The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 81

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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 81
“The milk contains a hallucinogenic agent that Azrahil Johnston himself created. It’s highly addictive—once you drink it, you can’t help but crave it and become dependent on it. But the true effect lies elsewhere.”
“What is it?”
“Those who consume the hallucinogenic agent see a god. They witness the deity worshipped by the Mados Religion and develop blind, fanatical faith.”
“So what you’re saying is, even someone without an ounce of faith can be turned into a devoted believer just by drinking the milk?”
“Precisely. What we’ve been doing to the villagers was testing this hallucinogenic agent. Through continuous observation, our task was to determine how long the hallucinogenic effects persist and whether they cause any adverse reactions.”
In other words, they were conducting human experiments on the villagers.
‘This matches Leon’s testimony.’
I had been prepared to inflict pain immediately if he lied, but Greg spoke only the truth.
He clearly didn’t want to die.
“What else? If Azrahil ordered you to do anything else, tell me.”
“Well, that is….”
Greg hesitated before continuing cautiously.
“We tested various hallucinogenic agents frequently. For example, we’d bring in noblewomen kidnapped from somewhere and force him to kill them, or he’d enjoy various forms of torture. Of course, I’m not saying I enjoyed it—I mean Azrahil Johnston enjoyed it….”
[The target you are observing is currently speaking the ‘truth’.]
Despite his stammering seeming unconvincing, every word was true.
“And sometimes he’d bring in boys, drug them, and then inflict wounds to test how much pain the drugs could numb—he’d even kill them alive. Other times he’d bring in girls and….”
“Stop. I can’t stomach hearing any more.”
There was nothing more I needed to hear.
It was clear that Azrahil Johnston was a sadistic pervert who enjoyed suffering.
“So what’s the plan with gathering all these believers?”
“I don’t know that far. Truly. We just do as we’re told… Aaaahhhhh!”
My dagger sliced through Greg’s finger.
A false response had triggered.
“Every time you lie, I’ll cut off a finger. Next comes the toes, then the eyes, nose, and mouth. Or should I start with the eyes instead?”
“I’m, I’m sorry! I, I misspoke!”
“Tell me everything honestly. What is Azrahil planning?”
“I, I don’t know exactly, but there’s one thing I do know! Azrahil Johnston is targeting the Mine!”
“The Mine?”
“Hamilton Mine!”
I had received the same information from Kierus Barton at the Lord’s Castle.
That Azrahil Johnston was targeting Hamilton Mine.
“What’s there?”
“I, I don’t know, but he said there are minerals sleeping there to be used as materials….”
“Materials for what?”
“I don’t really….”
“Tell me everything you know about the Mados Religion.”
“I, I’m sorry, but I don’t know anything about that either….”
My eyebrows furrowed sharply.
Startled by my expression, Greg quickly added something.
“I-I’m telling the truth! I don’t know a damn thing about the Mados Religion! I’m an atheist who couldn’t care less about religion! Oh, that’s right! Someone else would know!”
“Who?”
“Samuel! I heard that Samuel, ranked 5th, is a believer of the Mados Religion! Alondo, ranked 8th!”
“Hmm, is that so?”
Only then did Zeke’s expression brighten.
I had been so worried when I thought the lead had gone cold.
“In that case, I need to gather everyone.”
“Huh? W-Who?”
“The Mage Guild members. Starting from rank 4 and everyone below you.”
“M-Me, personally?”
“Yes. Call them all here, even if you have to make up some ridiculous excuse. And have them bring any remaining milk. If anyone dares to spread loose talk… you know what happens, right?”
“Y-Yes, I understand.”
Greg pulled out a communication crystal from his pocket and summoned the guild members as instructed.
“This is an order from Chad. Bring all remaining milk and gather at the entrance to Daikin Village immediately. Relay this to those below your rank and tell them to assemble now.”
-I-I’m having trouble right now. There’s work I need to attend to here…
“Don’t make me repeat myself.”
-Y-Yes, understood. I’ll relay the message and depart at once.

