Chapter 223

Chapter 223

TL/Editor: raei

Status: 5/week mon-fri

Illustrations: none

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In the southern empire, at the [Golden Rule Society] headquarters.

Antios had initially planned to use this place as a temporary base before discarding it. Now, he returned here dejectedly.

'I lost...'

He still couldn't believe it.

He had set out on a northern expedition with the evil dragon Predius, yet...

In a battle he absolutely shouldn't have lost, Antios had been defeated.

'Why?'

In truth, it wasn't entirely accurate to say Antios had lost.

Predius, with some free time on his hands, had tried to raid another easy barony and ended up in an accident.

But regardless of the reason, the fact remained that Predius was dead.

A summoner who had lost their summon felt utterly powerless...

Left with no choice, Antios decided to return.

With mixed emotions, he gazed at the dragon's massive corpse.

Though Predius had been a demanding bastard who always asked for exorbitant fees, he had still worked as Antios' contractor until now...

"Regent!"

"Lord Regent!"

Other black wizards were staying at the temporary headquarters.

The necromancer and celestial wizard, Bertholdt.

The transmuter, Karenne.

The two were shocked to see the dragon returned as a corpse and Antios with an expression as pale as death.

What on earth had happened in the north for them to lose the dragon?!

"Predius attacked a barony... and ended up getting killed."

"Was there a knight capable of taking down a dragon?"

Bertholdt shouted in disbelief.

If such a knight existed, they would have gathered intelligence and been cautious from the start.

But how could there be a dragon slayer-class knight in a rural domain of the Duchy of Araz?

"No. The opponent was a wizard."

"... A wizard?"

Antios searched his memory.

He recalled the young wizard with black hair he had seen when retrieving Predius' corpse.

"It was a wizard named Ian."

"!"

"!"

"Yes. The very Ian you two reported about."

Bertholdt and Karenne almost burst out laughing.

Antios had been beaten by Ian and came crawling back!

Antios' defeat essentially proved that the two black wizards weren't complete idiots.

It wasn't that they were incompetent – Ian was just that damn strong!

Haha, Lord Regent, even you can lose sometimes!

See, I told you Ian was a complete madman!

...Of course, Bertholdt only thought this to himself.

There was no one in this group so morally bankrupt as to mock the defeated leader of a secret society...

"I knew it was Ian! I told you! That guy was suspicious! Of all people to run into! Even the Regent is no match!"

"Shut up, Karenne."

Antios spoke with flashing eyes.

"I'll cut your research budget, just so you know."

"Eep!"

Karenne stumbled backwards.

Antios grew even more furious.

Bertholdt, Karenne, and even Antios himself!

All of them had been neatly beaten by this wandering wizard named Ian!

At this rate, they might as well take down the [Golden Rule Society] sign and rename the group the [Ian Victims' Association].

Antios ground his teeth.

By the wizard Ian?

No.

By those gloomy space-time wizards!

'Damn those space-time wizard bastards...!'

Right now, Antios was working hard for a great cause.

To destroy the weak fake empire and revive the glory of the old empire!

Witnessing the return of the great magical era in his lifetime was Antios' dream and life purpose.

Of course, some people might die and the world order might be turned upside down in the process of achieving this grand goal.

But when the era of emperors and magic returns, would such trivial matters be a problem?

Antios was confident.

With the power of almighty magic, nothing was impossible.

"?"

Just then, Antios heard a strange sound.

Was that a growl coming from Predius' corpse...?

"Bertholdt. Did you use necromancy?"

"No?"

Antios hurried over to Predius.

And was astonished.

"Good heavens... My God!"

Predius' heart... was beating again.

The dragon wasn't dead yet!

"How is this possible..."

As Antios stared at the dragon's massive body, he suddenly recalled a piece of knowledge.

Reptilian creatures can fake their own death when faced with a life-threatening situation...!

"... Playing dead!"

Antios was dumbfounded, but this was reality.

It was knowledge even Antios hadn't known.

To think that a mighty dragon could play dead like some damn lizard!

Antios cheered, but that was it.

Predius' heart had started beating again, but he hadn't regained consciousness.

"Bertholdt! Go fetch some medicine!"

"Yes sir!"

Of course, the mere fact that he was still breathing was a miracle.

Predius had been stabbed deep in the head with a longsword, damaging part of his brain.

The injured body would soon recover, but...

The brain might never fully heal, so no one could predict how he would revive.

However, one thing was certain.

A powerful weapon to face Ian and the space-time wizards was still alive...!

'Just you wait, Wizard Ian!'

Antios' eyes flashed.

As he looked forward to the day he would meet Ian again.

------

Ian slowly began preparing for his journey.

He had come because of the dragon's invasion, so now there was no reason to stay in Talian.

The Knights of Santiago had left earlier than Ian.

"We look forward to meeting again, brother!"

"Take care, Lord Ian!"

"You too, Sir Dehitri."

The Knights of Santiago would go hunt their next monster.

Now it was the wizards' turn.

"I'm sorry, Master. Will you go ahead?"

Eredith, Inglan, Kira, and Maria decided to go to the Imperial University first.

The reason was simple.

"I need to take Longtail back home."

Longtail had abandoned his nice house to come help Ian.

It would be too inconsiderate to just say goodbye here after everything was done.

Ian decided to escort the drake couple back to their home.

In truth, his main goal was to prevent any potential casualties the drake couple might cause on the road.

"Alright. Do that then."

Eredith sent Ian off.

It was a natural choice, since Ian was Longtail's summoner.

"Then we'll see you at the university!"

"See you later, Ian!"

The group of wizards set off for the university. Salvador joined them as well.

Ian took only Belenka with him, departing with the drake couple.

He had considered taking Jubal too, but apparently he had gotten a job as a handyman at Talian Hall. (Sister Mionia had strongly recommended him.)

It didn't really matter either way.

He was originally a pure-hearted young man not well-suited for a warrior's life.

From the start, the goal had been to find a place for Jubal to settle down.

"I'll be back, Lucy."

Ian gave Lucy a light kiss on the cheek.

Lucy blushed and waved her hand.

"Take care, Ian!"

---

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