TL/Editor: Raei
Proofreader: Pickhead7
Schedule: 5/week
Illustrations: None.
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A few days after the victory celebration, Sir Diketo and the knights of the Count left the Baron's lands.
"Ian Raven. If you are not too busy, how about coming to our territory and lending us your wisdom?"
Sir Diketo persistently tried to recruit Ian as a new vassal wizard.
The value of a wizard vassal was extremely high.
Though Ian looks like a loafer who only knows how to boast(true), his ability to babble in languages unknown was quite remarkable.
Hadn't he already shown the usefulness of his magical abilities?
If he could expand those abilities under the support of the nobility, he could step into greater heights.
Even a novice wizard has his uses if one knows how to make use of him.
That's why all the nobles Ian has met so far have tried to pull him onto their side.
"I have no such interest."
"...Is that so."
When Ian showed his disinterest, Sir Diketo did not bother him further.
Taking a wizard with them was, in truth, more of a side quest.
The main quest was to return to the Count's lands and support the next Count's ascension.
"Then, this is where we part."
"If fate allows, we shall meet again."
At Ian's words, Sir Diketo grinned.
Fate.
A word wizards like to use, carrying some mystical power.
"It would be nice to meet again in a better place."
"I agree."
---
---
The people cheered at the news of a new Lord taking over the Talian lands.
In fact, this was a seed Ian had planted.
To slander Graham and spread fake news that the land would be ruined if Graham became the Lord turned out to be incredibly effective.
The people, who had been anxious about the possibility of Graham winning, screamed in delight at the news that Lucy Talian had become the new Baron Talian.
"Wow! Baron Talian has won! We farm for another year!"
Though the people didn't care much about who their Lord was, they reacted sharply when their own interests were at stake.
Even in the medieval era, humans were still humans.
"Blessings to our Lord!"
"Long live Baron Talian!"
As Lucy rode by on horseback, the farmers stopped their work and sent up cheers.
Ian had roughly explained the situation to Lucy, but she still smiled broadly and enjoyed it.
"Ah, what am I to do if the people love me this much? Being popular is troublesome too~"
"..."
I wonder if she can still think like this when a rebellion breaks out and the nobles' heads are being hunted.
Ian muttered a curse that wasn't exactly a curse.
The cheers for Lucy were tremendous, but not a single word was directed at Ian.
Black hair and black eyes.
Even the crow perched on his shoulder...
Who would want to talk to a wizard like that!
Especially one who had been spreading ominous rumors that the land would be ruined!
"Ian~ You must have no luck~ Not a single person shouting your name?"
"...F*ck off."
"What? Did you just say 'f*ck off' to the. Bar. On?"
"Shut up. Suddenly I'm pissed off. Should I just curse everyone for real?"
"Calm down, Ian! It was just a joke!"
Even as a Baron, Lucy was still Lucy.
Ian was genuinely worried about Lucy's future.
How was she planning to manage the territory like that?
Well, it wasn't Ian's concern.
"Ah! Ian! It's about time we go!"
"Go?"
At Ian's question, Lucy replied with her characteristic bright smile.
"A gift! I told you I would give you one! We have to go get it!"
It was about the magic sword.
Ian only half-believed Lucy's words.
I mean, even if she said she would give a gift, a family treasure?
Could it be a lie?
But it was true.
Lucy really did prepare for the journey and then set off with Ian to find the hidden family tomb at the edge of the Talian lands.
Before departing, Lucy, who had executed all the instigators of the rebellion, embarked on the journey with light steps.
"Let's go! Ian!"
"..."
Having witnessed an execution by beheading for the first time in his life, Ian felt a bit sick.
Actually seeing a person's head being chopped off...
Considering they had caused a rebellion, the punishment was understandable.
But still, it was cruel.
"Ian. You're going on a trip, right? Then I should come along too, right?"
Belenka sneakily joined the travel party.
With her helmet off and her blond hair flowing, she attracted the gazes of many people.
"It doesn't seem like there will be any danger..."
Still, if Belenka were to accompany them, she could prevent any unforeseen accidents.
Better than not having her at all.
But then, a thought suddenly occurred to him.
"Does accompanying us mean you'll charge for your bodyguard services?"
"Isn't that obvious? It's one silver coin a day."
"..."
It turned out, the reason Belenka was accompanying them was to make money off Ian.
She wasn't some street vendor scamming tourists at a tourist spot.
Was she really trying to sell her services whenever possible?
"Ah. I'm not buying, not buying."
As Ian waved her off, Belenka nodded and mounted her horse.
"Is that so? Then there's nothing I can do."
"You mean you're not selling?"
Then Belenka looked at Ian puzzledly.
"Even if you don't hire me, I have free will. I'm just going to see the Talian Family tomb. Do I need your permission for that?"
"..."
Now that he thought about it, she was right.
Since Lucy had allowed it, there was no issue with Belenka joining.
"If a situation arises where I have to draw my sword, we'll settle the bodyguard fee then."
"You're very thorough. You'd succeed as a freelancer."
"...? I'm already a freelancer?"
---
---
The Talian Family tomb was hidden deep in the mountains.
