The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 28

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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 28
‘What? Antonio, you bastard. Did you go into another meeting?’
I waited anxiously, but Gregor’s communication device had been silent for three hours.
I’d given Antonio orders to obstruct Gerard, and he’d carried them out smoothly, but….
‘How is it still no contact?’
Now there was no way to reach him.
I couldn’t help but feel something had gone wrong.
‘Something’s definitely off. The Third Prince too—that scatterbrained fool isn’t answering either.’
Three years ago, when Baluduk asked who among Decan’s heirs was capable of committing treason.
Gregor had enthusiastically recommended the Third Prince.
The Third Prince was a man with little ability but enormous ambition, dissatisfied with his current position.
Since he was on poor terms with his parents and siblings, the prediction that he’d accept the proposal proved spot-on.
The condition was that we’d eliminate all of Decan’s heirs and place him on the throne.
‘But thinking about it now, I think I picked the wrong person. There’s no way an idiot like that could execute a plan properly.’
I’d ordered him to use a shape-shifting scroll to swap out the brooch, yet there was no word from him.
Antonio was also completely silent.
‘Given that there’s been no contact all this time, they must have failed. Damn it….’
Blaming myself for trusting those fools, Gregor hastily pulled out his communication device.
This was no time to hesitate.
“Baluduk. Baluduk!”
-What’s all this fuss?
“We have a serious problem. I’ve lost contact with the Baldor Duke and the Third Prince. It appears the operation has gone awry.”
-Are you saying they’ve discovered our connection?
“Yes. If Gerard eavesdropped on our conversation using the brooch he brought, that’s quite likely….”
Gregor trailed off, gauging the reaction.
Given Baluduk’s temperament, a harsh rebuke was coming.
My throat tightened with tension, but instead of a tirade, I heard the sound of a tongue clicking.
-Tsk, tsk, tsk. Pathetic wretches. After years of preparation, you can’t even finish the job properly. I knew this would happen.
“What? You knew?”
-Of course. I anticipated failure to some degree. Did you really think I had any expectations that insects like you would succeed? Khehehehe, a stray dog passing by would laugh at you.
“….”
Gregor couldn’t utter a word in response to the scathing criticism.
Not from shame, but from the shock of it.
‘He never had any faith in us at all…?’
I’d thought I was at least earning my master’s recognition, but it was all a delusion.
It felt as though I’d been betrayed by the master I’d trusted.
Yet it wasn’t merely a feeling.
-It’s time I disposed of you.
“What?”
Because I was truly being cast aside.
-Our relationship ends here. Whether you run or stay is your concern. Don’t expect any more help from me.
“W-wait, Baluduk! Baluduk!”
That was the last conversation between Gregor and Baluduk.
“Pick up! Answer me!”
I struck the communication device repeatedly, but the connection wouldn’t return.
The light no longer flickered, which meant he’d destroyed the device on his end.
“Damn it all!”
Gregor threw his own communication device, shattering it just as thoroughly, unable to contain his fury.
“You discard me like trash the moment I’m no longer useful? After everything I’ve sacrificed for you!”
It was foolish to follow him based solely on his reputation as one of the 12 Pioneers.
It was foolish to revere him like a father simply because he’d extended his hand when I struggled.
‘Betrayed… like this?’
Rage surged to the crown of my head, but I had no time for this.
Even now, the Royal Guard might be closing in to capture me.
‘I must reach the Laboratory immediately and destroy the evidence. If information about the bioexperiments surfaces, I’m finished.’
Would Baluduk unleash the Dark Hounds to take revenge on me?
The bioexperiments were a field he’d always been deeply invested in.
The moment that thought struck me, I grabbed my coat and stepped into the teleportation Gate.
Flash—!
In an instant, I moved from the highest level of the Magic Tower to its lowest.
“Everyone, listen! Stop the experiments immediately and destroy all evidence—”
I burst into the Laboratory shouting, but the words died in my throat.
There were no researchers in the Laboratory.
More precisely, there wasn’t a single living researcher.
They all lay collapsed with daggers driven through their necks, as if they’d taken their own lives.
‘What happened? Did all these people commit suicide in unison?’
Seeing daggers clutched in each of their hands, I could only draw that conclusion.
‘The evidence?’
I looked toward the tables to destroy the evidence, but there was no need.
Only ash remained—it had already been burned.
‘What in the world is going on?’
The situation made no sense.
All experimental records erased and a clean mass suicide?
And all the researchers acting in perfect unison?
It was impossible by any rational standard.
‘Damn it! Did someone infiltrate? What is this situation?’
As I stood bewildered,
the communication device flickered with an incoming message from a subordinate.
-T-Tower Master! Where are you?
“What’s happened?”
—Sir, unknown individuals have surrounded the Magic Tower!
“What?”
—Even when we claim the Tower Master isn’t here, they’re forcing their way in regardless. We’ve tried countering with magic, but they’re blocking it with even greater magic. They appear to be at least 7th Circle mages….
‘7th Circle? Could it be the Royal Guard?’
Little is publicly known about the Royal Guard, but one fact remains disclosed.
They are an elite escort unit composed entirely of mages exceeding 7th Circle—the strongest of the strong.
‘Damn it. I suspected this might happen, but not so soon.’
At least there was one consolation: I had enough time to teleport.
While my subordinates stalled at the entrance, I could simply chant the incantation at my leisure.
‘Where should I go? Even Baluduk abandoned me, so there’s nowhere left to….’
That was when it happened.
An unexpected light flickered before me.
‘What is this?’
Gregor, who had been watching the flashing communication crystal, tapped its surface and received the contact.
—Tower Master! It’s me, Peter!
“I know. Why are you contacting me?”
—I’ve received high-level intelligence. Apparently, the King has ordered the Royal Guard to capture you.
“News travels fast. I’m already aware.”
—Eh? You already knew?
“These bastards are trying to force their way into the Magic Tower right now.”
—Ah…!
A sigh echoed through the communication crystal.
It was a voice genuinely concerned for my safety.
—Escape at once! This is no time to hesitate!
“I was already planning to. The problem is deciding where to go.”
—What if you came to where I am? I can provide you with coordinates.
Gregor hesitated for a moment at Peter’s suggestion.
The thought that it might be a trap crossed his mind.
But such thoughts were fleeting.
‘No, that’s not it. He swore an oath of loyalty to me, didn’t he?’
I knew well how potent a mana oath could be.
I concluded there was no way Peter would lure me into a trap.
Beyond that, in a dire situation like this, Peter was the only person I could trust.
Still, there was no harm in proceeding cautiously with everything.
“Very well. Give me the coordinates. I’ll verify the location before deciding whether to move.”
—Understood. The coordinates are 34.6528….
After hearing the coordinates through to the end, Gregor’s eyebrows twitched.
There was no need to verify.
It was a location I recognized well.
“Don’t tell me the coordinates you just gave me point to the Califa Mountain Range?”
-Yes, that’s correct.
Any high-ranking mage would know about the Dragon Ruins in the Califa Mountain Range.
And they’d know better than to venture there.
There were countless cases of mages’ circles being shattered after stepping into those shadow-laden depths saturated with high concentrations of mana.
Perhaps that’s why Gregor’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.
“Why of all places did you choose here? Did you know what this location is before coming?”
-I’m aware. That the Dragon Ruins exist here. And that it’s a place mages avoid.
“You knew and still summoned me here?”
His voice carried irritation, yet the response that came back was surprisingly composed.
-Wouldn’t that make it all the better?
“What?”
-For evading pursuit, I mean. The Tower Master would never suspect you’d hide in a place like this.
“Hmm.”
Now that I thought about it, there was merit to the argument.
There was no better place to disappear.
Mages would never come searching in a location they feared.
“You do come up with clever schemes from time to time.”
-…That’s a compliment, isn’t it?
“Never mind. The coordinates you gave me—they’re not right in the middle of the Dragon Ruins, are they?”
-Of course not. The location is a good thirty minutes’ distance from the ruins, so rest assured.
Gregor knew this already.
He knew the coordinates were positioned away from the ruins.
He was simply asking to confirm.
“Understood. I’m heading there now.”
Gregor pocketed the communication device and began chanting.
“Teleport.”
His body was engulfed in light and vanished.

