Became a Medieval Fantasy Wizard
Chapter 386

TL/Editor: raei

Status: 5/week mon-fri

Illustrations: none

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Despite the flood of surprising information, Ian quickly regained his composure.

It wasn't particularly strange. Ian had known Gerard for quite some time and understood what kind of person he was.

Gerard was a space-time wizard. Constantly concerned about contaminating the future, he had never given Ian even a fragment of information about "the future."

Well, he hid information? That's just who Gerard was.

And all this talk of parallel worlds and world lines was, frankly speaking, information Ian didn't need to know.

Ian had absolutely no intention of becoming a guardian of time like "Space-time Wizard Ian."

Literally, it was a side story from another world.

Ian was a resident of this medieval fantasy world.

What others did in the future, their conflicts and battles, was none of his concern.

Even the story about Gerard's parents wasn't particularly important.

"I want to ask just one thing."

"What is it?"

"If by chance... something happened to Gerard's parents, what would happen to Gerard?"

It was a question both Ian and Gerard already knew the answer to.

Gerard answered with a smile.

"You're asking the obvious. Testing your knowledge?"

"That's right."

"Then your thinking is correct."

The answer was 'it would have no effect whatsoever.'

Among famous time paradoxes, there's the matricide (or patricide) paradox.

The question of [what happens if a time traveler goes back in time and kills their parents].

Since their parents died, the time traveler couldn't go back in time.

But if the time traveler couldn't go back in time, then the parents wouldn't die!

It's quite a headache of a paradox, but in this world, the answer is very simple.

If Gerard's parents had an "accident" and couldn't give birth to Gerard...

This world would simply become a world without Gerard.

"Because the past is fixed."

"Yes. What can you do about something that's already dead."

You could cross over to 'a world line where Gerard's parents are alive' and save those parents.

But what has already happened can never be undone.

Because time is fixed.

"Space-time magic... is the delicate work of selecting futures, isn't it?"

"It's easy if you think it's easy, and difficult if you think it's difficult."

That's why space-time wizards lose their minds over future contamination.

Because they know events roll forward with no turning back.

"So, 'Gerard from another world.'"

"What now?"

"Don't you have anything to say to me?"

"Like what?"

"Something like... you respect me. Or you're glad to meet the famous Ian."

Ian asked with the sensibility of someone who'd consumed fictional stories.

You know, the famous cliché where a time traveler goes back in time and meets a future historical figure!

Surely he could spare a few kind words?

But Gerard looked at Ian as if he were mentally ill...

"That's an incredibly stupid question, coming from such a smart mind."

"Isn't that a bit harsh?"

"What have you accomplished so far that I should respect you? Don't be delusional. You're not the Ian from 'that world.' You're just a green kid."

Ian chuckled and retorted.

"I'm not just some kid."

"..."

"From the northern edge to the southern tip. I've traveled across the empire. In the north, I met the goddess of ice and the underworld, and in the south, I faced monsters and black wizards."

"Is that so."

"Yes. That's right."

The novice wizard who had left the Golden Mountains was gone.

Ian had met many people and experienced many adventures while traveling this medieval fantasy world.

He had matured and grown through trials.

Gerard spoke jokingly.

"Well. A man is a child until he gets married."

Ian was slightly flabbergasted.

Even medieval people said things like that?!

Men as a species! They never change, here or elsewhere!

...I like it!

Since I'm not married yet, I should act like a child~!

Ian had this ridiculous thought as he asked:

"Are you married, Gerard?"

"I'm married to my work."

"So you're a child."

"..."

Ian paused mid-sentence.

Wait, this Gerard fellow. He came from another dimension, right?

How did he know Teacher Eredith?

"Gerard. Are you close with my teacher?"

Gerard showed a peculiar reaction to this.

As if pondering something, he dragged out the time...?

"We just happened to become close."

"?"

What kind of answer was that?

Ian casually threw out a line.

"You know our teacher isn't married yet, right?"

"...Still not married, huh."

He doesn't know.

Ian wasn't a space-time wizard, so he didn't know how much information one could gather using space-time magic.

But Gerard should know a lot more than ordinary people...

"Why don't you know?"

"Because I never asked."

"..."

Gerard spoke as if making excuses.

"First. I came to change the future, not to date."

"?"

"Second. If I, a being from another world, met Eredith, it would be impossible to predict how the future might twist."

"??? I haven't said anything yet."

Ian covered his mouth and exclaimed.

"Wait, Gerard! Did you date my teacher?!"

"No!"

"Were you about to?!"

"...I'm not sure about that."

Oh my goodness! He's not denying it?!

