As Ethan spoke, he stretched out his pale little hand and reached toward Wallace.
Wallace: ".....
..Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah!!!"
He screamed at the top of his lungs and instinctively recoiled.
But in his extreme fear, his limbs went rigid.
His left foot caught on his right, and he tumbled to the ground.
The back of his head smacked against the bulletin board with a thud,
leaving Wallace seeing stars and groaning in pain.
"Haha, I was just kidding. Why are you so worked up, Senior?"
Ethan waved his wand, restoring his lengthened hair to its normal state.
He also peeled off "The Door in the Eye" that had been stuck to his forehead.
He smiled as he looked at the senior.
Wallace:
He would rather face the female ghost from earlier than be sent straight to heaven.
Merlin! Why did this brat show up in the Great Hall so early?!
Caught red-handed by the owner while trying to rip down a poster—and the owner was a devil who had actually killed people.
Wallace felt like his life was over.
"S-sorry, Mr. Vincent... I just wanted to move your poster...
"It was blocking mine a bit... I-I'll get out of here!"
Ethan looked down at the senior, who was trembling like a sieve and slumped into a puddle of mud on the ground.
He tilted his head in confusion.
I didn't do anything, did I?
I just approached him warmly and greeted the senior.
How did he get so scared?
And he's a Gryffindor, no less.
Meeting the senior's terrified gaze, Ethan curved his lips into a bright smile:
"Oh, I thought it was something serious."
Ethan glanced at the bulletin board; his poster, placed off to the side, glowed like a light bulb, overshadowing the surrounding ones.
Ethan: "It does block some. That's easy—just move the poster somewhere else."
Move it somewhere else?
Whose poster are you moving somewhere else? Be clear!
Wallace watched in agony as Ethan waved his wand.
He could already picture his own poster being mercilessly torn down.
However.
His imagination didn't come true.
With a "rip" sound.
The Enlightenment Society's poster was peeled off.
On the back and the bulletin board, a sticky web-like substance resembling capillaries stretched out.
Wallace:
What on earth was this stuck on with?
The thought of him frantically picking at that thing just now.
Wallace felt his fingers itch intensely.
But Ethan really did take down his own poster.
Just because of his one sentence...
He would rather change his own position than let his poster be seen.
What a kind person!
Wallace clenched his fists, feeling a deep sense of shame.
He had misunderstood Ethan.
He had defiled the kind and pure junior with his despicable thoughts.
Ethan, you are a good person.
The next second.
Ethan used a Transfiguration spell to stretch out an empty space on the top frame of the bulletin board.
Then.
He slapped his poster right on top.
Wallace: ?
Something seems wrong?!
Suddenly.
The Enlightenment Society poster, like an enthroned emperor, towered above all other posters.
Shining brightly.
It instantly captured all of the students' attention.
Making all other posters mere backdrops.
Not to mention Wallace's inconspicuous Gobstones Club.
Hidden on the side, it was even more inconspicuous than before.
Wallace: (〇口〇)
Dazed.jpg
Ethan clapped his hands, looking as if he had completed a great task.
Looking up at his own poster sitting above everyone's heads, he said cheerfully:
"Whew~ I've wanted to do this for a long time."
"If everyone's posters don't fit, why not make the bulletin board bigger?"
Wallace:
Perhaps, it's because no one would think a bulletin board could have a pointed top.
Damn it!! I've been played again!!
Wallace knelt on the ground in defeat, letting out a silent roar of unwillingness and shame.
Ethan: "Senior? Perhaps you're also interested in my club?"
"What? No, I—"
Wallace jolted, about to refuse.
Suddenly, a light bulb went off!
If he joined Ethan's club, wouldn't he be able to naturally blend in with the students taking the assessment?
Then, he could fiercely poach this little devil's corner!
...Y-yes! I'm a little interested too."
Wallace forced a smile, telling the biggest lie of his life.
As for the assessment itself?
He had heard about it; it was just trying to clear the Ancient City of Saen.
When the assessment started, he could just deliberately make a mistake and get eliminated, couldn't he?
