Shikkakumon Anime Episode 09

"The Strongest Sage Duels." is the 9th episode of the "Shikkakumon no Saikyokenja" Anime adaptation.

''The Radinia Alliance contains a device that will let Matthias track down the mastermind demon. But in order to enter the territory where the device lies, he must defeat a Rank S adventurer who might just give him a run for his money!''

Summary
Camping inside the cave, Matty's group discusses their next course of action, which is tracking down the head demon who instructed the Demon Matty fought from before. Having a signature trace of the magical signature that the demon used stored in a magistone, Matty plans on using it to pinpoint the mastermind's location. Curious as to how Matty is capable of such a skill, Matty tells Lurie and Alma that it's a skill from a thousand years ago that he learned by stumbling upon it. The source of the signature is at the Radina Alliance and to reach the area, Matty plans on getting help from the king to make crossing the border easier while using Edwart as a mediator.

Eventually, the group reaches the Second Royal Royal Academy and is surprised to see that the academy was being rebuilt. Soon Edwart approaches the group, they inform him that they dealt with the Demon, in turn, Edwart informs the group that the academy is being rebuilt to better withstand a demon attack. Since the construction is ongoing, all classes would be held at the First Royal Academy. The First Royal Academy students are also there helping with the construction process. In a log cabin which is a makeshift office for Edwart, Matty fully elaborates the situation about the Demon in the mine and their plans to track down the mastermind located across the border. Edwart then asks where their destination is, Matty answers the Radina Alliance and asks for his and the King's cooperation. He agrees to help and will get a recommendation to get the guild's cooperation as well. Until the king gives his official approval for the permit, Matty's group helps out with the construction and during it Iris unintentionally causes some trouble.

Afterward, Edwart gives the group their permit granting them access through the border along with the King's voucher. Heading past the border, Matty notes that their destination in the Radina Alliance is a restricted area, and the only way to gain access there is to level up their rank to A. How they can accomplish this is to complete a ranking test given to them by the guild there. Although ranking up to such a high-level rank would be an arduous task, Matty hoped to use Iris in her true form to create a distraction as a contingency plan.

Arriving in the Radina Alliance city, the group first head to the guild there and are warmly greeted by the guild master who heard from the king about their mission. Hearing the circumstances further from Matty and the party, the guild master allows Matty and his crew to take the Rank A ascension test, which would be conducted by a guild proctor. However, the person that the guild master wanted was unable to perform the duty due to succumbing to a wicked stomach ache and S-Ranked guild member Gilas shows up to take their place. Despite the guild master's pleas, Gilas arrogantly insists that he perform the duty and Matty allows it.

Outside in the guild training grounds, Gilas passes Alma, Lurie, and Iris off the bat, but challenges Matty to a duel. Figuring this was Gila's plan from the start, Matty accepts the proposal, and the duel rules are set that the battle is over when one concedes defeat or is KOed. Gilas also notes that he doesn't use magic despite having great magical potential and perhaps unconsciously using enhancement magic on himself. At the start of the battle, Matty uses enhancement magic on himself as well and matches Gilas blow for blow while analyzing his fighting skills, capabilities, and using magic unconsciously. Amid the battle, Gilas mimics a move that Matty used during the battle to get an aerial advantage on Matty, but it's still not enough. In the end, Matty uses a bit of enhancement magic on himself to overpower Gilas and make him concede defeat. Asking how it'd be possible to get as strong as him, Matty gives Gilas a textbook that he wrote about spell casting while noting he could possibly surpass him. Perplexed about the gift as spell casting is mainly done by chanting, Matty elucidates to Gilas that not all spells are cast via chanting. He also details that he's been unconsciously casting spells and if he learns how to consciously cast them he'd become significantly stronger. However, Gilas has trouble reading...

Being seen off by Gilas, Matty declines to try to become an S-Ranked adventurer and explains that their goal is simply to enter a highly restricted area. The place is the Etelis Plains in the Folkia region and Elis notes he's heard the place has a weird vibe to it along with a myriad of other things. He offers his help and Matty accepts it.

Later the group, arrive at the checkpoint and are given a wooden pass by one of the guards that grant them access through the gate. Although they pass without any trouble, Matty reveals there's a hidden message to them that is certainly of the handiwork of the demons. Concluding that the demons may have full control over all of Folkia, Matt then notices a gang of goons partly hidden in the distance looking to ambush them. Instead of fighting them, Matty plans on using a sleeping agent on them to make it easier for them to infiltrate the city they're heading to. To make the plan work, Matty has the group split into two where Iris and he would face off against the ambushers, while Lurie and Alma would set up and activate the sleeping agent. Matty then casts an illusion spell to create copies of both Lurie and Alma and the plan goes off without a hitch... aside from both Lurie and Alma getting caught in the sleep agent's effect.

Characters in Order of Appearance
Characters in italics debuted here.
 * Matthias Hildesheimer
 * Alma Lepucius
 * Lurie Abendroth
 * Iris
 * Edwart
 * Gilas