Chapter 17

"This is really something..."

Ian shook his head.

To Ian, who had lived as a normal citizen in the modern world, her tales of medieval power struggles were entirely foreign.

Had Ian been born as the youngest son of a chaebol family, perhaps he would have understood the ruthlessness of those in higher positions.

But, as a normal citizen through and through, in both his past and present lives, Ian could not understand the mindset of those in power.

What was power to them?

What made it so great that it drove people to cast out their son-in-laws and poison their father-in-laws?

Seeing a bride-to-be in danger of being kidnapped by her future husband, Ian felt an indescribable emotion.

However, apart from that, Ian realized that he held an important piece of the puzzle in his hands.

"Hmm. I've listened to your story."

As Ian attempted to rise, Lucy firmly grabbed his hand, refusing to let go.

It seemed like it was time for him to pay his entrance fee for this medieval soap opera.

"If anyone else hears this story, I'm dead."

"Ah, come on. You won't die. Just marry your fiancé..."

"I'd rather die than marry that bastard!"

At that outburst filled with intense emotion, Ian closed his mouth.

Indeed.

The thought of living with the man who killed her parents was horrifying.

"Why tell me all this, then?"

"...You saw it, right? They've already caught up."

Lucy's eyes reddened.

Tears were streaming down her cheeks.

"I don't think I can get away on my own..."

Sniffling, Lucy spoke firmly after wiping her tears.

"Wizard Ian! Please help me escape! On the honor of the Talian family, I promise to reward you for your efforts!"

Ian scratched his cheek.

"Hmm. And you haven't considered the possibility of me betraying you?"

"That scoundrel would probably give you at most a few silver coins. But I can give you everything."

"Everything?"

Lucy said with a stern face.

"If you want, I could even give you the Talian Family."

Despite her rigid expression,

Her voice trembled pitifully.

'The Talian Family...'

Even as a wizard, Ian wasn't dense enough to not know the significance of that offer.

To offer him the Talian Family meant that she was proposing a marriage with him.

It meant giving Ian what the mercenary leader desired.

Thus, this was an enormous opportunity.

Though now somewhat hazy, Ian's origins were humble, as originally, he was the son of a serf.

To be born as the son of a serf in a medieval fantasy world, to then becoming a quasi-noble at a young age?

It would be considered a remarkable success.

For Ian the Third, the son of a serf, that would be the case.

But...

What about Ian Eredith Raven, the disciple of the wizard Eredith?

'Becoming a noble isn't bad, but...'

Ian had a talent for magic.

Specifically, the ability to manipulate a status window.

Living as a noble and engaging in politics was one thing, but having been born into a fantasy world, shouldn't he seek out the pinnacle of magic?

Ian let out a wry laugh as his thoughts reached this point.

The fact that he wasn't greedy for a chance to climb the social ladder might have meant that he was a born wizard.

Ian organized his thoughts.

Helping Lucy would definitely be a good way to gain experience as a wizard.

It was also a good opportunity for him to earn some travel money.

After all, he needed to make money.

No matter how much money Eredith had given him, more was always better.

It was certainly more cost-effective than having to turn to mercenary work due to a lack of funds later on.

He decided to help her shake off her pursuers, and then she would be on her own.

Ian told Lucy,

"Honestly, if you're looking for an escort... it might be better to find someone who knows how to wield a sword. Wizards aren't really combatants."

Wizards were those who explored mysteries and conversed with the world. They weren't killing machines that slaughtered people indiscriminately.

"Then..."

Lucy clenched her fists, her voice breaking.

Ian continued,

"But if you're willing to pay, I'll help you escape. You'll have to take care of the rest on your own."

"Sob... Sob..."

At that, Lucy burst into tears.

Ian was a bit taken aback.

'I only agreed to help, yet she made such a fuss...'

"Thank you! Ian! Thank you so much...!"

Lucy hugged Ian and cried until she was exhausted.

Only then did Ian realize that the girl in front of him was a young woman who had just become an adult.

She was not the noble "Lucy of the Talian Family," but merely an eighteen-year-old girl who had to flee from the murderer of her parents.

Ian lent her his shoulder until Lucy was okay.

[The story has gotten long, my friend.]

[A/N: Like, a korean way of saying "You sure took your time."]

