A wizard like Voldemort, who had gone so far down the magical path, couldn't possibly be unaware of how dangerous his actions were or how powerful his enemies were.
Just in Britain alone, there was Dumbledore, a formidable obstacle. What about the rest of the world?
From Nicolas Flamel and the long-lived former headmasters of Hogwarts, it was clear that there were many wizards who lived for a very long time. Who knew what centuries-old, incredibly powerful wizards might emerge from any corner of the world.
And this was just the wizarding society. The power of Muggles should absolutely not be underestimated.
Not to mention their technological weapons.
It was important to remember that the true upper echelons of Muggles had known about wizards since ancient times, and the royal families of some countries had even maintained contact with wizards.
The world had always been dominated by Muggles. Didn't they have some special means? To return to the original topic.
Tom Riddle, why did he become Voldemort, stepping into the spotlight when the path to Eternal Life still had flaws? Time.
Upon hearing Roger's words, Voldemort was startled.
Many of the internal research projects within the Department of Mysteries were highly classified, making it difficult for non-insiders to understand them all.
Furthermore, in-depth research into time had become taboo since a major accident in 1899. This was before Voldemort was born, and he, who had been engrossed in Dark Magic and rarely paid attention to other matters, hadn't considered it.
...I need to find an opportunity to get my hands on the Department of Mysteries.
After this thought flashed through his mind, Voldemort looked at Roger, who was still waiting for his answer, and said, "Of course, I know Horcruxes are not perfect."
Although his path had deviated, blinding him to the realm of time and space, even without considering time and space, Voldemort felt there were still aspects of Horcruxes that could be improved.
"But as an individual wizard, my talent has limits, and I can't possibly publicize the path of Horcruxes to research it collectively."
A once-in-a-century genius, the Dark Lord, a leader destined to become Minister of Magic within five years of graduation—Voldemort bore many glorious titles.
But this did not mean Voldemort's magical talent was unprecedented or that no one would ever surpass him. At the very least, even Dumbledore could make him feel overwhelmed.
He was strong, but not transcendentally strong.
Just like the countless geniuses throughout history in the Ritual Path, Modification Path, and External Object Path who aspired to ascend from wizards to gods but all fell before the Wall of Sighs, he had not truly transcended the bounds of a regular wizard.
This was his answer to Roger's first question: he wasn't unwilling to continue on the path to Eternal Life; he simply couldn't.
And Roger's second question.
"Do you know Grindelwald?" Just as Roger was curious about Voldemort's path, Voldemort was also curious about Roger.
He wondered what choices Roger would make if he encountered the same predicament.
Therefore, he was willing to speak a few words without revealing core secrets.
"Of course, I know." Although not intimately familiar, Roger knew Grindelwald's general deeds.
"For the greater good?"
Voldemort nodded through Quirrell's body, "Yes."
"Then what about my 'banner'?"
"Pure-blood." Roger wouldn't forget that.
Voldemort gave a noncommittal "Mm."
"What is the commonality between Death Eaters and Saints?"
Roger recalled his original fate and said with some uncertainty, "Wizard supremacy?"
"Exactly. Whether it's pure-blood wizards gathering together or elite wizards congregating, what we're doing is essentially the same. We are all assembling a community of interest that wants to establish a new world order centered around wizards."
Since he couldn't transcend alone, if he wanted to achieve great things, he naturally needed a pack of his own lackeys.
"That's why I gathered the Death Eaters, raised the banner of pure-blood, and let all sorts of madmen join my ranks."
"I know that Muggle-born wizards are not weak, but Muggle-born wizards are not to be trusted. Their loyalties are often not with 'wizards'."
Speaking of this, Voldemort's face under Quirrell's turban couldn't help but contort into a sinister grin. "If you had studied wizarding history, you would find that from ancient times to the present, when Muggles were still weak, there were those who wanted to dominate Muggles, but they were all stopped."
"The ones who dealt the harshest blows to wizards were wizards themselves."
Wizarding power was superior to Muggle power, but only if there were no traitors among wizards. As long as a powerful wizard was willing to act as a guide, the magical means of wizards would be greatly diminished, and the situation would turn into wizards being easily killed by Muggles.
"The Knights of Merlin, loyal to the royal family, protecting Muggles, governing wizards, hehe." Chanting the declaration made by the great wizard Merlin when he established this organization, and then looking at the splendor of Muggle civilization today, Voldemort found it utterly laughable.
"Roger, I am over sixty years old. Since around 1930, when I started to remember things, do you know that Muggles were not strong back then? Most heavy firearms had less power than a single wizard's spell, and the various production machinery of Muggles was also inefficient."
"But it was as if time had been fast-forwarded for the Muggles. I watched with my own eyes as the power of Muggles grew at a terrifying rate."
"And wizards?"
"Almost no progress! The so-called powerful wizards are even complacent with ancient spells from hundreds or thousands of years ago." Voldemort, who had spent his entire youth during the most rapid period of technological development, narrowed his eyes slightly, as if recalling something.
"People say I could become Minister of Magic within a few years, and I indeed have that capability. With the long life granted by Horcruxes, I could even be Minister of Magic for hundreds or thousands of years, but..."
"And then?" Voldemort asked in almost the same tone that Roger had used when saying those words.
"Muggle civilization is advancing rapidly, while wizarding civilization is stagnating. The future is obvious."
"Two hundred years? Or three hundred years? I, who was originally in a high position, would become a rat scurrying across the street in the entire world—an immortal, undead, perpetually wanted, scurrying rat!"
"That is not the destiny I desire."
"Roger, I have no interest in captaining a ship that is destined to sink!"
Hearing this, Roger understood why Voldemort was so impatient.
Time waits for no one! Muggle civilization was visibly growing stronger, while his own strength had hit a bottleneck where he didn't know how long it would take to break through. It wasn't just him; the entire wizarding community saw no hope for advancement.
"So, at a time when your future was infinitely bright, you became the Dark Lord?"
"That's right. I had to start this war and rule everything before Muggles could crush wizards without any suspense."
Rather than a slow death, living eternally through endless wandering.
Voldemort chose to take a gamble.
Did he not know his path was dangerous?
He knew it all too well.
But... from his humble origins in an orphanage to once reaching the pinnacle of the wizarding world. Becoming a noble and powerful figure had become his obsession.
To fall back into the dust, to become lowly again?
Then he would rather wear a crown and die on the path of battle as a demon king!
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