Became a Medieval Fantasy Wizard

TL/Editor: raei

Status: 5/week mon-fri

Illustrations: none

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"Ian! Are you alright?"

Ian got up coughing and sputtering.

Though his neck wasn't actually hurt, phantom pain lingered.

"Maria. You saw that too?"

"Yes... it was quite shocking..."

What was that?

Maronius's memories suddenly convulsed and...

Attacked Ian directly.

If Ian had been a true medieval person, he would've run straight to a temple thinking 'I'm being punished for trying to peek at an Archwizard's memories!'

But Ian was a modern person familiar with modern fiction.

'...A defense system?!'

Among modern sinister technologies, computer technology surely ranked first.

If Maronius's memories were a kind of data...

Having security programs protecting that data wouldn't be strange at all.

Of course, he had no idea how Maronius installed a 'memory security program'...

Ian could only interpret it as Maronius laying down some magic to guard against necromancy.

'So he won't let me freeload, huh.'

Ian chuckled at the thought.

Well, this was the famous Maronius.

There must have been countless necromancers like wolves trying to dig through his memories.

He'd set up countermeasures, and they were working properly.

"Did monsters like that pop out last time too?"

"No. When 'synchronization' worked properly, nothing happened."

The more Ian identified himself as Maronius, the less likely that [security program] would activate.

The problem was that as synchronization increased, Ian's sense of self grew dimmer.

He'd only get hazy dream-like memories... which diluted the whole point of peeking at Maronius's memories.

"Nothing we can do then."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Maria spoke like she was sighing.

Though Ian usually treated her like a witch with all his 'creepy this' and 'creepy that'...

Contrary to Ian's prejudice, Maria was just a sensitive teenage girl (or so she thought).

Honestly, when Ian encountered Maronius's security magic...

Maria was genuinely worried and greatly startled.

Maria was still an immature girl, both magically and age-wise.

So when Ian returned safely, she was simply relieved.

He nearly fell into great danger, but made it back alive - she was truly glad.

"Maybe we should postpone investigating Maronius's memories, or work with other wizards..."

"? What are you saying, Maria?"

"Yes...?"

Ian stared at Maria like he couldn't understand.

Maria got chills the moment their eyes met!

Unlike Maria who was happy about his safe return...

Ian's eyes were filled with pure curiosity alone!

Don't tell me he's not even concerned about the monster?!

"Um."

Maria asked out of worry for Ian.

"Are you going to continue investigating? There's a strange monster there that Maronius prepared..."

Ian calmly replied:

"Ah. Don't worry. We just need to neutralize that 'monster'."

"..."

Maria couldn't understand Ian's words.

That was clearly an unprecedented monster.

A monster hiding in someone's memories that grabbed and killed approaching souls!

Yet how could Ian so confidently say he could handle such a monster?

Maria quickly concluded with admiration:

"I see. You know the monster's true nature!"

Ian grinned and answered:

"Nope? I don't."

"?"

For a moment, Maria was dumbfounded.

She wondered if this person was really the same amazing wizard who had saved her life.

"Then, how..."

"Maria. Being afraid just because you don't know something is overly simplistic thinking."

Ian spoke like he was giving a lecture.

"Fear comes from ignorance. When understanding and learning come first, fear disappears."

"...I don't quite understand. So, are you saying you'll 'understand' that monster?"

"Exactly. Maria, what does a wizard do?"

One who controls fire and water. One who calls lightning from the sky. One who peeks at dead people's memories, and so on.

Maria recalled many definitions of 'wizard' but.

Those were closer to ordinary people's assessments based only on wizards' results.

Ian and Maria were both wizards.

They knew to focus more on the process of reaching results than the results themselves.

"A wizard is... one who communicates."

"Perfect score."

Ian gave a thumbs up.

There's a security program... no, [security magic] that Maronius created ahead. What to do now?

Smash it? Summon another monster to drive it away?

None were options Ian liked.

Ian's decision was almost predetermined.

Namely, [conversation].

Because wizards communicate with all things.

"Let's rest today and set another date. We'll try talking with that 'monster'."

"Understood."

Ian decided to neutralize Maronius's security magic first.

How?

Through dialogue!

A wizard born from the liberal arts must flap their lips till death.

Because that's what wizards do...!

Ian and Maria rested for two days, then entered Maronius's memory world again.

The goal was, of course, to converse with the security magic.

"Who... who... who are you..."

"Pleased to meet you. I am Ian, disciple of Eredith."

Ian politely greeted the security magic.

Not forgetting to smile.

After all, you can't spit at a smiling face!

...Or so Ian used to think.

"Intruder... die...!"

"Wait! I want to talk with you...!"

Slash.

"Arghhhh!"

"Ian! Are you alright?!"

"Maronius! You crazy bastard!"

Ian cursed out Maronius before thinking.

Wasn't he supposed to be an Archwizard? Did he not understand what magic was?

What kind of security guard doesn't even communicate?! (Well done)

Ian tried talking with the security magic several times.

But the security magic rejected all conversation.

"Ian, maybe we should give up..."

"Give up here?"

Though Maria would have given up long ago, Ian didn't.

Maria found this unfamiliar yet fascinating side of Ian.

Ian really gets serious when dealing with magic...

