บท 102: Chapter 102
Once the decision to head north was made, Ian began preparing for his journey.
The monks of the Blue Key Monastery, Isilla, and even Zoltin actively supported Ian's journey.
"You know, Ian? The idiots were calling you 'Saint Ian'?"
"...The idiots?"
Ian responded incredulously.
The monks had been half-jokingly, half-seriously giving him the title of a saint, which he already knew about.
The monks who had traveled with Ian, especially those whose lives Ian had saved, called him 'Saint Ian, the Patron Saint of Coffee.'
Of course, this was because the monks were overly obsessed with their religion.
Being monks who associated everything with God, instead of simply saying 'Thank you' or 'You are a lifesaver', they collectively expressed their gratitude by calling him 'Saint Ian.'
"You mean the monks?"
"To call a monk an idiot just like that..."
"They are idiots."
"..."
Isilla, that person, had a way of going off the rails. No wonder he went proselytizing in the lands of the barbarians.
"The Patron Saint of Coffee, huh? Until now I've been drinking it secretly, but from now on, I'll drink it with your blessing."
"Please, cut the crap."
Isilla laughed with a chuckle.
He really seemed like a mean old man.
"Actually, there was talk of officially making you a saint."
"Really?"
"Really. And do you know what happened?"
Isilla said, laughing.
"I told them to stop talking nonsense and go copy the scriptures instead."
"Ah. Yes."
The monks who had traveled with Ian had seriously proposed making him one of the saints of Heaven's Faith.
Naturally, Ian was not recognized as a saint.
His deeds were not exactly saintly.
Surviving after eating a tomato was just because tomatoes are harmless.
The blessing of coffee lacked impact.
Maybe if he went down to the origin of coffee and performed a miracle in front of everyone, he might actually become the Patron Saint of Coffee...
Ian let Isilla's words go in one ear and out the other.
Becoming a saint of Heaven's Faith didn't interest him much.
He felt that he would naturally meet the deity of Heaven's Faith as he learned magic, anyway.
"Ah! Ian! Isilla!"
Mionia, dressed in a neat nun's outfit, greeted them.
Since arriving at the monastery, Ian had never seen Mionia's inappropriate nun outfit.
Wearing such blasphemous attire in the monastery could literally get her beaten to death, no joke.
The abbot of the monastery had hastily procured a proper nun's outfit, and she had become a guest in the women's rest area.
"Ah. Mionia. How have you been? Not too bored?"
"Kira and Belenka have been keeping me company, so I'm okay."
She said she was fine, but her expression told a different story.
Mionia's face was filled with worries.
It was understandable.
She had betrayed her convent on her own initiative and sided with Takarion and the Blue Key Monastery.
For now, she was taking refuge in the monastery... but she had nowhere else to go.
"Are you bored? Want to go to the barbarian village with me?"
When Ian asked, Mionia was horrified.
"Are you suggesting I go there to die?"
No way, she's not going for that.
Although Ian, the wizard, had reached a level where he enjoyed wandering, Mionia, who had lived in a convent all her life, had no connection with traveling.
"Have you forgotten? I almost died at the hands of the barbarians too! And yet, you're suggesting another trip?"
Ian tilted his head.
Isn't that normal?
Ian was beginning to forget, but traveling in this era was an exceedingly rare act.
Venturing into lands teeming with thieves and monsters was impossible without a definite purpose.
Cases like Ian, who traveled freely, were extremely rare.
Traditionally, a wizard was like a one-eyed man in a village of the blind.
This means that to others, he was utterly insane.
"It's a bit embarrassing to say myself, but I am actually a pretty good wizard. I have plenty of tricks to avoid danger."
Ian spoke sincerely, but Mionia responded with sarcasm.
She clearly disliked the idea of traveling.
"You don't think those could be your last words?"
Typical male last words – thinking everything will be fine.
Ian was at a loss for words.
Indeed, it's often true that men die after repeatedly saying, 'It's okay, it's okay.'
"So, what are you going to do?"
"Haah..."
Mionia sighed deeply.
The most certain method was to ask Isilla to arrange for Zoltin's protection.
However, in that case, it was highly likely that Mionia could no longer leave the convent.
But Mionia was a young lady dreaming of a secular life.
Her dream was to ditch this tiresome nun's habit and marry a wonderful man!
"Sister. Remember what you said last time? That you made your nun's habit yourself."
"…!"
Mionia was startled and looked around frantically at Isilla.
Luckily, Isilla did not know about Mionia's 'lewd nun's habit.'
"You made the nun's habit yourself? You must be quite skilled?"
"And excellent in aesthetics too."
"Ah! Uh! That is... well..."
Mionia, her face turning red, glared resentfully at Ian, but he turned his head pretending not to notice.
No, it was really beautiful.
Mionia's fashion sense was more modern than medieval.
Had she been born in the modern era, she might have become a renowned fashion designer like Prada.
Perhaps a movie titled [The Nun Wears Prada] could have been made?
"So here's what I'm thinking."
