Gryffindor? Guaranteed Win

Perhaps it had not been Ian's illusion.

After all.

Though the Witch looked furious beyond measure, she never made a move. She merely glared at Pandora and Ariana with blazing eyes that seemed ready to spurt fire.

"Ian! We came to save you!"

Pandora brandished a Longsword, looking utterly imposing.

Perhaps.

Only the more perceptive Ariana noticed that Ian and Mara in the hall did not look like a prisoner and a criminal. A mortified expression of We've really messed up this time appeared on her face.

"Pandora... Ian doesn't look like he was captured..."

She quietly reminded Pandora.

"Huh?"

Pandora looked bewildered.

"How is that possible? I heard she loves eating Children most of all!"

The Super-Macho swordsman still insisted on his judgment.

"Crack, crack, crack~"

That was the sound of Witch Mara grinding her teeth.

"Sorry, Teacher. I forgot to go find them and tell them what was going on here." Ian Came to His Senses and hurriedly stepped forward to smooth things over.

"Tell your friends to get out of my territory!"

The Witch redirected part of her fury toward Ian. However, judging by her reaction, she truly seemed quite wary of Pandora, who had barged into her domain.

"Huh?"

No matter how slow Pandora was, he had heard what Ian called Witch Mara. His eyes immediately went blank, and his face visibly reddened.

"So I was wrong..."

This "old ghost" with the appearance of a boy was at a loss for what to do.

He drew his sword and looked around, his heart lost in confusion.

The image suddenly became all too vivid.

The air of someone ready to cut down everything in his way had long since vanished.

"Ms. Mara, we're sorry. We'll help you repair this place." Ariana, utterly ashamed, began bowing repeatedly to Witch Mara in apology.

"With that empty head of his, and a clueless little fool like you? You should thank heaven if you can make a chair that someone can sit on!"

Witch Mara's face darkened as she turned back toward Ian.

"Make them leave! They are not welcome here!"

With that said.

The Witch turned and walked deeper into the castle with a grim expression. Though her formal gown was not dragging across the floor like a rag, the missing corner was still extremely conspicuous.

"I don't want to stay here! The monster is back!"

"So scary! So scary!"

"He must be trying to harm us again!"

The tables, chairs, and benches all sprouted legs and followed after the Witch.

"That woman has quite the temper!"

Pandora immediately began complaining after the Witch left.

"Pandora, say less. We were in the wrong, after all. We damaged a lot of her property," Ariana softly reminded him from the side.

"Hmph, she tried to capture me before. At most, this makes us even."

Pandora was clearly unconvinced.

Obviously.

He and Witch Mara had crossed paths before.

"I don't think Teacher Mara is that bad, though? She taught me quite a lot." Ian curiously walked to the doorway, only then seeing the scene outside clearly.

Armor fragments lay scattered everywhere, while several suits of armor missing their lower halves crawled miserably across the ground, desperately trying to get as far away from Pandora as possible.

"Perhaps. Or maybe I had a grudge against her when I was alive?"

Pandora spoke uncertainly.

Just like Ariana.

All he remembered of his life was that he had been waiting here for someone.

Yet that person had never come.

The longer souls remained in this mysterious place, the blurrier their memories of the mortal world became. Eventually, when they forgot everything completely, they would have no choice but to set out upon the next stretch of their journey.

"No matter what, we definitely caused a huge mess this time."

Ariana Sighed uneasily.

"At worst, we'll compensate her with a Dragon. That one we encountered in the north was vicious-looking as hell and had only been dead for a few years. It would definitely be far more impressive than her pile of scrap metal."

Though Pandora was still talking tough, he was not unaware that he had made a mistake.

"I'll find a way to compensate Teacher Mara."

Ian patted Pandora on the shoulder.

He was deeply moved by the two of them coming to "rescue" him.

No matter what.

Anyone who cared so much about his safety certainly counted as a true friend—though perhaps these two friends had not realized that no one in the Misty Illusion could imprison him?

Once the time came.

He would be forcibly sent back to the real world anyway...

"Are you studying magic under Ms. Mara?" Ariana asked curiously.

Ian nodded.

"Teacher Mara is extremely knowledgeable. She's given me a considerable head start over other Young Wizards in my magical studies." He was not simply offering empty flattery.

"That's wonderful."

Ariana was happy for Ian, but also somewhat envious.

"Maybe I can bring you some magic textbooks."

Ian remembered that Ariana had always held some longing for Hogwarts.

"There's no point teaching her. Magic is meaningless here."

Pandora shook his head at the side, speaking with a rather proud tone. "She might as well learn swordsmanship from me. Then she can cut down whatever she wants."

As he spoke.

The Super-Macho swordsman gestured with the utterly ordinary sword in his hand.

"I was once unbeatable throughout the Misty Illusion. Even that... that Godric Gryffindor from your school could only barely exchange a few moves with me!"

Well, damn!

He had even crossed swords with one of the Hogwarts Founders?

"You know Godric Gryffindor?"

Ian grew curious.

Though Teacher Mara seemed very wary of this friend, how could Teacher Mara compare to Gryffindor? He was the famous Hogwarts Juggernaut!

Though no records documented how strong Gryffindor's swordsmanship was, he was, after all, a Legendary Wizard evolving toward "Gandalf." An ordinary swordsman was probably no match for him.

"I ran into him a few years ago, but he left soon after. That guy had some skill with a sword, so I remembered him."

Pandora proudly raised his chin, then began swinging his Longsword again, performing several flashy flourishes before turning to persuade Ariana to learn swordsmanship from him.

"You've both been dead for who knows how long. Aren't swordsmanship and magic equally useless?" Ian nearly had his little toe sliced off by Pandora's gesturing sword.

"Yeah."

Ariana also nodded helplessly from the side.

For the souls here.

They did not shy away from talking about the fact that they were already dead.

"There'll definitely be a time when it comes in handy. Trust me."

Pandora spoke with absolute confidence.

"Uh, you told me to trust you when you led me up the mountain earlier too..."

Ariana could neither laugh nor cry.

"That was different, different."

Pandora gave an awkward, sheepish laugh.

Perhaps to change the subject.

He immediately turned his bright Eyes toward Ian.

"Ariana said you've started learning magic. We found you an Admission Gift. Take a look—it's good stuff. I wouldn't waste that kind of time on just anyone!"

As he spoke.

Pandora pulled something from his robe—a golden apple, as though it had been forged from gold. Even within the dim castle, it shone with dazzling brilliance.

It was like a fragment of the sun left behind in the mortal world, or a masterpiece meticulously crafted by the gods.