Another World Reincarnation Chronicle

---

“Wait a minute…! What are you doing moving around recklessly like this…?”

Without any explanation, I was walking firmly when Rain caught up to me and asked. It seems she hadn’t received the magic teachings of Haiven yet.

Ordinary wizards probably wouldn’t see it. The flow of mana scattering in the wind, with the sinister mana unique to dark magic flickering about.

“I sense something like a dark mage or something related to dark magic nearby.”

“Really…?”

Rain asked back with suspicion at my response. I nodded and continued walking. Passing through the vast plaza and along narrow alleys, we arrived in front of an old building that bathed in shadow.

It looked like no one had been around, as cluttered trash lay scattered about and cobwebs were strung everywhere. This desolate place was just perfect for hiding items related to dark magic.

“This is…”

As we got closer, Rain frowned as if she too sensed the malevolent mana.

“Seems like it’s inside the building.”

“Isn’t that dangerous? Shouldn’t we prepare first…”

As I reached out towards the building’s door, Rain stopped me. But I was confident there was no need to worry. An instinctive sense of assurance. Whatever lies beyond this door won’t be able to harm me.

Creeeak-!

The moment the door opened, just as Rain expected, rough mana burst forth from inside.

“Watch out-!”

With Rain’s warning, a purple blade of mana flew towards my neck. In that moment, the mana inside me surged. Even though I hadn’t moved my mana for casting a spell, it sensed the danger and began to respond.

A naturally formed mana barrier blocked the purple blade. The aimless magic could not maintain its form and reverted back into mana. Watching the slowly dispersing purple mana, I thought.

Though it was a brief time, the mana that flowed from Dragon’s Cradle had clearly impacted my physical body. Such phenomena wouldn’t occur otherwise.

“Are you okay…?”

By now, Rain had pulled out her staff and was gathering mana. She approached me while keeping her guard up inside the building.

“Oh, I’m fine. It wasn’t such a powerful magic after all.”

“Really…?”

If it had been Rain who opened this door instead of me, she would probably have had no serious injuries either. I stepped inside the building with Rain.

Unlike the messy exterior, the interior of the building was neatly organized. There were no dusty corners, and not even the usual spider webs. Someone had clearly cleaned this place to engrave a magic circle.

Multiple large magic circles were activated on the ceiling, floor, and walls. The steady flow of mana indicated it wasn’t an offensive magic.

“This is…”

“It’s absorbing the surrounding mana. It’s changing the nature of the mana itself…”

I was reminded of a familiar form of magic circle. I groaned as blurry memories resurfaced. How could I forget? This was undoubtedly the same magic circle I had seen in the past in the land known as Raoum.

A wicked magic that sucks the vitality from the land, ultimately turning it into a Land of Death where nothing can grow.

This magic circle was placed in a remarkably bold location. Wasn’t there enough room to create a dungeon deep within the earth and install a magic circle?

Or perhaps…

I quickly drew my Fire Dragon Sword and swung it. The blazing red blade of fire swept across the ceiling, floor, and walls of the building, severing the magic circle and dispersing all the mana that had been gathering here.

As the source of dark magic was destroyed, the sinister purple mana that had been swirling around completely vanished.

With the malignant mana gone, Rain, who had remained tense until the end, sighed in relief and relaxed her body. Her large pointed hat slumped down.

“Is it over now?”

I shook my head at Rain’s words. If it could end this simply, that would be nice, but we hadn’t yet found the dark mage who set up this magic circle.

“I think we need to look around a bit more. We have to find the dark mage, right?”

“Oh, right… I need to contact the Mage Tower first. We need to ensure the traces of dark magic are thoroughly erased.”

“Please leave that to you, Rain.”

“By myself? What are you planning to do? Aren’t you coming?”

“I’m going to look for the dark mage.”

“It’s dangerous to go alone…”

Rain stammered at my answer. However, she soon nodded and sighed.

“Well, fine… Just don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Okay.”

“Then let’s meet at the fountain around lunchtime.”

I bid farewell to Rain and exited the building. Rain would probably contact the Mage Tower while controlling people’s movements towards the wizard’s safe house.

After that, she would likely seek the cooperation of the Karma Empire guards to pursue the dark mage. The way the mages of the Mage Tower handled things was all rather similar.

