The Mage’s Nemesis Has Reincarnated - Chapter 99

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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 99
Wondering what was happening, I promptly answered the communication.
“Zakar Patrick.”
-Maligore Desbon. How have you been?
“I’ve been well. As it happens, I was just about to contact you….”
-Why? Is something the matter?
“It’s… rather embarrassing to discuss, but….”
The hesitant Maligore proceeded to confess everything that had transpired with the Iron-Blooded Lord.
For Zakar, it was a tale difficult to believe.
-You’re telling me the Iron-Blooded Lord, whom you defeated, allowed himself to be wounded by a mere intermediate-level Aura Master?
“He’s no mere intermediate-level Aura Master. He’s a Sword Mage who can even cast 7-Circle magic.”
-A Sword Mage? I’ve heard there’s a Sword Mage among the Forerunners….
“Is that so?”
-Yes. I don’t recall the details since I didn’t attend the conference…. So what happened?
“I saw his potential and thought it would be excellent to take him as my disciple… but he said he wished to become the disciple of someone stronger. So I fought Crious. The result was….”
-You obviously won, didn’t you?
“I lost….”
-Pathetic.
Maligore had no retort to Zakar’s rebuke.
The gap between them was that vast.
Even the Five Lords, called Grand Aura Masters, were nothing but ordinary people before the 12 Pioneers.
“There’s another problem beyond that.”
-What is it?
“Rather than let the Sword Mage slip away, I resolved to kill him and infiltrated the Reinhardt Family Estate… but I was discovered.”
-Discovered?
Discomfort crept into Zakar’s voice.
Who was it that helped grant him the power of Dark Aura?
It was none other than Zakar Patrick, the one on the other end of this call.
In exchange, Maligore had formed a [Covenant of Death] with Zakar.
Yet the assassination had failed, and the Dark power had been exposed?
It would be no wonder if Zakar’s mind was spinning.
-I instructed you to be cautious when conducting an assassination….
“My apologies.”
-How do you expect to eliminate the Five Lords and become the sole Grand Aura Master with this blunder? You’ll be hunted by the Five Lords themselves!
“…Is it truly impossible?”
-You’ve become a public enemy overnight! How will you even find them, let alone eliminate them, when you should be fleeing from the Five Lords!
The Iron-Blooded Lord would certainly expose this truth to the world.
Thus he would tarnish the reputation of the Dark Lord while ensuring the other Five Lords learned of it as well.
-In the end, you’ve become an outcast, separated from the pack. It’s only natural, given your transgression.
“….”
—Haven’t I told you repeatedly? Don’t be impatient. Gather information slowly from the Five Lords’ side. Build your strength through sparring, and eventually you’ll find an opportunity to locate the other Five Lords. But now it’s all fallen apart.
“Y-yes, I’ll do everything I can to reconcile with the Iron-Blooded Lord.”
—Forget it. Since it’s come to this, we might as well wage an all-out war. I’ve already devised a plan.
“A plan, you say…?”
Moments later, Zakar Patrick outlined the strategy he’d formulated.
It was a method to capture three rabbits with one stone—including the Iron-Blooded Lord.
—We’ll eliminate them all at once.
A sinister chuckle echoed through the communication channel.

