The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 7

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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 7
‘What is this door?’
A door in the Cave that I’d already suspected was artificially constructed?
And an iron door at that?
Someone had definitely created this.
‘Could it be a treasure vault?’
Whatever it was, my Decipherment skill automatically read the runic inscriptions for me.
[This is the Golden Dragon’s Resting Place. Entry to outsiders is forbidden. Depart at once.]
‘What? A golden dragon? A resting place?’
Either way, I understood it was a warning.
Openly issuing an expulsion order like this—how presumptuous.
‘This just makes me want to go in even more, doesn’t it?’
Rather than retreat, I reached out to open the door.
‘This thing won’t budge at all.’
Since there was no handle, I thought pushing might work, but it wouldn’t move.
The iron door was too thick to break with bare hands.
‘What do I do?’
Just then, a message appeared before my eyes.
[The skill ‘Master of Mana’ has reached 8-star proficiency.]
[Mana detection and absorption range increased from 45m to 50m.]
[Daily stat points obtainable through mana absorption increased from 8 to 9.]
[Proficiency remaining until 9-star: 0/300,000]
‘Wait, I’ve already reached 8-star?’
At this rate, I might reach 9-star soon.
Then I could unlock the third awakening skill as well.
‘Let me try unlocking the third awakening here. Maybe a skill that helps open this door will appear.’
I sat down cross-legged and began earnestly absorbing the surrounding mana.
After a long wait, a welcome notification finally appeared.
[The skill ‘Master of Mana’ has reached 9-star proficiency.]
[Mana detection and absorption range increased from 50m to 60m.]
[Daily stat points obtainable through mana absorption increased from 9 to 10.]
[Third awakening skill unlocked.]
[Third Awakening Skill: Magic Absorption]
-Proficiency: ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ (1-star)
-Type: Active
-Mastery: 0/100
-Effect: Absorbs 1 active spell within a 15m radius and [stores] it in a dimensional rift. Within 10 minutes, you can [release] the stored spell. If not released, the spell naturally dissipates.
-Cooldown: 10 minutes after spell storage
-Special Notes: Absorbing spells increases mastery. The skill can be toggled on/off, and there are no restrictions on which spells can be absorbed. Upon reaching 9-star proficiency, the fourth awakening skill will unlock.
‘What is this? Magic absorption instead of mana absorption?’
A skill far exceeding my expectations had manifested.
I could absorb magic and wield it as my own.
‘This means I can use magic even without a Circle?’
With this ability, there’s no need to become a mage at all.
It functions as a one-time storage and release mechanism, but that alone is remarkable.
I can cast magic without a Circle.
Moreover, I can absorb an opponent’s magic and use it defensively.
‘This is incredible. There’s no better skill for confronting mages.’
Since there was nothing to lose, I activated the skill immediately.
To raise proficiency even slightly, it would be best to keep it active at all times.
It would prove invaluable in this fantasy world teeming with mages, but unfortunately, it seemed it wouldn’t help me open this door right now.
‘Hmm. Should I just try brute force?’
I gathered my strength and pushed again.
“Hnnngh!”
Screeeech—
“Huh?”
The door shifted slightly.
‘It’s working!’
Seeing the possibility, I summoned every ounce of strength I possessed.
“Heave-ho-ho-ho!”
Groooaaahhh!
The door gave way.
Finally afforded the chance to peer inside, I stepped through with eyes brimming with curiosity.
‘Oh my. What are these?’
The interior blazed with light, rendering all the prior darkness meaningless.
Glittering gold coins and dazzling jewels.
Crowns and golden armor, expensive-looking weapons and mana stones that glowed with their own luminescence.
The treasure vault I had only dreamed of was right here.
‘So this truly was a treasure vault!’
Of course—they wouldn’t have posted warnings and locked the door unless something of immense value lay within.
‘Now that I think about it, if treasure exists, then an owner must exist too. Who would store something here?’
The fact that it was kept in a place even mages would struggle to reach meant its owner was no ordinary being.
