The German: Is it just bad luck, or is there something in the water in Britain?
The others were utterly dumbstruck.
They couldn't help but freeze in their tracks, watching with wide eyes as the giant serpent streaked past them like a bolt of lightning, leaving a trail of dust in its wake.
It vanished around the next corner in the blink of an eye.
Andre: "???"
A British Auror stammered, "I-it wasn't chasing us? Then what the hell is it running from?"
If it wasn't hunting them, then the reason for its frantic flight was...
"N-no way. Don't tell me it's running away just like we are? Ha... ha-ha! That's impossible! That's just ridiculous!"
The British Auror let out a couple of neurotic, shaky laughs.
However, no one joined in.
Andre's arrogant smirk faded, his face clouded over with a layer of grim dread.
Gulp.
In the dead silence, the sound of someone swallowing hard was deafening.
At that moment, everyone realized the same terrifying question—
What kind of "thing" could possibly exist that would scare a monster that powerful and horrific into a blind, frantic retreat?
A second later, a shimmering yellow light swept over their ankles like a rising tide.
[I know everything you desire...]
They turned their heads stiffly.
What met their eyes was a brilliant yellow disc, descending into the dim corridor like a summoned deity. On its surface, tumor-like growths shaped like facial features writhed slowly, emitting an aura of kindness and all-encompassing warmth.
[I know everything you fear... Come back. Return to the God's gentle embrace.]
"God" was moving toward them.
"...A-Aaaaaaaargh!!!!!"
A piercing, shrill scream erupted!
Unable to take it anymore, several British Aurors shrieked and bolted toward the window! A blinding golden light burst from their eyes as they threw themselves out with a resounding shatter!
"...Idiots. We're on the sixth floor," Andre rasped, a drop of cold sweat sliding down his forehead.
He watched the slowly encroaching yellow disc and couldn't help but take two steps back. He belatedly realized that in just half a day, Hogwarts had undergone yet another bizarre transformation!
"It's fine."
An unexpectedly cool, crisp voice rang out.
Miss Connie Rosier, the Captain of the British Aurors, stood there with a look of detached calm that seemed entirely out of place.
"The Queen of Hearts' carefully tended rose garden is directly below," she said tonelessly. "They'll have a soft landing."
"...As expected of a descendant of the Acolytes," Andre managed a grin, though it was strained. "You're certainly different from those other fools."
"...Speaking of which."
Connie turned her head, seemingly ignoring Andre's comment. She raised a hand and pointed at the wall ahead.
"Hasn't Ethan's [Headmaster's Office] appeared?"
Following her finger, Andre saw a door that had manifested on the moonlight-bathed wall at some unknown point. A metal plaque on the door reflected a bronze luster:
[Room 666]
—Ethan Vincent's exclusive Headmaster's Office.
An office that would appear anywhere, whenever you needed it.
"Very convenient, isn't it?" Connie remarked with a hint of admiration. "You don't even need a password, and you don't have to ride that silly gargoyle up. It greatly improves efficiency during critical times."
...A normal person wouldn't need an office that acts like a cursed apparition, though.
Laura shot another strange look at Connie. The sense of wrongness in her gut was only growing. Were British Aurors always this prone to flattering their enemies?
But with the yellow disc pressing in, they had no choice but to hurry forward.
"He even put cute stickers on the door?" Andre arched an eyebrow and let out a scoff. "The Dark Lord has quite the childish streak."
Despite being essentially herded inside like frightened ducks, Andre remained confident. This confidence didn't just stem from his own prowess, but from the fact that he had come prepared for every possible scenario.
He carried a Portkey specifically designed to bypass Anti-Apparition charms. And if the Portkey failed, he had a one-time-use magical scroll capable of shattering any barrier and opening any locked door.
...They were precious resources, but as long as the world outside that door wasn't the void, they would escape!
Furthermore, they had the British Ministry of Magic's secret weapon.
Success was guaranteed!
Taking a deep breath, Andre was the first to grab the door handle—which was adorned with a dainty pink bow—and twisted it.
Creeeeeak—
The door opened with a light sound, offering no resistance. Before the yellow disc could reach them, the group filed inside one after another.
