I Am A Wizard Who Can Travel Between Earth And The Other World

"That magic you used to weaken their durability—it was extraordinary," Owen continued.

"Might I ask where you acquired the technique?"

The question caught Gin off guard.

There was something in Gin's tone that implied an expectation—almost as if he believed such a technique could only be learned through acquisition.

But how could Gin explain that he had created it himself? For reasons he couldn't quite articulate, revealing the truth didn't feel like the right move.

As Gin hesitated,

Owen seemed to read his silence as a refusal.

He chuckled softly.

"You don't have to answer if it's a sensitive matter. I may have overstepped."

His eyes gleamed with curiosity as he shifted to another question.

"If there's a durability-weakening spell, I assume there's also a durability-enhancing one?"

Gin nodded slowly.

The weakening magic had, in fact, been developed as a counterpoint to reinforcement techniques, though it had evolved considerably during the process.

Owen's eyes sparkled with intense interest, revealing an almost tangible desire.

It was clear he wanted both the strengthening and weakening formulas—but he also seemed aware that simply asking for them outright would be improper.

Gin could practically see the gears turning in Owen's mind as he considered what kind of offer might suffice.

Before the conversation could continue, Marcus approached cautiously.

"We're about ready to move on with the exploration.

Do you need more time?"

Owen glanced at him and answered casually, "Let's rest for another five minutes.

I have a few matters to think over."

"Understood.

We'll prepare to depart in five minutes," Marcus replied respectfully before stepping away.

Once Marcus was gone, Owen flashed a smile at Gin. "I needed a little more time before we resumed. Once we start moving again, I won't have much opportunity to think through other matters."

The implication was clear: observing the expedition was critically important to him. Gin pondered whether Owen was scouting for talent—if so, the true interest likely lay not with Owen himself, but with the Five Great Houses.

After a few moments of thought, Owen turned back to Gin with a question. "Is there anything you desire in particular?"

"Hmm… not really.

I'm not lacking much," Gin replied thoughtfully.

"Although, I do have an interest in ancient ruins and records written in ancient scripts."

Owen's eyes seemed to glimmer like lightning in response. "Ah, now that's something I can help with."

His satisfaction was evident.

Gin's curiosity piqued—could this lead to an invitation to one of the ruins under the protection of the Five Great Houses?

"While I can't grant access to the sites directly under the Five Great Houses, I can certainly ensure you're invited to future expeditions like this one when external experts are required," Owen offered smoothly.

"That's no trouble at all for me."

"Are you serious?"

Gin asked, surprised.

While he had hoped for something grander, this was still a promising opportunity—enough to keep him content for the time being.

"Of course.

I'd like to maintain a strong relationship with you, Mage Gin."

"Then I'll look forward to it," Gin replied, his expression brightening.

Owen grinned.

"I'll exceed your expectations.

But for now, it's time we finish this expedition."

With that, the team resumed their journey.

Despite the earlier conversation, Owen continued to observe without engaging directly.

The path to the chamber of the three colossal trolls was not without peril.

Hidden along the way were several magical traps, artfully concealed and designed with intricate spellcraft.

Vogel, despite his magical prowess, failed to detect them, and even those with sensory abilities overlooked the traps entirely.

But Gin noticed each one with ease.

He not only identified the traps but also dismantled them.

Since they were rooted in magical constructs, disarming them proved more manageable for someone of his expertise.

As he worked, Gin found himself inspired by some of the designs, gleaning valuable insights from the process.

For Gin, the detours provided a rare opportunity for growth—one that left him feeling enriched rather than burdened.

Finally, they reached the heart of the ruins: a vast cavern where the three towering trolls awaited.

Behind them stood an imposing, sealed door radiating a faint, arcane presence.

The battle to come would decide whether the expedition could proceed any further.

Gin's gaze immediately bypassed the three colossal chitinous trolls, focusing instead on the towering door behind them.

Something about the door, now fully visible,

captured his attention in ways the sensory sweep of his domain magic could not.

The door stood around four meters tall and three meters wide, a formidable structure carved with ancient inscriptions.

Eight large characters were engraved, four on each half of the door.

Though there were only eight symbols, ancient script was rarely straightforward.

Fewer characters did not necessarily mean a shorter message.

In some cases, fewer symbols carried vast meanings, while at other times, lengthy inscriptions conveyed very little.

This door belonged to the former category.

Despite the sparse characters, the message woven into their arrangement was complex and extensive.

'What a strange script… Why would anyone create something so inefficient?' Gin thought, shaking his head.

But despite its perceived inefficiency, there was something oddly captivating about the symbols.

'It's not like it's some kind of cipher… right?'

He recalled the inscription at the entrance of the ruins.

It had been lengthy but straightforward, essentially declaring this site a specialized armory. It stood to reason that opening the door would reveal ancient weapons stored within.

The trolls stationed here—living,

bio-engineered weapons—were likely designed to guard those relics.

'Could I create something like that if I fully master the knowledge I gained about bio-organic constructs?' Gin wondered briefly.

He refocused on the door.

The inscription indicated that this was a restricted facility requiring proper authorization to enter.

The instructions detailed two options:

authorized personnel could present an identification token to the designated symbol on the door.

Alternatively, if no token was available,

placing one's palm on the symbol would suffice, though it required a blood sacrifice for verification.

'Authorization check...'

His thoughts drifted as he turned his gaze to Owen.

The other mage appeared tense, staring at the door with a rigid expression.

It seemed Owen had encountered similar ruins before.

For now, however, the immediate threat demanded Gin's attention.

He decided to deal with the three giant trolls before concerning himself with the mysteries of the door.

Approaching Marcus, he spoke calmly.

"Let's start by confirming whether durability-weakening magic will work on these ones," he said.

These trolls were unlike the previous group—they were roughly 1.5 times larger and possessed triple the magical energy.

Each troll had five cores, and the power radiating from those cores was considerably stronger. A mere five layers of durability-weakening magic might not be enough to affect them.

The other ability-wielders, including Imakir, were visibly shaken by the overwhelming presence of the trolls.