The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 90
—————
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 90
‘What is this…?’
Zeke McLafflin removed his hand and pressed against the wall once more.
The same message appeared again.
‘There’s mana beyond this wall?’
It was certain.
Every time his hand touched the wall, the message surfaced.
‘I’ll know once I dig it out.’
Normally, excavating a cave would require a pickaxe, but Zeke had no need for such tools.
He possessed an Aura Blade capable of cleaving through mountains of stone.
Tssssss—
He formed the shape of an elongated blade, oriented himself toward the wall, and swept his arm forward.
Crack! Crackle!
Stone fragments scattered as the space expanded.
The cave deepened progressively.
‘The work supervisor will have a fit when he finds out later.’
Now that Zeke had discovered a clue, he could not abandon it.
Thus he found himself engaged in mining—something entirely foreign to his nature.
Crack! Crackle!
The wall crumbled like tofu, and stone debris cascaded downward.
As Zeke continued excavating, he drew ever closer to the point where mana emanated.
[Mana detected at the 43m mark.]
[Mana detected at the 26m mark.]
…
…
[Mana detected at the 1m mark.]
After excavating fifty-nine meters alone and leaving only one meter remaining, Zeke finally unearthed the final mass of stone.
‘Hmm? What is that?’
Something blue was embedded among the stone fragments.
It gleamed alone among the dull minerals, luminous as a precious gem.
With the care of one harvesting ginseng, he used his Aura Blade to carefully remove the surrounding stone debris.
The blue mineral he extracted was roughly the size of an adult’s head.
‘It’s larger than I expected.’
Mana unmistakably flowed from this mineral.
It felt distinctly different from artificially crafted mana stones made by human hands.
‘This is it. The mineral Azrahil desired.’
Azrahil had known all along.
That this nameless mineral lay dormant deep within the Hamilton Mine.
‘Would anyone recognize what this is if I showed them?’
Zeke pondered briefly, then shook his head.
Even if I understood minerals, showing it would be impossible to predict the consequences that might follow.
‘If this ore is tens or hundreds of times more valuable than the common iron ore found here….’
Internal conflict might break out among the miners over possession of the mineral.
The moment news of the mineral’s discovery spread, the 12 Pioneers might very well reduce the territory to rubble to conceal the information.
‘Since I can’t predict what will happen, I should keep this to myself for now.’
Zeke opened a subspace and placed the blue-glowing mineral inside.
Then he activated the Aura Blade once more.
[Mana detected 2m in the 3 o’clock direction.]
[Mana detected 3m in the 4 o’clock direction.]
[Mana detected 1m in the 11 o’clock direction….]
To extract the minerals sleeping throughout the Mine.
* * *
‘There’s more, but should I stop here?’
After extracting a reasonable amount of ore, Zeke returned to Lord’s Castle.
When he asked a passing Maid, she said the Lord of Hamilton had gone to Tracy’s room.
“Lord of Hamilton. It’s Zeke.”
“Come in.”
As the door opened, the first thing he saw was Tracy sleeping peacefully.
The Lord of Hamilton and Deporte’s Daughter were watching her with concern.
“Sir Zeke. Did you have a good look at the Mine? Did you find what you were searching for?”
“Well, it seemed no different from an ordinary mine.”
“Is that so?”
Of course, it was a lie.
How could I mention that I’d extracted an enormous amount of blue-glowing ore?
But the Lord of Hamilton seemed to believe my words.
It appeared he had no particular expectations for the Mine from the start.
Or perhaps this wasn’t a situation for deeper contemplation.
‘The atmosphere feels off somehow….’
Zeke asked the Count, who was filled with worry and concern.
“How is Tracy?”
“She fell asleep just a moment ago. Her condition isn’t good at all.”
“I thought she’d overcome the trauma after Count Agos died. Was I wrong?”
“It seems so. Well, after experiencing something like that, it’s only natural it wouldn’t fade easily….”
‘Panic disorder, social anxiety, something like that?’
For now her condition appeared to have improved, but when she faced people again—especially men—she would likely suffer another episode like this.
‘It won’t be easy to overcome. Not unless I help.’
Zeke had a way to help Tracy.
Using illusions to implant good memories.
‘I won’t be able to erase the trauma, but I can bury it.’
With that thought in mind, I spoke first.
It wasn’t a difficult matter, after all.
“I believe I can help Tracy.”
“Hmm? How so?”
I explained that illusion magic would be useful in assisting her.
“Illusion magic? You can use illusion magic as well, Sir Zeke?”
“Yes. Though my skill is humble compared to Brahm’s Illusionists.”
“Did I not tell you? Sir Zeke dispelled our daughter’s illusion magic.”
Duke Deporte also lent his support to my words.
Count Hamilton had nothing to deliberate over.
“If you can cure my daughter, you may do whatever you wish. I beg of you, Sir Zeke.”
“Very well. I shall resolve this.”
Just as I received permission and reached out to place my hand upon Tracy’s head—
[An Urgent Quest has occurred!]
‘What?’
A Quest suddenly appeared before me.
I checked what it was, and it was nothing significant.
