"Lockhart, you're better than any wizard I've ever met. Honestly, food made with magic is just too delicious."
"Asgardian chefs could really learn a thing or two from you."
Thor sat on a bench in an open field, chewing on grilled meat and loudly praising Lockhart as he gazed at the magical barbecue setup before him.
Hovering above the grill, dozens of skewers of meat and vegetables rotated slowly in midair. Spices like pepper, chili powder, and cumin sprinkled themselves periodically, perfectly seasoning each piece.
Lockhart, Jane, and the others sat nearby, each with their own selection of grilled skewers.
Hearing Thor's praise, Lockhart took a bite of a beef skewer, chewed thoughtfully, swallowed, and smiled.
"Ha, thank you! I picked up this skill during my adventures. I even developed a special barbecue spell that lets me whip up gourmet skewers in no time."
At this point, Lockhart had to give credit where it was due—to the original Gilderoy Lockhart.
While the man hadn't mastered all kinds of magic, he had been a genius at everyday spells. According to the memories Lockhart inherited, the original was deeply invested in magic that enhanced daily life—especially when it came to food.
He'd even created exclusive culinary spells.
A niche talent, for sure. Honestly, he would've been perfect for Hufflepuff.
Unfortunately, the original Lockhart had been too obsessed with fame and took a darker path.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Lockhart turned to Erik and said, "Erik, try this enoki mushroom. It's my favorite vegetable skewer—absolutely delicious."
A grilled enoki mushroom skewer floated toward Erik.
Erik smiled, accepted it, took a bite, and, visibly surprised by the taste, finished the entire skewer in just a few more bites.
"That was incredible," he praised. "I've had enoki mushrooms before, but never like this."
Lockhart gave a modest wave of his hand while Jane and Darcy rushed over to the grill to grab more skewers of their own.
After trying them, they let out delighted cries of approval.
Seeing everyone's joyful expressions, Lockhart added casually, "The secret to delicious food isn't just the ingredients. The key lies in magical stimulation applied in precise patterns."
"That enhances the food's freshness and elevates the flavor."
"Eat as much as you like. I often grill after a long day of research to relax."
In his past life, he had enjoyed barbecuing to unwind after work.
There's no denying it—good food is one of life's best stress relievers.
The only downside? Weight gain.
But in the wizarding world, that was no problem.
Potions and spells could handle that easily.
According to his inherited memories, the original Lockhart had even developed a spell specifically to maintain his figure.
Tsk, tsk. Once again—props to the fallen genius.
Soon after, Lockhart used magic to conjure icy drinks for everyone. After just one sip, the compliments started flowing again.
Truly—
Delicious food was a universal joy—whether for humans or gods.
Lockhart glanced subtly at the system's reputation interface. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
Thor Odinson: (65/100)
This barbecue had served two key purposes:
First, to deepen his rapport with Thor.
Second, to prepare for a Reputation Draw.
But—
After reviewing the results, Lockhart shook his head slightly.
> [Advanced Combat Experience ×3]
[Intermediate Hammer Technique Mastery ×2]
[Basic Lightning Affinity ×2]
...
He had conducted 20 draws using Thor's reputation, spending 20,000 reputation points—about one-fifth of his total.
And the results? Mediocre.
Most of it consisted of close-combat skills and basic battle techniques—nothing particularly useful to a wizard.
The only decent gain was "Basic Lightning Affinity," but even that...
After testing it, he realized it merely made lightning spells slightly easier to cast. There was no boost in strength or range.
Lockhart suspected the issue was Thor's current condition.
Sealed and weakened, Thor's high-tier talents and divine powers were likely locked away—unavailable for extraction.
He'd have to wait until Thor fully regained his powers before drawing again.
But—
That wouldn't take long now. The Asgardian warriors were on their way.
Thor's return to power was imminent.
---
S.H.I.E.L.D. Base
Inside the command center, Agent Coulson sat in front of a monitor, silently watching the live feed on the screen.
The video displayed Lockhart and Thor's barbecue gathering in real time.
Coulson's eyes narrowed as he focused on the floating skewers of meat and vegetables. He frowned, then turned to Barton beside him.
"Barton, what do you make of this?"
Barton shook his head, adjusted the bow on his back, and replied coldly, "Don't ask me. My only suggestion is to report to Director Fury and wait for orders."
"I'm just an agent. I deal with combat—nothing more."
Hearing Barton's clipped tone, Coulson rubbed his temples and muttered, "Asgardian prince. Wizard professor…"
"What the hell is going on with the world? First Iron Man, then the Hulk… now aliens and wizards?"
Sigh...
He let out a long, weary breath.
They couldn't just arrest Lockhart. Not with an Asgardian prince involved. This had turned into an interstellar diplomatic issue.
And when gods were involved, things got even more complicated.
As for Lockhart—sure, he wasn't as troublesome as Thor, but he was still a problem.
The title "professor" alone was concerning. Even an idiot could figure out that it implied a school behind him.
And a school meant students. Families. Infrastructure.
And if there was a population behind him, that meant hierarchy—governance—probably even magical enforcement agencies.
From small clues, large truths emerge.
Based on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s surveillance recordings, Coulson was certain that Lockhart represented a fully developed magical civilization.
And the worst part?
The alien prince and wizard professor seemed to be getting along very well.
A political disaster waiting to happen.
If they moved against one, the other would surely respond.
Just thinking about it made Coulson feel his hairline receding even faster.
Ahhh!!
We're doomed!!!