The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 9

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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 9
Raker could not help but be taken aback by the young master’s audacious question.
He’d nearly burst into laughter right then and there.
‘Aura? He wants me to teach him aura?’
Mages never even consider learning aura.
While both manifest through mana and share that commonality, their underlying structures differ fundamentally.
One might say they possess contradictory natures.
‘Which is precisely why one cannot employ both forces simultaneously.’
If forced to choose between them, magic was unquestionably a hundred—nay, a thousand times more advantageous to master.
Society’s perception reflected this, and conventional wisdom held that in a confrontation between an aura user and a mage of equal achievement, the latter would invariably prevail.
‘Had I possessed the talent, I would have become a mage myself. But lacking it, I had no choice but to walk this path.’
Yet here stood a young master of the Prestigious Magic Family, claiming he wished to learn aura instead of magic?
If it were a jest, it would certainly land.
“Surely you jest?”
“No, I’m quite serious.”
“As I understand it, Young Master Zeke has been striving to become a mage, have you not?”
“Then you’ve also heard that despite twelve years of effort, I failed to awaken any talent?”
“I have. Your coming-of-age ceremony was only days ago. But wasn’t your journey to the Dragon Ruins precisely to attempt a change in constitution?”
“It was.”
“Then why insist on learning aura?”
“Ah, there seems to have been some misunderstanding. I don’t mean to learn it—I’m simply curious about the principles behind how it works. I’d appreciate an explanation.”
“Ah….”
Raker finally understood.
The inquisitive nature of mages was something he could hardly fault.
‘Indeed, unless one were a fool, there’d be no reason to learn aura over magic.’
Still, there was no denying that the young master before him was peculiar.
In over twelve years serving as a knight of the Prestigious Magic Family, he’d never encountered a young master who asked to be taught aura.
“Very well. If you’re curious about the principles, I shall explain them.”
“Thank you, Sir Raker.”
“Think nothing of it.”
A young master who readily appended the honorific and offered thanks without hesitation—this too was a first.
Typically, scions of the Prestigious Magic Family regarded aura-wielding knights as inferior.
‘In every respect, this young master is quite extraordinary.’
Raker let out a soft chuckle, then suddenly caught himself, startled by his own laughter, and quickly composed his expression.
Fortunately, the young master beside him seemed not to notice, his gaze fixed elsewhere.
‘That was close.’
Talent or not, the one he currently served was the heir of the Duke Family.
Maintaining proper decorum was wise in many respects.
“Ahem, shall I teach you now?”
“I would appreciate that.”
Raker’s eyes blazed with enthusiasm, compelled by circumstance to teach me about aura.

* * *
“…That is why we accumulate aura in the dantian, where all the blood vessels of the body converge.”
“I see. You’re right—accumulating it in the heart like a mana circle would be reckless. Not only do they differ in nature, but there would be no space to serve as a conduit. Hmm….”
As I nodded in agreement, Raker regarded me with a somewhat surprised expression.
“You understand already, Young Master?”
“Yes. But what’s wrong? Did I miss something?”
“Ah, no. It’s just surprising that you grasped such a difficult concept for someone your age….”
‘Of course I understand. My mental age is already that of an adult.’
Counting from my previous life, I’m already past fifty years old.
I’ve long since passed the age of not understanding such things.
Beyond that, my Intellect stat exceeding 700 kept my mind sharp and active.
‘Regardless, it’s a fascinating principle. Transforming mana into aura and accumulating it.’
Aura was another form of energy created by transforming mana.
Its nature differed from magical power, which served as the foundation of magic.
‘If the nature is different, then I can learn aura.’
I couldn’t form a mana circle because of my mana absorption skill, but I could accumulate aura in my dantian.
Even if I couldn’t become a mage, becoming an aura user was entirely feasible.
‘Father would probably jump through the roof if I told him I wanted to become an aura user, wouldn’t he? My brothers would point and laugh too.’
A child of the Prestigious Magic Family aspiring to become an aura user was more than enough to become the family’s laughingstock.
But there was no denying that I needed to master aura to grow stronger.
‘Aura isn’t affected by mana absorption. If I learn it, I can become stronger independently of the system.’
I’d acquired the theoretical knowledge from Raker, so it would be good to study it from now on.
Of course, I’d keep it secret from everyone else.
‘Should I contact Father before we set up camp?’
I pulled a communication stone from my pocket.
I’d used it several times before, so I already knew how to operate it.
Since it ran on mana stones and had inscriptions carved into it, even ordinary people could use it.
