"Ah—ah ah—"
Hamburg Carrow let out meaningless sounds, his eyes wide with terror, as endless fear welled up from the depths of his heart.
It was as if he wasn't facing a ten-year-old child, but an unspeakable monster!
His wand clattered to the ground.
There was no point in fighting anymore.
The opponent was a monster, a demon, who could even defend against the strongest Avada Kedavra.
What could he possibly do?
For the first time in his life.
As an outstanding Slytherin student selected for the challenge, a noble pureblood.
Hamburg felt so small and helpless for the first time.
"No, please, please—I was just momentarily possessed—"
He knelt on the ground.
He pleaded incoherently, tears and snot streaming down his face.
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him.
"It was the Hog's Head—yes! I was cursed by a hooded man at the Hog's Head—!"
Upon hearing this.
Ethan's eyebrows rose slightly.
The Hog's Head, a hooded man.
It sounded like Hagrid in the original story had also met this person and been tricked into revealing the secret of the Cerberus, Fluffy.
Are you talking about you, Professor Quirrell, who acts one way in front of people and another behind their backs?
And, was this 'savage' originally a Hogwarts student?!
How did he end up like this...?
However.
The other party didn't look like he was under the Imperius Curse.
Perhaps his inherent evil thoughts had merely been amplified.
Seeing Ethan's reaction, a glimmer of hope appeared in Hamburg's reddened eyes.
"Yes, Ethan, that's it! I just realized it now!"
"I was controlled; none of this was what I wanted to do!"
Listening to the other party's desperate explanation, Ethan curled his lips into a smile:
"It's alright."
"Merlin will forgive you."
"And I'm responsible for sending you to Merlin."
The smile on Hamburg's lips froze, and the light of hope in his eyes shattered instantly.
"No, please, have mercy, no—"
Before his eyes, a golden light burst forth.
It was like a judgment from a god.
Like a wheel crushing an ant, it irresistibly and unyieldingly swallowed him.
"Bang—!!!"
Outside the mansion.
Auror John Dawlish, who had been waiting outside, jumped to his feet, staring in shock at the scene before him!
The bottom of Herpo the Foul's Abandoned Mansion suddenly exploded, and smoke and dust surged out like a breached dam!
Golden light burst forth, surrounded by countless shimmering streamers.
They shot into the dark night sky like arrows, and the enormous impact caused the surrounding viscous swamp to ripple slowly.
What, what, what happened again?!
Dawlish gritted his teeth and Apparated with a 'pop' to the outside of the mansion.
Coughing, he constantly waved away the dust, his heart filled with anxiety:
Don't let anything else happen; his salary isn't enough for deductions...!
However.
As the dust cleared.
The scene that met Dawlish's eyes completely shattered his illusions.
He saw a blood-stained young man pinned to the ground by golden arrows.
His arms and legs were broken, his limbs twisted, pierced by the sharp arrows.
His eyes were wide open and lifeless, filled with terrifying fear!
He didn't need to go to St. Mungo's.
Dawlish could tell at a glance that this person was beyond saving.
"Wh-what exactly happened?" Dawlish stammered. "Dark Wizard attack?"
However, as he looked at the golden bird still hovering in the air, he couldn't help but inwardly roar, 'Where could a Dark Wizard learn such holy magic?!'
Suddenly.
Dawlish felt something.
He looked up and met the gaze of a figure standing on the ruins.
The person stood there quietly, with handsome features.
However, even though his figure was slender and his face was youthful, his whole body exuded a cold, murderous aura.
The surging magic power around him made Dawlish tremble with fear.
Being stared down by those cobalt-blue eyes, he felt like a field mouse targeted by an eagle, unable to move.
"...This incident will definitely be investigated."
But at this moment, Dawlish only wanted to leave quickly.
Under the gaze of that figure, Dawlish slowly squatted down and grabbed the young man's limp arm.
Then, with a 'pop,' he Apparated away.
Specks of dark matter drifted into Ethan's body.
Making the lamp in Ethan's skull a few shades brighter.
[You collected darkness and lit the lamp.]
[You illuminated more hidden places and obtained a secret treasure: Star of Color.]
[Star of Color (Pigment)]
[A mineral pigment made from a meteorite that fell from the depths of the universe, radiating magnificent colors that the human eye cannot fully perceive.]
[Extraordinary pigment required for paintings of Tier 2 and above.]
A slender and elegant glass bottle appeared in mid-air.
Inside, a silvery liquid flowed.
When Ethan looked at it, he saw countless indescribable splendors, like a kaleidoscope.
As if all colors in the universe that humans could or could not perceive were contained within it.
"It's too beautiful..."
Ethan murmured.
He carefully reached out and took it, staring at it mesmerized, unable to put it down.
This was the best gift.
Ethan couldn't help but curl his lips, his heart filled with joy.
"I've thought of how to deal with you, Professor Quirrell..."
Ethan murmured, inspiration striking him.
"Isn't your ultimate goal to steal the Philosopher's Stone? The path to the Philosopher's Stone is a series of challenges Dumbledore left for Harry, very simple."
"Then, let me rearrange it."
"Using the newly learned Tier 2 murals, I will create a challenge for you that matches your strength."
"Hehehe..."
Ethan curled his lips in pleasure, gripping the glass bottle tightly.
There was not a sound around him.
All creatures hid, not daring to make a sound, in a deathly silence.
At this moment.
A sliver of morning light appeared in the clouds, shining down on the earth, spilling onto Ethan.
Ethan looked up and took a deep breath of the fresh air after the rain.
He smiled contentedly:
"It's dawn."
What a pleasant challenge.
He would come again next time.
Ethan took out his Portkey, ready to Apparate away.
His gaze shifted, and he suddenly noticed something stuck in the ruins.
"Hmm?"
Ethan bent down and picked it up.
He found it was a broken wand.
"It seems... it's the wand of that Dark Wizard student from just now, isn't it?"
Ethan thought for a moment and put it in his pocket.
Maybe he would use it.
"Goodbye, my beloved home. Now, I'm going to claim my honor."
Ethan turned his head and waved goodbye reluctantly to the mansion.
Then, he poured magic into the Portkey and vanished from the spot with a whoosh.
Soon after Ethan left.
Gemma Farley and Penelope, with complicated expressions, hurried away, Apparating one after another.
Then.
"Boom—!"
The mansion collapsed.
It was like an old man who had stood for thousands of years and finally took his last breath.
Wood splinters broke, dust flew.
Burying everything in ruins and dirt.
Returning to dust.
"Pop."
Dawlish, who had Apparated back because he was still worried after much thought, opened his eyes and saw the mansion collapse. Dawlish: "!?"
He was stunned.
After a long while, he murmured blankly:
"I wonder if Gringotts can give me a loan..."
He couldn't stand this damn job for another day.
Outside the Corrupt Great Swamp, at the starting point.
Cedric, who had been eliminated before even entering the mansion, stared intently in the direction of the Great Swamp.
He clenched his fists, both expectant and anxious.
Ethan hadn't come out yet... Had something happened, or would he get a good ranking?
Could he make it into the top ten?
Because for some unknown reason, many contestants were sent to St. Mungo's as soon as they exited the dense forest.
Cedric didn't know what had happened.
He thought rationally:
"I should have lost this time, but I think the gap between me and Ethan isn't that big."
"Probably just the difference between tenth and eleventh place."
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