The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 6

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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 6
‘Wow, the ride quality is incredible. It puts carriages to shame.’
I’d never ridden in a carriage, but I was certain my backside would ache far less in this than in a traditional one.
The mana-powered vehicle offered a smoothness comparable to automobiles in my previous world.
Though the exterior bore no such resemblance.
It possessed the form of a carriage, yet lacked horses.
A horseless carriage, one might say.
Watching it glide silently forward lent it a peculiar novelty.
Not that I had the luxury of dwelling on such observations now.
“Um, Father.”
“What is it?”
“Don’t you have pressing matters to attend to?”
“I’ve postponed everything. Don’t concern yourself.”
‘How can I not be concerned? It’s not just anyone—it’s Father, an 8th Circle mage, personally escorting me.’
Escorting amounted to little more than sharing the same vehicle, yet what an honor it was.
My father, a renowned archmage throughout the Decan Kingdom, was marking me closely from my side.
‘How can I not feel the weight of this? He’s canceled his duties and come along.’
I swallowed my unspoken thoughts and gazed out the window to conceal my discomfort, though I understood my father’s sentiment well enough.
What father could remain idle when his youngest son—cherished since childhood—ventured into such perilous territory?
‘Is this what paternal love feels like?’
Despite my lack of talent, he never abandoned hope, and now he personally ensures my safety.
“Thank you, Father.”
Gerard’s expression flickered with surprise at my unexpected gratitude.
“Ahem, what’s this about?”
Yet his pleasure was evident as a proud smile bloomed across his face.

