The Overprotected Boy

Diagon Alley.

A boy in black robes looked at the bustling crowd on the street, then raised his head to glance at the sky tinged with dusk. He could not help but sigh softly.

He had been in this Magical World for eleven years.

Eleven years!

From birth until now, his worldview, outlook on life, and values had all changed to some extent as he grew up. Only then had he gradually come to accept this world.

Did they know how he had spent these eleven years?

"Young Master, it is time for you to go back."

A voice came from behind Aaron. A well-dressed middle-aged man reminded him cautiously.

A few seconds passed, but the boy did not respond.

The middle-aged man slowly drew a breath and was just about to speak when he was interrupted.

"Isn't there still a few minutes left? Let me stay a little longer!"

"But the master and madam..."

"Didn't they say that before six o'clock, my time was mine to do as I pleased?" Aaron said helplessly. "And besides, what should you call me when we're outside?"

"Boss," the middle-aged man said, looking rather troubled.

"That's right, Jeans." Aaron nodded in satisfaction. "By the way, how much did my little shop make today?"

"About eight Galleons," Jeans said awkwardly.

Eight Gold Galleons could not be considered much, but it was not a small amount either. In this world, it was barely enough to buy a Wand.

But to this butler, the number was truly difficult to say aloud.

He could not understand why his young master ignored the vast family fortune and instead came to this alley to run a drink shop with mediocre business.

But he had no way to disobey his young master's wishes. Ensuring the young master's safety and making sure he returned home on time every day were his only duties. The rest was none of his business.

"Not bad." Aaron spoke casually, unconcerned by the figure.

Ding, ding, ding...

At that moment, the Alarm Clock on the counter rang.

Aaron helplessly glanced at the butler, who was making a gesture of invitation, then obediently walked over to his side.

"Actually, I could manage on my own."

"Of course, Young Master. We all know you can, but necessary rules must still be followed. That was the master's instruction—your father's as well."

"Heh." Aaron let out a mocking laugh but said nothing.

Aaron grabbed a handful of Floo Powder, stepped into the fireplace inside the shop, and clearly called out, "Gaius Castle," before scattering the powder.

Green flames suddenly flared up, then quickly went out.

In the blink of an eye, Aaron vanished from the spot and returned home.

The butler nodded in relief. Just as he was about to take out his Wand and use Apparition, he laughed at himself and put it away. Half a minute later, he repeated Aaron's earlier actions.

Only after the two had left did two figures appear reflected in the wall of Aaron's drink shop.

They exchanged smiles and each prepared a cup of hot tea for the other, clearly very familiar with one another.

"When will this ever end?" the person on the left said gloomily.

"Who knows? But it should be soon!

"The young master is naturally gifted, and he is already eleven this year. It is time for him to start school."

"That's true, but I'm more concerned about the shift change in two days."

Gaius Castle.

Every day at around six in the evening, a House Elf waited by the fireplace. Today was no exception.

Rumble!

The fireplace let out a burst of noise.

"Get ready. The young master is coming back," the House Elf reminded himself.

Almost the instant Aaron appeared, the House Elf cast a cleaning spell on him. The dirt on his clothes caused by the Floo Powder was cleaned away completely, and Aaron's clothes instantly looked brand-new.

"Thanks, Yobi."

"Young Master, it is our honor to serve you," Yobi said excitedly.

Then the butler appeared in the fireplace as well. Yobi repeated the same spell, but Jeans merely nodded slightly, taking Yobi's actions for granted.

After all, cleaning and tidying were indeed among a House Elf's duties.

"Where are my parents? They haven't come back yet, have they?" Aaron asked with some resentment.

"No," Yobi said fearfully.

"Young Master, although the master and madam are away from home for long periods, they do care about you," Jeans said. "We watched you grow up. You are absolutely the happiest child in the world."

"Stop right there, Uncle Jeans.

"Did you watch me grow up, or did you monitor me growing up? You know the answer better than anyone.

"I'm already eleven, not a three-year-old. Stop trying to fool me." Aaron said, feeling rather speechless.

Ever since he had been born, no matter when or where he went, someone followed him whenever he was outside the house, all in the name of protection.

The Jeans family had served the Gaius Family for generations. They were the people Aaron and his parents trusted most, and the only openly acknowledged protectors allowed to stay by Aaron's side.

