Became a Medieval Fantasy Wizard
Chapter 371

TL/Editor: raei

Status: 5/week mon-fri

Illustrations: none

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"That was a close call."

The mercenaries left the forest, grumbling with relief.

They were the mercenaries Ian had hired.

For them, the joy of survival outweighed the pain of defeat.

"...Wait, let's talk for a moment."

But there were others who felt differently.

Elia and Ian's companions.

Elia, Belenka, and Sir Salvador.

The moment they left the forest, they immediately began a strategy meeting.

"I should have stopped the dragon... I'm ashamed."

"This isn't the time for apologies. We need solutions."

Sir Salvador couldn't lift his head.

He had fought the black dragon several times, but had lost every time...

His background as a leader of knights who specialized in monster hunting seemed wasted (or so he thought).

But unlike Sir Salvador's self-blame, the other two didn't consider him incompetent.

Well... they were facing a dragon, after all.

It was the same dragon that Ian had barely managed to fight using dragon-slaying spears and summons.

They should be glad to have survived such an unfavorable battle.

"Ian... became a prisoner voluntarily to protect us."

"..."

Elia spoke, suppressing her emotions.

The person who felt the most anguish at these words was none other than Belenka.

She had wanted to stay by Ian's side until the end.

Had it not been for Ian's orders, she certainly would have.

Belenka knew.

Ian was a wizard with peculiar talents.

He had exceptional rhetorical skills typical of wizards, and his ability to handle mysteries was beyond question.

But his most remarkable trait was his strange way of thinking.

He came up with and implemented ideas that seemed bizarre, almost like they didn't belong to this world (which was true).

Because of this, she didn't think Ian had been captured without a plan.

He must have come up with some unusual idea and allowed himself to be taken prisoner...

'But what good does that do now?'

Belenka clenched her fist.

Even if this was part of Ian's plan, the fact remained that they had lost to black wizards.

Belenka wanted only one thing.

To rescue Ian safely.

"Gathering more troops would be... inefficient, right?"

"I believe so. An army of mere numbers can't defeat black wizards."

Elia recognized that this was a special situation.

Their opponents were black wizards without proper domains.

If attacked, they could simply abandon their land and relocate.

To make matters worse, Duke Roxlan had switched to the black wizards' side...

If they didn't crush them now, they would become an even bigger headache.

"I'll return to Hastria first."

"Hastria's knights would certainly be helpful."

The dragon controlled by the black wizards was a terrifying enemy.

Gathering forces would waste time.

But even if they attacked, the black wizards without domains could simply pack up and move.

Yet sending inadequate forces would only result in defeat by the dragon.

Creating a force of elite heroes might work, but...

How easy would that be?

"Then I'll ask the capital's knights for assistance."

"Thank you, Sir."

Elia would seek help from Hastria's knights.

Sir Salvador would request aid from the capital's knights.

No one knew how long it would take to gather forces and launch an attack...

But doing something was better than sitting idle, hoping the problem would solve itself.

The survivors returned to the Emperor's Moving Palace.

"Princess!"

"I'm sorry. I couldn't bring back His Imperial Majesty..."

"No! We're just glad you've returned safely!"

The Emperor's servants welcomed Elia enthusiastically.

They had good news to deliver.

"Princess! His Holiness the Pope has sent someone!"

"...The Pope?"

Elia hurried to meet the person sent by the Pope.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Lady Hastria."

"I am Elia Hastria. And you are...?"

"Reshach."

A servant leaned in to whisper:

"Sir Reshach is a famous black wizard hunter from the south...!"

"Ah!"

Holy Knight Reshach.

A knight who could use holy magic, who had gained fame by hunting down numerous black wizards.

The Pope had indeed sent proper reinforcements.

"You...?"

"Fancy meeting you here again, Sir Belenka."

Belenka was slightly surprised to recognize Reshach.

Wasn't he the same holy knight she had fought alongside against Bertholdt?!

"Where's Ian?"

"...You came too, Takarion."

Belenka quickly figured out what had happened.

Takarion, who had hastily left Roxlan Castle.

He had safely reached the Pope and returned with reinforcements...!

"Ian has become a prisoner of the black wizards."

"What?!"

Takarion was genuinely shocked.

How could Ian have been captured by black wizards!

"How did that happen?"

"The enemy summoner brought a dragon."

"Heaven preserve us!"

Sir Reshach immediately grasped the gravity of the situation.

This was completely different from ordinary black wizard hunting.

A summoner skilled enough to control a dragon...!

Capturing such a person alone would deal massive damage to the black wizards!

