Became a Medieval Fantasy Wizard-Chapter 345

TL/Editor: raei

Status: 5/week mon-fri

Illustrations: none

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Duke Roxlan was... triumphant, to put it simply.

That girl you've been cherishing and protecting is actually a bastard!

His expression seemed to say, "How about that? Terrible, isn't it?"

But...

Ian's mind remained perfectly calm.

So... Maria was a bastard?

So what?

Ian had always thought of Maria as just a country girl anyway. That's what she actually was.

Though she spoke strangely due to some unusual education... her character wasn't bizarre enough for Ian to care.

Ian had never treated Maria like a noble in the first place.

Learning that she was a bastard now didn't make him bat an eye.

He'd never planned to use Maria to claim land anyway.

Moreover, Ian had no particular opinion about bastards.

Only devout Heaven's Faith believers were the type to despise bastards.

With his modern memories, Ian simply thought, "What a barbaric age where children born of adultery roam around," and moved on.

"Well, that's interesting."

"...?"

"You're quite impressive, Your Grace. You even know the secret of Maria's birth."

"???"

Duke Roxlan was bewildered by Ian's reaction.

What...! He'd clearly told him she was a bastard!

How could he remain so indifferent?!

"She wasn't born with proper blessing. She's cursed from birth. Are you still fine with that?"

Ian snorted at the Duke's thinly veiled threat.

He sure loves his curses.

What brings people into the world is fu-cking, not some nonsense about curses.

"Perhaps we should just get her blessed then."

"If you believe in Takarion of the Golden Fingers, that fellow is just a mere monk—"

"I have my own connections with Heaven's Faith. I'm a saint, after all."

"???"

This wasn't a lie.

In the north, Ian was occasionally known by the strange nickname [Guardian Saint of Coffee] (a rumor spread by Takarion).

In fact, beyond that, Ian was friendly with Heaven's Faith priests for various reasons.

Even Maria had done volunteer work as a nun at the university!

"Besides, whether Maria is a bastard or not seems completely irrelevant."

"...What?"

"Your Grace called Maria a bastard, but you have no proof."

"Proof?"

"Meanwhile, Maria possesses the Silverwind signet ring. Interestingly, a ring can serve as evidence. Unlike Your Grace's 'speculation.'"

Duke Roxlan glared at Ian for a while.

"Speculation... Yes. Speculation. I have no evidence."

"Then there's no problem..."

"But my memory tells me. Maria. That child is the daughter of a filthy whore."

In that moment, Ian saw it.

A blazing fire behind the Duke's eyes.

It was a flame of the soul ignited by rage, hatred... and obsession.

'This is dangerous.'

A wizard's intuition warned him.

The Duke clearly harbored enormous emotions toward Maria.

"I remember that whore's face clearly. The Margrave of Silverwind... that stupid big-mouthed bastard seduced her and she spread her legs for him. They actually married! She fell completely for his empty promise to make her a countess!"

Ian recalled an old memory.

From Count Dranheim's banquet—

[Duke Roxlan, you know. I heard he lost a woman he wanted as his concubine to the Margrave?]

'...So the gossip was true.'

"Maria! That bitch has the exact face of her filthy whore mother!"

Duke Roxlan shouted as if screaming.

For the first time since meeting Ian, he was explosively revealing his emotions.

"Wizard Ian! I warn you! Don't trust that bitch Maria! She has the same whore's blood flowing through her veins as her mother—!"

The Duke glared at Ian with a face twisted by hatred.

Even while receiving the Duke's glare, Ian felt neither fear nor trembling.

Because he knew the hatred wasn't directed at him.

The target of the Duke's hatred was... Maria.

"That bitch is using you. Just like her mother did."

Ian asked out of courtesy.

Why was it a courteous question?

Because he didn't expect a rational answer anyway.

And Ian's guess was correct.

"Why do you think that?"

The Duke replied as if having a fit.

"I can tell—! You—! You're being deceived—!"

"..."

Ian shook his head.

Fortunately(?), Ian had never experienced NTR in either his past or present life.

So he had no idea what it felt like to be NTR'd.

However... Duke Roxlan, as he himself had said, had been NTR'd.

His lover had been stolen by the Margrave of Silverwind.

Because of this, he had developed an enormous hatred that Ian couldn't even imagine.

Given that he was already described as gloomy and petty (according to the Emperor), his desire for revenge was understandable.

'This isn't good.'

Ian's intuition whispered.

Staying here any longer could lead to disaster...!

"Well. It's none of my business if you keep courting that girl and get stabbed in the back."

