Became a Medieval Fantasy Wizard

TL/Editor: raei

Status: 5/week mon-fri

Illustrations: none

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'Makes me think of the old days.'

Maronius's soul reflected.

Being just a memory fragment, all he could do was recall and replay old memories.

Though he often dwelled on these memories, today they felt particularly cold and bitter.

The reason was simple.

'It's because that green rookie showed up.'

Ever since that black-haired young man's visit, Maronius's soul felt something 'special' about replaying these memories.

Perhaps the stranger's visit had breathed new life into them.

Simply put, they hit different than usual.

'Was I really such a fool?'

Maronius's soul smiled bitterly.

Looking back, his younger self had been incredibly foolish.

Even allowing for youthful inexperience, it was too much.

'Why... why did I push Liria so hard?'

Regretting the past changed nothing.

Yet he kept repeating these regrets, perhaps because human memory and imagination were too powerful.

'I should have trusted Liria more.'

In his imagination, Maronius didn't angrily confront Liria.

Instead, they had a calm discussion and confirmed each other's true feelings.

That would have been the mature, rational solution.

That's how Maronius's soul knew.

It was too difficult a solution for his younger self to achieve.

"[What are you thinking about so deeply?]"

[...You again.]

Lost in thoughts, Maronius's soul frowned at the sudden unfamiliar voice.

The black-haired wizard had returned.

[I've shown you everything there is to see here.]

Maronius's soul said.

That was true.

Even if he wanted to show more, there were no more memories.

He was just a fragment of Maronius's memories after all.

Being just young memories, he couldn't even offer magical advice.

Maronius vaguely guessed this wizard had come seeking knowledge.

That's why it seemed strange.

There were only embarrassing youthful memories here - surely he realized he'd struck out?

[Watching my foolishness repeatedly won't change anything, rookie.]

The meaning was clear: get lost.

Like most ghosts, Maronius's soul loved peaceful rest.

He was just leftover memories of someone dead - what good would come from talking with the living?

While souls with strong regrets and attachments might become evil spirits, that didn't apply to Maronius's soul.

His regrets weren't the kind that could be resolved by clinging to the living.

"[Your memories might be fixed. But your imagination is different, isn't it, Maronius?]"

[?]

"[I know what you imagine.]"

To the dumbfounded soul, Ian boldly declared:

"[I know you fall asleep every night imagining making up with Liria!]"

[?!]

Maronius's soul stared at Ian in shock.

No, how did he know... that wasn't the point!

What was wrong with this crazy bastard?!

He should have been angry, but the direct hit left him speechless.

"[I brought my friend to prove my theory.]"

[...Don't bring random people into others' memories!]

Did he think this was a playground?!

Though he'd let this young upstart view memories somehow, he wasn't about to let strange outsiders waltz in.

Just as Maronius's soul was about to return to security duty-

"[Hello?]"

Maronius's soul met eyes with a red-haired female wizard.

"[Nice to meet you.]"

Maronius's soul trembled.

The moment he saw the red-haired woman, his PTSD kicked in...!

Ugh, the awful memory of saying those terrible things to Liria!

[You, you are...!]

Seeing Maronius's soul's strange reaction, the red-haired wizard - Kira - whispered to Ian.

"Ian. Did I do something wrong?"

"You didn't do anything wrong. He's the one who wronged her. Not you, Liria."

"?"

While Maronius's soul writhed in agony.

Ian just smiled with satisfaction.

This was working even better than expected.

#

"That's the basic idea."

A few hours earlier.

Ian had held a strategy meeting with Kira and Maria.

"So... we're going to act out the memories Maronius wanted to see?"

"Exactly."

This was Ian's plan to persuade Maronius's soul.

Maronius's memories wouldn't change no matter how many times they replayed.

They were his 'real' memories from when he was alive after all.

But... what if Ian stepped in?

"We can move freely in the memory world."

Ian clearly came from outside the memories.

He could move freely, unbound by the fixed memories.

"We'll fix Maronius's mistakes."

Ian and Kira could prevent the fated disaster between Maronius and Liria.

"...But we're not really changing the past."

"That's true."

Of course, it was just a performance - the past wouldn't actually change.

But Ian's goal was convincing Maronius's soul.

To reach back to Maronius's magical prime when he developed all sorts of magic, this younger soul would definitely be helpful.

