Chapter 165

Chapter 165

TL/Editor: raei

Schedule: 5/week

Illustrations: None

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The atmosphere in the tavern grew tense.

Krysus was startled, Carl remained silent, and Herta shook her head.

"Phew... Ian. You shouldn't say such things so carelessly," Herta sighed.

To Herta, Ian looked like an adorable little chick of a wizard, chirping away. Anyone who saw Ian's youthful appearance would think the same. So when they heard the list of magic Ian claimed to know, they wondered what kind of childish boast this was.

"I can use fire magic, and air magic~ dark magic, and earth magic..."

"..."

But Ian was such a young wizard, wasn't he? It could only be seen as him putting on airs.

"What a load of bullsh*t," Anton, a wizard severely lacking in patience, spat out.

"Hey. Little black kid."

"Me?"

"Yeah, you brat. There's a limit to how much you can lie."

"???"

Ian was shocked by Anton's words. Could it be that they didn't believe he'd been initiated into multiple schools of magic? Well, that could be the case. Even his master Eredith found it strange to see Ian getting along with all sorts of mysteries, didn't she? An exceptional affinity with mysteries was clearly Ian's characteristic and strength.

"But I really..."

"This little sh*t is still at it!" Anton glared at Ian as he spoke. "Looks like you're trying to show off in front of Herta or something."

"? Me?"

"You don't need to put on such airs. She'll look after you anyway. So cut out that arrogant crap."

"... No. That's not it."

"Just because you managed to use a mystery once or twice doesn't mean you can handle magic!"

Anton, irritated by Ian's persistent "showing off", shouted angrily. "Mysteries appearing and disappearing, coming and going - that's not what we call 'magic'!"

"... What?"

"Only when mysteries always listen to you! Only when you can always hear the voice of mysteries, that's when we call it a real 'initiation'! You little brat!"

"There are times when you can't see mysteries?"

"...?"

Ian was genuinely surprised. That's right. Mysteries were... originally invisible things! But Ian didn't know that fact. Even if mysteries didn't grant Ian's requests, he could always communicate with them!

However, Anton was thinking the exact opposite of Ian. He thought Ian was bragging about being a 'wizard' just because he got lucky and used a mystery once or twice.

But Anton didn't know. Surprisingly... Ian was a human who could always contact mysteries...!

"Of course there are times when you can't see them!"

The fact that mysteries could disappear from perception was 'common sense' for wizards. The more often one failed to perceive mysteries, the closer they were to ordinary people, and most people lived their entire lives barely perceiving mysteries once or twice, if at all.

"Hmm..."

But Ian didn't have such 'common sense'. That's because Ian's very existence was so extraordinary.

"Doesn't that mean Anton's skill is lacking?" Ian asked innocently.

"W-What... What did you say?!"

Struck by this shocking statement as if hit on the back of the head, Anton momentarily lost his ability to speak.

Skill... lacking? The skill of Anton, this genius wizard?!

As a rule, men are prone to getting riled up when told 'you suck'. Though he had devoted his entire life to studying magic, Anton was still a man. Anton was mercilessly provoked by Ian's words!

"Y-You...!"

Anton, unable to continue speaking due to surging anger, sputtered.

Ian looked at Anton and shook his head. 'I must have hit the nail on the head.'

Thump!

Anton roughly shoved his chair aside and stomped off somewhere.

"Anton!" Herta called after him, but Anton was too quick. He must have been wounded in his pride. And understandably so. Rookie wizards had mocked Anton as pathetic. And he couldn't demonstrate his skills because there was no water (...).

But Ian still thought Anton wasn't much of a wizard. After all, a truly accomplished wizard could perform incredible magic even in places without water. The fact that he needed water for magic meant Anton's learning was still lacking.

"Ian. Make sure you apologize to Anton later," Herta said sternly.

"That's..."

"I'll take responsibility and tell Anton to apologize too."

Herta was saying, don't fight among wizards. Ian nodded without protest. Even if Anton was a mediocre wizard (?), he was still Ian's senior.

"I went too far," Ian admitted.

"Be more careful from now on. That aside..." Herta looked at Ian with her arms crossed and said, "I didn't want to go this far, but I really want to see with my own eyes Ian handling magic from other schools."

It meant, are you ready to take responsibility for your words? Of course, Ian was confident.

"Would it be alright if I helped all the other wizards?"

The three wizards nodded.

"Good. Then let's help each of you once."

---

---

Herta and Carl left, saying they needed to prepare their magic. Anton also seemed to have rushed to the river for his magic. Only Krysus remained, sipping beer idly.

"Aren't you going to prepare, senior?" Ian asked.

"Eh. Too bothersome."

"..."

Ian wasn't sure if that one would be able to use magic properly. He had a brief chat with his companions before going to help with the magic.

"Ian. Got a moment?" Belenka spoke to him first.

"What is it?"

"I have something to say about Baron Vincents' proxy."

Ian sat down at the table again. Belenka and Kira joined. Even Maria joined the conversation. Jubal... just sat there.

"Don't you think something's odd?" Belenka opened the topic, and the others chimed in with their opinions.

"To be honest. I didn't expect him to hold out this long," Kira spoke frankly. She had some experience meeting nobles. Kira knew well how uncomfortable nobles were around wizards. Let's say detaining Professor Inglan was just out of irritation. But what came after was the problem. A group of wizards barged in and collectively protested. And he completely ignored that?

"Even for a proxy, that's going too far."

Being the proxy ruler of this land was only a temporary shield. Moreover, the baron's proxy was the son of a count. He'd inherit the title someday, but with this uproar, would the surrounding wizards look kindly upon him? Wizards and nobles had a mutually beneficial relationship. Such blatant disregard for wizards was by no means desirable.

"I... got the impression that the baron's proxy was hiding something at that time," Belenka said thoughtfully.

"I felt that impression too..." Kira agreed.

"I felt it a little as well," Maria added.

It was the common opinion of the three. Ian had no objection.

"When the wizards start flexing their powers, it's obvious the baron's proxy won't last long."

It was a fight where defeat was predetermined. Soon, wizards would be putting on all sorts of shows throughout the domain. How could he withstand that pressure? Yet the baron's proxy didn't release Inglan. Was the baron's proxy aiming for something?

"Ian. That's why..." Belenka said. "While you're mingling with the wizards. We'll investigate the baron's proxy on our own."

"Just you guys?"

Ian's companions nodded. It seemed they had already agreed on this.

"The most ideal conclusion would be if the baron's proxy turns out to be a complete idiot, but..."

It meant they needed to investigate in case that wasn't true.

"Alright. Investigate, but don't overdo it," Ian cautioned.

It wasn't a bad idea.