Viking

The goblin, previously brimming with murderous intent, saw Mu En chanting an incomprehensible incantation and his own forces already scattered. Fury surged within him, and he raised his wand at Mu En.

"Avad—"

Clang!!

Bloody gashes suddenly appeared across his raised arm. The goblin's face went deathly pale as he watched huge chunks of flesh get gouged from his entire arm in an instant.

"This is—wind?!"

His thoughts immediately fell into chaos. Looking at that figure's hair and beard whipping wildly in the storm, he could no longer muster any of his previous arrogance or rage.

All that remained was fear.

Run, run now!

But he was already a step behind his companions, and with those dark thunderclouds seeming ready to overturn the sky, where could he possibly run?!

And besides the wind, there was rain!

As the first drop fell, the goblins once again learned what true, bone-deep pain was.

These were not soft, weightless raindrops.

They were arrows shooting straight down from the heavens, raising clouds of blood across their bodies.

"Protego—"

"Impedimenta—"

Countless spells rang out from the goblins, yet no matter what magic they cast, it could only hold back the violent wind and rain for a moment.

Mu En watched the goblins and began evaluating the spell in his mind.

This magic combined Thales's stormcraft with this world's advanced Weather Charms, along with his own understanding.

For now, its power seemed fairly good, and its range was broad enough.

Although he had done his best to incorporate anchoring runes so that the wind and rain would attack only animals, avoiding widespread damage to vegetation and inanimate objects,

he could not yet make the wind and rain distinguish friend from foe.

At present, some goblins had already tried holding bark over their heads, hoping to make the spell misjudge them and reduce the rain's damage.

The corners of Mu En's mouth lifted slightly. He had not expected these fellows to react so quickly.

Some even showed signs of escaping the spell's range.

His gaze settled on a goblin in the distance. It was the one who had kicked open the door first, apparently the leader of the group.

And the one who had run the fastest.

At that moment, with a piece of bark over his head, he transformed into black mist and fled into the distance.

Yet Mu En was still curious. What exactly was preventing them from teleporting?

As he pondered it, he shot forward like an arrow, following behind that fellow.

But the goblin's direction of escape suddenly flashed with silver light. Accompanied by a shrill scream, Mu En saw the goblin plummet straight down.

A mighty roar also came from afar!

Mu En raised a hand slightly and slowly turned it toward the sky.

The clouds dispersed.

The rain and wind gradually faded, replaced by the same drifting snowflakes as before.

Gradually, Mu En could make out the newcomers.

The first thing that entered his sight was a dragon's head, with sharp fangs and savage bone spurs.

Then came the warriors on the dragons' backs, their muscles knotted, huge brown beards braided, and their faces marked with patterns painted in pigment made from bluestone.

Mu En's heart skipped a beat. He was somewhat surprised.

In this world, only one kind of people dressed like this.

A people renowned throughout the world for slaughter, pillage, and warfare.

Vikings!

He had not expected that, in an era when Vikings had already been assimilated by the Germanic peoples, the Wizarding World would still have Viking tribes that preserved their traditions so well.

There were around a dozen Vikings charging in, each riding a dragon. Mu En even spotted a child among them, wearing a horned helmet and a fur coat reinforced with runes, wielding a single-headed axe as he joined the slaughter of the goblins.

The leader flew straight toward Mu En.

Mu En swept a hand across his face, then gathered his blond hair back and waited calmly for the man to approach.

The leader was powerfully built, bare-chested except for a bearskin draped over him. His hair was braided behind his head, as was his beard.

The silver flash Mu En had seen earlier had come from the Flying Axe in his hand.

"Did you kill these goblins?" he asked.

Mu En nodded. "You're the Vikings those goblins said were chasing them?"

The man nodded. "That's right. We're from Lorland. These goblins killed our dragons and stole the dragon eggs we raised, so we pursued them all the way here."

Mu En nodded, somewhat surprised. "The International Confederation of Wizards allows you to raise dragons?"

The man nodded. "Some Viking tribes have a tradition of raising dragons, so we have special approval from the International Confederation of Wizards." After explaining, he looked at Mu En again and said,

"My name is Evan Maxen. Thank you for your help."

Mu En waved a hand. "They came looking for trouble themselves. It was merely a coincidence."

As they spoke, the two suddenly noticed something below.

The child Mu En had noticed earlier had reached the castle and happened to encounter Harry.

"You're a wizard?" The child's axe was stained with goblin blood, and a goblin's head hung from his belt. It was the goblin who had repeatedly attacked Mu En earlier.

He was also holding that goblin's wand.

He had been here moments ago, trying to wave the wand, when he noticed Harry.

"Obviously, I'm a wizard." Harry nodded. It was his first time witnessing such a bloody scene of slaughter. Though he was surprised, he felt no fear.

Goblins—especially illegal goblin groups seeking to restore their kingdom. Their deaths did not stir Harry's heart.

They were enemies to begin with.

The boy sized Harry up and down, then frowned. The young dragon behind him also stared at Harry menacingly.

Then he raised his axe and pointed it at Harry. "Let's fight!"

"Kri!!" Evan's furious roar suddenly rang out from the sky. "Don't be rude!"

As he spoke, Mu En and Evan landed at the same time.

"Looks like this child is quite the fighter," Mu En said with a smile.

Evan looked somewhat embarrassed and wrapped an arm around the child called Kri. "Please excuse him. This is my son. Kri, this is Mr. Mu En Jones."

Kri's face remained defiant. "I didn't mean anything else. I just want to see how strong wizards are!"

Evan smacked him on the head. "It's Christmas Eve. Behave yourself, and don't make me beat you in front of outsiders!"

After saying that, he looked up at Mu En again. "Sorry. This child... isn't a spellcaster, so he has a bit of a competitive streak toward wizards."

Mu En looked at the stubborn boy across from him, somewhat surprised.

The Vikings really did have something. Could non-spellcasters achieve such combat prowess too?!

Then he looked at Harry again and suddenly felt that...

"If they want to fight, I think they can!"

After saying that, he looked at Harry. "After training for so long, I'm rather curious about your current level!"

Harry smiled as well. Somewhat nervous yet faintly eager, he nodded. "Of course."

As he spoke, his right hand reached into the gold-threaded pouch at his waist. The sound of metal ringing against metal echoed out.

Clang—

He drew out a Blue Steel Longsword, gripping it with both hands. The ring on his finger flashed faintly.

In the next instant, blazing flames ignited along the blade.