Passerby Villain In A Wizard World

"Sir, did you like my gift?"

The voice that asked Ian was intermittent, as if spoken with difficulty, but was clear enough to understand.

"Hmm?"

Ian, who was about to order everyone to return the way they came, stopped suddenly, looking to the side where the sound came from.

"Damn, you fatso is hiding here?"

However, before Ian could see clearly, Ignysyl cried out in surprise.

"But... why the heck are you disguising yourself as a human now? Didn't you say you wouldn't leave that place under any circumstances?"

The little dragon asked, gawking at the human-like figure standing before it, draped in a dark robe.

Only now did Ian realize that the voice he'd heard had come from this very figure. It appeared human, or at least something that closely resembled one.

Because looking closely, it was actually composed of countless writhing Nyxroot Larvae, all squirming together in grotesque harmony.

Still, it looked exactly like a human—Ian couldn't deny it.

"Eww... disgusting!"

Morgana couldn't help but blurt out her true thoughts.

She had already been disgusted by the larvae before even entering the forest—now, seeing a humanoid silhouette made up of a mass of them squirming together, she simply couldn't take it.

"Hey, miss. That's just rude."

Surprisingly, the figure in front actually replied to her disgust as if offended.

"Although I am a little different, I'm not that disgusting, am I?"

He asked, his voice intermittent, but it was slowly getting better and better.

However, the vibration when he talked squirmed the larvae around more, making it even more disgusting, and Morgana simply hid behind Ian, not wanting to look anymore.

"Hey, did you perhaps fuse with Nyx?"

Ignysyl's attention was elsewhere, though, as he suddenly asked, feeling something off.

"Haha... you finally noticed?"

The figure suddenly laughed at Ignysyl.

"Tch... tch... for a... uhum, magical Raven, that was quite slow, don't you think?"

He questioned playfully, looking at Ignysyl with those beads of tiny eyes hidden behind the cape.

The Nyx that Ignysyl had just mentioned was a rare plant, typically found in places saturated with spiritual energy.

Due to its high concentration of spirit power, a mature Nyx could even attain sentience.

The Nyxroot Larvae they were now seeing were, in essence, a type of symbiotic organism that thrived alongside this plant.

That was why, when Ian saw them before, he guessed they had changed due to the effect of that blood essence.

"Okay, no need to waste time talking like this. So, what do you mean by present?"

Ian didn't want to waste time, so he asked, looking at him intently.

Actually, ever since this guy appeared, he had felt something familiar, though he wasn't sure what it was.

"Oh... haha. Sure, sure. As sir said."

The figure in front was trying hard to act more human as he laughed and continued,

"The present is, of course, that BloodFlare fruit you just got. After all, I didn't even allow this guy to take it before. So, it was indeed a present. Yes, a present, don't you think?"

However, his mannerisms were completely off. Ian could feel the awkwardness oozing out while talking to him.

"What do you mean, present? I literally took it from that tree with my own hands. How did that become your gift?"

Ignysyl questioned, annoyed.

"Hehe... don't play with words. If I didn't empty this place, how would you get it? So, it is indeed a present from me."

The figure countered Ignysyl as if he didn't want them to negate his effort.

"Okay, it was indeed your present, and I like it. Now what?"

Ian suddenly butted in, stopping Ignysyl from continuing, and directly asked the guy.

From what he knew of Ignysyl, he was led by a shadow that appeared inexplicably in the hanging garden.

Now that he thought about it, it must be this guy who led them here.

After all, those Nyxroot Larvae were clearly being controlled by him—although he still couldn't see the fatso Ignysyl was talking about clearly.

"Hmm? Now?"

Ian's sudden words seemed to stump him as he came to a halt. Then, after a brief pause, he tilted his head slightly as if processing something, and finally spoke.

"Umm... since I gave you a present, isn't it time for you to do the same?"

He asked, a little unsure. Because from the memory he collected, wasn't the guy in front supposed to get happy after getting a present?

Why did he feel like he was completely unperturbed and calm?

"Heh... what kind of bullshit logic is that..."

Ignysyl rolled his eyes and was about to berate the guy when Ian cut him off again.

"Yeah, you are right. Since you gave me a present and I am happy with it, I indeed need to reciprocate."