'It refuses dialogue this thoroughly?'

Ian had reasons for not giving up.

The security magic's reactions were too strange.

Though it's called magic, it's still part of memories.

Meaning it's ultimately human.

Let's say someone appears in my memories and kills that person.

Once or twice might happen.

But could you keep killing dozens of times without exchanging a single word?

Technically, it's possible.

If you're a psychopath or have firmly locked away your heart.

But the opponent is Archwizard Maronius.

Would Maronius, who created a language to communicate with all things, not exchange a single word with a later wizard using his language?

Unless Maronius's soul went mad, impossible.

'Need to change tactics.'

Ian assumed that security magic was like a machine.

That there was a real [security guard] hiding behind it, eliminating Ian.

No matter how talented a wizard Ian was, he had no way to deal with someone unwilling to talk.

"Haa..."

"You look troubled."

Ian spent all day thinking how to break through Maronius's security magic and.

Didn't notice Professor Demonite approaching until he was there.

"Just... hit a wall with my magic research."

Ian felt slightly uncomfortable with Demonite.

But could he openly show that discomfort?

He's still a university professor and an excellent summoner recognized by wizards.

So pretending everything was fine, he asked for magical advice.

Who knows? Demonite's advice might help.

"What part is difficult?"

"There's someone I need to communicate with. But they keep refusing communication."

Actually, Demonite's advice was incredibly helpful.

"How does Ian usually handle such situations?"

"If it's a mystery, I run away immediately."

Ian gave the common sense answer.

Try communicating with a mystery and get rejected? Then obviously you should run without looking back.

Ignoring the other party's feelings for your own goals always leads to catastrophic relationships.

For wizards and mysteries, it usually ends in the wizard's death.

"Avoidance. Wise."

Demonite affirmed Ian's decision. Zero is better than minus. Even idiots can do this math.

It's the same principle by which hero-wannabes challenging the stock market lose to rocks with zero returns.

No need to get nagged 'Ian~ just eat your food~' while trying to get something from a mystery.

But Demonite's inclination differed slightly from Ian's.

Unlike safety-oriented Ian, Demonite preferred risky magic.

"But this situation can't be solved by avoidance. Isn't that why you're troubled?"

"...True."

Magic is the process of humans communicating with mysteries.

Just as mysteries have their own tendencies, wizards each communicate with mysteries in their own way.

"In such cases, how about pushing forward boldly?"

"What?"

Push forward?

Ian found Demonite's suggestion intriguing.

Ian had too naturally skipped the option of 'pushing forward'. He'd judged that forceful methods couldn't be good when dealing with mysteries.

But...

Violence is also communication.

Though it's one-way forceful communication... it's not much different in terms of moving the other party.

"When dealing with beasts," Demonite began.

"Fear is often more effective than love."

"..."

"Love is temporary and volatile. No matter how much you show affection and treat them well. In the end, what remains in memory are memories of fearsome and painful people."

Ian somewhat agreed.

It's the same logic as how dreams often feature bullies + military seniors + workplace superiors rather than parents.

Whether there's affection or not doesn't immediately connect to survival.

But since fear must be eliminated, the brain remembers fear more easily.

But Ian countered Demonite's opinion:

"But won't they dislike us if we make them feel fear? It could lead to physical conflict too."

Demonite smiled slyly.

It was like a professor's smile upon finding a pleasing student.

"Once you succeed in frightening the other party, their opinion doesn't matter."

"I-I see..."

"The same goes for physical conflict."

Demonite pointed to a distant castle and said:

"One noble cannot fight and win against a hundred commoners. Yet why do a hundred commoners fear one noble?"

"That's..."

"Because they know how to handle fear. Nobles constantly teach commoners 'the consequences of rebellion'. Though no one knows if rebellion would actually succeed or fail. At some point, commoners firmly believe they'll face terrible situations the moment they rebel."

Demonite smiled kindly.

"That is fear."

As Demonite said, when a hundred commoners rebel, you can't be certain all hundred will 'definitely' ruin their lives.

But nobles teach commoners they'll 'definitely be ruined'.

Because that's how they keep their positions secure.

"If humans can fear mysteries, mysteries can fear humans too."

"I suppose."

"Let's start by finding the mystery's weakness."

Let's say you urgently need a million won.

You could borrow 100,000 won each from close friends to reach a million...

But you could also extort a million from someone by finding their weakness and threatening them.

The result - getting a million won - would be the same.

'But...'

Ian knew forceful methods could sometimes be the answer.

But he didn't like Demonite's approach.

Threats and submission would inevitably create victims.

"Thank you for the advice."

"If you'd like to hear more details, shall we have a meal..."

"No. This is enough. I'll try solving the blocked part myself first, and if I really can't, I'll come find you."

Demonite stood up smiling.

"Then feel free to come anytime."

Ian thought while saying goodbye:

'To approach the security magic's core, a forceful method is right.'

But not threats like Demonite suggested.

He wasn't sure how to threaten an artificial-seeming monster anyway.

Ian chose a more intuitive and practical method.

"Belenka!"

"Yes?"

"Teach me how to fight."

Belenka looked at Ian like he was crazy.

"Fight?"

Ian aimed for the physical wizard class change!