Became a Medieval Fantasy Wizard-Chapter 314

TL/Editor: raei

Status: 5/week mon-fri

Illustrations: none

Join the discord! Here

Ian recalled his dinner with Count Dranheim.

During that meal with Ian, Elia, and Count Dranheim, the Count had shared some basic background about the southern war.

'Duke Fargar attacked the Rashin Kingdom.'

The justification was clear.

In the past, the Rashin Kingdom had attacked and devoured the territory of Margrave Silverwind.

When Silverwind faced Rashin's invasion, they immediately requested help from Duke Roxlan, but no reinforcements came, and Rashin succeeded in taking the Margrave's lands.

'Too late,' Duke Roxlan's army finally arrived and drove out Rashin with terrifying momentum.

Rashin was forced to retreat after losing half of their occupied territory.

...Afterwards, Rashin and Roxlan maintained an awkward standoff, neither side willing to provoke the other.

'Half held by Roxlan, half by Rashin - but it all originally belonged to Silverwind.'

They say Silverwind fought to defend their territory down to the very last person.

And then... they all died.

"We know from surviving portraits. The Silverwind family were beautiful men and women with black hair for generations."

"Well, there are many ancient imperials in the southern empire."

The barbarians came from the north.

The southern Holy Empire, being relatively close to the imperial capital, still had many bloodlines from the Golden Empire.

If Ian had been born in the south rather than the north, he probably wouldn't have been teased so much as a child.

"That's why the young Baron Silverwind under Duke Fargar's protection faces much suspicion."

"Suspicion of being an impostor."

"Exactly."

Aesis's eyes sparkled as he spoke. His joy at telling his tale made him the very picture of a storyteller.

"Clearly, Silverwind was annihilated while resisting Rashin's invasion."

"Couldn't someone have gotten lucky and survived?"

"That's exactly what Duke Fargar claims - that they're protecting a survivor they found by chance."

Ian found himself somewhat interested in Aesis's story, both because the tale itself was intriguing and because he was curious about the situation in the south.

"You followed Duke Fargar in the south?"

"Yes. Actually... I saw the young Baron Silverwind from afar."

"Oh? What were they like?"

Aesis paused briefly before answering.

"An incredibly beautiful woman."

"Woman? The young Baron is female?"

"Yes. Like a black rose blooming on winter ice."

Ian lightly imagined what the young Baron might look like - black hair, snow-white skin, and a proud expression.

"If my companion hadn't told me she was the young Baron, I would have thought she was Duke Fargar's lover."

Aesis excitedly shared what he'd seen and heard on the battlefield.

"...You can easily spot Duke Fargar's position by looking for his banners."

"Oh?"

"This is the Duke's banner, and next to it there's one with this crest..."

Ian hesitated slightly.

While the Duke's crest wasn't familiar, the one beside it... he felt like he'd seen it somewhere before.

"This is the Silverwind banner."

"..."

"They always raise both banners together to show their unity."

Aesis glanced sideways at Ian's expression.

But Ian maintained his composure.

'Could just be my imagination.'

"You said the Rashin Kingdom is losing?"

"Ah, yes. The Duke's army fights remarkably well."

Ian smoothly continued the conversation.

Aesis followed Ian's lead and continued with his next story.

Until sunset, Ian exchanged various small talk with Aesis.

As the sun set, Ian's group began preparing to make camp.

While the workers hired from Talian set up the campsite, Ian briefly called Maria aside.

"Maria. A moment."

"Yes?"

Maria, who had been reading by the campfire, followed Ian to a secluded spot.

"What is it?"

"Do you still have that signet ring your grandmother owned?"

Maria nodded.

Among her grandmother's possessions was indeed a signet ring.

Because of that ring, Ian had once thought her grandmother might have been a rather successful highway robber(...).

After all, it wasn't something a countryside old lady should have!

"Here it is."

Maria took the ring from her chest and held it out to Ian.

She seemed to have kept it preciously as her grandmother's keepsake.

Ian slowly examined Maria's signet ring.

'...As I thought.'

The crest engraved on the ring matched exactly with the Silverwind crest Aesis had described.

It wasn't Ian's imagination.

This signet ring belonged to an extinct noble house.

'Was she really a highway robber...?'

Ian started thinking that but shook his head.

While her grandmother might truly have been a highway robber who robbed nobles, or someone who happened to acquire the ring by chance...

"?"

When you factored in Maria's existence, the story changed.

'Maria's way of speaking.'

She had explained it before.

Maria's grandmother had claimed to be a princess from a small kingdom.

Maria had dismissed it as the ramblings of a senile old woman, but...

Perhaps Maria's grandmother had been a Silverwind survivor.

'Not direct blood relation. A relative or branch family member.'

Maria's peculiar way of speaking had apparently come from her grandmother.

She certainly spoke more like a noble lady than a country girl.

Could a simply senile old woman have perfectly reproduced such upper-class speech patterns?

'...She deliberately hid the truth from Maria.'

Maria's grandmother had gone to her grave without revealing the truth to Maria.

She likely judged that if word got out about Silverwind survivors, their lives would be in danger.

Ian looked at Maria again.

Black hair and black eyes.

And the signet ring in her palm...

'The truth... is unknowable.'

He couldn't know who Maria's grandmother really was, or if Maria truly was a Silverwind survivor.

But one thing was certain...

To an outsider.

Maria would definitely appear to be a legitimate Silverwind survivor...!

'The house is already extinct.'

Anyone who could verify if Maria was truly a Silverwind was already gone from this world.

