Became a Medieval Fantasy Wizard

TL/Editor: raei

Status: 5/week mon-fri

Illustrations: none

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Belenka and Salvador quickly completed their dispatched mission.

"We're back."

"Oh, you returned quickly?"

The distance between Imperial University and Duke Hastria's domain was quite far.

Yet there was only one reason they could finish their journey so quickly.

In the Holy Empire, roads built during the Golden Empire era were still going strong.

In fact, with no plans to build new roads, they'd remain active for at least a few hundred more years.

With bad luck, even a thousand years in the future, buses might cruise along while people exclaim 'Wow~ these are roads built by the ancient empire!'

It made you wonder - was the ancient civilization's technology alien-level? For things to work perfectly after thousands of years?

True to post-apocalyptic clichés, Belenka and Salvador quickly traveled along 'suspiciously well-engineered roads built by technologically advanced ancients.'

"How is Duke Hastria doing?"

Elia came along to check the items.

Belenka honestly shared what happened in Duke Hastria's domain.

"He's doing well. And your mother misses you terribly."

"Y-yeah, I figured..."

Elia tried to change the subject.

Elia's mother (aka the Empress) staying in Duke Hastria's domain had thrown a fit when she heard about the black wizard's attack.

She didn't care why the black wizard attacked her daughter - the fact that Elia was attacked was what mattered.

My precious daughter was attacked! We must do something immediately!

But as Ian knew, nothing much happened at the university.

First, sending knights to another noble's domain wasn't simple.

And Elia had taken the initiative to ignore all her mother's messages.

Her reason was ridiculous.

It was obvious her mother would tell her to come home...

She didn't want to leave university so pathetically.

'I want to study!'

She'd finally cleared out the sycophants and resolved to really apply herself. Return home because mom called?

Like many young people with dreams, Elia interpreted her mother's worry as just the older generation's excessive parental love.

So she ignored all the Empress's messages.

Better to ask forgiveness than permission!

She figured she could do what she wanted first, then apologize later!

Elia's trust in the university's wizards and knights played a part too.

No matter how great black wizards were, causing trouble at a university with heightened security was impossible.

So Elia continued her university life like nothing happened...

That's when Belenka and Salvador visited the duchy.

"Was mother... very angry?"

Strictly speaking, Elia didn't need to worry about the Empress's mood.

The Empress was... just the Emperor's wife.

The Holy Empire's Emperor was like a lucky chief elder, mainly mediating conflicts between major nobles.

As proof, the Emperor wandered the empire, personally visiting regions that needed problems solved.

As if being group project leader wasn't enough work.

Having to travel all over the empire made the Emperor's duties quite demanding.

That's why Elia's mother had planted herself in Duke Hastria's domain.

Following the Emperor around would be exhausting!

Indeed, traveling around the empire was incredibly tiring and difficult.

So she chose to just stay at her in-laws(?).

In Duke Hastria's domain, the Empress was just a freeloader.

Though she'd be respected as the Emperor's wife, she couldn't expect more than that.

"She seemed angry. But Duke Hastria paid no attention."

"Ah."

Though her mother's feelings were completely ignored.

Elia felt oddly relieved.

The ruler of Duke Hastria's domain was, naturally, Duke Hastria.

Like other imperial nobles, the lord wielded king-like power in their domain.

Since Duke Hastria forgave Elia, all good! That was her thinking.

'Sorry, mother. I'll be filial after graduation.'

Elia mentally muttered this common youth excuse while accepting the items from Belenka.

They were odds and ends Maronius had used in life.

"The Duke said he's cheering for you."

"..."

Duke Hastria taking Elia's side was largely thanks to Salvador.

The Duke's knights quickly recognized Salvador's identity.

They were deeply moved that a [Sword Master] had come to run Elia's errand.

Though there was zero political intent - just a bored old man going for a walk (though a Sword Master's "walk" was quite something)...

Duke Hastria thought Elia must be working hard at university and readily handed over Maronius's relics.

"Thank you for making such a long journey."

"Ha ha. It was nothing."

Salvador quietly whispered to Ian:

"The south's atmosphere isn't right. There's always been talk of war breaking out, but it's been quiet until now, right?"

"That's true."

"Duke Hastria gave unofficial orders to arm his vassals. The prices of weapons and mercenaries are skyrocketing."

"..."

"Don't know if it's just preparation or intent to participate... but you should know too."

Ian thought he'd done well evacuating(?) to the north in time.

The empire's south was definitely a mess.

Dukes growling at each other to fight, black wizards running wild.

It made Ian want to delay travel plans even more.

But Ian wasn't interested in traveling right now anyway.

The delivery(?) he'd requested from Elia had arrived - time for unboxing!

"Elia. Thank you so much for the items."

"Seeing Ian so happy makes me happy too~"

Ian hugged Maronius's items and ran off to learn new magic.

Belenka, Salvador, and Elia all smiled at the sight.

"Seeing him so happy makes the journey worthwhile."

"Well, Ian is a born wizard."

"I'm glad it seems helpful~"

A young genius wizard preparing for his next leap forward.

They watched Ian's retreating figure with expectant eyes.

#

What is a soul?

Though there are countless discussions about souls, one view dominates:

Memory is the essence of a soul.

This is often expressed in the concept of 'possession'.

