Iron Golem

Satisfaction from Dumbledore +10

Satisfaction from Dumbledore +10

Affection from Dumbledore +10

Kayson walked behind him, the corner of his mouth twitching uncontrollably.

Soon, the two arrived at an empty classroom.

Dumbledore sat in the center. Professor McGonagall, whom Kayson had met once before, was beside him, along with an oily-haired professor—Snape, whom he also knew.

The other two were a little person and a kindly woman. He did not know either of them.

The oily-haired professor glanced over casually and said, "Making such a fuss. I thought you'd brought Ollivander in."

Damn... that attack power was incredible.

Kayson swallowed and took a seat opposite them. A form lay spread out on the desk, along with a quill.

Name...

Kayson Heath.

Gender...

Age...

25.

Education...

University of Manchester, Department of Civil Engineering.

Why did he suddenly feel so embarrassed?

Magical specialties...

Alchemy, Transfiguration, Charms.

He had only written that last one after gritting his teeth and following Dumbledore's suggestion beside him...

After handing over the form, he leaned back in his chair and looked up at the ceiling...

The ceiling's color did not quite match the walls of this classroom. If he were designing it, he would have used spruce planks. Not only would the colors work together, but they would also retain an elegant sense of solemnity.

Across from him...

"Mr. Heath..." Snape stared at the form before him and spoke.

"...Mr. Heath?"

"Kayson Heath!"

"Huh? What is it?"

Kayson, who had been studying the ceiling, came back to himself and looked at the oily-haired professor questioning him.

"Would you mind demonstrating your alchemy?"

"What do you need me to demonstrate? I mean, how should I demonstrate it?"

"Something basic. Material transmutation, perhaps? After all, aside from a certain post that gets replaced every year, I do not want a colleague who is either a fool or a fraud."

Kayson nodded in deep agreement. Honestly, he was exactly that kind of fool and fraud. If Dumbledore had not called him over, he would never have entered this classroom.

It was not that he did not want this so-called professor's job. He simply had a clear understanding of his own abilities. When it came to renovations, he was operating on an entirely different level.

Alchemy? What was that?

The four professors watched him nod as if he were practically admitting it. Their strange gazes fell on Dumbledore at the same time, forcing him to say awkwardly, "Just demonstrate anything. Preferably something magical."

"Fine."

The next moment, an Iron Block suddenly appeared in his hand. Then came four heavy thuds as a T-shaped iron framework was placed before them.

"That isn't Transfiguration," Professor McGonagall explained.

"I can see that. And then?" Snape's gaze remained strange. What he was seeing was supposed to be alchemy, so why did it feel so... bizarre?

Then a pumpkin block appeared in Kayson's hand. He steadily placed it atop the iron T as a head, and in an instant, the pumpkin block in his hand turned into a pair of scissors.

Honestly, that alone was enough for Snape to acknowledge his skill, because he had not sensed the slightest unnecessary fluctuation of magic.

He had truly created four cubic meters of iron from nothing through magic, transformed it into a block of pumpkin, and finally into a crude pair of scissors.

He had created something from nothing using magic alone, rather than using Equivalent Exchange with existing materials. At least, none of the alchemists he knew possessed such mastery.

Then he saw a scene that nearly made his eyes pop out. Kayson used the scissors to cut a jack-o'-lantern face into the pumpkin, and the T-shaped iron blocks and pumpkin serving as its head began to melt before being reshaped.

In the blink of an eye, they became an Iron Knight nearly three meters tall—an Iron Golem.

Dumbledore took in every detail, the smile in his eyes deepening. He nudged Professor McGonagall beside him with his elbow.

"Well?"

Professor McGonagall's expression grew increasingly solemn. "You know I'm no expert, but I sensed the breath of life... creating life through alchemy..."

"Dumbledore, where did you find him? I don't recall Hogwarts ever having a student like this..." Snape said as well.

"You'll have to blame the Book of Admittance and the Quill of Acceptance for that."

Dumbledore said it casually.

No one else cared what Dumbledore meant. They probably assumed the Quill of Acceptance did not extend beyond England and Scotland, never imagining that this astonishing alchemist had lived in the Muggle World until today.

They simply drew circles beneath the forms, one after another. It meant they agreed: a new colleague was joining Hogwarts.

When Dumbledore took out the appointment letter he had prepared in advance, Snape happened to glance at it.

Monthly salary: 130 Galleons.

Honestly, that was about the average salary for most professors, more or less. But for a technical specialist in alchemy or potions, it was scarcely any different from tossing scraps to a beggar.

Still, Snape had no intention of meddling. An alchemist of this caliber would not lack money. At worst, he could just make gold himself, unlike Snape, who brewed potions and earned nothing but hard-won blood money.

Sigh... life was not easy...

"Do I sign it?" Kayson asked.

"Oh, here." Dumbledore cheerfully left his seat, stood behind him, and pointed to an empty space in the corner of the parchment.

"A professor's job. Sounds pretty good."

Kayson shrugged, picked up the quill, and wrote down his name.

"Welcome to Hogwarts. You'll like it here. I'm Filius Flitwick. Call me whatever you like." Professor Flitwick came to Kayson's feet and held out his hand.

"Please guide me, Professor." Kayson bent down and shook Professor Flitwick's hand.

"Pomona Sprout."

"Professor Sprout."

While Kayson sincerely introduced himself and greeted them politely, Dumbledore put away the magical contract beside him as though he had found a treasure.

Watching this, Kayson suddenly had a thought for some reason. Had he been tricked?

Before he could figure it out, Snape, dressed in black robes, appeared before him.

"Severus Snape. I enjoy speaking with capable people. My office is on the first basement level."

"I'll remember that."

Once only the three of them and an Iron Golem remained in the empty classroom, Professor McGonagall finally came over and shook Kayson's hand.

"I would be delighted to show you around Hogwarts. This will not only be your future workplace—I hope it can become your second home."

"Perhaps it will be my first home," Kayson replied politely.

"That would be even better."

During the day, Kayson dismantled the Iron Golem under Professor McGonagall's horrified gaze, then selected a spacious, sunlit office on the third floor and followed her around to familiarize himself with all of Hogwarts and its staff.

It was not until evening that he finally had some free time and returned to his office.

Overall, the job sounded pretty good, and his colleagues seemed to like him as well.

Perhaps some people were simply too proud to show it on their faces, but the strings of satisfaction and trust notifications in his mind could not lie.

That series of positive reactions caused his MC Blocks to level up once again.

A new block appeared in his hand.

An aura of death and decay filled the office. Kayson stared at the Wither Skeleton Skull floating in his hand and fell into thought...

This block looked like it could explode at any moment. What was going on?