Meaning whoever claimed it first would win.

As it happened, someone had already made that claim.

'Duke Fargar.'

Duke Fargar claimed he was protecting the young Baron Silverwind.

Though there were many suspicious aspects, people generally accepted it.

Why?

Because a Duke said so!

Claims needed power behind them - the same words from someone powerless were just nonsense.

Just like the mumblings of Maria's grandmother in her final years.

'This... isn't good.'

Ian organized his thoughts.

If.

Just if, assuming Maria was the real Silverwind heir.

What would happen if he brought her to the south like this?

First, Duke Fargar would be displeased.

His 'young Baron' would be exposed as fake while simultaneously destroying an important justification for the war.

Conversely, Duke Roxlan would be relatively pleased.

It would make a good excuse to stop Fargar.

...And provide a clear target for elimination.

'Whether she falls into either Duke's hands...'

Ian frowned.

'They'd both want Maria dead.'

"Um..."

Maria gently tugged at Ian's sleeve.

"You look troubled."

"..."

Yes, it's because of you~

...He could say that, but Ian wasn't that cold, so he put it gently instead.

"Just have something on my mind."

"Is it about me?"

Ian patted Maria's head.

Really, it was all just his speculation.

Nothing was certain, so there was no need to make Maria uncomfortable.

"It's nothing. I'll tell you when the time is right."

"Hehe... a secret with you... my heart's suddenly starting to race."

"..."

Do you have arrhythmia?

Ian stared at Maria in disbelief.

This girl gets excited over anything since she has nothing else to get excited about-

"Caw! Master!"

Just then, Oberon landed on Ian's shoulder with flapping wings.

"You're heavy, you crazy bird."

"Caw!"

[Heavy~! Where would you find a lighter bird than me~!]

Ian exchanged brief greetings with Oberon before getting to the point.

"Caw! Caw!"

[I found a suspicious person behind that tree~!]

"Suspicious person?"

[Someone wearing green clothes~!]

'Must be Aesis?'

Ian whipped his head around.

Of course, Aesis was nowhere to be seen.

According to Oberon, Aesis had been hiding and watching Ian and Maria's secret meeting.

He probably couldn't hear their conversation, but he must have seen enough to spot the signet ring.

"Where's green clothes now?"

[Just left~!]

Ian hurried up the hill.

...He could see Aesis stealing a horse and fleeing from the camp.

'This might be for the best.'

No need to wonder who the prophesied man was anymore.

The man in green that Gerard warned about was Aesis.

Ian shouted loudly from the hilltop.

"Aesis! Where are you going!"

Aesis quickly spotted Ian and answered.

Follow current novels on ƒreewebηoveℓ.com.

"Just have somewhere to pop by! Don't mind me!"

If Ian hadn't heard Gerard's prophecy, he might have replied "Sure, take care~" - it was that natural a response.

But Ian had heard the prophecy from Gerard.

That good things would happen if he was careful of the man in green clothes.

"Come back for a moment! I need to talk!"

"Sorry! But I'm in a bit of a hurry-!"

Aesis had already fled beyond arrow range.

In this medieval fantasy world, you might think there was nothing more that could be done.

But...

"Will you use magic?"

"I must."

Ian was a wizard.

He might not know much about 'medieval'~

But 'fantasy' was definitely his domain!

"[O stallion running there!]"

Ian immediately sent his will to Aesis's horse.

"[Where are you going, leaving your beloved mare behind!]"

[???]

"[Can't you hear your mare crying anxiously! Can you call yourself a man!]"

Neeeeeigh!

Aesis's horse, which had been running well, suddenly changed direction.

Aesis was greatly startled.

"What, what's going on?! Why suddenly-!"

Aesis tried desperately to control the horse, but it was useless.

...The horse ran madly back the way it came!

'Earlier the wizard was muttering something strange...'

Aesis realized this was Ian's doing.

'Magic that controls animals!'

Left with no choice, Aesis had to abandon his horse.

Meanwhile, Ian slid down the hillside.

"What are you doing, Wizard Ian!"

"That's my line - why ignore me and run away when I just want to talk?"

For a moment, Ian and Aesis exchanged glances.

That brief instant was enough.

The two recognized each other as enemies.

Surprisingly, Aesis pulled out a dagger.

"...Nothing personal!"

Minstrel Aesis.

His second occupation was assassin.

Drawing his dagger with amazing speed, Aesis had absolute confidence Ian would fall bleeding.

Since Ian wasn't his assassination target, he even showed the courtesy of aiming away from vital spots.

He was a pro-assassin, and pros don't work without payment.

Who knows? Someone might pay to have Ian killed later.

Aesis would never work for free.

Aesis's dagger flew swiftly.

Clang!

"???"

And collided with something in mid-air before falling.

'What... is that!'

The object that knocked down Aesis's dagger was none other than a flying sword.

A Flying Sword!

"Asu!"

Simultaneously, Ian's staff stretched out-

Shhhhhhh!

And transformed into a terrifying snake.

"Ugh, aaaaah!"

The staff-snake coiled tightly around Aesis's neck and roared fiercely.

"You bastard. Throwing knives at people?"

"..."

Aesis kept his mouth shut, having nothing to say.

Losing to a wizard in close combat...

It was too absurd.

Enjoy the chappy!

Please give the book a rating and a review on NovelUpdates.

It helps the website and helps people find this novel!

If you'd like to make a one-time donation to support our translations or subscribe to read up to 15 chapters or more (depending on the novel) ahead, you can do so via Ko-fi.

Click here!