Thor Odinson (70/100)
Looking at the light blue text on the system interface, a subtle smirk formed on Lockhart's lips.
He hadn't been in a rush to build a relationship with Thor.
That was because—
He knew Thor would eventually hit a low point emotionally, and all he needed to do was apply the slightest pressure at that exact moment.
That alone would be enough to dramatically boost Thor's approval level and make him see Lockhart as a true friend.
So,
His previous behavior had only been aimed at easing the tension between them—not specifically trying to flatter Thor.
They hadn't even talked much—just exchanged a few words occasionally.
From the start, he had set his sights on Thor's weakest, most helpless moment.
If he offered help during that time—even just a little—
That gesture would be amplified hundreds or even thousands of times in value.
So when Thor said he would remain on Earth forever, Lockhart knew—
The time had come!!
Sure enough, with just a little effort, Thor's approval soared.
This is the art of making friends.
Most of the time, bootlicking gets you nothing.
The fastest way to form a strong bond with someone is to target their most vulnerable point—
Break through their emotional defenses,
And make them genuinely accept and even feel grateful toward you.
Only then can you become real friends—
And that bond won't easily fade over time.
For example, when Thor learned his father died, or when he found out he was stuck on Earth forever—those were the perfect moments.
Likewise, when Tony Stark realizes he's going to die soon, that will also be a perfect opportunity.
There's a saying: "A drop of kindness should be repaid with a fountain of gratitude."
A person's character plays a role,
But the timing of that kindness is crucial.
Only when someone is at their lowest—even a small favor—
Will they remember it deeply and feel compelled to repay it a hundredfold.
Otherwise, no matter how good the person is or how much you help them,
You'll only get a proportionate return—at most, slightly more.
Whether Muggles, wizards, or gods—
If you act at the right time,
Your efforts can be magnified a hundred or even a thousand times.
That's called leverage.
It's what smart people do.
As a wizard, using your brain is key—don't act out of greed. Be calm. Be restrained.
Only through calm restraint can you seize the perfect moment and succeed in one strike.
Lockhart silently reflected—this was exactly what he had done.
As he reviewed his plan, he found very few flaws and nodded in satisfaction.
Then he turned his attention back to Thor's approval rating.
Before today, Thor's approval hovered around 20.
Jane, Darcy, and Erik were around 35.
Darcy had the highest rating—sometimes even reaching 40.
Hmm, maybe Lockhart's handsome face was especially appealing to her.
But even so, it wasn't enough to unlock the Reputation Draw feature.
According to Lockhart's research:
The system's approval rating is different from affection.
High affection usually leads to high approval,
But when affection is extremely low—even negative—approval can still be high under certain conditions.
Just like how Voldemort despised Dumbledore,
Yet still deeply respected his power and wisdom.
After all, if Voldemort looked down on Dumbledore's strength and intelligence,
It would've been an insult to himself.
Such a Voldemort wouldn't have even qualified as a Dark Lord.
When it comes to approval:
The maximum is 100.
It's possible to go below zero—
But negative approval usually means the relationship is extremely hostile, or the person sees the other as completely worthless.
In wizard terms, most purebloods see Muggle-borns with negative approval.
The term "Mudblood" is the clearest evidence of that.
But once approval crosses into positive numbers—even slightly—
It means there's at least basic recognition.
They at least see you as a person, even if just a stranger.
Approval Levels:
0–30: Basic recognition. At most, a hint of curiosity around 30.
(When Lockhart first arrived in the Marvel world, Jane and Darcy had an approval of 30—likely due to curiosity about his identity as a wizard.)
Erik and Thor were clearly below 30.
Erik, being older and more experienced, was cautious around Lockhart. Understandable.
Thor initially had negative approval due to being hit with a Binding Charm and a Silencing Charm—instantly enraging him.
Things eased later,
But even then, it barely reached 20.
Thor wasn't particularly impressed by Lockhart's identity or power.
On one hand, Lockhart hadn't shown off.
On the other, Thor had seen plenty of powerful magic users in his time.
So his standards were high—Lockhart didn't stand out.
Under 30?
No Reputation Draw.
Even 30–50 isn't enough.
So, even when Jane, Darcy, and Erik hit 40 and considered Lockhart a friend,
He still couldn't use the Reputation Draw.
Only once approval hits 50+ does it become available.
At that level, the person truly acknowledges you.
They'll genuinely consider your advice instead of instantly rejecting it.
At 60, 70, or even 80—
They begin to trust you deeply.
Even if your ideas sound ridiculous,
They won't laugh—they'll reflect seriously and might even doubt their own judgment.
In short, it means complete trust—
Just like now, with Thor.
Even enemies with approval over 80 will act cautiously around you,
Afraid to make careless judgments.
Lockhart hadn't seen approval reach above 80 yet—
But he guessed that level of devotion might mean someone would even sacrifice their life for you.
Like a devout follower worshiping a god.
As for enemies, Lockhart thought of a classic example:
Dumbledore and Grindelwald!!
Love and rivalry. Deep understanding.
They could read each other's thoughts,
And even in opposition, found it hard to kill one another.
When Dumbledore defeated Grindelwald,
He didn't execute him—
He imprisoned him in Nurmengard.
That's the perfect example.
Now, about the Reputation Draw:
Once approval reaches 50, the feature becomes available.
The higher the approval,
The better your chances of getting the person's valuable abilities, knowledge, or even talents.
So—
Through a clever and well-timed plan, Lockhart skyrocketed Thor's approval from 20 to 70.
Even if this spike was driven by emotion—
Even if it tapers off later—
It will still remain above 50,
Meaning he can now safely draw from Thor.
Thor's knowledge, powers, and even talents—
Are likely to fall into Lockhart's hands.
At that thought,
Lockhart's lips curled into a satisfied smile.