Killing intent is an intangible force, much like an aura. It can be sensed by others, but the extent of perception depends on an individual's sensitivity to external stimuli.
For those who have undergone specialized training or survived the brutal realities of life-and-death battles—such as assassins—killing intent becomes a natural presence. They can wield it at will, either concealing their sharpness for stealthy assassinations or unleashing it at critical moments to intimidate opponents and secure a decisive kill.
For ordinary individuals, or those living far removed from the world of assassins, their killing intent is often unrefined and unstable.
However, this does not mean they lack killing intent entirely. When their emotions are violently stirred, and they harbor ill thoughts toward someone, their killing intent may unconsciously seep out in varying degrees.
Even so, ordinary people—or even the individual releasing the killing intent—are unlikely to notice such faint traces.
But for those highly attuned to killing intent, the story is entirely different.
Unfortunately for others, Glenn belongs to the category of people most sensitive to killing intent. He owes this ability to the harsh, unforgiving life he endured in his previous existence (a grim joke, indeed).
Glenn, however, is indifferent to this fact. To him, his past experiences are something to be grateful for, as they honed his acute perception of killing intent.
This heightened awareness has saved his life countless times and exposed numerous enemies harboring murderous intent toward him.
And for those who direct killing intent at him—whether faint or unconscious—there is only one outcome.
Death. Absolute, irreversible death.
The principle of "ignorance is no excuse" is foreign to Glenn. He adheres strictly to the philosophy of "cutting the weeds and pulling out the roots," leaving no threats behind.
After all, one can never be certain whether the faint killing intent they sense is an unconscious slip or a carefully controlled fragment of overwhelming malice meant to deceive.
When Glenn detected Gilderoy Lockhart's killing intent directed at himself and Hermione, he had already sentenced Lockhart to death in his mind. Not to mention the near-hit Obliviate spell that almost struck Hermione—a spell so potent even Glenn hadn't anticipated its effectiveness.
Moreover, Lockhart's current behavior only deepened Glenn's suspicions.
Thus, Glenn voiced the hypothesis forming in his mind.
"Right now, the Acromantula are rioting outside Hogwarts. Coincidentally, all the other professors are occupied elsewhere today and are not on school grounds. The professors remaining in the castle, aside from you, have all gone to the Forbidden Forest to confront the threat. At this moment, the castle is left with only students and you."
"The castle's internal defenses are weak, while external threats loom large. And here we are, catching you in the act of sneaking around. Despite our warnings, you refused to change course and even launched an attack on us, your killing intent laid bare."
"Therefore, I can conclude that this seemingly accidental Acromantula riot is, in fact, a meticulously planned scheme. The mastermind behind it is well aware of Hogwarts' true strength, so the beast uprising serves merely as a diversion to draw Dumbledore and others' attention. The real objective is to exploit the castle's vulnerability and carry out a hidden agenda within its walls."
"This plan may have been in the works for years, as the mastermind likely concealed their true capabilities for quite some time."
"A wizard capable of casting such a powerful Obliviate must possess formidable strength. Yet, they managed to disguise themselves as an unremarkable student under the noses of their teachers, the school's professors, and even the headmaster. Even after publishing numerous renowned books filled with genuine and valuable content, they were still dismissed by those familiar with their 'disguise' as merely 'clever tricks,' unworthy of serious regard."
"In the end, this individual successfully secured a position at their alma mater, returning to Hogwarts as a professor. Even as they approached their goal, they rigorously maintained their facade, burying their true self and hidden agenda deep within. They quietly laid a web of traps, waiting for the right moment to act."
"Unfortunately, their actions were exposed by two young wizards, forcing them to reveal their true face. Their killing intent could no longer be concealed, and they attempted to eliminate the witnesses."
"Isn't that right, Gilderoy Lockhart?"
Glenn perfectly mimicked Hermione's rapid speech, articulating the possibility he had just considered. His words left Hermione stunned, and even Lockhart himself was rendered completely dumbfounded.
Huh?
That's me?
When did I plan all this?
How come I don't know about it?
Lockhart was utterly bewildered, racking his brain to make sense of Glenn's words. Meanwhile, the young girl beside Glenn had fully caught up with his train of thought.
Hermione also agreed with Glenn's conclusion.
On one hand, she had complete trust in Glenn.
On the other hand, her own observations and reasoning aligned with his.
After all, the strategy of "luring the tiger away from the mountain" was strikingly similar to the method Voldemort had used last year to steal the fake Philosopher's Stone. It was hard not to suspect that Lockhart had something to hide.
"So, does that mean our previous judgment of him was completely wrong?"
Hermione's lips parted slightly, her wand tip already glowing with white light as she spoke softly.
Glenn didn't respond. He simply raised his wand and kept his eyes fixed on Lockhart, ready to use his magical eye to interrupt any spell Lockhart might cast.
Truth be told, even with the detailed reasoning he had just provided, Glenn still harbored doubts.
Lockhart's earlier behavior, and his current expression of shock and confusion—along with the physiological signs matching his emotions—didn't seem fabricated. Yet, the trace of killing intent emanating from him was undeniably real.
But none of that mattered. Whether the situation was genuine or not, whether Lockhart was innocent or guilty, he couldn't be allowed to live.
To Glenn, anyone outside his circle of concern could only be considered a "good person" if they were dead.
However, he didn't plan to kill Lockhart immediately, especially with Hermione present.
When faced with non-human threats, Hermione could act decisively, just like Glenn, and deliver a lethal blow without hesitation. But when it came to humans, Glenn wasn't sure if her resolve would hold as firm.
Of course, for notorious villains like Death Eaters or Voldemort, Glenn had confidence that, despite the struggle, Hermione would ultimately muster the courage to act.
Even so, the young girl still needed time to grow. Glenn wanted to protect her as she matured, so for now—at least for now—the dirty work would remain his burden to bear.
The story isn't over...
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