TL/Editor: raei
Status: 5/week mon-fri
Illustrations: none
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In the southern empire, at the [Golden Rule Society] headquarters.
Antios had initially planned to use this place as a temporary base before discarding it. Now, he returned here dejectedly.
'I lost...'
He still couldn't believe it.
He had set out on a northern expedition with the evil dragon Predius, yet...
In a battle he absolutely shouldn't have lost, Antios had been defeated.
'Why?'
In truth, it wasn't entirely accurate to say Antios had lost.
Predius, with so free ti on his hands, had tried to raid another easy barony and ended up in an accident.
But regardless of the reason, the fact remained that Predius was dead.
A summoner who had lost their summon felt utterly powerless...
Left with no choice, Antios decided to return.
With mixed emotions, he gazed at the dragon's massive corpse.
Though Predius had been a demanding bastard who always asked for exorbitant fees, he had still worked as Antios' contractor until now...
"Regent!"
"Lord Regent!"
Other black wizards were staying at the temporary headquarters.
The necromancer and celestial wizard, Bertholdt.
The transmuter, Karenne.
The two were shocked to see the dragon returned as a corpse and Antios with an expression as pale as death.
What on earth had happened in the north for them to lose the dragon?!
"Predius attacked a barony... and ended up getting killed."
"Was there a knight capable of taking down a dragon?"
Bertholdt shouted in disbelief.
If such a knight existed, they would have gathered intelligence and been cautious from the start.
But how could there be a dragon slayer-class knight in a rural domain of the Duchy of Araz?
"No. The opponent was a wizard."
"... A wizard?"
Antios searched his mory.
He recalled the young wizard with black hair he had seen when retrieving Predius' corpse.
"It was a wizard nad Ian."
"!"
"!"
"Yes. The very Ian you two reported about."
Bertholdt and Karenne almost burst out laughing.
Antios had been beaten by Ian and ca crawling back!
Antios' defeat essentially proved that the two black wizards weren't complete idiots.
It wasn't that they were incompetent – Ian was just that damn strong!
Haha, Lord Regent, even you can lose sotis!
See, I told you Ian was a complete madman!
...Of course, Bertholdt only thought this to himself.
There was no one in this group so morally bankrupt as to mock the defeated leader of a secret society...
"I knew it was Ian! I told you! That guy was suspicious! Of all people to run into! Even the Regent is no match!"
"Shut up, Karenne."
Antios spoke with flashing eyes.
"I'll cut your research budget, just so you know."
"Eep!"
Karenne stumbled backwards.
Antios grew even more furious.
Bertholdt, Karenne, and even Antios himself!
All of them had been neatly beaten by this wandering wizard nad Ian!
At this rate, they might as well take down the [Golden Rule Society] sign and rena the group the [Ian Victims' Association].
Antios ground his teeth.
By the wizard Ian?
No.
By those gloomy space-ti wizards!
'Damn those space-ti wizard bastards...!'
Right now, Antios was working hard for a great cause.
To destroy the weak fake empire and revive the glory of the old empire!
Witnessing the return of the great magical era in his lifeti was Antios' dream and life purpose.
Of course, so people might die and the world order might be turned upside down in the process of achieving this grand goal.
But when the era of emperors and magic returns, would such trivial matters be a problem?
Antios was confident.
With the power of almighty magic, nothing was impossible.
But those damn-
Those damned space-ti wizards were ruining everything!
Once is chance, twice is coincidence, but three tis is a pattern.
It was now glaringly obvious that the space-ti wizards were using their power over the future to block their path.
The wizard Ian was a pawn of the space-ti wizards.
And Antios was simply playing the role of a pawn to be beaten up!
'When I rebuild the empire...! I'll eradicate those space-ti wizards root and stem!'
Antios burned with unbridled rage towards the space-ti wizards.
But at the sa ti.
A strange emotion began to stir in his heart...!
'Those space-ti wizards. Where the hell did they dig up a wizard like Ian?'
Those cunning bastards who knew the future must have raised Ian as their pawn through so despicable thod.
'The strength to subdue Bertholdt and Karenne. The outstanding skill to defeat Predius.'
Antios hated the space-ti wizards.
They were annoying bastards who kept interfering with his grand plan at every turn.
But he didn't particularly feel any ill will towards Ian, who was actually responsible for ruining the plan.
After all, he was just another pawn dancing to the tune of those damned space-ti wizards...!
'Young and capable. He must be a talent ant to lead the future.'
When Ian defeated Predius, Antios was greatly shocked.
He realized that even a black dragon could be defeated.
At the sa ti, he was stunned that a human capable of taking down a black dragon existed.
'Wizard Ian...'
Antios felt genuine curiosity about Ian as a person.
For what purpose did he learn magic, and for what did he wield it?
If.
If by any chance, Ian was an ambitious wizard who sought advancent and power...
Antios seriously considered welcoming Ian as a mber of the [Golden Rule Society].
They may have clashed a few tis due to the sches of those cunning space-ti wizards, but Antios was willing to reconcile even with enemies for the sake of the grand cause.