Let's say I read a novel and get 'possessed' by a character in that novel.

Naturally, we assume we retain our real-world memories intact when possessing the character.

The collection of memories makes up a person, and this is the soul.

"It's very difficult to converse with a complete soul."

So let's think about it.

If memories make up a person, is someone who's lost part of their memories not human?

If I forget what I ate for dinner yesterday, am I not completely myself?

Is an elderly person with dementia who forgets family names someone without a complete soul?

For ordinary wizards, these aren't questions that need deep consideration.

Just being alive is enough, why think so complicated~

But necromancers are different.

Necromancers are wizards who deal with 'souls', and naturally must often deal with 'incomplete souls'.

Meaning souls that have lost part of their memories.

"Necromancy defines two main components of souls."

"Living souls and dead souls, right?"

"Correct. You've studied hard, Maria."

Maria smiled brightly and slightly bowed her head.

What's this? Does she want to be patted?

Ian carefully patted Maria's head like petting a wild animal, and Maria happily enjoyed his touch.

"Living souls are what the Church of Heaven's Faith calls [Heaven-given souls]."

Since heaven gave humans life, that is the heaven-given soul.

A heaven-given soul is like a doll's skeleton.

'Memories' attach to this skeleton like flesh to form a complete human soul.

"Most souls necromancy deals with are dead souls."

Living souls can't and shouldn't be handled. They're a trigger for priests of the Church of Heaven's Faith.

Let's say Ian handles Maronius's 'soul'.

Since Maronius is from long ago, his heaven-given soul would have already ascended to heaven for judgment.

But Maronius's dead soul is different.

His memories remain in the world in soul form, so they can be revived through necromancy.

And ordinary necromancy couldn't summon Maronius's soul.

Both because he died so long ago.

And because stimulating his soul would be difficult.

But Ian had one skill gifted by Hrundal.

"Status window."

[Skill: Soul's Haven]

A skill that creates optimal conditions for souls, offering them comfort.

Like a well-decorated fish tank, souls come to treat the haven as their home.

The natural flow of memories from their life is a bonus.

If he put Maronius's soul in this soul haven and played back his memories?

Hell yeah. That's a video.

Now that he had objects containing Maronius's memories.

Ian immediately prepared to peek at Maronius's memories.

Hoping to easily get magic hints like last time!

"I'm counting on you, Maria."

"Yes~ Let's begin."

Ian lay down and slowly closed his eyes.

He'd already peeked at soul worlds several times.

All that remained was mining useful inspiration.

[Beginning memory playback.]

[Synchronizing...]

'Maria!'

Ian called Maria before synchronization got too high.

If synchronization got too high, Ian would lose his sense of self.

Since he'd become Maronius's memories instead of Ian's memories, maintaining self-awareness was essential.

[The novice necromancer calls your soul.]

[Remember.]

[You are 'Ian Eredith Raven'.]

'Got it.'

Ian opened his eyes.

Blue sky came into view.

Neatly paved roads and people leisurely walking the streets.

Tall cathedrals and beautiful houses.

'I've arrived.'

Ian had returned to the Golden Empire.

Unlike last time, he maintained clear self-awareness.

'Now, let's see what situation this is.'

Ian prepared to carefully observe Maronius's life.

Just then, a red-haired girl came running from afar.

Liria, Maronius's first and last lover.

"Demius... is it true?"

Ian carefully observed Liria's face.

She seemed slightly older than during the [Black Great Fire], suggesting some time had passed.

"You're leaving Elium?"

Liria's desperate eyes held a deep appeal that could shake one's soul.

Ian almost instinctively shouted 'Surprise~ Just kidding~!'

But that was Ian's thought.

'Demius's' emotions were completely different.

'...?'

Ian was startled by the unfamiliar emotions he felt from Demius.

Demius was feeling... hatred and contempt mixed with disgust toward this cute and lovely girl!

'What's going on?'

Clearly, things had been going well between them until the Black Great Fire? There had been that kind of atmosphere?

But why...?

Demius was about to say 'yes' in a voice dripping with contempt and exhaustion.

But Ian couldn't possibly make such a voice.

Well... because Ian didn't dislike Liria that much!

However, he needed to follow the [main story] for now, so he decided to move according to Demius's feelings.

[You are 'Ian Eredith Raven'.]

Ian is not Demius.

So he moved differently from the [original] Demius.

"Sorry. That's how it is."

"...?"

Though the lines were different, the information conveyed was similar.

Ian quietly waited for the next line.

But.

Liria's eyes glowed red.

"Wh-wh-wh-wh-what..."

"?"

"Wh-what... are... you...?"

Suddenly...

Liria started making strange robotic sounds!

Ian stared at Liria in horror.

[The novice necromancer warns you!]

[The novice necromancer shouts for you to get out of there immediately!]

Messages rapidly appeared before his eyes.

At that moment.

Liria spoke in a chilling voice as her eyes blazed red:

"You. Are. Not. Him."

"..."

Fuck.

Liria kicked off the ground and leaped.

Before Ian could even try to react.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Liria grabbed Ian's head with her bare hands and twisted it 180 degrees.

Since Ian wasn't an owl, his neck snapped and he died instantly.

[You have died.]

[Ending memory playback.]

"..."

Ian slowly opened his eyes.

What the fuck was that just now?