* * *
Since becoming a disciple of the Five Lords.
I had been staying at the Reinhardt Duchy, receiving one-on-one instruction from Crious.
Jack Reinhardt, my fellow disciple, was in the same situation.
Though the atmosphere between us differed considerably.
“That’s it! That’s exactly the stance I was talking about. You grasp it immediately and apply it perfectly.”
‘Tch…’
Crious, my father, spared no praise for me as I took up my sword and assumed the proper form.
The Crious I knew was a caring father in daily life, but stingy with compliments during training.
Yet since we began training, he’d praised me countless times.
‘He’s never done this for me even once…’
It was only natural that Jack felt envious.
Ruin McLafflin, my younger brother, seemed to understand his twin’s feelings and patted his shoulder.
“Hang in there, brother.”
“…Could you be quiet? It’s not like you’re drumming on a door beside me.”
His response was sharp and irritable, but Ruin’s concern was solely for his twin brother.
He couldn’t help but worry that his brother’s self-esteem might crumble.
‘Zeke McLafflin.’
Ruin’s gaze fixed on the stance Zeke was taking.
‘His learning speed is truly exceptional. He’s absorbing Father’s teachings like a sponge and applying them immediately.’
Moreover, he was even adapting and innovating, so it was only natural that Crious didn’t hold back his praise.
From a teacher’s perspective, it was a joy to instruct someone like this.
Conversely, it also meant he’d never had a truly satisfying disciple until now.
‘Now I understand why Father treats him that way.’
Among the three of us—Zeke, Jack, and Ruin—he was the most exceptional, with talent that far surpassed the rest. He was bound to catch Father’s eye.
It would be a lie to say I wasn’t envious.
“You’re following my teachings far better than I expected.”
“It’s thanks to having such an excellent teacher.”
“Ha, no need for modesty. You deserve to be proud. I guarantee you have the caliber for it.”
Though Crious was lavishing praise upon me, I knew well that I wasn’t truly such a talented individual.
‘The truth is, all of this is thanks to the system.’
The Blessing of the War God—a buff I’d recently acquired—made everything click into place.
Complex movements, intricate theory, all of it flowed through my understanding like water, applicable without hesitation, and I owed it entirely to the blessing’s power.
Moreover.
[You have received instruction and gained enlightenment.]
[Aura has increased by 30.]
[You have received instruction and gained enlightenment.]
[Aura has increased by 40.]
Whenever I received instruction that would elevate my swordsmanship, my aura surged forward.
If this pace continued, I’d reach the advanced tier of Aura Mastery by next year—I was certain of it.
“Theory and technique drills are finished. Now we move to practical combat.”
Crious surveyed his three disciples in turn before calling out.
“Jack and I sparred last time, so Ruin—you’ll face Zeke McLafflin.”
“Understood.”
Ruin stepped forward before me, wooden sword in hand.
We’d already exchanged names previously, so there was no need for introductions.
We simply drew upon our competitive spirit—nothing more.
“I look forward to this, Young Master Zeke McLafflin.”
“And I as well.”
The two of us exchanged courteous bows and assumed our stances with wooden swords.
‘Jack’s twin brother, they said? His stance is surprisingly solid.’
Since he was also at the lower tier of Aura Mastery, his skill would undoubtedly be formidable.
But.
‘That won’t be enough against me.’
I’d already grown technically stronger through the instruction I’d received.
I knew better than anyone how this duel would unfold.
‘Still, I shouldn’t end it too quickly.’
As that thought crossed my mind.
“Begin!”
The duel commenced.
“Haaah!”
Ruin closed the distance in an instant, unleashing his wooden sword with a fierce cry.
His swordsmanship came at me with full force.
Though the difference in aura might put him at a disadvantage in raw power and speed.
‘But technique—that’s where things change!’
With that conviction, Ruin applied every sword technique he knew, driving me into a corner.
Or rather, he intended to.
But.
Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack!
Every single attack was intercepted by my wooden sword.
The way I parried each blow as though I’d anticipated them made even Crious and Jack widen their eyes in astonishment.
Ruin McLafflin, the person directly involved, went without saying.
‘It’s as if he’s seeing three moves ahead, not just one.’
He anticipated and blocked each sword strike with precision, even distinguishing the feints.
As though they had choreographed the exchange beforehand.
“Huff, huff.”
Ruin McLafflin, who had been pressing the attack relentlessly, finally ceased his movements, exhausted.
No matter what technique he employed, his attacks were repelled.
It felt like standing before an insurmountable wall.
Then Zeke’s composed voice struck his ears.
“Have you shown me everything?”
“….”
“Then I’ll counterattack now.”

