Became a Medieval Fantasy Wizard-Chapter 313

TL/Editor: raei

Status: 5/week mon-fri

Illustrations: none

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Aesis was a suspicious man.

...At least to Ian.

Everyone else warmly welcomed Aesis's visit.

"So, where are you headed?"

Like any wanderer, a minstrel's visit was always welcome. They brought easy access to news from distant places.

Lucy treated Aesis with the hospitality due a traveler, and he satisfied her by sharing various tales from the south.

'...Hmm.'

Though Ian observed Aesis carefully, he couldn't pinpoint anything specifically suspicious. Sure, he was a poor singer but good with ancient languages, but couldn't there be minstrels like that? While singing ability was important for minstrels, one could still make a living if they told entertaining stories well enough.

"I should return to Fargar."

"To Fargar?"

Lucy tilted her head. It seemed odd that he'd go back after just fleeing the battlefield.

But Aesis explained with a smile:

"I've heard the news from the north. Apart from the dragon appearing, nothing unusual happened."

"That's true."

The north had always been quiet, then and now. But the flames of war still burned in the south.

"After traveling around a bit, I realized something. I'm creating heroic poems about the battlefield. I doubt I'll find good inspiration in the north."

"Heroic poems!"

Minstrel songs combined music and poetry. Though influenced by religious music, they were more like popular songs with religious elements removed and mass appeal added.

One type was Romance.

Knights riding across battlefields, sharing tender love with noble ladies!

That was truly a man's Romance!

"Lucy, you like heroic poems?"

"Yes! Romance is always fun to listen to! Especially super tragic love stories!"

"..."

Ian felt briefly dazed. Being in this primitive-ancient world, words close to their modern etymology kept popping up everywhere!

"Noble Count of Talian, do you have a favorite song?"

"Tristan and Isolde!"

"Ah, then I shall sing that for you."

Aesis broke into song again. As Kira had said, he wasn't an exceptionally talented singer, but the narrative itself was so entertaining that it made for an engaging performance.

"He can barely carry a tune," Kira delivered her brief review. Her criticism was as sharp as any red-spectacled critic's, though considering Kira's skill level, even that was high praise.

But while Kira was picky, everyone else praised Aesis's abilities. People tended to be impressed by those less skilled than themselves.

"What a magnificent song!"

"Sniff... it's just so sad, no matter how many times I hear it."

Ian watched Aesis and thought.

'Did I get it wrong?'

Gerard had said to "beware the man in green clothes."

But could he be certain Aesis was that man from the prophecy? It was too early to say. There was nothing obviously concerning about him right now.

As they welcomed Aesis, Ian's preparations for departure were completed.

Aesis very naturally requested to join them.

"Since you're heading to Fargar, it must be heaven's guidance."

"Ha ha, just good luck I suppose."

None of Ian's companions objected to having a minstrel join them. Sir Salvador of course, and both Belenka and Kira agreed to let Aesis come along.

"What do you think, Ian?"

Ian cast his vote in favor too.

"The more traveling companions, the better."

"I'm grateful for your generous decision, Lord Ian."

Ian's reason for deciding to take Aesis along was quite simple - he didn't want to leave a suspicious person behind in Talian.

If Aesis was the man from the prophecy, who knew what he might do after they parted ways? Letting him loose in Talian could start an avalanche of problems.

And if Aesis wasn't the prophesied man, well, there was no harm in traveling with another minstrel companion.

Ian left Talian in the prepared carriage.

"Come back soon~! Ian!"

In weather so cold their noses turned red, Lucy cheerfully waved goodbye, unbothered by the frigid dawn air. She truly was a girl as pure as starlight.

Ian returned her farewell wave from the distance. Kira also gave Lucy a small wave.

"You seemed to get along well with Lucy without me around."

"Ahaha... the Count of Talian was just so welcoming."

Kira twisted her long hair awkwardly while laughing.

"She's really a wonderful person."

"Lucy's good with people."

Lucy was the perfect example of someone you'd describe as "just a sweetheart."

She was a good person. Almost too good...

'Stay healthy and wait for me.'

Ian thought with a slight smile.

"What did Lucy say to you?"

"She told me to take good care of you."

Kira said with a broad smile.

"But that's... just basic, isn't it?"

"Basic?"

"Since Ian is my... fiancé..."

That was true. Ian was Kira's fiancé. Ian had also begun taking more conscious care of Kira. After all, Kira was his fiancée.

Just then, Ian felt someone's gaze. He instinctively knew who it belonged to.

...It was Maria.

