I’ve forgiven Peter. Father, wouldn’t you consider forgiving him as well?
Those words had moved Gerard, and despite his outward demeanor, his soft heart led him to accept Peter back.
As a member of the family.
But Christina found Zeke’s actions far from pleasing.
She couldn’t shake the suspicion that Zeke was merely feigning virtue to become the successor.
“Peter. What’s the matter?”
“It’s nothing serious, ma’am. I know you’ve been worried sick about the Pioneers’ attacks lately, so I was just checking if you were feeling alright….”
“Do I look alright to you? Does your mother look fine, withering away like this day after day?”
Peter swallowed hard at his mother’s curt tone.
‘She still resents me for what happened.’
There was no helping it.
She had raised him as the eldest son with such care and placed such high expectations on him as a successor candidate, only for him to utterly fail her in the end. How could she not harbor resentment?
Knowing this truth, Peter could only bow his head in apology.
“What is this because of that Zeke? How am I supposed to sleep peacefully when I’m this anxious?”
“Please don’t worry too much. Zeke will protect us. He’ll handle everything.”
In that instant, fire flashed in Christina’s eyes.
“You were doing it before too, and now you’re at it again. You spent some time as a mercenary with Zeke, and now you’ve grown attached to him? Get your head straight!”
Christina snapped sharply, her voice rising to a shout.
“Zeke is the very one who threw you into the gutter! And here you are, defending that bastard in front of me and telling me to rely on him? What’s wrong with your head?”
“Mother… Zeke isn’t as bad as he seems.”
“If you’re going to talk nonsense, get out! I don’t even want to see your face, let alone hear about your well-being!”
Watching Christina turn away sharply, Peter sighed inwardly.
He wanted to mend things between himself and Zeke, but he had no confidence he could convince her.
“Yes, then I’ll take my leave….”
As Peter turned to go, he collided with an Attendant rushing toward them frantically.
“Huff, huff. M-my lord, First Son.”
“What is it?”
“It’s… Young Master Russell….”
“Russell? What about him?”
At the mention of the son she had been waiting for so desperately, Christina’s ears perked up as well.
“Young Master Russell has returned!”
“R-Russell?”
Startled, Christina rushed out without even properly putting on her shoes.
“Where! Where is he? Show me quickly!”
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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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