Became a Medieval Fantasy Wizard

Chapter 180

TL/Editor: raei

Status: 5/week mon-fri

Illustrations: none

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Count Gremlin sprang into action when the wizards began flexing their powers.

If he'd known the state of Baron Vincents' domain, he would have left much earlier.

The poor medieval information network made it impossible to know what was happening even in neighboring territories.

Above all, Karenne's behind-the-scenes manipulation of the baron's proxy and silencing of people played a decisive role.

As a result, Count Gremlin rushed over as soon as he heard news from Baron Vincents' domain, his beard nearly falling out from haste.

Fear of wizards wasn't exclusive to commoners.

Many nobles also saw wizards as unsettling and frightening entities.

Undoubtedly useful, but eccentric and unpredictable!

Count Gremlin's shock upon hearing news of the wizards stemmed precisely from this.

"My lord! Strange rumors are coming from Baron Vincents' domain!"

"Strange rumors, you say?"

"They say an enraged wizard hurled boulders at the castle walls..."

"???"

Count Gremlin double-checked for any letters from Theo.

Logically, if something had happened in the domain, the count should have been notified.

But there wasn't a single letter from Baron Vincents' domain.

It could only mean one of two things.

Either false rumors of a wizard's protest were spreading...

Or that fool Theo had caused trouble and was trying to cover it up!

'Surely that idiot didn't...?'

Count Gremlin speculated.

Theo had somehow gotten into a dispute with a wizard, resulting in the wizard's protest.

And the reason was likely a typical blunder young, foolish nobles were prone to make!

The count didn't consider the situation too serious.

If Theo had truly committed an unforgivable offense, something like war would have broken out by now.

The wizards must have stopped at a show of force, assuming it was a mistake that could be forgiven with an apology and a gift, right?

But there was no benefit in wasting time, so the count immediately prepared for the journey.

"Prepare the horses! I'll go to Theo myself!"

"Yes, Your Excellency!"

The standard-bearer carrying the count's flag and five loyal knights joined the count's journey.

Count Gremlin arrived safely at Baron Vincents' domain.

And...

"What in the world is this chaos!"

He couldn't hide his shock at the sight of the devastated domain.

---

---

This was no time to leisurely summon wizards.

The count immediately met with Inglan and heard the whole story.

"Theo... my son... was kidnapped?"

It was a situation the count couldn't have imagined in his wildest dreams.

The woman Theo had taken as a mistress was actually a disguised black wizard... and she had even kidnapped Theo and fled!

"That's what happened, Count. I express my deepest condolences."

Inglan tried to comfort the heartbroken count in his own way.

However, the wizard's characteristically tactless tone irked the count's knights, who snapped angrily.

"Condolences? You call that words of comfort?"

"You lot talk big usually, but this time you let the young master get snatched right under your noses? And you still call yourselves wizards!"

Listening from the side, Ian was flabbergasted.

It's easy to run your mouth.

This certainly wasn't something Ian, who had driven out demons and black wizards, needed to hear.

Krysus, who happened to be idle (...), seemed to share similar thoughts.

Ian briefly exchanged glances with Krysus.

Ready, K?

Ah. Of course, I.

"You're talking about the baron's proxy, right? But isn't he a bit old to be called 'young master'?"

"I don't understand why you're blaming us for the baron's proxy being fooled by a black wizard."

Ian and Krysus systematically refuted the knight's words.

If the young master was so precious, why not keep him locked up in the count's castle instead of letting him out?

Why blame us for the trap set by black wizards? And so on.

"Then you should have risked your lives to chase after them!"

"Us? Why?"

Ian couldn't understand the knight's logic.

Was his brain pickled in chivalry?

Ian wasn't the protagonist of some saga. Was he supposed to charge into the den of evil to rescue a kidnapped noble?

"We're neither vassals of the baron's proxy nor his guests."

"You're staying at the castle but you're not guests?"

Ian grew tired of talking with the ignorant knight...

Even if knights were only good at swordplay, this was a bit much.

"Enough, gentlemen. That's enough."

"Ian. Krysus. You two as well."

Inglan and the count spoke simultaneously.

Even to their ears, the knight's words held little value.

"Right... what's done is done. We must consider our next move."

The count said.

Ian was slightly surprised by his unexpectedly rational response.

"What will you do now?"

"First, we pursue them."

This wasn't a modern society with developed computer networks and roads.

The medieval fantasy world had only the facade of a basic social system roughly constructed.

The count's son had been kidnapped, but...

To solve this, even a count would have to pound the pavement himself!

Seeking help from other nobles wasn't a great idea, as they were indifferent to affairs in others' domains, and some unsavory characters might emerge to exploit the count's weakness.

In the end, though they had no idea where the black wizards had fled.

A grueling journey across the vast empire's backwoods lay ahead, driven solely by the determination to rescue his son.

It was undeniably a [romantic] situation.

"I wish you luck, Count."

Inglan said sincerely.

After all, the count was just an innocent victim.

The villains were the black wizards, not the count.