As for the ones in the shadows... heh. That was a long story.

Although he had never caught any of them, he was certain there were no fewer than two, and they were all experts.

Hearing Aaron's words, a faint bitterness appeared on Jeans's face. "Young Master, it seems that ever since you could remember things, we haven't been able to fool you anymore.

"But this so-called surveillance is absolutely groundless. You imagined it."

In any other wizarding family, if an heir had such protection, they would not know how delighted they should be!

But his young master had always believed that this kind of "care" was surveillance and an invasion of his privacy. He found it deeply objectionable and had protested to his parents more than once.

And every time, the Gaius Couple would admit their mistakes to their son with guilt and sincerity. Yet the next day, they would act as though nothing had happened and carry on as usual!

Over time, not only Aaron but even Jeans himself had grown numb to it.

But no matter what, the young master's protection could never be stopped. As both butler and bodyguard, all he could do was grit his teeth and deny everything. After all, the young master had no evidence.

When Aaron could truly draw out the guards in the shadows, that would prove that he could stand on his own. Not only would the Gaius Couple not be angry, they would probably throw back their heads and laugh three times.

They might even hold a banquet for some inexplicable reason to celebrate that memorable day.

"Hmph!" Aaron snorted. There was nothing he could do about their thick skins. "Then did they say when they would be back?"

"No, but it should be soon," Jeans said, somewhat uncertain.

"I shouldn't have asked you. You said the same thing half a month ago."

"Perhaps they have something important to do," Jeans said. "You know the master and madam are always busy with one thing or another."

Aaron rolled his eyes at him and could not be bothered to respond.

His parents sent letters home every so often, and every single one was mailed from a different place. Without exception, all of them came from tourist destinations.

That was not at all how busy people behaved. It was more like they were traveling around the world.

They had left their biological son at home while they went off to enjoy themselves. Those parents really had some nerve.

Jeans could guess what Aaron was complaining about inwardly and said, "Young Master, it is almost dinner time. Is there anything extra you would like prepared?"

"No need. Just send it to my room later." Aaron walked upstairs without looking back.

Jeans sighed helplessly and turned his gaze toward the House Elf.

Yobi immediately straightened up and said at once, "I will go prepare dinner for the young master right away."

"There is no need. Someone is already preparing the young master's dinner. You only need to bring it to him later."

"Yes, Butler Jeans," Yobi said solemnly, then headed toward the kitchen.

In his room, Aaron lay directly on the bed and silently opened the personal panel that only he could see.

Host: Aaron Gaius

Magical Energy: 700 (Intermediate Mage, your path of magic has only just begun)

Talent: Once in a Century (Upgradeable. Magical Energy increases by 2 points every day, but the rate of increase will fluctuate to a certain extent as your level and age rise)

Items: None

Magic Points: 1001

Looking at this panel, which was as bare as could be and even somewhat pitiful, Aaron silently sighed.

He had only obtained this System when he was nine. At first, he had been quite excited. With a System, his journey through this Magical World would certainly be much smoother.

But once he understood the System, he felt as if ten thousand alpacas were stampeding through his heart. There was no beginner's gift pack, only an ordinary panel and a low-key, luxurious, and sophisticated System Mall.

Magic Points were good things. They could increase Magical Energy and purchase rare items from the System Mall, but the downside was that they came far too slowly.

He had one chance to check in each day, and it only worked in places related to magic.

Checking in at home only gave him one Magic Point. Over a year, that added up to merely three digits. But in Diagon Alley, he could get two Magic Points. Although there was not much difference between one and two, the temptation of doubling it still made him open a drink shop in Diagon Alley and happily earn money there every day.

Honestly, his family did not lack that bit of money.

If they truly examined his background, the Gaius Family's status in the Magic World was no weaker than the Twenty-Eight Sacred Pure-Blood Families, perhaps even slightly stronger. As for the Muggle world, the Gaius Family ranked among the top twenty on the list of the wealthy.

But there was no helping it!

His family was strict. There were quite a few places where he could check in, but most of them were dangerous. Someone followed him everywhere he went every day. Even getting a shop in Diagon Alley had taken several rounds of pleading with his parents.

Although he had checked in for two years and his Magic Points had only barely broken into four digits today, Aaron believed it had all been worth it. Today was the day he would finally spend them.