The Power of Ignorance

"I'm very proficient with the Lumos charm now. If I were to create a card for it, would its proficiency be blank, or would it reflect my actual proficiency with the Lumos charm?" Basil quickly asked.

He began to feel fortunate to have this system sprite-like, youthful version of Riddle.

Without him, Basil would have had to spend 100 Gems to create a card just to find out the answer.

Then, he would have had to compare the spell's power without using a wand, without using a Wand Appearance Component, without simultaneously using 'Magical Power' and Magical Power, and only using the Grimoire.

This was because there was no proficiency display on the card.

He lacked the standard feature for protagonists in system novels: a data bar that showed the subtle progress of diligent study and training.

Riddle pondered for a moment. "My lord, the essence of creating a card is to take a snapshot of the magic you cast and engrave it within the Grimoire."

"Later on, imbalances might occur due to habits like 'walking'."

"But at the very beginning, the two are equivalent."

Basil suddenly understood. "So, if I truly create a Spell Card for Lumos, it will inherit my proficiency with that spell."

Riddle smiled. "Yes. If your own mastery of the spell surpasses that of the Spell Card, you can update the data by 'taking another snapshot'."

Basil narrowed his eyes. "I have another question. You just said that by honing intent and form to perfection, you can make spells 'come alive' and engrave them in your heart. But from what I've observed, almost no one is working towards this."

"Even the most meticulous Hermione is only incredibly serious about the form."

"Even Dumbledore. From what I recall from watching the movies, it's hard to imagine him as the type of wizard who dedicates himself wholeheartedly to magic with no distractions. He doesn't emphasize the precision of technique and the appropriateness of intent like Professor Flitwick. In short, he doesn't seem like someone who can be changed by magic."

Riddle raised an eyebrow. "It's hard to imagine that a college dropout would have such observational skills."

"This is the smooth path for wizards who truly study magic."

"The path for the 'clever ones' of Ravenclaw to learn magic."

"This behavior is called obsession or being a bookworm by other houses."

"And in other houses, the weaker ones are mostly infected by the 'lively' black and white magic that 'comes alive' the moment it's cast."

"As for the truly strong ones, like Dumbledore."

"They rely on an unshakeable self."

"They change magic through their self, not by letting spells develop 'souls' and change them. Instead, it's an unreasoning confidence that makes ordinary spells extraordinary."

"Like your friends, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. They barely care about theory, simply believing that by uttering the incantation, the spell and magical phenomenon will occur."

"Sometimes, ignorance is also a form of power."

"Just like Dumbledore, who believes love can change everything. His magic truly possesses unparalleled power."

At this point, Riddle gave a slight gag.

"Do you have any other questions?"

"If not, I need to go back to the room to chat with my other self."

"This feeling is truly marvelous."

Basil shook his head.

That room referred to the one inside the statue, which originally contained bookshelves filled with Slytherin's treasured books and materials.

Riddle's "other self" was the original diary Horcrux.

Even though he had hidden the diary in this secret chamber, Basil still felt a bit uneasy.

After all, Voldemort's main body was still possessing Quirrell.

Although Voldemort shouldn't tell someone who was even lower than a servant about such a private place, what if?

What if he decided to revisit the place on a whim and discovered his Horcrux there?

Dumbledore would then have to deal with two Voldemorts.

That would completely derail the plot.

Basil wanted the plot to derail so he could earn more Gems, but not in a bad way like this.

Therefore, he had pioneered the method of using Voldemort to guard Voldemort.

As he was about to enter the statue, Riddle reminded him, "My lord, I suggest you don't move these broken pieces of furniture back to their original positions."

"While I would be delighted for Dumbledore to be startled by my younger self's Magic Field."

"But you don't seem to want that."

"Thank goodness for you!" Basil breathed a sigh of relief.

He had almost habitually put the damaged tables and chairs back into the empty classroom.

Didn't they say that transmigrators knew everything and had everything under control after they arrived?

Why didn't he?

He was no different from his past self when he dropped out and gave up, always losing things.

He suddenly thought of another possibility, "If that's the case, doesn't Dumbledore already know about me constantly destroying desks and chairs?"

Riddle remained silent.

But he clearly defaulted to it.

Basil slumped onto the bed, full of disappointment.

How could he have been noticed by the old geezer like this?

Other transmigrators were either noticed by looking in the mirror with Harry, or wasted their first time by breaking into forbidden areas and facing Voldemort.

And he, just for causing destruction.

"Why didn't you remind me earlier?" Basil instinctively tried to shift the blame.

"Is it possible that I hadn't been born yet? That you hadn't created me," Riddle whispered in reminder. "Besides, you were probably noticed a long time ago. From what I know of Dumbledore, the moment you stole Harry Potter's spotlight and killed Fenrir, you were already on his blacklist."

"Alright," Basil gave a dry laugh.

How could he forget being stared at intently while waiting for the Sorting?

Finally, the desks and chairs moved out of these empty classrooms were vanished by Riddle with a Vanishment Charm.

Completely gone from this beautiful world.

This lesson also officially ended.

Basil had actually wanted to learn the Killing Curse.

Although he could learn it through the Echo of the〖Fenrir Wolf〗.

But with one teacher being Voldemort, and the other being an Echo that was Voldemort's hound, Even a troll would know which to choose.

In any case, Hermione, who suddenly burst into the dormitory, interrupted Basil's connection with Riddle.

Her face was flushed from running, and her two exposed front teeth made her look exceptionally cute with her delicate face.

"Basil, I found it!"

"I found out what an Archmage is!"

"I found 'Archmages of the Twentieth Century' in the library! An Archmage is simply a shortened term for a great wizard. Any wizard who has made outstanding contributions can be called an Archmage!"

Basil had a headache! A terrible headache!

What kind of Archmage was this!

He suppressed the urge to complain and patiently explained, "The Archmage in that book might be different from the one I'm talking about."

"I saw it in the miscellaneous notes of my great-grandfather's great-grandfather's great-grandfather. About six hundred years ago."

"At that time, he met a wizard who was completely different from other wizards, with actual Magical Power flowing within him. He called him an Archmage. That wizard explained that the Magical Power flowing within him was born from the concept of nothingness transforming into reality through belief, will, and intense desire."

Hermione was silent for a moment before saying, "I'm not saying I don't believe your ancestor."

"Magic is progressing. Just like in the Middle Ages, we still believed in the geocentric model. Now everyone knows the heliocentric model is correct."

"In the past, everyone believed in the theory of Magical Power. But now, the textbook of the best magic school in the world—'Magical Theory'—states that Magical Power doesn't exist."

"Our peculiarities all originate from the Magic Field."

"So, could it be that your ancestor was mistaken? After all, 'Magical Theory' also says: [You can feel it, you can let others perceive it, but it doesn't actually exist]."

Basil was speechless.

"I deduce that you are not lacking in intelligence, but unfortunately, you are too narrow-minded, short-sighted, and closed-minded."

He didn't know who said this sentence.

Having never read the novel, he only knew it was an evaluation of Hermione.

Before, he had only thought it was some nonsense made up by Hermione haters.

But now—it was so damn fitting!