Became a Medieval Fantasy Wizard

Chapter 198

TL/Editor: raei

Status: 5/week mon-fri

Illustrations: none

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As Mani and Ian headed towards the wheat field, a crowd of onlookers followed them like a cloud.

A wizard's magic was always a spectacle, no matter where it was performed.

And if it was the magic of a famous wizard, even more so!

"To think Lord Ian himself will use magic...!"

"I wonder how amazing it will be!"

While the people of Talian were simply filled with ordinary excitement, Ian found the situation quite burdensome.

'Please don't expect too much...!'

Plant magic was new to Ian as well.

Moreover, plant magic was famous for being a skill that only those born with special talents could properly learn.

If just anyone could handle plant magic, spices like pepper wouldn't be as valuable as they were now.

Mani drove the final nail into Ian's anxiety.

"As you've probably noticed, plant magic is difficult."

Mani said, stroking the sprouting wheat.

"Communicating with the mysteries of plants isn't hard in itself. But persuading them is a different matter entirely."

"When you say persuading..."

Mani quietly pointed to a seedling.

"For example. Let's say we try to rapidly grow this with plant magic. How would you persuade the mystery of the plant?"

"... By saying 'Please grow quickly?'"

Ian gave an intuitive answer.

It was a predictable response, which was why Mani chuckled.

"Think about it the other way around. If someone asked you, 'Please age quickly for me~', would you be able to grant that request?"

"..."

Ian's expression turned serious.

It might sound nice to ask someone to age quickly, but wasn't it basically the same as asking them to die?

"That's impossible."

Only then did Ian understand why plant magic was such a difficult form of magic.

Rapidly growing a plant meant using up that much of the plant's time.

Unless one had a considerable affinity with plants, plant magic was a high-difficulty magic that was difficult to even succeed at.

"That's right. Asking them to grow quickly is extremely difficult. That's why plant wizards practice by carefully nurturing seedlings from a young age."

This process was commonly described as 'building a bond with the plant.'

The plant that was cared for from a seedling would grow and bear seeds.

If those seeds were planted and grown again, the plant would gradually come to trust the wizard.

Even if I grow quickly, the wizard will take care of my seeds - that kind of trust would build up.

Of course, this wasn't a process that could be completed in just a day or two.

It was a long process that could take anywhere from a few years to decades.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that plant magic required dedicating one's life to learn.

"If I were to grow this entire wheat field by myself... I might not be able to use plant magic again until the day I die."

Mani was a plant wizard skilled enough to forcibly grow plants by borrowing the power of mystery.

But if she forced the plants to grow, she would lose her plant magic ability as a price for incurring the plants' hatred.

The duration of the penalty would be... probably for life.

"Mani..."

"Well, it can't be helped. It's better to give up magic than to let people starve to death by hoarding it. Hehehe."

Mani let out a sinister laugh like a witch.

"Ian. Make sure you tell your sweetheart later. Tell her to take good care of one cranky old woman."

"... But I'm single."

"Ah, that's why I said tell her later!"

It was a mischievous joke.

Mani spread her arms wide and shouted.

"[O mystery of plants!]"

Soon, the freshly sprouted seedlings were heard whispering as if singing.

[A friend of our kind has come?]

[The plants welcome your visit! wizard!]

As soon as communication was established, the wheat seedlings immediately vented their complaints to Mani.

[It's too cramped here! So stuffy!]

[I want to drink nutrients, but the guy next to me is in the way!]

[Even my ancestor's ancestor couldn't escape from here. Get me out of here! wizard!]

Mani nudged Ian slightly.

"Can you hear them? Ian?"

"Yes. They seem to be very angry friends."

Plant wizards didn't particularly like the act of [farming] itself, precisely because of these complaints from plants.

Cramming plants into a small plot of land and squeezing out nutrients until the soil's fertility was gone!

That's why even if a lord ordered a plant wizard to 'come and help with the farming~', plant wizards would neatly ignore such orders.

How could a wizard who understood the hearts of plants lend a hand to farming!

"[Plants! I'm sorry! I apologize to you on behalf of humans!]"

Mani began to soothe the plants with skillful expertise.

