Magical Creature: Shadow Crow

In the Wizarding World, three spells were universally recognized as the most evil, sinister, and cruel: the Unforgivable Curses.

They were the Cruciatus Curse, the Killing Curse, and the Imperius Curse.

These three curses were extremely special. For one thing, they had no Counter-Curse, and for another, the conditions required to cast them were exceptionally harsh.

They required intensely negative emotions, as well as magical power far beyond that of ordinary people.

Just like most forms of Dark Magic.

Once a user recited the incantation, that Dark Power would silently erode their mind, causing them to gradually lose their true nature.

For that very reason, the laws of the Wizarding World had once solemnly declared that anyone who dared use these three curses

would be imprisoned in Azkaban for life once discovered!

Dylan was utterly helpless. He had never expected the three random Max Level Spells to all turn out to be Unforgivable Curses.

"Calm down, Dylan, calm down. Spells are only tools. Even Unforgivable Curses are the same!"

Dylan raised a hand and lightly patted his cheek, muttering, "At least this means I have the power to protect myself now, right?"

They said offense was the best defense. Although he had not drawn the Patronus Charm, accepting the Unforgivable Curses was not impossible.

After deceiving himself internally,

Dylan's emotions settled considerably, and only then did he turn his gaze back to the System Panel before him.

Besides the three Max Level Spells, he could also claim one free Magical Creature.

"Voldemort above, please grant me something cute. It's fine if it has no strength. I'm not asking for a Phoenix or Qilin—I just hope it isn't some fellow who looks like Gargamel at first glance."

Perhaps Voldemort had somehow heard Dylan's prayer.

In an instant, that starburst exploded with a roar.

Dylan felt the space before him twist.

In the blink of an eye, a little creature resembling a black cat, but even more like a lynx, sprang lightly out of it.

Its body was small, and its fur was a deep, heavy black, like midnight, rich and entirely free of any other color.

Dylan looked at it, and his vision went dark again.

Though the little creature was still a kitten, it had none of the usual adorableness. Instead, it exuded a cold severity.

Meeting its gaze, Dylan felt as if he were looking at something ominous.

"Moo~" The little creature's claws were hidden beneath its ball of fur, and its black eyes stared fixedly at Dylan.

Message: You obtained the Magical Creature—Shadow Crow!

Message: Your Pet Space has been unlocked!

"Shadow Crow?"

Dylan glanced over the System Panel, which contained a detailed introduction to the little creature.

After reading it, he sighed.

"Thankfully, it isn't some evil Magical Creature. But if I want to keep it, I still have to get an Ownership Permit. Otherwise, it'll be illegal."

The system had also given him a Pet Space. Normally, Dylan could put Little Shadow inside it, so he would not have to keep it by his side all the time.

"Moo!"

Little Shadow's cry grew louder, as if it were trying to tell Dylan something.

Dylan was surprised to discover that he seemed to be able to faintly sense what the little creature wanted to express.

"You want me to hold you?" Dylan blinked.

"Moo!" Little Shadow raised its head proudly.

Oh? So it was a little tsundere?

And why did its cry sound like mooing?

Dylan reached out and gently picked up Little Shadow.

"Little one, now that you're my pet, how about I give you a name?"

Little Shadow curled up its legs, raised its head, and cast Dylan a sidelong glance without moving.

"You're so handsome, and your fur is so black. From now on, I'll call you..."

"Coal Ball. How does that sound? Do you like the name?"

"Moo?!"

Little Shadow bared its teeth.

Seeing that it had not objected, and that a glimmer of light had even flashed through its large eyes as if it were quite satisfied, Dylan rubbed it.

"I'm glad you like it. Your owner has something else to do now, so go stay in the Pet Space for a while."

"Moo??"

Dylan put Coal Ball into the Pet Space.

He sensed it for a moment. The space was more or less like a Poké Ball. A pet inside would not feel uncomfortable; in fact, it would not feel anything at all.

"I wonder if it'll be possible to upgrade the Pet Space into a real world someday."

As Dylan pondered this, he could not help thinking that when it was time to go to Diagon Alley, he would have to visit a Magical Creature shop and ask around.

He needed to find out how to apply for an Ownership Permit for Shadow Crow.

After all, it was his first pet. He could not keep hiding it every day like a mistress, could he?

"Ugh, what is this? I haven't even started school, and I've already committed every kind of crime."

After carefully checking Hogwarts' admission letter once more, Dylan repeatedly read through the list of school supplies enclosed with it.

Once he had memorized the important points, Dylan stored the two sheets of Parchment in the envelope and turned to leave the basement.

"Mommy! I have something I absolutely must announce to you!"

After washing up and getting ready,

the family of three sat around the dining table as Dylan told his parents about the magical academy.

His parents, however, stared suspiciously at the letter on the table.

"Hubert, can you believe this? I mean... this whole magic business?" Dylan's mother, Maeve, wore an expression of disbelief.

"Darling, I find it incredible too, but Dylan has always been honest." Hubert picked up a sheet of Parchment and examined it carefully.

"You mean this is a prank Dylan's friend played on him?" Maeve's doubts eased somewhat at that.

"Mom, you know I don't have many friends." Dylan blinked and reminded her softly.

Maeve and Hubert exchanged a glance.

Could their son have fallen victim to some kind of scam?

Dylan could actually have cast his spells at his parents to put their minds at ease.

But there was no need. He was still so young, and he did not want to hold Harry Potter's script in his hands.

Although his parents were poor, they still loved him very much.

"Um, Dad, I think I could write back. What if it's real?" He put on a suitably yearning expression.

"Magic?" Hubert lightly tapped the Parchment with one finger, frowning slightly.

"Oh, my darling, you can write back, but don't go anywhere with strangers, understand?" Maeve said sternly.

"Of course!" Dylan agreed readily.

After dinner, since it happened to be a day off, Dylan's parents watched as he wrote his reply.

Looking at their son's serious expression as he carefully wrote each stroke, the couple said nothing more.

After all, he was only a child. It was normal for him to be curious about such unusual things. It was only a letter, and there was no need for them to stop him.

Once Dylan finished writing the letter, he placed it beside the window on the desk in the living room.

The entire day passed, yet there was still no sign of an owl.

"Darling, don't be sad. Maybe when Christmas comes, Santa Claus will leave you a gift related to magic."

Seeing Dylan repeatedly run to the window to look at the letter, Maeve could not help comforting him.

"Huh? Santa Claus?" Dylan froze.

No, Mom, what month is it?

Are you seriously drawing me a picture all the way to Christmas?