Chapter 206
TL/Editor: raei
Status: 5/week mon-fri
Illustrations: none
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The Margrave of Haltramm was in a tight spot.
Tell the story of how he fought the dragon? That much he could do easily.
The problem was that it would be a bald-faced lie!
'What's this? What's his aim?'
If some stupid young knight had made the same request, the margrave would have laughed happily and spun a tale of his exploits.
Young fools lacked the intelligence to discern the margrave's lies!But the wizard before him was entirely different.
His warrior's intuition was screaming a warning.
This wizard Ian was dangerous...
"My heroic deeds? You want to hear them now?"
The Margrave of Haltramm spoke, openly displaying his displeasure.
More accurately, it was closer to anxiety than displeasure.
A young knight would have tucked tail and fled the moment he sensed the margrave's anger.
But his opponent was a wizard.
Arrogant and willful, wizards were special beings who could ignore even the emperor if the situation called for it.
Ian spoke in a gentle voice.
"Your heroic deeds have reached as far as Talian domain, Margrave. I thought I should hear the story of how you defeated the dragon as soon as I met you.
If it's not too presumptuous, I'd love to hear the vivid account directly from you, Margrave."
Ian applied pressure gently.
That was far more terrifying than pushing forcefully.
"I'd like to know about the Margrave's exploits too!"
He had just opened the way for other nobles to chime in.
As soon as Lucy Talian added her piece, Duke Araz and Count Edward simultaneously turned to look at the Margrave of Haltramm.
The margrave broke out in a cold sweat.
He had fallen into a kind of trap.
If he didn't tell the story of his heroic deeds, Count Edward would criticize him for being narrow-minded.
That would be a dreadful situation for the Margrave of Haltramm, who thought of himself as a 'cool guy'.
On the other hand, if he spoke honestly...
He might be caught lying by that wizard with the sharp eyes!
"This is a good opportunity."
Duke Araz egged him on approvingly.
"They don't know about your exploits yet, Margrave. It's a chance to raise your honor."
"..."
The Margrave of Haltramm wanted to sew the duke's mouth shut.
What was that stupid woman doing...!
"Hmph. I bet it's just a mediocre story, that's why."
Count Edward tore into the margrave like a hunting dog.
The Margrave of Haltramm's face turned bright red.
... Because he had been struck right on the mark.
He had never actually fought the dragon!
He had spread false rumors about chasing the fleeing dragon, but that was it!
But the Margrave of Haltramm could never admit that fact, even if it killed him.
The Barbarian Slayer, the valiant guardian of the north... was actually a liar?!
If that was revealed, the Margrave of Haltramm was truly prepared to kill himself.
Naturally, his pride took control of his body.
"A mediocre story? Ha! Are you saying the tale of how I blew off the dragon's jaw while covered in its blood is mediocre, Count?"
"..."
Count Edward made a disgusted face but couldn't bring himself to say anything.
After all, the margrave was known as the one who had inflicted a fatal wound on the dragon.
To face a dragon with a human body?
Of course, that was a tremendous achievement.
But at the same time, Ian's eyes lit up.
The story he had been so eager to hear had just spilled from the margrave's mouth.
"Your Excellency. Please tell us the details of the situation. What weapon did you use to pierce the dragon's jaw?"
"!"
At Ian's sharp question, the Margrave of Haltramm immediately regretted his words from a second ago.
Ah, I shouldn't have let my pride take over...!
But the milk was already spilled.
The Margrave of Haltramm puffed out his chest and declared proudly.
"The famous spear my father used! It's called [Frostwind]!"
"A spear? What kind of spear is it?"
At Ian's question, Duke Araz and Count Edward's gazes moved once again.
"Frostwind? I've never heard of such a spear?"
"Me neither. Did the Haltramm family have such a weapon?"
'Shit...!'
The Margrave of Haltramm sensed things were going slightly awry.
And for good reason - all the previous Margraves of Haltramm had been famous swordsmen.
Why would a family renowned for swordsmanship suddenly have a famous spear?
But Haltramm had no choice but to insist there was a spear in his family.
After all... there was a spear stuck in the dragon's jaw!
"Margrave."
Duke Araz smiled, as if things were going well, and said.
"Many people don't know about Frostwind. Why don't you tell us in detail what kind of weapon it is?"