"If nothing actually changes... will it work?"

Kira expressed slight doubt.

But Ian was confident.

The plan would definitely work.

"Nobody dislikes correcting their past mistakes."

This was proven by countless web novels about returning to the past.

Why were plots about going back to fix mistakes so popular?

The answer was simple.

Because it was impossible!

Everyone had experienced it at least once.

Saying something stupid during the day, then kicking their blankets at night thinking about it.

At times like that, people think:

Ah, if only I could go back in time...!

I wouldn't have said something so stupid!

That's why Ian was certain.

Maronius must regret that argument 100%!

"Okay. I'll do what you say."

And so Kira followed Ian into Maronius's memories.

#

[...You say you have something to show me?]

"[That's right, Maronius.]"

Maronius's soul looked at Ian with distaste.

This guy was clearly trying to get something from him...

But the memories he had weren't particularly special.

Just common youthful embarrassments.

[Well. Let's see it then.]

Since he had nothing to lose, he didn't drive Ian away.

'Halfway there.'

The soul's response itself was a positive sign.

Ian possessed young Maronius.

Maronius's soul watched Ian through narrowed eyes.

'What's he planning?'

Ian had said,

'Maronius imagines making up with Liria before sleep!'

Could that be what he wanted to show?

'But Liria won't move according to my imagination.'

The Liria in the memory world was just a memory figure.

Even if she acted differently from memory, it would just be imagined results.

Since it wasn't real, imagining it repeatedly didn't make him feel better.

But those thoughts shattered the moment Liria appeared.

'That female wizard...'

Though Maronius himself didn't realize it, he had a weakness for red hair.

Because Liria, his first and last love, had red hair.

The female wizard Ian brought had possessed Liria's body.

Only then did Maronius understand what Ian was aiming for.

'Is that what he wants to show?'

Maronius shook his head.

Assigning roles to make Liria more vivid was a good idea but...

Weren't they still strangers?

Another woman imitating Liria wouldn't be interesting at all...

"Demius. Is it true? You're leaving Elium?"

"Yes."

[...?]

But when Ian and Kira started their first lines.

Maronius forgot everything he'd been thinking and focused completely on the two.

'They're good...!'

The female wizard playing Liria acted much better than expected.

Really...

It was like Liria had come back to life!

'What is this...? I can't look away!'

It made sense.

The Liria 'in memory' was familiar, seen thousands upon thousands of times.

There was nothing new about her.

But this Liria...

Was a new Liria performed by a 'stranger'!

Bad acting would have made her obviously fake.

But Kira's performance was perfect.

Thanks to that, Maronius's immersion shot up 200%.

'This feels right.'

Kira thought as she skillfully acted.

Ian had told her all the basic setup.

'Name is Liria. Mixed-blood foreigner, childhood friends with Maronius.'

Kira was a master of acting.

The moment she got her role, she instantly immersed herself.

Their similar looks were also a plus.

'I'm helping Ian.'

Kira put all her energy into starting her performance.

The actors were Kira and Ian.

The audience was just one person.

Maronius.

Kira and Ian began exchanging lines according to the prepared script.

"Why...?"

"I'm going to war."

"I'm going to become a soldier."

Kira paused before her next line.

Her scene partner was Maronius, about to abandon Liria for war.

But remembering the actor was Ian...

'This feels... awful.'

Kira felt an inexplicable surge of irritation.

This must be exactly how it would feel if Ian ignored her and did whatever he wanted.

"Demius!"

Kira shouted.

"What are you saying! You definitely said! That war was just power struggles between rulers! That earning money by killing people was something to be ashamed of!"

"...!"

Ian was slightly startled by Kira's fierce voice.

Wow. What intensity?!

Someone properly trained in acting was really different!

Seeing Kira try so hard, Ian couldn't lose either.

Drawing on his acting skills honed through wizard-acting, Ian delivered his next line.

"Yeah, so? Did I do something wrong?"

Ian's voice was exactly like that of a wizard speaking contemptuously to nobles.

Hell yeah. My acting's pretty good too, right?

Just then, Kira glared intently at Ian.

"...?"

Wow. Kira's acting was so realistic.

Really realistic...

"..."

Ian felt slightly unnerved.

...That was acting, right? Right?!

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