Became a Medieval Fantasy Wizard-Chapter 328

TL/Editor: raei

Status: 5/week mon-fri

Illustrations: none

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The terms Elia offered were simple.

In exchange for Ian helping her, she would help him in return.

From Ian's perspective, there was no reason to refuse.

"So we help each other?"

"Yes!"

"Alright. I'll help you, Elia."

At Ian's straightforward answer, Elia jumped for joy.

"Thank you! Ian!"

It wasn't a particularly difficult request for Ian.

She just wanted him to use some magic.

Similarly, Ian's request wasn't burdensome for Elia.

Getting him an audience with the Emperor was child's play from her position.

It was a win-win deal for both sides.

"Come on! First I'll introduce you to Sir Kanbento!"

Sir Kanbento, commander of the expedition force, greeted Ian warmly.

Both because he was Elia's university friend.

And because he was a wandering wizard who had brought quite a few soldiers.

"Welcome, wizard."

Ian nodded and took a seat.

Sir Kanbento filled Ian's cup with wine and said:

"What brings the great wizard of Talian all the way to the south?"

"I'm hardly a great wizard."

Ian took a sip of wine before answering.

"I heard the south was in turmoil, so I came to check on my friend's wellbeing."

Ian offered the polite pleasantry.

If he'd truly come out of concern for a friend, it might have been touching.

But Ian wasn't that close with Elia.

Sir Kanbento wasn't so blind as to miss that fact.

'He must want something from Her Highness.'

But regardless of his reasons, Ian was still reinforcements who had brought troops.

That alone deserved a warm welcome.

"Friendship is more precious than all the gold in the world. What noble character you have, wizard."

"You're too kind."

After exchanging pleasantries, Sir Kanbento brought out a map.

It contained information about Count Mokrick's fortress.

"Count Mokrick's fortress is quite tricky to attack."

"It seems so."

"The road is too treacherous for large forces to attack at once. There are many good ambush points, and the elevation differences between high and low ground are severe. Reckless attacks would just make us arrow fodder."

In short, Count Mokrick's fortress was a 'nasty' place.

Taking it wasn't impossible if they threw enough soldiers at it...

But it wasn't worth that kind of sacrifice.

There was good reason Sir Kanbento had given up on attacking as soon as he arrived.

"So what's the plan, Sir?"

"Plan? Just keeping them from crawling out is all we can do."

Fighting could bring both losses and gains.

But not fighting?

Zero losses, zero gains.

Sir Kanbento had calmly set up defensive lines and focused on intercepting any of the Count's raiding parties.

Time was on his side anyway.

'He's incredibly level-headed.'

Ian was slightly impressed by Sir Kanbento's command.

Was this the experience of a veteran commander?

He definitely wasn't the type to waste soldiers just trying to earn glory.

"But with your help, Lord Ian... we might be able to mount an offensive."

The reason Sir Kanbento hesitated to attack was that victory seemed unlikely through brute force alone.

But with a wizard's help, that changed everything.

On the battlefield, a wizard's power was practically divine.

The ability to reshape terrain, make it rain, and rain down fire!

Sir Kanbento glanced at Elia and said:

"Actually... Her Highness had an idea..."

"Oh? What is it?"

Elia confidently declared:

"Operation Field Mouse!"

"Operation Field Mouse?"

"Yes! I learned summoning at university!"

...Did she?!

She seemed to have picked up various things following Professor Demonite around.

Ian tilted his head but decided to go along with her claim.

"So you'll summon mice with magic?"

"I'll summon hordes of mice to gnaw through their gates!"

Ian nodded seriously.

The idea was good.

But ONLY the idea was good.

"The concept is decent."

"Right!"

"But what if they release cats?"

"!"

C! A! T! S!

Elia froze with a dumbstruck expression.

Modern people often forget this fact-

But cats, for all their cute nicknames, are... actually fearsome predators.

In nature, cats can hunt down most small animals.

If Elia summoned lots of mice...

And the fortress countered by releasing lots of cats?

It's not like Elia was some wizard with a lifelong bond with mice.

The mice gathered by a novice wizard wouldn't show enough loyalty to attack gates while ignoring cats.

"Hahaha! Your Highness! I'm afraid we'll have to abandon the mouse-summoning plan!"

"Sigh... I suppose so..."

Elia sighed dejectedly.

This was the limit of magic learned at an undergraduate level.

"Sir Kanbento. Have you requested their surrender?"

"Of course."

"Let's try once more then. This time I'll speak to them directly."

Sir Kanbento nodded readily.

Judging by his slight smirk, he seemed quite entertained by the situation.

Understandably so.

Rather than a bloody warrior's battle, he got to watch wizards duel with wit and wisdom!

"Will you use magic, Ian?"

"Let's see how things go first."

