Whoosh!
Bellatrix's body snapped backward violently.
As if sucked through a straw, she vanished in an instant!
Vanishing right along with her... was that crimson scalpel!
"Got her!"
Ethan's eyes lit up as the corners of his mouth curled into a grin.
Bellatrix, did you really think you could get away?
Run all you want.
Even running takes time!
"With that scalpel coated in Broomstick Rash, Bellatrix is definitely going to wish she were dead."
Hiss... strange. Why does that strike feel so familiar? Ethan pondered inwardly.
He turned his head and patted the Plague Doctor on the shoulder.
"Beautiful work, old friend."
As his fingers brushed against the crimson aura, red spots instantly flared up on his skin. However, before the infection could worsen, it was healed by magic filled with light.
Hiss...
The beak-masked doctor responded with a raspy croak.
His entire body dissolved into fine black sand, flowing back into Ethan's hand, where it solidified into a rectangular, hard card.
The Plague Doctor didn't use his full power this time, Ethan thought to himself. His true strength doesn't lie in single-target kills, but in AOE crowd attacks!
Where the plague passes, not even a blade of grass survives!
"Heh... I really can't wait to see its true effects."
Ethan laughed with anticipation.
That smile on his face caused the members of the Enlightenment Society who had rushed over to freeze in their tracks, terrified. They unanimously stopped and silently turned their heads away.
—Who is this demon? Never met him. We're really not close.
The fire serpents hissed before fading into nothingness.
Thick smoke billowed.
Everywhere one looked, there was a scorched, desolate landscape.
Wizards used Aguamenti to douse the remaining flames while repairing collapsed and burnt houses as if they were stacking building blocks.
The battle had finally come to an end.
"Phew—that exhausted me!"
Ethan let out a long breath and flopped down onto a roof.
Two high-intensity battles in a row, with paintings and magic emerging endlessly. If he hadn't refined the Voldemort-brand potion at the end of the last term and increased his magical reserves, he would have been drained dry long ago.
"However, Apparition is indeed a problem," Ethan mused.
"Among my current cards, I don't have a painting that can completely prevent Apparition."
"Hmm... a rule-based card. I haven't created one of those yet."
"Anyway, I'll ask Mr. Lamp first when I get back to school."
Ethan wasn't anxious.
In the original books, even though Harry and the others could Apparate, they were still caught by Death Eaters. This proved it wasn't omnipotent.
It wasn't nearly as useful as an Anywhere Door.
Just then.
"...Eth... an!"
A stream of light flashed past.
Like a beam of moonlight.
A soft "cannonball" slammed into Ethan's arms.
"Ethan! Are you alright?"
Luna tilted her small face up. Her originally pale skin was stained with a bit of dust, which only served to make her blue eyes look even clearer and more spirited.
Ethan laughed. "Haha, shouldn't you be asking the other guys that?"
As he spoke, he raised his hand and rubbed Luna's little head. With a hint of mischief, he used a bit of force, rubbing her head until she—wobbled slightly.
Luna: "Stop messing around~"
She held her head, pouted, and muttered indignantly, "You rushed out by yourself again... [I'm already very strong. Is it so bad to take me with you?]"
Ethan blinked.
He had been single-mindedly focused on slaughtering Bellatrix earlier. Since she had come, how could he let her go back in one piece? So he had just rushed out.
"Next time for sure—really, really! I'll definitely take you next time!"
Surrounded by her silver magic, Ethan's emotional intelligence suddenly spiked, and he hurriedly made repeated guarantees.
Ethan: "If I leave you behind next time, you can send me straight to see Merlin himself!"
Luna narrowed her eyes and stared at him tightly for a few seconds.
Then, she huffed.
The corners of her mouth turned up as she said lightly, "Then I'll forgive you~"
Ethan: "Hehe."
Afterwards, Ethan caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye.
He saw Neville standing not far away.
