Chapter 35

Ian yawned widely as he watched the manticore's body burn to ashes.

No matter how big the monster was, it couldn't resist the fire and died.

Its muscles melted away, and its respiratory system was destroyed, leaving it powerless.

"Let's all be careful with fire, as it's such a dangerous thing."

"Ah! Thank you! My lords!"

The knights busied themselves taking care of the farmers.

The farmers, who had been as good as dead, shed tears of gratitude.

Mani also did her part by neutralizing the manticore's poison.

There were farmers who were neighbors of Mani, so they did not skimp on their thanks.

But... no one approached Ian.

Except for one person.

"Um... Thank you for your help, wizard."

"...Ah. Yeah. Whatever."

However, Ian, being an INFP, did not enjoy being approached by this stranger.

[A/N: INFP is one of the sixteen personality types outlined in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Dude is introverted.]

Seeing Ian's indifferent response, the farmer became scared.

Honestly, Ian's appearance was now unmistakably that of a wizard.

His suspicious staff and the crow perched on his shoulder said as much.

And what about his crow-black hair!

"Ah. Oberon. Get down, you're heavy."

"[How rude! How can you say something like that about a delicate bird like me!]"

"Delicate my ass. You're as big as a chicken."

...And then there was this bizarre sight of him talking with the crow!

The farmer quickly left, fearing Ian's displeasure before he burned him just like he did the manticore.

For that reason, Ian did not receive the farmers' gratitude.

But he did not care at all.

He hadn't done this to receive thanks in the first place.

"Well done, Ian."

"Ah. I didn't do anything. The Elder worked much harder."

Ian grinned as the Elder spoke.

Knowing that physical labor was the duty of the knights, Ian, who literally sat around and reaped the benefits, felt intoxicated with the sweetness of being a wizard.

Damn.

Learning was a b*tch, but once you've learned, wasn't it just sweet?

Everybody, become a wizard.

Do it twice.

"If you hadn't helped, we would still be wandering around looking for the manticore."

The Elder bowed his head.

Ian jumped up, startled.

Coming from a Confucian city where respect for elders was paramount, he was not used to seeing an old man bow before him.

"I, I just followed because Mani told me to."

"Heh. If you say so, it must be true."

The Elder smiled pleasantly, looking at the wizard who was fumbling in front of him.

Wizard and humility were words that did not go together at all.

But just as unicorns exist, so did humble wizards.

Ian was exactly that kind of humble wizard.

Incredible talent and humble character...

Both were points that would win over the nobility.

'This one will become a great person in the future.'

The Elder was convinced that Ian would become a famous wizard in the future.

If he met a good lord, he could become a power on par with the great nobility.

"Now that things have gone well, why not stay in the village tonight? The Count will likely send someone soon."

The Santiago Knights and the two wizards stayed in a nearby farmer's village.

As the Elder had predicted, a messenger from the Count came to verify the manticore's corpse.

"The Count has ordered that the distinguished guests be brought to the castle!"

"Heh. Since he specifically asked for us, we have no choice but to go."

Ian and his companions headed to the Count's castle.

The Count, along with his vassals, priests, and... Lucy Talian, had come out to greet Ian and his party.

"Welcome! Brave warriors!"

Count Catina welcomed the party with a generous smile.

To celebrate the successful hunt of the monster, the Count threw a large banquet.

Servants sweated as they grilled a whole pig barbecue, and the knights laughed and chatted as they indulged in alcohol and meat.

The atmosphere of the banquet was naturally good.

First, Count Catina.

The Count had managed to deal with the monster that could have been a headache for his domain for almost no cost.

Considering the hunters he had sent before had failed, this was a significant achievement.

Then, the priests of the domain.

They were the ones who had recommended the Santiago Knights, so their shoulders were raised high.

They were happy because they had saved the Count's purse and caught the monster.

Lastly, the Santiago Knights.

Having risked their lives to catch the monster, they were due for a corresponding reward.

How exhilarated they must be.

"By the heavens, to stand against a monster! What righteous people they are! Hahaha!"

"You flatter us, Count!"

Among the Santiago Knights, the secular ones took places by the Count's side, exchanging drinks.

"Ha. Hearing about your exploits is truly amazing."

