TL/Editor: raei
Status: 5/week mon-fri
Illustrations: none
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After water wizard Orode was captured,
the wizards prepared for a full-scale magical assault.
"Duke Fargar seems to be in a hurry."
That was the conclusion of Roxlan's nobles.
Although how to use wizards was at the command's discretion...
Generally, wizards were employed to assist in large-scale battles.
On a chaotic battlefield, the power of magic was trendous.
Rather than deploying them in small operations and risking losses, it was better to save their power for the main battle.
As those in the know understood, magic beca more powerful the more ti wizards had to prepare.
This was due to enhancent elents like magic circles.
Yet Duke Fargar had invested in a wizard for a surprise attack.
"He must have heard the news that the Emperor is gone."
"Hmm..."
The nobles nodded.
It was certainly a gamble worth considering.
Water wizards were strongest when water was available.
If they fought Roxlan in the plains as Duke Fargar intended, water wizards would inevitably be less effective.
That's why he could attempt to capture the castle with magic.
But...
He probably never expected wizard Orode to be captured by Ian.
"Excuse my impertinence, but I'd like to ask one question, Wizard Orode."
"Go ahead."
"Why exactly were you captured by Ian?"
A noble asked with a suspicious tone.
So nobles actually did suspect Orode.
They wondered if he had deliberately gotten captured on Duke Fargar's orders to infiltrate enemy territory.
"From what I've heard, you're quite skilled."
The water wizards nodded vigorously.
They were curious too.
Surely a water wizard of Orode's caliber could have evaded Ian's pursuit?
But Orode shook his head.
"I determined I couldn't escape."
"...Really?"
"This fellow is a shadow wizard."
Orode said, looking at Ian.
"If he blocked the light around with shadow magic, I would lose my way."
Orode knew shadow magic well.
An exceptional shadow wizard could bring night-like darkness even during the day.
"I lacked the courage to flee through darkness."
While so found this explanation acceptable, others weren't easily convinced.
"But if you were determined to return, you could have dived underwater and escaped..."
"I lacked the will as well."
"...?"
When the nobles raised their eyebrows, Orode kindly explained:
"Duke Fargar. That man treats wizards like absolute shit."
"!"
Orode continued.
Duke Fargar had been holding wizards captive, refusing to release them—
And many wizards were already exhausted from fighting.
That's why Orode had surrendered without much resistance.
It was botherso to try breaking through Ian's magic and escape.
Even if he tried, it didn't seem like he could easily get away.
So... he just surrendered.
"If that's true, it's certainly good news."
The nobles quickly exchanged opinions.
Indeed, Duke Fargar had been fighting for quite so ti, from beating the Rashin Kingdom until now.
And wizards... aren't those who enjoy fighting.
What good were gold and treasures if they had no ti for their vital mystery research!
Wizards would want to help Duke Fargar quickly and get back to their own business.
But according to Orode, the Duke refused to release them.
It made sense.
After gathering wizard forces with such effort, why let them go? How would he fight future wars?
"Thank you for the valuable information."
Count Francis treated Orode with respect as a guest.
Though the Emperor had disappeared, it was still worth holding out for so ti.
"How is the evacuation of farrs progressing?"
"We've brought in all residents near the castle, but there's nothing we can do for farrs in the plains."
"There's no choice but to send cavalry."
Count Francis was preparing cavalry to counter Duke Fargar's mounted forces.
That's when Ian spoke up.
"Count, I'd like to briefly join the cavalry..."
"You? With the cavalry?"
Ian nodded.
He wanted to inflict as much damage as possible on Duke Fargar.
Even if not a decisive victory, he needed to create a stalemate at least.
That way, he could go search for the Emperor.
'Though Elia and Hastria are working on the Emperor's situation...'
After the kidnapping, Elia and Hastria had imdiately ford a pursuit team to track the black wizards.
Though uncertain of their chances of success...
He had to consider the possibility of their failure.
The longer Ian spent on the front lines, the more dire the Emperor's situation would beco.
Of course, the black wizards wouldn't harm the Emperor recklessly.
They wanted the imperial throne to remain vacant.
But that didn't an Ian could sit idle for a year or two on the battlefield.
Ian simply wanted to resolve matters quickly—
But Count Francis was deeply impressed by Ian's proactive attitude.
'He captured an enemy wizard, he could be strutting around...'
Ian was a young wizard.
As is natural for young people, when they achieve sothing, they want to boast about it!
With the title "Wizard who captured Orode" emblazoned on his forehead, he could swagger around and no one would complain.
After all, Ian really was an exceptional wizard!
Yet far from boasting, Ian wanted to rush to the frontlines imdiately.
Why?
Was his loyalty to Roxlan overflowing?
Absolutely not.
The answer was obvious.
'He wants to achieve rit for his wife...!'
Count Francis nodded, reaching this reasonable(?) conclusion.
Even with the Count's backing, Maria taking over a county would inevitably draw attention.
But...
What if her husband was a war hero!
