"It seems I'm about to begin a different kind of life."
Levi saw Dumbledore off, waved his wand to restore the messy classroom to its original state, and turned to look at the twenty-four students behind him.
"Professor, are you leaving?"
Their eyes were filled with reluctance as they looked at Levi—just now, Teaching Assistant Jowellie had told them what had happened.
Levi would be taking two assistants to teach at Hogwarts, which was the limit Dumbledore could accept.
As for the other students… they had to be dismissed.
There was no other way; Hogwarts couldn't accept so many outsiders staying long-term, especially since each of them was proficient in magic and capable of becoming outstanding graduates of Hogwarts.
Dumbledore couldn't guarantee that their ideas wouldn't subtly influence the other students—these were scholars who had no scruples about learning dark magic.
"Why do you all look so dejected?" Levi looked at the students he had spent every day with. "I'm just going to teach at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, not dying.
I've already taught you all the methods for exploring the mysteries of magic using scientific approaches.
Even without me, you can still continue to improve in the magical world."
"That's different, Professor,"
one student couldn't help but say.
"Without you, we're like people lost in a dark ocean, without a clear direction, we..."
"Then I'll give you direction, won't I? I'm going to teach, not to go to jail.
Once I'm settled in at Hogwarts, I'll send you letters as soon as possible, and then I'll still assign you projects.
You don't think that just because I'm going to magic school, you can relax and have fun, do you?"
Hearing Levi say this, the other students weren't afraid at all; instead, their faces lit up with excited smiles.
After all, they were the group of people personally selected by Levi, the ones with the most passion and patience for magic.
"I couldn't be happier, Professor!"
After making arrangements with the students and sending them to another undiscovered secret hideout, Levi sat at his desk and let out a soft sigh.
"After keeping a low profile for so long, I've finally had to inevitably join the main storyline?"
Levi had a typical engineering mindset; since his transmigration, he had always subconsciously tried to deconstruct magic using scientific concepts.
Although he increasingly realized the benefits of this approach as his deconstruction deepened,
his early magical studies were far from ideal—compared to Snape, who could create cutting-edge dark magic even in his student days, he was utterly outclassed.
In his first year, he witnessed too much foolishness and arrogance among the Slytherin students—in the beginning, without any magical education, he was indeed no match for those privileged children, which gave Levi a strong sense of crisis.
The reason he was later able to catch up with the students was entirely due to his interest in magic and his extreme self-discipline as a privileged youth.
While others were dating, he was learning magic.
While others were playing wizard chess, he was learning magic.
While others were chasing fame and fortune at the Ministry of Magic, he was learning magic.
After graduating, he rejected offers from pure-blood families and kept his distance from the half-blood faction.
He walked the earth, blending into the crowd.
When Voldemort wreaked havoc on the entire British magical world, he found a secluded Muggle village with ample food and went into seclusion, discussing magic with his students.
Along the way, he had no special talents or cheat codes, relying entirely on his own efforts and continuous exploration.
Even so, the path of magic seemed to have reached its end.
After his twenty-fifth birthday, Levi's understanding of magic stagnated.
If he hadn't known early on that a person's talent is limited and hadn't consciously sought out talented magical buddings, his gains over the past seven years would probably not have been much.
Magic seems to have a natural affinity for innocent children; their whimsical ideas and desires always create miracle after miracle.
For a wizard like Levi, nearing middle age, simply remaining stagnant is already a remarkable achievement.
But in such a world, how could he possibly be content with mediocrity?
When the Sorting Hat sorted Levi into his house, it hesitated for a long time between Hufflepuff and Slytherin.
Ultimately, however, it believed Levi's ambition would dominate everything.
"You are a uniquely ambitious person. You don't know how to scheme for power, nor do you deign to use any means to achieve your goals.
But you are more arrogant and ambitious than they are!
You aspire to stand at the top of everyone else, to survey the development of all things with your infinite life.
Arrogant boy, embrace Slytherin, where you will one day realize your ambition!"
Levi remained noncommittal about the Sorting Hat's assessment.
Could he realize his ambition in Slytherin?
Aside from living in a seaside villa for an extended period and acquiring some forbidden knowledge from some classmates, he saw no other benefits.
The average quality of Slytherin students is quite good.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of them are dominated by the belief in bloodlines or the influence of a certain mysterious figure. Influenced by their ancestors and parents, they don't believe they can create miracles through their own strength, and instead tend to attach themselves to the strong.
This limits their development to some extent and completely contradicts Levi's belief that "man can conquer nature."
Levi wants to become the Dumbledore of force and the Nicolas Flamel of life; everything else must give way to these two goals.
Unfortunately, his first goal has now come knocking, telling him that it is himself who must now yield.
"Tap—tap—tap—"
Levi's fingers lightly tapped the table as he slowly pondered.
Becoming a professor at Hogwarts was now a fait accompli, and teaching duties would inevitably take up some of his time.
But it shouldn't be without its advantages.
Hogwarts, as the setting school for Harry Potter, should have its unique aspects.
Moreover, studying dark magic at Hogwarts would avoid the constant interruptions from Aurors, which would be a huge help in terms of focus.
"Knock, knock, knock." A knock suddenly sounded at the door.
"Come in."
"Professor, the books you requested have been brought to you."
"Hmm, thank you."
Levi waved his hand, and a large number of books related to Defense Against the Dark Arts, which had been floating around Jowellie, instantly flew to his side and piled up on the table.
Although he was forced into this situation, now that he had chosen a path, he could only walk it diligently.
He needed to prepare beforehand by dividing the curriculum into sections and stages, considering how to teach students of different grades at Hogwarts.
He was quite good at these things, so it wasn't too difficult.
As time passed, on August 15th, Levi received a letter from Hogwarts.
Dear Professor Levi:
I am delighted that you have accepted the invitation to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Please enter the school at 10:00 AM on August 25th via Floo Powder (location: Hogwarts Deputy Headmistress's Office). If you choose another method, please inform me in advance.
I will be waiting here to introduce and assist you with your teaching work.
Deputy Headmistress (female) Minerva McGonagall
(End of Chapter)