Count Catina, buoyed by alcohol, laid on the praise for the knights.

Is there anyone who dislikes being praised?

The knights listened to the Count's compliments with pleased expressions.

"It's truly regrettable. If I had brave knights like you by my side, I would feel so much more secure..."

"..."

"However, how could I throw knights who follow the heavens' will into the worldly mire!"

The Count spat out his prepared remark while watching the knights' expressions.

Pretending to be drunk to praise the knights, and spouting nonsense about how regrettable it was, were all part of his plan.

Not all religious knights were solely devoted to their faith.

They were human, too, seeking power, wealth, and women.

Seeing some knights sway, the Count smirked.

A few seemed ready to be swayed by a bit of nudging.

However, there was no need to rush things, so the Count changed the topic.

"Mani, the wizard. Thank you for helping the brave knights. I will take care of the barley crop the farmers lost."

"I didn't do it for you to feel good, Count. If you had paid more attention in the first place, there wouldn't have been a need for me to step in!"

Mani, who had reluctantly participated in the hunt because of the priests, was not in the best of moods.

Knowing this, the Count did not provoke the wizard further.

"Now that it's caught, it's all good, isn't it?"

"Sure."

The Count glanced at Ian, who was sitting beside Mani, and then stood up.

Clearly, he was seeing this wizard for the first time...

It was time for 'that custom.'

"But what's this? I see a beggar who has stepped into my palace without permission?"

The Count stared at Ian.

It's your turn now, Wizard.

But Ian... was too busy stuffing his face with food to care about what the Count had said.

Oberon cawed loudly.

"[Is that guy calling for you, master?]"

"What?"

Ian responded to Oberon, but since the rest couldn't hear the crow's voice, they naturally assumed Ian was responding to the Count.

'Oh, speaking informally right off the bat.'

'Such boldness! That wizard!'

The Count, not expecting the young fellow to speak informally, was slightly taken aback.

However, he composed himself, thinking this too was part of the custom.

"...I never invited you as a guest, so f*ck off. Crow."

"Hey, Oberon. He's telling you to f*ck off?"

"[It's you he's telling to f*ck off, master!]"

"Ah. Surely it's not me he's telling me to f*ck off, right?"

The knights were used to such scenes, but for the Count and his vassals, it was bizarre.

A wizard talking with a crow!

To the others, he just looked like a madman muttering to himself with a bird.

'That wizard... why is he doing that?'

'He's talking with a crow.'

'Talking? With a bird?'

'He's a wizard, isn't he?'

'Uh. Well...'

The knights, who had seen Ian use a bird to track the manticore, understood his strange conversation.

But the Count and his vassals did not understand Ian's magic at all.

Especially the Count.

"Uh... um. Excellent magic."

Well... the magic Ian showed didn't seem much like magic at all!

Sure, Ian had shown magic according to the custom of 'Calling a Wizard'... or so it seemed!

What the f*ck kind of magic is that?

Ventriloquism?

The ability to converse with animals is definitely magic.

So, the wizard had shown his skill.

But... with such an ambiguous demonstration, there was no way to tell if this guy was a fraud or not.

Considering the purpose of 'Calling a Wizard' is to distinguish frauds clinging to nobility, this was not a successful calling.

Logically, it should have stopped here.

Whether Ian was a fraud or not, who cares?

He was accompanying the Santiago Knights and sitting next to Wizard Mani.

But there's always one idiot who has to make a scene at times like this.

"Your Excellency. Such a fraud should be severely punished and driven away!"

"...?"

Both Ian and the Count looked at the vassal with displeased expressions.

One of the vassals had decided that the 'Calling a Wizard' was insufficient.

This could be seen as a great insult to the wizard.

Who would feel good being treated as a fraud after showing their magic?

But the Count did not stop his vassal.

Because... the Count was curious too!

Even the Count thought Ian should show some more impressive magic (this is why ignorant fools are problematic).

Since nothing visible was shown, Ian was perceived as an weak wizard.

"Hmm. You're right. It's impossible to tell if he's really talking to a crow or just pretending to. Moreover, if the magic is just talking to a crow, it's trivial and insignificant."

"..."

Ian, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, started to feel a bit offended.

He hadn't shown any skill yet, but that didn't mean he was using a magic that could be belittled.