'... He was quite handso. Like looking at myself in my younger days.'
Once Antios started thinking positively about Ian, he began to like even the small details about him.
Not only his calm eyes that exuded wisdom.
But that noble black hair!
Wasn't it just like the court wizards of the ancient Golden Empire era!
The Holy Empire people with their dirty barbarian blood were quick to mock black hair as the color of demons.
But Antios knew that black hair was truly the color of this world's rightful masters.
Many emperors of the ancient Golden Empire had black hair!
Ian with his jet-black hair was the perfect wizard for the [Golden Rule Society].
Having thought that far, Antios imdiately inford the other black wizards of his future plans.
"Aside from ongoing operations, all new activities are to be suspended."
"May I ask the reason?"
"The space-ti wizards have caught our scent. Those bastards don't want the Golden Empire's revival."
Bertholdt clicked his tongue.
What fools to reject the age of magic.
"However, we will mobilize all of the society's resources to initiate a plan for regular contact with the wizard Ian."
At Antios' words, Bertholdt's eyes lit up.
"Are we going to eliminate him?"
He had been a thorn in the society's side several tis already.
Under Antios' command, if they mobilized all their resources, it should be entirely possible to end that guy's life-
"No. For now, our top priority is to recruit Ian."
"...? Recruit him?"
"Yes. Any objections?"
Bertholdt simply kept his mouth shut.
Though he was a mber of the society, he didn't have grand plans like Antios.
He was just Employee #1, following the vision presented by the leader.
He may have been beaten by Ian, but... if that was Antios' decision.
"If we succeed in stealing him away, we can greatly disrupt the space-ti wizards' plans."
Antios was certain.
Ian was the space-ti wizards' champion. If they could just steal him away, the space-ti wizards' power would be greatly weakened.
"What if we fail to recruit him..."
To Bertholdt's question, Antios answered rcilessly.
"Then we kill him."
"..."
With the space-ti wizards' interference, Antios could no longer focus on operations like before.
Instead, he would mobilize all available resources...
To remove the 'Ian' piece from the ga board.
Whether through recruitnt. Or Ian's death.
Antios would make his move.
"Grrrr..."
"?"
Just then, Antios heard a strange sound.
Was that a growl coming from Predius' corpse...?
"Bertholdt. Did you use necromancy?"
"No?"
Antios hurried over to Predius.
And was astonished.
"Good heavens... My God!"
Predius' heart... was beating again.
The dragon wasn't dead yet!
"How is this possible..."
As Antios stared at the dragon's massive body, he suddenly recalled a piece of knowledge.
Reptilian creatures can fake their own death when faced with a life-threatening situation...!
"... Playing dead!"
Antios was dumbfounded, but this was reality.
It was knowledge even Antios hadn't known.
To think that a mighty dragon could play dead like so damn lizard!
Antios cheered, but that was it.
Predius' heart had started beating again, but he hadn't regained consciousness.
"Bertholdt! Go fetch so dicine!"
"Yes sir!"
Of course, the re fact that he was still breathing was a miracle.
Predius had been stabbed deep in the head with a longsword, damaging part of his brain.
The injured body would soon recover, but...
The brain might never fully heal, so no one could predict how he would revive.
However, one thing was certain.
A powerful weapon to face Ian and the space-ti wizards was still alive...!
'Just you wait, Wizard Ian!'
Antios' eyes flashed.
As he looked forward to the day he would et Ian again.
------
Ian slowly began preparing for his journey.
He had co because of the dragon's invasion, so now there was no reason to stay in Talian.
The Knights of Santiago had left earlier than Ian.
"We look forward to eting again, brother!"
"Take care, Lord Ian!"
"You too, Sir Dehitri."
The Knights of Santiago would go hunt their next monster.
Now it was the wizards' turn.
"I'm sorry, Master. Will you go ahead?"
Eredith, Inglan, Kira, and Maria decided to go to the Imperial University first.
The reason was simple.
"I need to take Longtail back ho."
Longtail had abandoned his nice house to co help Ian.
It would be too inconsiderate to just say goodbye here after everything was done.
Ian decided to escort the drake couple back to their ho.
In truth, his main goal was to prevent any potential casualties the drake couple might cause on the road.
"Alright. Do that then."
Eredith sent Ian off.
It was a natural choice, since Ian was Longtail's summoner.
"Then we'll see you at the university!"
"See you later, Ian!"
The group of wizards set off for the university. Salvador joined them as well.
Ian took only Belenka with him, departing with the drake couple.
He had considered taking Jubal too, but apparently he had gotten a job as a handyman at Talian Hall. (Sister Mionia had strongly recomnded him.)
It didn't really matter either way.
He was originally a pure-hearted young man not well-suited for a warrior's life.
From the start, the goal had been to find a place for Jubal to settle down.
"I'll be back, Lucy."
Ian gave Lucy a light kiss on the cheek.
Lucy blushed and waved her hand.
"Take care, Ian!"
---
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