What greeted them was a room that was unexpectedly, brilliantly bright.
POP!
Confetti exploded over their heads.
Giant plush mascots—teddy bears, rabbits, foxes—enthusiastically raised their arms, emitting high-pitched, youthful voices laced with static-filled crackling:
[Welcome to the Sweet Home! Please enjoy playtime with all your best friends!]
Wh-what was going on?
The group stared at the scene before them, mouths agape.
The decor was primarily pink, filled with fluffy cushions, sofas, and children's toys scattered across the floor. It looked exactly like a harmless playroom. It didn't feel like a "Dark Lord's Headmaster's Office" at all.
In the center of the room, behind the plush mascots, a tall young man dressed in a sharp suit slowly turned around.
In his white-gloved hand, he held a golden birdcage. Inside, a very familiar dark green viper was coiled up, its triangular head drooping, looking as though it had lost all its strength and cunning.
The man faced them with a pure white, featureless mask, speaking with a slight tone of apology:
"I'm sorry you have to see such a mess. You all arrived quite suddenly; I haven't finished decorating yet."
A mess?
The group looked at one another, bewildered. This room was clearly warm and cozy; where was the mess?
"Heh," Andre sneered, muttering, "Look at you, acting all composed."
The boy didn't show even a hint of surprise at being ambushed.
What a formidable character. It was hard to believe this person was still a student who hadn't even graduated.
If Lord Grindelwald had possessed a general like this back in the day...
A fleeting thought of regret crossed Andre's mind before he suppressed it. It was too late for "what ifs."
Now, his mission was to arrest this third-generation Dark Lord, [Mr. Lamp], and bring him to justice!!
"Are you ready for your downfall, Ethan Vincent?!"
He let out a sudden roar, flicking his wand and firing a sharp bolt of red light!
Facing the incoming curse, Ethan's lips curled into a smile behind the mask. He opened his arms wide, sounding as blissfully resigned as a martyr:
"Always ready."
The next second!
BOOM!
"Huh?"
Andre's pupils shrank as he watched a plush rabbit suddenly lunge forward to intercept the blow! In the massive explosion, more than half of the doll's head was blasted to smithereens, leaving a gaping hole.
In an instant, the movements of the mascots stopped.
Pairs of pitch-black glass eyes stared inanimately at the attacking Andre.
...W-what was happening?
Andre froze, an inexplicable chill crawling up his spine. In the dead silence, the air seemed to solidify. He looked around warily, his gaze inadvertently brushing past the destroyed rabbit head, and he suddenly stiffened.
Because he realized...
The inside wasn't stuffed with cotton.
It was filled with clusters of writhing, pitch-black tentacles that looked like the physical manifestation of pure malice.
Shiver.
Andre was suddenly drenched in a cold sweat!
"...Oh dear, oh dear."
Ethan's clear voice rang out in the silence, brimming with regret.
"Attacking without a word of greeting? It seems our foreign guest isn't very friendly."
"It seems I'll have to help you calm down first."
As if receiving an order, several dolls spoke in unison:
[Bad child detected.]
[Executing purge command.]
The group: "???"
That's not what Ethan said just now!
What kind of childhood-ruining dialogue is this?!
To this, Ethan's stance was simple:
He couldn't help it; that's just how the program was written.
The next second.
Bzzzt—Kr-kr-shhhhh—!!
The sound of a rusted saw cutting through wood filled the entire room!
The dolls unhinged their jaws, revealing horrific fangs and sharp claws as they lunged at the group with manic frenzy! The plush skins, the floor, the walls, the furniture—everything began to lose its color!
Large chunks of writhing flesh and tentacles were exposed!
As it turned out, this entire room was the mouth of a predatory monster designed to trap its prey!!
"Dammit!"
Spells began to fly in rapid succession.
Andre's eyes were nearly bursting out of their sockets as he glared at the calmly standing Ethan. Only one thought echoed in his mind—
This room really is a "bloody mess"!!
Setting up his lair in the center of a curse without using a single drop of Light Magic...
He was different from Lord Grindelwald... completely different!
This third-generation Dark Lord was a total, raving lunatic!!!
At that moment, Andre truly began to wonder if the very land of Britain was cursed.
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