The black-eyed girl was intently watching the couple with an eerie(?) stare.

"...Something to say, Maria?"

"Not at all. Hehe. Just watching you two makes me happy."

Ian thought to himself that Maria was still just a young girl after all, getting moved by adult romance! (Though there was barely any age difference.)

While Ian found Maria's reaction heartwarming, Kira wore a sour expression.

"What's wrong?"

"Ah, nothing. Just..."

Ian wasn't disappointed by Kira's reaction. Maria did have somewhat gloomy(?) tendencies! Her stare could feel uncomfortable.

"Maria could have stayed to study at the university."

"How could I? My place is by his side."

Ian had originally planned to support Maria's magic studies. But since she insisted on coming along, he figured he'd let her do as she pleased. Trying to force anything on Maria might lead to terrifying consequences.

"Lord Ian..."

Aesis, who had been quiet, spoke up.

"You seem to receive the love of many women."

"Don't misunderstand - I'm no playboy."

Aesis gave a light laugh at Ian's joking response.

"Is that lady your sister?"

Maria blinked before answering:

"Not at all. Though I respect and love him, we don't share a single drop of blood."

"Ah, I see. I was mistaken since you look similar."

They both had black hair and black eyes. Since they were both magic users too, it was understandable to mistake them for siblings.

"Did you know?"

"?"

Aesis was a storyteller, and always had tales ready to lighten the mood. This time, he chose [The Secret of Black Hair] as his topic.

"That the empire's black-haired people are actually descendants of the ancient empire."

Aesis said with a grin.

This was the traveling minstrel's trump card story. With two black-haired people present! He had no doubt both Ian and Maria would find it interesting.

However...

"I know. It's a famous story."

"Oh my. Is it famous?"

Soon Maria was looking at Aesis with an expression that said 'trying to show off with a well-known tale~?'

"..."

Aesis felt instantly wronged!

No, famous story?! The secret of black-haired imperials was an obscure tale known only to a select few...!

"T-then! Do you also know why the ancient imperials live mixed with imperials of various hair colors?!"

"? The Holy Empire is only an empire in name - it actually has no connection to the ancient Golden Empire."

"!!!"

"Current Holy Empire residents came from the north, so they're a different race. That's why they have different hair colors."

Aesis's jaw dropped.

That was truly high-level knowledge!

Where did she learn such information?!

"M-my, you're very knowledgeable, Lady Wizard...?"

"No need to flatter me. Anyone who knows would know this."

Ian really thought that way.

Because... Ian's "anyone who knows" consisted entirely of wizards and professors he'd met at university!

Such simple history was common knowledge at university? After spending time in a place dense with knowledge, Ian had forgotten how pitiful medieval "average" knowledge truly was.

The medieval period wasn't an era without knowledge.

It was an era with huge knowledge disparities.

While universities discovered and researched knowledge comparable to modern times, that knowledge never spread!

How could you share knowledge with others?

Through books? With such poor printing technology? Through word of mouth? That was difficult and could get distorted along the way!

In a world without internet or anything similar, knowledge spread very, very slowly.

So even having knowledge like Aesis's put one among the more learned.

"Got any more interesting stories?"

"T-then... Ah! Far out at sea, there lives a monster called a [whale]..."

"You mean fish bigger than sailing ships?"

"!!!"

No way, how did he know...?

"R-rainbows! Do you know what lies at the end of rainbows?!"

"Hmm. Perhaps a pot of gold is buried there? Though rainbows don't actually touch the ground."

"!!!"

Aesis's mouth fell open.

He knew Ian was a wizard, but...

Actually, the wizards of this medieval fantasy world weren't incredibly knowledgeable!

Though interested in knowledge, few were as widely learned as Ian. Wizards typically only cared about knowledge related to their specific magical specialties.

"T-then...!"

"That's enough. It was plenty entertaining."

Ian spoke without hiding his disappointment.

He'd thought a minstrel might know something special...

But he knew nothing at all! (Not true)

Aesis felt deeply wronged by Ian's reaction.

Hey, what am I supposed to do if you already know everything I know!

In that moment, unable to suppress his indignation, Aesis revealed a 'secret' that only he knew.

"About the young Baron Silverwind under Duke Fargar's protection."

"?"

"Did you know he inherited the blood of the ancient empire, just like Lord Ian?"

Aesis declared triumphantly.

No matter how knowledgeable, surely he wouldn't know this latest news!

Aesis's strategy worked perfectly.

'The young Baron Silverwind has black hair?'

Even Ian didn't know that.

How could Ian possibly know what members of an extinct house looked like?

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

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