"So? What does this thing actually do?" Harry asked with a frown.
"Well, it's probably useless to you two, but it lets me make useful things. More importantly, being near it makes me learn faster. Though I have no idea how that works."
As Kane spoke, he pressed down on the round valve atop the Alchemy Engine.
The crafting knowledge contained within the Alchemy Engine flowed into Kane's left ear like running water, then promptly streamed straight out through his right.
If he wanted that knowledge to actually remain inside his head, he first needed to put it into practice.
Unfortunately, the things Kane needed most, such as a Prestihatitator that would allow him to begin harnessing the magic of the Constant, couldn't be made because he lacked the necessary materials.
The things he wanted less urgently, such as a Tent that would let him stop relying on his Garland and restore Sanity efficiently, were likewise impossible to make because he lacked the materials.
This was the first time Kane had ever felt so poor.
He picked up the remaining two books.
He decided not to sleep tonight. He would finish the books Professor McGonagall had recommended first, then tomorrow, during an easier class or in his spare time, thoroughly digest the detailed guide to the Summoning Charm.
Once that was done, he could head straight into the Forbidden Forest.
After spending some time surviving at Hogwarts, Kane had also learned about the so-called dangers lurking inside the Forbidden Forest.
But in Kane's eyes, those dangers looked more like virgin territory waiting to be exploited.
Wasn't all of that just resources?
He had even heard there were giant spiders in the Forbidden Forest.
Perfect.
Both the Prestihatitator and the Tent required large quantities of spider silk.
He would make damn sure those spiders went in alive and came out dead!
Late that night, Ron had probably drunk too much water during the day. Half asleep, he groggily woke up needing the toilet.
Then he noticed a bright patch in one corner of the room.
When he walked closer, he saw Kane leaning against the Alchemy Engine, sitting beside a campfire and reading.
He was even wearing a Garland.
The entire sight looked as bizarre as possible.
In that instant, Ron decided he could probably hold it a little longer.
After all, even by the standards of the magical world, Kane looked downright sinister right now.
It was hard not to associate the sight with some bizarre curse.
Or perhaps someone's ancestral grave had been placed in the wrong spot...
"Merciful Merlin, please don't let that terrifying evil spirit of late-night studying and obsessive competition from the magical world possess me... Merlin's socks!"
And so Ron drifted back to sleep, half awake, half dreaming, and half desperately holding his bladder.
It wasn't until the next morning that he hurriedly ran to the toilet.
As for Kane...
"Um... you kind of look like you're afraid of sunlight now."
Harry studied the dark circles beneath Kane's eyes, which had somehow become even darker overnight.
"I merely used the time you wasted sleeping to improve myself."
Kane yawned as he spoke.
It had taken the entire night, even with the Alchemy Engine's assistance, for him to fully comprehend the other two books.
These two were nothing like the book he'd casually finished in the common room while chatting away as though it were nothing.
Their sheer weight and thickness were more than enough to explain the difference.
"What's our first class today?"
Ron finally emerged from the bathroom looking immensely relieved.
"Herbology, in the greenhouse."
Kane had already put on his shoes and was repeatedly urging the dawdling Harry and Ron to hurry.
For a moment, he even suspected that the two of them weren't naturally slow at all.
Maybe they were deliberately trying to drag things out until breakfast ended so they could keep eating the meatballs he'd made.
Fortunately, they didn't miss breakfast in the end.
After eating and drinking their fill, the three of them made their leisurely way to the greenhouse.
Inside, Kane found a small, backless stool that seemed particularly fond of spinning, and sat down.
He was currently investigating exactly where his center of gravity needed to be positioned so that he could fall asleep on the stool without toppling over.
Very soon, just as he was on the verge of success, a single sentence from Professor Sprout, Head of Hufflepuff and their Herbology professor, jolted him out of his drowsiness.
"Today, we will be studying Mandrakes."
Harry and Ron, who had been standing directly in front of Kane and slightly to his left, suddenly sensed something come alive behind them.
Then, with a pop, Kane thrust his head between them.
"What? What are we studying today?" Kane hurriedly asked.
"Mandrakes. Why are you awake?" Harry stared at Kane in surprise. "Didn't you look like you were about to die just a second ago?"
With dark circles severe enough to cosplay as a panda and bloodshot eyes that made him look as though someone had placed a curse on him, Kane was genuinely terrifying to look at.
Truthfully, if Harry were the professor, he wouldn't have dared wake Kane either.
What if the guy died in the middle of class?
"We're learning about Mandrakes today? Then I'm definitely paying attention."
Kane vigorously rubbed his face, wedged himself between Harry and Ron, and instantly resumed the posture of an exemplary student.
After all, Mandrakes were far too important.
Whether they tasted good could be discussed later.
More importantly, a Mandrake could be used to craft a Pan Flute capable of making anyone who heard it fall asleep.
It required a Prestihatitator to make, but there was nothing wrong with gathering the raw materials ahead of time.
"You're not planning to do something with these things, are you?"
Seeing Kane behave so abnormally, Ron instinctively looked toward the Mandrake in the flowerpot before them.
After hesitating, he lowered his voice and warned him.
"I'd advise you not to mess with them. I've actually seen a Mandrake's scream kill someone. One of my relatives. I saw his body at St Mungo's Hospital, and it was awful."
Kane gave him a reassuring look.
"Don't worry. I have my ways."
With that, he quietly shuffled over toward Neville and patted him on the shoulder.
"Neville, I need you to help me with something," Kane whispered.
"What? I mean, if I can help, I definitely will," Neville hurriedly replied.
"When class starts, ask Professor Sprout whether you can take one of the Mandrakes with you."
Neville's little face instantly turned pale at Kane's request.
"That's impossible. These plants are too dangerous. Professor Sprout would never agree."
"I know. I just need you to draw her attention for a moment."
"If it's only to distract her... Wait, you're going to steal a Mandrake?"
"I have a use for it."
Kane nodded.
Neville stood there silently for a while.
"All right. But be careful. And I don't think your chances of succeeding are very high. It'll be really obvious if one of the flowerpots suddenly disappears."
"Don't worry."
Kane gave Neville another reassuring look before returning to Harry and Ron.
"How exactly are you planning to steal a Mandrake without Professor Sprout noticing?" Harry asked curiously.
"Pull it out, stuff it inside my clothes, and then find something to replace it so Professor Sprout temporarily overlooks the difference."
Kane scanned the greenhouse.
Sure enough, beneath one of the long tables, he found half of a white radish that someone had apparently eaten and abandoned.
And the leaves of a white radish looked almost exactly like those of a Mandrake.
"Young wizards!"
Kane had only just summoned the half-eaten radish over with magic when a warm, kindly voice rang out.
Not far away, Professor Sprout entered the greenhouse with a beaming smile, looking exactly like the friendly Aunt Susan next door who loved baking apple pies.