The Margrave of Haltramm felt like his insides were turning upside down.
'... You stupid sow!'
Why encourage him to say more when they could have just let it slide?!
However, boasting about good weapons was directly linked to a knight's honor.
Duke Araz was providing perfectly normal support!
'Hehe. No need to thank me, Margrave.'
The duke looked at the margrave with a strange smile.
The duke wasn't curious at all about why a family of swordsmen had a famous spear. She had never received combat training.
So she assumed the margrave would immediately start boasting about his weapon!
"...? Margrave?"
But when the margrave unexpectedly buffered, the duke made a slightly puzzled expression.
Why isn't he boasting about his weapon?
But of course, the Margrave of Haltramm couldn't talk about [Frostwind].
What [Famous Spear Frostwind]? Are you an idiot?!
I just made that up on the spot...!
Ian and Count Edward immediately sensed something off about the margrave's suspicious attitude.
A warrior who had spent his whole life fighting hesitating to boast about his weapon?
'This is definitely suspicious.'
Ian's doubts deepened.
He had probed on the off chance...
Maybe this margrave.
Hadn't actually fought the dragon?
That's when it happened.
"Excuse me! Great lords!"
A middle-aged man appeared in the tent.
He was a man in neat robes wearing a necklace made of woven jewels.
The Margrave of Haltramm inwardly rejoiced.
'Bunchi!'
He was none other than the margrave's wizard, Bunchi.
The great earth wizard, Bunchi!
As befitting an excellent wizard, he barged in and naturally drew the nobles' attention while sweeping through the meeting place.
His gait, expression, eye movements, and gaze control.
Not a single part of him failed to capture the public's attention.
Even Ian was impressed.
Though Ian had grown accustomed to wizard behavior, he found it difficult to imitate such natural charisma.
Bunchi winked at the Margrave of Haltramm before approaching Ian.
"?"
"Hahaha! This young lad is just too curious! He's been bothering you great lords too much! Hahaha!"
"Who are you?"
The margrave nearly shed tears of joy.
As soon as he noticed the awkward situation... Bunchi had appeared to save the margrave!
To remove the most troublesome Ian!
'It takes a wizard to catch a wizard!'
"Ho! 'Who are you,' he says! Don't tell me you don't know me, the great wizard Bunchi?"
"? What wizard?"
Ian looked at the man called Bunchi with disbelief.
His attire was neat, and his behavior was fairly eccentric.
Especially his bold demeanor that didn't fear others' gazes was the very embodiment of a wizard.
But...
What kind of lunatic introduces himself as a 'great wizard'?
Even a three-year-old wouldn't fall for such bravad-
"The great wizard Bunchi! You must be an excellent wizard!"
"He must be higher-ranked than Ian!"
"..."
Ian let out a deep sigh as he watched the nobles fall for it so naturally, as if breathing.
Come on, don't just believe everything a wizard says...
Ian thought this Bunchi wizard was definitely not a 'great wizard'.
If there was such an outstanding wizard, Ian would have known.
And all the wizards he had met so far, while arrogant in front of nobles, were all humble before magic.
Wizards had to form relationships with mysteries, so what good would it do to act arrogant towards mysteries?
"Tsk! Day-old puppy!"
"..."
Bunchi clicked his tongue and looked at Ian.
"How dare you introduce yourself as a wizard when you don't even know me, the great wizard Bunchi! You milk-breathed brat!"
Ian was so dumbfounded that he looked at the other nobles' reactions.
The Margrave of Haltramm with a moved expression, Duke Araz and Count Edward with intrigued looks.
Even Lucy, who didn't know what to do...
Not a single noble recognized that Bunchi was spouting blatant lies.
They were all falling for that cheap bravado!
'Is this for real...?'
Ian shook his head.
Damn it all, in this world there was a saying that [The more eccentric a wizard, the more skilled they are!] which circulated as if it were true.
So a madman introducing himself as a 'great wizard'?
Wow... he must be incredibly good at magic! That's what they thought!
'This is bullshit.'
Ian grumbled like that, but there was nothing he could do.
If he got caught up in Bunchi's pace now, he'd end up being pushed around as Bunchi wanted.
He couldn't let this chance to press the Margrave of Haltramm slip away so pathetically.
