Became a Medieval Fantasy Wizard

TL/Editor: raei

Status: 5/week mon-fri

Illustrations: none

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Ian leisurely enjoyed the festival.

'Plenty to see here.'

This medieval fantasy world lacked entertainment, so when people got a chance to have fun, they tended to make the most of it.

Everyone came out determined to enjoy themselves, so naturally smiles bloomed everywhere.

"Ah! Ian! Come dance!"

"? But this is a partner dance..."

Being with Elia, a famous insider, and Kira who was cosplaying as one, Ian got dragged into every event they passed.

And regardless of the event type, neither woman wanted to let go of Ian.

"Wow... what's with that guy?"

"Dancing a duet with three people..."

"So envious... no, what a lustful bastard!"

Ian heard people whispering around them.

Though Ian wondered 'Is this really okay?', neither Kira nor Elia's expressions changed.

Since they were dancing so shamelessly, Ian couldn't really say anything.

'Ah, whatever.'

Ian put on his own shameless face.

From today, I'm a harem protagonist...

Ian set aside thoughts of future consequences and enjoyed the festival with the two female students.

"Ladies! Want to try the ball tossing game! There are prizes for winners!"

A jester performing on the street called out to Ian's group.

It was a juggling game where you toss and catch multiple balls.

"Oh, I'm too clumsy for that~ Ian, want to try?"

"I'm not good at such things. Kira's good at this stuff, right?"

"?"

When Ian looked at her, Kira burst out laughing.

"That's too simple, I don't bother with stuff like that."

'What's this about...?'

Elia stared at Kira in disbelief for a moment.

A wizard, and a female wizard at that, being good at juggling games...?

Kira stood next to the jester and started tossing and catching five balls simultaneously.

The red and blue balls traced an arc that looked just like a rainbow.

"Oho!"

"What a master!"

Elia's jaw dropped while the jester clapped in amazement.

"My~ you're quite skilled! You could join our performance troupe right now..."

Though the jester meant it as high praise.

To Elia's ears, it was a grating compliment.

Jesters were among the lowest of the low in the Holy Empire.

Since their job was selling laughter to others, they avoided conflict with people and were seen as easy targets - hence they were often subjected to various forms of violence.

Bluntly put, you had to know how to laugh and joke even when someone slapped you to succeed as a jester (modern internet streamers also earn money while taking $1 insults).

Though Elia disliked Kira, she acknowledged her magical abilities.

Yet here he was suggesting such a talented wizard become a jester?

Moreover, female jesters often combined dancing and music with... prostitution.

Not something to say to a woman attending Imperial University.

Elia crossed her arms and approached the jester.

"This person is a student at Imperial University~ With all her studies, she won't have time for jester work~"

"Ah, r-right... haha!"

"And please don't make such suggestions to ladies? If she were less easygoing, you might have been in trouble."

"I-I'm... sorry..."

"If you want to perform at the next festival too~ you should watch your mouth, right?"

Elia turned to Kira with a sweet smile.

Though she disliked Kira, she'd stood up for her honor...

"I'm so sorry, miss! Really! I spoke above my station like a fool!"

"N-no, it's fine, mister! Please lift your head!"

"No! I deserve death! A mere jester not knowing my place!"

"Really... it's okay..."

'?'

But Kira's expression wasn't bright.

Even her practiced facade cracked as she visibly fumbled for words.

Kira was clearly uncomfortable.

That's when it happened.

Ian tapped Elia's shoulder.

"Ian?"

"Your Highness, I think you view jesters too negatively."

At Ian's sudden words, Elia flustered replied:

"Ian. Being called 'jester-like' is an insult to nobles."

"But Kira isn't noble. Perhaps you judged it as an insult because you're judging based on your own values?"

"...Ah."

Elia covered her mouth.

Ian's words hit the mark.

She had judged 'jester-like' as an insult because she came from a noble family.

But from a different perspective, 'jester-like' might not be insulting at all.

"When it comes to wielding magic, flexible thinking is extremely important."

Ian explained calmly while meeting Elia's eyes.

Strangely, Elia found she couldn't look away from Ian's gaze.

"If Your Highness tries to invoke water magic by saying [O you who surge like waves crossing the ocean] to the mystery of rivers, will the river mystery take it as praise? Or as an insult?"

"I... I..."

Elia couldn't answer.

How could she know whether the river mystery would like or dislike being compared to the ocean?

"I'm not sure..."

"That's the correct answer."

"?"

Ian explained with a smile.

"No one can know if the river mystery will like ocean metaphors. A mystery friendly with the ocean might like it, while one that hates the ocean would dislike it."

"Then..."

"Yes. So we need to communicate first."

Elia nodded as if entranced.

"Communication..."

Then Ian's expression hardened slightly as he continued:

"When communicating with others, it's very dangerous to judge based on your own standards. What's obvious to me might not be to others, and vice versa - this happens all too often."

"..."