* * *
The duel between Zeke McLafflin and Ruin McLafflin ended far more anticlimactically than expected.
*Slash*
“It’s over.”
“….”
Ruin McLafflin, who had allowed his own throat to be exposed on the very first counterattack, admitted defeat with a dumbfounded expression.
“I’ve lost.”
At such a hollow defeat, neither Jack Reinhardt nor Crious could hide their astonishment.
‘Zeke blocked Ruin’s attacks dozens of times, while Ruin couldn’t defend against a single one of his.’
That fact spoke to the vast chasm between them.
It was no mere difference between lower and middle tiers.
It felt like facing a Grand Aura Master.
Ruin himself must have felt it even more keenly.
‘He must be feeling utterly devastated.’
Crious worried his son might lose confidence, yet simultaneously could not help but marvel at the gem that was Zeke McLafflin.
‘At sixteen years old, such talent. He’s even more of a monster than I thought.’
At this rate, he might truly become the next Grand Aura Master.
Perhaps because of such thoughts, the smile lingering at the corner of his mouth showed no sign of fading.
“We’ll end today’s training here.”
“Thank you for your instruction.”
“….”
“….”
Among the three disciples, only Zeke McLafflin’s voice carried vitality and energy.

* * *
“Did I go too far?”
I muttered this to myself in the magical carriage, recalling my sparring match with Ruin.
My heart felt unsettled, as though I’d just finished bullying a small child.
“I should have held back a bit.”
When I activated Future Foresight during the match, there was no way I could lose.
I could see exactly where and how my next attack would land.
‘Well, at least I managed to grasp how to use Future Foresight properly because of it.’
Currently, I was heading toward the Teleport Gate after bidding farewell to my master.
It was time to return to the Mercenary Company.
When my master asked when I’d return, I could only brush off the question by saying I’d come back whenever I had time.
After staying for over ten days, I’d already overextended my absence from the Mercenary Company.
‘The territorial war might have already been scheduled.’
Without a doubt, the Mercenary Company was eagerly awaiting my return.
Since the date I’d promised to return had already passed, I couldn’t afford to delay any longer.
“We’ve arrived, Lord Zeke McLafflin.”
At the attendant’s words, I stepped out of the magical carriage, offered a polite greeting, and entered the Teleport Gate.
The Border Guard Station recognized me and allowed me through without any additional procedures.
Whoooosh—
The scenery shifted in the blink of an eye, and I, still marveling at the sensation, boarded the magical carriage prepared by the Decan Kingdom’s Border Guard Station and returned to where the Mercenary Company was located.
Clatter-clatter-clatter—
‘No matter how many times I ride in this carriage, I can’t seem to get used to the shaking.’
With nothing to do in the swaying carriage, I opened my status window.
[Name: Zeke McLafflin]
[Tags: Reincarnator of Pangaea Continent, Youngest of the Decan Kingdom’s Most Prestigious Magic Family, Duke Family’s Youngest, Boatman, Illegitimate Child, Diligent, Bookworm, 16 Years Old, SS-Rank Hunter, Intermediate Aura Master, Draconian, Genius of Silent Incantation, Decan’s Sword Mage, Disciple of the Iron-Blooded Lord]
[Strength: 3,962 / Intelligence: 3,898]
[Agility: 3,971 / Stamina: 3,991]
[Recovery: 3,947 / Resistance: 3,898]
[Mana: 16,380]
[Basic Skills: Interpretation, Analysis, Rune Absorption, Aura Operation, Aura Infusion, Aura Blade, Subspace, Eye of Truth, Blessing of Light, Hunter’s Senses, Soul Severance, Modulation, Sage’s Eye, Fortitude, Berserk, Future Foresight, and 728 other spells]
[1st Awakening Skill: Mana Absorption (9-Star)]
[2nd Awakening Skill: Master of Mana (9-Star)]
[3rd Awakening Skill: Magic Absorption (9-Star)]
[4th Awakening Skill: Master of Magic Absorption (9-Star)]
[5th Awakening Skill: Magic Replication (7-Star)]
[6th Awakening Skill: ???]
[7th Awakening Skill: ???]

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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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