At this moment, the slightly round, chubby boy was looking down, his face ashen. He formed a stark contrast to the surrounding students, who were exhausted but excited.
Ethan gently pushed Luna aside and stood up.
He walked over and asked:
"What's wrong, Neville?"
Neville kept his head down and pursed his lips.
After a few seconds of silence, he said hoarsely:
"That Dark Witch... she was the mastermind who tortured my parents... Gran told me about her."
Ethan let out an understanding "Ah."
Bellatrix was the primary culprit who had tortured the Longbottoms with the Cruciatus Curse for weeks on end. She was also the twisted psycho who, in the original books, used the Cruciatus Curse to interrogate Hermione and carved "Mudblood" into her arm.
Ethan thought for a moment.
He came up with a brilliant method to comfort Neville!
Thud!
With a heavy sound, a massive and weighty portrait was erected right in front of Neville.
Neville: ?
He jolted violently.
When he saw the eerie Plague Doctor on the canvas, his heart skipped another beat.
He stared, mouth hanging open in a daze.
Ethan said proudly: "Well? Isn't it great?"
"This is a portrait I painted of your parents. I hope it cheers you up~"
Neville: ???
You mean to tell me that this thing, which looks like it would curse you just by glancing at it, is a portrait of my parents?
Which eye did you use to paint this?!
Seeing Neville's expression, which looked like he was constipated and struggling to speak, Ethan nodded with satisfaction.
No one had ever said his portraits were "bad"!
The painting before him was whisked away.
Neville stood there, stunned.
Being interrupted by Ethan like that caused his stifled, heavy mood to dissipate like a popped balloon.
Neville composed himself.
Then, he clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.
"I will... definitely finish her off with my own hands! That Death Eater who hurt my parents!"
If other light wizards were here, they might have advised him to "let go of hatred" or something similar.
But when Ethan heard this, he looked at Neville with appreciation and nodded.
"In that case, I will reluctantly yield that kill to you."
In the original story, Bellatrix wasn't supposed to die at this point.
Fate might preserve her life.
But the power of the curse could not be erased.
"I wonder what kind of inhuman monster she'll be when we meet again." Ethan expressed that he was looking forward to it very much.
Just then.
A shadow loomed over Ethan.
The burly bodies of Aurors surrounded him like a wall.
They spoke stiffly:
"Please come with us, Mr. Ethan Vincent!"
As they spoke, they gripped their wands tightly.
They were actually a bit unsure of themselves.
If Ethan resisted, should they cast Incarcerous... or just Apparate away?
Ethan turned his head to look at them.
A glint of anticipated coldness flashed in his cobalt-blue eyes.
He knew it.
He had blown up Gringotts and caused such a massive disturbance. The Ministry of Magic might not be capable of catching Dark Wizards, but they would definitely come to arrest him.
Before Ethan could respond, a light, airy voice drifted through the air:
"...You will not take Ethan away."
A wisp of cold air seeped out.
Luna stepped forward slowly.
Her blonde hair lifted slightly as a chilling, awe-inspiring silver-white radiance radiated from her body!
—Such strong magic!
The Aurors were astonished and couldn't help but retreat a few steps.
Just as they were about to raise their wands, a hand pressed down on Luna.
"It's okay, Luna. Don't be like that."
Ethan spoke gently.
He raised his eyes to look at the jittery Aurors.
Curving the corners of his mouth, he slowly said:
"Since the Ministry of Magic is 'inviting' me as a guest... how could I possibly refuse?"
"Wouldn't you agree?"
Meeting Ethan's cobalt-blue eyes, the Aurors shuddered in unison.
...Ethan only had to accept the appointment.
It was the Ministry of Magic, who had issued the "invitation," that would have to worry about the consequences.
Would you like me to continue translating the next chapter, or help you refine the characterization of Ethan in this scene?
--
Support me & read more advance & fast update chapter on my pa-treon:
pat reon .c-om/windkaze