Stepping outside the nest, a sunbathing Drake greeted Ian.

Drake wasn't a fully cold-blooded creature, but still, being a creature covered in scales, he seemed to enjoy sunbathing.

It was in his nature.

"[Ah, Longtail.]"

[How's your body feeling?]

"[Well...]"

Ian already knew the condition of his body upon waking up.

The source of his knowledge, naturally, was his mentor Eredith's teachings.

'If you come into contact with mysteries beyond a wizard's abilities, it will strain your body.'

'Ah, but at your current level, there's absolutely no way that'll happen!'

'But, as you gain experience and commune further with the mysteries, you might overexert yourself beyond your abilities, so be careful!'

Ian had figured out why he had fainted.

It was because he had been using level 3 summoning spells carelessly while talking with Longtail.

He had instantly raised his skill level through the skill window, so his body hadn't yet adapted to the level of magic.

"[I used too much energy trying to understand your words.]"

[Oh no!]

Longtail immediately understood what had happened to Ian.

It was thanks to Ian's magic that they had been able to converse so naturally up to now, so it made sense that it had taken a toll on him.

"[I think I need to go down now. You must have other things to do as well.]"

[Yes, let's do that!]

Longtail had no intention of demanding more magic that would strain his injured friend.

[Take a few more gems from the nest. And don't say that you can't accept them since I gave you some yesterday.]

"[I wasn't planning on refusing. Why wouldn't I take them if you're offering?]"

Ian chuckled and picked out a few gems, prioritizing the crafted jewels that were clearly looted from humans over raw stones.

Gems were pretty, valuable, and sometimes, could be used in magical rituals.

They were a useful gift.

As Ian collected the gems, Longtail lowered its body to make it easier for Ian to climb on, intending to carry him down the mountain.

[Ian's lady! You should get on too!]

Lucy tensed up in front of the growling drake.

Ian didn't bother translating Longtail's words.

"Lucy. Hurry up and get on."

"Oh, no... I mean... Is it safe? It won't eat us or anything…?"

Lucy asked, sending anxious glances at him.

"What if it gets out of control?"

Ian couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity.

What control?

The reason Longtail was carrying Ian had nothing to do with him being under control or anything like that.

Ian didn't bother explaining that in detail.

It was pointless to explain magic to someone who wasn't a wizard.

"It's 100% safe. Just get on."

"Uh. Uhm..."

Ian extended his hand to help Lucy up.

As soon as she had climbed onto Longtail's back, she tightly hugged Ian's waist and did not let go.

She was quite scared.

[Then, let's move!]

As the drake moved its massive body, it created a rumbling noise like that of a landslide.

Thud, thud...

The steps of the wingless dragon sent tremors through the ground.

The Rabbit Foot Company was facing its most unprecedented crisis since its inception.

"Boss! Let's just leave!"

"No, we should wait, shouldn't we?!"

Rick, the owner of the trading company, sighed in despair as he looked at the divided company.

Ah, how on earth were they supposed to navigate through this predicament?

A day had passed since the wizard Ian had disappeared following the drake. He hadn't returned even as the sun rose.

The trading company was now split into two factions.

One side argued to wait for Ian, while the other insisted on leaving.

The trading company, after executing Ian's last command the previous night, had been demoralized by the dreadful carnage.

'Mercenaries! Are you alive?'

"..."

'Where are the mercenaries?'

The trading company's people went searching for the mercenaries, hoping that they were just hiding somewhere.

After all, despite being attacked by bandits, they were seasoned mercenaries accustomed to surviving by their swords, so the company had hoped that they had simply fled rather than having been killed.

But the sight that met the trading company was horrific.

'My God...'

The mercenaries seemed to have fought a fierce battle in the dark, and all of them were found as cold corpses, riddled with wounds.

As experienced travelers, the traders sensed that something suspicious was happening.

As mentioned before, in fantasy worlds, bandits = experience points, being neck and neck with goblins as top sources of experience points.

In fact, mercenaries, bandits, and goblins, being fantasy worlds' weakest trio, often squabbled at the bottom of their list of inhabitants.

However, mercenaries had a higher strength compared to the other two.

Consider the type of person Mercenary Leader John was.

He was known as "Bloody John," and was a somewhat famous mercenary who had been guarding their group.