In name, it was a tomb, but it was more like a history museum or a treasure vault.
This was because all the recently deceased family members were buried in a cemetery close to Talian Hall.
Who would want to carry all sorts of belongings, including corpses, up this rugged mountain just to hold a funeral?
It was a place where one could easily end up mourning for others as well.
Perhaps a family that valued history and tradition might do so.
But the Talian Family traditions weren't quite to that extent.
"...Am I going to be assassinated?"
Ian sweated coldly as he walked precariously along the steep cliff.
Was this Lucy's conspiracy to assassinate me because she doesn't want to give me the treasure?!
...But thinking about it, Lucy was too pure and thoughtless, a nobility with a birdbrain.
It's just that the tomb was located in a damn difficult place.
"This... is a loss to come here for free."
Belenka grumbled from behind.
Ian was dumbfounded.
Who was it again that said they wanted to come and see?
"Lucy! Are we going the right way?"
When Ian shouted, Lucy answered with a voice pure and unashamed.
"Yes!"
Ha, sh*t.
Looks like it.
Ian shut his mouth and hurried along.
He had to if he didn't want to die.
"Caw! Master!"
Then, Oberon flapped his wings and landed on his shoulder.
"What? Why?"
[I looked around! There are humans up there!]
"...?"
Humans?
Ian looked up, but all he saw were rocky mountains.
"Go and take a closer look."
[Okay!]
Oberon flew up high into the sky.
"What's up? Ian?"
"Oberon saw something. He says there are humans up there."
"Humans?"
Lucy tilted her head and nagged her advisors.
"There's only our family tomb up there. Humans? Does anyone know?"
"We're not sure..."
"We don't know."
It was natural for Talian's people not to know.
After all the chaos with the war, who would have the mind to report about people at the tomb?
"Could they be tomb raiders?"
"Tomb raiders?"
It reminded him of Unlucky Tomb Raider Oppert[1] and Lucky Tomb Raider Lara Croft.
Though there was justification for Lara's actions...
There was no excuse for that bastard Oppert, a real f*cker.
What, got nothing better to do than rob graves?
Total as*hole!
"Total bastards!"
"As*holes, indeed."
As Ian and Belenka exchanged words, Lucy's expression soured in real-time.
No descendant would be happy to hear their ancestors' tombs were being robbed.
"We must crush them immediately...!"
Then, Oberon, who had gone to scout, returned.
[Master! There are quite a lot of humans!]
"How many?"
[Huh? Just a lot! As many as flies stuck in honey!]
"Oberon, can't you count?"
[Count? What's that?]
"..."
Incompetent kid.
Ian thought he should take a day to teach Oberon how to count.
Since crows are said to have the intelligence of a young child, he should pick up numbers quickly.
"Belenka. You'll have to go and check."
"Hmm. Okay. But my fee..."
"I'll pay, just go."
"Love the straightforwardness."
Ian sent Belenka to assess the scale of the tomb raiders.
Belenka managed to scout successfully, at least better than the birdbrained Oberon.
"The situation is bad."
Belenka summarized the scouting results.
"There are more than ten guys visible from the outside. Judging by the dozen or so tents set up, it looks like 30-40 people have gathered."
Such a scale wasn't just some thieves who stumbled upon the place.
It was clear they were a group of professional tomb raiders who had obtained information about the treasure beforehand and came to loot.
"Attack! We go and attack!"
Lucy was livid.
While her feelings were understandable, everyone else voted against it.
"It's too disadvantageous. We don't know what kind of preparations they've made. The number of heads we have is fewer, a frontal assault would be suicidal."
"Really? We really can't win? Belenka, you can't beat them either?"
At Lucy's absurd remark, Belenka gave a look of disbelief.
"What do you take me for, a superhero? I'm human. And if I was smart, I wouldn't blatantly attack a location that's practically a fortress."
Despite the repeated discussions, the conclusion was the same.
It was impossible to attack the tomb raiders now.
"Hmm..."
However, one person kept silent.
"Ian...?"
The wizard Ian was the only one lost in thought, chin propped on his hand.
Lucy's group would have cleanly returned home if Ian had shouted, "Nope, can't do it. Let's just give the treasure to the tomb raider bastards and go home to eat!"
But Ian never said "it's impossible."
He was a wizard who had produced miracles several times before.
They quietly waited for the wizard's opinion.
After a moment of silence, Ian spoke.
"There's something worth trying..."
"!"
Belenka and Lucy looked at Ian in disbelief.
Is there really a way here?
Even if Ian was a wizard, it's not like he could shoot mass-destructive laser beams from his hands, right?
Is he thinking of casting some triple Avada Kedavra[2]?!
"What kind of dreadful magic are you planning to use now..."
"Dreadful? What do you think magic is?"
"The magic you used on me was dreadful enough."
"..."
Ah. That water slide.
That was a bit too much.
But that wasn't me; it was the river.
Ian said calmly.
"This is Talian's tomb, right? There must be some suitable legend... I want to try scaring them a bit."
---
[1. raei: no idea about opert here, Lara Croft is from Tomb Raider.]
[2. raei: Harry Potter killing curse/spell!]
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