Became a Medieval Fantasy Wizard

TL/Editor: raei

Status: 5/week mon-fri

Illustrations: none

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In the Empire, wizards were seen as unpredictable.

A wizard destroyed everything nearby, like a raging inferno.

But on the flip side, if you kept your distance, they could protect people from darkness, cold, and beasts.

That's why the villagers clung to Ian.

"Don't cry. Tell me one at a time," Ian said, calmly soothing the villagers.

Having become so accustomed to wizard-behavior, Ian's skill in handling crowds was almost supernatural.

Salvador watched Ian, his eyes shining.

Reassured by Ian's kind voice, the people spoke up.

"Not long ago, some knights came in the Count's name!"

"... Knights?" Ian exchanged glances with Salvador.

It seemed there were other knights besides Ian's group trying to get a ship here.

"But we can't launch any ships now!"

"What do you mean you can't launch ships?"

"It's because of the monster!"

Ian let out a hollow laugh.

The terrible medieval communication network made it impossible to know why a fishing village couldn't launch boats.

The plan to take a ship from this village was flawed from the start.

"Have you sent anyone to the Count?"

"We did! That's why we thought those knights were sent to help us at first!"

"..."

Ian suddenly felt the back of his neck go cold...

This felt so damn medieval.

"Please continue."

"Yes! We treated those knights like royalty! But then suddenly, they said they needed to take a boat out to the river!"

"They didn't go to fight the monster?"

At Ian's question, the villager shuddered and cried out.

"No! As soon as the monster appeared, they ran away as fast as they could! Only the young men who volunteered to help the knights became monster food!"

To summarize:

A monster appeared in the river, making it difficult to launch boats.

So they requested help from the Count, and knights soon arrived.

The villagers thought the knights would defeat the monster...

But as soon as the monster appeared, they fled at lightning speed, disappearing to who knows where.

Given that the boats hadn't returned, they were either defeated by the monster or by the knights.

And the latter possibility was overwhelmingly higher.

Knights were originally just thugs with swords, after all.

"What kind of monster is it?"

"It looks like a stingray, but it's as big as a fishing boat! It punches holes in ships with its tail and eats people who fall into the water!"

Ian and Salvador spoke almost simultaneously.

"It's a Hunter Stingray."

"Sounds like a Hunter Stingray."

Ian had originally learned all sorts of trivia from Eredith, the Wikipedia wizard.

Salvador had the knowledge gained from a lifetime of sword-fighting.

"Well... this is quite an unpleasant situation," Salvador said, stroking his chin.

"All monsters become dangerous once they taste human flesh."

"There's no prey as delicious and easy as humans."

In nature, humans are surprisingly large.

If a hunt is successful, you get 60-70kg of meat right there, abundant in number, and ridiculously easy to hunt.

The monster that occupied the river, the Hunter Stingray, must have given human meat a 5-star rating the moment it tasted it.

'Wow! Easy-to-eat packaged food comes every day~! Will order again~'

Of course, if you repeat this behavior, humans with sharp weapons will come rushing in.

But stupid monsters don't know that.

There's immediately delicious and easy prey right in front of them, so they just swallow first and think later.

That's why monsters that develop a taste for human flesh had to be killed immediately.

There was no reason for the monster itself to be satisfied and stop.

The Hunter Stingray would stay in the river until it died, eating passing boats like lunchboxes.

"Those knights were probably really sent by the Count," one of the knights shared his thoughts.

Coming from a knight who had served and then fled his lord, it was highly credible.

"They said they had the Count's orders."

"Yes. It's one of two things. Either the monster was bigger than expected and they got scared and ran... or they planned to betray the Count from the start."

"... Is that allowed?" Ian asked, dumbfounded.

So, the knights got money and orders from the Count saying 'We'll go out and catch the monster for you~', then robbed the villagers' pockets and ran off?

"Of course it's not allowed," the knight said regretfully.

"But what can we do?"

"..."

It was spot-on.

How the hell would the Count catch knights who fled on a boat far away?

If they escaped to a distant domain, even a Duke, let alone a Count, would be helpless.

It was the pathetic limit of medieval law enforcement.

It's not like the knights assassinated some noble family's heir and ran. They can't send assassins just because they ate and ran with a few coins.

The fleeing knights could just enter service under another lord and wash away their past.

"What a bunch of bastards," Ian said.

Sir Dehitri happily agreed. "Indeed! Men without honor or chivalry! Having spit on a contract made in heaven's name, they'll surely fall into hell!"

Ian rather hoped the knights had fled out of fear.

If they ran away because the monster was too scary, there might be a sliver of possibility to understand.

'But if they had the will to fight, they would've returned by now.'

Ian shook his head, thinking this.

