The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 36

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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 36
The Central Plaza, where the dormitories of the Royal Mage Unit were clustered, overflowed with an unexpected crowd.
Some two hundred mages from the Royal Mage Unit had come after hearing the rumors.
Rumors that the Mage Tower’s greatest ace would clash with a newcomer who had just arrived today.
Of course, the one who had spread these rumors was none other than Gawen Baldor.
‘Quite the audience has gathered.’
It appeared that the entire Mage Tower had assembled.
The training instructor Jake might be among them, but it hardly mattered.
I knew he deliberately turned a blind eye to my actions.
‘What now, Zeke McLafflin? This has grown bigger than expected, hasn’t it? Heh heh.’
After receiving Zeke McLafflin’s arrogant note, Gawen Baldor had instructed his lackeys to spread rumors throughout the Dormitory.
The more spectators present, the greater the humiliation Zeke McLafflin would suffer upon defeat.
‘But why hasn’t this bastard shown up yet?’
Gawen Baldor, standing in the Central Plaza, glanced around nervously.
The challenger who had accepted the challenge was nowhere to be seen.
‘Was it all just bluster after all?’
He had anticipated this to some degree.
That’s why he had gathered as many spectators as possible.
If the situation escalated, it would be difficult for him to back out.
‘Well, it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t show up. I can slap him with the label of coward right after the nepotism accusation.’
His loyal followers were already hurling jeers at the absent Zeke McLafflin.
“This is ridiculous! He’s the one who sent the challenge in the first place, and now he doesn’t show up?”
“I guess he finally came to his senses and ran away with his tail between his legs!”
“What was he thinking, a mere 4-Circle mage challenging Lord Gawen? Fool!”
“Maybe he’s already climbed over the walls and fled like a coward?”
“Hahahaha!”
The spectators laughed together, joining in the mockery.
With sunset approaching and still no sign of Zeke McLafflin, he had no excuse for the abuse being hurled at him.
‘If anything, let him run away like they say. It’s all the better if the nepotist leaves of his own accord.’
As Gawen Baldor waited with a smug grin, the murmur of the crowd suddenly grew louder.
When he turned toward the sound, his eyes widened with surprise.
The one who seemed unlikely to appear was pushing through the crowd, walking forward with confidence.
“I apologize for being late.”
“You… are you insane? Have you lost your mind?”
“My, my, cursing at me the moment you see me? Do you really want to fight me that badly? Fine. No need for long speeches—let’s go at it right now.”
Zeke McLafflin rolled up his sleeves and began warming up.
Gawen Baldor’s expression turned bewildered.
It was a magical duel, yet there was no staff in his hands.
“You didn’t bring a staff?”
“You don’t necessarily need a staff to cast magic, do you?”
That’s not wrong.
But staffs were practically essential equipment for mages.
Crafted from willow wood that conducted mana, they accelerated mana circulation and enabled far more precise targeting.
This was why mages never parted with their staffs, treating them like extensions of themselves.
The difference between using a staff and going without was like night and day.
‘And yet this man, already in a disadvantageous position, doesn’t even bring his staff?’
There were limits to audacity.
This was nothing short of self-mockery.
“Fine. Use your staff or don’t—do as you please. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
“Yes, let’s get started quickly.”
With that, the magical duel between the two was set.

* * *
“That guy?”
“Yeah, that’s the McLafflin Family’s new recruit who parachuted in today.”
“Being a parachute hire, he doesn’t know anything. Challenging Gawen, who has the highest Circle rank among the members.”
“And he’s not even carrying a staff.”
“Is he even a real mage?”
The spectators watching clicked their tongues in disapproval.
Even without looking, the outcome was painfully obvious.
That’s why everyone’s interest had already faded.
“This isn’t even a fair match.”
“Who’d bet on the parachute hire?”
“Who would? The skill gap is that massive.”
“Damn. If they were evenly matched, I’d have placed a bet.”
“Why did a 4-Circle mage even request a duel with a 6-Circle?”
Everyone watched the standoff with expressions tinged with disappointment.
After all, fights were only truly entertaining when money was on the line.
But with such a stark difference in ability, how could any wager even be made?
Betting required someone willing to take the opposing side.
Mary from the Bryant Family shared that same sentiment.
‘How reckless. No staff, lower Circle rank, and yet he challenges Gawen anyway? What’s he thinking?’
Unlike the others, Mary didn’t see Zeke McLafflin as some thoughtless fool rushing in blindly.
If that were the case, he wouldn’t have made such a conspicuous entrance.
‘He knows he’s at a disadvantage, yet he revealed himself anyway. As if he actually has a chance to win.’
She couldn’t quite grasp his reasoning, but the situation was undeniably intriguing.
If by some miracle Gawen fell to this newcomer, the entire power structure of the Mage Tower would shift in an instant.
‘An upset… I hope it happens.’
Mary, who had been watching Zeke McLafflin intently, bit her lower lip.

