"The protagonist from the fairy tale?"
She was somewhat surprised.
Ian felt the same.
"Hmm?"
The Little Wizard was instantly intrigued. He knew many fairy tales did actually exist, but encountering such things in the living world was genuinely unexpected.
"How do you prove it, then?"
Ian paused his actions.
This allowed the shadowed lifeform to breathe a little easier.
"Have you heard the story of the tortoise and the hare?" It lowered its voice to ask Ian, as if ready to reveal its identity and prove it was indeed remarkable.
"Hmm, the tortoise and the hare race, where the hare loses to the tortoise, right? Are you saying you're the tortoise in this story?" Ian looked at the other's hard-to-peel shell and guessed.
"No."
The life within the shadows responded.
"Then you are the hare?"
That was Little Morgan's interjection of a guess.
It too received a negation from the shadowed life.
"I'm not the hare either; I didn't participate in the race."
Its voice was somewhat hoarse.
"Playing games with us?"
Ian raised his eyebrow, immediately starting to peel the shell again, which made the other panic and plead.
"I'll say, I'll say, I'm the big bad wolf who watched the tortoise and the hare race play out... you surely know my story, I'm the one Little Red Riding Hood has been beating up since childhood!"
It hurriedly explained its identity.
"..."
Ian was speechless to the extreme.
That was unlike any fairy tale he had heard. Moreover, being the big bad wolf is one thing, but what's this about the tortoise and the hare race; is it embarrassing to admit being chased and beaten by Little Red Riding Hood throughout life?
"I don't believe it."
He still felt the shadow was trying to deceive him; how could a fairy tale character turn out this bizarre — it should be something extremely evil.
"I really am the big bad wolf! I have an identity proof given by Cinderella!" The shadow trembled violently, as if the life within was also shivering.
"You can't expose me to the human world; otherwise..." its voice was intense, but before it finished speaking, it was suddenly interrupted by an unexpected arrival.
"Excuse me, may I have the items you're holding? I've been searching for them for a long time now." The voice was like a clear stream flowing through a valley.
The tone was gentle and courteous, giving one a refreshing feeling like a spring breeze. A person emerged slowly from the forest, wearing a snow-white robe, smiling lightly under the sunlight.
His steps were light and soundless, as if walking on an invisible path. The sunlight seemed fond of him, casting a light golden glow upon him.
"Hmm?"
Ian looked at the man's face, with a high nose bridge and deep eyes, eyes that seemed to contain the glow of stars, occasionally flickering with a silver light.
This was an exceptionally handsome man, tall with a height over 180 cm, his beautiful face had a gentle charm, almost rivaling Ian's appearance.
This made the Little Wizard feel somewhat familiar.
"Wizard?"
Little Morgan silently hid behind Ian.
"Yes, a wizard, and I think you are too." The newcomer looked at the corpses still standing, his gaze calm, then turned back to stare at the object in Ian's hand.
"Rest assured, I respect any kind of wizard's legacy. What drew me here was not the corpses, but the mystery hidden in history associated with the items you possess."
The man's voice was gentle, with a captivating magnetic quality.
At this moment.
"Quick! Quick, run! Run with me and Morgan!" The shadow suddenly screamed with a sharp explosion, the voice not only conveyed terror but also a fear akin to trembling.
"You fear him but not me?"
The Little Wizard could clearly sense the shadow's fear.
The shadow did not respond.
The white-robed man chuckled softly.
"I suppose it should fear me." His hands were long and white, fingers slender as if they had never been stained by dust, exuding a faint powerful force from his body.
"Failing to reveal my identity is my mistake. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Merlin Ambrosius... A wizard known perhaps to some extent." The man's gentle voice seemed to carry a heart-penetrating power, the name he spoke was indeed striking enough.
"What!?"
Upon hearing this, Little Morgan's pupils constricted sharply, showing an unbelievable fright. She grabbed Ian's clothes, the emotions inside her surging with intensity.
After all.
In terms of territory.
The legendary wizard in front of them was loyal to her family's opposing side.
"Exciting!" Ian too couldn't help but widen his eyes. Whether the shadow was the fairy tale's big bad wolf was unknown, but the person in front was definitely a living legend.
No one dared to impersonate the Wizard King in this era.
"Now, can you hand me the items you're holding? Of course, I will compensate you adequately with the reward of asking me any question about magic worries in your heart."
"Just speak your needs; the knowledge you require, I can offer freely." Merlin's tone was mellow. He was obviously showing off, though he undoubtedly had the qualification to do so.
Just as Ian was about to speak.
"Teacher... I also have head-sized gemstones! Three of them!" Morgan suddenly took out all the gold coins she owned and the valuable jewels on her, stuffing them into Ian's pockets directly.
"Ah?"
The Little Wizard was somewhat surprised.
Turning his head, he saw Morgan's eyes filled with expecting earnestness.
At this moment.
Silence spoke louder.
A sentence he said last night echoed in his ears — "Gold coins in place, Merlin defeated." Apparently, this newly acquired apprentice genuinely took his offhand brag seriously!
"Head-sized gemstones... three?"
Ian swallowed.
He swore.
The magic wand truly flew to his hand on its own.
"Let's make a bet."
The Little Wizard looked up at the legend before him.
"Oh?"
Merlin examined the Little Wizard with interest.
"Planning to challenge me, boy?" Merlin saw the magic wand in Ian's hand, chuckling, his eyes squinting, evidently harboring a mischievous sense of humor.
"I need a Time Converter."
Ian found a reasonable excuse for himself.
Gemstone?
Just an afterthought.
He always ensured a win at least twice, aiming for a win-win situation.
"A Time Converter... Hmm, it seems you're not a local." Merlin raised his eyebrows, intrigued by the person daring to challenge him.
"No problem."
He provided a definite answer.
"Daring to challenge the world's legend; this courage is enough to make you become something in the future..." Merlin looked at the small fellow before him, intending to express his appreciation for Ian.
However.
In the next moment.
He felt an overwhelming surge of magic power emanating from Ian.
Along with that distinct legendary force.
"Holy crap!"
Merlin's hand trembled directly.
The usually proud wizard who entered the legendary echelon at twenties.
At this moment… was genuinely stunned.