TL/Editor: raei
Status: 5/week mon-fri
Illustrations: none
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Count Dranheim praised Ian until his mouth went dry.
"I swear, you must be the greatest wizard since Maronius!"
Ian let the count's praise go in one ear and out the other.
Having nearly died, the count would say anything.
"A-amazing! Wizard!"
"To subdue a monster with just a word..."The guards could hardly contain their admiration.
Though they served in the domain where Imperial University was located, that didn't mean they got to see magic every day.
Magic was always a wondrous phenomenon.
When a single person used it so easily, they couldn't help but be amazed.
"I'm not impressive, that monster was just weak."
Ian spoke honestly.
The volcano giants were much tougher monsters.
This was just... closer to a minor spirit.
A staff that could turn into a snake! But in the end, it was just a snake.
"Seeing the wizard speak so modestly..."
"Must have been a terrifying enemy!"
"???"
Ian had spoken honestly, but the guards interpreted his words their own way.
Like taking something crystal clear and making it mud clear.
"No, really, it was nothing..."
"Sniff! Must have been so difficult!"
"He's clearly trying to hide his struggles!"
"..."
These crazy people.
Ian stared at the guards in disbelief.
The guards thought Ian was being modest to deliberately hide his hardship.
Well...
Why else would a wizard be modest!
The count and even Elia looked at Ian worriedly.
"You... really struggled, didn't you? Well, understandable."
"Ian. Are you really okay?"
Ian felt slightly exasperated.
Some called it being annoyed, others called it losing patience.
Ian was clearly a wizard, yet he couldn't communicate with ordinary humans!
He must be lacking in learning.
"Actually, I won because I'm fucking strong."
"No need to cover it up. We understand your struggles!"
"That's right! Count! Let Ian rest!"
"Butler! Prepare the best bedroom for Lord Ian right away!"
"..."
Ian gave up on communication.
Damn medieval people. They interpret everything however they want...
Soon Ian was assigned the best room in the castle.
They wanted him to stay the night.
Ian took the snake-staff and went to his room.
#
"Who the hell left that devil's toy of a staff there?"
Count Dranheim grumbled for a while.
Understandable, since his life had briefly hung in the balance.
"Eastern merchants sold it as a precious item, my lord."
The snake staff's homeland was the far-off Sand Empire.
"Be careful, Lord Ian. It's truly a horrible thing."
"Thanks for the concern, but I'll handle it myself."
"Haha! When you say it like that, I'll trust you with it!"
The count handed the staff over to Ian like he never wanted to see it again.
Though he worried slightly about Ian with such a dangerous item...
He believed the great wizard would handle it.
[I'm sorry, Great One! Truly sorry!]
Actually, the one who needed handling wasn't Ian but the snake staff.
'Another way to deal with mysteries.'
Ian fiddled with the snake staff, tapping it against his knee.
Would it break if he knee-kicked it?
Being male, Ian was kind of curious.
Of course, he didn't really plan to break it. He was just intimidating the staff.
'Fear is also one way to handle mysteries.'
Demonite would have threatened the snake staff without a second thought.
That person was quite insane after all.
Ian decided to try Demonite's way of handling mysteries.
[Eek!]
When Ian tapped the staff like he might break it any moment.
The snake staff begged Ian desperately.
[Please spare me! I was wrong! Just let me live! Please!]
"[What did you do wrong?]"
[I-I spoke impudently! I failed to recognize Your Greatness and acted above my station! I'm sorry!]
Ian quickly realized.
This thing was a lesser djinni.
A mystery from the endless desert that could transform into animals, objects, even humans to trouble travelers - a kind of desert spirit.
'Just a minor monster.'
Though interesting, not particularly dangerous.
All it could do was turn into a snake. How dangerous could it be?
"[You know your place.]"
[O-of course! Hehe...]
"[Since you've done well, I'll end you painlessly.]"
Ian grabbed the staff with both hands, pretending he would smash it with his knee.
[W-wait! Spare me! How can you do this?!]
"[My choice.]"
[This crazy...!]
The snake staff was horrified.
Though this black-haired wizard's skills were certainly impressive...
He was a half-insane madman!
[I-I'm a djinni! I have many talents! I can serve you!]
"[Hmm. What exactly can you do?]"
[Yes! My specialty is turning into a snake to steal bird eggs!]
Ian clicked his tongue.
He knew it would be useless but this djinni was truly fucking useless.
Has a talent for stealing bird eggs?
Wow~ so useful? He could have fried eggs every morning!
Ian wasn't desperate enough to think that way.
Why steal bird eggs anyway? Noble houses had eggs everywhere.
"[I'd rather split you for firewood.]"
[I can catch mice too!]
"[Firewood.]"
[When I transform into a staff, I can adjust my length!]
