Cypher pulled out a paper map covered in creases and sweat stains.
He struggled to determine where he was.
He had been careless. Outer London and the city center were still quite different.
Under the midday sun, Cypher squinted as he searched the map for his location and direction.
In the end, after persistent effort and a tiny bit of polite asking for directions, Cypher finally arrived at the entrance of a bar wedged between a suit shop and an umbrella shop.
Although the uncertain situation had caused Britain's economy to slump, this was central London.
It did not seem to have been greatly affected.
There were still plenty of Muggles around.
Just as the rumors said, they all turned a blind eye to the bar that stood out so abruptly.
Cypher looked at the bar's battered sign.
He took a deep breath and slipped the map into his pocket.
Then he stepped forward and pushed open the door.
The bar was dimly lit, seemingly deliberately designed to create such an atmosphere. Wizards all seemed to like this old-fashioned style.
Cypher had to widen his eyes to see his surroundings after entering.
However, there was nothing in the bar that surprised him.
But that was to be expected.
Everything in sight was dark and shabby.
The patrons were not all human either. There was every sort of creature mixed in, because Cypher spotted a table of obvious Goblins in a corner. As for whether there were vampires, werewolves, or anything else...
Cypher did not dare think any further.
He kept walking forward.
He passed male and female wizards drinking, male and female wizards smoking, and people nearby loudly shouting as though they were playing cards and gambling.
As he released the breath he had taken before entering, the pungent stench inside rushed into his nose.
It nearly made Cypher pass out.
Cypher coughed a few times with difficulty, forcing himself to adapt to the terrible environment.
After a great deal of effort, he composed himself and headed for the counter.
The interior was larger than it had looked from outside. There was probably some sort of space-expanding magic at work.
As for the people already inside...
The little boy who had suddenly entered drew the attention of some people in the bar, but it was the start of term, and plenty of young wizards came here.
Cypher's arrival was nothing unusual.
Cypher walked forward slowly, keeping his gaze straight ahead until he stopped before the bar counter.
Ever since Cypher had pushed open the door, the younger bar owner had been expressionlessly wiping glasses behind the counter.
Only when Cypher stopped in front of the bar did he look up at him.
Seeing that the owner had noticed him, Cypher hurriedly said, "Hello!"
"Mm, hello."
The owner's response was quite indifferent, but he had already set down the glass in his hand.
"I'm the owner here. You can call me Mr. Tom."
"Alright, Mr. Tom."
Cypher hesitated for a moment. Thinking that the school would not arrange for a shopkeeper hostile toward children to receive new students, he continued.
"My name is Cypher Corvin, and I'm a new Hogwarts student this year."
After saying that, Cypher waved the admission letter he had taken out. Seeing Tom nod, he continued.
"The school told me to come here to purchase my school supplies. What should I do next?"
Cypher readily voiced his confusion.
"Mm. Behind my bar is an entrance to Diagon Alley. The school has entrusted me with opening the way for you."
After saying that, Tom turned to lead the way.
Seeing this, Cypher hurriedly raised the question that had been weighing on his mind.
"Mr. Tom, I don't have wizarding currency. Where can I exchange pounds for wizarding currency?"
Hearing that, Tom froze as he pulled out his wand, then turned back with a surprised expression.
"They didn't give you Galleons? Wait, what did you say your name was?"
So you'd just been brushing me off before.
Cypher was speechless inside.
"Cypher Corvin, Mr. Tom."
After all, he was asking for help, so Cypher kept his expression unchanged as he introduced himself again.
"Oh, oh, Mr. Corvin. So that's it... Hmm, perhaps the subsidy the little girl who came today brought is yours."
A little girl? Wasn't it supposed to be an upperclassman?!
Something had gone off track, and Cypher frowned.
"Sonorus."
Tom immediately shouted toward the stairs leading upstairs.
At the same time, Cypher noticed that the people around them showed little reaction, as if the deafening voice had not reached their ears.
He reminded himself even more firmly to remain humble. Mr. Tom's move clearly showed extraordinary control over magic, and he was only a bar owner.
"Dumbledore's little princess! The companion you've been waiting for is here!"
Dumbledore had a daughter?
Cypher nearly lost control of his expression.
This discrepancy was far too great.
Could she be a fraud?
Fortunately, this was a living, breathing world. Anything was possible. He just had to wait patiently...
While waiting, Tom used a stern look to stop a seemingly crazed old witch from trying to approach Cypher. Cypher's impression of Tom as irresponsible improved considerably.
Fifteen minutes passed... Then came the pattering sound of little leather shoes stepping on the wooden stairs.
Cypher, who had waited for so long, looked toward the sound and was instantly dazzled by the girl who appeared before him.
The girl had fair skin, long silver-white hair, an oval face, bangs, and a bow in her hair.
She wore a plaid shirt and a short skirt. What amazed Cypher most were the mismatched stockings she had paired with them, one white and one black.
Cypher could even sense faint magical fluctuations from those stockings. They might have been alchemical creations.
However, Cypher possessed a mature mind, and he collected himself in the blink of an eye.
He raised his head, meeting the girl's gaze.
The white-haired girl had sky-blue eyes and a smile as radiant as sunshine.
When she saw that Cypher was the only person her own age standing before Tom.
The white-haired girl walked up to Cypher with graceful ease, extending her fair right hand as she spoke in a clear voice.
"Hello, my name is Iris Dumbledore. Don't be surprised. I'm Father's adopted daughter."
Cypher seemed somewhat caught off guard by the girl's enthusiasm.
Hearing her name, shock appeared in Cypher's eyes. Iris noticed it and explained.
After hearing her out, it would have been far too rude for Cypher to question her.
He hurriedly shook her hand and said, "Hello, I'm Cypher Corvin. You know that."
The two introduced themselves, and Tom, standing nearby, finally grew impatient and interrupted. "Alright, alright, you've met. Leave already. Don't hold up my business."
Iris stuck out her tongue at Tom and made a face to show her displeasure.
Then she turned to Cypher and said.
"Come with me. That Old Tom is too much. Hardly any customers come in, yet he still blames us for being here."
Cypher hurriedly followed the girl, because Tom's furious roar rang out behind them.
"I'm only thirty! Thirty! I'm not even completely bald yet! I only look old, I'm not actually old!!!"
Iris laughed ahead of him, seemingly very pleased with the effect of her retort.
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