72 – Episode 72
# 72
A magician forgetting Maronius? It’s impossible.
Ian studied Maronius relentlessly for 6-7 years. Though there were some fun distractions with the Eredis Wiki at times, the fact that he concentrated intensely remained unchanged.
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But a magician who can’t understand Maronius…
“Come to think of it.”
Once doubt crept in, new questions began to pile up.
It was also strange that he only played with fire as a pyromancer.
Since Ian had also learned pyromancy, he knew how difficult a form of magic it was.
To begin with pyromancy, you needed to ignite fire, and in this world without lighters or fire steel, it was nearly impossible to create fire on the spot.
As a result, novice pyromancers either never left the vicinity of fire or always carried a small ember with them.
Ian had thought that Kira simply had trouble starting a fire and thought he was shooting off fireworks.
Fireworks are also flames, right?
It was much more comfortable to have fire-starting supplies than to stumble around with a stone.
So I thought you were carrying fireworks around.
Even if it’s Maronius, did you only shoot fireworks?
Ian’s suspicion suddenly turned into conviction.
Ah.
That kid…
He’s the swindler I’ve only heard about.
Finally, everything fell into place.
The request not to spread rumors about being a magician, and the inability to escape from the Marquis alone.
However, one suspicion only intensified.
“… Then what about the vampire?”
Did you mess with a vampire when you can’t even use magic?
She’s a woman who stands out in many ways.
“Unbelievable.”
“…”
Kira was visibly shaken.
Ian clicked his tongue at such Kira. She went around dressed as a magician. It was a situation that could only be explained as lucky not to get caught.
“I-I’m sorry.”
Kira quickly replied in a smaller voice.
“I’m sorry…”
“…”
The observers were watching, making it impossible to even apologize properly.
“It’s true that I did something crazy.”
At this point, Ian became curious instead.
What kind of circumstances led him to be dressed as a magician and caught by bandits?
Unlike Kira, who didn’t know where to put herself out of apology, Ian had no thoughts at all.
Kira thought of herself as a criminal who committed a deadly sin…
But from Ian’s perspective, Kira was just nothing.
It was true that Kira got caught in a scam. But Ian didn’t suffer any harm from it.
Of course, if noble people who actually suffered had complained, it would have been a different story. But Ian was not a guardian of law and order.
He didn’t know the whole situation, but for now, Ian decided to rescue Kira from Viscount Daimon.
He didn’t know much else, but the fireworks Kira carried seemed interesting and useful.
If he stayed with Viscount Daimon like this, he might lose the fireworks and even his life. So after getting Kira out, Ian planned to take some fireworks with him.
If possible, he also wanted to ask about making gunpowder.
“Well, we don’t have time, so let’s get out first and see.”
“Uh… Okay.”
Kira timidly replied.
Since he wasn’t pretending to be a magician persona, he seemed a bit weak.
Well, Ian shook his head. Maybe it’s just his appearance. How could a truly weak person risk their life for a magician scam?
“Hey! Come here for a moment.”
“Are you talking to us?”
“Well, if it’s not you, then who else?”
Ian shouted towards the bandits who were trying to eavesdrop.
The bandits immediately looked bewildered.
Oh, that’s quite a fresh reaction.
Ian realized it clearly. This is definitely the countryside.
They don’t know anything about wizards.
“Why do you have such expressions?”
“Well, that’s…”
The bandits couldn’t openly ask, “Why is your tone so disrespectful?” and hesitated with an indignant expression.
Ian felt a little indignant.
No, wizards are like this by nature.
It’s you guys who are weird!
“If you have any complaints, speak up. I am Ian, the Sweet Carrot Guy, with a temperature as high as 100 degrees.”
“…?”
As Ian started to babble, Belenka discreetly stuck close beside him.
“You’re talking nonsense again. Are you so stupid that you forget the fact that you’re smart?”
“What… It seems like you’re the one talking nonsense right now.”
“Please choose vocabulary that matches the listener’s level. Except for Kira here, no one understands what you’re saying.”
Ian whistled softly. Kira seemed unaware. Have you ever used Carrot Market?
But Kira managed to control her expression astonishingly well.
