Chapter 200
Chapter 200
TL/Editor: raei
Status: 5/week mon-fri
Illustrations: none
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"Tell me exactly what you did!"
Mani pressed Ian with a sharp voice.
Clearly, Ian had succeeded in wielding magic by persuading the mystery of plants with his amazing eloquence (though she had no idea what he actually did).
He succeeded, but...
"So, I formed a revolutionary bond with the plants..."
"What on earth is this revolution you keep talking about?!"The problem was that he used a method incomprehensible to Mani's common sense!
Ian scratched his head, feeling awkward.
It seemed a few hundred years too early to introduce these revolutionary concepts to medieval people.
So Ian summarized the core idea in a way Mani could understand as best as possible.
"I made a lot of vague promises to the plants that are unlikely to be fulfilled."
"???"
"Well... it's a kind of fraud, I guess?"
That's right.
The concept of [Plant Revolution] that Ian had shouted about until his throat was sore was an extremely difficult concept to realize.
What? Plants breaking free from animal exploitation and becoming independent?
Since this was a fantasy world, it might be possible if they tried hard enough.
But those who shouted for revolution in reality, the real-life communists, also started their actions believing their revolution would somehow succeed.
But the result? Failure.
Revolution was that difficult.
So Ian didn't think the plants would actually achieve a revolution.
Well, it didn't matter anyway.
Ian wasn't sincere about the revolution.
All that mattered was that he succeeded in persuading the plants to move according to his will.
After hearing Ian's explanation, Mani said with a serious face:
"You've done something incredibly dangerous."
"I suppose so?"
The magical method Ian chose was... [Making Empty Promises].
Just recklessly spreading sweet words like, 'If you follow me, good things will happen!'
But what if the plants, who were sincere about the revolution... realized Ian's true intentions?
No joke, they might try to [purge] Ian.
"Ian. If you're not seriously thinking of becoming a plant wizard, avoid contact with the mystery of plants for a while."
Mani advised him out of genuine concern for Ian.
Magic is the very process of communication between mystery and wizard.
The manifestation of magic varies greatly depending on what kind of relationship you form with the mystery.
Generally, the most common and safest relationship was that of 'friendship'.
Like Mani and the mystery of plants. Like Ian and the mystery of darkness.
Friendship that naturally built up over time, feeling affection for each other.
Appealing to that friendship to move the mystery was the most common form of magic in the Empire.
However, some experimental wizards wanted relationships beyond friendship.
Namely, love and worship.
They wielded magic by making the mystery love or worship them.
But the end of such experimental wizards was generally not good, as they were directly or indirectly killed by mysteries that became too obsessed with humans.
Like fire wizards who were obsessed with the mystery of flame and ended up burning to death.
If Ian received too much attention from the mystery of plants, a dangerously unpredictable future might unfold.
"But I had no choice. At my current level, this was the best way to use the [Rapid Growth] magic."
"You fool! Who told you to succeed at all costs! If you had just pretended a bit, I would have finished it..."
Mani looked at Ian with pitiful eyes.
She felt heartbroken for forcing the young wizard to do something unreasonable.
But Ian replied nonchalantly:
"How could I leave everything to you, Mani? Your magic might disappear if we're not careful."
"..."
Ian's point was accurate.
The [Rapid Growth] magic was both a secret technique of plant wizards and a high-difficulty magic that placed a great burden on the wizard.
The mystery of plants, disappointed by Mani's unreasonable demands, might leave Mani's side forever.
However, Mani was prepared to sacrifice her magic. She was old anyway.
If sacrificing her magic helped hungry people, wasn't that a worthwhile deed?
But...
Ian, that sweet boy, was trying to share Mani's burden.
He even succeeded in rapidly growing the plants.
How talented he was...
And how kind he was.
"Sniff...!"
"...? Mani. Are you crying?"
"I'm not crying! Just got some dust in my eye!"
Ian, who had pushed himself to complete the magic for her sake.
Mani felt a lump in her throat from the touching gesture.
"Anyway. Since things worked out well, I'll go report to Lucy."
"Do that."
Mani said, wiping away her tears.
Thinking to herself that you just get more teary-eyed when you get old.
---
---
"Lucy. I used some magic with Mani."
"Already?"
"Yeah. We made all the wheat grow, so it's ready for harvest now."
"???"
Not just Lucy, but the barons too were unable to hide their shock.
The wheat should still be fresh green sprouts...
They made it grow with magic?!
"Is... is that possible?"
One of the nobles muttered blankly.
He must have lost some intelligence from the shock.
"If it wasn't possible, we wouldn't have done it, right?"
When Ian spoke, the noble nodded as if hypnotized.
