Became a Medieval Fantasy Wizard

TL/Editor: raei

Status: 5/week mon-fri

Illustrations: none

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If Ian had misunderstood anything, it was the knowledge level of medieval people.

Surprisingly, medieval people weren't as ignorant as one might think.

Of course, this being an isekai medieval world rather than the real medieval era made a difference.

Still, given how similar human consciousness levels were, the ancients of both worlds must have had comparable intelligence.

'So medieval people didn't believe in flat earth theory?!'

He had made this mistake after getting too used to the post-apocalyptic world of the Holy Empire.

As with common post-apocalyptic tropes...

While some regions had been utterly devastated with civilization reset to stone age levels.

Other regions had preserved ancient knowledge and maintained their own version of 'modern' civilization.

The Imperial University in Dranheim was exactly like that.

Classical knowledge had been preserved intact, making it a place overflowing with rational and logical learning!

"I can prove that Earth is round!"

A man wearing fur clothing raised his hand and spoke.

Judging by his high-class attire, he seemed to be some noble's son studying abroad.

He didn't miss this chance to show off his knowledge.

"Oh! Come up here, student!"

The professor gladly called the student up to the stage(?).

Most classes at the Imperial University proceeded this way.

The professor would pose a question first, then students with relevant knowledge would come up and continue the lecture.

So as classes went on, at some point the professor would disappear and someone else would take over teaching.

It was education conducted in a perfectly open space, purely for sharing knowledge.

"Now! These are records of star movements in the night sky, documented by ancient Golden Empire scholars!"

To summarize the presenter's explanation:

'The constellations move irregularly in the night sky, which cannot be explained by the theory that the heavens move.'

'But if we assume Earth rotates, the movement of constellations aligns perfectly!'

'Therefore, Earth is spherical and rotates as time passes!'

"Wow... unbelievable."

Ian's jaw dropped at the student's logical explanation.

Holy shit...

Medieval people were doing science!

Ian stared at the medieval student like some fascinating animal, but there was really nothing surprising about it.

It wasn't like medieval people had monkey-level intelligence.

With the same human brains, they could reach perfectly logical conclusions.

"Hmm. Ian. Do you understand what he's explaining?"

"? Of course I do."

"All this talk about the sky moving... I don't understand any of it."

Belenka grumbled with crossed arms.

"Won't we get divine punishment for this?"

"Hmph. As expected. Belenka. You're definitely medieval."

"???"

Ian instantly felt at ease seeing Belenka's reaction.

Ah~ Now this was a proper medieval person!

Worrying about divine punishment for studying constellations - she was the perfect medieval specimen!

'This is an information transmission problem.'

Ian understood why such knowledge gaps existed between medieval people.

It wasn't about the absolute amount of information.

It was about information bias.

Medieval times didn't have modern media like internet or smartphones.

Even making one book required monks to painstakingly copy it letter by letter, so knowledge spread at a torturously slow pace.

Thus 99% of medieval people lived and died without ever accessing proper knowledge.

You need opportunities to access knowledge before you can even choose to learn!

But the 1% of scholars.

Those studying at universities, the frontlines of knowledge, possessed understanding that surpassed Ian's common sense.

So answering the question [Are medieval people ignorant?] was quite tricky.

The knowledge gap was so huge that the answer was 'most are ignorant, but some aren't'.

The medieval people before Ian were that top 1% of 'intelligent' medievals.

"That concludes my presentation."

*Clap clap clap!*

The exchange student returned to his seat with a proud expression.

"Excellent. As this student explained, our world is not flat but round. All those market maps showing cliffs at the world's edge where you fall into hell are nonsense." �

Hahaha!

The students burst out laughing.

Medieval maps often featured versions with "world's edge" cliffs dropping into hell.

The reason was obvious... to sell maps.

Mapmakers would just label unknown areas as "edge of the world" and claim it was a complete version!

'These people definitely aren't to be underestimated.'

Ian was freshly impressed by medieval people's excellent knowledge level.

The era might be slow, but the people weren't ignorant.

Medieval people understood quite a bit of what modern people would know.

"Now back to our main point. Can we measure Earth's diameter with this stick or not?"

The professor smiled kindly while staring straight at Ian.

His mouth smiled but... his eyes shone with cold reason!

'Heheh. Let's see if you can answer this question!'

Seeing a professor like this after so long, Ian felt nostalgic for modern universities.

Looking at that devilishly scholarly bearing, now this was a proper professor!

He looked ready to suck his students dry to the bone!

"By the way, the hint was given by the student who proved [Earth is round]. Now you all should be able to answer."

"Earth... is round...?"

"Ugh... it's hard... I don't get it..."

"Professor smart... we dumb..."

Though hints had been given.

As expected, the university students just scratched their heads while showing off troll-level knowledge.

Ian couldn't help smiling contentedly.