Ian took a deep, calming breath.
His opponent was no pushover of a wizard, but...
Ian too was a veteran wizard who had been around the block.
He wasn't some greenhorn who would crumble so easily!
"Well. I get that you're a self-proclaimed 'great wizard'. So what?"
"... What did you say?"
The most effective way to deal with wizard behavior was.
To start acting like a wizard yourself.
When Ian started his wizard act, Bunchi couldn't hide his bewilderment.
To dare use the 'whatever' card in front of the [Great wizard Bunchi]!
What an insolent wizard!
Bunchi glanced at the other nobles in slight panic.
This guy is running his mouth as he pleases, surely someone will step in...
"Oh. wizard Ian is quite something too, isn't he?"
"Hah. Such a bold attitude. That kid must be no ordinary wizard either!"
"Ian! Hang in there! Don't lose!"
"..."
But of course.
The nobles had no intention whatsoever of interfering in the wizards' quarrel.
"I've heard of an [Earth wizard Carl], but... Earth wizard Bunchi? You're a nobody."
"N-Nobody?"
"A nobody nobody's ever heard of. That's you, 'Great wizard' (laugh) Bunchi."
"Urgh...!"
As the traditional wizard damage-dealing (verbal attribute) began, even Bunchi, a fellow wizard, found it hard to handle.
"You know Earth wizard Carl?"
"..."
The truth was, he did know him.
The rock-like taciturn Earth wizard Carl.
He was one of the wizards Bunchi respected...!
But his pride wouldn't let him openly answer 'I know him'.
Thanks to that, Ian continued his verbal DPS.
"Carl is an excellent earth wizard, but he's never once boasted about himself."
"...!"
It was a fact.
Actually, Carl not only didn't boast, he barely talked at all.
But he didn't boast, right?
As suspiciously accurate testimony continued, Bunchi had no choice but to believe Ian's words.
"You... know Carl?"
"Yes. He's my friend."
As soon as Ian said he knew Carl, Bunchi started to get a bit nervous.
He had thought this young blue wizard was nothing special, but...
To think he was acquainted with Earth wizard Carl...!
"But you're a 'great wizard', so you must be far superior to Carl, right?"
"W-Well..."
"I should tell Carl about this later~"
When Ian grinned, Bunchi leaned in close and whispered.
'H-Hey. Young friend. Why are you doing this to me! Really?!'
'What do you mean?'
'No! It's an act! An act! When your senior moves first, you juniors should play along!'
Ian let out a laugh of disbelief.
Just like a wizard...
Bunchi was openly admitting he was putting on an act.
But so what?
Ian had no intention of yielding here at all.
'You should already know, senior? I have business with the Margrave of Haltramm.'
'Damn it. Are you serious? The part you're trying to poke at involves a noble's honor...'
Ian cut off Bunchi's words.
'People's lives are at stake too, senior.'
'...'
Bunchi slowly backed away.
He had realized negotiation was impossible.
"Fine! You insolent brat! If you're going to be like that, I have no choice but to show my skills!"
Ian wasn't in a position to back down either.
He was confident in his magic too.
Ian watched to see what kind of magic Bunchi would use.
"[O writhing earth!]"
Bunchi spread his arms and chanted magical language.
The nobles watched in admiration, appreciating the wizard's skill.
Rumble rumble...!
"Wh-What tremendous vibrations...!"
"What is this? What kind of magic is this!"
The vibrations grew stronger and stronger, soon becoming impossible to stand.
The nobles sat down in confusion.
It wasn't just the nobles who sat down.
The knights and soldiers, and even the pitched tents began to collapse one after another!
"B-Bunchi!"
Even the Margrave of Haltramm shouted in panic.
"You! What kind of magic are you...!"
That's when it happened.
BOOM!
Less than 50 meters away, a massive explosion occurred as if the ground was being turned inside out!
[I'll kill you! I'll tear you all to pieces and kill you! You humans!!!]
A horrifying roar that made Ian's hair stand on end struck his ears.
The murderous intent was so sharp it made his fingertips tremble.
Ian immediately shouted at Bunchi.
"Bunchi! What is that!"
"I-I don't know either!"
"???"
At this absurdly unexpected answer, Ian was momentarily at a loss for words.
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