"[Firewood.]"
[I-I can get firewood too! I know how to gather branches!]
"[...]"
These were truly pathetically worthless skills.
[If you spare me! I'll serve as your servant until your dying breath!]
Still, its will to live was impressive.
Ian shrugged.
Since it wanted to live so badly. It seemed fine to let it live.
Though not very useful...
It wasn't a strong mystery either, so he could use it for odd errands without worrying about management.
"[What's your name?]"
[My name is Asu, Great One!]
"[Good. Asu. You're a dangerous mystery who tried to harm people. For my friends' safety, I want to break you into firewood, but...]"
[Please spare me~!]
"[I'll spare your life if you swear never to harm humans without my command and serve as my servant for life.]"
The lesser djinni Asu expressed joy with its whole body as it answered.
[How could I refuse! I'll follow your orders! My master!]
Afraid Ian might change his mind, Asu instantly used transformation.
Into the shape of Ian's traveling staff, Windwalker.
Ian set the upgraded(?) staff next to the trunk.
#
That night.
Asu secretly opened its eyes.
'To humiliate me like this...!'
As Ian guessed, it was a djinni from the endless desert.
Though mysteries, djinn lived close to humans.
Good djinn would speak to humans first, guide lost humans, even invite them to hidden oases they alone knew.
But bad djinn deceived and tormented humans. Even killed them.
By human standards, Asu was a bad djinni.
Sometimes, it played games of killing travelers and stealing their treasures.
Transforming into a staff and waiting for humans, then turning into a snake to kill whoever picked it up.
But...
After transforming into a staff, Asu had briefly fallen asleep.
For about 10 years.
When it came to, it had arrived in far western lands.
'Where is this?!'
Asu wanted to return home.
But opportunities rarely came.
When it got stuck in Count Dranheim's treasure vault, it thought everything was over.
'Met a crazy wizard.'
Though not a master of illusion magic, Ian was an insane wizard.
Ian had instantly subdued Asu and made it his servant.
On the condition of serving until Ian's death!
'...Think I'll do that?'
Asu ground its teeth.
Being kidnapped(?) to a strange place was bad enough.
Now it had to serve a deranged wizard for decades!
'Should I just kill him!'
Asu glared at Ian.
No matter how great a wizard, he was human.
He had to sleep at night, becoming defenseless.
If it struck now, it could put Ian to sleep forever!
But as Asu glared at Ian.
Pure black darkness began gathering around Ian like a dance.
'...Oh.'
Asu gave up on attacking.
Befitting a wizard beloved by mysteries, the mystery of darkness filled Ian's surroundings. Attacking Ian was impossible.
Though the sneak attack was off the table, Asu didn't feel too bad.
Ian was an incredibly powerful wizard anyway!
'Forget revenge. Let's just go home!'
Asu secretly transformed into a snake.
Though it didn't know how long it would take, if it tried hard enough, couldn't it reach its desert homeland?
But right then.
[Hello!]
[Ah, hello...]
[?]
Strange djinn(?) appeared before Asu.
Looking exactly alike, they seemed like twin djinn...
But their aura was no joke.
[I'm Arno!]
[I'm Isil.]
The djinn that appeared before Asu were none other than the mysteries of Anor-lsil.
[Master made a new friend!]
[So we came to say hello...]
'Friend? Friend my ass!'
Until a few hours ago, Asu had been suffering death threats(...).
How could it see Ian as a friend?
But those simple-minded ones firmly believed it was Ian's friend.
[Ah. Yeah. Hi. Bye now!]
[...Isil. I don't think they like us?]
[Maybe they're just shy?]
What dumb western djinn.
Asu let the mysteries of Anor-lsil ramble as they pleased, then tried to slip out the window.
But then.
[Ah! Where are you going!]
[Let's go together~]
Asu looked toward the voices.
And was terrified.
[Holy shit!]
Sharp swords were flying at Asu!
[Going hunting perhaps?]
[Being a snake, might not know what to eat.]
[Great! Killing things is our specialty! We'll help you hunt!]
Arno and Isil excitedly spun through the air.
Clang-
A cut candle rolled on the floor.
Asu blankly stared at the piece of candle...
Seeing Anor-lsil's sharp blades, its manners instantly charged to 100%.
Asu immediately said to the western djinn.
[Wow~ seniors~! Night walks aren't good for health~!]
[Huh? Weren't you trying to leave?]
[Just wanted some fresh air, but I met you seniors~!]
Seeing them instill manners even in an arrogant djinni, Anor-lsil was definitely a ma-gic sword.
When their junior? spoke politely, Arno and Isil were delighted.
Master Ian must have made a good friend!
The two mysteries chatted with Asu all night long.
'...I want to go home!'
Not knowing Asu was internally crying tears of sorrow.
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