Chapter 68

Acting and reality are different.

It's an easy fact to overlook, but many actors are very different from the characters they portray on screen.

Really?

Someone who appears so spiteful/cool/cute on screen isn't actually like that in real life?

In some ways, it was like taking a red pill.

Imagine realizing that the actor of your favorite character from a show is actually nothing like their character.

'... Huh!'

Kira barely snapped back to reality.

She almost gave Ian the 'red pill'.

The 'wizard act' she showed on the surface – that is, the annoyingly fussy and impetuous wizard – was not Kira's real personality.

Kira's true nature was much kinder, gentler, and softer than that.

So, when Ian started acting crazy...

Kira was the one taken aback!

'Is this how wizards are supposed to be? Or is this wizard just weird?!'

Kira never considered the possibility that Ian's behavior could be an act.

Because...

Kira had never had a personal conversation with a real wizard before!

She was afraid her true identity would be exposed through a slip of the tongue.

She knew nothing about the 'manners among wizards' that a real wizard would naturally know.

Until then, Kira had been acting out a character that embodied the general image of a wizard to scam people.

But characters and reality are different.

The image of wizards that the public perceives and the reality of actual wizards are naturally different.

Yet, Kira only knew of the wizard's image, not the reality of actual wizards.

That's why she was rude to Ian right from their first meeting.

[What? Wizards are supposed to speak rudely, isn't that common sense?]

No, it's not. It's not common sense.

Ian looked at Kira as if she were a heroine under the spell of some hypnosis app.

What's this? What's with the disparity in common sense?

Most of the eccentricities of wizards were an act, and real wizards respected each other greatly.

However, Kira, who came from a street jester background, didn't know that.

So...

Ian just passed off Kira as a very strange wizard.

Mani, Inglan, Kira.

This was roughly the average for wizards.

"It feels awkward just standing here, shall we go in?"

This wasn't something Kira said.

It was Ian.

Brazenly, Ian stepped into Kira's room as if it was his own.

At that, Kira was astounded.

Wow... This guy. He's crazy.

There's a limit to rudeness!

Kira was extremely taken aback, but on the other hand, she kind of understood Ian's behavior...

Kira, who had fallen under a non-existent hypnosis app, had accepted the radical shift in common sense: [wizards can act eccentrically].

Damn. He's crazy, but he's a wizard after all.

I'll try to understand!

Regardless, Ian threw himself onto Kira's bed.

And like he owned the place, he put his feet up on the sheets.

With his shoes still on, no less!

'So, how about it?'

Ian smirked to himself.

Having acted like a wizard so often, Ian had grown accustomed to causing a scene.

This level of rudeness? He could do it as naturally as breathing now.

Ian, who prides himself on being the only sane person among wizards, couldn't even imagine that Kira's behavior was an act.

He just thought she was a wizard without any manners.

Most wizards were sociable and polite.

After all, a wizard is a [communicator].

Someone who only blabbers about themselves and disregards others cannot become a wizard.

If you act like that in front of the mysteries, you'll quickly cease to be a wizard.

Yet the prevailing notion was that [wizards are essentric].

It made it so that wizards were obsequious in front of the mysteries but acted crazy towards humans.

This duality allowed for the existence of wizards with strange characters.

But Ian wasn't the type to just overlook someone claiming 'I'm naturally rude!'.

Wizards acting rudely in front of non-wizards?

That can be understood. The public expects it.

But there was no need for wizards to act bizarrely amongst themselves.

So, Ian thought there were two main reasons why Kira was acting so rudely.

First, she was consumed by her 'concept'.

Being rude usually got her pampered by those around him, so she might be acting the same way towards other wizards.

If not, then secondly,

It was her true character.

Either way, Ian had no intention of adjusting himself to Kira.

What Kira needed now was mirror treatment.

Yes.

Ian intentionally acted out to make Kira realize her own mistakes.

So.

He put his feet up on the bed with his shoes still on...!

How about that!

Getting angry yet?

Understand what it feels like yet?

"..."

Contrary to Ian's expectation, Kira was unfazed.

The combination of shoes and beds might be a trigger for Koreans, but not for medieval people.

Medieval folks often lay on beds with their shoes on.

This had several benefits: it protected their feet from venomous insects and snakes, provided a bit of warmth, and prevented shoe theft—a combination of practical benefits.

