The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 70

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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 70
“Why don’t you leave this to me instead?”
“Sir Zeke McLafflin?”
Count Hamilton, who had been momentarily taken aback, nodded readily.
“Very well. I cannot help but trust Sir Zeke McLafflin. After all, you’ve already apprehended that traitor Barton.”
“Thank you. I will certainly uncover who is behind this.”
“Then what torture instruments shall we—”
“Instruments won’t be necessary.”
“Not necessary? What do you mean?”
“I’ve thought of a method far superior to torture.”
Zeke McLafflin’s eyes gleamed with a sinister smile as he gazed toward his skill window.
[Basic Skill: Mimicry]
-Effect: For 30 minutes, you can imitate the face and voice of any person you desire.
-Special Notes: Only works on people whose faces you remember. The effect is dispelled if you take damage. There is a 30-minute cooldown after activation.

* * *
A solitary cell in the Underground Dungeon of Hamilton Castle, where prisoners were held.
Clang!
Count Agos’s cheeks trembled like jelly as he sat alone in that cell.
‘Kierus Barton. That son of a bitch dared to betray me?’
Barton had infiltrated the Hamilton Territory as my vassal for years, maintaining close contact with me.
Then one day.
He told me the time had finally come to execute the war and explained various strategies to me.
I followed his words without question.
I was Count Agos, placing complete trust in Barton.
But today, that trust shattered.
‘After all I’ve done for him, he pushes me aside to save his own skin? That worthless bastard!’
Of course, he was right—I knew nothing.
I didn’t know that person’s name, nor had I ever seen them directly.
I only knew they were a great being, and I’d spoken with them once through a communication channel.
But to sell the name of such a great existence just to survive.
It would be impossible without considerable audacity.
‘If that person finds out, you’re a dead man, Barton. Not that I have time to worry about others…’
Why would I concern myself with someone else’s fate when I didn’t know when I’d die?
Count Agos racked his mind, trying to recall any useful information.
He needed information valuable enough to trade for his life.
“Sigh… I have no information. Nothing at all.”
He was heaving heavy sighs of despair when.
Clang—!
Hearing the sound of the door opening, he turned around to see an unexpected person entering.
“What!? What are you doing here?”
“You said there’s no room, so I thought I’d impose on you for a while.”
The person who entered was none other than Barton.
Since this was the count who had been mocking him just moments before, sparks of fury were inevitable.
“You bastard! How dare you do this to me? Huh!?”
“Let go, will you? Before I call the guard.”
Count Agos, who had been grappling with him by the collar, released his grip roughly.
There was no point in fighting with this wretch when they were both trapped in the same cell.
“Damn dog. You think you’ll live after betraying your master? The moment you sell that person’s name, you’re a dead man.”
“That’s precisely why I demanded safe passage and living expenses as conditions. To survive while evading that person.”
“Fat chance. Do you really think you can escape from that person?”
At those words, Barton let out a bitter laugh.
“You speak as if you know them well. Yet you don’t even know their name or have ever seen them.”
“But I have spoken with them. I know well how formidable the epithet ‘Brahm’s Illusionist’ truly is.”
“So what? You’ll be dead soon anyway. I’ll be the one walking out of here alive. Hehehehe.”
“You treacherous bastard….”
At that grating laughter, Count Agos felt his fury ignite once more.
“You said it yourself—occupying Hamilton Territory would be easier than eating soft rice. So what is this? You gained the commander’s position and bungled the entire operation!”
“Now you’re blaming me? What did I do wrong?”
“You did plenty wrong! If you’d planned this properly, things wouldn’t have spiraled like this!”
“How was I supposed to know it would come to this?”
“You should have devised more thorough contingencies while in contact with that person!”
“And you think you made no mistakes? The audacity of your excuses knows no bounds.”
“What about me? I seduced the Lord of Hamilton’s daughter and executed the operation exactly as you instructed. I did my part!”
“You think you’re the only one who did your part? There are limits to how much you can twist the truth.”
“You insolent wretch!”
The count, unable to contain his rage, raised his hand to strike.
At that moment, the solitary cell door opened and the guard called out.
“Barton! A space has opened up. Come out now!”
“Looks like it’s time for me to go. This conversation was delightful.”
With those words, Barton left the solitary cell.
Under the burning glare of Count Agos.
But the count did not know.
That the person he had been dealing with was not Barton, but Zeke McLafflin disguised as Barton.
Squelch, squelch—
Barton’s face seemed to distort before transforming back into Zeke’s visage.
The guard, witnessing this transformation firsthand, could not hide his astonishment.
“To be able to change into another person. Magic truly is remarkable.”
‘Hmm…?’
Zeke felt a moment of bewilderment at the guard’s words, but he let it pass.
“I agree with you.”
“So? Did the interrogation yield any results?”
“Yes. We obtained some useful information.”
A few minutes earlier.
Zeke had confidently told the Lord that there was a better method than torture.
That method was to disguise themselves as each other, enter the cell, and conduct a leading interrogation.
This way, they could extract information easily without resorting to torture.
Provided the disguise wasn’t discovered.
Of course, Zeke was confident he wouldn’t be exposed.
He possessed a newly learned skill called Transmutation.
‘It changes not just my face but my voice as well. With this, everyone will be completely fooled.’
Transmutation was a skill specialized in impersonating others.
One might call it a superior version of the Shape-Shifting Scroll.
Since it altered not just appearance but voice as well, there was nothing better for deceiving someone.
That was why Zeke was currently disguised with the Lord’s permission.
“Will you interrogate Barton now?”
“Of course.”
As I answered the Guard, I confirmed that the cooldown had ended.
And I transformed my appearance once more.
Squelch—
Into the unmistakable form of Count Agos.
“Open the door. I’ll be back shortly.”
The Guard nodded and opened the Solitary Cell where Barton was imprisoned.