Walking out of the alley, I looked up at the sky. It might seem strange to others, but I was chasing the afterimage of mana visible only to my eyes.

Even though I had dismantled the magic circle set up inside the building, the sinister mana unique to dark magic hadn’t completely disappeared. It was still swirling around this vast capital of the Karma Empire, so I could not afford to stop.

Following the sinister mana, I arrived once again at an abandoned building, just like before where few people were around. It was obvious that a similar magic circle had been installed inside as dark mana was flowing out.

Without a moment’s hesitation, I kicked the door open and swung my sword.

Boom-!

Crash-!

Before the magic circle set up to attack intruders could even activate, it lost its power. The searing red blade left a charred mark, completely severing the magic circle.

Surveying the inside of the building, I contemplated. The magic circle installed to prepare for intruders was a one-time use. It felt like there was an intent to use it only until it was discovered rather than protecting this place.

Was it a message to bulldoze through without building a proper foundation?

I jumped outside, guessing the dark mage’s intentions. Even after severing the second magic circle, the malevolent mana that enveloped the Karma Empire showed no signs of dispersing. So I kept moving forward, trailing the dark mana.

Following the dark mana, I inevitably arrived at another place where a magic circle was installed. Every spot was sparsely populated.

When I severed the magic circle at the fifth building, I sensed suspicious movements at the alley’s end. The gaze that seemed to monitor this place and the malevolent mana oozing from that body were not something that could be easily hidden.

I dashed out immediately.

Tap-tap-!

The dark mage started fleeing quickly as if sensing my movements. Barely visible, dark robes fluttered, revealing skin that had turned completely pale.

The speed of the dark mage was slightly faster than that of an average human. For me, who surpassed humans and was close to a dragon, it meant there was no chance for escape.

As soon as the short legs hit the ground, my body soared upwards. The moment I spotted the dark mage hiding between the narrow alleyways, I sent forth the two swords sheathed at my waist.

Swoosh-!

The swiftly launched twin dragon swords. The blades traced white and red arcs as they pierced through the dark mage’s legs and arms.

Thud-!

With the blades embedded in the ground, the dark mage fell. I landed gracefully like a gentle breeze next to him.

“Ugh, ugh…”

The face of the dark mage slightly exposed from within the robe was grotesque.

“You’re a dark mage, right?”

“If I say no, will you let me go…?”

The dark mage questioned back in a bizarre twisted voice to my inquiry. I merely shook my head at his question.

“As if I would.”

“Ugh…”

“What on earth were you thinking to be so bold in your actions?”

The dark mage did not answer my question. I wasn’t particularly anxious to hear a response, but at that moment when I was about to pull ropes from my bag to bind the dark mage, it happened.

Crack-!

From the floor where the dark mage lay squirming, rough mana erupted, and then arms and legs bound by the Ice Dragon Sword and Fire Dragon Sword were ripped apart.

“Grahahaha…”

“What the…?”

The dark mage smiled oddly at the severed stumps. In that moment, the severed limbs began to bubble and merge with the sinister purple mana, forming a strange shape.

Amidst the black flames that burned, a gaunt horse with only its skin remaining revealed itself. Its six legs indicated it was not of a normal breed.

Clop-!

To escape, it had sacrificed part of its body to summon a steed. Its bright shining eyes understood the dark magic used by the dark mage and began to move.

As its swiftly moving legs touched the ground, the Fire Dragon Sword embedded there was pulled out and came into my grasp. Maintaining that posture, I glided forward and swung the sword.

Crash-!

“Graaah!”

As the dark mage tried to leap onto the horse he summoned, his shoulder was severed. In an instant, he had lost both arms but without showing a flustered expression, he started riding the horse he had summoned.

Thud-thud-thud-!

Was it because it had six legs? The speed of the bony horse was considerable. I sighed as I watched the dark mage begin to flee through the crowd.

If he managed to hide among the people, it would be awkward to use magic. I lightly tapped my bag and opened my mouth.

“Nightmare!”

Whoosh-!

It responded immediately, as if it had been waiting for me to call it. The dark shadow that erupted from within the bag rapidly grew larger.

Whoosh-!

Thus began a game of tag with the dark mage. The moment I mounted Nightmare, it surged forth like a gust of wind.