Magician Marigold. (1)

1.

There could be hundreds, even thousands of reasons why knights and wizards don’t get along in this empire.

But the most decisive reason was, of course, the Academy.

“I don’t think there are many wizards who like knights after entering the Academy,” said Baron Ibil Shen.

As Baron Ibil Shen said, wizards usually start building up their hatred for knights as they enter the Academy.

“They fight each other so much in there. And wizards are always the ones who get picked on first.”

“They’re a bit easy to push around, I guess.”

Yeah.

Easy to push around.

It was strange.

Wizards being easy to push around?

Of course, wizards were valuable talents. First of all, they weren’t common.

Even if their abilities varied greatly, the fact that they used Magic Power already meant they were treated well.

The problem was that it wasn’t as good as knights.

‘They can breathe fire from their hands? Freeze ice? How can these amazing people be treated worse than knights who only know how to swing a sword?’

It was only natural to wonder, and Lancel thought so too before he knew the truth. Why?

There were three main reasons for this.

-First.

“As Lancel knows, most wizards are commoners.”

“That’s definitely a decisive factor.”

Yeah.

The issue of status.

Magical talent wasn’t exactly hereditary, so given the empire’s population structure, where commoners made up the majority, it was almost inevitable that most wizards were commoners.

Even if they were later recognized for their talent and granted the status of Baronet or Baron, there was no way to avoid being seen as commoners without roots. At least, that’s how knights born into nobility saw it.

-Second.

“It’s rare to find a wizard with the physical ability to be active in war.”

“It’s a job that requires a lot of study. They don’t have time to exercise because they’re sitting at their desks.”

“Yeah. I saw a wizard the other day who had a bulging belly. I thought he’d be rolling around instead of walking soon.”

Wizards mostly had the image of scholars.

There were too many who were simply incapable of wearing heavy armor, riding rough warhorses, and running around on the battlefield.

‘That’s why wizards are like that.’

‘How long has it been since they started running, and they’re already exhausted?’

‘Tsk, they’re all skin and bones.’

The wizards’ faces turned red whenever they heard the knights’ sneers, but what could they do?

The battlefield was a harsh environment for those who couldn’t march and advance.

Even knights who had trained their whole lives would start to taste metal in their mouths after running through muddy ground where their feet sank deep for less than five minutes.

How much more so for wizards? They would lose focus after just a few steps.

For an empire built on plunder and conquest, the fact that few wizards were active on the battlefield was a pretty important issue. They had nothing to say to the knights’ taunts of, ‘So, how many war heroes do you have?’

-Third.

“More than anything, most wizards don’t live up to my expectations. Every time I see them, I think, ‘Is that really a wizard?’ There are too many of those guys.”

“Well, a wizard is a wizard even if they can only light a candle. It’s just a bit of a letdown.”

“A big letdown. More than a bit, Lancel. I went through so much trouble to see that Magic, and all he did was spout a trickle of water from a fan. I swear!”

“…In a place where there’s no water, that level of…”

It was happening because the gap in ability between wizards was too great.

It was definitely true that most of them were weaklings who would crumble at the sight of even a neighborhood thug. Monsters like the Third Prince were extremely rare.

Hmm.

‘Anyway, looking at the results, it’s true that the knights are the ones who throw the first punch.’

Yeah.

Whether it was status, physical ability, or disappointing magical ability, it was always the knights who provoked them first.

This was the reason why young and innocent apprentice wizards hated them as soon as they entered the Academy.

‘Commoner!’

‘Weakling!’

‘Loser!’

Lancel would have harbored resentment if he were in their position.

But now, there was one exception here.

“…I just don’t like knights.”

Her hatred for knights had already reached the top of her head, and she had a very sullen look on her face.

It was Marigold, who was only sixteen years old and hadn’t even entered the Academy yet.

“So, honestly, I don’t like you either.”

“…….”

That day.

Lancel’s world collapsed.

1.

Well, it wasn’t anything new, but Lancel wasted about a year in this iteration before meeting Marigold again.

Anyway, it seemed like he’d break out in hives if he came to the Imperial Capital through the standard route, so Lancel always met her in unexpected places.

“Get ready, Lancel. We have to go see it together.”

“Yes? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“I told you this morning. Baron Jenis said he’d show us something at the Imperial Palace.”

“I was only pretending to listen, so I didn’t know.”

“I like that you’re so honest, Lancel.”

Lancel wasn’t really keen on it, but he had no choice but to prepare to go out. Hesti, who was listening next to him, was clearly excited and wanted to come along.

“Is Baron Jenis, the wizard, the same person as Jenis of the Heatwave?”

“That’s what he’s called, but do you know his name?”

“Of course.”

Lancel leaned back slightly, overwhelmed by Hesti’s enthusiasm as she approached with sparkling eyes.

“I heard he makes things that fly in the sky.”

“He fails every time, though.”

“I still think it’s cool. If humans can fly in the sky, then someday people like me will get to ride on them.”

“I don’t know if that day will come while you’re still alive.”

“Please refrain from shattering my dreams like that, young master.”

“Ah, sorry.”

