81 Questioning (1/2)

With Isamu and Selena being gone to perform their investigations around the cave encampment, Gray saw fit that it's now time to dispel his enslavement spell that has been holding the Bandit Boss during his bandit genocide.

Questioning the Bandit Boss under the effects of \u003cMana Slave\u003e was out of the question. An individual who's enslaved by the mentioned spell is incapable of coherent speech since his consciousness was cut off and replaced with mental commands from the caster as per the workings of the spell.

Before performing the deed, however, Gray decided to first play safe as he telepathically ordered the boss to unequipped his plate armor and give it to him as well as any other items of value that the boss possessed from his Inventory such as potions, poisons, weapons, jewelry, gold, and other things that Gray deemed worthy for the taking.

”Huh, neat.” After receiving the spoils of war from the boss, Gray marveled with a look of approval at seeing how valuable the items are, most especially the set of knightly plate armor and the two-handed bardiche due to their incredible stats fit for a Warrior.

The bandit is now witnessed to be stripped of his belongings and equipment, leaving him dressed in his casual attire of a simple black shirt and long green pants that were under his set of armor to begin with.

With the boss' helmet gone, his face is revealed for Gray to see. The muscular man is middle of age, showing slight wrinkles on his forehead and pale brown hair with a stubble beard. His most notable facial feature though is the menacing scar that sported on his right eye, no doubt a wound that came from one of his battles.

”Alright, now that his gear and belongings are finally rid of, there's one more important thing to do.” The elf muttered to himself as he took out a familiar piece of small paper from his Inventory and unfolded it.

The paper is none other than a mini variation of the Parchment of Exolv, a magical paper utilized for the sole purpose of copying a complex Magic Circle into anything to perform the caster's intended magical ritual.

Gray placed the parchment on the boss' chest to integrate the effects of the circle within him.

”Exolv.”

Gray uttered the words while touching the parchment for the Magic Circle to assume its characteristics on the boss.

In a simple explanation, the type of Magic Circle that was used in this situation is a simple Seal of Physical Paralyzation, a small circle that's useful for paralyzing anyone. The seal's effects usually lasted for a day and can't be broken easily unless the victim possessed a remarkable amount of strength or a counter-magic in dispelling the cursed effects. Speaking of strength, this is also one of the reasons why Gray instructed the boss to part away from his equipment since armors that are donned by Warriors usually granted them significant bonuses in the Strength attribute.

Of course, Gray could go the old fashioned way of simply tying the bandit with a rope. But seeing the man being a frightening entity in the physical department as what he had displayed earlier during the skirmish against his former allies, Gray does not want to take any chances.

As a result of the cursed seal making its mark, the Bandit Boss instantly stumbled down with his back behind the ground as the effects took its place in immobilizing him.

”Now that everything is out of the way, it's time to dispel the spell holding his will.”

With a snap of his fingers, the glow on the bandit's eyes disappeared, marking the end of the enslavement spell.

Unfortunately, the Bandit Boss was still lying on the ground unconscious as caused by the spell's mentally grueling effects. The elf tried to wake him up forcefully by shaking his body and slapping his face harshly, but his efforts proved to be ineffective as the man was definitely down for the count. So he has to wait for the bandit to recover.

***

Thankfully, the wait was not that long as the Bandit Boss woke up ten minutes later feeling all dizzy like a drunken man with an intense hangover after a night of alcoholic revelry.

”Wuh… where am I?” The boss absentmindedly mumbled to himself as he attempted to get himself up from where he currently lays down. ”The last thing I remember is having some sort of headache and my mind went blank.”

His attempts, however, were in utter vain as his eyes slowly widened in panic in his inability to move a single part of his body.

”What the?!!” The boss yelled in fear at his dire predicament. ”W-what's going on?!!”

”I believe I can explain that.”

The boss heard an unfamiliar voice as a robe-wearing elf made his presence known standing right above while staring at him with a smug look of superiority.

”You!!!” The boss gritted his teeth in rage at seeing an unwelcome intruder at his encampment. ”Derek, sound the alarm, there's an intruder over here!!!!”

”Hahaha!!” Gray laughed at the bandit's misfortune as he shook his head in amusement. ”I hate it to break it up to you, but Derek won't be sounding that alarm anytime soon and any of your bandit friends on that matter.”