These low-level assignments really meant nothing to Wade anymore.
And the reason he didn't write homework was simply because he used that free time for higher-level research, experimentation, and planning for the future.
Tom himself had learned quite a lot from the things Wade researched on his own…
And Wade's reason for still staying at Hogwarts was just to build his own foundation and pave the way for his future plans.
Otherwise, this guy probably wouldn't have bothered coming to school at all.
"If you could do what I do and fully master all this material, then you could skip homework too. But have you?" Wade paused, then let out a long sigh. "Don't blame me for sounding harsh. I just don't want you to be looked down on while you yourselves don't even try…"
Henry and Alphard flushed red instantly, overwhelmed with shame.
Seeing their expressions, Wade also felt he shouldn't push too hard. After all, being lazy and playful was normal for students their age.
"Alright, my tone just now wasn't great. I apologize for that. I just… I just feel you shouldn't be like everyone else. Do you really want to become like those stubborn pure-bloods who still wallow in the so-called glory of their ancestors?"
Alphard said shamefully, "You don't need to apologize! You're right. This really is our fault. I… I promised I'd make Walburga and my parents look at me differently, but now… here I am slacking off."
Henry shrugged. "It's our fault. We shouldn't let ourselves fall the same way they did…"
Tom sighed. "Since that's the case, don't copy homework anymore. If you don't understand something, I can teach you directly… Fine, I was wrong too. I shouldn't have been lazy and let you copy in the first place."
At this moment, Tom had fully understood what Wade meant.
Wade couldn't control how other students behaved, but Henry and Alphard were people he intended to cultivate as core members. They absolutely couldn't turn into useless fools who couldn't even cast a Shield Charm after graduating.
After all, any reform needed real strength behind it.
Many things couldn't be changed just by talking.
Here, "strength" meant real combat power — just like Grindelwald's Acolytes.
That was why Wade felt so disappointed when he realized he hadn't been pushing his core members as he should.
Wade said, "Guys, I've always had special expectations for you. You keep saying you want to learn powerful magic that school can't teach you. But if you can't even master the basic knowledge Hogwarts teaches, how are you supposed to learn the things I teach?"
The giant promise Wade painted on the spot instantly energized Henry and Alphard.
"So does that mean… as long as we meet the school's academic standards, you'll teach us magic?" Henry asked.
"Why not?" Wade said in surprise. "I thought you already understood that. Look at Tom! He's mastered everything the school teaches, so why don't you ask him what good things I've taught him?"
Hearing this, Henry and Alphard immediately turned toward Tom with eyes full of envy.
"No wonder you're so strong, Tom! So Wade taught you all sorts of magic!" Alphard gasped.
Tom's expression darkened. What Alphard said basically erased all his own hard work, attributing all his strength solely to Wade.
"That's not really how it is, Alphard," Wade said. "Tom's strength is first and foremost his own. The magic I taught him only helped him build on that. If someone's basic ability is weak, even if I teach him a pile of spells, it won't help. Now you understand why I want you to build a solid foundation before I teach you magic, right?"
Henry and Alphard suddenly understood.
At the same time, their respect for Tom grew even stronger.
And after hearing Wade's explanation, Tom's originally sour expression also gradually eased.
He turned to Henry and Alphard and said, "Wade is right. If you can't even learn the school's basic coursework, how can you understand more advanced magic? Not just you two—tomorrow you need to tell everyone else as well. Everyone must work hard and not slack off. If all we do is laze around, then founding our Mutual Aid Club means nothing. We have to prove that progressing together isn't an empty slogan."
"Right!" Henry and Alphard said excitedly.
Most of the club members had seen Wade's power firsthand, especially Henry and Alphard.
So after hearing Wade's words, they fully believed they could learn stronger magic from him and truly change themselves.
Once Henry and Alphard tossed aside the copied homework and prepared to write their own, Wade looked at Tom.
"Tom, come out for a moment."
Tom had no choice but to follow Wade out of the dormitory into the common room.
The two of them sat down at a table by the window.
Outside the window lay the pitch-black depths of the Black Lake. From time to time, a few fish swam past the glass.
"You know why I asked you to come out, Tom…"
"I can guess," Tom nodded.
"Then I hope you'll pay attention from now on. If you want to accomplish something great, relying only on your own strength isn't enough. Even if you're unmatched in the world, if the people helping you are all useless, there will be many things you simply can't achieve. Look at Grindelwald. If his subordinates were all incompetents, then no matter how clever he was or how many opportunities he had, he could never have pushed the American Magical Congress aside," Wade said seriously.
Tom let out a sigh. "I understand. I really have been too focused on improving my own power and neglected everyone else…"
"I have no right to scold you for that, Tom, because I also pursue power. But what we want to accomplish isn't just my own ambition. It's the ambition of all of us. What I said to Filius today wasn't just nice-sounding talk. It will become reality."
"Our cause? But…" Tom suddenly asked, "Wade, why are you doing all of this? With your ability, you don't need to go down the path of reform to achieve your ambitions. Even if you wanted to become Minister for Magic right after graduation, it would be much easier than the path you're choosing now, wouldn't it?"
"Ah.. haha.. hahaha.. ehm.. Tom, what I'm about to say may sound arrogant, but since you're asking… Tell me, Tom, do you believe that some people exist for the sake of accomplishing certain things?" Wade asked.
Tom frowned and thought for a long moment before answering. "I'd normally never believe something like that. But… if the person in question is you, then I have no choice but to believe it. Thinking about it now, if you weren't someone born to carry out some mission… I couldn't possibly be suppressed by you at every turn."
After entering Hogwarts and realizing the true level of people his age, Tom already understood just how exceptional his talent was.
And yet, despite being so gifted, he was constantly surpassed by Wade—completely, in every aspect.
If Wade was someone who naturally existed to accomplish some great purpose… Tom felt that was actually the most reasonable explanation.
"Yes. That person is me. Many things, many encounters, keep pushing me onto this path," Wade said calmly.
These words had lingered in Wade's mind for a long time, though he had never spoken them aloud.
But he truly had always thought this way.
The abrupt transmigration, the awkward system, the encounter with the future Dark Lord…
Each incident, one after another, had intentionally or unintentionally pointed him toward a single path.
To become a Dark Lord, he needed merit…
Which meant reform was the only option.
And that path eventually became the cause he now planned and pursued.
Almost as if he had come into this world solely to accomplish this one thing.
Tom looked calmly into Wade's eyes before finally speaking. "So you're saying this is the guidance of fate?"
Wade suddenly smiled. "I prefer to say… all of this is the choice of the Steins;Gate."
Tom shook his head. "I don't really understand what you're talking about. But… since you're the boss now, whatever you say goes."
_________
o(*￣▽￣*)ブSupport and read 12 Chapters ahead of WN at-
Patreon/Captain69