A Wizard

Old Ham ultimately didn't live to see Grimm take a wife and have children. He was buried first.

It was early spring. The biting cold wind had begun to soften. After a day's work, Old Ham and Grimm bought a small barrel of malt beer and several pounds of meat from town. They planned to begin renovating the house the next day, and finding Grimm a wife had also been put on the agenda.

Unfortunately, the next morning, Old Ham was no longer able to wake Grimm up for work.

Old Ham left with a smile on his face. Whether it was because of the good food and drink from the night before or because all his wishes had come true in his dreams, no one knew. Even when Grimm hired several farmers to bury Old Ham, he was still smiling, as carefree as he had been in life.

The pipe Old Ham treasured most was buried with him as well.

Old Ham's sudden departure left Grimm despondent for quite some time, but life went on.

Grimm became the owner of the two thatched cottages, along with an old horse, two gold coins, and seventeen silver coins. That was all the savings Old Ham had left behind in his life, and it now all belonged to Grimm. It was also everything Grimm owned.

Of course, Grimm secretly hid the wizardry book Nose-Hunting Modification and Scent Atlas where he kept his gold coins. Every night, while trying not to waste too much lamp oil, he read through it once or twice.

It was the crack through which Grimm peered into the doorway of the Wizard World.

Gradually, summer arrived.

It was another ordinary day. After a busy morning, Grimm dumped the large amount of trash left behind after the viscount's nobles had reveled the night before outside the city. Then he went to the viscount's territory to collect the supplies the tenant farmers had prepared for the viscount that day.

Grimm sat comfortably on the cart, gazing at the azure sky and drifting white clouds.

Beside the cart, a country girl named Mary deftly loaded the goods. She was more capable than most boys.

Mary wore a burlap apron. Her face was dotted with freckles, and she had golden hair. Her heart pounded fiercely as she occasionally stole glances at Grimm, who sat leisurely on the cart.

Mary liked the handsome man desperately. The unique scent on him was like the fragrance of Ailan Grass.

But Grimm paid no attention to Mary.

By chance, Grimm had learned a year ago that the girl liked him. Old Ham had secretly told him, and Old Ham's plan had even been for Grimm to marry the girl.

Though he never said it aloud, Grimm had to admit that he didn't really feel anything for the diligent, shy girl. At most, she was like a little sister next door.

So after Old Ham passed away, Grimm had never taken the initiative to contact her. He only saw her once each day while loading goods.

Seeing that Grimm wasn't speaking, the girl continued working while secretly observing him. As the goods were gradually loaded onto the cart, Grimm would ordinarily drive away. Finally, biting her lip, the girl couldn't hold back any longer.

"Grimm, a wizard passed through here this morning. He even asked how to get to Bissell City. Everyone here was shocked. It was my first time seeing a legendary wizard."

The girl put on an excited expression as she secretly watched Grimm.

Grimm had been sitting boredly on the cart, but the word wizard immediately roused him. He asked in disbelief, "A wizard? Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure. A lot of people here saw him."

Seeing Grimm respond, Mary answered happily.

Grimm asked excitedly, "What did the wizard look like?"

Grimm had never seen a wizard before, so he pressed for details.

"Um... that wizard wore a loose gray robe and a tall pointed hat. I couldn't see his face clearly—it looked like it was covered in a layer of mist. He was also holding a frog with red eyes. Oh, right. He spoke with Ima at the entrance to the village."

Seeing how excited Grimm was, Mary poured out every bit of information she knew.

"Thanks, this is wonderful!"

Grimm was extremely excited. Since obtaining that wizardry book half a year ago, this was the first clue he had received about a real wizard.

He quickly ran toward Ima's home at the village entrance.

Ima was a young woman of twenty-three or twenty-four, but her body had already begun to grow plump and bloated. A white apron was tied around her bucket-like waist, and she was already the mother of two children.

The man of the house was a hunter named Sogara. He was powerfully built and had a bold, forthright personality. A scar from a boar's tusk ran across his left cheek.

When Sogara saw Grimm arrive, he said in surprise, "Oh, Grimm's here! Haha, did the smell draw you over? Come, come, this is game I caught in the eastern mountains yesterday..."

Ima came out of the kitchen, while two children stared curiously at Grimm.

Half an hour later.

Grimm left Aima's home excitedly, muttering with delight, "Bissell City! He really went to Bissell City!"

In a rush, Grimm drove his cart toward the city. The old horse trotted all the way, and Grimm feared it might drop dead before long and join Old Ham in the grave.

At the entrance to the Viscount's Manor, the arrogant old steward stood with four burly knights behind him, blocking the gate.

The old steward's eyes were cold and vicious as he roared at the dozen or so farmers gathered outside the Viscount's Manor, "Your lands were bestowed upon you by Lord Viscount! Lord Viscount can tax you however he wants! Are you trying to rebel? Let me tell you..."

Grimm waited anxiously in the distance.

At about this time every year, a large number of farmers would gather at the Viscount's Manor to cause trouble. Then, after being taught a lesson by those burly knights, the farmers would disperse. The only difference was how long the process took.

"Untouchables! Untouchables! You still dare talk back!"

The old steward roared, "Drive them away!"

In no more than a brief moment, the four burly knights had beaten and kicked the dozen farmers away.

