Chapter 31

Balance is always important.

Too much is as bad as too little.

This is an expression often used by the elderly, but the essence of that golden proverb has not faded.

It has been passed down to modern people as the beautiful phrase "don't overdo."

In short, it means everything should be done in moderation.

Even if eggs go well with mild Shin Ramyun, does it still count as ramyun if you throw in three eggs?

That's egg soup, not ramyun.

The same applies to spicy chicken noodles, Sichuan spicy noodles, and cheese.

If you add too much because it tastes good, it becomes an overdone dish.

However, Koreans, who are suspiciously fond of things overdone, enjoyed making such dishes.

They took pride in it, beyond mere enjoyment.

Garlic was the victim.

You're making a dish and it calls for garlic?

But what?

The Italians just crush a clove and call it a day?

Oh, please.

How would that even begin to release any flavor?

Go get some peeled garlic. Throw in about three bulbs' worth.

Foreigners might be horrified by these Korean dishes, but Koreans devoured them with pleasure.

It was a tradition of a spice-loving nation, dating back to ancestors who would chew on raw garlic and mugwort.

Thus, the wizard from another world with black hair, Ian, had no idea what was wrong with Mani Campbell's "Garlic Ginseng Chicken Soup."

Just a normal garlic chicken soup.

Normal.

It is said that in the land of the cyclops, those with two eyes are the abnormal ones.

Likewise, a cyclops appearing in the land of the two-eyed would be considered mad by anyone's standards.

Mani, a fellow wizard, was horrified by Ian's mad actions.

"Stop, stop eating! You don't have to eat anymore!"

Mani understood Ian's mentality.

By serving a crazy dish, Ian would unleash even crazier madness, forcing Mani to surrender!

A very wizard-like way of thinking.

As Ian chewed on boiled garlic like a bear that had been trapped in a cave for 100 days, even Mani was taken aback.

Mani, a plant wizard, had never seen anything like it.

What kind of madman eats whole cloves of garlic like that!

But contrary to Mani's thoughts, Ian's actions were not just for show.

Ian was... sincerely enjoying the soft texture of the boiled garlic...!

In fact, Ian, a hardcore Korean, could eat raw garlic as is.

To him, a taste of something resembling Korean food for the first time in over a decade was incredibly delicious.

As Ian continued to tear into the chicken with mashed garlic, Mani, unable to stand it any longer, yelled.

"Stop eating?"

"Yes. You have willpower. You're really something else!"

"...?"

Ian looked puzzled but the knights were amazed.

'A very peculiar wizard, but...'

'...he's helping us now.'

Especially the Bord brothers, who had studied the scripture with Ian, were almost moved to tears by Ian's self-sacrifice.

To go to such lengths for the Santiago Knights, who were practically strangers!

"In my 40 years as a plant wizard, I've never seen such a dreadful person like you."

"What did I do..."

Ian felt a bit wronged when he suddenly heard himself being called a "dreadful person," almost like a curse.

Is it a sin to enjoy a meal in this town?

Mani looked at the knights with a serious expression.

She had no idea where this madman who enjoyed her food came from, but because of him, she had to treat them as honored guests.

"What's your name?"

The atmosphere became so serious that Ian couldn't continue his meal.

Sadly, that was the end of the chicken soup.

"Ian. Ian Eredith Raven."

As soon as Ian introduced himself, Mani looked shocked.

"Eredith? You mean you're a disciple of the fire wizard Eredith?"

"Yes."

Ian nodded.

As expected, Mani knew of Eredith.

She was of the right age to know the wizard.

"My goodness...!"

Mani looked at Ian as if she was about to die of embarrassment.

"What to do! I had heard rumors that Eredith had taken a disciple! I never dreamed you would come to me!"

Mani hurriedly got up and ran to the kitchen.

"I'll bring out some new food, so let's eat and talk!"

"No, I don't need new food..."

Mani didn't listen to Ian and prepared new food anyway.

Taking advantage of her absence, the knights gave Ian a thumbs-up with bright smiles.

"Great performance! Brother!"

"It's so reassuring to have you as a wizard!"

"..."

All Ian had done was eat chicken soup.

Anyway, the knights were acknowledged as Mani's guests.

The meal Mani brought out was 'proper food.'

It consisted of meat sprinkled with pepper and grilled, a very small amount of vegetables, and bubbling hot beer.

"Sorry for being snappy. This is my way of apologizing, so don't hesitate to eat!"

"Yes!"

The knights cheered happily and clinked their beer mugs together.

They were busy tearing into the meat and drinking beer.

It was a diet heavy on meat, but no one complained.

Vegetables?

That's just something to talk about.

Were their ancestors born from a racing horse?

Ian toyed with his meat with a gloomy expression.

Ah, back to the super salty food again...

The fact that the plant wizard had sprinkled it with pepper was a small consolation. But in the end, it was just salted meat.

'My poor soup...'

While the knights enjoyed their meal to the fullest, Elder, Mani, and Ian discussed future plans.

