"Compared to this kind of wizard, what am I? That shop owner is the real Black Demon King! The one who invented this magic! He's the Black Demon King among Black Demon Kings!"
Riddle perhaps wanted to clear his name, or maybe he was genuinely amazed at heart. Either way, he had gained some insight and knowledge in the ancient time and space.
"You have to respect the different developmental directions of civilizations." Ian quite admired the creation of such magic; setting aside ethics and morality, at least it advanced productivity, didn't it?
"By the way, did you learn this magic? I think you can use this as a bargaining chip to persuade me. Don't misunderstand, I just believe that only by understanding this magic can we better prevent it from being used in inappropriate places. Moreover, if I don't study it, how can the world know how to guard against it?"
"The advancement of magic, as well as the prevention and resolution of the Dark Arts, require someone to sacrifice, and I am willing to sacrifice for development. When can you write down this magic for me to have a look?"
Ian demonstrated his curiosity about magic.
He always believed.
There's no such thing as bad magic, only bad wizards. If this magic is used on some deserving people, isn't it also a manifestation of civilization and fairness?
"..."
Riddle saw Ian's gaze, and his emotions were immensely complex. He felt like he might understand why Voldemort was universally shunned while Ian thrived at Hogwarts.
Voldemort, which is himself, was still too honest, always telling others whatever bad deeds he was doing, always engaging in underhanded operations and schemes.
Completely unlike the little wizard in front of him... Clearly wanting to learn such utterly evil Dark Arts, but still projecting a righteous stance, showing a sort of critical learning attitude.
This kind of brazenness is unrivaled!
"Scribble scribble~"
The sound of writing silently arose.
Indeed, Riddle had secretly learned this magic, so when faced with the little wizard's demand, he remained silent, showing the utmost sincerity through his actions.
"Here."
Riddle handed the parchment to Ian after finishing writing.
After Ian received it,
he raised it towards a light source in the dungeon.
"This magic is indeed quite evil."
After reading the knowledge provided by Riddle, Ian glanced at his personal panel where the skill suddenly lit up, and raised his magic wand, summoning a cloud of black mist to give Riddle a little shock of Dark Arts talent.
"How can you learn so fast!" Riddle was genuinely startled, retreating several steps quickly, as if afraid Ian would use him as practice.
"Because this magic is black enough."
Ian gave an honest reply.
"Huh!?"
Riddle was utterly baffled.
The little wizard felt that Riddle didn't understand, so he explained sincerely, "My talent tree is skewed; the darker the magic, the faster I learn it."
"From the speed of my magic learning, you can judge which category this type of magic should be put into. I realized this about a year ago, when I was waiting for the first year to begin at Hogwarts Village, a friend gave me a book called 'Advanced Dark Arts Unveiled'."
"My teacher also taught me Avada Kedavra, the days were fulfilling." His tone carried some nostalgia, with a bit of reflection on the past.
"????"
Upon hearing this, Riddle felt numb all over.
All of this information couldn't be found from anyone else in the school.
At this moment.
The young Black Demon King completely understood why the little wizard in front of him could be so at ease in this era, even associating with a god, it's precisely because he was meant to live in such a savage age.
Hogwarts?
A real underutilization of talent.
Feeling somewhat aggrieved, Riddle was quite stifled, unable to understand how a student like this could still thrive at Hogwarts, his own research during school compared to this little wizard could only be considered as pure as a white lotus!
"Well... you really are amazing..."
Riddle forced a smile that was even harder than crying.
Genuinely giving Ian a thumbs-up. At this moment, he recalled a conversation he once overheard while in Malfoy's body - only a madman can handle a madman, Voldemort is a madman, so we need another madman to deal with the undying madman.
When he first heard this, Riddle was very dismissive.
But now.
He felt that perhaps not all Pure-blood Clan members were fools.
"Actually, the one who invented this Enslavement Spell is truly remarkable, a genius idea... It's as if I can already glimpse the true origin of the Dementors in this magic!"
"I didn't expect, Tom, that you could also genuinely contribute to Hogwarts. I think, given some time, Hogwarts could have its own Azkaban!"
"You, no, your future self's still restless Death Eaters are fortunate, they can achieve immortality." Ian's Dark Arts talent clearly wasn't limited to merely learning instantly.
He was able to draw inferences too.
Seeing some potential future developments from this magic.
"..."
Listening to the little wizard's enthusiastic remarks,
Riddle remained silent for a long time.
"Can you not be this evil… sorry, I really can't get used to this feeling now." Finally, when Riddle spoke, his tone was unprecedentedly sincere.
He was accustomed to being the evil one.
Truly unused to looking at issues from the standpoint of considering others as evil. While racking his brain to figure out how such a little wizard could even become Dumbledore's favorite,
"Just a reminder, you don't have much time left." Having finished her nuts, the "Priestess" clapped the residue off her hands, abruptly interjecting towards Ian.
"What do you mean by not much time left?"
Ian looked at Riddle.
"Doesn't he still have seven days to live?"
He examined the changes in Riddle's skin.
"You have seventeen hours left."
However, the "Priestess" was evasive in her answer.
Clearly unable to disclose too much due to some restriction.
The little wizard reacted quickly too.
"The doom of Pompeii..."
Ian, thinking about the prosperous city and the little girl who treated him as a god, set to perish in this natural disaster, felt a blockage in his heart.
The most significant difference between him and Riddle was that he wasn't cold-hearted. Simply reading about it in history books didn't make him feel the tragedy as deeply as being in this piece of history did.
"Knowing this, why can't you do something, this city is worshiping you..." Ian couldn't help but turn towards the "Priestess," who didn't seem too concerned about the disaster.
"Fixed points in time cannot be changed, at least not for us." Upon hearing, the "Priestess" just slightly shook her head, indicating her own powerlessness towards the impending disaster.
"Then what's the point of worshiping gods?"
Riddle couldn't help but sarcastically remark.
The "Priestess" glanced at him.
The next moment.
The poor Black Demon King felt like he was hit all over, his entire body flew out like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily against the stone wall, badly injured.
"That is the point."
She coldly stated to Riddle, then turned back to Ian again.
"Have you thought about how to deal with Helbo yet?"
The "Priestess" seemed to be asking, or perhaps hinting at something.
"Hmm."
Ian squinted his eyes.
"You can't expect me to confront a Legendary Wizard, let alone one who has acquired an Angel Rank, so you need to come with me to deal with Helbo."
After speaking.
He paused for a moment.
"That's an order."
He emphasized it.
The contract appeared on the back of his hand.
In response.
The "Priestess" was not angry.
"An order, huh... then there's no help for it." She looked at the contract appearing on her hand with a tone full of smile, even her mouth had a hard time suppressing a grin.
Clearly.
This goddess wasn't so docile.
"Cough cough cough! You really hit hard!" Clutching his chest, Riddle got up, wiping the corner of his mouth. Seeing this scene, his heart surged far more intensely than the injury made it beat.
"Did I see a secret I shouldn't have seen?" He looked at Ian and that terrifying deity nearby, fearing again for his fate.
A god accepting orders from a mortal.
Is this something a sixteen-year-old Black Demon King could encounter?
He just knew there was something off about Ian, that little wizard!
It must be something unholy indeed!