TL/Editor: raei
Status: 5/week mon-fri
Illustrations: none
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Though he wasn't particularly grateful, Ian thanked Inglan.
"Thank you for coming from so far away."
"..."
"You even hired rcenaries. And gathered quite a lot of supplies."
"..."
"You must have spent a lot of money..."
"Aaaaargh! Why! Why does this only happen to !"
Inglan let out a scream!
Realizing he had royally screwed up, Inglan suddenly felt like he'd gained enlightennt.
I just wanted to do sothing good!
This feeling of getting screwed over by fate itself!
"Where's Eredith?! Where's Eredith?"
"She's doing well. Want to go see her?"
Ian took Inglan to Eredith.
"Um... Wizard. What about us..."
The rcenaries asked nervously, keeping an eye on Ian.
They had co to fight, but now the battlefield had vanished, creating an odd situation.
Ian answered imdiately.
"Go ho."
"Ah!"
It was standard practice to imdiately dismiss rcenaries who had beco useless.
Even though they were hired with Inglan's money, Ian dismissed the rcenaries on Inglan's behalf.
They had received free wages, so they shouldn't have many complaints.
"Damn. We ca all this way, and now we have to go back empty-handed."
"Yeah. Maybe we should loot sothing on the way back..."
So rcenaries grumbled among themselves, apparently not too concerned about living long.
rcenaries were the type to live only for today anyway.
"Ha. Don't do anything stupid and just go ho, kids."
"What's it to you?"
"If you idiots get executed for misbehaving, it'll ruin the reputation of other rcenaries. Morons."
The veteran soldiers mocked the thug-like rcenaries.
Usually, after a battle, it was customary for rcenaries to loot.
Raiding houses, robbing travelers on the road, sohow making extra inco.
The logic was, "We're on the winning side anyway, who's going to stop us?"
But that was for armies that had won normally.
When you've won without fighting, like now, it's better for your health to quietly withdraw.
"Old-tirs like you are the ones who'll get caught and executed!"
"Yeah! Has-been!"
The young rcenaries, apparently quite irritated(...), each threw in a jab.
But the veteran soldier's expression didn't change at all.
"You lot. Do you even know who that wizard is?"
The young rcenaries just stared blankly at each other.
Brutes who only knew how to swing weapons wouldn't bother morizing wizards' nas.
"That's the famous [Ian Eredith Raven]."
"Raven...?"
"Wait a minute. The one who knows how to make the 'Potion of Vitality'?!"
Ian's na was quite famous around Talian.
More precisely, he was known by nicknas like 'the Black Crow Wizard' or 'Wizard Raven'.
"That's right, you ignorant fools."
The veteran soldier said mockingly.
"If you raid even one house, the wizard will know everything."
"B-But... how could even a wizard know that..."
Just then, a large crow flew in and perched on a flag.
The crow stared at the rcenaries with its pitch-black eyes.
Suddenly, the crow spoke!
"Caw! Humans!"
"!"
"I-It's insane!"
The rcenaries backed away in terror.
So even drew their weapons in surprise.
Those eerie eyes! That jet-black plumage!
And that sinister tongue spewing human language!
'The wizard's crow!'
The wizard's crow shouted.
"Bring offerings!"
"???"
"Bring offerings and gain my favor!"
The young rcenaries trembled in fear.
ss with that thing, and we're screwed!
But the veteran soldier calmly took out a piece of bread from his pocket.
"Here you go, Mr. Crow."
"Caw! You pass!"
Right then, a wizard with jet-black hair appeared.
It was Ian Eredith Raven himself...!
"Oberon. What are you doing there?"
"Offerings! Bring offerings!"
"Tsk. Didn't I tell you not to extort people?"
Oberon the crow swiftly flew over and perched on Ian's shoulder.
Oberon was smart, even for a crow, and knew that other humans cowered before his master.
So whenever Oberon got bored, he'd fly to farrs and extort(?) food from them!
"My crow must have caused you trouble."
"Not at all, Master Wizard."
Ian handed over a single coin.
"Well, I'll be off then. You all get ho safely too."
"Take care, Master Wizard."
After Ian left, the veteran soldier turned back to the young rcenaries.
The veteran was triumphant, while the other rcenaries were thoroughly cowed.
"See? The wizard's minions are everywhere."
"I-It's true..."
"Don't do anything stupid and just go ho quietly."
The rcenaries dispersed more quietly and quickly than ever before.
Along with the rumor that the 'Black Crow Wizard' was watching the rcenaries...
------
Ian headed to Eredith's lodgings with Inglan.
There, a tea party was already in full swing.
Mani, Eredith, Kira, and Maria were sitting around a table, sharing tea and snacks.
'A ladies' tea ti, huh.'
From afar, it looked like a scene from a romance fantasy novel.
Of course, there wasn't a single actual lady (noblewoman) among them.
The real lady (Lucy) was busy with post-war cleanup.
"Oh, Ian!"
Mani was the first to spot Ian and waved.
"Our Dragon Slayer is here!"
"Welco, Ian."
Mani brought out a cup of tea for Ian.
He wasn't sure how it was brewed, but it was a fragrant, pleasant tea.
It felt like it was filled with the wisdom of a plant wizard.
"Professor Inglan, how have you been?"
"Not dead yet, Mani Kemperbell?"
"Haha. I'll outlive you, don't worry."
Older wizards often knew each other.
There weren't many wizards, and they tended to travel, so they had frequent chances to et.
"What were you talking about?"
When Ian asked, Eredith answered on behalf of everyone.
"Ian, we were talking about these children you taught."
Kira and Maria shyly opened their eyes.