It’s possible, though. If civilization advances one step further from here.

Lancel thought as he got into the carriage.

The sunny field was already full of nobles with nothing to do.

“Please step back, as you may get burned if you are too close. Even if you complain later that your hair was burned, we will not provide any compensation.”

==========

—Imperial Calendar 818, August 2nd. Weather: very clear.

—Event occurred! ‘Assistant at the Airship Presentation.’

※I have entered the Imperial Palace in the Imperial Capital as a part-time job I received from the academy! I am happy to help my teacher’s presentation, but I can’t help but feel a little frustrated because there are so many arrogant knights!

==========

Lancel met Marigold there.

Sixteen-year-old Marigold, with a sulky face and an unfriendly voice, was handing out fans to the attending nobles one by one.

“Are you Baron Jenis’…disciple?”

Lancel said to her as he received a fan.

He never imagined that she would choose the path of a wizard. And to become a disciple of a prominent wizard like Baron Jenis.

“…….”

Marigold looked at Lancel for a moment without saying anything.

“Ahem.”

A small cough.

She averted her gaze and answered.

“There might be hot air blowing on your face, so please cover it with the fan. We won’t compensate you even if your eyebrows get burned off.”

That was all.

Marigold turned around and quickly walked away to another noble. So cold.

“Please be seated, everyone.”

Before long, an elderly wizard with snow-white hair walked out.

It was Jenis, a man whose eyes were still alive and well despite his aging body.

“We will begin the demonstration immediately.”

A large object appeared in the Imperial Palace’s field.

“Mary, show them.”

“Yes, teacher.”

Marigold stood on tiptoe with her short stature. When she removed the cloth covering it, a scaled-down airship appeared.

“Ooh.”

“What is that thing?”

“It has something like a balloon attached to the ship.”

Enthusiastic reactions erupted.

“The object I will show you today is an airship that flies through the sky using Heatwave Magic. Someday, more than a hundred people will be able to board this object and fly through the sky.”

“Are you saying that something without wings can fly in the sky?”

“That’s right. If you like the object, please request a lot of investment in my research. I will launch it right now.”

Jenis walked to the side of the airship and quietly closed his eyes.

“Rise.”

Magic Power emanated softly from his entire body. The airship slowly began to rise into the air.

“It’s flying!”

“Ooh!”

For a moment, Marigold’s expression turned smug, but it didn’t last long.

Bang!

The balloon attached to the airship suddenly tore. Flames began to rise around it.

“Teacher!”

“Oh no…!”

The airship, which had risen to a height of about 10 meters, shook and fell to the ground. The entire fuselage was quickly engulfed in flames.

“I-It’s coming this way!”

“Get out of the way!”

Lancel quickly picked up Baron Ibil Shen and Hesti and moved away.

Kwaaaang-!

Hot air spread out like a shockwave around the exploding and falling airship. It was a moment when the venue instantly turned into chaos.

“Kyaaa! My clothes!”

“My hair! My hair, which I don’t have much of left!”

“Agh! It’s hot!”

Jenis.

Marigold was a disciple of that senile old wizard who would later be called a quack.

Lancel felt his drowsiness completely disappear.

‘Did I get on the Great Wizard Marigold route?’

The Great Wizard Marigold was one of the major routes among the regular routes.

The Aspiring Swordmaster Merigold, Knight Marigold, Ronin Marigold, Mercenary Captain Marigold, Combat Commander Marigold, etc… It was one of the real main routes that surpassed all sorts of combat professions.

The high point was beyond comparison.

The Great Wizard Marigold’s ability was perhaps the greatest existence on this land in terms of martial power. Yes, how else would she be called the Great Wizard?

Until now, Marigold had no magical talent to be found even if you washed your eyes and looked for it.

But it was different in this iteration. She had become a wizard’s disciple. It was proof that she had magical talent.

Lancel was already satisfied just by finding out that fact.

.

.

.

“I love Magic, love it, love it!”

“Mary, you rascal! What kind of manners are those to a valued guest?”

“Keung!”

Marigold was hit on the head by Jenis.

“My disciple is still immature, so please be understanding, Sir Lancel.”

“…….”

-I just don’t like knights.

-I don’t like you either.

Marigold’s merciless hatred of knights.

Lancel found it difficult to hold on to his confused mind.

“Go and bring some tea, you rascal.”

“Hmph.”

Marigold walked away, holding her head.

Lancel wiped away his cold sweat and barely regained his senses before opening his mouth.

“Still, you managed to find a child with magical talent. To be Baron Jenis’ disciple at that age, the future of the Heatwave Society looks bright.”

Baron Jenis chuckled softly and opened his mouth.

“Mary is my disciple, but she’s not a child I’m keeping because she has magical talent.”

“Yes?”

He stroked his beard and continued.

“She’s more like a servant I’m keeping out of pity. She wants to learn Magic so badly, so I’m teaching her little by little. Of course, she has no talent, so she can’t even handle Basic Magic. Isn’t it strange? Just think of it as my hobby in my old age.”

“……Ah.”

Marigold, you’re already doomed.