If even a capable fighter couldn't escape and was killed...

It meant only one of two things.

Either the bandits were exceptionally skilled beyond ordinary bandits.

Or they weren't just ordinary bandits.

Either way, it was a terrible situation for the company.

"You saw the drake yesterday! Who in their right mind would wander around after seeing a drake?"

"What do you expect from bandits? They're mad! They'll follow us no matter what!"

Both points had merit.

Logically, no bandits would cause trouble knowing a drake was in the vicinity.

And expecting common sense from a bandit was foolish.

The two opinions clashed sharply.

"Mr. Rick!"

"Mr. Rick!"

Ultimately, the decision fell to Rick.

This was the crux of the matter.

Whether to evacuate the company safely or to wait for the wizard out of loyalty.

"Ugh."

Rick groaned in anguish.

The decision was solely in his hands.

This was the pain of being a person in power.

Rick now had to make a call.

"We'll wait for the wizard!"

"No, Mr. Rick!"

"We'll follow the company leader's decision!"

Rick chose to wait for Ian.

There was no special reason, just that he wanted to make a good impression on Ian so that he could benefit from trades with nobility.

It was a risky decision, but Rick believed in Ian's abilities.

He had magic that summoned darkness, controlled the wind, and ignited fire!

And the charisma to boldly confront the monstrous drake!

Such a person, who confidently followed the drake, was unlikely to have just gone and died.

There was probably just something that was delaying him.

Probably.

10 minutes after Rick's bold decision.

"Ah! Company Leader! It's the bandits!"

"What? Damn it...!"

Rick immediately regretted his decision from 10 minutes ago.

'I should have just left!'

"Everyone, stop. Drop your weapons and raise your hands."

"Oh no! Please, bandits, spare our lives! You can have everything we own!"

"We don't need it!"

"???"

True to the character of people who dared to rob in the mountains of where a drake roamed, they were not in their right minds.

They were bandits that were refusing loot!

"We know that a woman with dark blue hair is here."

"Dark blue... hair?"

"Yes. Hair that is the color of the night sky. And she's beautiful."

When looking for someone, ordinary people needed detailed physical descriptions, like having a big nose, elongated ears, or a large mole on their face.

But for beauties, none of that was necessary.

Their beauty was a feature itself.

A very rare feature.

That was why the beautiful spies in stories were all nonsense.

After all, what good was a spy's beauty if it only made them easier to catch?

"Ah! It's Cassie! Cassie!"

"Cassie? Hmm..."

At the mention of them searching for a beauty, Rick nodded.

They weren't bandits, but human traffickers!

"Where is she then?"

"...?"

The workers were puzzled.

They knew that she'd gone somewhere, but... why wasn't she back?

"Well, I don't know, I'm not sure where she went..."

The bandit, no, the human trafficker kicked Rick in the chest.

"Ack!"

[A/N: It's funny how the direct translation of this line is "Aigo!" lol.]

A pain that felt as if his ribs had been broken overcame him.

Really though, he was just exaggerating.

Nothing was broken.

"Hmph! Seeing as you're not opening your mouth, it seems that you've been paid with some money."

"What money! We haven't received a penny!"

"Don't lie!"

After another kick from the human trafficker, Rick let out a tear.

It was out of injustice.

'If I was actually paid, I wouldn't be feeling so wronged...!'

Cassie was just a traveler they met; why would she have given money to the company?

"Where is this Cassie! Speak up!"

"We don't know! We really don't!"

"Ah, so you're going to be like that, huh?"

The moment the human trafficker raised his fist.

Thump, thump...

Everyone there felt an unnatural vibration.

It was the sound of a drake passing by.

"..."

The human traffickers suddenly became silent along with the hostages, as if they had made a pact.

If they were caught by the drake, they would all just become delicious snacks.

But then,

"Aaah! Aaaaah! Wizard! Wizard!"

"This guy's gone mad!"

Rick screamed with a voice filled with all the injustice in the world.

The amount of injustice he was feeling right now was bone-deep, making it sound all the more heart-wrenching.

Aside from his screams being touching to the soul, they were also incredibly loud.

"Shut up!"

The human traffickers, trembling at the thought of attracting the drake, tried to silence Rick.

But it was too late.

The drake was approaching.

"...Run!"