Forbidden Forest (Part 2)

"Look, those over there are Bowtruckles. Don't underestimate the little things. They may be gentle and shy, but they're fiercely protective of their home—the trees they live in."

"Anyone who tries to invade their home will be attacked. See those little claws? They're especially vicious when it comes to gouging out eyes."

Vaughn and Hagrid hid behind a tree, watching a wandwood tree from afar.

It was a magical plant said to drive away dark creatures, and its wood was an excellent material for wand shafts. Several tiny creatures that looked as though they were made of twigs were playing on the wandwood tree. Those were Bowtruckles.

Hagrid whispered, "But those little fellows are easy enough to deal with. They love insects. Catch some and give them to them, and they'll like you enough to give you branches from the wandwood tree in return."

"Whenever Ollivander comes to collect materials each year, that's what I do... Oh, you might not know this, but Hogwarts works with Ollivander. He buys wand cores and wandwood materials from Hogwarts at low prices—usually unicorn hair I collect, along with all kinds of branches suitable for making wands. Then the wands he makes are sold to Hogwarts' new students at half price."

As they talked, the two had already ventured deep into the Forbidden Forest.

With Hagrid leading the "expedition" and explaining magical creatures along the way, his earlier restraint and politeness quickly faded. His mouth barely stopped moving the entire way.

His knowledge of magical creatures truly was extensive.

Along the way, he had shown Vaughn fairies, pixies, hairy crabs, and they had even found a family of mooncalves near a small mound.

These creatures had enormous eyes wildly disproportionate to their heads, making them look especially silly and adorable. Their temperaments were as gentle as their appearance.

Several young even waddled over on their short legs and sniffed around Vaughn.

Hagrid collected their droppings.

He told Vaughn that they were an extremely potent fertilizer. Sprinkled over a pumpkin patch, they could make pumpkins grow large and fine.

He said to Vaughn, "It's too late this year. The pumpkins in the fields are already ripe, and they'll turn orange just in time for Halloween. Next year—next year, I'll let you eat big pumpkins fertilized with mooncalf dung."

Vaughn was speechless. It was perfectly normal fertilizing—why did Hagrid have to make it sound so disgusting?

"Speaking of which, Hagrid, has the Forbidden Forest been fairly peaceful lately?"

After watching the Bowtruckles for a while, the two set off again. Vaughn asked as if casually.

"What sort of thing do you mean?" Hagrid scratched his head. "If you mean little wizards sneaking in, those two brothers of yours are always causing trouble in the Forbidden Forest. From that perspective, it hasn't been peaceful at all."

"Mm, I'll keep them in line. What I mean is, have any animals been injured or anything? Maybe I could help you brew some potions for them."

"You... you're such a good kid, Vaughn."

Hagrid was moved, his emotions plain on his face. "No one's ever been willing to brew potions for them... Actually, the unicorns do seem to have been in rather bad shape lately."

Vaughn looked deeply interested. "Oh? What happened?"

Hagrid shook his head and complained, "I don't know either. The centaurs told me before that unicorns had been attacked, but you know what they're like—always going on about star signs and prophecies. You can't get a clear answer out of them no matter how much you ask."

"I've found injured unicorns too, but they're too wary and don't like dealing with me. I searched for a long time and still couldn't find out why."

Vaughn's eyes grew still.

It seemed his guess had been correct. The Socket Hero had probably begun secretly collecting unicorn blood long ago!

He looked up at the sky. Judging by the daylight filtering through the gaps in the canopy, nightfall was still some time away, so he asked Hagrid, "Can you take me to see?"

Hagrid did not think much of it. He had always been carefree. Just like earlier, when he had spoken of danger but then actually brought Vaughn into the Forbidden Forest, he had completely forgotten the word "danger."

"Come on, this way... Fang! You coward, Fruit Tea won't hit you again. Hurry up and scout ahead!"

More than two hours later.

Hagrid brought Vaughn to a clearing in the forest, one of the rare places within the woods that received broad sunlight.

Without trees competing for the light, the low shrubs here grew exceptionally well.

Some holly bushes were even laden with berries.

"I cleared this place out more than ten years ago. Unicorns like berries, so I planted some. Ever since then, they've often come around here."

Hagrid waved the pink umbrella in his hand, chasing away several fairies that were chattering and quarrelling, then led Vaughn to the center of the clearing.

He said, "A week ago, I saw a unicorn hiding here. Its leg was injured. Look, the bloodstains are still here."

Hagrid pointed at a patch of indigo soil at their feet.

Vaughn crouched down and examined it carefully.

Unicorn blood was originally silver-blue, filled with abundant magic, like mercury.

But after being spilled onto the soil for a week and exposed to wind and sun, it had long since changed color.

Seeing Vaughn studying it so intently, Hagrid thought he was worried and smiled. "It's normal for unicorns to get hurt, Vaughn. This is the Forbidden Forest. Every creature here is in competition with nature. It might have accidentally wandered into a werewolf's territory, or been ambushed by some fierce creature. It's no big deal."

Vaughn did not respond.

After observing the bloodstains for a moment, he did not reach out to touch them. Instead, he raised his wand.

"Revealing Charm!"

The mystery contained within the spell, together with his desire to uncover the truth, gave the magic the power to reveal hidden things. It struck the patch of indigo soil.

First, a faint white glow emerged, pure as moonlight. Simply looking at it, one could feel the holiness within.

That was the magic originally contained in unicorn blood.

It was faint, but that was the result of natural dissipation.

But immediately afterward, several wisps of gray mist emerged from within the white light.

They coiled through the light like maggots clinging to bone, corroding and permeating the white glow.

Vaughn could almost smell rot and death in that mist!

"Dark magic..."

He narrowed his eyes.

He was no longer a complete novice when it came to dark magic. Although An Introduction to Dark Arts had not taught him any particularly powerful spells, it had given him more than enough understanding of this dark power.

"What is this?"

Hagrid's voice came from above him.

He, on the other hand, was still a complete novice when it came to dark magic...

At the same time, a system panel popped up before Vaughn's eyes:

[Side Quest Activated]

[Side Quest ②: Save the Forbidden Forest Unicorn]

[Reward: Random Magical Creature Language Pack]

Looking at the new quest, Vaughn paused, then suddenly felt like laughing.

Tom, oh Tom!

Even the system's quests were targeting you. Don't blame me for coming after you, then!

"Nothing."

Vaughn shook his head and opened the small satchel he carried, which had been enchanted with an Undetectable Extension Charm.

He took out an empty bottle, carefully dug up some of the soil, and placed it inside.

"Let's go back, Hagrid. I think it's time I paid Headmaster Dumbledore a visit."