Translator's Note:
First, I would like to sincerely apologize for not uploading the chapters as scheduled, and second, for not informing you all beforehand about the delay.
I understand that many of you look forward to regular updates, and I take full responsibility for failing to meet those expectations. I promise this will not happen again.
Moving forward, even if I cannot upload for a day, I will make sure to inform you all about any delays in advance.
Thank you for your patience and continued support.
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"What did you do?!" Malfoy shrieked in terror. "I'm going to tell my father!"
The sharp pain in his back made his face as pale as a sheet of paper, his eyes filled with fear. The image of Dudley pinning him to the ground and pummeling him flashed before his eyes.
"Run! He's a demon!" Goyle helped Malfoy up, and Crabbe struggled to his feet, both of them enduring the severe pain. They didn't dare to stay; Dudley was simply too terrifying. Did he fear no one at Hogwarts? He had just openly attacked a classmate, and the sensation was clearly not ordinary magic, but Dark Arts. Yes, that had to be it. This time, no matter what, they had to get Dudley expelled.
However, just a few steps into their escape, the three of them let out another terrifying scream and fell to the ground. This time, several more bloody marks appeared on their backs, tearing through their robes and skin. The entire corridor was engulfed in fear. The anger in their eyes when they looked at Dudley had vanished, replaced only by pure terror. Dudley wanted to kill them. That was the only thing the three of them could think of.
On the other side, the gazes of Harry, Ron, and Hermione simultaneously turned to Dudley. They didn't know what had happened, but they subconsciously felt that this was something Dudley could have done, that only he had such an ability. They just weren't sure why he would do such a thing.
"It wasn't me," Dudley said, his face grim.
This was indeed not caused by him. He didn't have such an ability, and even if he did, he had no reason to attack Malfoy like that. Although the three of them were annoying, Dudley hadn't reached the point of wanting to kill them. In his eyes, they were, at most, mischievous kids.
"What exactly happened?" Ron said, trembling. His gaze swept around the empty corridor, and his legs trembled slightly.
Harry's face was also grim. Hermione was almost scared silly at this point. First, she encountered a troll, and now this bizarre situation. She was starting to question her life.
Ron's fearful gaze darted around, as if he saw some terrifying monster, and then he ran directly towards Dudley. At this moment, perhaps only by Dudley's side could he feel a sense of safety.
Harry, supporting Hermione, also prepared to run over.
"Don't move!" Dudley shouted loudly.
However, he was a step too late. He managed to stop Harry and Hermione, but not Ron.
The next moment, Ron screamed and fell to the ground, a bloody whip mark appearing on his back.
"Ron!" Harry and Hermione shrieked in terror.
Ron was writhing on the ground in pain, his face incredibly pale. He had never been in so much pain in his life.
"What on earth is going on?" Hermione was on the verge of a breakdown. What was happening had far exceeded their understanding. Was someone using Dark Arts?
Seeing this, the distorted faces of Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle showed a hint of surprise. It would make sense if Dudley had cursed them, but why would he curse Ron too? That didn't make sense. Could it really not have been Dudley? At this moment, they seemed to gradually calm down from their previous fright. Did Dudley even have the ability to cast such a spell on them?
On the other side, Dudley's expression changed repeatedly.
Suddenly, two words blurted from his mouth: "The rule!"
"What rule?" Harry asked, puzzled.
"That notice at the Great Hall entrance," Dudley said rapidly. "The yellow paper. 'No running in the corridor'!"
Harry and Ron immediately remembered the notice. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle also realized something; they had seen it too but hadn't taken it seriously.
"But… but even if there's a rule, Hogwarts wouldn't punish students like this," Harry said, his face full of confusion. "Besides, hardly anyone obeyed it. Ron and I just ran over too."
"The rule has changed," Dudley said, his face grim. "It originally didn't state the consequences of violating it, but now new clauses have been added."
He understood what had happened. He reached into his inner pocket and found that the Trunsoest Brass Book—the rule book—was gone. Dudley was certain it wasn't lost by accident; it had run away on its own. It had become animated. His inner pocket had a row of buttons specifically to prevent it from falling out. With the buttons still fastened, there could only be one possibility.
"So, as long as we don't run now, nothing will happen?" Harry asked.
"That should be the case," Dudley said. "But I'm not sure if there are other rules."
Upon hearing this, Harry cautiously tried to take a step forward. Everyone watched him nervously. After more than ten seconds, no anomaly appeared.
"No running, but walking is allowed," Harry said, breathing a sigh of relief.
"How could Professor Dumbledore allow such a rule to appear? This is unreasonable," Hermione said loudly.
"What do we do now?" Harry asked, helping the pale Ron to his feet and looking at Dudley.
"First, follow me to the Great Hall entrance," Dudley said. "I need to know if any new rules have appeared."
He had to figure out what rules the book had set during this time. Immediately, information about the Trunsoest Brass Book flashed through his mind.
"Once unrestricted, it will naturally formulate biased laws for the surrounding area and strictly enforce them. During this process, it will modify and correct them at any time based on feedback…"
"As the laws gradually become stricter, its living characteristics will deepen… until a strict law capable of interfering with all aspects takes shape, the Trunsoest Brass Book will be completely alive, possessing true wisdom and capable of modifying the world's underlying rules to a certain extent…"
"The rules it formulates must be publicized or announced before they can take effect… When an action is not explicitly stipulated in a clear clause, whether it is illegal follows the common perception of the surrounding living beings…"
"The Trunsoest Brass Book hates distorted, unaesthetic rules, and detests being exploited for loopholes…"
Dudley's thoughts raced. He had to re-seal this book, and fast. If it truly came alive, all of Hogwarts could cease to exist.
[Chapter Complete]
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