“Professor McGonagall.” Standing outside the Magical Menagerie, Wade looked from the Hogwarts supply list—which read Students may bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad—to the various creatures inside the shop.
There were rats, ravens, lizards, and all sorts of magical animals.
“Are owls, cats, and toads the only pets Hogwarts allows?” “They’re simply the recommended choices,” McGonagall replied.
“In truth, students may bring other pets as well, provided they aren’t dangerous or disruptive to school life.” “Can I choose not to bring one?” Wade asked somewhat hesitantly.
“You don’t see anything you like?” McGonagall looked at him in surprise.
“I’ve never kept a pet.” “They seem like a lot of trouble.” “Magical pets aren’t nearly as troublesome as you think.” “You could always get an owl.” “They’re useful for delivering letters.” Then she suddenly remembered that Wade was completely alone.
“…And for writing to your friends in the future.” “Maybe another time.” Wade politely declined.
“I don’t really have a need for one right now.” “Very well.” As evening approached, McGonagall escorted Wade out of Diagon Alley.
Passing back through the enchanted wall, they returned to the Leaky Cauldron, where only a handful of customers remained.
“You can either return home,” she said, “or spend the night here.” “Stay at the inn?” “There are rooms upstairs for rent.” Tom, the innkeeper, shrugged.
“They’re specifically for witches and wizards who can’t make it home before nightfall.” “How much?” “Different rooms cost different amounts.” “From six Sickles to seventeen.” “Meals are included.” Wade weighed the pouch at his side.
After today’s shopping, he still had well over a hundred Galleons remaining.
I could probably stay here until school starts.
There was no one waiting for him at home anyway.
If anything, staying at the Leaky Cauldron would make it easier to learn about the wizarding world and gather information.
“I’ll stay for one night, then.” Placing a single Galleon on the counter, he added, “The best room.” Tom looked at Wade with mild surprise.
He hadn’t expected such generosity from a young customer.
McGonagall smiled helplessly before offering one final reminder.
“September 1st.” “King’s Cross Station.” “Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.” “Don’t miss the train.” “I won’t, Professor.” “This way, young wizard.” Tom pocketed the Galleon and led Wade upstairs.
His room was Number Two.
The room was built entirely of wood.
It contained a bed, a fireplace, a table with chairs, a wardrobe, and two windows overlooking Charing Cross Road and Diagon Alley respectively.
Most importantly…
It had its own bathroom.
Setting down the mountain of shopping bags, Wade locked the door, drew the curtains, and collapsed onto the bed in a starfish position.
After resting for a short while, he took a single Galleon from his pocket and focused his mind on the Blasphemy Card hidden deep within his soul.
The card had fused completely with him.
No magic could ever separate it from his soul.
It also granted him a form of concealed protection.
Even Legilimency couldn’t pry into his memories.
Yet today…
He had finally discovered how to truly activate it.
Clink!
With a flick of his finger, the Galleon spun into the air, ringing with its distinctive metallic chime before landing neatly back in his palm.
At the very next moment, with a single thought…
The coin vanished.
The Blasphemy Card trembled almost imperceptibly.
Then…
Nothing.
“…Not enough?” Wade smiled bitterly.
He grabbed another handful of Galleons and continued the sacrifice.
When the tenth Galleon disappeared, the Blasphemy Card finally reacted.
It began to vibrate violently.
An invisible vortex formed around it, frantically absorbing Wade’s magical power.
For an eleven-year-old wizard— Or more accurately, a Sequence 9 Beyonder— the burden was considerable.
Fortunately, he could still endure it.
The card gradually transformed into a three-dimensional object.
It unfolded into a thin book.
One page slowly turned.
There, painted upon it, was the image of a clown wearing colorful makeup, accompanied by a detailed description.
Sequence 8 — Clown Possesses extraordinary coordination, balance, and bodily control.
Greatly enhanced agility and speed, respectable physical strength, and exceptional skill in technical combat.
Can expertly control facial expressions and body language, making lies far more convincing.
Potion Formula: Main Ingredients: One crystallized horn from an adult Hornacis Gray Mountain Goat (Unicorn horn substitute — 10 Galleons)One complete Human Face Rose (10 Galleons) Supplementary Ingredients: 80 milliliters of pure water (1 Galleon)5 drops of Mandrake juice (1 Galleon)7 grams of Black-Edged Sunflower powder (1 Galleon)10 grams of Golden Cloak Grass powder (1 Galleon)3 drops of Poison Hemlock extract (1 Galleon) 1 After reading the page, Wade stared blankly for a long moment before shaking his head with a wry smile.
The Blasphemy Card had conveyed three pieces of information.
One good.
One bad.
And one that was neither good nor bad.
The good news was that the Blasphemy Card adapted remarkably well to this world’s magical system.
Both the main ingredients and supplementary ingredients had compatible substitutes.
As long as he had personally encountered an item, the card could recognize it and provide a corresponding replacement.
Take the unicorn horn, for example.
He had seen one earlier that day while browsing an apothecary in Diagon Alley.
Out of curiosity, he had picked it up and checked the price.
If he remembered correctly…
One horn cost around twenty-one Galleons.
Even if a substitute couldn’t be found, the Blasphemy Card could simply provide the item directly—as long as enough money was sacrificed.
Whether doing so was worthwhile, however, depended on the situation.
Otherwise, it was all too easy to become an overpriced customer.
For instance, the Blasphemy Card valued a unicorn horn at only ten Galleons— Less than half the shop price.
On the other hand, the supplementary ingredients were absurdly overpriced.
Eighty milliliters of pure water could probably be purchased for only a few Knuts.
Yet the card demanded an entire Galleon.
Its price was well over a hundred times higher than reality.
The bad news…
Everything was expensive.
Potion formulas had to be purchased.
Every advancement increased the cost tenfold.
The Sequence 8 formula cost ten Galleons.
Its main ingredients cost ten Galleons.
Each supplementary ingredient cost one Galleon.
But by Sequence 7, the formula alone would cost one hundred Galleons.
Each main ingredient would also cost one hundred Galleons.
Even the supplementary ingredients would rise to ten Galleons apiece.
And the higher the Sequence…
The more terrifying the expense became.
With his current wealth, he could at most advance to Sequence 7.
Sequence 6 was completely beyond his means.
Judging by his estimates, a Sequence 7 Beyonder would probably be no stronger than an ordinary adult wizard.
To put it simply…
Just another average person in the wizarding world.
I need to find a way to make money.
Otherwise, being stuck at that level would be utterly depressing.
The final piece of information was neither good nor bad.
Only after completely digesting the potion of his current Sequence would he meet the conditions required to unlock the next Sequence.
“How ridiculous…” Wade muttered to himself with a helpless laugh.
“I’ve only been in the wizarding world for a single day…” “And I’m already worrying about money.” For one fleeting moment…
He seriously considered robbing a bank.
Gringotts wasn’t very far away.
It was almost as though temptation itself was inviting him to commit a crime.
If I pulled off one big heist…
I might just end up in Azkaban.
“…Forget it.” “I’m still young.” “I shouldn’t start down the path of crime.” “Money is important, but it isn’t my most urgent problem.” “Advancing to Sequence 8 comes first.” comment If you’re enjoying the story, please consider supporting it!