The old steward was furious, glaring so hard his eyes nearly popped out.

Grimm didn't dare delay. He quietly drove his cart into the Viscount's Manor, but the old steward roared, "Stop!"

The old steward glanced at Grimm, casually flipped through the goods on his cart, then snapped, "Why are you so late? Do you still want this job?"

Grimm bared his teeth. He had already been holding in a bellyful of anger.

That old bastard had already taken two silver coins in bribes from him this month. Working at the Viscount's Manor only earned four silver coins a month. The pay was good, but he couldn't withstand that old bastard's exploitation.

"Lord Steward, I arrived earlier. Those farmers blocked the road, so I couldn't get in."

Grimm was young and hot-blooded, unlike Old Ham. He didn't have such a good temper.

At once, the old steward reacted as if someone had stirred up a hornet's nest. His hair nearly stood on end, and his old face flushed red as he pointed at Grimm's nose and roared.

"Bastard! You lowly wretch still dare talk back? It seems Lord Viscount has fed you all for nothing! Fine! Fine... Don't come tomorrow. Get lost!"

After saying that, the old steward stormed into the courtyard and barked at the knights beside him, "If that lowly wretch comes again tomorrow, break his legs! Otherwise, you won't need to come either."

Grimm stood beside the cart, nearly mad with rage. He kept cursing the old bastard in his heart, hoping he would go meet Old Ham tomorrow.

Suddenly, Grimm thought of something. With a snort, he parked the cart beneath a large tree nearby and ran toward a blacksmith shop in the small city.

"Hey, Sixth Brother."

Grimm called out to a blacksmith's apprentice.

Back when Grimm had still begged in Bissell City, nine beggars had always begged together. Grimm had ranked Eighth Brother among them.

Later, each of them found their own opportunities. Grimm had been taken in by Old Ham, Sixth Brother had become an apprentice at this blacksmith shop, and Second Brother had reportedly gone to the countryside to become a tenant farmer. As for the others, there had been no word of them.

"Eighth Brother!"

The blacksmith's apprentice's eyes lit up when he saw Grimm. He strode over and patted Grimm on the shoulder. "What brings you here?"

He was over six feet tall and reeked of sweat, brimming with masculine vigor. Sixth Brother was much sturdier than Grimm now. His face was covered in a thick beard, his cheeks reddened from years beside the forge, and his rough hand hurt when it slapped Grimm's shoulder.

"Sixth Brother, I wanted to ask you something. I heard a wizard came to the city?"

Grimm asked softly, and Sixth Brother's expression changed.

"How did you know? A wizard really did come. I heard he's here to recruit students with wizard aptitude. But testing whether someone has the aptitude to become a Wizard Apprentice costs a full gold coin."

As he spoke, Sixth Brother discreetly gestured behind him toward the old blacksmith. "The old man took his son Ayi there too. No wizard aptitude. He's still heartbroken over that gold coin."

Grimm was both delighted and shocked. "Where is the wizard?"

Sixth Brother's expression changed again. He stared at Grimm in shock. "You're not thinking of going, are you? A gold coin isn't a small expense. We don't have that kind of money to throw away."

Grimm hesitated for a moment.

If he really lost a gold coin, it would indeed be a serious blow for Grimm, who only had a little over two gold coins.

But if he missed this chance, perhaps he would never have another one...

Finally, Grimm nodded firmly.

After staring at him in shock for quite a while, Sixth Brother said, "He's at the City Lord's Manor. I heard the city lord's precious daughter has already been tested and found to have wizard aptitude. Of course, she's the only one in Bissell City."

"Thanks, Sixth Brother."

Grimm was so excited that he even forgot the unpleasant incident with the old steward at the Viscount's Manor. His mind was filled with nothing but thoughts of wizards.

Grimm ran desperately back to his two small thatched cottages. From the most concealed spot, he dragged out a chest filled with silver and copper coins.

"I have to become a wizard! I have to!"

After counting out one hundred silver coins, Grimm thought for a moment, then took the wizardry book Nose-Hunting Modification and Scent Atlas with him as well. After hiding the chest, Grimm ran toward Bissell City again.

Since it was already summer and the days were long, fortunately it hadn't gotten dark yet.

The city lord was the most noble aristocrat in Bissell City. It was said that he was the only marquis in the entire Bissell Region.

Unless one went to another city's territory, the city lord was the most powerful noble in the Bissell Region. Even the viscount had to obediently listen to him.

Grimm had only seen the City Lord's Manor a few times from afar. Usually, it was heavily guarded by seven or eight knights. Now, however, quite a few people were coming and going from the manor.

Grimm took a quick look. Most of those entering and leaving were shop owners or nobles from the city, with their descendants beside them. They generally wore expressions of disappointment.

Knowing the wizard was inside, Grimm rushed in without sparing another thought.

"Stop. Pay one gold coin."

At that moment, a boy about Grimm's age shouted at him.

Grimm painfully handed over a small cloth pouch of silver coins. The boy disdainfully glanced at him, then tossed the pouch into the box behind him without even counting it.

Grimm froze for a moment. Judging by the other's demeanor and clothing, he looked no different from a farmer's son. He had probably stumbled into some great fortune, but Grimm couldn't understand where that arrogance came from.

Grimm gave him an equally disdainful glance, then followed the crowd ahead into the City Lord's Manor.