Ethan's First Public Speaking Experience (Seeking Follow-up Reads!)

Crabbe, whose name was called, turned pale as a sheet.

Like a mourner at a funeral, he trembled violently all over, resembling a giant slab of quivering fat.

"I-I-I... I don't want to!!"

With a shriek, he thudded to the ground, frantically kicking his legs to scramble backward.

He stared in utter terror at the fist swinging through the air.

What kind of dark sorcery was this?!

They were just first-year Young Wizards who'd barely started school—had Ethan secretly gone to Azkaban for extra training or something?!

Ethan: Heh heh~ (￣V￣)＞

A duel, over in the blink of an eye.

Neither Slytherin nor Gryffindor had expected such an outcome.

—This was a duel between wizards, so what was with throwing a punch?!

It was like playing rock-paper-scissors and the other side suddenly pulled out a missile.

Only Ethan's two friends from Ravenclaw wore smug expressions that said, "Just as we thought."

Michael crossed his arms, still with a blade of grass stuck in his hair, flashing what he thought was a cool, provocative grin at the opposite side.

At the same time, his gaze quickly swept through Slytherin.

Checking if there were any pretty girls.

Meanwhile, Mandy calmly pushed up his glasses, looking down with contempt at Malfoy, who was still crying on the ground.

What a fool who didn't know his own limits.

After this defeat, he'd probably never be able to hold his head up again.

This was what happened when you stupidly tried to challenge Ethan.

"Sorry, Harry." Ethan turned and said apologetically to Harry, "You might not get a chance to fight."

Harry snapped out of his shock and quickly replied, "N-no, it's fine! You're amazing, Ethan..."

Secretly relieved he didn't have to step up, Harry breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, he hadn't even heard the spell Malfoy had started shouting earlier.

He didn't want to embarrass himself in front of everyone.

Now, Harry actually felt a bit of pity for Malfoy.

Go home, kid. Just go home.

"So," Ethan turned back, raising his voice slightly with a smile, "this duel is over. Thank you for giving me such an enjoyable experience."

Not only had it let him stretch his limbs, but he'd also gotten to test out the [Portal].

A win-win situation.

Ethan won twice all by himself.

As his words fell, the Slytherins' expressions instantly shifted.

Mockery.

This was blatant mockery!

Malfoy had ended before he even began, unable to get back up, utterly and completely defeated.

And then you say "enjoyable" to us—well, from your side, it probably was pretty enjoyable.

Ah, Malfoy really should've thought it through.

Charging in without knowing his opponent's strength.

He had none of the style of a "Platinum Noble (self-proclaimed)."

And he dragged them all into being laughed at.

So, the little snakes' gazes toward Malfoy turned resentful, filled with cold disdain.

To be fair, Malfoy felt pretty wronged too.

He knew he was dueling Ethan, but he didn't know Ethan was going to turn it into a "samurai duel"!

How was anyone supposed to defend against that?!

Pansy was sprawled over the groaning Malfoy.

It was as if she was trying to use her own weight to deliver the final blow to him.

She was frantic with worry, but she didn't know any healing spells.

On her own, she couldn't drag Malfoy to the hospital wing either.

Seeing the cold stares from everyone else, she grew both anxious and furious, pinning all her anger on Ethan.

"You—you think this is over?!" Pansy screamed at Ethan like a madwoman. "I'm telling you, you're finished!"

"The Malfoy family will never let you off! His father is a school governor—one word from him, and you'll be expelled! Sent back to where you belong! Mudblood!"

"Someone like you, who has to do house-elf work just to earn money, doesn't deserve to study with us!"

"What did you say?!"

Ron, as if struck in a sore spot, jumped up on the spot, flames of rage blazing in his eyes.

He cracked his knuckles, seeming ready to imitate Ethan in a real, no-holds-barred duel.

But Ethan stopped him.

Ethan raised one hand and easily blocked Ron, who was about to charge forward.

Ethan looked calmly at Pansy, those cobalt blue eyes holding no threat at all.

As calm as ever.

Yet, under that gaze, Pansy shivered for no reason.

A trace of cowering crept into her anger.

"First, my name isn't 'Mudblood.' It's Ethan Vincent."

Ethan spoke.

Though his voice wasn't loud, it carried clearly into everyone's ears.

"Second, I don't think 'house-elf' is a derogatory term at all. It's their overly meticulous care that has turned some wizards into helpless, overgrown babies."

Pansy froze.

Realizing Ethan was taking a dig at them, she erupted in fury.

Just as she was about to shout back, Ethan's suddenly raised tone cut her off:

"Think about it!"

Ethan swept his arm up, his black hair flying, his expression radiant, as if standing on a podium.

A ripple stirred in his usually placid cobalt blue eyes.

Like a calm sea finally revealing its turbulent depths.

A surge of emotion filled Ethan's chest.

It was time!

Time to wake up these young saplings!

Following his instincts, Ethan shouted to the crowd with rising fervor:

"Labor should be the most honorable thing!"

"In ancient times, if the four founders had only talked a good game without taking action, Hogwarts would never have existed. Let alone you and me standing here now, sorted into four houses!"

"But then why is it that earning money and striving with one's own hands is seen as laughable, even degrading, by some wizards?"

At these words, the surrounding gazes immediately shifted to Malfoy and Pansy.

Eyes filled with scrutiny, as whispers broke out among the crowd.

Pansy panicked.

This wasn't right! She'd gotten the wrong script!

Wasn't she supposed to be mocking Ethan? How had she become the center of attention instead?!

Ethan didn't give Pansy time to react.

His voice, youthful yet cold, struck down like a warhammer:

"The reason is that the wealth they possess wasn't earned through labor."

"During the era of the Dark Lord's rule, we paid too much and lost too much. But look! How are those who truly deserve punishment doing now?"

In an instant.

Everyone's stares turned sharp.

Several Slytherins' faces went pale.

Many others, sensing trouble, quietly slipped away.

Crabbe and Goyle had no idea what was happening.

But instinctively, they felt something was wrong, their bulky frames shrinking together, wishing they could burrow into the ground.

Pansy roared like a Lioness in a frenzy: "Shut up! Who told him to shut up!"

"Yes."

Ethan immediately followed up.

"We have no way of knowing the truth, because everyone who wanted to speak has been 'shut up'!"

"Let me be blunt! Their wealth was all plundered from us!"

"Who among us hasn't been living with all our might? Who can say that their family's hardship is due to their own laziness?!"

In the crowd, Ron couldn't help but nod vigorously.

He stared intently at Ethan, feeling his blood stir with every word the other spoke.

Right.

Why should those traitors who defected to The Dark Lord get to look down on them?

It wasn't just Ron; others felt the same.

Especially the Gryffindors—every pair of eyes burned fiercely at Slytherin.

These people had hidden like cowards during the hardest times, even aiding the enemy.

And now, they dared to sneer and despise the families who had stood firm for justice!

Was that fair?!

The air was thick with explosive tension, ready to ignite at any moment.

It felt like, with just one command from Ethan, they would pounce.

And make those bastards truly understand the power of the working people!