Ian proposed to Mionia.
"How about making clothes for a friend of mine?"
"...Clothes?"
Mionia reflexively thought of Belenka and Kira.
Belenka, tall with a full figure, seemed suited for a flowing dress.
Kira, with alluring eyes and a seductive look, seemed perfect for a fancy dress...
Was Ian fond of such flamboyant designs?
However, Ian mentioned an unexpected name.
"It would be great if you could make clothes for Baron Talian."
"Talian? That barony way up in the northwest?"
Mionia was a bit puzzled.
Making clothes was not difficult for her, and the distance being far to the northwest was not an issue.
That place was beyond the abbess's reach.
Moreover, if she were making clothes for the baron, she might receive the baron's protection.
"But I've never made men's clothes before..."
The problem was that Mionia was a nun.
She knew women's bodies well, but not men's. Naturally, her sense for men's fashion was lacking.
"Ah. That's okay."
"Excuse me?"
"Baron Talian. She's a woman."
Mionia made a peculiar face for a moment.
All his traveling companions were women, too.
This 'friend' Baron Talian was also a woman?
"Hmm. Okay, I understand."
After finishing the conversation, Mionia seriously considered Ian's proposal.
Fleeing to Baron Talian's land... was not a bad idea.
Actually, it was quite a good one.
Her identity would be vouched for by Ian, so there shouldn't be any problems.
If she received the baron's protection, there would be no danger.
Moreover, if things went well, she might settle down there?
"Alright."
Mionia had made up her mind about her next residence.
It was a barony governed by a noble named Lucy Talian.
'I'm sick and tired of being harassed by the clergy.'
She opted to seek refuge under a noble rather than receive protection from the clergy.
Determined, Mionia rushed to Ian and announced:
"I will go to Talian's domain!"
"Ah, you've made a good choice."
Mionia was confident.
She was sure she could create garments charming enough to captivate a young female noble!
She left the convent a few days before Ian's departure, following the path he had suggested, and safely reached Talian's domain.
Talian's domain turned out to be much better than she had expected.
Strong soldiers were actively clearing out thieves.
And a werewolf passing by greeted her warmly:
"Ah! Hello, Lady! You're a new face here!"
"???"
Werewolves roam around the domain?
Is this correct?!
Mionia was momentarily startled, but the werewolf showed her a symbol of Heaven's Faith, which reassured her—
Not really.
"Yikes! It's a monster!"
"Please calm down, Lady. Do you not see this symbol? I am a servant dedicated to the will of the heavens."
"Then, what's your favorite scripture verse?"
"Genesis 1:1. [Let there be light.]"
My goodness. He speaks Ancient?!
Mionia had no choice but to believe the werewolf's sincerity.
She later realized:
This was indeed a domain introduced by a wizard.
Even with something abnormal roaming around, it wasn't strange at all!
After all, Ian himself was an exceedingly odd wizard!
"You came on Wizard Ian's recommendation! Oh! He is my master!"
...That figures.
Mionia grumbled to herself.
"Come this way. I will introduce you to the baron."
The werewolf, Lewis, led Mionia to Lucy.
"Hello, sister. I came here because Ian introduced me."
"...? Who are you?"
Lucy, the lord of Talian, was puzzled by the sudden appearance of the nun visitor.
"I heard there's precious fabric here... I happen to know a bit about tailoring."
"???"
That was how Sister Mionia ended up in Talian's land.
"Then, Ian. Take care."
Ian departed from the Blue Key Monastery amid farewells from the monks.
The abbot and the other monks came out in droves to pray for his safe return.
"wizard Ian! Please save brother Takarion!"
"Please save him!"
Ian waved casually as he rode off.
That Takarion fellow.
Although his usual antics were annoying, the love he received from so many people suggested he wasn't all that terrible.
Indeed, what wrong had Takarion done?
His only crime was being annoyingly and excessively good at writing.
Enough so that a count filled with envy sent an assassin after him.
"You really have it tough, huh?"
"Squeak! Squeak!"
Ian spoke to some sort of holy? bird.
This creature would be taken care of by the converted barbarians of the north.
Ian, along with Kira and Belenka, arrived at the dock heading north.
"Are you really okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Me too."
The journey to a cold and barren land.
He had suggested they stay in the empire because it might be tough for the two women, but Kira and Belenka chose to follow Ian north.
"I still have debts to pay, I can't just hang around in the empire."
"I need to make money too. The north is tough, so the pay must be pretty good?"
Kira and Belenka smiled at each other without hesitation.
Seeing his companions' smiles, Ian felt a deep sense of security.
It was a psychological comfort he hadn't known when traveling alone.
This is why people seek companions for their journeys.
"Let's go!"
As the sails were lowered, the vessel carrying Ian smoothly sailed across the sea.
Under the bright sun, seagulls flapped their wings, flying alongside the sailing ship.
After several days of sailing, Ian reached his destination.
"Land in sight!"
It was a chilling, icy land.
The territory of the northern barbarians.
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