Became a Medieval Fantasy Wizard

TL/Editor: raei

Status: 5/week mon-fri

Illustrations: none

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'It's actually working.'

Ian felt strange seeing Maronius's surprisingly cooperative soul.

Though he knew threats could be effective, he hadn't expected them to work on an Archwizard's soul.

'Well. An Archwizard is just a smart human after all.'

Take King Sejong who created Hangul, for example.

Maronius too, though smart, was just human.

'Not even the real him.'

The mystery Ian was dealing with was just memory fragments left on Maronius's possessions.

Since necromancers equate human memories with souls.

Memory=soul, so though they called it [Maronius's soul], it was clearly different from the real person.

This wasn't 100% the real Maronius, but rather something that possessed Maronius's memories.

But according to necromancers' age-old arguments, something possessing memories was indeed their soul.

(By necromancer logic, if a robot had all my memories, it would be 'me'.)

[What do you want.]

"[Nothing in particular.]"

[???]

Maronius's soul stared at Ian like he was crazy.

Like, this crazy bastard.

Breaks into my memory world then says he doesn't want anything.

"[I just wanted to observe Maronius's life up close.]"

[... You summoned me just for that?!]

"[Just? Is research a joke?]"

[...]

Ian spoke soothingly.

A carrot and stick approach.

"[Don't worry, I won't touch Liria. As long as you don't try to drive me out, that is.]"

Maronius's soul sighed.

[I hope you keep your promise.]

Ian tried to rewind and replay the memory from the start.

But before that, a question occurred to him.

"[Why did you attack me though?]"

[???]

"[I mean, are you hiding some great secret? Or did you have some reason to drive away intruders?]"

Maronius's soul answered in disbelief:

[How many humans in this world would like someone peeking into their head?]

Ah. Ian understood.

It was a security program for protecting privacy!

Privacy issues are important.

Especially for famous people like Maronius.

Say they developed technology to look inside the minds of dead historical figures.

Honestly, he'd want to look.

But from the perspective of the person getting their mind exposed, it would really suck.

Especially if those memories were embarrassing moments or things they wanted to hide.

[Do you really need to look at my memories?]

Ian thought about it.

Who are 'you' to ask? You're just a fragment of Maronius's memories, with only partial emotions and thoughts.

But saying that directly would make Maronius's soul uncomfortable, so Ian decided to answer politely.

"[Yes. I'm going to look.]"

[... Fine. Look all you want then get out.]

Seated.

Ian wished he had popcorn as he started the memory playback.

Maronius's soul helped with the screening(?).

Thanks to that, Ian could experience the memories without losing his sense of self, like watching a movie.

"Demius. Is it true? You're leaving Elium?"

"Yes."

Slightly outside the city center.

On a hill overlooking the ancient civilization's world, a young man and woman were talking.

The topic was [breakup].

"...Why?"

Liria opened her eyes wide as if she couldn't understand.

Maronius found her attitude detestable.

Because he thought all her actions were just an act to deceive him.

"[Wait. An act?]"

[Yes! What Liria wanted wasn't me!]

"[Then?]"

[She just panicked because her caretaker was disappearing. Pathetic, stupid woman.]

"[...]"

Ian definitely felt it.

This was completely different from the [Black Great Fire] time.

Then, they were young lovers desperately wanting each other, but.

Now these two were.

No, Maronius couldn't trust Liria.

[Actually, Liria had another man.]

"[Really?]"

[A young officer back from expedition. Mixed blood foreigner like Liria. Made general after achievements in the army.]

"[How did you know?]"

[... I wish I hadn't found out.]

Maronius had seen it.

In a dark alley.

Liria's bright red hair visible from afar, walking alongside a strange foreign officer, bursting into laughter.

Seeing Liria laughing with a strange man, Maronius felt rage, jealousy, and contempt all at once.

Those feelings were directed at Liria but also.

Self-reproach toward his own incompetence.

At this time, Maronius was a poor bathhouse worker.

Not even just a worker.

A [noble-born] worker.

[The Gulistera family ruled a small island far from Elium.]

Maronius's soul explained in a calm voice.

[Father fought with his brothers over succession, lost, and was exiled.]

That's why Maronius's father moved to Elium with his wife and children.

Though they moved, they had no foundation, so Maronius's family had to work whatever jobs they could find.

Except one person. The eldest brother.

[Father wanted to raise my brother as a soldier. With achievements in expeditions, he could gain status in Elium too. Being noble-born, mixing with upper class wouldn't be a problem.]

Maronius's father literally [all-in]ed on the eldest brother.

Betting the family's future.

As a result, the brother grinded at training camp while Maronius had to labor as a worker to pay for his brother's tuition.