"With humans, a misunderstanding just ends in an argument. But if you miscommunicate with a mystery, who knows what terrible consequences might follow."

Communication was the foundation of all magic.

Understanding others' hearts and creating words that could move them.

That was magic.

"So. Before scolding the jester, maybe try discussing with Kira first?"

"Ian...!"

The surroundings had grown suspiciously quiet.

Belatedly, Ian noticed all the spectators had transformed into magic students intently listening to his lecture(?).

Suddenly Ian felt an inexplicable embarrassment...

Giving a magic lecture during the festival? Are you crazy?

"Bravo~! What an excellent lecture, Master Wizard!"

"No, that's not..."

"Though I don't get the complicated stuff! That last part about considering others' perspectives! Even an ignorant guy like me understands that! Truly magnificent!"

The jester started clapping enthusiastically.

Ian panicked.

No, if you start clapping then-

Before Ian could stop them, both Elia and Kira started clapping too.

Soon all the spectators were showering Ian with thunderous applause!

"That was amazing! Professor Ian!"

"Our professor is so cute~! And handsome~!"

Ian was dumbfounded.

Just you wait until class, you lot cheering so excitedly...!

"Come on, it's the festival! Stop studying and go have fun!"

"Wow~ Professor is so grumpy~"

"As expected of an excellent wizard!"

"..."

Squeal squeal.

Ian despaired, realizing he had no power to drive away that crowd of squealing female students...

Elia bowed politely to Ian.

"I learned something important. Thank you, Ian."

"...Please stop, Your Highness. Really."

She wasn't just being polite.

Elia had truly gained great insight from Ian's teaching.

Though she was the daughter of an Imperial Duke's family and an Imperial Princess... that only made her powerful among humans.

Before the vastness of nature and the great mysteries dwelling within, humans were small and insignificant beings.

Ian had just corrected a potentially fatal mistake she might have made someday.

Kira too gazed at Ian with misty eyes.

'Ian...'

Ian knew her past.

He knew what kind of person her father was, and how she became a wizard.

The reason Ian defended that nameless jester...

Must have been for Kira's sake.

Ian was truly a good person.

So kind that.

She couldn't help but like him.

That kind of person.

Kira playfully bumped Ian.

"You're so cool, Ian!"

"?"

Kira managed her usual cool wizard act.

But she couldn't stop the back of her neck from turning red.

"Kira. Your face looks kind of red..."

"Since I'm embarrassed, could you not point it out?"

When Kira smiled with her flushed face.

Ian burst out laughing too.

"Alright. Got it."

"..."

Elia silently watched the two of them.

'As expected... that woman...'

Even she could see how well Ian and Kira matched.

Meanwhile, Elia had only racked up failures.

At this rate she might even start feeling defeated.

'Should I proceed as planned...!'

If Elia had completely captured Ian's attention, the operation wouldn't be necessary.

But given how things were going, she needed Pals' help.

Elia's decisive moment would come in the evening.

#

"Ugh..."

Ian collapsed onto a bench, totally drained.

He was exhausted from dealing with people all day.

Being between Elia and Kira was tiring enough, but since they were both school idol-level popular students, he'd run into all sorts of people.

For an INFP like Ian, it had been an incredibly harsh outing.

How did these popular types do this every day? Scary bastards...!

'They said they'd stop by the dorms first.'

He needed to rest while he could.

Ian started seriously zoning out, recharging his loner energy.

Unlike those social butterflies, loners needed alone time like this.

"The sunset is beautiful, isn't it?"

"???"

Ian belatedly came to his senses.

A suspicious looking man was sitting right next to him.

He was a middle-aged gentleman with an impressively groomed beard.

"I love this quiet moment at sunset. When the warmest afternoon light turns to the cool hues of dusk, it's as if the sun's death throes echo through the world - how thrilling."

Ian sensed it immediately.

This guy was either a scholar or wizard.

The evidence? That ridiculously flowery word choice...!

"Are you perhaps a wizard?"

"Yes. Pleased to meet you, Crow Wizard Ian, Eredith's disciple."

The middle-aged man greeted Ian.

"You really are black as they say?"

"..."

You fucking racist... he almost said!

Ian sent sudden thanks to his parents for not birthing him with completely black skin.

"Black hair and black eyes. Characteristics of the Isus people who ruled the ancient Golden Empire."

"And you look completely Imperial."

The man stroked his brown hair and laughed.

"First time meeting you, Ian. I'm Demonite, I teach summoning magic at the university."

"...Demonite?"

Ian tilted his head. The name sounded familiar somehow?

"It's also the name of a famous summoner from the Golden Empire era. I chose it out of respect for him."

"Ah. I see."

Taking famous people's names was common in the Holy Empire.

Though using a Golden Empire wizard's name specifically was a bit odd.

"What are you doing here, Demonite?"

"Waiting for the sun to completely set."

Demonite said.

"Since I'm in charge of this [Trial of Fear]."

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