Became a Medieval Fantasy Wizard

Chapter 245

TL/Editor: raei

Status: 5/week mon-fri

Illustrations: none

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The Imperial Academy swarming with noble children!

...He'd thought that was just another overused web novel cliché.

But the Imperial University in Dranheim was exactly that kind of place.

'Nobles everywhere.'

The open lecture hall was filled with noble children from all over the Empire.

"I see."

Whenever a noble young lord or lady caught her eye, Elia introduced them one by one to Ian.

Naturally, Ian couldn't properly remember a single one.

He had neither interest nor the leisure to memorize all these names flying past him.

'Well, there really are a lot of nobles...'

Ian's eyes glinted.

'...And she doesn't introduce anyone who isn't noble.'

He'd noticed this fact by chance.

Elia only introduced children from noble families to Ian.

Perhaps that was natural for her as she had the incredible background of being an "Imperial Princess."

But Ian felt an inexplicably strange sensation.

'Elia seems to be actively blocking commoners from approaching.'

It might have been Ian's imagination.

But looking at just the facts, Ian's guess was reasonable.

With the Imperial Princess sticking close to Ian's side, only noble types were gathering around him.

Though commoner students seemed to want to approach Ian too, the Princess and nobles surrounding him had created a sort of commoner barrier.

"You're Eredith's disciple?! I'm so pleased to meet you!"

"If you ever pass through Baron Dian's domain, please visit our mansion. Our territory is famous for truffles as a specialty. We'll serve you an unforgettable meal."

Hahaha hohoho~

Though it was an open lecture hall, only wizards attended magic department classes.

The noble faction students clustered around Elia were clearly the popular crowd in the classroom.

Conversely, the students sitting gloomily in corners poring over books were almost all commoners.

'They look like good students.'

Ian caught himself immediately after thinking that.

Saying someone "looks like a good student" wasn't exactly a compliment?

Actually, Ian was more interested in the outcast loner students in the corners than the noble faction students.

He really thought they would study better than the nobles.

The Imperial Princess Elia and noble faction students!

They might look glamorous, but would they seriously study magic?

They'd probably just learn a few Maronius words and whenever they found magic-related documents somewhere they'd go "Oh my~ That's Maronius language~ I learned it in university~" and that would be it.

In short, they lacked motivation!

It wasn't like Ian's career goal was to become some political bigshot wizard.

What was the point of getting close to princesses and nobles?

Moreover, as Elia herself said, she wasn't even a woman who could freely wield her family's power.

She was just a young lady born into a good family who happened to have many high-ranking relatives.

Ian had no need to cling to nobles.

If he needed noble power, he could get Lucy's help from Talian.

He could even get something from Baron Mud if he hadn't quit being count yet.

"...Um, Ian."

When Ian looked at the loner students in the corner.

Elia gently grasped Ian's hand.

Feeling the sudden soft touch, Ian was slightly startled.

What was this Western lack of personal space!

Sure enough, Westerners really did grab hands without hesitation!

"We've been talking amongst ourselves too much. I want to hear about you too."

"About me?"

"Yes. Are you married?"

What kind of university students talk about marriage.

Ian scratched his head as he thought that, but remembered this was a medieval fantasy world.

This was the kind of world where people casually asked if you were married.

"No, I'm not."

"Hehe. That's good news~"

"?"

Ian didn't know, but stories of people meeting at university and ending up married were quite common.

That was natural when you had eligible men and women in the same space.

"When you have free time later, I'll set up dinner appointments with some young ladies."

"? Why?"

"Why else? Wouldn't it be nice to get close while we're in school~?"

Ian stared blankly at Elia in disbelief.

Was this that university blind dating thing or whatever?

Ian witnessed the dark side of Imperial University and couldn't hide his dejected feelings.

Look at these degenerate university students!

Not doing their studying!

Just spending their noble parents' money going around on dates!

Is this what a fucking university student should be?! More like a lucky jobless person!

'...But it might not be bad?'

Ian had never experienced group blind dating in his previous life.

Though it felt absurd to have dinner dates set up at a medieval university after reincarnating.

Still, maybe he could make some kind of... memories?

"Then let's have lunch in town with me this weekend~"

Elia arbitrarily adjusted Ian's weekend schedule.

Just then, the morning's professor appeared.

It was Eredith.

"Good morning everyone. Have you been studying hard?"

"Yes, professor!"

As soon as Ian heard Eredith's voice, old memories came flooding back.

In that gentle voice, his master had told him so many things-

"Ian! You came to class!"

"Of course, Master."

As soon as Ian and Eredith exchanged just one line.

Surprise began rising on the faces of the university students in the lecture hall.

'Wow. He really is Professor Eredith's disciple?'

'Remember she said she was away for 10 years? He's the disciple she trained then!'

'Then, is he also really sca-'

Though they'd heard rumors about Eredith's disciple coming to study.

Seeing it with their own eyes was different.

He felt a heated gaze from beside him - Elia was staring at Ian with sparkling eyes.

Just as it started feeling burdensome, Eredith called Ian.

"Come forward, Ian."

"?"

Though he didn't understand why, Ian moved as Eredith directed.

Ian and Eredith sat side by side looking down at the students.

Dozens of eyes staring at him.

Ian suddenly realized.

He was different from ordinary students just passively following others' classes.

Because he was already a proper wizard.