Ian departed with Sir Kanbento to scout the enemy position.

Though it was just scouting, Ian brought all his companions along.

Partly because explaining things later would be annoying.

And partly because Ian's companions were elite talents who lived up to the term "quality over quantity."

Especially with Sword Master Salvador accompanying them, Sir Kanbento even allowed Elia to come along.

Feeling relaxed, Elia caught up on gossip with the others, loud enough for Ian to hear while discussing strategy with Sir Kanbento.

"Ian's getting married?!"

"Yes... to the Countess of Talian..."

Kira said with a shy smile.

"And... I'm getting married too."

"Oh my! To who?!"

"To Ian as well..."

"Heaven help us! Tell me everything!"

Maybe it was because they were all women, but the girl talk was getting heated.

Sir Kanbento chuckled and said:

"Never seen Her Highness this excited before."

"Well, women do love romance talk."

"Ahem... so, is it true you have two wives?"

When Ian gave him an exasperated look, Sir Kanbento awkwardly added:

"Just... asking out of envy..."

"Let's set aside the nonsense and discuss the fortress more."

Sir Kanbento cleared his throat and continued.

"Since we haven't engaged them directly, we don't have a perfect grasp of their strength."

Without actual combat, it was hard to judge if they were strong or weak.

But who needs combat to make judgments.

"In terms of numbers though, our forces are overwhelming."

The expedition force had superior numbers.

The key was how effectively the enemy could use the terrain.

"And they have one wizard with them."

"I see."

Though wizards were rare, you could easily encounter one or two on a battlefield.

Actually, meeting them outside battlefields was harder.

Wizards generally loved wandering, and rarely gathered except in places like universities.

"That's the fortress there."

Ian carefully examined Count Mokrick's fortress.

Narrow paths, high walls.

Simply throwing infantry at it would definitely result in heavy losses.

They'd need siege engines at minimum, or a wizard's help.

"You made the right choice not attacking."

Sir Kanbento answered with a quiet smile.

He wasn't some young knight who'd ruin things with youthful rashness.

'I'd at least like to know why they rebelled.'

If they had demands, negotiation was possible.

But the enemy's demands were frustratingly vague.

They claimed to rebel [to correct Duke Roxlan's tyranny]...

Wasn't that the kind of claim you could twist to mean anything?

"They've spotted us."

There was commotion beyond the fortress.

Just as Ian was observing them, they had spotted Ian as well.

"We should withdraw soon."

"Wait a moment."

Having come this far, he wanted to try talking.

Ian shouted loudly:

"Listen, Count Mokrick! I am Ian, wizard of Talian! Let's stop this meaningless fighting and talk-!"

Soon a voice returned from the castle.

"Get lost-! Outsider! You know nothing of the contempt and discrimination we've suffered! We won't stop fighting until our rights are restored-!"

What contempt were they talking about?

Ian tried to ask more questions, but the other side showed little interest in dialogue.

Instead, someone else stepped forward.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

"[Listen, wizard of Talian!]"

'Maronius language?'

Ian's ears perked up at the familiar language.

Using a magical language meant the speaker was definitely a wizard.

"[As a fellow wizard, you should understand-!]"

'Is he going to cast magic?!'

Once a wizard started speaking, anything could happen.

Ian raised his guard while listening carefully to the wizard's words.

Ready to respond if any mystery was invoked.

The wizard shouted:

"[I've already received research funding from Count Mokrick-!]"

"...?"

"[So I need to stay here at least three months-!]"

Rumble-!

The fortress walls trembled.

Count Mokrick's soldiers cried out in fear and awe:

"The wizard is using magic!"

Even Sir Kanbento looked up tensely at the wizard.

Magic that could shake an entire mountain...!

This was no ordinary person!

"Wizard Ian! He seems to be casting something! Can you do anything?"

"Ian! What kind of magic is that?"

"..."

"..."

While Kanbento and Elia had no idea what the wizard had said.

Kira understood roughly. And Ian understood perfectly.

"Ian. That... doesn't sound like he wants to fight?"

"Yeah. Seems that way."

Ian scratched his cheek.

He wasn't sure about Count Mokrick.

But the wizard didn't seem interested in fighting...?

Ian tried talking once more.

"[I am Ian, disciple of Wizard Eredith!]"

The other side replied:

"[I am Reize, disciple of Wizard Carl!]"

"?"

Wizard Carl?

That name sounded familiar.

Ah right! Carl the Earth Wizard.

One of the wizards who had helped rescue Inglan!

Ian immediately shouted:

"[Earth Wizard Carl is your master?!]"

There was a moment of silence.

Then came the reply:

"[...You said you're Wizard Ian? Who do you think you are, throwing around my master's name so casually!]"

Ian answered:

"[I am Carl's friend!]"

"???"

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