Became a Medieval Fantasy Wizard

TL/Editor: raei

Status: 5/week mon-fri

Illustrations: none

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"Using his barely functioning brain got him caught. Serves him right!"

The Imperial Princess's followers mocked their recently expelled companions.

They'd gotten cocky trying to expose wizard Ian's abilities, using obviously reckless methods that got them kicked out.

"With those idiots gone, we just need to earn Her Highness's favor!"

Fewer people around meant more chances to stand out.

The remaining followers put their heads together to figure out how to seize this opportunity.

Time to show they were different from those fools who acted without considering Her Highness's wishes!

"Did you hear? Her Highness gave Pals a task!"

"What?"

The followers who were just about to become loyal servants were momentarily thrown by this unexpected news.

Pals? That countryside nobody?

How could Her Highness, with her noble blood, keep such a backwoods peasant close!

"There's no way someone like Pals can properly carry out Her Highness's mission."

"Exactly!"

Ah... time to pause the 'loyal servant' act.

Even wanting to be loyal, first you had to become a favored retainer.

If Her Highness had hired this Pals or whatever, what was the point of playing loyal servant?

"Her Highness may have given Pals the task, but there's no guarantee he'll succeed."

"Right. We need to watch him!"

Some followers went looking for Pals on their own.

To monitor whether he was doing his job properly!

To nitpick every little thing!

And while they were at it, inject their own opinions and stake their claim!

Get their foot in the door!

They had mountains of tasks lined up.

"Lord Pals!"

The followers finally managed to track down Pals with great difficulty.

The Trial of Fear would take place in the mountains, and Pals was tasked with interfering with Kira during it.

Though the remote mountain location made walking difficult, the Princess's followers showed their passion by climbing it with nothing but burning loyalty!

"You've come."

"Yes! Listen here! If you're given a task, you should report to us!"

"Report, you say?"

"We served Her Highness first, so of course you should report to your superiors! Don't you have any common sense?"

The Princess's followers immediately bombarded Pals with aggressive words.

Establish dominance!

Show who's boss and they won't be able to talk back later.

By crushing their spirit early like this, it would be easier to interfere with Pals' work and steal credit.

"Hmm. I neglected to consider you."

"What did you say? Lord Pals, are you insane?"

Apologize!

The Princess's followers shouted with their eyes!

But when they met Pals' gaze.

They felt spine-chilling terror.

Pals' eyes... were different from his usual emotionless stare.

The eyes of a killer, steeped in blood and destruction.

"I'm... truly sorry you came here."

"?"

At Pals' unexpected words, the followers were confused.

"Gack!"

"W-what is... kyaaaaah!"

Hot liquid splashed their faces.

One follower slowly wiped their face.

"...!"

A bright red, sticky liquid.

Blood.

"W-what is this... gurk!"

They had no time to process what was happening.

Wolf-like monsters burst out from all around the forest, slaughtering the Princess's followers.

After killing all the followers, the monsters gathered one by one around Pals.

Pals stroked the monsters, and they growled affectionately like pets.

"I don't understand why they came."

From the start, Pals had never cared about the Princess's orders.

He only followed the orders of the Regent of the [Golden Rule Society].

The monster tamer, Pals.

He was a black wizard loyal to the Golden Rule Society.

And today, the great Regent had given his order.

[Kill Imperial Princess Elia.]

"As commanded."

The order came at the perfect timing.

Pals disappeared into the forest to carry out the Regent's command.

#

Ian chatted briefly with Professor Demonite.

"You summon monsters?"

"Yes. It's tradition for the Trial of Fear."

Ian finally understood why the Trial of Fear was such an awesome event.

A course painstakingly prepared by those master laborers, the monks!

And monster howls echoing through the pitch-dark forest!

'That's gonna be scary as fuck.'

Honestly, modern-style courage tests would be too easy for medieval people.

In this medieval era without electric lights, everyone equally lived in darkness!

Candles?

Using candles every night would break your back from the cost.

In other words, medieval people were already used to walking dark paths.

So he'd expected the Trial of Fear would be no challenge either...

'But monsters are different.'

When monster howls echo through the mountains, medieval or not, anyone would tremble.

A sophisticated modern courage test would play recorded ghost sounds, but...

Here they just solved it by summoning actual monsters!

Truly a romantic era.

"Why go to such lengths?"

When Ian asked, Demonite shrugged.

"Because it's fun?"

"..."

Ah. Fun. Fucking important.

University students' twisted desire to 'properly' enjoy the festival had reached the insane conclusion of summoning real monsters for the courage test.

"Well then, I'll go summon the monsters."

Demonite brushed off his seat and stood.

"I heard you've summoned a drake before?"

"Yes. I have a drake I'm friendly with."

Demonite smiled deeply.

"How fascinating. Someday, I'd like to have a serious discussion about summoning magic."

"I'd be honored if you invited me."