Surprisingly, Ian nodded as if agreeing to his words. Then, he looked at him with a smile and asked,

"So, what do you want?"

Ian wanted to know what this guy was cooking in his mind.

Now, he was clear that this guy had a purpose—one that was connected to him.

Because, from the beginning, he seemed to be waiting for him to appear here.

Otherwise, the scenery here wouldn't have changed like this as soon as Ignysyl invited him.

Not to mention his weird way of expressing goodwill.

"Haha... see, Sir knows my heart, unlike you."

The figure laughed, shaking its body, causing a few worms to drop down, squirming. Honestly, even Ian found it a bit disgusting now.

"Anyway, now that you have accepted my present, you, sir, can also give me a present."

He continued,

"Umm... I don't want anything much, really. My biggest wish after gaining sentience was to leave this place."

"Oh? So, you want to leave this place? That's easy. I will take you out when it's time. What do you think? Are you happy?"

Ian suddenly cut off his speech and readily accepted his request with a smile. From the way he looked, he really didn't seem to mind his wish that much.

"Eh?"

However, instead of getting happy, the figure in front was once again stumped, not knowing how to react.

Only after a few moments did he recollect his thoughts and hurriedly explain,

"No, no. I didn't mean that."

It suddenly waved its hand, just like a human would—as if to suggest Ian had misunderstood.

However, during the exaggerated motion, a few worms were flung out, landing right beside Ian and squirming restlessly.

Fortunately, Morgana was standing behind Ian and hadn't seen it; otherwise, she would have once again voiced her disgust.

However, Ian only gave the worm a brief glance before lifting his head to look at the figure again.

"Then, what do you want?"

He asked once again, but this time, his face slowly lost the smile he had from before.

"Umm... like I said, my biggest wish after gaining sentience was to leave this place. But, without this forest, I am weak and have no power to resist anyone. If I just leave, I won't even be able to survive."

He expressed his difficulty, trying to sound sad.

"But... when I saw your companion, Raven, I finally saw hope."

His voice suddenly got a little excited looking at Ian.

"A hope to have someone powerful as a backing. After all, someone who could subdue such a being must be extraordinary. So, if I can also become your companion—"

He stopped, but his request was clear: to form a companion contract with Ian, just like Ignysyl, and accompany him on his journey to the dangerous outside world.

Truly, for a worm born and bred in this place, his ambition was admirable.

"So, you want to form a spiritual contract with me?"

Ian finally understood where this guy was going and asked while crossing his arms with a smile.

"Yes, sir. Can I? Don't worry, although I am a small larva, I can be quite useful."

The figure immediately nodded and expressed his willingness. Then, as if Ian wouldn't take him seriously, he suddenly waved his hand like a human commanding his army and shouted,

"All worms, gather!"

Swoosh!

As soon as his voice echoed, the once-silent forest suddenly came alive with a violent rustle. Countless squirming larvae burst forth from the shadows where they had been hiding.

In an instant, the empty space around them was flooded as the stench of blood filled the air, thick and suffocating, while the swarm completely surrounded everyone present.

Even the sky above was blotted out by a writhing veil of darkness.

Just a glance and they could see millions of Nyxroot Larvae squirming—so many that Morgana let out a scream of pure terror.

"AAAHH!"

She couldn't help but grab Ian's arm strongly, literally getting attached to him.

'Fuck, I really shouldn't have followed him.'

She thought in pure terror, regretting her earlier decision.

Arvhael, on the other hand, was about to use his spell when Ian suddenly lifted his arm, stopping him.

"There is no need for that."

"Yes, Sir Ian."

Arvhael immediately halted his spell after seeing Ian's calm demeanor, as if he wasn't surprised by such a huge movement. Even the Raven on his shoulder was the same.

"Okay, I see that you have impressive power."

Ian finally looked at the figure in front and agreed readily.

"See? With them and me, you will never lose in this deal. I can be quite useful, more so than he. So, what do you think? Let's make a contract?"

The figure got visibly excited after getting affirmation from Ian and proposed again.

However, this time, what answered him wasn't Ian but Ignysyl, who finally couldn't help but roll his eyes,

"You fat worm really has no brain at all."