With a backpack full of research materials slung over his shoulders and a Flying Broomstick in hand, Anton came downstairs with all his worldly possessions.
He was already used to carrying his most important belongings with him wherever he went.
Besides, Goblin Pedro visibly hated humans. Anton didn't know why, but Pedro occasionally let his disgust show in the way he looked at him.
And then there was that irritating Old Wizard.
Anton felt he could be kicked out by the goblin at any moment.
As soon as he reached the ground floor, he heard the Old Wizard mocking Pedro.
"Cackle, cackle! You foolish teacher, you must have a potion for Wizard's Eye somewhere. Hurry up and bring it out. Let Anton do it. Your butcher-like treatment methods are so stupid!"
"Shut up!" Pedro snarled, gripping his Dragon-Ribbed Runic Longsword and waving it angrily.
"Cackle, cackle! I saw it, I saw it! I was so careful about observing your habits back then. I know you too well. You glanced at your wrist. That's a Goblin Treasure Magic Rune, isn't it? Cackle, cackle! I know there's a forest inside it. Did you put the potion in there?"
"Shut up, shut up!" Pedro wailed.
"If you keep chattering and distracting me, will you take responsibility if the surgery fails?"
"Cackle, cackle! That would be wonderful." The Old Wizard drifted about, even tugging at his own hair and swinging his head like a flail, looking absolutely delighted. "Hahaha! If the foolish teacher's surgery fails, he'll be killed by the Unbreakable Vow!"
Anna's eyes widened at the lively scene.
Anton cheerfully watched the show.
The Old Wizard had buzzed in his ear just like that, and sometimes Anton was genuinely impressed by his own endurance.
Still, he had sharp ears and caught one phrase: Goblin Treasure Magic Rune.
Magic Rune?
It was clearly a new term, but humans and goblins couldn't learn each other's magic.
What interested him more was that the Goblin Treasure was a forest? Did that mean the forest on the second floor was actually in Goblin Pedro's possession?
The wonders of the Wizarding World were always so fascinating.
Picking his moment, when the conversation had reached just the right emotional pitch, Anton quickly cut in. "Teacher, I'm here. Let's get ready for the surgery. Aren't you curious about Werewolves, too?"
Only then did the Old Wizard stop interfering. Goblin Pedro let out a sigh of relief, glanced at the gloomy sky outside, calculated the time, then hurried off to prepare for the surgery.
One in the afternoon.
An intricate device sprayed purple-pink gel across the spacious hall, forming a cage full of tentacles.
Two in the afternoon.
Lupin walked into the cage wearing a loose hospital gown. His face was a little pale, but he seemed in good spirits. When he saw Anton, he even gave him a gentle smile.
Three in the afternoon.
The goblin finished assembling another enormous device, and countless twisted rays of light swam through the hall.
The Old Wizard whispered an explanation in Anton's ear. "This is a Magical-Sense Amplifier. Think of it as a different kind of magnifying glass. In these rays, you'll see the Werewolf turn into a Giant ten meters tall. Don't let it scare you. I'd hate for that foolish teacher to laugh at my apprentice."
Anton nodded and watched with curiosity.
Half past four in the afternoon.
There was only an hour left until moonrise.
Yes, autumn had arrived, and night fell earlier than usual.
Pedro carried a huge box on his back. Five strangely shaped arms extended from it, one of them holding something like a telescope up to the goblin's left eye.
He was studying it closely.
Five in the afternoon.
Everyone was tense.
Just then, someone knocked on the door of the Island Cabin.
Knock, knock, knock.
The dull knocks startled everyone. The goblin waved a hand and impatiently told Anna, "Whoever it is, tell them to come back tomorrow."
Anna nodded, and Anton followed close behind her, on guard.
They couldn't afford any surprises now. If the little girl couldn't handle it, he'd have to do his best to create a suitable environment for Pedro's surgery.
As Anna opened the latch, a strange Magic Rune flickered across the door, then vanished in an instant. Only then did she open it.
Creeeak~
A Middle-aged Wizard.
Broad-shouldered and tall, with a greasy head of curls that looked as if it had been washed with Muggle gasoline, a prominent hooked nose, and lifeless eyes.
It was Snape!
"My idol!" Anton cried out in delight, shifting to block the gap beside Anna.
Damn it, Lupin was in the hall.
Lupin, the man Snape hated with a burning passion—one of the Four who had stolen the girl Snape loved, bullied him at school, and nearly killed him or turned him into a Werewolf.
Anton knew Lupin was a good man, but who knew whether he'd been an accomplice back then or had tried, helplessly, to talk the others out of it?
This was bad. Really bad. They were doomed.
This was the last possible accident he'd wanted!
By then, the sky was growing dim, and a faint moon had appeared over the horizon.
A huge iron cage floated behind Snape. Inside it, an enormous Viper looked to be on the verge of death.
"Snake!"
Anna's shriek was full of terror, so loud it seemed to tear every last bit of strength from her. It nearly scared Anton to death.
He turned around in shock, only to see Anna standing stiffly with her eyes squeezed shut before collapsing.
She'd fainted from fright just like that!
Anton caught her in the nick of time.
Knock, knock, knock.
Pedro hurried over with the huge metal box on his back, yanked open the door, glanced at Anna, then glared coldly at Snape.
"Well, the famous Snape. What do you want with me?"
Snape gestured toward the iron cage behind him, but before he could speak, Pedro impatiently waved him away as if shooing a Fly.
"Damn it!"
"I may have invented the Blood Curse, but that doesn't mean every Blood-Cursed Werewolf has to come to me!"
Anton noticed that Pedro glanced at Anna as he spoke.
"???"
Could it be?
Anton looked at Anna in his arms. Her brows were furrowed, and her hands clutched her clothes tightly, as if she feared some terrible thing. Unlike her usual 'elegant lady'—younger version, she now looked as fragile as a little flower about to be crushed by a storm.
Blood Curse?
Goblin Pedro had invented it?
Snape shook his head. "I'm sorry to trouble you, Master Pedro. I'd like you to check whether another soul is inhabiting this snake's body. You're an expert in this field."
"I'm busy!" Pedro slammed the door shut.
A glow of Magic lit up, and the door opened again.
Snape's impassive eyes fixed on Pedro. "This matter is extremely important to me. All you need to do is take a look with your Goblin's Eye. I'll write to you later to apologize for the inconvenience and include an answer to the Potions question you asked me about last time."
Pedro hesitated, but ultimately agreed.
Rings of rippling circles appeared in front of his head, and his eyes seemed to grow enormous.
After staring at the snake for a long while, he finally shook his head. "I don't know what you were hoping to find, but there's only a woman inside. Her soul has completely Transformed into a snake, and there's almost no way to turn her back into a human."
Snape was clearly relieved. The iron cage behind him dropped heavily onto the ground in front of the door. "You can have the snake. Consider it compensation for my rudeness."
He turned and left.
Suddenly, he turned back in confusion and glanced over his shoulder.
His gaze slipped through the gap between the others and fell on a familiar figure in the hall.
"Lupin?"
Before you continue