Wallace thought carelessly.
He didn't know that hell could be upgraded further.
After breakfast.
Ethan leisurely headed to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
As expected, there was no one in the classroom.
Only faint humming could be heard from Professor Lockhart's office, connected by stairs at the front of the classroom.
Ethan took out the earmuffs made from Mandrake from his pocket and plugged them into his ears.
Suddenly, the world became quiet.
Under the chandelier hanging with white dragon bones.
He meticulously molded the modified ancient city model with snake-venom clay.
Time flew by.
Not until the seats around him were filled with students.
Did Ethan stop his movements, turn his stiff neck, and remove his earmuffs.
He looked up and met Professor Lockhart's eager gaze,
as if he wanted to bask in Ethan's popularity but dared not approach him.
Hesitant to speak, yet inviting.
Ethan:
What kind of high school girl is this?
Ethan ignored Professor Lockhart's look, which seemed to say, "If you take the initiative to talk to me, I'm not entirely against it."
His gaze shifted, noticing the domed cage on the podium.
It was covered with a cloth, and inside, sharp, noisy sounds occasionally came out.
...So, it's still those pixies?
He didn't use them on the Gryffindors yesterday, so now he's using them on us?
Tsk tsk, truly no innovation at all.
Ethan shook his head and pulled over a notebook.
He quickly scribbled on it with a pencil.
It's alright, Professor Lockhart.
I'll make up for the lack of innovation you have. "Dong—Dong—"
The melodious bell announced the official start of the first class.
Lockhart leaped from behind the podium, meeting the eager and expectant gazes below.
He cleared his throat loudly and casually held up one of his books.
On the cover, a blond man identical to him grinned at the students.
And Lockhart himself was baring his big white teeth.
Ethan thought.
Lockhart would sell his toothpaste much better than developing any shampoo.
Yes.
Despite it being Gilderoy Lockhart.
Ethan had still read his entire set of textbooks—this year's Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook.
Putting aside the facts.
Lockhart's novels were indeed quite captivating.
Such as being cornered by a werewolf in a phone booth, a forbidden romance with a beautiful vampire, or being a hero in a werewolf village...
Very engaging.
If one could experience these adventures firsthand, it would be very interesting.
As Ethan's mind wandered, Professor Lockhart on stage had finished his long opening speech:
—But I don't often boast about these honors, because I don't drive away ten thousand female ghosts with a smile!"
Beside Ethan, someone chuckled softly.
"He's quite interesting, isn't he?"
The person initiated a conversation with Ethan; it was a Hufflepuff boy.
"Hmmph~"
Ethan hummed in response through his nose.
This was his usual expression when he disagreed inwardly.
"I'm Justin Finch-Fletchley, nice to meet you, Ethan."
The boy nervously extended his hand to Ethan.
After receiving a handshake where nothing unusual happened, he visibly relaxed.
A confident smile appeared on his face.
Justin turned his head, looking at the covered cage, and mumbled:
"I'm really curious what's in that cage; it looks like a very fierce animal."
Fierce?
If those pixies can be considered fierce.
Then my Cerberus could be called an ancient god.
Ethan thought, his pencil continuously scribbling.
Justin's voice was a bit loud.
Or perhaps, Professor Lockhart had been paying attention to this side all along.
"Aha! I hear someone discussing my 'teaching aid' for this class!"
Lockhart shouted excitedly, flicking the cage.
He was satisfied to see the students leaning back, showing expressions of fear and curiosity.
Lockhart: "Yes, they are very—very dangerous creatures! One wrong move, and they can kill you!"
"To give an example.....
"They are even more dangerous than Mr. Ethan Vincent's upcoming club assessment!!"
"Hiss—" The students gasped.
Ethan: "
....?
Ethan raised his eyebrows high.
More dangerous than his club assessment?
Heh, he really dares to say that.
Ethan finished the last stroke of his drawing.
Let him show Professor Lockhart what's what.
--
Support me & read more advance & fast update chapter on my pa-treon:
pat reon .c-om/windkaze