Perhaps because she had spent her entire life apologizing, her skill at placating plants was surprisingly polished.

[Well... since you put it that way...]

[So why did you come? Human?]

Mani coaxed and persuaded the plants in a calm, logical tone.

While she was extremely difficult when dealing with humans, her tone was as gentle as a kindergarten teacher when addressing plants.

'Hm. I believe it. Mani really is a plant wizard.'

Ian nodded, newly impressed.

Mani was a plant wizard who had reached a level Ian couldn't hope to imitate.

While preparing her magic, Mani kept glancing at Ian.

'Are you watching closely? Kid?'

Mani revealed her conversation process to Ian without hiding anything, intending to teach him magic.

She was demonstrating [This is how you handle plants!] in person.

Of course, she didn't expect Ian to master everything after seeing it just once.

But with Ian's talent, she was confident he could lay the foundations of the magic by raising a few small plants.

[So you want us to grow quickly?]

"[I beg you, friends. For the sake of our friendship.]"

[If that's the case... I guess we have no choice.]

After persistent persuasion, the wheat seedlings agreed to Mani's request.

When the magic was ready, Mani shouted loudly.

"[Wheat! Grow!]"

"...!"

Then an amazing thing happened.

The wheat seedlings growing all over the field suddenly grew as if time had been fast-forwarded!

"W-What! What's that!"

"The wheat...! It's all grown!"

The people who had gathered to see the wizard's wondrous magic were shocked to see Mani's plant magic.

And for good reason, as most of the spectators were farmers.

Well, most people in medieval times were farmers anyway.

That's why the farmers couldn't help but be amazed at how incredible Mani's magic was.

How could they not be astonished to see plants growing instantly, transcending seasons and time!

"Bread! We can make bread!"

Beyond the magic itself, the farmers focused on the fact that the wheat had grown to a harvestable level.

Just now, Mani had partially solved Talian's food problem with her magic!

'So that's a wizard!'

'No wonder the noble lords go crazy over them!'

The farmers were genuinely impressed.

Knights wielded swords, and priests preached the word of God. That's how farmers understood the greatness of knights and priests.

But wizards were a bit vague.

It wasn't easy to actually witness magic, you see.

They only vaguely knew that nobles were crazy about it.

They didn't really know why...

But the magic they witnessed in person was awe-inspiring.

At a level that could instantly solve the hunger in the domain!

"Kekeke... Did you see that? Ian?"

Mani showed off her achievement with a weary laugh.

As a result of making an unreasonable request to the wheat, her magical ability had permanently decreased, but...

She was satisfied with her decision to feed the hungry.

"I saw it clearly."

"Then go and try it yourself."

"... Pardon?"

Ian was slightly taken aback, but he moved as Mani instructed.

Whether it worked or not, it was better to try the magic.

He didn't like the idea of dumping all the burden on Mani.

'Hehehe. It won't be easy.'

Mani grinned as she watched Ian's retreating back.

'But I'm rooting for you. Young wizard.'

Ian was a wizard who understood the hearts of plants to some extent.

He won't make a complete mess of it, Mani predicted.

'Understand the hearts of plants! Ian!'

Ian slowly moved to another wheat field.

---

---

'Well, I came because she told me to...'

Although Mani had demonstrated the [Rapid Growth] magic, Ian didn't even dare to attempt to replicate it.

That was only natural.

How could a wizard who was just trying plant magic for the first time produce the same results as a master!

"Ahem."

Ian squatted down in the wheat field and cleared his throat.

"Ah, seedling. Can you hear my voice?"

... Doing this made him look like a complete lunatic.

Mom! There's someone talking to plants over there~!

Oh my, hush hush!

[What do you want? You?]

After a while, the plant responded to Ian's will and spoke to him.

Communication was OK for now.

But because his skill level was so low, the plant was extremely curt.

'Maybe I should invest some skill points.'

Ian used up his skill points to raise his plant magic level.

Since he had decided to try plant magic anyway, it would be nice if it succeeded.

"[Hello? I'm Ian the wizard.]"

Ian imitated Mani, using the gentlest voice he could muster.