"Today's class will be replaced with a Q&A with Ian. Is that alright with everyone?"

"Yes, professor!"

Given Imperial University lectures' characteristic of not having strictly structured educational curricula, professors could freely modify each day's lecture like this.

"Ian. What do you think is the most basic talent needed by a wizard?"

"Hmm. If we're talking about using magic itself, it would be affinity."

The lecture proceeded with Eredith asking questions and Ian answering.

The magic department students couldn't take their eyes off the dialogue between the two wizards.

They were pioneers who had already reached the level these students aspired to.

Ian felt intense stares coming from some quiet students.

'These are students who really want to become wizards.'

This medieval fantasy world was clearly a class-based society.

Nobles lived in overwhelmingly better conditions than commoners, who spent their lives laboring until dying early from illness.

Most would accept their given fate. But some would reject destiny and strive to forge a new life.

Such were the commoners studying magic.

If they became wizards, they could live displaying their abilities without being bound by their birth status.

...Ian wanted to give them an even more valuable lesson.

Though Ian too had been destined to live and die as a serf's son, everything changed when he met Eredith.

"Magic's structure is simple. You understand mysteries, build trust and friendship while trying to understand their hearts."

"Ian?"

Ian stood up and spoke magical words.

"[Darkness, show yourself.]"

As soon as Ian finished his chant, deep darkness gathered at his feet.

"...!"

"R-Real magic!"

Some students shouted in shock.

Though this was the magic department, chances to see real magic were surprisingly rare.

Handling mysteries was burdensome even for skilled wizards.

Generally wizards were reluctant to summon mysteries just for lectures to show students.

What if the summoned mystery got annoyed and acted up, causing someone to get hurt?

Especially in the magic department crawling with nobles!

But Ian summoned the mystery of darkness so naturally.

Eredith marveled for a different reason.

'Summoning darkness in the morning. I knew Ian had talent for dark magic, but to think it was this level...!'

Since magic fundamentally borrowed the power of mysteries, actions that went against a mystery's nature were very difficult to achieve.

Like lighting flames underwater, calling darkness in daylight, or making ice in summer.

But wizards who had long studied mysteries and understood their nature could make the impossible possible.

Ian succeeded in summoning deep darkness just as the sun was rising.

[Ian! We're here!]

[It's too bright to stay long! So hurry! What can we help with?]

"..."

Ian felt slightly embarrassed.

Would the darkness mystery get mad if he said he just called them because he was bored?

"[I called you because I wanted to see you.]"

[That's all?]

[What a relief~! If it's nothing urgent, we'll be going!]

Thanks to their deep friendship, the darkness mystery didn't get angry.

They were generously forgiving him just this once.

Ian and the darkness mystery's relationship had developed to this level.

As the darkness dispersed, the students let out their held breaths all at once.

"That was seriously spine-tingling!"

"Magic... is amazing!"

Eredith too gave unstinting praise for Ian's magic.

As an excellent wizard herself, she couldn't fail to understand what Ian had just demonstrated.

He summoned mysteries for no reason but to show off their friendship!

Yet there wasn't a hint of bad feeling between them.

"Ian. You've grown wonderfully while traveling."

"Thank you, Master."

Eredith habitually reached out to pat Ian's head but stopped.

Her disciple had grown too tall to pat now.

So Eredith just smiled instead.

"Thanks for helping with class. Let's have lunch together!"

#

Word of Ian's magic spread like wildfire.

"The new wizard...!"

"Really? He summoned darkness in broad daylight?!"

"Just with an incantation, no magic circle!"

"Wow...! So cool!"

Though only at university level, they too were scholars who had at least dipped their toes into magic.

The student wizards clearly saw how high Ian's magic level was.

To them who hadn't even finished learning Maronius language, it truly seemed like a dream-like realm.

'Magic that reverses day and night.'

The chatty students spread rumors about Ian's magic everywhere.

"Ian!"

As soon as Ian finished lunch with Eredith, Elia approached with a bright smile.

Ian almost got goosebumps.

Wait, I just finished eating. How did she know I'd appear here?!

"Next is theology class! Let's go together!"

Elia boldly closed the distance with Ian.

The personal space was much closer than in the morning.

If she raised her hand high, their hands would brush.

Sure enough, Western sense of personal space! Very close!

...But Elia's attitude seemed too flirtatious for that.

The Imperial Princess kept sticking close. Was this a green light?

If this was his previous life, Ian might have suspected she was a con artist trying to harvest his organs.

But there couldn't be organ trafficking rings in medieval times...

"...Dranheim Monastery was always bustling with monks who came to pursue knowledge. Though it's been absorbed into the university grounds now, traces of that time remain..."

Elia, who had been chattering away, suddenly fell silent.

The sound of students talking cheerfully could be heard from afar.

"Elia?"

Ian turned his head toward where Elia was looking.

And started.

Elia's expression was completely different from when she looked at Ian.

Eyes tensed, lips tightly pursed.

But she instantly returned to her usual expression and stepped forward.

"We meet again, daughter of Laventa, Kira."

A red-haired female student looked at Elia.

Flying red hair. A vibrant smile.

A beautiful student followed by many other female students-

It was Kira Laventa.

"Ah! Good morning Lady Hastria-"

Just then, Kira's eyes went wide.

She had belatedly noticed Ian.

"Ian!"

Kira immediately ran to Ian and hugged him.

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