The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 52

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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 52
‘What?’
I sensed the approach of mana at the 60-meter mark.
Its destination was unmistakable.
‘It’s heading straight for us?’
Whatever it was, a colossal torrent of mana was hurtling toward us with terrifying speed.
It would reach us in less than three seconds.
But it seemed only I had noticed this fact.
The Poison Pioneer and Mary showed no change in expression—they sensed nothing.
“Mary!!!”
“Yes…? Kyaaah!?”
Given the urgency, I forgone explanations and yanked Mary from the blast radius, turning my back to shield her.
Nox, bewildered by my sudden action, turned his head only to belatedly grasp the situation.
A colossal torrent of mana was mere inches away.
A brilliant flash—
“Gaaahhh! Gaaaaaaaahhhhh!”
Nox convulsed dozens of times as if seared by lightning, then collapsed to the ground.
Thud—
With eyes rolled back and foam frothing at his lips, Nox’s movements ceased.
He was dead.
Struck by magic that came from nowhere.
Fortunately, Mary remained safe thanks to me shielding her.
‘What is this power?’
No matter how sudden the ambush, a being of the Poison Pioneer’s caliber would surely have deployed a barrier.
Yet this spell possessed enough force to kill in a single strike, as if such defenses were irrelevant?
I suppressed my shock and focused on the message floating before my eyes.
[You have absorbed the cast magic ‘Soul Burst’.]
[Skill proficiency has increased by 120.]
[Proficiency remaining until 8-Star achievement: 29,240/100,000]
[Magic ‘Soul Burst’ has been stored in the dimensional rift.]
[Stored magic: 1/8]
[You may release the magic within the time limit.]
[Time remaining: 00:09:56]
‘Soul Burst? What kind of magic is that?’
—It’s a 9-Circle magic that burns all the mana within one’s body. It has no effect on ordinary people, but for mages, it’s as deadly as poison itself.
At Carbollearos’s explanation, I fell into contemplation.
9-Circle magic, then…
Just from the proficiency gain alone, I could tell how formidable this spell was.
‘But does this magic normally have such range? Where on earth did it come from?’
—It is a long-range area magic, but not one with such extended range. Someone appears to have modified the spell for sniper use.
Zeke closed his eyes and concentrated rather than surveying his surroundings.
Within a 280-meter radius, there were no other humans besides us.
‘So they shot from beyond that range? Using magic, no less?’
Sniper skills beyond imagination.
If any mage were struck by such magic, they would have no way to counter it and would die.
‘Who the hell is this bastard?’
Zeke stared at the Poison Pioneer’s corpse with hollow eyes.

* * *
Click-clack— Psshhhhh—
Smoke drifted from where the spent casing had fallen.
A man shouldering a sniper rifle roughly the size of a bazooka shifted position.
With one hand, he tapped out a message on his communication device.
Soon, an elderly voice came through.
-How did it go?
“The target has been eliminated.”
-You’re certain?
“Absolutely. I confirmed it—eyes rolled back, collapsed. No matter how formidable the Poison Pioneer was, there’s no surviving the mana gun I developed. You know that better than anyone.”
-That may be true, but you should choose your words carefully. Who provided the research funding and test subjects? And here you are, acting like the sole developer?
“But I did develop the mana gun, didn’t I?”
-You only provided the concept. Without me, would you have ever actually constructed one? So I’m the developer here.
‘The old man really knows how to twist things around….’
Frustration welled up, but the man wisely kept it to himself.
-In any case, there were no witnesses, right? You shot from 500 meters away.
“Well, about that… I’m not sure whether to call them witnesses or survivors….”
-Survivors?
The elderly voice on the line grew cold.
-Explain what happened in detail.
“There were a boy and girl, both appearing to be in their mid-teens, standing beside the target. For some reason, they didn’t collapse even after being hit by the mana gun.”
-They survived a direct hit from a mana gun equipped with Soul Burst?
“Yes… They appear to be commoners who haven’t learned magic. Didn’t Nox employ commoners as assistants for poison manufacturing? Perhaps that’s why they survived….”
-So you’re telling me there are witnesses and survivors. Two of them, no less.
“W-well, yes, but don’t worry. Surely a mere commoner witnessing this won’t derail the plan?”
-….
The elderly man on the line said nothing.
He seemed troubled by the fact that witnesses had been left alive, even if they were commoners.
The man, knowing the old man’s meticulous nature all too well, could only feel his mouth go dry.
“I-it should be fine, Baluduk. Please don’t worry too much.”
-…It’s unsettling. I would have preferred a cleaner job.
“B-but the most important target was eliminated perfectly, wasn’t it? Who else could have accomplished such an assassination so easily?”
-Admittedly, your marksmanship deserves recognition, Esca.
“You’re too kind, sir! Haha! Well… since you mention it, now that I’ve eliminated the target, you’ll grant me a seat as promised, yes? You said there’s one vacant Forerunner position available…”
-When did I say I’d grant it? I merely said I’d consider it.
“….”
-Besides, even if a seat has become vacant, it wouldn’t look good for you to rush over and claim it immediately, would it? You might even be suspected of being the one who killed Nox Venomayer.
“W-well, now that you mention it, that’s true. Haha….”
-So exercise patience and wait. Whether you’re worthy of becoming the final member of the 12 Pioneers must also be decided through deliberation.
“Yes, I’m already satisfied with just this opportunity!”
-Then let’s end this.
“Thank you for this chance! I’ll be eagerly awaiting good news!”
The moment the communication cut off, Esca wiped the smile from his face.
“Damn… it’s exhausting to play along like that.”
Though reluctant, a glimmer of genuine anticipation flickered in Esca’s eyes.
The hope that they might actually grant him a seat among the Forerunners.
“What epithet should I choose? Pioneer of Innovation? Pioneer of Technology?”
A subtle smile had already bloomed at the corners of his mouth as he murmured to himself.