Suddenly, the words from the warning inscription came to mind.
‘It said this was the Golden Dragon’s Resting Place. Could it be…?’
Perhaps this was a repository prepared by an ancient dragon that went extinct three thousand years ago.
‘A dragon’s belongings. How unsettling.’
But such thoughts were fleeting.
Doesn’t the finder become the owner?
‘The owner won’t come looking for these treasures anyway. If I take them, that’s that.’
Since my hands couldn’t carry everything, I should gather the highest-quality mana stones and a few of the finest jewels.
It was at that moment, with such thoughts, that I reached out to touch it.
[The basic passive skill ‘Interpretation’ activates.]
-Stop right there, you wretch! How dare you lay hands upon my possessions!
‘Huh?’
-Thief! Touch anything else and I’ll tear you to shreds, human!
A voice echoed from somewhere.
It was a mysterious voice transmitted directly into my mind.
‘What is this? Where is this coming from?’
-What? Don’t tell me you actually understand what I’m saying, human?
‘What are you talking about? Weren’t you the one making sounds for me to hear?’
-This is absurd. A lowly human comprehending the Runic Tongue….
‘The Runic Tongue?’
The voice resonating directly in my mind must be the Runic Tongue.
Whoever this was seemed to believe I actually knew how to speak it.
When in reality, my Interpretation skill had simply activated.
-If you know the Runic Tongue, then you must have read the warning inscribed in Runic script.
‘I did read it.’
-And yet you read it, then forced the door open with mana and entered! How audacious… wait? Why is the door broken?
The voice that had been muttering to itself suddenly cried out.
-This, this can’t be! How did you get in? You forced it open with brute strength?
‘Is that not allowed?’
-That door was designed to open only when infused with mana! You broke it by forcing it open? Such an ignorant human!
‘Ignorant or not, who are you anyway? Are you the owner of the treasures here?’
-I have no name to share with a contemptible human! If you value your life, leave this instant, thief!
It was a rather threatening voice, but I could only scoff.
Those who are truly frightened always speak the loudest.
An empty cart makes the most noise.
‘Your threats don’t scare me much, to be honest.’
-What did you say?
‘A voice with no body behind it? What’s there to fear? You can’t even harm me directly. If you could do anything, you wouldn’t be screaming at me to leave—you would have killed me long ago.’
-You foolish human! Do you know who I am!
‘That’s what I’m asking.’
-Prepare yourself for a shock! I am none other than Carbollearos, the Golden Dragon who left his mark upon human history three thousand years ago!
‘What? A dragon?’
I had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed still came as a shock.
I was conversing with a creature of legend, a being from fantasy itself.
Suddenly, an unwelcome memory surfaced.
The people trampled to death beneath the Dragon Army.
The people consumed alive by raging infernos.
A city crumbling to dust.
Endless screams.
Even from the colossal dragon boss the size of a house.
To me, dragons held a singular meaning.
They were the mortal enemies who had stolen my entire previous life—no exaggeration.
-Hehehehe, I see that sullen expression. So you’ve finally grasped who I am. Bow your head at once and show me proper respect!
‘Can it see my face?’
I glanced around with wide, unfocused eyes.
‘Damn lizard. Where the hell is it watching me from?’
I reached toward the source of the powerful mana response.
Crack!
‘So it was hiding here?’
-Ugh!
What I’d seized was a crown embedded with a mana stone.
‘Is it inside this? Gold Dragon Carbollearos or whatever?’
I shook the crown.
-Stop, don’t shake it! Let go of that!
‘Because of you damned dragons, those wretched memories came flooding back. What am I supposed to do about this? Why did I have to be reincarnated in a place I’ve never seen before and suffer like this? Why do I have to be humanity’s savior of all things?’
-Y-you mad human! Spouting such nonsense!
‘What? Can’t do anything when I shake it like this? Why don’t you try threatening to kill me again like before? Huh?’
-I was about to do exactly that!
