Became a Medieval Fantasy Wizard

Chapter 229

TL/Editor: raei

Status: 5/week mon-fri

Illustrations: none

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Baron Mud's capture by Lord Fin was purely coincidental.

Born as Count Dufel's illegitimate son, Baron Mud had never known the glory of nobility and instead wandered as a vagabond.

All he'd learned was petty theft, robbery, and grave robbing.

Needing to survive day by day, Baron Mud picked up various skills from veteran thieves.

Eventually, realizing grave robbing was his forte, Baron Mud decided to specialize in it.

While robbing graves as usual, Baron Mud found something unexpected.

"What's this?"

Being an elite thief who could read and write, Baron Mud carefully read the text on the item.

"Treasure? Northern people's treasure?"

It was none other than... a treasure map.

It contained a brief history about the northern people and the House of Dufel.

Though it seemed like digging might yield interesting items...

"Better sell it."

Baron Mud decided to sell the treasure map without much thought.

He figured it wasn't worth wasting time chasing after treasures that might not even exist.

Fortunately, some rich sucker bought Baron Mud's treasure map.

"Wow...! So this map shows where the northern people's treasure is hidden?"

"Hehe. Of course it does!"

Having pocketed the money, that should have been the end of it.

Baron Mud was ready to move on.

Planning to forget about it completely and move on to his next job...

"Found you, bastard!"

"What the?"

Out of nowhere, thugs appeared and kidnapped Baron Mud.

When he came to, he was in Heltingen's lord's manor.

"You! Where did you hide the treasure map?"

"Treasure map...?"

"The one you stole from the grave!"

The man standing before Baron Mud was Lord Fin, the temporary master of Heltingen.

Lord Fin had just finished his cute and precious son-like act of secretly peeking at his dead father's will.

Startled, Lord Fin had ordered an immediate investigation into what this "treasure" his father mentioned was.

And the investigation revealed that Baron Mud, that worthless bastard who deserved to be boiled alive, had stolen and sold the only treasure map...!

Lord Fin was dumbfounded.

What would happen when the will was announced?

What about his title as count?

Was he supposed to watch some random schmuck declare "I found the treasure, so I'm the next Count Dufel!"?

Though such a claim would never be accepted, Lord Fin was still anxious.

Heltingen was a city. That meant many people had vested interests in it.

Medieval cities desperately wanted independence from their lords, while lords wanted to keep their grip on these golden geese.

Therefore, Lord Fin needed a succession that was beyond any doubt.

Even the possibility of someone finding fault with it was intolerable.

"My lord! What are you doing?"

"...Go back to the priest's quarters."

Count Dufel's elderly priest tried to protect Baron Mud.

The priest had helped write the deceased Count Dufel's will. Naturally, he knew its contents and that Baron Mud could potentially become the next Count Dufel.

"My lord, everyone in the city knows that Arc is the late count's illegitimate son."

"So what?"

"With succession so close at hand, what will the citizens think if they see you killing your half-brother?"

"..."

Unlike the countryside, cities had strong civilian power.

Unlike rural domains where lords wielded absolute power, noble families in cities had to consider public opinion. Such large communities were difficult for one person to control completely.

"As a priest of Heaven's Faith, I cannot stand by while you kill a brother who has no right to succession."

"No right to succession?"

"Of course not. Unless... perhaps you're not confident about becoming count?"

Lord Fin was furious at the priest's impudent words.

This bastard who knew the will's contents had some nerve!

Though Lord Fin also knew the contents, he had to pretend he didn't.

"I don't know what you're talking about! I'm simply executing this shameless thief who robbed our ancestors' graves according to the law!"

"Then delay the execution until the will is announced."

The priest wanted Lord Fin to prove he wasn't trying to kill his brother, but a criminal.

Lord Fin showed his determination by imprisoning Baron Mud.

While reassuring the priest this way...

He secretly plotted to replace Count Dufel's priest with Father Berum and make some slight adjustments to the will.

"What a mess this is."

Baron Mud sighed deeply.

Though he was Count Dufel's illegitimate son, he'd never received any support from the count.

Just the blood of nobility in name only.

He'd lived his whole life as a petty thief and grave robber...

And now they were treating him like some bastard after the count's title?

Baron Mud tried everything to escape the tower, but it was useless.

Underground would've been different, but trapped up high like this, he had no options.

That's when it happened.

"Up we go."

"What?"

Beyond the tower window... a person appeared.

Baron Mud's eyes went wide.

What the... Wasn't this the top of a high tower?

"No iron bars here. Nice. I guess if you get depressed you can just jump to your death?"

"...An angel?"

Baron Mud immediately had religious thoughts upon seeing the young man.

Could this person be an angel sent by heaven to save him?!

But soon after recognizing the young man's face, Baron Mud could only be shocked.

"Y-y-you...!"

"Long time no see, 'Baron Mud'. Or well, is this actually our first proper meeting?"

It was him.

The wizard he'd met at the Barony of Talian's graveyard!

"Ian Eredith Raven!"

"Oh. You know my name well?"

As his literacy showed, Baron Mud was surprisingly intellectual for a thief.

And information gathering was essential for thieves!