Inglan felt a sort of inner kinship with the count.

He too had been thoroughly duped by a black wizard's scheme.

"Are there no brave souls willing to rescue my son!"

The count recruited people to search for the black wizards.

"I'll go, sir!"

"Oh! Sir Hermund!"

"I'll join as well!"

Knights hungry for achievements stepped forward one after another.

Righteous knights setting off to rescue their lord's son kidnapped by evil wizards...

'How splendid.'

Ian nodded.

It was truly a scene straight out of an old tale.

'Should I go along?'

Ian considered it briefly.

Traveling with the knights would certainly reduce the dangers, and the reward for rescuing the count's son could be quite substantial.

But Ian shook his head.

The reward was tempting, but the prospect of inevitable battle didn't appeal to him.

He wasn't some battle-crazed achievement hunter.

Ian was a wizard, not a mass murderer.

Combat was always a last resort.

Ian had his own tasks to attend to.

He needed to escort his colleagues and Inglan to the university, and studying while resting didn't sound bad either.

Unexpectedly, Herta volunteered to help the count.

"Count, I may be a humble wizard, but I'd like to lend my strength to the knights' journey."

"Oh! Welcome! Wizard!"

Ian tilted his head, looking at Herta.

Is she short on money?

Ian, who thought Herta was helping the count for material rewards, was a bit shocked after talking with her.

"The reason Theo was kidnapped... is because I let Karenne escape."

"I don't think that's the case."

Ian found it difficult to agree with Herta's opinion.

Wizards were capable, but only within their own specialties.

Wouldn't it be strange if a professor of Korean literature were proficient in electrical engineering?

Herta was an air wizard, and Karenne a transmuter. It was natural they didn't know each other's magic.

It wasn't something Herta should feel responsible for.

"Black wizards are dangerous beings, Ian. If you don't uproot the sprout when it first appears, it will spread in an instant."

"... I agree with that."

Hearing her put it that way, Ian didn't try to dissuade Herta any further.

"If you need my help..."

"No, no! We've received plenty of help from Ian!"

Herta said with a bright smile.

"I can't keep showing my incompetent side to my junior."

"Herta..."

"Leave the black wizard pursuit to me. Ian, you take the professor up to the university."

In the end, Herta joined the knights to pursue the black wizards.

"I'm going too."

With Herta joining, Anton automatically joined as well.

A strange atmosphere flowed between the two, but everyone pretended not to notice.

"... I'll go along too."

"Carl as well?"

"I owe you guys a debt."

Even Carl joined the expedition.

Finally, after some deliberation, Krysus decided to accompany the wizards.

"If my ice magic can be of any use..."

"Oh my. What are you saying, Krysus? Your magic is wonderful."

"Senior Herta...!"

In the end, four wizards excluding Ian changed their sign from [Inglan Rescue Team] to [Theo Gremlin Rescue Team].

The fact that they were a professional medieval specialist group remained unchanged, so they would be a great help to the expedition.

Needless to say, Count Gremlin shed tears of gratitude.

"Four wizards! How reassuring!"

Four of the count's knights and four wizards.

The pursuit team of eight left Baron Vincents' domain as soon as their travel preparations were complete.

"Ian! We're off!"

Ian saw the wizards off until the very end.

"If you happen to meet a Sir Leshach on the road, could you tell him Wizard Ian sends his regards?"

"Sir Leshach?"

"He's a knight of the Pope, and a good man in many ways."

Sir Leshach is a professional black wizard hunter.

He's already on Celestial Wizard Bertholdt's trail, so he'll certainly be of help if they cross paths.

"Sure! We'll do that!"

Herta turned around.

The taciturn Carl's parting words were simply 'Study hard', while Anton tossed out a halfhearted goodbye: 'See you later, kiddo'.

Of course, Ian got Anton blushing furiously by shouting loudly, 'Take good care of Big Sis Herta!'

"I'm off too, Ian."

"Take care, senior."

Ian was most worried about Krysus.

But she was a talented ice wizard, and her magical skills would only improve.

"Ian."

"Yes?"

"... Tha."

"Pardon?"

Krysus twisted her body alone, then shouted with a face full of embarrassment.

"Thank you! Thanks for helping with my magic! And thanks for subduing Senior Victor!"

She blurted out a torrent of words.

"And sorry I couldn't take care of you as a senior! Next time we meet, I'll really! Treat you well...!"

Ian found this side of Krysus a bit surprising.

He thought Krysus was too proud to express her true feelings.

She had an unexpectedly honest side.

"So that's what you were thinking, senior?"

When Ian said that, Krysus shuddered in agony.

"Ugh...! How embarrassing! Ian! If you tease me about this...!"

"Thank you."

"... Huh?"

Krysus blinked.

"You're not going to tease me?"

"No. What do you take me for?"

"An annoying genius junior."

Ian and Krysus burst into laughter almost simultaneously.

"Thanks for everything so far, and see you next time!"

"I'll be waiting, senior."

Ian watched until the expedition completely disappeared into the forest.