While the Pope aimed to expand his influence by defeating black wizards,

Sir Reshach fought against black wizards to save innocent victims.

"It's good that you brought wizards."

"Wizards?"

When Sir Reshach gestured, a group of 'wizards' entered in a flurry.

"Hello! Princess!"

"How vulgar to just say 'hello'!"

"It's their choice how they greet her."

"Hmm."

The 'wizards' were meeting Elia for the first time.

But not Belenka.

"You've come too?"

"Oh my, Sir Belenka!"

A woman with a gentle voice approached.

She placed her hand over Belenka's and said:

"It's been a while! Is Ian with you?"

"Ian is... a prisoner of the black wizards..."

"What?!"

With the arrival of the wizards, things suddenly became lively.

Wizards typically don't worry much about others' feelings...!

And they're even chatty!

"Just a moment, please!"

Elia stepped forward to clarify the situation.

The wizards belatedly introduced themselves.

"Noble one, I am Herta, a wandering wizard."

"I'm Krysus! Krysus Montana!"

"Wizard Anton... at your service."

"Earth wizard Carl."

They were people with strong personalities, typical of wizards.

Sir Reshach provided additional explanation.

"They're wizards I met while tracking black wizards."

"I see...!"

Sir Reshach and the wizards.

They had all crossed paths by chance while pursuing the common goal of tracking black wizards.

"They're all highly skilled wizards."

Elia looked at the unexpected reinforcements.

Holy Knight Sir Reshach and the Pope's soldiers.

Plus four skilled wizards...!

"I apologize for asking this upon our first meeting, but could I request your assistance?"

"If it concerns black wizards, we'll help in any way we can."

After all, that's why they had come.

These weren't people who would shy away from fighting black wizards!

"Then...!"

Elia spread out a map.

Belenka and Sir Salvador.

Sir Reshach and Takarion.

Herta, Krysus, Anton, and Carl. Four wizards in total...!

With this many people, they could attempt another attack on the black wizards!

"Now, let's begin our strategy meeting!"

Elia started organizing an expedition force once again.

***

Meanwhile, Ian was formulating his own escape plan.

He couldn't even dream that Elia and his companions would return.

There was no effective way to deal with the dragon...

And by the time they gathered enough forces to confront it, the black wizards would have already finished choosing sides with Duke Roxlan.

The issue was time.

Moving one step ahead of the enemy was paramount.

"Here's the meditation room."

"It's cramped."

"...This is the storage room."

"Why is it empty? Did thieves come?"

"......This is the research lab."

"It's shabbier than a magic university break room."

Ian was so preoccupied with devising an escape plan that he responded almost automatically.

Snap.

But... Ian's 'automatic responses' were only comments that grated on Bertholdt's nerves!

This bastard! Is he bragging about being a university graduate?! Right now!

"Got a problem with it?!"

"I've got plenty of complaints."

Finally showing your true colors!

Bertholdt glared at Ian as if he wanted to drown him in a single breath.

"A healthy mind dwells in a healthy body."

"...?"

"With your living conditions in such a state, no wonder there's no progress in magic."

But Ian's 'complaints' were completely different from what Bertholdt had expected.

"Eating well and resting well are so important. Magic university wizards prioritize material comfort for a reason."

The black wizards watching burst into laughter.

The society's poverty was a joke even to its members.

"Hehe... privileged people like you don't understand the misery of living in hiding."

"Why should wizards live in hiding?"

"...What nonsense. Don't you know how much Heaven's Faith hates black wizards?"

Ian snorted and extended his hand.

With a simple gesture, a pile of bones squirmed and rose.

"!"

"Necromancy?! How can he do it so easily...!"

Using the [Skill Magic] method made casting magic this easy.

Of course, this was a completely unknown approach to black wizards.

Ian flicked his hand again.

Like a flint, sparks flew and disappeared.

Clearly fire magic.

"That's what happens when you only use black magic."

"..."

"Magic isn't just black magic. The more diverse magic you learn, the better."

Just as the black wizards were about to speak, Ian turned his back.

Using a variety of magic is beneficial.

But black wizards didn't give up ordinary magic because they wanted to.

Except in unusual cases like Ian, magic is typically extremely difficult to learn.

Finding a teacher is like reaching for the stars.

Magic university?

If you had the wealth to enter a university, why would you dabble in black magic?

'Such a show-off...!'

The black wizards burned with jealousy as they watched Ian's magical skill.

But at the same time...

'...I could do that too, if someone taught me.'

They envied Ian's magic, thinking that with proper instruction, they could attain such abilities.

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