Yeah, now these were proper university students!

"I'll try calculating it."

Having come this far, Ian felt some responsibility.

The calculations weren't difficult, and as a student in the class he wanted to satisfy the professor.

"Good! Come up!"

Ian boldly went up to the stage and began writing calculations on the board.

Actually, the formula for finding a circle's diameter was basic enough to appear in middle school math textbooks.

But that was in the modern era where knowledge had developed and spread.

In medieval times with biased knowledge and slow mathematical progress, just knowing how to find a circle's diameter made you an incredible math prodigy.

Though he couldn't match professor level, he could handle undergraduate level!

"As proven earlier, Earth is spherical. So if we draw a line vertical to the center, then draw another line parallel to it.

Since parallel lines have equal alternate angles, if we know one angle we can find the central angle of the circle."

"???"

"We can measure the position of the parallel line with this stick."

"...?"

"Wh-What's he saying?!"

"Ugh... class too hard... don't understand..."

Ian felt his blood boiling at this rare chance for science action...!

Who was he?

Wizard Ian? Nono!

'Mathematician' Ian Eredith Raven!

"Very precise. Well then, shall we measure Earth's diameter tomorrow at noon?"

"Of course!"

'Mathematician' Ian awakened and answered energetically!

At the same time, Belenka whispered in horror.

Like hell!

"No, Ian! We need to go meet the wizards quickly...!"

"No need!"

"???"

"We'll meet them when it's time! The class is too fun, I want to listen a bit more! For now... let me enjoy this!"

Belenka muttered sincerely:

"Crazy bastard..."

Wizards were weird guys, and scholars were no less weird.

And Ian was a crazy bastard mixing both.

Belenka couldn't understand Ian's mindset at all.

Enjoying studying... what a complete lunatic?!

"I can't stand this class anymore. I'll go look for the others first."

"Okay~ Bring them here when you find them~"

"..."

Belenka finally understood exactly how Ian became a wizard.

Since this crazy bastard enjoyed studying, he must have breezed through wizard studies too!

'Seriously. He's disgustingly smart.'

Though he insisted he wasn't a genius, to Belenka Ian was definitely a genius wizard.

While Ian was deeply absorbed in medieval math lectures.

Belenka wandered alone searching for the magic department.

#

Everyone knew Ian was heading to the Imperial University.

"Go empty out a dorm room and clean it thoroughly!"

"Yes, professor!"

Inglan had finished preparations well before Ian's arrival.

He wanted to help Ian focus only on studying without any worries!

"Finished registration. Found lodging..."

Though Ian was later than expected, Inglan took it in stride.

Travel rarely went exactly as planned. Strange things happening on the road wasn't unusual.

'To think the day would come to have magical discussions with Ian.'

Inglan smiled contentedly while reminiscing about the past.

Though their first meeting wasn't pleasant, he had built up various memories(?) with Ian (Ian might want to strangle Inglan if he knew).

He'd helped when nobles captured Ian... rushed to help right before the dragon fight...

Inglan knew well how excellent Ian's magic level was.

Clearly, Ian was a wizard serious about magic.

How else could he use all schools of magic so well without interest in magic!

Ian must surely be filled with thoughts of magic and mystery.

Even while eating, even while sleeping...

"Professor! Lady Belenka the knight just visited!"

"Belenka?"

Inglan knew this knight.

She was Ian's friend and foreign guardian knight.

If Belenka had arrived...

"Ian must be here!"

When Inglan shouted, the servant made a strange expression.

"Well... he has arrived but."

"?"

"He's currently giving a lecture in the mathematics department."

"???"

Inglan pondered what this meant for a moment.

Our wizard Ian... doing what now?

Math?

MAAATH?!

"Haha! Don't joke around!"

Inglan just laughed off the servant's report.

Come on~

What a joke!

Ian was a wizard to his bones, how could he possibly like math that only dusty scholars scribble about!

Wizards should focus more on elegant phrases and sophisticated word choice!

How could a wizard busy researching vocabulary that transcends emotion and reality be lecturing about math?

"Must have heard wrong..."

"Professor Inglan! Did you hear? They say Ian became a math professor!"

"..."

Eredith burst into Inglan's room shouting that.

Inglan's jaw dropped belatedly.

Really... Ian became a math professor?!

What kind of nonsense...!

Inglan and Eredith hurried to the mathematics department's lecture hall.

"Oh my goodness!"

There he was, Ian completely absorbed in giving an open lecture!

Inglan couldn't contain his rising anger and shouted:

"Stop right there! That young man is our magic department student!"

Then the math professor listening to the lecture slowly approached and said:

"What are you saying about our mathematics student?"

"'Our mathematics'?"

Eredith's voice rose slightly.

She unconsciously clenched her fists...!

These shameless math nerds!

How dare they seduce my innocent disciple?!

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