"Excellent. I'll see you during the semester."

After Demonite left, Ian was lost in thought for a moment.

However fun a courage test might be... was it important enough to summon real monsters?

What if a monster accidentally attacked someone... hmm.

'Better prepare some magic.'

From talking with Demonite, he didn't seem incompetent enough to let monsters attack people by mistake.

But still.

Having monsters nearby without being armed just felt wrong.

"Ian! Did you wait long?"

"No, I was just talking with another professor."

"Professor?"

"Professor Demonite, do you know him?"

Elia showed recognition.

"He teaches summoning magic. A gentlemanly, noble person."

Unlike most wizards, Elia added.

Ian immediately understood what she meant.

Professor Demonite was certainly an unusual type.

"Are you ready?"

"Yeah!"

"Yes~ Shall we head out after dinner?"

Ian prepared for the Trial of Fear with Kira and Elia.

#

After dinner, Ian's group gathered in front of the temple.

Though everyone was excited to have fun, the Trial of Fear was actually a religious event.

Definitely not just university students' night entertainment...

"Kyaah! I'm so nervous~!"

"Edric! Please don't let go of my hand!"

"Of course not, my little songbird."

"..."

Not entertainment at all.

Ian couldn't help but smile.

Whether it was religious or whatever. Who cared?

The Trial of Fear was part of the festival, a time for everyone to laugh and chat.

"Saint Marcus once faced pitch-black darkness where he couldn't see an inch ahead!"

The priest launched a surprise sermon.

Of course, not a single person paid attention...

"...Thus, we shall have this precious time to experience his courage!"

"Woohoo!"

"Next group, step forward!"

Ian stood before the priest with the two female students.

The priest approached to give his blessing but paused.

"Professor Ian, correct? The one who summoned the shadow demon recently?"

"...I'm Ian but I've never summoned a shadow demon."

Ian suddenly wanted to smack Inglan...

That old man had spread weird rumors!

"Well... I don't know much about magic."

"Right."

"Does walking in darkness mean anything to a dark wizard?"

You know perfectly well. You clearly know exactly.

True to a medieval intellectual, the priest's words hit the mark perfectly.

The [Trial of Fear] was completely useless for Ian.

When he could see clearly in the dark, how could it be a courage test?

"Not really..."

As soon as Ian opened his mouth, the women viciously jabbed his sides.

Ian hastily changed his words.

"...not much. I'm afraid of darkness too."

[What?! Ian! Really? You're scared of us?!]

"Even dark wizards fear darkness?"

"Of course."

[No we're not! We're not scary!]

[Oh no... Ian must hate us now!]

The startled mystery of darkness shook back and forth.

The priest shouted in surprise.

"P-Professor Ian! The shadow there is moving!"

"Ugh."

Ian immediately stomped on the shadow.

[Yay! Ian's playing with us!]

[Let's run away!]

"But... you just said you feared darkness..."

"Shadows aren't that scary."

"...I-I see. Magic is truly profound..."

Since Ian insisted he was scared of darkness anyway, the priest granted him permission for the Trial of Fear.

"Ian. The forest is dark, so please don't let go of my hand~"

"Hold my hand too! Ian!"

"..."

The priest looked at Ian suspiciously.

It seemed he wasn't interested in facing unknown fears at all.

He just came to fool around with girls?!

Ian could easily find the women's hands again in the dark even if he lost them.

But saying that would be annoying, so Ian obediently held both women's hands.

Both Elia and Kira.

Had supremely soft, heavenly feminine hands.

'A flower in each hand.'

Ian smiled in disbelief.

He felt like an isekai harem protagonist.

Grrrr...

As they walked the pitch-dark forest path, low growls echoed from somewhere.

"...Eek!"

Ian was indifferent, Kira gripped his hand tightly, and Elia let out a shrill scream.

"You okay?"n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"I'm f-fine! *hic*"

"?"

Ian wasn't scared at all.

Darkness - he could see fine anyway.

Monster howls - Professor Demonite's work.

When you know everything, what's there to fear?

But Kira and Elia were different.

First, the pitch-dark forest was... much scarier than expected!

True to the monks' dedicated craftsmanship, it was truly pitch black, with creepy dolls placed here and there amplifying the fear.

'This is really scary...!'

Grrrr!

"Eek!"

Elia unconsciously hugged Ian's arm tight.

The soft sensation against his arm made Ian quite troubled...

'Holy shit.'

Ian half lost his mind.

No wonder so many couples formed!

Rustle!

Ian turned toward the sound.

And met eyes with something.

'What is that...?'

Even in the darkness, a monster staring straight at Ian.

The monster sprang like a coiled spring, leaping at Ian.

"Kira!"

Ian threw Elia at Kira while drawing and throwing Anor-lsil.

"Kyaaaah!"

The magic sword slashed the monster's side before returning to Ian's hand.

"Ian?!"

"Watch out! Monsters are coming!"

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