Judging by the fact that they still hadn't shown their faces, the possibility of them having eaten and run, for whatever reason, was over 18000%.

"So that's why people freaked out at us."

"Freaked out... What a chillingly apt expression, Ian."

Ian understood the villagers' reaction.

Not long ago, the Count's knights royally screwed up and ran... and now more people with the Count's orders show up?

Asking for a boat, no less?!

PTSD activated immediately.

"Oh~ Great Wizard~"

"We absolutely can't launch any boats until the monster is gone!"

Ian quickly realized what the villagers wanted.

They were begging him to get rid of the monster.

If Ian left now, no joke, the entire village might wither and die.

How could a fishing village survive if they couldn't launch boats?

'A Hunter Stingray, huh...'

Ian pondered for a moment.

Hunter Stingrays weren't particularly tricky monsters.

They were characterized by the immense physical strength emanating from their huge bodies.

In other words, if you could somehow neutralize that physical strength, they were pathetic monsters.

Since they didn't have abilities like spitting poison or controlling water, there were fewer ways to be caught off guard.

'Looking for another route would be a waste of time too.'

Ian decided to eliminate the Hunter Stingray and clear the way.

To be honest, he was worried about the situation in Talian territory.

He wasn't sure how frequently the black dragon was active, but if it had already completely ravaged several baronies and counties, it could easily target Talian territory as well.

There was no time to leisurely look for a safe route.

"Ian." Salvador and Dehitri approached.

"In our opinion, it would be best to hunt the Hunter Stingray and move on."

"Is that so?"

The Knights of Santiago were, as expected, leaning towards hunting the monster.

Ian wasn't particularly surprised, having already anticipated this.

"Actually, I was thinking of hunting it too."

"Haha. I thought you might."

"...?"

"I thought a righteous and just young man like you wouldn't just pass by people in distress!"

"No, sir..."

A righteous? and just young man?

Ian wondered if Salvador had gone senile, but he just let it slide.

It would be crazy to shout 'No way! I'm a selfish and dirty bastard~ Kekeke...!'

"I've heard a lot about you from Sir Dehitri! Sir Ian!"

"It's an honor to witness your amazing magical skills firsthand!"

"But we won't be pushovers either!"

"Since it's come to this, how about we bet on who takes down the monster!"

Hahaha!

The Knights of Santiago burst into laughter, finding something terribly amusing.

Ian was dumbfounded.

Is this how you react right before fighting a monster?

Even the northern barbarians would be much more subdued!

'As expected. Imperials really are descendants of barbarians.'

Ian was freshly reminded of the fact that the Holy Empire's people were descendants of barbarians.

"We'll take care of the monster for you."

"R-really?!"

"Of course. Let's launch the boat as soon as we're ready."

"Wizard...!"

As soon as Ian offered to help, the villagers choked up with emotion.

They had no choice but to desperately believe in Ian.

Surely they wouldn't get eaten and run on (round 2)!

But the villagers' worries vanished completely when the Santiago Knights' expedition ceremony began.

"Knights of Santiago!" Salvador shouted in a firm voice.

"Guardians of travelers and people! We must now slay a great beast! Death-bringing threats may follow, and torture-like pain may threaten you!"

"Ooh!"

"But all we'll gain is the gratitude of families with children! Even so! Are there any here who will fight with me, where neither gold coins nor titles can be guaranteed!"

"We'll fight with you! Sir Salvador!"

"We'll gladly join you! Sir Salvador!"

"Excellent! Swords of Santiago! Those with the courage to advance, follow me!"

"Ooooh!"

When Salvador drew his sword, the knights roared.

It was an overwhelming sight that left the villagers awestruck.

"I'll join too!!!" Belenka shouted excitedly.

Ian's ears were ringing.

'This isn't a concert hall...'

"But Belenka. Are you really going to fight without gold coins?"

Ian asked out of curiosity.

As far as Ian knew, Belenka smiled brightest when receiving gold coins or gifts.

Belenka answered shamelessly.

"No? Why would I? I'm a free knight. I have the right to receive fair compensation according to the contract."

Ian stared blankly at Belenka.

Wait, didn't you just say you'd gladly join a fight without gold coins...

"You're taking care of my salary anyway, Ian. I can't demand anything from Sir Salvador."

"..."

So, she meant she could fight for free 'specifically' for Sir Salvador.

Ian nodded.

It's special, but Belenka fighting without pay... She must really respect Sir Salvador.

"It's a fight alongside Sir Salvador. We'll send that pig stingray to the fish market."

Belenka smiled and patted Ian's shoulder.

Ian felt just as reassured.

With a solid vanguard, he couldn't be happier.

'Traveling with the knights really is sweet.'

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