Kayson looked at Dumbledore's calm, unruffled expression and fell unusually silent for a moment before speaking. "Once everything is under your control, what about what happened today?"
"What happened today was an accident."
"If you keep this up, you'll regret it someday."
"Perhaps. But before that day comes, I'm still the headmaster of Hogwarts. I have the right to..."
Kayson punched Dumbledore squarely on his slightly crooked nose, then stormed out of the office, slamming the door shut with a deafening bang.
"Ah... that familiar force..." Dumbledore sighed, clutching his nose.
"If he'd used a little more strength, he might've even straightened my nose."
After leaving the office, Kayson headed for the Hospital Wing.
Then...
Satisfaction from Dumbledore +10 Trust from Dumbledore +10 Favorability from Dumbledore +10
"??? Does he have some kind of masochistic fetish?"
Kayson shuddered instinctively, then swiftly threw the matter out of his mind. He made his way to the Hospital Wing and, while Madam Pomfrey wasn't paying attention, slipped into Quirrell's ward.
He was considering whether to use an anvil, Obsidian, or simply blow Quirrell apart with a Wither Skeleton Skull—Voldemort included, the one attached to the back of Quirrell's head.
"Kayson." A deep voice came from behind him.
Kayson turned back and whispered, "Snape?"
"We need to talk."
"If Dumbledore sent you, I'm sorry, but not until I've dealt with this."
Snape nodded readily and even cooperatively turned around.
Kayson flipped Quirrell over, face down and back up. In the end, he didn't use the Wither Skeleton Skull.
But he still took out some Obsidian and carefully smashed Quirrell's spine into powder, making sure to strike the back of his head more than ten times.
In the end, Snape heard the strange noises and grabbed Kayson, who was in the middle of his assault, then shook his head at him.
"Hah!"
Kayson left the Hospital Wing with Snape. Snape walked ahead of him and suddenly said, "That isn't a serious injury for Madam Pomfrey."
"I didn't really want to kill him... Well, I did think about it, but I still have my reason. I don't know Dumbledore's exact plan, but I respect it."
"I just thought that if those two lay in bed for a few more days, Hogwarts would have a few more peaceful days," Kayson explained.
"I have to say, you're a genuinely good person," Snape remarked as he listened to Kayson's muttering behind him.
"I'll take that as a compliment." Kayson nodded.
"As you wish. You don't need to think so much about it either. Dumbledore never claimed to be a wholly good man. Do you know he has a nickname? The White Demon King."
"I was mentally prepared for that. I also knew that a traditionally good person couldn't possibly become the headmaster of a magic school, especially one that had to wrangle with the Ministry of Magic."
"I just hate that way he... I can't put it into words, but his arrogance nearly sent four young wizards to meet Merlin, and he still kept saying everything was part of the plan, under control. I couldn't hold it in..."
"Maybe I should apologize to him sometime."
Snape quietly played the role of listener. When he heard that Kayson had given Dumbledore's nose such a vicious blow, he even smiled.
"Honestly, you did something I've always wanted to do."
"Maybe. But why do you want to? Is it because of the young wizards' safety too?"
"No."
"An employee's resentment toward his boss?"
"No. It's complicated."
"All right." Kayson shrugged and said no more.
"Dumbledore asked me to make sure you were only here to temporarily deprive Quirrell of his ability to cause trouble and vent some anger. My task is complete now, and I believe you don't have any classes next... Perhaps you should find a way to relax." Snape suddenly spoke as he walked ahead.
"Wow, is that comfort?"
"If that's how you see it, then it is."
"Thanks. Maybe I'll find a little house and renovate it. Like Hagrid's hut—I've always wanted to flatten that little shack and rebuild it."
"As you wish."
After returning to his office, Kayson slumped weakly into his chair, leaned back, and propped his feet on the desk.
He'd been too anxious just now. He should have checked on Harry and Neville first, then gone to smash Quirrell's spine.
He'd gotten the order wrong. Now he didn't plan to go—or rather, he couldn't go. He really wasn't good at lying.
When Madam Pomfrey angrily asked him, "Do you know who usually has a grudge against Professor Quirrell?"
He definitely wouldn't be able to keep a straight face.
Definitely. He might even burst out laughing.
Just as he maintained that incredibly comfortable position and appreciated the greatness of ergonomics, someone knocked on the office door.
"I didn't lock it. Come in."
Dumbledore entered carrying a fruit basket, with gauze wrapped around his nose and what looked like a splint holding it in place.
"Kayson, I apologize for my arrogance." Dumbledore walked in and set the fruit basket on the desk.
Kayson awkwardly lowered his feet from the desk.
"You didn't hurt me. If you're apologizing, you should apologize to Harry and Neville. Hermione too."
"And Ron. Seriously, he truly deserves to be a Gryffindor. At the time, he even wanted to wrap his arms around the troll's neck and strangle it, even though the troll's neck was thicker than his waist."
"They've already woken up, and I gave them my sincere apologies."
"Now I'm here to apologize to you. My arrogance hurt the heart of a great professor who truly loves Hogwarts and its young wizards." Dumbledore sat down and spoke earnestly.
"This feels a little strange... And don't look at me like that. It's kind of creepy," Kayson said with a shiver.
Dumbledore shook his head.
"All right." Kayson sat up a little straighter. He wasn't very good at talking about lofty principles, so he chose to change the subject.
"I don't know your exact plan, but Quirrell's been crippled by me now. While he's waiting for a new spine to grow, he probably won't be able to cause any trouble."
"I'm glad you didn't kill him outright," Dumbledore said.
"I wanted to, actually. But then I remembered that the Voldemort you mentioned is so hard to kill. Keeping him right under our noses isn't a bad option."
"Thank you for understanding."
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