The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 86

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Natural Enemy of Mages Has Been Reincarnated – Episode 86
A pitch-black void.
In that darkness where nothing could be seen no matter how one looked around, Princess Sillis felt terror grip her heart.
“H-hello? Is anyone there? Where… where am I…?”
“Hehehehe.”
What came in response was a sinister laugh.
It was not just one voice.
“Hehehehe.”
“Hehehehe.”
A dozen men emerged from the darkness.
Princess Sillis found herself surrounded by muscular men in an instant.
“P-please don’t. Don’t come any closer…”
Men with their upper bodies bare.
Eyes gleaming with lust.
Unless one was a fool, it was obvious.
What they wanted.
What they intended to do to her.
Even what would soon befall her.
As that realization struck her, her body went rigid with fear.
Though Princess Sillis was an accomplished Fifth Circle mage, terror consumed her so completely that she couldn’t even think of casting a spell.
The moment a man’s hand touched her, her mind went blank.
“P-please don’t do this. I’m begging you…”
Tears welled up instantly, streaming down her face.
Rough hands tore at her clothing.
Through it all, Princess Sillis could offer no resistance.
Her mind felt frozen by the shock.
She could only repeat meaningless words like a broken record.
“Please don’t do this. I’m begging you, stop. Someone help me. Please. Anyone, please help me…”
The light of hope flickered and dimmed.
Just as despair was about to consume her entirely.
Flash—
A beam of light pierced through the darkness.
At the same moment, the hands tearing at her clothes froze.
The light grew brighter, and the men scurried backward into the shadows like insects.
That was when Princess Sillis glimpsed hope.
‘A hand?’
Through the light, someone was extending a hand toward her.
Without hesitation, she grasped it.
It was a hand of salvation.

* * *
“Gasp, gasp….”
“Are you alright, Miss?”
Princess Sillis regained consciousness and blinked her eyes.
The men had vanished, and a familiar place came into view.
‘This is… my bedroom?’
Her personal maid gazed at her with concern.
“Did I… have a nightmare?”
It had been a terrible nightmare.
But it wasn’t an ordinary nightmare—she could tell from what the maid said.
“An illusion? I was caught in an illusion?”
“Yes… A man calling himself Brahm’s Illusionist appeared, but he was actually disguised as Marquis Winston. He was trying to execute some scheme, but when it didn’t go as planned, he revealed his true identity and cast an illusion on you… You really don’t remember?”
Hearing those words, the memory returned.
What had happened just before the illusion took hold.
The maid continued with her explanation.
“…That’s what happened. I didn’t see it myself, but that’s what occurred.”
“I see….”
As I heard the full circumstances, my memory became clearer.
“But how did I manage to escape the illusion?”
“It was thanks to the young master who suddenly appeared.”
“Young master?”
“Zeke McLafflin, the young master.”
At the unexpected name, my eyes widened, but the maid paid no mind and continued her explanation.
And I could understand everything that had transpired.
“So this Zeke person appeared and dispelled the illusion before it was too late…?”
“That’s right.”
‘Then the hand I grasped in the dream was…?’
Princess Sillis bolted upright from the bed.
“Oh, where are you going?”
“I want to meet him.”
“Who?”
“Zeke McLafflin, the young master. Is he still at the estate?”
“Yes, he is, but….”
“Take me to him.”
I wanted to meet him at once.
The benefactor who had saved me from despair.

* * *
Around the same time Princess Sillis awoke.
“Ugh….”
Jack Reinhardt, a guest of House Deporte, also regained consciousness.
“You’re awake? My lord?”
At the maid’s question, Jack looked around and assessed the situation.
Unlike Princess Sillis, my memories of the moments before were crystal clear.
“How long have I been lying here?”
“About half a day, sir.”
Perhaps that was why.
“Sigh….”
Jack’s face was etched with despair and lamentation.
I remembered exactly who I’d been fighting with before losing consciousness.
‘Whoever they were, they were incredibly strong. My aura blade didn’t work on them at all….’
At the time, Jack hadn’t even known that his opponent was Brahm’s Illusionist.
I’d simply seen them making strange advances toward Princess Sillis and attacked in a blind rage.
“Oh! Speaking of which, is Princess Sillis alright? Is she hurt anywhere….”
“The young lady is fine, so you needn’t worry.”
“Fine? When I lost consciousness, she still hadn’t regained hers, had she?”
“That’s true, but fortunately, the young master of the McLafflin Family came to her aid.”
‘The McLafflin Family?’
Though Jack was a citizen of Byso, a neighboring allied nation, he certainly knew the names of Decan’s three greatest magical families.
He was also aware that the Deporte Family had been discussing a betrothal with the First Son of the McLafflin Family.
‘Could they be talking about Peter, the First Son of the McLafflin Family?’
In that instant, a spark of jealousy flashed across Jack’s eyes.
For someone who had fallen for Princess Sillis at first sight, the approach of another man was utterly intolerable.
Even if that man was her lifesaver.
‘I won’t let anyone take Sillis from me. I must be the one to marry Princess Sillis.’
Jack shot up from his bed and asked the maid urgently.
“Where is it? Which room is the McLafflin young master in?”

