In an instant, the hairs on Aragog's body stood on end, and a deep chill permeated his ancient frame. Aragog couldn't even distinguish whether this terrifying feeling came from that strange creature wreathed in flames or from that smiling young wizard.
Just as Leo was about to raise his wand and Aurelius prepared to step forward, Aragog cried out, "Wait, wait! I was just joking!"
Aragog rapidly rubbed his mandibles, speaking faster than ever before.
Leo still raised his wand, the electric arcs on it becoming increasingly restless. "Oh, so you were just playing around?"
Not understanding what Leo was muttering, Aragog felt the chill on his body hadn't receded—it was even intensifying!
"I promised Hagrid I wouldn't kill people anymore!" Aragog frantically brought up Hagrid, trying to reduce the other's killing intent.
But Leo's wand still pointed at him, the leaping arcs gradually converging as if ready to release at any moment.
"You promised Hagrid, but did all these descendants of yours also promise Hagrid not to kill people?"
Instantly understanding Leo's meaning, Aragog rubbed his mandibles frantically, creating an almost spark-like friction. Aragog ordered his offspring to disperse, moving away from Leo.
Receiving this command from their ancestor, the spiders fled as if pardoned, each running faster than the last. They had long been unable to bear that scorching heatwave, and if not for Aragog's compulsion, they wouldn't have planned to surround that human in the first place.
That person had clearly posed no threat earlier, even making them feel drawn to him. But the moment he raised his wand, intense fear arose instinctively, their instincts telling these spiders to flee quickly.
Glancing at the now empty surroundings, Leo nodded with satisfaction, "Good. Now it's just us."
Hearing this, Aragog's body suddenly stiffened. Right, now he had to face these two monsters alone! That strangely shaped creature aside, why did this seemingly young wizard also make him shudder with fear?
"Actually, I came here with no malicious intent, just to observe your species," Leo said. "And collect some venom along the way."
This made Aragog relax slightly—good, they could negotiate.
"Of course, of course, I can sense you have no ill will," Aragog said. "Hagrid's friends wouldn't be bad people."
Seeing this old spider's change in attitude, Leo suddenly thought of how quickly some creatures changed their tune when faced with superior force.
"Have your descendants separate into two groups by gender, from small to large, and come see me in order."
Aragog quickly agreed, wanting nothing more than to send this master away quickly. After the sound of mandible rubbing, two small Acromantulas slowly approached. They pushed each other, neither daring to be the first to approach the human.
"Don't be afraid. Let me check if you're developing normally," Leo said, levitating the two small spiders and beginning to record their data.
Glancing at Aragog cowering at the cave's edge, Leo pulled out a cedar wood barrel about the size of a large jug from his pocket, marked with Undetectable Extension Charms. He sent the barrel flying to Aragog.
"Aragog, don't just sit there idle. Fill this with some venom."
Acromantula venom was best preserved in cedar containers to maintain maximum potency. Aragog dared not hesitate, fumbling for the barrel's edge and beginning to spit venom.
Leo successfully recorded information on Acromantulas of various ages. Actually, thanks to Aragog's numerous offspring, this magical creature species was the most comprehensively documented.
Good, let's see how much venom was collected. Once he got Erumpent explosive fluid, he could start brewing explosive potions.
Having the cedar barrel fly over, Leo looked inside. It was more than half full! Hadn't he just told Aragog to put in a bit as he saw fit? Did old Acromantulas really have this much venom?
Looking at Aragog sprawled on the ground, his eight legs spread powerlessly, his already greyish-white body seemed even whiter. It seemed he'd exhausted himself.
Oh well, the older an Acromantula, the better its venom's effects. Besides, having Aragog drink it back wouldn't work—it was already expelled. Well, it seemed like he was about to collapse.
He couldn't exhaust his only source—he needed to maintain this relationship for future visits.
Leo took out a small bottle from his coat, opened the cap, and extracted a drop of glowing transparent liquid. He controlled this drop of Qilin saliva to fly toward Aragog's mouth.
The next second, Aragog stood up directly. Aragog was shocked to discover that the weakness from excessive venom discharge had instantly vanished. His aged body actually gained a trace of vitality—new vitality. His blind greyish-white eyes seemed to have gained a little brightness too.
"This is...?" Aragog began.
Leo put away the Qilin saliva, "Don't worry, I'm not taking your stuff for free. I'm leaving now. See you next time."
Leo waved his hand and patted Aurelius. The figures of man and Qilin instantly disappeared.
Aragog instinctively waved his front legs, then froze. What had that person just said? Next time he was coming back?!
"Aurelius, where did you leave Fang?"
"Master, I just left him here. How did he disappear?"
Leo clicked his tongue—Fang couldn't get into trouble, especially since he'd brought him out.
"Let's split up and search quickly. We can't lose the dog," Leo said. "Also, about that unicorn earlier—remember that when you encounter this kind of magical creature in the future, stay alert, observe your surroundings, and if you encounter danger, immediately use Apparition without hesitation!"
Leo specifically warned the little Qilin, worried about it encountering Quirrell hunting unicorns in the Forbidden Forest later. Though that would still be months away.
According to the system, Qilins in their growth period changed rapidly—he wondered what Aurelius's strength would be like then.
"Listen to Master. Oh right, what are magical creatures?"
"Creatures with magical abilities. Well, you've reminded me—after teaching you common sense, I can teach you to identify magical creatures."
Leo searched everywhere for Fang, finally finding him thanks to Aurelius's sense of smell. Fang was huddled in a tree hollow, trembling, covered with rotten leaves and branches.
"You're quite clever, Fang, even knowing to mask your scent," Leo said. "Sorry about that. I'll make you something special when we get back!"