The more achievents Ian made in this war, the more reluctant other nobles would be to interfere with Maria.
How could anyone ss with a woman whose husband was a heroic wizard of war!
'Wizard Ian... truly loves his wife...!'
Count Francis gazed at Ian with warm approval.
Among Heaven's Faith teachings was the instruction to [Love your spouse].
A simple yet difficult teaching to practice.
Love is a value that crumbles all too easily in the face of worldly troubles.
Yet here was a young man working so diligently for love...!
"Very well, Ian. Join the cavalry as you wish."
"Thank you, Your Grace."
"And..."
"?"
"...For your fiancée's sake. Do try not to get hurt."
Ian stared blankly at Count Francis.
With a face like a vampire, how could he deliver such a sweet line?!
"Ah... I'll keep that in mind."
Ian bowed his head and couldn't see—
But the nobles clearly saw Count Francis's expression.
The Count genuinely seed to like Ian.
Enough that he would gladly hand over Maria and Silverwind if it ant keeping Ian tied to Roxlan!
'That fellow will definitely beco part of the Roxlan family.'
"Haha! Lord Ian! I'll lend you so equipnt—"
"? I don't need any?"
"Don't be shy! I have plenty of spare gear..."
"I appreciate the thought. But if you have excess equipnt, why not donate it to Roxlan?"
"Uh, um...?"
Count Francis smiled, revealing his canines.
"How truly loyal."
"..."
The nobles wanted to befriend Ian but had no idea how to approach him.
If he were an ordinary young man, he would be easily swayed by a fine sword and horse!
Wizards... what on earth should they give as gifts?!
While the nobles dithered, Ian left the castle.
As expected, Fargar sent cavalry to raid farrs.
Intended to provoke Roxlan, they rcilessly killed people and set fires.
"Those sons of bitches—!"
From Roxlan soldiers' perspective, it was enough to make their blood boil.
In small-scale territorial conflicts, the unwritten rule was to leave farrs alone.
Farrs were valuable.
Without farrs, who would tend the fields? Ancestral spirits?
Even if you conquered territory, it was a re empty shell without farrs to work the land.
However...
That logic only applied to conquest wars aid at governance.
Fargar's army had no intention of consuming Roxlan from the beginning.
They couldn't digest it anyway.
The invaders' goal was to plunder thoroughly and spend the coming winter comfortably.
Fargar's cavalry plundered so zealously they would strip even the farrs' undergarnts.
"Those bastards, they're foreigners, right?!"
"Fuck! They're Roland Kingdom troops!"
Strictly speaking, they weren't Roland Kingdom troops.
They were Fargar's forces, wearing Roland Kingdom armor and resembling Roland Kingdom people suspiciously...
Whether they were foreign rcenaries making money in the Empire or immigrants from the Roland Kingdom—
They had not a speck of patriotism for the Empire, committing massacres without hesitation.
Upon spotting the enemy cavalry, Ian imdiately used Skill Magic.
"[Lightning spear!]"
With a thunderous roar, a glowing lightning spear appeared.
Ian hurled the lightning toward Fargar's cavalry.
BOOM!
Neighhhh!
The riders tumbled from their horses.
Even without direct hits, the lightning spear was excellent against cavalry.
It terrified the horses, making them throw their riders and flee!
Roxlan's cavalry didn't miss this opportunity.
"Charge—! For the Holand—!"
"Long live Roxlan—!"
Though Fargar's cavalry attempted to resist, they stood no chance.
Roxlan's cavalry completely overwheld them.
"Thank you for your work! Sir Wizard!"
Roxlan's cavalryn all clamored to shake Ian's hand.
Being "cavalry," most ca from wealthy backgrounds.
But Ian's magic was so clean and perfect that even cavalry pride had to bow.
Without magical support, who knows how difficult the battle would have been.
"You all worked hard too."
Though victorious, there was no ti to celebrate.
Ian diligently moved with the cavalry, engaging Fargar's mounted units.
"This seems endless."
"Do you have any ideas, sir?"
Ian pondered for a mont.
Fargar's army clearly showed signs of being high-tier units.
Even regular soldiers had excellent equipnt.
The cavalry was even more impressive.
If they continued fighting small-scale engagents, Roxlan's cavalry would accumulate casualties.
"Let's try blocking their sight."
"Their... sight, sir?"
The cavalryn looked at Ian curiously.
They already knew wizards were naturally good riders.
But seeing him perfectly cast magic while following the cavalry for days was newly impressive.
Ian chose a location with complex paths and drew a magic circle.
It was a magic circle that gathered darkness.
"Oooh...!"
The cavalryn gasped in amazent.
The wizard seed to be scribbling sothing on the ground...
Suddenly the surroundings darkened like night!
"This will be difficult to pass through."
Ian's words were true.
The enemies were reluctant to pass near the darkness-filled magic circle, and those who recklessly entered beca easy prey.
"You're incredible, Sir Wizard."
The cavalryn were genuinely astonished by Ian's magic.
How many variables could a single wizard create?
No wonder nobles trembled before wizards!
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