Tap, tap, tap—
After tapping it three times, light emanated from the communication stone and the connection established.
“Father. It’s me.”
-Zeke? What’s the matter?
“Nothing. I just wanted to check in. I’m heading down now.”
-Coming down? Already?
“Yes. I should arrive tomorrow. I’ll see you then.”
After ending the call, I summoned the dragon to practice the aura I’d learned from Raker.
‘Golden Dragon. I have a question for you.’
-Grrgh, don’t call me by such a vulgar name!-
‘I’m thinking of learning aura. But if I deactivate mana absorption, what happens? Will your mana burst out and endanger the dantians of the other guards?’
—Ignoring my words, are you?
‘Hm? I should answer, shouldn’t I?’
The Golden Dragon, letting out a humiliated whimper, spoke in a reluctant tone.
—It’s not particularly dangerous. My mana only affects you, who’s wearing the necklace.
‘Your mana isn’t dangerous? That makes no sense. At the ruins, the mages and escort knights couldn’t even approach the mana fluctuations.’
—That was only because of the residual mana lingering in the earth. If we’re talking purely about the mana of my soul, it poses no harm to you humans.
‘Really? Or do I go straight into mental collapse?’
—I’m… I’m telling the truth. Wouldn’t you know if you stopped absorbing?
Seeing the panic, it didn’t seem to be a lie.
After a moment of deliberation, I hesitantly deactivated my mana absorption skill.
Then I immediately opened the window to gauge the surroundings.
“Is something the matter, Young Master? Do you need something?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Leaving Raker tilting his head in confusion behind me, I closed the mana-powered carriage window.
Click.
‘Really seems perfectly fine?’
—See? Why would I lie?
‘You have plenty of reasons to lie. Right now, this very moment, you’re probably scheming every way to slip out of my grasp, aren’t you?’
—Ahem, how could that be?
The lie was painfully obvious.
Truly a dragon with nothing but pride and utterly inept at deception.
‘Now then, shall I try operating aura?’
—But why would someone of your caliber bother learning aura? Mastering magic alone should be sufficient.
‘Why? To become stronger, of course.’
—Stronger than now? Even competent aura experts wouldn’t stand a chance against you. Your ambition knows no bounds.
‘Am I really at that level?’
—Didn’t you push open the stone chamber’s door with pure strength alone? That’s impossible for a human. Only someone at the advanced expert level of aura mastery could accomplish such a feat. Of course, if you’d used aura inside, your dantian would have shattered completely.
Hearing this, it seems the A-rank Hunter level I’d assumed for myself translates to advanced aura expert in this world.
‘Hmm. So that means mana and aura are forces of different natures? Even if there’s influence from the ruins’ mana?’
—Precisely.
If the natures differ, unlike with circles, creating aura shouldn’t cause abnormalities in my body.
It’s definitely worth attempting.
‘Don’t you dare try anything funny while I’m creating aura.’
—I won’t, I won’t. Besides, even if I wanted to, I can’t. I can’t use magic without mana stones anyway.
‘So that means you would’ve tried if you had mana stones?’
—Ahem, ahem…
Just clearing its throat and dodging the answer made it clear that was exactly what it had been thinking.
Well, even if it attacked, it wouldn’t matter.
I’m keeping my mana absorption skill active anyway.
‘So where should I…’
I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing.
I drew in mana to operate my aura, just as Raker had taught me.
Even with my skill deactivated, I could feel mana flowing into my body—a testament to my natural talent.
‘So this is mana.’
I concentrated harder, attempting to control the mana coursing through me.
My mana sensitivity was exceptional; the mana responded to my will with remarkable precision.
‘If I draw the mana to my core and transform its properties according to temperature….’
It becomes aura.
Exactly like this.
[You have acquired a new stat.]
[You have successfully awakened a new stat for the first time.]
[You have acquired a new basic skill.]
[A new tag has been registered.]
‘What? A new stat?’
Startled by the unexpected message, I ceased my aura operation immediately.
Not only a new stat, but new skills and tags as well?
I hastily opened my status window.
[Name: Zeke McLafflin]
[Tags: Reincarnate of Pangaea Continent, Decan Kingdom’s Finest Prestigious Magic Family, Youngest of Duke Family, Illegitimate Child, Servant, Zero Mana Affinity, Talentless in Magic, Diligent, Bookworm, 12 Years Old, A-Rank Hunter, Aura Beginner Novice]
[Strength: 736 / Intelligence: 726]
[Agility: 747 / Stamina: 735]
[Recovery: 743 / Resistance: 740]
[Vitality: 1]
[Basic Skills: Interpretation, Analysis, Rune Absorption, Aura Operation]
[1st Awakening Skill: Mana Absorption (9-Star)]
[2nd Awakening Skill: Master of Mana (9-Star)]
[3rd Awakening Skill: Magic Absorption (1-Star)]
[4th Awakening Skill: ???]