"So Gerard was Teacher's almost-boyfriend!"

"Almost what?!"

"Something. It means there was something between you."

In Korean terms, it would be like saying [there's... something... something... between them...]

"Sit down here! Gerard!"

"No!"

"Tell me some stories from your youth! How and when did you meet my teacher?!"

"I said no!"

Come here!

Ian felt his dopamine levels surging for the first time in a while.

Popcorn! Bring the popcorn!

"There's nothing between me and Eredith!"

"Ah! You're calling her by her first name!"

"..."

Gerard realized something.

He was having what amounted to his first casual conversation with Ian.

As a space-time wizard, Gerard always had to watch his words. If conversations went on too long, it might contaminate the future.

So Gerard didn't know.

This Ian fellow possessed a strange verbal ability that had enchanted(?) all sorts of people during his travels.

Beware the wizard's wicked tongue!

"Stop... please stop..."

"Fine. I understand. The past is just the past."

There's nothing even a space-time wizard can do about it.

The past that has already gone by can never return.

That's why we try our best to make the right choices in the moment.

"Gerard."

Ian stopped joking and asked seriously.

"If you leave now, will you never return?"

Gerard answered just as seriously.

"My mission is complete. The world line has definitely changed, and variables no longer exist. There's no need for an impurity like me to contaminate the future."

"Do you really think of yourself as an impurity, Gerard?"

"A stranger who's strayed from the path of time. If that's not an impurity, what is it?"

Ian smiled and said.

"Did you know that I'm also from another world?"

"...?"

"Blessed by the gods. Born with magical talent. I've heard many such things."

Ian looked straight at his guide and said:

"I'm a person who came from another world, just like Gerard."

"...Exactly what kind of place?"

"A world completely different from here."

Ian briefly shared his past life story.

Focusing on parts Gerard would understand and sympathize with.

"You're from a peninsula nation divided between north and south?"

"Yes."

"With giant powers to the north and west, and a country to the east that's caused conflicts for hundreds of years? And you're still in a ceasefire with your brother nation, not at peace?"

"Yes."

"...You lived in a difficult place."

"???"

Was that true?

"Being reborn as an imperial citizen must be a blessing."

"Not really."

Ian answered sharply.

Though he'd grown accustomed to medieval life, he still missed modern conveniences (actually quite often).

Couldn't someone open an isekai convenience store or an isekai restaurant?

He'd visit like a dog!

"Anyway. I might be from another world, but I think I'm a person of this world now."

"..."

"Gerard, you've lived here for over 20 years. Wouldn't this be like a second hometown to you?"

Though Gerard thought of himself as an impurity.

From Ian's perspective, Gerard was definitely a resident of this world.

"It's okay to part ways, Gerard. But I'd rather you didn't say it's a permanent goodbye."

Ian extended his hand to Gerard.

"I consider Gerard a friend."

"..."

"Thank you for guiding me all this time. And for introducing me to my teacher, making it possible for me to become a wizard."

"That... was just my job..."

Gerard hesitated.

He was undoubtedly wondering what effect shaking hands with Ian now would have on the future.

But not Ian.

He was a wizard who believed that conveying one's heart was more important than anything.

Since Gerard was also a wizard...

He surely believed they could communicate with each other.

"..."

Ian grasped Gerard's hand.

Though awkward, Gerard shook it.

He had decided to become Ian's friend.

"You're leaving now, right?"

"Yes."

"Then promise me one thing."

"...?"

Ian patted Gerard's shoulder and said:

"Come to my wedding."

"Ah..."

"You spoiled it yourself. So you need to come see it with your own eyes."

He may have been s-p-o-i-l-e-d, but.

Ian was already planning to marry Lucy anyway.

He'd already promised to marry her in Talian after this journey ended.

How could Gerard miss being a guest at such a wedding?

"That's... the future..."

"Well~ then I won't have my wedding until Gerard comes~!"

"..."

Gerard looked at Ian as if he were insane.

Though Gerard had conversed with Ian several times, they had never traveled together.

He didn't know that Ian was quite the madman...!

"If I postpone the wedding for a few years~ who knows how the future might change~"

"...I'll come!"

"Come on, Gerard. You already knew you'd be attending my wedding, right?"

"A space-time wizard...! is not a god...!"

Seeing Gerard grinding his teeth, Ian slowly backed off.

There was something fun about teasing this man.

"Alright. Then I'll see you again on my wedding day."

"Take care, Gerard."

Gerard gave Ian a look of utter exasperation before disappearing with spatial movement magic.

A departure befitting a space-time wizard.

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