* * *
Most people cannot recall a terrible memory when asked to do so.
At least, that was true for noblewomen.
How could someone raised like a delicate flower in a greenhouse harbor such horrors?
But this did not apply to Tracy Hamilton.
She could answer immediately if asked to recall it.
The pain she had endured was that vivid.
‘That day, I wasn’t supposed to go outside….’
I had ventured out after hearing rumors of beautiful flowering trees blooming beyond the territory—a decision that would prove catastrophic.
I never imagined I would be abducted on the way and subjected to such torment.
‘If only I had possessed even a single blade… I could have at least resisted….’
Dwelling on such regrets, I gripped the dagger in my possession tightly.
Ever since that day, I carried a short blade for self-defense at all times.
Of course, carrying it meant only within the Lord’s Castle.
Venturing outside was unthinkable—the trauma had made it impossible even to dream of it.
Fear of men had also taken root within me.
This was why I had become a recluse, confined to my chamber.
Locked away as I was, extreme thoughts often surfaced.
I wished to erase those memories, even if it meant taking my own life.
‘No. Why should I die? If anyone deserves death, it’s that filth.’
When I heard that the war had been won and Count Agos had been captured as a prisoner, I resolved something.
At least I would witness Count Agos’s death before I died.
If anyone deserved to die, it was the perpetrator, not the victim.
So I made a bold demand of my father.
To execute him.
To kill that filth who had violated me.
But despite my firm words, my request was left unresolved.
The reason was that Count Agos might possess information about those behind the attack.
-Then, once you obtain the information, will you execute the Count?
-Hmm… Let’s think about that when the time comes.
I replayed the conversation with my father from moments ago, but still could not comprehend it.
Once the necessary information was extracted, why not execute him? What purpose did keeping him alive serve?
Especially someone who had caused me such suffering—why should he live at all?
I was still too young to grasp the complexities of political entanglement.
‘I cannot remain idle like this. I must speak to my father again.’
Brooding in my chamber would yield no answers.
If I delayed, Count Agos might truly be released.
I rose abruptly and hurried from my room toward the Lord’s Hall.
I would convince my father by any means necessary to proceed with Count Agos’s execution.
He had always indulged my wishes, so perhaps a few pleas would move him to act.
Tracy hastened her steps and soon arrived at the Lord’s Hall.
As she approached the entrance, the door suddenly swung open and a stream of vassals poured out.
Seized by sudden fear, Tracy instinctively shrank back into the shadows.
The trauma still made facing people terrifying.
“Thank goodness. The Lord’s resolve is firm.”
“Indeed. I was worried he might stubbornly insist on proceeding with the execution.”
“The Lord understands well enough—killing Count Agos would create complications in many ways.”
The vassals conversing drifted further away.
Tracy, watching their retreating forms, gasped in shock.
She had overheard their conversation entirely by accident.
‘Father has no intention of executing Count Agos….’
The hope she had clung to—that she could persuade her father—crumbled to dust.
Going to him now would be pointless; refusal was certain.
Political reasons made execution impossible.
But there was another way.
‘I have no choice but to do it myself.’

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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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