"..."

"You're right. Regardless of the truth, she can be recognized as Silverwind's heir."

The Duke's voice changed.

He spoke to Ian in an infinitely kind and gentle voice. freewёbnoνel.com

"Tell me what you want."

"...Recognize Maria as the rightful heir to Silverwind. In exchange, we'll relinquish all rights to the territory."

"Not difficult. Good. Let's do that."

Duke Roxlan offered his hand.

Ian took the Duke's hand.

The Duke's hand was strangely cold.

"I'll write up the certificate tomorrow. Come to my room with the priest."

"Yes, Your Grace."

The secret meeting ended.

After saying goodbye to the Duke, Ian returned straight to his room.

Maria, who hadn't spoken a single word until now, slowly opened her mouth.

"...Are you tired?"

"Maria."

"I'm... a bit tired."

Maria smiled faintly.

It was truly a smile devoid of energy.

"Learning about a past I didn't know... and receiving such intense hatred because of that past."

Maria stared blankly at the ceiling and murmured.

"Is happiness... really this difficult to achieve?"

"..."

"I just... thought having you was enough."

Ian sat down beside Maria and said:

"Everyone is born with their own destiny. Some are born incredibly lucky, while others easily fail despite trying their hardest. It's truly unfair."

"Hehehe... It really is."

"But once you're born, life is entirely your own. How you end it is in your own hands."

Ian smiled and stroked Maria's hair.

Maria's life could be defined in one word: [screwed over].

It had been a continuous series of unfortunate events.

But Maria hadn't given up.

Trusting Ian and those around her, she calmly faced her fate.

Even coming to meet the Duke directly had been remarkable.

Ian didn't dislike that about Maria.

"I'll support you, Maria."

"..."

"You'll definitely find happiness."

Maria quietly reached out and caressed Ian's cheek.

Her cheeks were flushed red.

Ian felt an inexplicable chill...

What was this? Was it because of her necromancy talent?

"You're truly kind."

"..."

"Yes. I've properly received your encouragement."

Maria looked up at Ian and smiled.

It was that eerie smile that made Ian uncomfortable(...).

"I'll try my best to become happy...!"

"Hmm. Yes. It's good to see you making an effort."

"Hehehe..."

Ian wanted to look away.

Seriously, couldn't she fix that smiling habit?!

It was... scary, like a madwoman!

But it felt awkward to directly tell someone, "Could you stop smiling like a crazy person?"

He brushed it off as just Maria's personality.

"Well then."

Maria whispered near Ian's ear.

"It's getting late... shall we go to bed?"

"..."

Ian strangely didn't feel like sleeping at all...

It absolutely, definitely had nothing to do with Maria.

Really.

"I'll pass."

"?"

"You go to sleep first, Maria."

When Ian refused to sleep, Maria looked up at him with what seemed like a disappointed(?) expression.

"Aren't you tired?"

"I am tired, but I have things to do."

That's right.

The reason Ian didn't go to bed was because of Duke Roxlan.

'The Duke said he'd write the certificate tomorrow.'

But... would he really?

After seeing those eyes and that hatred?

Ian didn't trust Duke Roxlan.

As the Emperor had warned, the Duke was a sinister person.

He was clearly obsessed with Maria.

Would he really willingly provide a certificate releasing Maria?

Of course, Ian would be grateful if he did...

But his wizard's intuition warned him.

Never trust the Duke.

'Good thing I prepared in advance.'

Fortunately, Ian hadn't come to meet the Duke 'unprepared.'

The Emperor had warned him multiple times.

He'd planned countermeasures in case things went wrong.

Ian went out onto the balcony, looked at the sky and said:

"Oberon."

A crow with pitch-black feathers appeared, flapping its wings.

"Caw! Master!"

"Go tell Kira to read the scroll I gave her."

"Scroll! Caw!"

Oberon lightly soared into the night sky.

The pitch-black crow disappeared into the sky without a trace.

That's when it happened.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Wizard! Are you in your room!"

An unfamiliar voice.

"I'm here."

"Open this door. Now!"

Maria looked at Ian with surprised eyes.

Ian muttered curses under his breath.

No wonder he felt uneasy—!

"I'm with my fiancée. Would I just open the door?"

"...I'll give you time to get dressed."

Ian smirked.

Oh, how very mannerly~

"Just tell me what this is about!"

Then came an absurd response.

"We're investigating a murder!"

"What?"

"A body was found in the garden! We need to investigate, so open this door immediately!"

Hmm. I really don't want to open it.

A murder case at such timing.

Ian shook his head.

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