"So... you're going to hunt a manticore?"

Mani's expression darkened a bit when she mentioned the manticore.

She knew how terrible the monster they were planning to hunt was.

"It won't be easy. Hunters have already fallen to it."

From the moment the manticore appeared, Count Catina had issued a bounty for monster hunters.

It would have been great if professional monster hunters like the Santiago Knights had volunteered, but unfortunately, only lower-quality hunters could be found.

And all of them were defeated.

It was around that time that the Santiago Knights began to hear about the manticore's infamy.

"We know. It's a vile and cunning monster."

"Have you ever caught a manticore before?"

"A few times, when I was younger."

Elder said nonchalantly.

"If you've caught them before, then this will be quicker. I'll join as well."

"Are you sure?"

Surprisingly, Mani declared she would personally join in the hunt for the manticore.

Both Elder and Ian were shocked that a frail-looking wizard was going to hunt a monster.

However, Mani herself didn't bat an eye.

"Of course. A manticore is a beast that must not be left alone. For the sake of the forest, I must play my part."

Elder felt the chances of hunting the manticore had significantly increased.

To Mani, a resident of the forest, the manticore was an annoying beast.

She too wanted to eliminate it.

However, when the Count sent hunters, she did not actively cooperate.

The reason was simple: she did not believe the hunters stood a chance.

It was likely she too would die if she went along.

So, she just handed them a little magic potion.

As she predicted, the hunters failed.

But with the Santiago Knights, it was possible to defeat the manticore.

Not only was the knights' level of armament reassuring, but the capabilities of the sturdy Elder in front of her were also extraordinary.

"What about you?"

"Me?"

Ian smiled awkwardly.

Having connected the knights and Mani, Ian had done his part...

The problem was that Mani knew Eredith.

"If Eredith has taught you well, you should be able to do a wizard's job. Won't you lend your wisdom to the knights?"

"..."

Mani was older than Eredith but considered her a friend.

They had been comrades during their wandering days.

Eredith had warned Ian that a time would come when 'a wizard must do what a wizard must do.'

Wizards, who wield mystical powers, inevitably find themselves entangled with the affairs of the world, regardless of their will.

Mani's offer was one such instance.

From Ian's perspective, there was no need to go hunting the manticore.

He could ignore her offer, but that would make it awkward to face Eredith later on.

It could also spread a bad reputation in wizard circles, making it difficult to receive help from other wizards in the future.

Though wizards may act individually, in reality, they regularly hold gatherings, often led by a 'magic university.'

It was a gathering created to protect wandering wizards and use the mysteries for righteous purposes.

For Ian to act as a wizard in the future, it was necessary to strengthen his relationships with other wizards.

"It can't be helped."

From the moment Mani personally asked for help, it was already too late to back out.

It was too late to withdraw.

So, it was important to hide any displeasure.

Showing anger here would be counterproductive.

"In fact, I wanted to witness the wickedness of the manticore with my own eyes."

"Oh? Are you exploring the mysteries of the beast?"

Elder added to Mani's question.

"This guy. Rumor has it he commands a drake."

"A drake?"

Mani's eyes sparkled with interest.

There are those in the world who explore the mysteries of beasts.

They are called 'summoners.'

However, not many summoners, especially at Ian's young age, command a drake.

Mani thought of Ian as a wizard beloved by beasts.

Perhaps Eredith recognized his talent and nurtured it...

"He can also command the river."

"The river? You mean he can use water magic?"

Elder briefly explained the events that had taken place in Riverville.

Mani couldn't hide her astonishment.

If the story wasn't exaggerated, the magic Ian succeeded in was truly difficult.

Without the river's love, it would have been hard to accomplish...

"Ah. He can also summon darkness."

"...Darkness?"

Mani looked at Ian incredulously.

Summoning is one thing, but he handles water magic and Dark magic as well?

When did he explore so many mysteries, and how? Ian deliberately ignored Mani's curiosity-filled gaze.

He could never explain that he was scamming with a status window.

Even if that status window was somehow related to a deity.

"Variety in experiences is important for a wizard."

Mani's reason for dragging Ian into the manticore hunt was to see his magical abilities with her own eyes.

Magic is communication with mysteries.

A wizard always needs to be close to the mysteries they are exploring.

But even when communicating, proper justification is always necessary.

If you made a new friend, and they kept calling you out every day for trivial reasons, how would you feel?

At first, you might respond, but eventually, it would become tiresome.

The same goes for improving magical skills.

For a wizard to grow, they need 'appropriate' situations to use magic.

It's like deepening a friendship not just by meeting to hang out aimlessly but by doing various activities together like watching movies, biking, playing games.

In the situation of 'having to hunt a manticore,' how will Ian communicate with which mysteries and in what manner?

Choosing the mystery to communicate with and deciding on the content of the request is solely up to the wizard's ability.

Observing Ian communicate with the mysteries and offering a few words of advice.

That was all Mani hoped for.