In an instant, she transformed back into the magician Kira.
“Hmph. Just a stale idiom. Nothing to worry about.”
It’s not just an idiom.
“Oh, really? Can you understand Ian’s nonsense?”
“It’s a contradiction. It’s not nonsense, so I understand. Well, only someone who has studied diligently would understand.”
Carrots at 100 degrees Celsius?
Ian exclaimed in admiration.
Kira’s magic might be fake, but her showmanship was that of a true magician. She had the skills to deceive and impress.
As the magician and the knight started chatting, the bandits naturally fell silent.
Why would the lowly ones dare to mock those above them, who were laughing heartily?
Ian effortlessly displayed the difference in status between himself and the bandits.
Once someone perceives their opponent as “higher,” their actions naturally become cautious.
“Fine, then.”
Feeling confident that the opponent was intimidated, Ian spoke in a commanding tone.
“Go and bring the Viscount.”
“To… here, sir?”
“Do you want me to repeat myself?”
When Ian glared at them, both Kira and Belenka also glanced at the bandits.
Barely keeping his sanity intact, he couldn’t bring himself to say, “Don’t like it? Am I your subordinate?” in this situation.
“I’ll be back.”
After a while, the bandit brought the leader of the bandits.
Viscount Daimon.
“Viscount. Let’s talk.”
“Talk? Out of the blue?”
Although the viscount was bewildered, he did as Ian suggested.
He pushed his subordinates aside and created a situation where they could talk.
Kira grabbed Ian’s arm, trembling.
“Um, what are you going to do…? Is it really magic…?”
Seeing Kira trembling, Ian’s memories of the past came flooding back.
And he was certain.
Wow. This kid is really good at acting.
Kira, who had revealed her true face, seemed so innocent that Ian wondered if she was the same person.
All those arrogant appearances she had shown before were all fake. That’s why you get disappointed when there’s a big gap in a celebrity’s character.
“What kind of magic are you using in this situation?”
“I don’t know… maybe manipulating the mind…?”
Oh. Hypnotism.
But if you know how to manipulate minds, would you live like this?
Ian is a respectable magician who survived with 100% pure skill, without any cheats from another world like hypnotism apps.
Well, I did play around with lies and deception a bit.
“No. There’s nothing like that.”
“Then…?”
“I just want you to let her go.”
“???”
Kira looked bewildered. Ian’s plan seemed too reckless.
But that was the thinking of someone who wasn’t a magician.
Kira, who had been cosplaying as a magician, couldn’t pull off crazy stunts like disappearing in the blink of an eye because she didn’t have the skill for it when it mattered.
But Ian was a real magician, unlike Kira.
The level of confidence (or eccentricity) was different.
To the count who had returned alone, Ian spoke openly.
“Count Daimon. Kira told me that you’ve been treating her really well lately.”
“Well…”
The count looked surprised and glanced at Kira.
He roughly caught on to the flow of the conversation.
Kira was momentarily taken aback by the sudden summons.
Just about a second.
But as a professional con artist and a professional clown, she quickly regained control of her mind.
“Who said someone treated me well?”
Kira shot a haughty look at the count.
“I was just trying to prevent an innocent person from being burned to death.”
It was a crazy, arson-like statement.
Are people ants? To be burned to death?
Viscount Damon frowned, but Ian quickly nodded.
Ah, that kind of feeling?
“Yeah. You endured well. You shouldn’t burn people. No way.”
“I almost set it on fire, but there wasn’t anything particularly annoying.”
As the wicked sorcerers synchronized their words to deceive, Viscount Damon, a righteous civilian, couldn’t possibly know the truth.
He knew Kira was an amazing sorcerer, but she had been going along with it until now?
And she even almost set the fire several times???
When Ian caught the wind, Kira skillfully produced smoke.
It was the first time they were deceiving together, and their chemistry was perfect. They could even head straight to the Eiffel Tower without any problems.
Viscount Damon was halfway out of his mind watching the trick show unfolding between the two sorcerers.
His judgment had become clouded.
“Speaking of which, my lord. Since we’re leaving, I’ll take Kira with us.”
“…Wait a minute.”