After being chased away by Ian, Baron Mud had investigated and memorized information about Wizard Ian.

...So he could run away properly if they ever met again.

"H-how did you get up here?!"

So shocked, Baron Mud asked that first.

Ian replied as if it was obvious.

"I used magic."

"...Magic?"

"What did you expect from a wizard? Don't tell me you thought I used climbing gloves?"

Honestly... he had.

Baron Mud had kind of hoped Ian had used some amazing invention to climb the tower.

Then he might've been able to borrow it...!

"What's a wizard doing here?"

Though his tone was calm, Baron Mud couldn't suppress his rising hopes.

Whether by magic or whatever, the wizard had visited the tower secretly.

That alone deserved bonus points in his mind.

"I have a few questions."

Baron Mud was slightly dumbfounded.

He climbed all the way up this high tower just to ask questions?

But he quickly shook his head.

His opponent was a wizard. Common sense didn't apply...!

"Have a seat! I'd offer you proper hospitality, but I've got nothing here. Hahaha!"

Baron Mud laughed happily as he offered Ian a seat.

Of course, it was just bravado.

I don't know why he's here, but I must get his help...!

To Baron Mud, Ian was his only lifeline.

A lifeline he'd surely die without!

"You must be doing alright if you can joke around. Confident you can escape?"

Ian said mockingly.

Ian had no reason to be kind to him.

Hadn't Baron Mud fought Ian to the death before?

"...Come now, friend. The past is the past. Shall we make peace?"

Peace my ass.

Ian scoffed. He was just here to ask questions. He'd calmly decide what to do next based on what information Baron Mud provided.

The choice was Ian's anyway.

"If you want to make peace with me, you'll need to explain things very well."

"O-of course!"

"Good. Baron Mud. Let's talk about House Dufel's lost 'treasure', shall we?"

Baron Mud's eyes lit up.

Both Lord Fin and this young wizard had great interest in House Dufel's treasure.

That was Baron Mud's chance for survival.

Stuttering, Baron Mud shared everything he knew.

"Do you... know that the imperial people originally came from the north?"

"Yes, I know."

Baron Mud nodded.

Most ignorant Holy Empire people didn't know, but the imperial people's roots were in the north.

"When our ancestors came down from the north to the empire, they brought some northern treasures with them. House Dufel's treasure is one of those."

"Northern treasure?"

The ancient northern people had brought these items when they moved to the empire.

"It was lost several generations ago, now only passed down in records."

"Do you know anything about it?"

"...I heard a few things from my 'father' when I was young. House Dufel's treasure is a [Holy Painting]."

"Holy Painting?"

Ian first thought of Heaven's Faith religious paintings but shook his head.

If northerners brought it, it must be northern religious art, right?

Ian had been to the north.

Worship of Hrundal, the Ice God, was common there.

"Do you know about the pagan goddess 'Hrundal'?"

"Very well. She's the goddess northern shamans worship."

"...Is there anything you don't know?"

Baron Mud was freshly surprised by Ian's knowledge.

Knowing about imperial roots and pagan goddesses...

Wizards really were knowledgeable.

"Father said it was a painting the goddess herself drew and bestowed. Just looking at it fills you with courage to face any enemy, only men can see it, and women who look at it die on the spot."

It did sound like something an ancient barbarian tribe would receive.

Group buff effect + only men can look, women die if they see it?

"This smells like magic."

Hearing Baron Mud's explanation, Ian grew curious about House Dufel's treasure.

First, the part about Hrundal personally drawing and bestowing it was interesting.

An item drawn and given by a goddess who enjoyed painting?

Like Ian's Arcana cards, it wouldn't be strange if it held some magical power.

"Why would she draw such a strange painting?"

Ian tilted his head, remembering Hrundal's cold expression.

She hadn't seemed like someone who'd enjoy making weird items...

Was this just proof that human thinking couldn't understand goddesses?

"Hoho. Ian. Do you want House Dufel's treasure too?"

Baron Mud had no doubt Ian wanted the treasure.

A painting with mysterious powers!

What curious wizard wouldn't want to investigate it?

"Then I, the noble of elegant grave robbing, Baron Mud, am your best choice for finding it!"

"Hmm..."

"By the way, I'm the only one who knows where the treasure map is!"

That wasn't wrong.

After all, Baron Mud was the one who'd sold it...!

He planned to try tracking it down once he escaped.

It wouldn't be easy, but if he failed he could just run away.

"Treasure map?"

"Yes! The one and only map showing where House Dufel's treasure is hidden..."

Ian remembered something and searched his clothes.

He pulled out a well-folded map.

Ian silently unfolded it.

"..."

"..."

Baron Mud and Ian fell silent simultaneously.

Finally, Baron Mud spoke.

"Where... did you get that?"

"Professor Inglan gave it to me."

In Ian's hands was none other than House Dufel's treasure map...!

Inglan had been captured while searching for it.

After defeating Karenne, Inglan had given it to Ian!

Ian felt strange remembering Inglan's bright smile.

Professor, so you can actually find useful things sometimes...?

"That old geezer's still obsessed with treasure hunting?!"

"You're talking a lot for someone who made money off that treasure hunting."

---

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