[The work was hard but I endured. Once brother graduated, I could marry too.]

Though life was hard laboring to support his brother, surprisingly it wasn't painful.

Because Maronius had Liria by his side.

Liria was Maronius's childhood friend.

A penniless fallen noble found it very difficult to make friends in the imperial capital.

But Maronius happened to find a mixed-blood girl being bullied.

That was Liria.

Maronius continued meeting with Liria for a long time.

They even endured that infamous [Black Great Fire] together.

As time passed and puberty came, Maronius realized.

I'm in love with this woman.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Yes, Liria was indeed Maronius's first love.

But this young man's pure love-

Shattered in a dark back alley.

The very moment he saw Liria walking hand in hand with a strange officer.

"I'm going to war."

"War...?"

Liria shrank back as if she'd heard something terrible.

Maronius wasn't the type to go to war.

He had nothing to do with conquest or advancement. Hadn't he said war was disgusting since he had to earn his brother's tuition?

"I'm going to become a soldier."

"Demius!"

Liria shouted.

"What are you saying! You definitely said! That war was just power struggles between rulers! That earning money by killing people was something to be ashamed of!"

"...Yes. I said that."

"Why? What's your reason?"

Liria raised her voice accusingly.

Maronius didn't want to hear her voice.

Liria... knew nothing.

Why he wanted to go to the battlefield. Why he was angry at her.

How dare she raise her voice when she knew nothing.

Maronius was human too. He knew how to get annoyed and angry.

"What. Did I do something wrong?"

"...What?"

Liria shrank back, hunching her shoulders.

Looking scared at Maronius's sharpened attitude.

Such passive behavior from Liria made Maronius even angrier.

"Whether I leave or not, what's it to you."

"De-Demius. That's not... I mean..."

"Whatever I do, it's my business right? Huh? Do I need your permission for everything!"

"Th-that's not what I'm saying!"

Maronius's voice rose.

In his agitation, Maronius blurted out words he shouldn't have.

No.

Words he shouldn't say, but wanted to say even more because of that.

Because Maronius wanted Liria's true feelings.

"You! You go around playing with army officers without saying a word to me!"

"...!"

Liria's eyes went wide as she covered her mouth with her hand.

Shocked expression. Trembling hands. Tears slowly welling up...

Seeing Liria's weakened expression.

Maronius felt intense [pleasure].

Yes. So you do have some conscience.

How does it feel getting caught cheating on your 'boyfriend'?

But just being surprised wasn't enough.

Maronius wanted Liria to suffer more.

As intensely as all the pain and wounds he had received combined.

"What... are you talking about?"

"Amazing you can still play innocent. Really amazing, Liria."

Maronius said with a crooked sneer.

"I saw everything. You and that officer together in the alley."

Tears streamed down Liria's face.

She was... crying.

"No. Demius. That's not..."

"Oh? What's not?"

"That person is... just. Just a friend..."

"Ah. Just a friend?"

Maronius found even Liria's tears detestable.

Why do women start crying as soon as they're at a disadvantage?

As if crying would solve everything?

"Drinking late at night, walking hand in hand, just the two of you... such good 'friends'..."

Maronius said with a laugh.

"With such good friends, I bet you also kiss and fu-"

Slap!

Maronius's head turned.

A stinging pain.

Liria trembled like she was the one who'd been hit, even though she'd just slapped Maronius's cheek.

"B-b-bad... Demius. Don't say... bad things...!"

But Maronius didn't back down.

Instead, Maronius raised his voice.

"You! You made me say bad things! Liria!"

"What are you talking about!"

"You know how hard I work? Working late every night to make my brother an officer! But what are you doing?"

"..."

"Have you ever helped me with anything? No! Nothing! But that's fine. I don't expect anything from you anyway!"

"..."

"Then at least! Couldn't you not go drinking late with strange men? Do you enjoy tormenting me that much? Does it make you happy seeing me worried! Liria!"

"..."

A deathly silence fell.

Both Liria and Maronius.

It was too heavy a silence for young, inexperienced lovers to bear.

Liria cried endlessly, and Maronius was sick of everything.

Just what was Liria thinking?

What thoughts made her meet the officer, what feelings made her talk with Maronius?

It was unknowable.

Of course it had to be.

Even using the same language. Even being in the same space.

People can never fully understand other people.

Since humans started using language, they often fall into the illusion that they can [communicate] with others.

But perfect communication doesn't exist.

Because language is imperfect.

And imperfect language can't fully contain human hearts.

[Ending memory playback.]

Maronius's memory fragment ended there.

"[Teacher. Where do I pay for the full version?]"

[... I don't understand your nonsense. If you've seen enough, get out.]

At the polite dismissal, Ian returned to the original world.