* * *
Baluduk let out a hollow laugh after cutting the communication.
“Fool. If you want something from someone, you should at least know how to hide it. Drooling over a single Forerunner seat like that. It’s practically begging to be used.”
I’ll grant that Esca’s marksmanship is worthy of acknowledgment, but as evident, he lacks refinement.
There are aspects where he falls short of being a true Forerunner.
“Still, his simplicity makes him easy to manipulate. Khehehe.”
The mocking laughter faded quickly.
Baluduk’s expression darkened once more.
‘There’s a witness who confirmed Nox Venomayer’s death. This has become troublesome.’
The reason I orchestrated Nox Venomayer’s prison escape through my spy was straightforward.
To eliminate evidence.
He had occupied a Forerunner’s seat and knew far too much.
This wasn’t a decision I made unilaterally—the other Forerunners had agreed to it as well.
We had collectively decided to eliminate Nox Venomayer and prevent future complications.
‘I had intended to handle this cleanly without witnesses, but he left behind a loose end? Incompetent fool.’
If only he’d done the job properly.
‘And now he dares to eye a Forerunner seat after leaving a witness?’
I couldn’t help but find him contemptible.
‘In any case, the world will grow noisy for a while. The King of Decan won’t keep this quiet.’
Given that I couldn’t reach the Court Chef, the King likely survived.
Soon enough, he would announce to the world that he’d faced an assassination threat.
And if it’s revealed that the culprit was one of the 12 Pioneers….
‘Proceeding with the next plan will become difficult.’
Moreover, if Nox Venomayer’s death were to be revealed, the plan would inevitably have to be postponed.
All the effort invested in the plan thus far would come to naught.
If that person were to learn of this fact?
‘Damn it… I’m terrified to report this.’
Baluduk’s shadow grew even darker.
‘But setting that aside, the witness is a commoner…’
Had they truly been a commoner, they would have been unaffected by the mana incident whatsoever, but the likelihood of that was slim.
Nox Venomayer, who had been in the Prison until moments ago, would never have been traveling with a mere commoner.
‘All the commoners who were making poison have already been disposed of. There are no survivors.’
Yet it was equally unlikely that the opponent was an Aura user.
The royal guards, composed entirely of Aura users, were all sturdy young men.
‘Hmm, a mystery indeed. But they couldn’t possibly be a mage, could they?’
Faced with a situation that only deepened his confusion, Baluduk found himself unable to escape his spiraling thoughts.

* * *
The Royal Throne Hall, where numerous vassals had gathered.
From the highest seat within, Shane II gazed down upon his subjects with stern authority.
Or more precisely, he was looking at the fifteen-year-old boy kneeling before him.
“Zeke McLafflin, the fourth son of the McLafflin Family, hear me.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You have not only provided the butterfly brooch to aid in the exposure of traitors, but have also revealed the kingdom’s spies and prevented an assassination attempt upon my life. You are a benefactor to whom I owe my very existence.”
“I am deeply honored, Your Majesty.”
“Though we were unable to capture Nox Venomayer, the true architect, alive, you have made an immense contribution to resolving a grave threat to the realm. As a reward for this…”
The King, who had paused for effect, then delivered a shocking declaration.
“I shall grant you one of the treasures of the Royal Treasury.”
At those words, the eyes of the watching vassals widened in astonishment.
The Royal Treasury was a place no one save the King himself had ever entered.
Not even the princes.
Because of this, the vassals glanced sidelong at one particular direction.
There stood the candidates who would inherit the throne in the future.
First Prince Alexander Philip de Decan.
Second Prince Arnold Philip de Decan.
The Third Prince, Joe Philip de Decan, had also been present originally, but he had been exiled for treason.
In such a chaotic situation, to grant the illegitimate son of the Duke Family access to the royal treasury that even they had never seen—
Their pride as members of the royal family could not help but be wounded.
And indeed, it was so.
The two princes’ faces twitched as they struggled to maintain their composure.
Their expressions betrayed their displeasure.
Regardless of their feelings, Zeke inwardly exulted, as if it were none of his concern.
‘They’re giving me a royal treasure? If they’re offering it, then I’m all for it.’
Zeke McLafflin, who had no intention of refusing, bowed his head.
“Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for your benevolence.”
“While we’re at it, go now immediately.”

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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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