Of course, that advantage has disappeared in the modern era.

So, if there's someone climbing into bed with their shoes on today, they're a barbarian.

Ian's smug provocation failed to ignite, but he succeeded in appearing despicable.

'Ah. So, do you're doing it like this?'

When Kira saw that the other party was going all out, she decided to do the same.

After all, on the surface, they were both wizards!

Kira walked over, pushed Ian's head aside, and sat down in that spot.

Then, she grabbed Ian's head and placed it on her thighs.

It was a knee pillow.

'How about that? Isn't this embarrassing?'

She was right.

Ian was taken aback.

Wait... I was this rude, and she's not mad?!

Could I have misunderstood?

Maybe she was just being incredibly comfortable with me?

"Ah... thanks."

In his confusion, Ian reflexively thanked her.

It wasn't genuine gratitude, just a reflexive action.

However, Kira, who thought of Ian as a mad wizard, had no way of knowing that.

'Huh. You know how to say thank you?'

This guy. Maybe he's not a bad person after all?

Maybe he just likes being comfortable!

"What do you want to ask?"

"Ah. Someone needs a bed."

"Who?"

Kira looked down at Ian's face and blushed slightly.

This situation.

After all that, it was quite embarrassing.

But since the other party didn't seem to mind, it was hard to say anything.

But Ian felt embarrassed too.

He wanted to sit up properly...

But since the other person seemed unfazed, he couldn't do it!

So, the two continued acting as if nothing was wrong and carried on their conversation.

"Lady Belenka. I have a knight who follows me around."

"Ah. That woman?"

"I don't have a proper place for her to spend the night. Can we use your room?"

"Um. Sure! Bring her over!"

'This actually worked.'

Ian was surprised when Kira readily agreed.

He thought Kira had a rude personality, but maybe she was just a free spirit?

The reason Kira agreed so easily was nothing special.

Ian's request was just too trivial.

Though she pretended to be a wizard, Kira's roots were on the streets.

Sharing a room was nothing to her.

And getting acquainted with a knight wasn't bad either.

"Is that all you wanted to say?"

"Yeah."

"Alright. I see."

Ian and Kira fell into silence for a moment.

It was time to look for the right moment to get up.

Just as they were trying to figure out who would move first, that's when it happened.

"Wizard Kira. Baron Damon has something to say about the vampire issue..."

Someone suddenly entered the room.

It was Belenka.

"...?"

Seeing them on the bed like that, Belenka sighed softly and shook her head.

"Ian, how long has it been since you broke up with Baron Talian and you're already with a new woman..."

"No, what are you talking about?"

"Don't you see? Or are you perhaps trying to find a room for yourself?"

"..."

What is she even saying?

Ian had to breathe hard to avoid dying from shock.

It was overwhelming.

"Baron Talian would be sad."

"Please shut up."

Ian hurriedly stood up and introduced Belenka.

"This is Lady Belenka."

"From Wintz, I'm Belenka."

"Kira Laventa."

Ian tilted his head in confusion.

"Laventa? That's a new name. Who might that be?"

"... A great person. Was a remarkable wizard."

"Oh?"

"Passed away."

"Ah. Sorry."

The mood dipped slightly.

Before it got more awkward, Belenka pulled the two along.

"The Baron says he needs the help of a wizard."

"Me too?"

"Since we've been treated as guests, we should show some courtesy."

Baron Damon was not far away, with his men.

Seeing the wizards, he immediately called out.

"Good to see you! Could I borrow your wisdom for a moment?"

"What's the matter?"

The Baron had some notably impressive subordinates.

They were archers.

"These are my snipers and scouts. They were following a vampire and encountered something peculiar."

"Not peculiar, but horrific, my Lord."

A man in a green hood spoke.

"When we found the vampire, it muttered some strange words. Suddenly, the surroundings turned pitch dark, and we couldn't see anything."

"And then you luckily escaped?"

"Don't joke. We survived because of the dogs."

A strange language. And suddenly, darkness appeared.

Belenka instinctively looked at Ian.

Ian snapped his fingers and said,

"Was it perhaps something like this?"

Darkness started to creep around Ian.

The scouts were shocked and nodded vigorously.

"Yes! It was exactly this kind of unnatural darkness!"

Ian clicked his tongue.

Could that vampire be skilled in Dark magic?