"Ah... That's right. Magic really is amazing."
That was something everyone agreed on.
To think they made wheat that was just planted grow already.
What kind of bug was this?
This was a critical food-duplication bug that would make even the Sky God go "Oh no!" and rush to make a balance patch.
While thinking that the magic Ian and Mani succeeded in was absurd,
A glint of greed flashed across the nobles' faces.
A bug... no, magic that makes wheat grow quickly.
If they could have such a wizard as their retainer, it would be of great help to their domain!
"Lord Ian. Your magic becomes more wondrous the more I see it!"
"...? When did you properly see my magic?"
"Ahem! Didn't you just show us on your way back!"
Baron Lantro approached Ian, praising him blatantly.
Ian felt a chill.
This pattern felt familiar somehow...?
"To think a young and capable wizard like you is still single!"
"..."
"My niece's younger sister is a great beauty, and she's still unmarried!"
Baron Bahen glanced at Lucy carefully.
Lucy was smiling.
For now, that is.
"You should settle down and start a stable family..."
"Well. I still prefer traveling."
Ian said as he stood up.
"I'd like to think about settling down after I study more."
"Ah... Is that so?"
Having finished his report, Ian left Talian Hall again to get back to work.
He heard Lucy shouting from behind.
"Close the door when you leave! Ian!"
"Ah. I also have some business..."
"Baron Lantro, please stay seated."
"..."
It felt like the "(if you don't want to die)" was omitted.
Ian moved on, praying for the clueless baron's soul.
---
---
The wheat that Mani and Ian had grown soon became food for the people of Talian.
The watermill turned, scattering flour.
Large loaves of bread were produced non-stop from the public oven.
[Wizard comrade! This is a sacrifice for the revolution, right? Right?]
[Th-There was no talk of becoming bread!]
[I'm getting out of here!]
As Ian passed by the mill, the mysteries of plants spoke to him.
Following Mani's advice, Ian ignored the plants' voices.
"Hmm! I feel like someone's saying something! Must be my imagination?"
[Wizard comrade!!!]
The experience of mysteries initiating conversation was unfamiliar and strange.
It reminded him of Maria.
She was constantly tormented by the mystery of death.
How difficult and frustrating must it have been?
"Wizard! Please try some bread!"
The people of Talian rushed to offer bread to Ian.
[We'll curse you! We'll curse you! You humans!]
...He thought he heard the resentful grudge of wheat seedlings from the bread, but
Ian neatly ignored it and took a big bite of the freshly baked bread.
'Tastes amazing.'
So this is what revolutionaries taste like...
Those dreaming of a plant revolution became delicious overnight.
"Wizard!"
Just then, a middle-aged man popped out from among the people.
Ian waved his hand first.
"I'm not taking any more bread. You should eat plenty yourselves."
"No! That's not it...!"
The man bowed his head and said:
"My name is Sam, and I'm from Yurdo!"
"?"
Wasn't Yurdo the land ruled by that troublemaker baron?
"Go on."
"Yes! Thank you!"
The man who introduced himself as Sam let out a sigh of relief.
He must have steeled himself to approach Ian, prepared to be chased away.
"I used to be a blacksmith in Yurdo, and my master knew some unique skills that I learned!"
"Unique skills?"
Sam nodded eagerly.
"My master said he learned how to make siege weapons at a workshop in the Coral Sea when he was young!"
"???"
Ian was a bit surprised.
If it was siege weapon manufacturing, it really was a unique skill.
"Can you make siege weapons too?"
"Well... I can make some parts."
Blacksmith Sam said he learned siege weapon manufacturing from his master, but due to the local conditions, he couldn't receive perfect training.
What would a blacksmith in a rural domain do after painstakingly learning to make siege engines? He should have practiced making farming tools instead.
"I heard a rumor that you have some very rare materials..."
"Ah. Um."
Something did come to mind.
An item he had shoved into storage as soon as he arrived in Talian domain.
It was the Hunter Stingray's tail.
"I do have a Hunter Stingray's tail..."
"!"
When Ian answered, Sam reacted intensely.
"So the rumors were true! To think you have such a precious item!"
It was something the Knights of Santiago had practically dumped on him.
Ian, who had been contemplating selling it to an apothecary or something, seemed to have found an unexpected use for it.
"Can you handle it?"
"Of course! If you entrust it to me, I'll process it into ballista arrows for you!"
The purpose was obvious - it was for anti-dragon use.
'What should I do...'
It sounded like a good proposal. But Ian didn't know this blacksmith's skills well.
'It's worth evaluating.'
"Alright. Follow me."
Ian took the blacksmith Sam somewhere.
It was to a race known for their excellent handiwork.
The forest where the fairies dwelled.
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