* * *
Three hours earlier.
Peter couldn’t hide his shock when he heard the plan from Zeke.
-What? You want me to lure the Tower Master to the Califa Mountain Range and teleport him there?
-Yes. The Tower Master trusts my older brother implicitly because of the mana oath binding him, so he’ll fall for it easily.
-But, but will the Tower Master really be deceived so readily?
-Isn’t deceiving others what my oldest brother does best? This is a perfect opportunity to show off your acting skills. And I’ll earn some points myself.
The mention of points seemed to pique Peter’s interest, and his posture became noticeably more engaged.
-What do you mean by points?
-If you handle this properly, I’ll reward you.
-Surely you don’t mean you’ll release the mana oath…
-Don’t even dream of that.
-…
-Instead, I’ll give you a reward you’ll definitely like. I’m certain you’ll be pleased.
After finishing his recollection, Peter looked at the coordinates he’d been given and swallowed hard.
Though he didn’t show it, his heart felt as though it were shrinking.
He was anxious about what would happen if the operation failed by some chance.
‘It’ll be fine. The two mages called the greatest in Decan are right here. And there’s also Zeke, who can nullify magic.’
It was then that he cast his gaze toward them, waiting near the coordinates.
Suddenly, a maelstrom of mana erupted.
There stood Gregor, who had teleported to the coordinates Peter had specified.
“Tower Master! Over here!”
Peter waved his hand to draw Gregor’s attention.
“Peter. You’ve grown quite gaunt since we last met…”
It was then that Gregor spoke.
Click—!
Restraints snapped around his wrists.
“…!”
Gregor’s eyes widened in shock at the sudden ambush, and he turned his head.
There stood two people he’d hoped never to see again, smiling with undisguised satisfaction.
“Finally caught you, you bastard.”
It was Gerard and his mentor, Dalpred.

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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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