-What did you do, you bastard?! You're obviously a wizard, you can't even use your magic! Our device prevents every magician from creating spells, so what trick did you use?! - the bandit leader was angered, and his lackeys threw the now useless pistols on the ground and pulled out their swords hanging on their hips. I guess they brought those just in case something doesn't work.

-Even if you destroyed our guns somehow we still have weapons while you're defenceless! And I never heard of a wizard good at close combat - good enough to deal with armed enemies surrounding him! Men, attack! Kill this bastard!

-Stop, don't hurt him! I won't let you! -shouted Lucy and jumped in front of me. Is she trying to sacrifice herself for me? And she even closed her eyes! Well, it's kind of cute when she does things like this, it makes me think of her as if she's a pet trying to protect me. This behaviour is a very big part that made me marry her - that I can trust her, for she would even give up her own life for me. It's completely useless to do such a thing in this situation though, my silly wife.

In a competition between a wizard and a warrior, when there wasn't a big difference in strength, the mage would almost always win. Especially someone as skilled and experienced in magic as me. Even more so when my enemies made my power even stronger than it normally is - even if it got harder to control it since I wasn't used to the change.

Damn, I can't wait to uncover the secret to this phenomenon.

-Stand back. - I whispered in Lucy's ear while I caught her with mana ropes and gently threw her aside. She seemed completely shocked by my sudden display of magic. The next moment invisible snakes wrapped themselves around the closest thugs, restraining their movement and tightening their grip slowly to make them feel pain and panic.

It looked like they suddenly froze in the air while moving towards me. Conclusion? - six bad guys taken care of.

Guiding the invisible, stronger than normal ropes was a bit harder than usual so some of the bandits just might end up with a broken bone or two... Well, whatever.

Without further ado, I simply started walking past the unmoving figures, in the meantime making them stand in different poses like pieces of art. For example, crouching on top of their toes with arms above their heads or hands put together as if they were praying. And perhaps they should pray to the gods, for mercy. Which won't really help them after angering me. My chocolate! They will pay for it even if the whole universe tries to stop me!!!!!!

I slowly walked past a guy with a desperate face standing on one foot with a hand on his butt while I headed towards the bandit leader.

- You! How can you use magic?! That magical disruptor cost a fortune! Why are you the only one who isn't affected?!

I smiled helplessly thinking about the idiocy of people buying things they don't understand. And also those supposedly renowned wizards in a long queue to the exit, so terrified and useless after supposedly losing their biggest advantage - magic.

- Oh, I am affected. It's just that this thing you have is in fact not stopping mages at all. - I decided to enlighten him before he dies. Let him reflect on his actions in hell.

- What?! But it stops wizards from using magic! It works! - as I was getting closer he started to step back, perhaps finally understanding that before him stood a fully capable of using his power mage. Even if a foreigner with unknown abilities, every wizard was a highly dangerous existence and those unskilled aren't invited to the royal party - especially not strangers.

- If it stops them that just means they are stupid. Your device actually helps mages.

- No way! It hinders the creation of spells!

- Yes? And what about me then? Am I not a mage? Do you think that an idiotic person like you knows about magic more than an actual wizard? Did you study magic by chance? - I asked sarcastically.

- N-no. - he stuttered stupidly.

-Do you even know anything about how your own device works? Did you know that it strengthens my spells instead of doing me any harm? So maybe I would've thanked you if only you didn't ruin my precious treasure! So you WILL PAY for what you did! Right now.

-No. N-no, please! I didn't do anything to you yet! I'll leave! Yes, I'll go and never come back so please...!

-YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING?! YOU MURDERED MY CHOCOLATE CAKE YOU BASTARD!!! I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!!!!

My anger finally unleashed, I summoned a big fire dragon out of thin air - which turned out much different than planned, like 3 times bigger than usual actually. Damn, I'm not used to this strengthened mana. Whatever, as long as it works it's fine.

The huge serpent easily swallowed the enemy of chocolate while he screamed loudly, being burned alive. I didn't make the dragon too hot so he could suffer a bit before disappearing.

I looked around and saw the rest of the bandits running to the exit - a quick shot of sticky magical threads and they got glued to the walls, unable to move. That's one useful way to deal with any enemy - fast, precise and hard to stop. It really reminds me of a spider catching its prey.

Ok. Done.

I closed my eyes and focused on my surroundings, looking for the centre of the abnormality that made this kind of situation possible - this 'mana disruptor' which I would rather call 'mana compressor' instead, considering how it works.

Yes! Found it. The source of all this, a device that compresses mana particles at the same time strengthening it and making it harder to control. Kinda like a magical staff but not the same - one affects magic in the air, the other only works on mana inside the mage that holds this 'magical stick'. Both cause lack of control over mana particles and many spells would turn out completely different than normal, like my fire spell which swallowed the bad guy and then exploded after hitting a table with an icy swan on it, destroying it into little pieces that shot through the hall, hurting some of the unfortunate guests that were too close.

Oops. Given my fine control over typical magic, this never would've happened but I just didn't expect such changes with my power. It's not like I had time to test this new kind of mana properly.

Well, no use crying over spilled milk now, is there? Not like anyone died. I mean no one important, just the thug leader. Only he did something unforgivable, I don't care about the rest of them as long as they don't try to kill me. Oh wait, they did try that! Right, I think I know - I could take them to my new mansion as garden gnomes! Though they would require food, so maybe it's not such a good idea. And bathroom breaks as well. Nah, that's a waste of time and effort, I can just buy normal stone ones in the shop. Or make some with magic in my spare time, though for some reason Lucy doesn't like those, saying they have weird expressions. What's wrong with vampire dwarfs with pointy teeth and scary faces or some that are terrified of them standing across from each other? Or others trying to run away from my awesome mutant dwarfs with bulging muscles under their long beards? At least it's unique and lifelike, not some typical smiley little guys. They're too perfect. And life is never that way, so it's simply too unrealistic for me.

Oh, I know! I'll buy some and remake them to my liking! That will leave me with more time for myself and my experiments. I'm a genius!