The Off-Campus Season Begins! Helga's Mansion

Ethan ignored Michael's nonsense.

Watching this silly kid drool "Sister, sister" all day, Ethan could only call it youthful ambition.

Just then, Ethan's attention was drawn to the notice board.

Ever since he'd fleeced the Malfoy family out of seven hundred Galleons, Ethan had stopped doing odd jobs.

He'd thrown himself entirely into preparing for the Art Exhibition, burning through canvas and paint like snowflakes.

The cheapest unframed linen canvas cost about twelve Sickles, and a basic set of paints ran two to three Galleons.

He wasn't exactly poor, but he couldn't help sighing that money flowed like water.

"The notice board's lively today."

Ethan murmured, watching the crowd packed three layers deep in front of it.

Most students had no need for part-time work.

So, after the initial curiosity from the first-years wore off, the notice board on ordinary days usually only drew a scattering of older students.

Was there some new event?

Ethan stepped forward.

When his figure appeared at the edge of the crowd, it parted like the Red Sea, people automatically clearing a path for him.

"Ethan, you're here to see too!"

A Ravenclaw upper-year girl waved at him familiarly.

"Come on, get up front!"

Ethan went with the flow, threading through the crowd.

His small stature among all those older students somehow radiated a presence that felt eight feet tall.

He paid no mind to the stares coming from all directions.

Beside him, Michael swallowed nervously.

Finally understanding what it meant when "one person attains the Dao, and their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven."

"Hello, Ethan, I've been wanting to talk to you!"

The upper-year girl with long sideburns said, looking at him eagerly:

"I'm Penelope Clearwater. Barring any surprises, I'll be the next Ravenclaw Prefect."

Ethan looked at the girl's sparkling eyes, parted his lips slightly, and uttered a single word:

"Pity."

"..."

Penelope froze, staring at Ethan's expression that didn't seem fake, then suddenly burst out laughing.

"So that's what Robert meant when he said, 'Be mentally prepared to talk to Ethan.'"

His brain worked differently from others.

Hard to keep a conversation going.

Ethan blinked, noncommittal.

He turned his head to look at the notice board.

Among the various postings, a new line of large text hovered—

[Off-Campus Competition Season Begins! Those wishing to sign up or inquire about related matters, please contact your respective Head of House!]

Below it, a list of competitions was displayed, like the "Green Fingers Gardening Competition," "Thestral Magical Creature Breeding Competition," and "Wizard and Witch Dash."

"The most famous one on campus is, of course, Quidditch," Penelope said lightly. "But besides Quidditch, there are other competitions too."

"For example—the Color Brush Young Wizard Painting Competition. Do you want to join, Ethan?"

Ethan gave a faint smile: "Are you sure?"

Penelope: "..."

She recalled Ethan's transcendent taste and skill, and said firmly:

"No, let's forget it."

A pro going to the newbie pond to fish was one thing.

The worst part was leaving the young wizards with lifelong trauma.

One entry, lifetime ban, right?

"What's the benefit of joining these competitions?" Ethan asked casually.

Penelope: "Uh—there is, like making friends with young wizards who share your interests. Well, you probably don't need that. Or gaining honor..."

Penelope racked her brain.

Ethan was so transcendent that he surely looked down on such mundane things.

What Ethan pursued had to be something greater, something more profound!

"Like the prize money, for instance—"

Ethan's head snapped up. "There's prize money?"

"Huh? Yes, yes, there's prize money." Penelope answered instinctively. "For example, the top prize of a thousand Galleons in the Secret Realm Tracking Challenge..."

Hearing that number.

Ethan's breath caught, his pupils dilating.

Like a cat spotting a dried fish.

A thousand Galleons!!!

Three hundred Galleons more than the fortune the Malfoys had given him!

The same prize money as the Triwizard Tournament, which frequently ended in deaths.

Though that might mean this competition was just as dangerous.

But Ethan found it reasonable.

After all, the more dazzling the gold, the more blood, sweat, and tears it was watered with.

Ethan's lips curled up.

The sunlight outside streamed through the great stained-glass windows of the hall, illuminating half his face in stark black and white.

"Senior Student Krivat."

Ethan looked up, bathed in the sunlight, and raised a perfectly innocent smile.

"I want to sign up for this."

"...Okay."

Penelope's eyes widened slightly as she murmured, dazed.

—She was completely dazzled by that smile.

It was like someone had flashed a Lumos right in her face.

Those handsome, beautiful cobalt blue eyes seemed to pierce through her chest and seize her soul.

By the time Penelope came to her senses.

She had already brought Ethan to the door of Professor Flitwick's office.

"Come in."

Professor Flitwick, who was hunched over grading assignments inside the office, looked up.

Seeing the two of them, his eyes brightened, and he said warmly:

"What's the matter, Mr. Vincent, Miss Krivat? Is there something you need?"

Ethan: "Good morning, Professor Flitwick. I'd like to sign up for the Secret Realm Tracking Challenge."

Hearing this, Professor Flitwick raised his eyebrows in surprise and looked at Penelope:

"Miss Krivat, didn't you explain the dangers of this competition to him?"

"...I'm sorry, Professor."

Penelope lowered her head in shame, screaming inwardly:

It wasn't that she didn't want to, but Ethan came with a built-in Killing Curse!

Who could resist being begged by such a pretty little face?!

Ethan blinked innocently, hands clasped behind his back.

"This competition is difficult, very difficult, Ethan—almost second only to the Triwizard Tournament," Professor Flitwick said.

"The Secret Realm Tracking Challenge is a professional competition that tests a wizard's comprehensive abilities. It's held every three years, open to students aged 16 and under—that is, underage wizards. The content usually involves exploring a perilous secret realm."

"Because there are all sorts of accidents every time, applicants must first pass the school's selection, and then the school will nominate participants collectively."

"Although it's open to underage wizards aged 16 and under... most participants are 14 or older. Even third-years are rare, let alone a first-year like you, Mr. Vincent."

Hearing this, Ethan fell into thought.

If it was held every three years, he could indeed wait...

But that was a full thousand Galleons!

The "Purple Epic" grade painting he needed for his advancement would surely cost a lot of Galleons.

The expenses during the holidays, the investment in second-tier paintings—all required money.

But he had to ensure he could win first place and claim the top prize.

Otherwise, it would be a bit of a waste of time...

Just as Ethan was hesitating, Professor Flitwick's voice rang out again.

"Moreover, the secret realm for this competition is the most dangerous in years—"

"Located in the northern part of England, the Rotting Marsh, at Helga's Abandoned Mansion."

"Huh? Mr. Vincent, what's wrong?"

Ethan lifted his eyes, a strange light gleaming within them.

The Dark Wizard Helga's mansion.

That was exactly the place where the system had once told him a hidden treasure was located!!