* * *
No monsters roamed the Califa Mountain Range where the Dragon Ruins lay.
Three thousand years ago, the dragons—the very progenitors of magic—had fought and perished here for reasons lost to time.
Though their corpses had long since crumbled to dust, the scars of their battle remained etched upon the land.
Perhaps sensing the lingering dread of those ancient beings, monsters shunned this place entirely.
With not even a small village to be found, merchants had ceased their travels here long ago.
Consequently, bandits had no reason to appear either.
And so the journey to the ruins proved far less arduous than anticipated.
Thanks to my attendants, I enjoyed three meals a day without lifting a finger, and with sufficient guards at my side, I could sleep soundly during our encampments without worry.
Above all, with an 8-Circle Archmage standing vigilant with every sense heightened, what could possibly concern me?
‘Father really is something. I keep telling him to get some sleep.’
I rubbed my eyes as I rose, only to find Father sitting in a cross-legged position.
Despite my repeated protests, it seemed he had remained awake throughout the night, keeping watch.
‘I told him to leave it to the knights, but he insisted on detecting magical auras himself. Of course he didn’t sleep.’
Most would imagine assassins as dagger-wielding thieves, but in this world, mages were the true instruments of assassination.
They could conceal their presence and rain down ranged magical bombardment—perfectly suited for eliminating targets.
Thus, detecting mana beforehand was paramount, and only Father, being a mage, could fulfill that role here.
‘Though I could do it as well.’
Mana absorption was a skill I could toggle on and off, but mana detection remained perpetually active whether I wished it or not.
This was precisely why Zeke could sleep without concern.
Yet I could not reveal that I possessed mana detection despite being ignorant of magic, so I had to entrust the task to Father.
‘Well, Father should be able to sense a much wider range than I can. I can only read within twenty meters.’
Eager to reach 9-Circle as soon as possible, I consumed the soup my attendant had prepared and departed immediately.
It took precisely two more days to reach the Dragon Ruins.
“So this is it. The battlefield where the dragons clashed.”
The ruins were far less grandiose than the name suggested.
A desolate wasteland stretched before us.
All that remained was barren earth where not a single blade of grass grew, withered trees, and stagnant air.
‘A place even Archmages fear? Then Father would too?’
I immediately studied Father’s expression.
Sure enough, as an Archmage himself, fear was plainly visible on his face.
“Do you feel it?”
“Feel what, Father?”
“You don’t feel it? My entire body is already tingling from the mana fluctuations.”
‘Mana fluctuations?’
I turned my gaze toward the ruins, but all I sensed was desolation.
Neither mana nor the system detected anything.
‘Is it because our detection ranges differ?’
As expected of an 8-Circle mage, Father could sense mana across a far broader range than I could.
It was then that Gerard made an unexpected farewell.
“It seems this is as far as I can accompany you. I should head back now.”
“Pardon? You’re leaving?”
“I postponed important matters to come here, but I cannot ignore them any longer.”
“Ah, then you must go. I’m uncertain how much longer I’ll remain here myself.”
“Don’t stay too long. If it proves ineffective, you can return.”
“Understood. Thank you for bringing me here, Father.”
“Very well. Take this before I go.”
Father extended a spherical communication device.
Inscribed with a formula alongside mana stones, it allowed one to transmit mana like radio waves for communication whenever desired.
Much like a modern telephone.
“Should anything arise, contact me through the device. I’ve set the coordinates, so I can teleport directly to your location.”
“There’s no need to go so far… but thank you.”
“First, venture deeper into the ruins. Once I’ve confirmed your safety, I’ll depart.”
Zeke nodded and walked toward the heart of the ruins with a tense expression.
Crunch, crunch.
[Mana detected 20 meters ahead.]
[‘Mana Absorption’ skill has been activated. Use it now? Y/N]
‘Oh, so there really is mana here.’
Even without the message, I felt it as I drew closer.
A bone-chilling surge of mana’s presence.
‘If I can sense mana, then this body does have talent. But…’
Father must not discover this fact.
To continue absorbing mana going forward.
‘I can’t activate the skill now either. If I drain the mana, Father will notice.’
Standing at the heart of the ruins, Zeke turned back toward Gerard with a subtle smile.
Swinging both arms to demonstrate that nothing was amiss, relief bloomed across Gerard’s face.
“Your body seems unaffected. Phew, isn’t this something to laugh about? You’ve proven once more that you lack mana affinity.”
Gerard muttered with an uncertain expression, then called out.
“I’ve confirmed your safety, so I’m leaving now! I hope for good results! Contact me through the device if anything happens!”
“Yes, Father!”
Once Zeke confirmed Gerard’s departure, I finally activated the skill.
[Absorbed 18 mana.]
[Absorbed 17 mana.]
[Absorbed 19 mana.]
[Skill proficiency increased by 18.]
[Skill proficiency increased by 17.]
[Skill proficiency increased by 19.]
[Proficiency remaining until 3-star achievement: 54/300]
With the skill activated, mana from the detected range flowed in.
And it came rapidly.
‘Wow. This is incredible? My proficiency is already halfway there?’
It was incomparable to filling my proficiency alone in the Magic Library.
At this rate, I might reach the ninth star in just a single day.
‘Now that I’m absorbing mana, that trembling sensation has vanished.’
Zeke McLafflin settled himself into a seated position.
With the mindset of striking while the iron was hot, I began absorbing all the surrounding mana indiscriminately.

* * *
‘I wonder if he’s alright?’
Raker, who had come as the commander of the escort mission, gazed at the young master sitting in meditation with worried eyes.
His concern stemmed from the fact that thirty minutes had already passed since he’d been sitting in that cross-legged position.
‘Most ordinary people should have lost their posture by now.’
Yet somehow, Young Master Zeke McLafflin showed no sign of wavering in his form.
A man no different from an ordinary person who hadn’t even learned magic, let alone aura.
‘Can he even sense mana? I’m curious, but I can’t ask.’
Since the young master had ordered him to keep his distance just in case, Raker had no choice but to watch from thirty meters away.
That said, he wasn’t neglecting his escort duties.
The guards, including himself, remained alert, ready to respond immediately if anyone appeared nearby.
‘He should be fine, right? Even left like that?’
Just as Raker was watching with concern, Zeke McLafflin’s eyes slowly opened, and he rose to his feet.
“Raker.”
“Yes, Young Master!”
“Would you mind if we moved to a different location? Will you follow me? Of course, we should keep our distance since it could be dangerous if you get too close.”
“Ah, yes. I shall do so.”
‘Where is he planning to go?’
Raker tilted his head curiously as he followed Zeke McLafflin.