[5th Awakening Skill: ???]
[6th Awakening Skill: ???]
[7th Awakening Skill: ???]
Looking at my status window, I noticed a new stat had been added: “Vitality.”
‘The tag “Aura Beginner Novice” has been added too.’
And my basic skills as well.
[Basic Skill: Aura Operation]
-Effect: Awakens the concept and method of aura operation. Allows conversion of absorbed mana into vitality, and naturally grants understanding of physical enhancement through vitality.
-Special Note: You can only increase vitality by 10 points per day.
‘So vitality refers to aura in this context.’
The skill promised to awaken the concept and method—and indeed, I quickly grasped that aura and vitality were one and the same.
‘But wait, it converts absorbed mana into vitality?’
Startled, I activated my mana absorption skill.
Immediately, I began drawing in the dragon’s mana.
[You have absorbed 102 mana.]
[Converting absorbed mana into vitality.]
[Vitality has permanently increased by 1.]
My eyes widened as I read the message.
My vitality stat had genuinely increased.
‘This is excellent. If this works, I won’t need to deactivate mana absorption once I’ve hit my daily stat quota.’
I’d have to keep mana absorption active for the sake of vitality gains alone.
The only drawback was the daily acquisition limit.
‘Why not accumulate it right now while I’m at it?’
On the return journey, I sat in the mana-powered vehicle and continued absorbing the dragon’s mana.
As mana flowed in, I converted it into vitality on the spot.
Soon, another message appeared.
[You have reached the daily vitality increase limit.]
[You cannot increase vitality further today.]
‘So it’s just as written—I can only raise it by 10 per day.’
Disappointing as that was, it was still remarkable.
To accumulate vitality—aura—so effortlessly.
At this pace, I could catch up to my other stats within months.
Catch up? That might be underselling it.
I could surpass them overwhelmingly.
‘With Golden Dragon providing mana, I’ll never face a shortage. Hehehehe.’
—Whatever you’re muttering about, you sound positively sinister. Truly devious!
Ignoring the voice, I smiled and spent the remainder of the journey in contentment.

* * *
‘Zeke has already arrived?’
Gerard honestly hadn’t expected any progress.
When they parted at the Dragon Ruins, Zeke’s face showed not the slightest trace of mana sensitivity.
Hadn’t he walked through the very heart of the ruins—a place Gerard himself found difficult to approach—without any apparent concern, even waving his hand casually?
‘My youngest son returns so soon?’
As a father, he couldn’t help but feel a spark of hope.
There must have been some breakthrough for him to return this early.
Otherwise, there would be no reason to come back so quickly.
After all, this was the youngest who had stubbornly camped himself in the Magic Library, determined to awaken his mana sensitivity.
‘There must be a change in his constitution. Otherwise, he would have remained at the ruins until he succeeded.’
Though he hadn’t asked the reason, it had to be that.
Consumed by such thoughts, Gerard found himself grinning throughout the wait.
He enjoyed a rare night of comfort, stretching his legs out long enough to sleep soundly.
Until he met Zeke.
“Zeke!”
“Father. I’m home.”
“You must be exhausted! Was the journey difficult?”
“No, thanks to everyone here, I was able to travel safely and comfortably.”
“I thought you’d be gone for several more days. Why have you returned so early? Don’t tell me—have you made progress sensing mana?”
It was a question brimming with hope, but Zeke shattered those expectations entirely by shaking his head.
“No. I couldn’t sense anything at all. So I gave up and came back early.”
“What…?”
Faced with an answer so contrary to his expectations, Gerard could only stand stunned for a moment.
“You couldn’t sense any mana?”
“Not at all.”
….
The Dragon Ruins were a place even Arch-Mages feared to approach.
He had sent Zeke there hoping for some breakthrough, yet the results he’d anticipated never materialized.
‘This is… Does my son truly lack the talent to become a mage?’
Then why had the heavens blessed him with the talent to interpret runes?
Why grant him a gift possessed only by Arch-Mages, filling him with such hope?
Caught in a tangle of conflicting emotions, Gerard fell silent, even forgetting that Zeke stood before him.
It was then.
‘Hm?’
An overwhelming, untouchable mana—one that made his entire body tingle—lifted his gaze.
Impossibly, its source emanated from Zeke.

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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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