The seedling immediately responded.

[Get lost!]

"..."

This was strange. When Mani spoke like this, she got a kind response.

It was clearly discrimination against people.

Ian felt a bit dejected.

Challenging a new school of magic was always difficult. There was a reason why wizards honed just one specialty.

[I don't talk to filthy plant-murderers!]

Strong hostility could be felt from the seedling.

It seemed to have quite a lot of pent-up resentment against farmers.

"[Plant murderer?]"

[That's right! You humans trample, cut, and uproot our kind at will just because we can't fight back!]

"[...]"

[The years of cruel oppression have left deep scars in our hearts! You humans should wake up and repent for your sins!!!]

As the agitator seedling shouted, the surrounding seedlings chimed in.

[Wake up!]

[Wake up!]

"..."

Ian was dumbfounded.

Come on, what kind of plants demand that humans wake up?

'... Huh?'

Then Ian tilted his head in puzzlement.

Medieval people would find it hard to understand the attitude of such plants.

This was a society with a rigid class system, and the sight of peasants protesting(?) against nobles was unimaginable.

But Ian recalled the free (or chaotic) labor market of modern times.

The modern era where protesting and overthrowing were everyday occurrences!

Thinking about that made the plants seem much more relatable.

... Somehow, he felt like he could understand their hearts.

'Mani would have apologized here.'

Ian thought.

Mani completed her magic by apologizing to the plants and proving her sincerity.

But Ian could never use the same method.

That was a method only Mani could use because of her bond with plants.

'I need a different approach.'

Ian first tried the medieval solution.

Religion!

"[If I may ask as a brother of faith...]"

[Woo! Don't talk about faith! God just stands there! Standing aloof with hands behind his back, ignoring the suffering on earth!]

Wow... Aren't they afraid of divine punishment?!

Ian was shocked at the seedling's reckless outburst.

These crazy plants weren't even afraid of the Sky God.

[We are not slaves! Send us back to nature!]

[Send us back!]

"..."

Ian grew tired of the plants screaming and demanding freedom.

Huh? You guys grew up on a farm, so you don't know how comfortable it is here?

Go out into the wild. It's a living hell out there.

The humans are feeding you, but you don't even appreciate it...!

"?"

Having thought that far, Ian tilted his head again.

His thoughts felt... somehow very wrong!

It felt like the greasy excuse of an exploitative bourgeois member of the establishment...

"Ah."

And then Ian realized.

He realized what he could offer these plants.

A gentle and sincere approach like Mani's was impossible for Ian. He had never trained as a plant wizard.

But wizard-like behavior was entirely possible.

The only things Ian had gained from his activities as a wizard were his voice and ability to incite.

So Ian decided.

Together with those disgruntled plants...

To trash talk humans, the establishment, together!

If he sympathized with them by thoroughly badmouthing humans, he might gain their empathy!

"[I hear your story and understand well.]"

[???]

The seedlings, who had been shouting 'Wake up!', were a bit taken aback when Ian suddenly expressed sympathy.

How could a human understand the heart of a plant-slave?

However, what came out of Ian's mouth wasn't just sweet sympathy.

"[You're all a bunch of garbage full of complaints!]"

[!!!]

A shocking insult.

The seedlings unanimously became enraged.

[How dare you...! What do you know!]

[I knew it was a mistake to talk to a farm human!]

But at Ian's next words, the plants were struck dumb.

"[I can't hear the lazy voices of those bound in chains!]"

[W-What did you say?!]

"[You, seedlings! Have you not even considered breaking your own chains and throwing off the shackles of slavery!]"

[!!!]

Shock and astonishment swept through the seedlings.

Ian seized the opportunity and shouted as if driving them on.

"[That's right! I too have been lamenting the exploitation of plants by the bourgeois... I mean! The human-farm owners! Plants! Now is the time to rise up!]"

Ian had never once considered overthrowing the medieval class system and liberating the slaves.

He was a wizard who sucked on the honey of the class system himself, so why would he start a revolution?

But he could use that concept for incitement.

"[It's a plant revolution!]"

[R-Revolution!!!]

The seedlings stared blankly up at Ian.

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