Are you underestimating summoners?

Is magic a joke to you?

Just because I'm chatting with a crow, does summoning seem trivial?

If Ian were to show proper magic now...

'No, why should I?'

Suddenly, that thought occurred to him.

Indeed, why should Ian perform like a jester in front of the Count?

Ian had nothing to lose!

After all, Ian was going to get his compensation from Lucy and go on his way.

Lucy was the only person Ian needed to concern himself with.

"Ah. I see."

He wasn't keen on using magic to become a spectacle like a zoo monkey.

So, Ian stood up.

"I understand that my skills seem insignificant to you. Since I have no more tricks to show, I will take my leave now."

"...?"

Ian's sudden action confused everyone in the banquet hall.

The most startled were the Count and his vassals, who had pressured Ian.

"Oh, no! Wizard!"

But the damage was done.

When Ian made a move to leave the banquet, the first to react was Wizard Mani.

"I can't stand this anymore!"

Boom!

"My skills are also insignificant, so I too will return to the forest!"

"Why are you acting like this!"

"If you despise the humble skills of a wizard, how can I stay in this land!"

Mani stood up abruptly and yelled with a clear voice.

Ian tilted his head in confusion, watching her.

'Why is she doing that?'

While it made sense for Ian to stand up after his magic was belittled, he didn't quite understand why Mani had risen.

But this was a tradition among wizards.

When a wizard was disrespected, they all stood up together to protest in a beautiful tradition of solidarity!

'How dare these people disrespect a disciple of Eredith?'

In Mani's mind, her opinion of the Count had already dropped a notch.

"Count. Your words were too harsh."

Elder glared at the Count and spoke.

For a mere former mercenary to glare at a Count was unthinkable, but Elder emitted such a powerful aura that he made the impossible possible.

An aura that clearly did not belong to an ordinary person!

"If it weren't for Ian's magic, hunting the manticore would have been impossible. Was it really necessary to speak so harshly?"

Finally, the Bord brothers from the knightly order stood up and spoke.

"Ian's magic is by no means insignificant. He healed my wounds with the power of the heavens. This proves that Ian possesses a deep understanding of the heavens' will and profound knowledge and faith."

The priests were taken aback by Dehitri's statement.

"Are you saying Wizard Ian is also a cleric?"

Then, the Santiago Knights hurried to testify about Ian's divine magic.

How diligently he studied the scriptures, how attentively he listened to the word of the heavens, how he performed miracles, and so on...

At this, the priests completely changed their stance.

"Ahem... Perhaps we have offended someone who has studied the will of the heavens..."

Although priests and wizards usually don't get along, Ian was an exception.

He had studied the scriptures and based on that knowledge, witnessed the mystery of 'divinity'!

Count Catina realized the seriousness of the situation and his face turned pale.

'F*ck...!'

The Count had not anticipated that a wizard would be the first to call off the 'Calling a Wizard'.

He was filled with regret too late.

How much did the Count's attitude have to displease him for the wizard to give up on the calling first!

The Count painfully realized his blunder.

Damn, I should have just kept it to the first verse!

Count Catina looked at Ian, hoping to mend the situation.

There are two ways to handle a mistake: apologize or commit suicide.

With the internet overflowing with people choosing the latter, a misguided notion has spread that 'Ah, it's better to die than to apologize!'... but.

This was still a medieval fantasy world where common sense hadn't died yet.

Being a Count, Catina knew how to bow his head for political gain if necessary.

"Wizard Ian! It was my fault! It was all due to my foolish mistake, please, calm your anger and forgive me!"

The Count bent at a 90-degree angle.

It was quite remarkable, in several ways, that a person, not a flip phone, could bend like that.

Seeing the Count bending over backward, Ian couldn't just ignore it.

"Alright, get up now."

"But...!"

"If you don't get up in 3 seconds, I'm just going home, okay?"

As the Count lifted his head, Ian slowly sat back down.

Only then did the Count breathe a sigh of relief.

Sacrificed his dignity... to change the future...!

With the 'Calling a Wizard' somewhat resolved, the banquet continued.

Throughout the banquet, the Count and his vassals watched Ian with tense expressions, thinking...

The whims of a wizard were terrifying indeed...