* * *
Watching Raker and the escort knights follow behind me, I smiled.
‘Absorbing mana from just one spot is inefficient. I can see that the amount of mana absorbed varies depending on the location.’
Now that I’d reached 6-star, my absorption range in this vast ruin was merely a 40-meter radius.
Because of this, I could feel the mana absorption quantity changing with each new position I moved to.
‘At this rate, it’ll take far too long to reach 9-star. I need to progress faster.’
Since I’d already filled my daily stat quota, my priority now was raising my skill proficiency.
To increase it even slightly faster, I needed to move like someone searching for water veins.
[You have absorbed 32 mana.]
[You have absorbed 33 mana.]
[You have absorbed 37 mana.]
…
…
[You have absorbed 48 mana.]
‘Oh, the mana quantity jumped significantly in this direction?’
As expected, the amount of mana I could sense varied depending on the location within the ruins.
I kept my eyes on the system messages and moved my body toward where the stronger mana was calling me.
[The skill ‘Mana Lord’ has reached 7-star achievement.]
[Mana detection and absorption range has increased from 40m▶45m.]
[Daily stat gains from mana absorption have increased from 7▶8.]
[Remaining proficiency until 8-star achievement: 0/100,000]
Though my achievement had risen, my eyes were fixed not on the message but on a tree.
‘Here—I sense powerful mana emanating from this tree.’
The ruins contained dozens of trees, but on the surface, this one appeared no different from the others.
Yet only from this tree did I feel an exceptionally strong mana.
Moreover, there was a hole large enough for a person to enter.
“Young Master!”
“Yes?”
“We can’t follow any further! The mana fluctuations are destabilizing our dantian’s aura! If we get any closer, we’ll be in danger too!”
“Is that so? Then please wait there. I’ll just take a quick look inside here.”
“Pardon? Where are you going?”
“Here.”
When I pointed to the tree’s opening, Raker’s eyes widened in alarm.
“It’s too dangerous to enter there….”
“Don’t worry. Nothing will happen.”
With those words, I stepped into the tree’s opening.
“Y-Young Master!”
Leaving behind the captain of the escort knights’ sharp cry.

* * *
The cavity contained far more space than I had anticipated.
“I never imagined such a chamber existed here.”
It was not a naturally formed cavern, but rather an artificial one—clearly excavated by someone’s deliberate effort.
I felt as though I had discovered a treasure trove.
After all, I was almost certainly the first person to enter this place.
‘Other mages likely failed to detect it because the mana presence here is so overwhelming.’
Even if they had discovered it, the intensity of mana would have made approach nearly impossible.
[Absorbed 62 mana.]
[Absorbed 63 mana.]
[Absorbed 64 mana.]
…
…
[Absorbed 75 mana.]
‘Look at this. The absorption rate is extraordinary.’
Without my mana absorption ability, I would never have dared venture into this place.
‘Shall I proceed deeper?’
As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I moved forward cautiously.
The danger was unknown, but I trusted in my own capabilities.
I was an A-rank Hunter, after all.
And one capable of absorbing mana at that.
[Absorbed 86 mana.]
[Absorbed 87 mana.]
[Absorbed 88 mana.]
…
…
[Absorbed 105 mana.]
The deeper I ventured, the denser the mana became.
‘What in the world could be here to emit such overwhelming mana?’
As I pondered this question, I soon reached the chamber’s end.
‘What is this?’
A massive iron door stood before me, blocking the way forward.
An enigmatic door inscribed with runic characters.

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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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