* * *
Princess Sillis felt her nerves tighten as she made her way toward Zeke McLafflin’s chamber.
‘He saved me. So expressing gratitude is natural and expected. But….’
When she pressed her hand to her chest, her heart hammered like it might burst through her ribs.
‘Why is my heart racing like this?’
Ever since the Deporte family rose to third rank, suitors had come flocking, but even before that, men had always sought her out for her striking beauty.
Even those from other kingdoms, like Jack Reinhardt, had traveled far to ask for her hand.
Despite meeting countless suitors, I had never once felt this flutter in my chest.
None of them had ever felt like my destined partner.
But now.
‘This is different.’
My heart raced wildly even though I hadn’t yet seen his face.
I could dimly sense the reason why.
‘The destined partner I’ve been searching for all this time. It’s Zeke McLafflin.’
By the time I realized the truth, I had already arrived at Zeke’s door.
I steadied my thundering heart as best I could, swallowed hard, and knocked.
Knock, knock—
“First Son McLafflin, are you there? May I come in?”
“Yes.”
A voice came from within, and the door soon opened.
When a boy far younger than expected appeared, my eyes widened.
“Are you First Son McLafflin?”
“Yes, that’s correct. You must be Princess Sillis?”
“Yes.”
The fact that he recognized me confirmed this was indeed the person who had saved me from danger.
‘They said he was a 7th Circle mage, but he looks even younger than I expected. He can’t be more than sixteen.’
Yet there was nothing boyish about him.
The age gap between us—I’m twenty—wasn’t particularly large.
‘I like him.’
My first impression of Zeke was favorable.
His handsome features certainly helped, but more than anything, the thought that he was my destined partner made every aspect of him seem like a positive.
In short, I had fallen for him at first sight.
Noticing my sudden silence, Zeke tilted his head curiously.
“Princess, is there something you wished to tell me?”
“Ah, ah, um, um….”
I, who had never stammered before a man in my life, was inwardly flustered by my own behavior.
Regardless, Zeke simply met my gaze and waited patiently in silence.
“I, I came to thank you.”
“Ah, you mean for dispelling the illusion?”
“Yes. I’ve heard the full story. I’m truly grateful. For saving me, and for saving the Duke Family as well.”
“It was nothing, really.”
Zeke McLafflin offered a humble smile.
To Sillis’s eyes, even that gesture was a point of excitement.
“Um, First Son McLafflin.”
“Yes?”
“If you have time, would you… talk with me?”
She wanted to continue their conversation.
It was precisely then.
Thump, thump—
Footsteps announced the arrival of an unwelcome intruder.
“Princess Sillis.”
“First Son Reinhardt?”
The man who had suddenly appeared was Jack Reinhardt, who had once sought her hand in marriage.
“Are you injured anywhere?”
“Oh, I’m fine. But I heard about what you did. Thank you so much for stepping in.”
“Ha, it was merely the natural duty of a man. By the way…”
Jack’s gaze alternated between Sillis and Zeke McLafflin.
“Why are you here, Princess?”
“Oh, I was just thanking this First Son for his help.”
“So you are the First Son of the McLafflin Family who rescued Princess Sillis.”
‘First Son?’
Whether Zeke McLafflin frowned or not, Jack extended his hand.
“Thank you, First Son. For saving Princess Sillis.”
Zeke McLafflin found himself grasping the hand before he could fully process what was happening, and he was immediately struck by the crushing grip applied to it.
‘What’s with this guy? Why is he squeezing so hard? Is he trying to show off his strength?’
He had suddenly requested a handshake, then poured all his force into his grip.
Of course, for someone like Zeke McLafflin whose Strength stat exceeded three thousand, it was no more than a child exerting pressure.
‘Suddenly calling me First Son, showing off his strength in front of a woman—this guy’s amusing.’
While Zeke McLafflin entertained these thoughts, Jack was growing flustered.
‘What? Why isn’t he reacting?’
His opponent should have winced in pain, yet maintained a serene expression.
More than that, he was actually matching his force, applying just enough pressure in return.
‘He has the same strength as me? As an Aura Master?’
It was impossible.
A boy who appeared to be merely sixteen years old could not possibly possess strength equal to his own.
‘Did he enhance his strength through magic? Regardless, as a fellow First Son, this wounds my pride…’
Just as he was considering applying his true force, Sillis spoke.
“Jack. He’s not a First Son—he’s a Fourth Son.”
“Huh?”
With the clarification came the release of Jack’s grip.
“The Fourth Son, you said?”
“Forgive my late introduction. I am Zeke McLafflin, the Fourth Son.”
At Zeke’s introduction, Jack blinked his eyes twice.
Only then did he belatedly offer a proper greeting.
“Haha, my apologies for the misunderstanding. So you’re the Fourth Son, not the First Son.”
“But I’m afraid I don’t know who you are…”
“Ah, I’ve been remiss in my introduction as well. I am Jack Reinhardt, First Son of the Reinhardt Family of the Byso Kingdom.”
As Jack introduced himself, he held his chin high.
Most people were astonished upon hearing his name, recognizing it as belonging to a prestigious swordsmanship family.
However, contrary to his expectations, Zeke’s reaction was utterly indifferent.
“I see.”
That was all.
A gaze that seemed to say, “So what?”
‘What’s this? You don’t seem impressed by our family name?’
His pride as a member of a prestigious swordsmanship family wavered.
Perhaps that was why?
An impulsive remark burst from Jack’s lips.
“Young Master Zeke. I’ve heard that despite your youth—merely sixteen years old—you’ve already reached the Seventh Circle. How about we have a sparring match?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————