They were poor things, unable to even open their mouths in front of such senior wizards.
"Taught? I just showed them how to read, that's all."
Ian and Eredith laughed at the sa ti.
They really were master and disciple.
"Yes. Ian. They might not have learned properly like you did, but they at least know what magic is."
"Kira definitely does."
Kira had honed her magic in real combat.
She had worked together with Ian several tis, and she was a talented wizard who could often hear the voice of fire on her own.
"There's no problem teaching Kira. There are more than enough fire wizards."
Humans' desire for fire was universal.
It was natural that fire wizards were popular.
Despite the risk of burning to death, there was no shortage of aspiring fire wizards.
"The problem is Maria."
Maria was a child with talent in necromancy, an unusual type of magic.
Death was a mystery that touched life but should never be approached.
Also, necromancy often conflicted with the priests of Heaven's Faith, making it difficult to teach actively.
"This child. She has an absurdly exceptional talent."
Ian was slightly surprised.
Eredith had imdiately praised Maria's talent highly.
"Is it that good?"
"Of course. Her inspiration is stronger than any necromancer I've ever t. I heard Maria sotis gets possessed even in normal situations..."
Ian nodded.
Because of her outstanding talent, Maria had nearly fallen into a trap set by a black wizard from the Golden Rule Society.
If Ian hadn't t Maria, she would probably be training to beco a black wizard by now.
"To be honest, I'm worried. Necromancers are inevitably exposed to evil emotions. She could easily beco a black wizard..."
"Lady Eredith. May I say sothing?"
Maria spoke with a gentle smile.
"I will never, ever beco a black wizard."
"...Really?"
"Yes. Even if I have to kill myself, I will absolutely never beco a black wizard, so don't worry."
Her mouth was smiling, but there was a hint of madness in her eyes. I knew it.
Maria was practically mortal enemies with Bertholdt, the necromancer of the Golden Rule Society.
"This one's more likely to help kill black wizards than beco one."
"Oh my, that certainly seems possible~♬"
Eredith looked at the smiling Maria as if she found her a bit creepy.
Maria probably looked half like a black wizard to her.
"Master. So what about Kira and Maria..."
"You were planning to go to Dranheim, right? If you go, I'll be these children's guardian."
Eredith said decisively.
Ian smiled in relief.
It would have been quite a struggle for Ian to enroll them by himself.
With Eredith stepping in, there was nothing to fear.
"Raising talented wizards is always a joy!"
------
After their discussion, all the wizards except Mani decided to head to Dranheim.
Mani said she planned to make her own nest again.
"We'll deal with the dragon corpse starting tomorrow. Let's have fun today, shall we?"
While Lucy and the nobles were busy without a mont to spare, the wizards were relatively free.
Ian spent his ti productively, catching up with Eredith and introducing Longtail.
Then the post-war cleanup was mostly finished.
A small banquet was held in the na of the rciful Countess of Talian.
"People of Talian, listen!"
In the evening, as the sun was setting.
People who had finished their daily work gathered like clouds around Talian Hall.
Lucy, wearing an elegant dress lined with fairy silk and a conical hat, shouted from the platform.
"Just a few months ago, the imperial lands of Yurdo, Lantro, and Bahen were ravaged by an evil black dragon!"
"The enemy was overwhelmingly strong, and many gathered here lost their hos!"
"The winged calamity soon fell upon us, and we had to face the black dragon Predius with our own strength!"
The crowd was silent, not even a breath could be heard.
They were undoubtedly recalling the day Predius appeared.
Countless refugees had lost their hos and families.
At that very mont when everyone was gloomy.
Lucy shouted with all her might.
"But we were victorious!"
"...!"
"The brave Sir Salvador and the blessed Knights of Santiago! Eredith of Drawald and the wizard Kira!"
"And the wizard Ian! His friend, the drake!"
"People of Talian!"
"Behold the heroes who brought down the dragon!"
As soon as Lucy finished speaking.
An enormous roar of cheers and applause poured out endlessly.
"Wooooooah!"
"Heroes of the Empire!"
"Dragon Slayer! Dragon Slayer Ian!!!"
Dragon Slayer!
Dragon Slayer!
The people of Talian and the refugees chanted 'Dragon Slayer' with one heart and mind.
It was praise for the human who had brought down an unbreakable monster.
A cry of respect for the hero who had saved them.
Salvador just smiled contentedly, while the Knights of Santiago raised their glasses high and laughed rrily.
Eredith was indifferent, and Kira waved and smiled with a 100% sincere celebrity pose.
The soldiers who had participated in the dragon defense and Baron Damon didn't hide their joy either.
Ian was smiling too.
Because he was called Dragon Slayer?
No.
Because Lucy spoke better than he expected.
Lucy's noble behavior suited her surprisingly well.
Though her actions sotis seed a bit lacking, Lucy was indeed a striking beauty.
Since she had the looks, the sa speech seed more convincing coming from her.
"Wizard Ian! Step forward!"
Lucy of Talian called for Ian.
All eyes turned to Ian.
Ian slowly climbed onto the platform.
"Wizard Ian."
Even without a microphone, Lucy's voice rang out strangely clear.
"Without your drake, countless people would have lost their lives."
Lucy's face was close.
Lucy looked into Ian's eyes as she spoke.
"You are a true hero of Talian."
Ian just smiled.
He had saved Talian quite often. That's true.
"In the na of Talian's ruler! I will grant you any one wish you desire."
"Do I have to say it now?"
"No? Tell whenever Ian is comfortable!"
Lucy smiled brightly and shouted to the crowd.
"Everyone worked hard! Now, let the banquet begin!"
"Woooooooooh!"
The Countess's banquet began.
---
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