In that instant, light flashed from the mana stone embedded in the crown.
Just as I furrowed my brow at the shaking.
[Magic detected.]
[Magic Absorption skill is active.]
[Absorbing the cast magic: Mental Collapse.]
[Skill proficiency increased by 90.]
[Proficiency remaining until 2-Star Achievement: 90/100]
This creature calling itself a dragon had attempted something.
I could tell from the activation of the Third Awakening skill I’d left running.
[Magic Mental Collapse has been stored in a dimensional rift.]
[You may release the magic within the time limit.]
[Time remaining: 00:09:59]
‘What is this? Mental Collapse?’
I didn’t know what kind of magic it was, but the name sounded ominous.
‘Hey, lizard. What were you trying to do to me?’
-H-how is this possible? I clearly cast it using the mana stone, so why didn’t it work?
‘Aren’t you listening to me?’
Muttering without answering—it seemed quite flustered.
‘I’m asking you. What kind of magic is Mental Collapse?’
-T-that is….
‘Why waste time? I should just test it right now.’
I recalled the magical power I had just absorbed and resolved to release it.
Staring at the crown, which I presumed contained the dragon.
Then I felt something slip from my fingertips, followed by the sensation of it striking the crown.
‘Did it work?’
Just as I tilted my head in confusion.
A scream pierced the air, leaving no room for doubt.
-Grrrraaaagh! Ugh, u-ugh!
‘What’s wrong? What happened?’
-Kugh, hack, kuh!
Judging by the agonized sounds, too distressed to even respond, it seemed the mental collapse had taken hold.
‘This insane dragon bastard was trying to inflict such agonizing magic on me?’
Now that I thought about it, fury surged through me.
If I hadn’t possessed the Third Awakening skill, I would be the one suffering like that right now.
I shook the crown violently.
‘Die! Die!’
-Gueeegh! I, I need to escape, escape….
Its consciousness seemed to return for a moment as a voice emerged, and light erupted from the crown.
‘What’s this bastard trying now?’
I wanted to use magic absorption again, but the cooldown prevented it.
Before the magic could strike me, I hurled the crown away.
Clang—
But it wasn’t attempting a counterattack.
It was trying to escape.
Crack—
The mana stone shattered, and the light pouring from the crown lost its power and extinguished.
With no mana emanating from it, I could tell at a glance.
It had become nothing more than an ordinary crown.
‘What happened? Did it transfer its body?’
Since it had been dwelling in the crown, it might have moved to another object this time.
My suspicion proved correct.
[Mana detected 2 meters ahead.]
‘I sense strong mana over there.’
I focused on a single necklace.
A necklace with only jewels set into it, without a mana stone.
‘Where do you think you’re running to, you lizard bastard?’
-Hiiieek!
The moment I picked up the necklace, it recoiled in terror.
A voice that had recognized the difference in power.
‘You dare attempt mental collapse on me, a human? A worthless lizard spirit like you?’
—S-sorry, sorry, ugh! I apologize, human. Ugh!
The convulsions suggested the aftereffects of mental collapse still lingered within it.
I had no intention of showing mercy.
‘How can I torment this wretched dragon spawn until my anger is sated?’
I understood that this creature was not remotely comparable to the dragons of the Dragon Army from my past life.
Yet it remained true that I harbored ill will toward dragons.
It was also true that I had nearly died from the mental collapse it inflicted moments ago.
‘Without my Third Awakening skill, I would have been the one suffering.’
I contemplated only how to torment it.
As though it were the greatest problem of my existence.
‘Should I simply shatter the necklace? Would it die then?’
I shook my head.
A creature that transferred its form to objects like a spirit would not perish so easily from destruction.
‘Come to think of it, did this creature use magic against me?’
If it truly was a dragon as it claimed, it would be versed in all manner of sorcery.
My lips curved into a cruel smile.
It seemed there was a use for it beyond mere execution.
‘Listen.’
—…?
‘You will become my magical conduit.’

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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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