【Urgent Quest: Cure Tracy】
└Tracy Hamilton, daughter of Lord Burke Hamilton, suffers greatly from trauma.
└Use illusion magic to implant positive memories and help her overcome her trauma.
【Conditions】
└Cure Tracy using illusion magic
【Rewards】
└5th Tier Skill Proficiency increased by 6,000
It was to cure Tracy from the illusion.
The system had simply converted what I was already planning to do into a Quest.
‘It’s not a difficult Quest. But…’
From this Quest, I could discern two facts about the system.
First, the system was observing me.
Given that it issued the Quest only after witnessing my actions, this seemed highly probable.
‘And second, the system can only grant rewards through Quests.’
If it wanted to reward me for curing Tracy, it could have simply given the reward after the cure.
Yet it issued a Quest beforehand, attaching the reward to it?
Perhaps the system could not grant rewards without the condition of a Quest.
‘Hmm, I’ve obtained a rather valuable clue.’
It was a moment of deeper understanding about the system.
‘In any case, it’s offering a reward, so I have no reason to refuse.’
After accepting the Quest, I focused on what I had originally intended to do.
Placing my hand upon Tracy’s head and casting the illusion.
* * *
“Is it done, Sir Zeke?”
“Yes, it’s finished. Tracy will no longer remember her past.”
“Well done, well done indeed.”
As the Lord of Hamilton patted my shoulder, I found myself wiping my forehead for no particular reason.
In truth, it hadn’t been such an arduous task.
All I had to do was design and inject the desired content through illusory magic.
‘I filled her mind with only pleasant memories, enough to diminish her fear of men—so much so that she won’t even recall that suffering anymore.’
I had my doubts about whether this was right, but the Lord of Hamilton had permitted it, and I had acted with good intentions.
It wasn’t as though I had committed some grand act of memory manipulation.
‘Even if she tries to recall it, the memory will remain shrouded in mist. I injected only the faintest of illusions.’
Instead, I had taken care to leave only positive feelings toward people, which alone should be enough for her to overcome her trauma.
“Ah, she’s awake.”
“Tracy, are you conscious?”
Tracy, freshly roused from sleep, was rubbing her eyes.
A faint smile played at the corners of her mouth, as if she had been dreaming something pleasant.
“Yawn… I slept well… What are you all doing here?”
Tracy’s expression was one of bewilderment.
Her father, Deporte’s Daughter, and I were all gazing down at her with concern.
Those who witnessed this scene felt inwardly relieved.
Tracy’s face made it abundantly clear that she remembered nothing of what had transpired in the mine.
“We were simply having a conversation. While we did, you fell asleep…”
“Is that so? I’m sorry for dozing off.”
“No, no, it’s fine.”
As Tracy apologized, Duke Deporte waved his hand while glancing toward the Lord of Hamilton.
The Lord’s expression seemed on the verge of breaking into tears at any moment.
Seeing this, Tracy was startled.
“Father? What’s wrong?”
“Ah, no, something got in my eye…”
The Count wiped away his tears with an excuse that didn’t quite hold, then rose from his seat.
“Tracy looks tired, so let us retire and rest.”
“Of course.”
“You rest a while longer, Tracy.”
“Ah, Father?”
Following the Lord of Hamilton as he fled outside, Deporte’s Daughter and I departed as well.
He was letting loose the tears he had been holding back.
They were tears of joy.
“Why are you like this?”
“I’m happy. I’m so happy that my daughter has returned to herself…”
“From what I can see, Tracy has indeed found her peace.”
“Prince Zeke McLafflin succeeded?”
The Lord of Hamilton wiped away his tears and finally turned to face me.
His gaze brimmed with gratitude deeper than ever before.
“I am truly indebted to you, Sir Zeke McLafflin.”
“Not at all. It was hardly a difficult task.”
“No. Without you, Tracy would never have regained her true form. I am truly grateful.”
As the Lord of Hamilton grasped my hand and offered his thanks repeatedly, I could feel a father’s sincerity in his words.
“Sir Zeke McLafflin. It may be inappropriate to ask in such circumstances, but do you perhaps have a betrothed?”
At the mention of a betrothal, the ears of Deporte’s Daughter standing nearby perked up more than Zeke McLafflin’s own, the person directly involved.
“No, I do not, but may I ask why you inquire…?”
“Because I wish to keep you close by my side. I would grant you a title if I could, but now that I know you are of the Duke Family, such a thing is hardly possible, is it not?”
In short, he was saying he wished to make me his son-in-law.
“What say you? I understand the age difference between you and Tracy is not so great….”
“Wait, wait just a moment! Count Hamilton. Or rather, Burke!”
Duke Jose, flustered, hastily stepped forward to block him.
“Sir Zeke McLafflin already has someone.”
“Someone, you say? Who might that be?”
“…?”
Both the Lord of Hamilton and I myself looked at the Duke with curious eyes.
A betrothed I knew nothing of?
Who could that possibly be?
Duke Jose fumbled for words.
“In any case, there is someone! So do not presume further.”
“Surely you do not mean….”
“This conversation is hardly appropriate for such a place! Let us retire to your chambers at once.”
Duke Jose, whether flustered or not, hastily ushered the Lord of Hamilton away.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————