* * *
Time passed, and the entrance to Daikin Village was now lined with an unexpected procession of carriages.
Ranks 4, 5, 7, 8, and so on.
Greg’s subordinates had gathered in one place as ordered.
“What’s this sudden summons about? We’re supposed to be watching over Huidon Village…”
“I was also contacted while I was on surveillance.”
“Same here.”
“I wonder what Chad wants with us?”
“Dennis, do you have any idea what this is about?”
“Not a clue. How would I know? I was just dragged here out of nowhere.”
“But where is Greg? Hasn’t he arrived yet?”
“Here.”
Greg, ranked 3rd, emerged from one side of the forest.
Chad, ranked 2nd, was with him.
“Oh, Chad is here too.”
“Everyone’s arrived.”
“What is this about?”
“Before I explain, bring the milk you’ve brought and come inside. This place is too conspicuous.”
Chad entered the forest first, and the others followed, each carrying boxes from their carriages.
All the guild members had gathered deep within the forest.
“Everyone’s here.”
“The lower ranks haven’t arrived yet?”
“I’m here, though?”
Nathan, standing beside Chad, raised his hand eagerly.
“When did you get here?”
“I’ve been with Chad the whole time.”
“Enough chitchat. Let’s get to the main point quickly. If we delay any longer, I’ll really catch hell from Azrahil Johnston.”
“That’s right. I’m already anxious about being scolded for not keeping watch properly.”
Though several urged him forward anxiously, Chad laughed with ease.
“There’s no need to worry. It was Azrahil Johnston himself who told us to gather here.”
“What?”
“Really, truly?”
“We’re all assembled, Azrahil Johnston. Please come out now.”
The moment Chad finished speaking, a shimmer of invisibility dissolved, and Azrahil Johnston appeared.
“You’ve gathered without delay.”
“Azrahil Johnston!”
“Don’t worry. I won’t reprimand you for leaving your posts. Rather, I’ve summoned you because a grave matter has arisen.”
“A grave matter?”
“I cannot divulge the details, but due to internal circumstances, we find ourselves in urgent need of expanding the Mados Religion’s followers. Therefore, from this moment forward, you will all consume a certain substance.”
“Us as well?”
“Yes. That’s why I had you bring the surplus milk.”
“Ah….”
So they were to drink milk laced with hallucinogens and become followers of the Mados Religion, just like that?
The guild members’ expressions hardened visibly.
“B-but Azrahil Johnston, sir. If we consume the hallucinogenic substance, we won’t be able to properly monitor the village….”
“Don’t concern yourselves with that. The drug testing is nearly complete, so surveillance is no longer necessary. Therefore, I’m ending the test as of today. You simply need to consume the milk as instructed.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, understood.”
Though they reluctantly acquiesced, the guild members couldn’t hide their reluctance.
How could they feel good about consuming the same hallucinogenic substance they’d been testing on the villagers?
They had no desire to do so, yet they couldn’t refuse either.
They’d known since serving under Brahm’s Illusionist that refusal meant death.
“Among you, those who believe in the Mados Religion—raise your hands.”
Samuel, ranked fifth in the hierarchy, and Alondo, ranked eighth, quietly raised their hands.
“You two will explain everything about the Mados Religion to the other guild members—its teachings, its principles, the number of followers, methods of worship, and all else. These brothers will soon become initiates, so they must understand the Mados Religion.”
“Ah, we shall do so!”
“Leave it to us!”
The two accepted eagerly.
They felt a profound sense of exaltation at the prospect of spreading the teachings of their own faith.
“Come here, please. I shall explain the Mados Religion to you.”
“The Mados Religion is a faith devoted to Mados, the god of darkness and destruction. Standing in opposition to him is Elos, the god of light and restoration.”
The two Mados Religion believers propagated the doctrine—which might otherwise have been tedious—with expressions brimming with fervor.
The conscripts forced into joining could only listen and accept it.
Yet only one person watched the scene with satisfaction.
Azrahil Johnston—or rather, Zeke disguised as Azrahil.
‘They’re thrilled, absolutely thrilled. The way they’re spouting off information about the Mados Religion. Everything’s going according to plan, which works perfectly for me.’
After summoning another Mage Guild member, I had pondered how to extract information about the Mados Religion.
The thought was that torture might not work as expected.
‘That’s what makes fanatics so terrifying—their conviction rivals anyone else’s.’
Fanatics would never betray their god.
Even under torture, they wouldn’t easily break.
The Guild members who were believers of the Mados Religion might be such fanatics too.
‘I need to extract information through a different method than torture.’
The method I devised was exactly what I was doing now.
Summoning a Guild member and expanding the number of initiates.
This way, they’d voluntarily spill information to spread their doctrine.
Fortunately, that prediction proved accurate.
“…This is the ultimate doctrine that our Mados Religion pursues.”
“A-are we done?”
“Yes, we’re finished.”
“Ah, yes… I heard it all….”
Exhaustion was evident on the initiates’ faces.
Having listened to over thirty minutes about a religion they had no interest in, they could only be worn out.
If Zeke, disguised as Azrahil, hadn’t been present, they might have sewn their mouths shut.
[Completed: Uncovered the scheme while delivering goods!]
[You have cleared the sudden Quest!]
[You gain 700 random stats as a reward.]
[You gain 5,000 5th Circle skill proficiency as a reward.]
[Proficiency remaining until 8-Star achievement: 7,080/100,000]
As the rewards scrolled in, my lips curved upward.
‘Finally, the Quest is complete.’
The system seemed to judge that it had heard enough information.
Just as I was wearing a satisfied smile, another Quest appeared.
【Main Quest: Kill Azrahil Johnston!】
└You have obtained information that Azrahil Johnston, one of Brahm’s Illusionists, is testing hallucinogens and attempting to seize the Hamilton Mine.
└Kill Azrahil Johnston and prevent his misdeeds.
【Conditions】
└Eliminate Azrahil Johnston
【Rewards】
└Acquire skill ‘Resilience’
└Acquire item ‘Belt of Phantoms’

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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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