At these words, the classroom immediately erupted into an uproar!
Penelope stared at Ethan in astonishment, unable to believe what she had just heard!
Ethan was going to participate in the competition alone?!
Not teaming up with anyone else?
Had he gone mad?!
No.
Even the maddest person wouldn't joke with their own life like that!
Everyone's eyes widened, and Cedric raised his eyebrows high.
Only Gemma Farley, who had known Ethan's thoughts for a long time, remained as calm as an iceberg.
"Do you know what you're saying, Mr. Vincent?!"
Professor McGonagall snapped back to reality and said sternly.
"The Treasure Hunt Challenge is a very dangerous competition, not a game!"
"Even with a team, your safety isn't guaranteed, let alone going alone!"
"I thought you understood the dangers of this competition; how could you make such a—foolish statement?!"
Ethan listened quietly to Professor McGonagall's reprimand.
Just as Professor McGonagall spoke until her throat was dry and she paused.
Ethan then spoke, "You make a good point."
"But I refuse."
Professor McGonagall: "…"
Professor McGonagall almost choked.
So, this kid was completely unyielding!
She was anxious and angry, trembling all over, wishing she could transform into her cat form and claw Ethan a few times.
"I must remind you, Mr. Vincent. Your goal of gaining honor is commendable."
"But if you fail halfway, there will be no honor. And as a first-year, it's almost impossible for you to complete the competition alone."
Ethan chuckled, "The probability isn't zero, is it?"
Before Professor McGonagall could retort, Ethan spoke again:
"Furthermore, you're mistaken about one thing, Professor McGonagall."
"I'm not here to gain honor… I'm here to claim the top spot!"
If he was going to do it, he would be first!
As he spoke, two points of cold light suddenly shot out from Ethan's usually serene and peaceful eyes!
Like a cold blade unsheathed, it made everyone present tremble!
Cedric looked at Ethan, clenching his fists in excitement.
In this competition, he wasn't competing against the older students.
His only competitor was Ethan Vincent!
As long as he could beat Ethan, he would consider it a victory!
Cedric believed that, as a third-year and Hufflepuff's hero, competing against a first-year meant he already held Ethan in high regard.
On the other side, listening to Ethan's calm and resolute words, and looking at his cobalt-blue eyes that sparkled like starlight.
Professor McGonagall realized with a start.
Ethan wasn't boasting; he had seriously assessed his own strength.
And he genuinely believed that he could be first!
Winning as a team and winning alone were not on the same level.
The impact they brought was also vastly different.
Professor McGonagall recalled what Dumbledore had said:
[As long as Ethan's ideas don't harm others, we don't need to interfere too much.]
[After a long time, there will always be one or two unique children. I think Ethan knows what he is doing.]
[You see, Minerva, the night is deep and quiet, but above it, aren't there stars burning brightly?]
[Burning, emitting dazzling light, illuminating us from hundreds of thousands of light-years away… Haha, Muggle Astronomy is quite interesting, isn't it?]
Thinking of this, Professor McGonagall's mood gradually calmed down.
…Forget it, just as Professor Dumbledore said.
As long as Ethan doesn't harm others, let him do what he wants.
The competition also had adult wizards accompanying for protection, so major dangers generally wouldn't occur.
The official competition was completely different from the selection trials.
In such a complex and dangerous situation, Ethan couldn't possibly blow up the examination hall again, could he?
…Probably not.
Finally, Professor McGonagall sighed and said:
"Then it's up to you, Mr. Vincent."
"The Treasure Hunt Challenge indeed has no strict requirement to team up. For registration, everyone participates individually."
Ethan curved his lips into a polite smile and said, "Thank you for your understanding."
As his voice faded, he heard a faint sneer.
Ethan's eyes darted, meeting the cold, resentful gaze from the Slytherin side.
These two… they seemed to be the two Slytherins who were in his group during the selection trials.
Ethan suddenly understood.
Slytherin as a whole was already quite antagonistic toward him.
Plus, during the selection trials, these two unlucky fellows had been knocked unconscious directly in the cave due to the chaos he created.
No wonder their gaze held such malice toward him.
Ethan retracted his gaze, ignoring them.
In the official competition, the truth would be revealed.
After all, he was 1v everyone.
Everyone present was his enemy.
Ethan licked the corner of his mouth, waves of excitement surging in his eyes.
Lunch break was limited, and after Professor McGonagall explained a few more precautions, the meeting was dismissed.
Upon leaving, Gryffindor and Slytherin erupted into a small conflict again.
The reason was that the Slytherins said, "We'd rather team up with a troll than with Gryffindor."
Gryffindor retaliated, saying, "They should be careful not to be killed by students from other schools who mistake them for Dark Wizards."
"Then you'd best team up with your esteemed Mr. Vincent," a Slytherin sneered with a dark face, "that way you'll have an excuse for your failure!"
Before he finished speaking, a cold voice interjected:
"Silence. Blaitch, Higgs, have your manners gone to the dogs?"
The one who spoke was none other than
The Slytherin Prefect, Gemma Farley.
She watched the two students coldly, enunciating each word:
"Apologize to Vincent, now."
To whom?!
To Ethan Vincent?!
The two Slytherins stared at their Prefect in disbelief.
They couldn't understand why their Prefect would suddenly side with Ethan!
However.
Under Gemma's icy gaze, they could only turn their heads, mumbling feigned apologies toward Ethan, then quickly walked away.
…Idiots.
Gemma watched their retreating figures, muttering silently to herself.
The worst outcome of failing in the competition was death.
But offending Ethan, that was "worse than death."
A great terror.
Gemma didn't know what strategy Ethan would use to secure his first place.
But she had already given him the money, so no matter what, she would "survive."
Gemma Farley glanced at Ethan.
Then, with her chin slightly raised, she didn't even look at the Gryffindors, walking away with her head held high, tap-tap-tap.
"…"
Oliver Wood looked at her aloof back, muttering in confusion:
"Was she sticking up for us, or just because those guys mentioned Ethan?"
The Ravenclaw students looked at Wood with pity.
Of course it was because of Ethan, "Wood-head."
Even if you guys cosplayed as a teru teru bozu in front of Miss Gemma, they guaranteed she wouldn't even glance at you.
It was their Ethan who had such a wide network!
On the other side, Cedric watched this scene, secretly clenching his fists.
Even the Slytherins helped Ethan; he truly was the competitor he had chosen!
Meeting their admiring and appreciative gazes, Ethan flashed a well-behaved smile.
Ethan knew nothing at all~
…
Evening.
Ethan welcomed Quirrell's first private lesson.
They were in an ordinary abandoned classroom.
Although it had been cleaned, the air still carried a faint smell of mold.
Chairs and tables were haphazardly piled to one side, making it appear very cluttered.
The good thing, however, was that the open space in the middle was large and could be arranged freely.
"Th-this place is quiet, and no one will disturb us, haha!"
Quirrell laughed nervously twice, rubbing his hands with tension and anticipation, staring at Ethan. He asked:
"N-now, Mr. Vincent, is there anything you particularly want to learn?"
Ethan nodded, meeting Quirrell's gaze, and said with a smile:
"I want to learn the technique of soul separation."
With a boom.
Quirrell was stunned to feel a violent tremor in the back of his head!
A sudden pain pierced through his brain, making him use all his strength to keep from screaming and falling down.
Wh-what happened?!
Was there something wrong with Ethan's words?
Quirrell was utterly terrified.
An irreverent thought surfaced in his mind:
It was as if the esteemed Dark Lord had been scared by a child's single sentence…
But that was absolutely impossible!
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