* * *
“You didn’t bring protective gear?”
“Protective gear?”
“Good grief, what am I doing with this greenhorn?”
Gawen Baldor let out a self-deprecating laugh, regarding Zeke McLafflin with disdain.
“It’s standard protocol to wear magical protective gear during a magical duel. What happens if you take a direct hit from a spell?”
“I’d be carried out as a corpse.”
“Exactly. And that could be you, so shouldn’t you wear basic protective equipment? You can borrow gear from the Training Facility over there, so if you want to live, go get some now.”
“What about you? You’re not wearing any?”
“This bastard keeps astounding me. Why would I need protective gear when facing someone like you? Obviously I don’t.”
“Then I won’t wear any either.”
“What?”
Both Gawen Baldor and the spectators were shocked by my bold refusal to equip myself.
“Are you insane? Do you know what Circle I’m in? If you had ears, you’d have heard by now?”
“I know. You’re a 6th Circle mage.”
“You know that and still want to face me without gear? Even though I’m willing to take the penalty of fighting without equipment myself?”
“I don’t need such a penalty. I’ll duel you without gear, just like you.”
“What kind of madman is this?”
Gawen Baldor’s bewildered laughter faded as his expression grew serious.
“I’m not asking you to wear gear because I’m worried about your life. What happens to my reputation if you die?”
“Don’t worry. I swear on my family name that I won’t blame you even if I die. Is that enough?”
At my confident attitude, Gawen Baldor was left so speechless that he could only laugh hollowly.
“Fine, fine. Everyone heard that, right? This bastard said he won’t blame me even if he dies! You’re all witnesses!”
Gawen Baldor shouted to those around us before facing me directly.
“You arrogant fool. You’re a dead man now.”
“That’s what I should be saying.”
“Keeping your pride to the very end, are you? Fine. I’ll give you credit for your boldness. Do you know the rules of the duel?”
“What rules?”
“Hmph, as expected. A novice like you wouldn’t know.”
Gawen Baldor sighed before continuing.
“A magical duel is fought solely with magic. You cannot use any tools or physical force. Drawing mana before the duel begins is considered a foul. Any spell is permitted, but the moment your opponent cries surrender, you must immediately cease casting. Already-activated spells are exempt from this rule. These are the basic rules.”
“Okay. I got it, so let’s start already.”
As I hurried him along with an impatient expression, Gawen Baldor’s eyebrows twitched.
‘…He keeps acting so high and mighty. Let’s see if he can maintain that attitude in a moment.’
Gawen Baldor, staff in hand, took distance and faced off against me.
Standing defenseless before him without even holding a staff was undeniably arrogant, but that would change soon enough.
“Hey, count down the start.”
“Ah, yes, sir.”
One of the attendants serving as referee stepped between us and called out.
“Then we’ll begin the duel in 5 seconds. You may calculate formulas during the countdown, but drawing mana is a foul. Both of you, prepare yourselves. Beginning the count! 5! 4! 3….”
Even as the countdown continued, Zeke McLafflin remained composed and unruffled.
Though no one but he himself knew the reason why.
“2, 1! Begin!”
The moment the referee hastily stepped back, the air around Gawen Baldor convulsed violently.
‘I’ll make you feel the difference in our power with a single strike!’
As Gawen Baldor gathered every ounce of his mana from the very start, the spectators murmured in awe.
“Looks like he’s going to end it in one blow.”
“It’s over, it’s finished.”
The crowd was so convinced that they actually began to worry for Zeke McLafflin instead.
Yet even now, Zeke McLafflin made no defensive stance whatsoever.
“What is he doing?”
“He’s not even gathering mana?”
“He must have already given up after sensing the difference in their levels.”
“Isn’t that dangerous then?”
The spectators, believing he had abandoned all hope, grew concerned for Zeke McLafflin.
If he took a direct hit from that spell, he would be reduced to a bloody pulp.
Gawen Baldor, aware of this fact as well, gathered the mana necessary for his incantation before asking with ease.
“How about it? Do you feel the magnitude of my mana? If you kneel and surrender right now, I’ll cancel the spell.”
“Surrender isn’t in my vocabulary.”
“You’re insane. You’ll die like this.”
“How kind of you to worry. Then just kill me already.”
At Zeke McLafflin’s audacious response, Gawen Baldor let out a snort of derision.
‘This bastard… does he really think I won’t kill him in front of all these spectators?’
That was something only someone who truly didn’t know him would say.
Gawen Baldor had already crippled an opponent during a sparring match before.
In his youth, he had used commoners as targets for his magical training.
Of course, it wasn’t as though he had tormented innocent commoners—he had merely punished them for the crime of stealing food out of hunger.
‘Do you think I would stop here? Ha.’
Gawen Baldor snorted and shouted.
“Deploy a shield at maximum output! Unless you want to die!”
As he bellowed, he pointed his staff, and magic erupted from its tip.
“Flame Blast.”
The flame magic surged forward like a tempest, aimed directly at Zeke McLafflin.
Without deploying a shield spell, he would be charred beyond recognition.
Yet Zeke McLafflin didn’t even blink, nor did he move like a wooden statue.
As if he had no intention of responding at all.
At this sight, Gawen Baldor’s brow furrowed.
‘What is he doing? Is he really just going to die like this?’
He didn’t seem to be constructing a spell, nor was there any muttering for an incantation.
Not even a trace of mana gathering could be felt—he looked like someone who had simply given up on life.
The spectators watching from the stands shared the same thought.
When the inferno reached arm’s length, some even turned their heads away, bracing for the carnage that was about to unfold.
‘It’s over.’
The moment everyone accepted that conclusion, the impossible happened.
Crash—!
From the fingertips of Zeke McLafflin’s hand, swung with an expressionless face, a torrent of water suddenly erupted.
Like a dam bursting, the deluge of water surged forth, extinguishing the flames in an instant and filling the entire arena with steam.
For a moment, nothing was visible, but as the steam cleared, Zeke McLafflin’s figure emerged.
He stood without a single wound, completely unscathed.
The spectators were left speechless by the unexpected turn of events, but there was another reason for their shock.
“He cast Shadowless Magic…?”
It was because he had wielded a technique only a 9th Circle Archmage could perform.

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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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