Devero raised his hand.
"Professor, do you know about so-called indescribable beings?"
Actually,
Devero hadn't asked the question
because he truly expected a definite answer.
He was more interested in Professor McGonagall's reaction to it,
especially her opinion of the field of Micro-Structure Transfiguration.
It seemed that hardly anyone in the world had studied micro-structures.
Research into micro-structures across the entire Wizarding World seemed to be in a rather backward state.
The latest research findings were already seven years old.
For a field of science,
such a long standstill was truly baffling.
As for the reason research had stagnated so badly,
Devero judged
it was probably just as Professor McGonagall had said:
there was a lack of effective means of observation,
which made it impossible for people to explore this field in depth.
That meant they couldn't possibly sense that indescribable, terrifying presence.
So was Devero currently the only wizard in the world capable of exploring micro-structures?
An idea came to him.
He could first try to compile a table of micro-structures that anyone could learn to use,
then identify the micro-structure corresponding to each object himself.
Perhaps he could even make Transfiguration wandless!
And ultimately achieve the goal of performing Transfiguration without a wand!
That was a huge business opportunity!
Of course, that depended on being able to deal with the threats in the Microscopic World.
Devero wasn't especially interested in money,
but one thing was certain:
in the future, he would explore Wizard Secret Realms all over the world.
After all, Wisdom of the Ancestors was already this powerful.
How could Devero not keep exploring?!
So money would be essential.
Besides, if he really made achievements in academic research on Transfiguration in the future,
then it was certain
he'd have plenty of opportunities to visit other schools and exchange ideas.
He might even be able to become a teacher.
And once he was a teacher,
exploring schools would be a sure thing, wouldn't it?
It would also make it easier for him to meet outstanding people from all over the world.
In other words,
it would be easier to acquire and copy their traits!
Devero had already worked out a plan.
He'd make a name for himself in both Potions and Transfiguration,
and give himself more options.
Who would have thought
that Devero's casual question
would make Professor McGonagall's expression instantly turn grave?
She quickly glanced around,
as if afraid someone might be listening in.
Then,
Professor McGonagall got up and went to the door.
She cautiously cracked it open
and looked both ways.
Only after confirming no one was there
did she shut the door and turn to face Devero.
She asked in a very serious tone,
"Alexander, why are you asking about this?"
Devero was rather surprised by Professor McGonagall's reaction.
He didn't quite understand why her attitude had changed so dramatically,
so he didn't tell her directly about sensing a threat in the Microscopic World.
Instead, he chose a vaguer explanation.
"Professor, I was just curious. I saw some descriptions of it in a few newspapers, so I wanted to ask you."
Devero tried to keep his voice steady.
When Professor McGonagall heard that,
her brows knitted even more tightly.
"Newspapers? Which newspaper?"
Devero suddenly felt a little flustered.
To be honest,
he hardly ever read newspapers.
He got most of his information about the Wizarding World
from bars,
listening to wizards from all walks of life brag and chatter.
He didn't even know what newspapers the Wizarding World had!
Of the ones that had appeared in the original story, all he could remember was the Daily Prophet.
And...
"The Quibbler! Professor, I read it in The Quibbler. That's why I asked you about it."
Devero blurted out in his haste.
At the same time, he silently apologized to Luna, whom he'd never met.
They didn't know each other yet.
He'd thought that the Daily Prophet was far too official.
After all, it was under the Ministry of Magic.
It probably wouldn't report on indescribable things or events.
The Quibbler, on the other hand, fit the bill perfectly.
In the original story,
that newspaper was full of conspiracy theories.
So if Devero pinned this talk of indescribable things on it,
he figured no one would be too suspicious.
When Professor McGonagall heard the name The Quibbler,
her brows relaxed a little.
But she still spoke to Devero sternly.
"Alexander, reports on this subject are all made up. Don't believe what you read in obscure papers. Focus on your classes at school, understand?"
Devero nodded repeatedly.
"All right, hurry back. Curfew is almost here."
Professor McGonagall opened the door for him.
Devero dashed out in a flash.
Professor McGonagall watched him walk away,
murmuring under her breath,
"Indescribable... Tindalos?"
Devero hurried along the dim corridor,
turning through several passageways.
Her imposing figure gradually disappeared from view.
Devero's shoulders relaxed of their own accord.
The tension in him eased as well.
He wasn't sure why,
but he hadn't told Professor McGonagall about the terror he'd felt in the Microscopic World.
He'd also thought Professor McGonagall might stop him from researching the subject.
After all,
academic exploration sometimes touched on forbidden fields.
And such fields weren't always suitable for every scholar to investigate.
Besides, judging from Professor McGonagall's reaction,
she didn't seem completely in the dark.
Did that mean they actually knew about the terrifying presence?
But they didn't know there was something like that in the Microscopic World?
At the thought, Devero narrowed his eyes.
Unfortunately, Devero had no leads at the moment on how to continue investigating the matter.
Wait!
He did!
During their conversation,
Devero had unexpectedly picked up a clue.
The newspaper Professor McGonagall had mentioned, The Quibbler,
seemed to be the key to investigating those elusive beings.
Judging by Professor McGonagall's expression,
The Quibbler might well have covered many secrets and strange kinds of knowledge unknown to the public.
So,
looking through its past reports
might provide him with some valuable information.
He could even get in touch with Lovegood,
Luna's father,
and see whether he knew anything.
"Too bad Luna isn't at school right now."
Devero thought it over,
then decided he'd subscribe to The Quibbler tomorrow
and try to get in touch with Lovegood.
But not tonight.
Devero already had permission to stay out late,
so there was no way he'd obediently go back to bed!
He'd definitely explore the school properly.
Devero smiled softly,
the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
He felt an indescribable excitement welling up inside him.
Then he turned and ran into the deep, dark corridor,
leaving behind only the faint light that grew dimmer in the distance.
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