However, he responded vaguely to the action of pulling out a member of the organization.
It was a reaction befitting a boss of a violent gang.
“What? You’re saying you’re leaving because you have a new comrade, but why should I let you?”
When Kira sharply shouted, Viscount Damon flinched, but he didn’t back down.
Ian couldn’t help but feel tense.
Smart people tend to be fearful and don’t easily rush into things, but ignorant people, having no knowledge, charge ahead without hesitation.
If the Marquis resorts to force, the situation becomes troublesome.
“Kira, if you leave, the territory will be in danger!”
“What does that have to do with me? Why are you saying that to me?”
“You’ve been doing well so far! But if you leave without lending your strength, what will I become after investing so much?”
Ian understood why the Marquis was clinging to Kira.
Using the power of a pyromancer to aim for stability in the territory…
It was a reasonable idea for someone who can only see what’s right in front of them.
“Who asked you to invest in me?! You just decided to make me your colleague without my consent!”
“No, what is this about…”
The voices of the two grew louder.
Ian intervened at the right moment.
“Enough, both of you!”
“…”
I understand clearly now.
The Marquis is an ignorant fool.
“Marquis. No, self-proclaimed Marquis.”
“… What?”
“Let’s speak properly. Just because you keep babbling that you’re the Marquis doesn’t make you one. Marquis-in-name-only. Then, does a mud Marquis become a Marquis too?”
“Who is it? What is that?”
“There are such grave robbers. But from what I saw, they’re both the same.”
Viscount Damon tried to protest, thinking that Ian had insulted him.
But Ian spoke one step ahead.
“Self-proclaimed viscount. Do you know whose land the Empire belongs to?”
“What…?”
The viscount replied, perplexed.
“Isn’t it the lord’s?”
“You’re wrong. The master of the Empire is the Emperor.”
“The Emperor???”
The viscount couldn’t even grasp the simple fact that the Emperor was the master of the Empire.
No, it wasn’t a simple fact. It might be simple to modern people, but it was a difficult concept for medieval people.
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The lord who governs our village collects taxes, conducts trials, and conscripts people if he’s bored.
Then… isn’t the lord the master?
That’s what the commoners of the Empire thought. But it wasn’t true.
The land of the Empire belongs to the Emperor. It’s just ‘borrowed’ to the nobles.
But the nobles didn’t return the borrowed land to the Emperor, instead passing it down to their descendants.
Passing it down, passing it down… after doing it for hundreds of years, it naturally became ‘my land’.
It’s like the case of the fairies who used Ian’s Anorissyl and claimed ownership of it.
“There is no master in my land, and you say it belongs to the Emperor???”
“Why isn’t the owner here?”
“No one lives here, so where is the owner?”
“Yeah, it’s really strange how the law works.”
“… “
The viscount’s expression turned into one of being struck by a hammer.
Unlike modern people who are accustomed to documented real estate, medieval people applied the concept of a territory only when people actually lived there and taxes were actually collected.
“You’re an illegal occupant. Even if there were a hundred mages like Kira, they wouldn’t be able to stop an army from invading. But your territory is land that anyone wants to touch.”
“But what if there are skilled archers and fire mages defending it…!”
“Don’t you have any archers or mages? Please make some sense.”
Sigh. How do I explain this to this ignorant human?
Ian roughly sketched a map on the floor.
“This is Talien, and up here is Katina. And in this direction is Deobosi…”
“There’s also Ingrimar.”
“Oh. Ingrimar…?”
Ian glanced at Kira for a moment.
Ah, they had a fight over there…
Ian kindly introduced the surrounding authorities to the self-proclaimed viscount.
Fortunately, most of them were humans known to the viscount. The local authorities were all under the control of the viscount.
“Go and establish a vassal contract.”
Ian gave his straightforward advice.
There was no other way for a territory like this countryside village to survive.
Viscount Damon understood Ian’s explanation completely.
So he let out a sigh.
“Having escaped from the hands of those dog-like nobles… now I have to return to their embrace with my own feet.”
Ian lightly tapped the Viscount’s shoulder.
“It won’t be such a world.”
In any world, there exists someone like a king.
In this era, there were only lords and nobles.