Chapter 199: Hex User

After defeating Ignat, I proceed further underground.

As expected, there was no one that was stronger than Ignat among their guards. What left are some sporadic resistances scattered here and there.

Then, I arrived at a door.

I can feel magic power from it but I open the door without minding it. Doing so, a bolt of lightning flew towards me.

Still, it was blocked by my barrier.

As expected of an Ancient Magic-User. People didnt call you the strongest mage in the Empire for nothing. That was a great barrier.

Said the young man with swept-back blonde hair as he applauded.

His irises are in different colors of purple and green. I can see that he possesses a good amount of knowledge of magic.

The man sits imposingly on his chair as he looks straight at me.

This room is different from the others.

It is filled with books so this must be some kind of a study room, probably the personal quarter of the man in front of me. It somehow feels similar to Gramps room.

They are the same in that they are both fascinated by magic and only live to study it. There is a huge difference in their nature though.

So you are their leader?

Indeed I am. My name is Ian. One who bears the symbol of the winged book of Grimoire.

Ian then shows the tattoo on his left hand.

The tattoo is one of a book with demonic wings. This is probably the symbol of their executives that Mia was talking about.

People with odd eyes have a strong magic power by nature. The fact that he is one means that he must be an excellent mage himself.

Crime Organization that was born from a group of researchers, Grimoire. What exactly are you people doing under the imperial capital?

So you paid us a visit without knowing that?

I only heard that there are maggots squirming underground. I dont know what such maggots are doing though.

Ians eyebrows moved after my provocation.

Then he shows a thin smile.

Thats cruel. Calling us maggots? Then maybe the people above ground are simple pebbles?

Maybe. Compared to you people they are as valuable as gems though.

As expected of the sole SS-rank adventurer of the Empire. You sure favor them.

I wonder about that. I think that you would get the same answer no matter which SS-rank adventurer you ask you know? Even like this, I am still the gentlest of all SS-rank adventurers though. Maybe you dont like what I said?

Well, I do have the same sensibilities as the next guy you see. Being treated like a maggot hurt me quite a bit.

I see. Sorry about that. I will rephrase it then. You trash who are obsessed with magic. What are you doing inside the Empire?

Ian doesnt react this time.

However, I can see that his magic power is slowly increasing.

That being said, his carefree expression still remains the same.

He probably has some kind of plan huh.

I think it is my business to conduct my magic research wherever I want though?

Magic research? If you are not guilty then why bother holding yourself up underground like this?

Im a shy person.

Is that right. So you are saying that what you are researching are healthy magics?

Of course.

as a mage, my interest is piqued. Lets hear it then. What are you studying?

I am thinking of challenging a grand magic with cooperation from a certain person. Its a magic that nobody has managed to cast before.

Cooperation huh

For him to infiltrate the Empire during such a time, theres no way that he would be researching such ordinary magic.

And his cooperating probably means becoming his research specimen. No one would willingly give their cooperation to such a thing.

In other words.

Rather than a cooperator, isnt it more accurate to say a research specimen?

You could say that I guess.

I see. One more thing. Is it the Saint?

As expected of Silver, you are fast. Thats right. I am intending to have her cooperate with us.

Ian grins.

There is no malicious intent on his face. His grin seems like that of someone who doesnt think he has done anything wrong.

He probably thinks of everyone else beside him as his specimen.

He does resemble Zandra. A person that doesnt care about anyone except they serve a purpose.

I seethen I am done asking questions. Have you prepared yourself?

You sure are carefree. So you went out of your way to let me finish my preparation huh?

Its my interest as a mage. I am wondering how dull your magic would be when it was developed through illegal means and at the expense of others.

Hmph..then that dull magic will be your downfall!

Saying so, Ian snapped his fingers.

At that moment, Countless barriers that were set up around the room activated, and the place where I am standing was surrounded by magic circles.

The magic circles formed a single crest and started to bind me.

My specialty is hex. I have been collecting the hex barriers of the east and west, both old and new, once it all combined it will completely neutralize the target! This is my new magicEvil Eye Barrier! You already lost the moment you stepped into my room!

It seems that this magic is certainly a combination of various kinds of barriers huh.

There are more than 20 barriers set up in this room. Each of their powers probably stacks up and creates a powerful hex at the magic circle below me.

Certainly, it is powerful. However, this is simply a mishmash combination.

I am the strongest Hex User! You chose the wrong opponent! Silver!

Yeah, seriously. You really chose the wrong opponent.

I slightly lift my right leg up and stomp back on the ground.

With that alone, the magic circle under me collapses and the barriers that were set up all over the room also collapsed with the sound of glass shattering

Im, possible.

To be honest, I do think that it was a great barrier. You combined the barrier that normally would repel each other into one barrier that has an exquisite balance. Still, if I break that balance, everything will collapse immediately. That barrier wont help you in actual combat.

I know that..thats why I used it as a traphow could you move inside that barrier?

That is probably because my barrier is stronger than your hex.

Ian seems to think that he would win if he can trap his opponent inside his barrier but that idea is too naive.

Tentatively, I am the strongest mage of the Empire. Even if I have Orihime as my opponent, as long as I have time, I can escape her barrier. And she is the strongest Barrier User on the continent. Of course, I can move within the hex barrier at Ians level.

And if I can move as normal, it is an easy task to pour my magic power in his barrier to upset the balance of the magic circles.

No matter how much you research and combine various kinds of magic, you can not call it new magic. At best, it is only a modification of its current capability. A new magic is one that you create by overcoming the already existing wall. Dont underestimate magic development.

Fu..fufufuas expectedas expected of you, Silver..I am so lucky. I thought that I drew a bad lottery when I was assigned to lead the Imperial Capital operation but.I am now being able to test out my skill with the strongest mage!!!

Saying so, Ian shoots a huge fireball from his right arm.

He certainly is skilled. That is not something a normal mage could cast without any chant.

However.

Testing your skill? A Hex User like you who already abandoned relying on your hexes?

Kuh! Then take this!!

Ian took out a stone from his pocket.

It was a jewel that has accumulated magic power inside. Ian threw it at me.

The moment the jewel came into contact with my barrier, the jewel shattered with smoke leaked from the inside.

Hahaha! Its over! Silver! That jewel is a special item I developed! If you breathe in that smoke, you will sleep for three days!

Is that so.

Saying so, I contained the smoke inside a barrier.

Seeing the smoke being captured in a moment, Ian opened his eyes wide but I spoke to him without caring that.

Thanks for the explanation. I was thinking that it would be a pain to find a way to knock you out without killing you, you see.

Wai-!

No.

I throw the barrier containing the smoke at Ian.

The moment it reached him, the barrier broke and the smoke leaked out.

Ian who was bathed in it immediately lost consciousness and fell asleep.

Now, the rest is to look for information huh.

Muttering so, I started looking at the documents on Ians desk.

As I looked through it, I unintentionally clicked my tongue.

Tsk..! this is more troublesome than I thought.

Saying so, I started collecting all the necessary documents.

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