"Looks like it worked pretty well!"
Dumbledore muttered softly. Seeing this, Nicolas conjured a necklace out of thin air and tossed it to Dumbledore.
"It can actually be recycled!"
This time, Dumbledore could not help but marvel.
"Of course. Actually, this was an experiment too!"
Seeing Dumbledore's slightly puzzled expression, Nicolas smiled and raised the wine barrel in his hand.
A wine barrel? A wineglass? A cup? The Goblet of Fire?!
"You mean the inheritance ritual activated through the Goblet of Fire might endanger the young wizards' lives, and this is the protective charm you made for them?"
"Of course! And I've already placed the Goblet of Fire in my study!"
"So far, the results have been good."
"Indeed... Let's observe for a while longer. Once school starts, we'll unlock Hogwarts' treasure!"
With a rosy face, Dumbledore raised his glass and took a fierce gulp of the sickeningly sweet honey wine.
"Nicolas! Come teach at Hogwarts!"
After Old Dumbledore finished expressing his views on the situation surrounding the treasure and the competition, he had finally satisfied his urge to hold court. He suddenly tilted his head slightly and called out to Nicolas.
"Albus, I'm dregs from a bygone era, rotten and stubborn old bones! This campus overflowing with youthful energy isn't suited to me..."
Though the tall and burly Nicolas laughed as he mocked himself on the surface, it was actually a counterattack against Dumbledore.
After all, when Dumbledore got sarcastic, even Nicolas, who had cultivated his composure for centuries, had nearly lost his temper.
On the way here from his Alchemy Workshop, Dumbledore had made no shortage of snide remarks about him. A man several centuries old had used magic to turn himself into a burly, muscular giant...
"No, no, no! Nicolas! I'm being serious! Come take up a