After Leonard said that, Midgard spaced out for a good five seconds before snapping back, her eyes now filled with open admiration for him.
"Tsk, that's one stylishly arrogant line. Good thing you mean the ones who cause problems, not the ones who point them out. Still… you're definitely qualified to say it."
Midgard let out a small laugh. "I knew you weren't ordinary, but hearing you now really drives it home. Looks like I was overthinking—you must've considered this long ago, right?"
"I did. Ran a few rehearsals in my head. You know me, I never act without preparation. I spent a lot of time on this," Leonard said with a shrug, completely casual. "And in the end, killing those people is just the least troublesome option."
"Well, that puts me at ease. I was worried you'd lose your head over a pretty face. You're more reliable than I thought—still the careful Leonard I know." Midgard stood up and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm honored to be someone you trust."
If he didn't trust her, Leonard would never have let her near Claudia at this stage. Clearly, he had accepted her as "one of his own."
"Then try not to betray that trust," Leonard said, narrowing his eyes. "Do me a favor and teach her something positive for once. I don't want to hear you spouting any more nonsense about her 'pure nature.'"
And why? Because anyone saying that line certainly hadn't taught her anything good.
Starting with that sudden kiss from little Claudia—Midgard was definitely behind it.
Not that Leonard minded all that much…
Midgard coughed guiltily. "That was an accident. And besides, I never promised anything before—this is me promising now! Don't worry, I mean what I say."
Leonard responded with a look of pure disdain.
Feeling awkward under his skeptical stare, Midgard hurried to change the subject. "Anyway, I remember you mentioned there was a girl at Hogwarts who approached you. What are you planning to do about her?"
"What do you mean?" Leonard pulled his gaze back, sounding utterly unconcerned.
He looked over at Claudia, who was hugging a unicorn's neck, rubbing against it while laughing like silver bells. That soothing, heartwarming sound made Leonard's expression soften slightly.
"Well, how are you planning to explain Claudia's existence to that girl? I can tell, you know—your intentions aren't exactly pure," Midgard said, jerking her chin toward Claudia, who was happily playing among the unicorns. "Now that you have Claudia, what about that other girl?"
"Honestly, I don't mind having more than one." Leonard's heartless remark made Midgard roll her eyes hard enough to strain something.
"And then?" she asked in disgust. "Planning to juggle two girls? Or wait—judging by what you just said… you're not planning to date her at all, are you?"
Leonard nodded, confirming her guess. "On Christmas, she gave me a gift. Chocolate."
"Christmas chocolate might not be the most appropriate, but it's not wrong."
"She laced it with a Love Potion."
"Let's ignore tha—actually, never mind, I can't." Midgard immediately backtracked. "Using a Love Potion… I get the impulse, but still… if you're not going to date her, then don't."
They continued chatting casually, drifting to the current situation of werewolves and wizards, and eventually to the rumors spreading everywhere about You-Know-Who's return.
"I don't know why, but that rumor just won't die. It disappears when people stop caring, then pops up again not long after," Midgard said.
"Someone's clearly pushing it. But don't get involved. Mind your own affairs. The rumor has a strange feel to it," Leonard replied.
"I don't really care. A couple of Fenrir's old underlings were getting restless, but after I beat sense into them, they're behaving now." Midgard scratched her head. "But has You-Know-Who truly returned? Could he be the one spreading it?"
"Not yet. He's currently trying to get the Philosopher's Stone to restore himself," Leonard said. "He wouldn't make extra trouble or reveal his presence now. But I'm surprised you're actually accepting the possibility of You-Know-Who returning."
"What's there not to accept? Even if he does come back, he'll need werewolf support for whatever he wants to do. I'm not afraid."
…Midgard said that, clearly lying to herself, then suddenly realized something.
"Wait—you said You-Know-Who is after the Philosopher's Stone?"
"Mm." Leonard nodded.
"Don't tell me it's Quirrell? That Quirrell who raided Gringotts?" Midgard asked.
Leonard raised a brow. "You actually guessed that?"
"Of course. I am the leader of the werewolf wizards. I can at least figure out this much," Midgard said proudly.
"Don't get too cocky. It's not hard to guess, especially for someone like you who hears all kinds of news." Leonard shook his head. "By the way, when you go back, help me spread a message."
"A message? What kind of message?" Midgard asked.
"Just spread it alongside the rumor of You-Know-Who's revival. The content doesn't matter. What matters is attracting certain people and drawing them here."
Leonard pointed at the ground beneath their feet.
"Here?" Midgard blinked, then shivered as she looked around at the ferocious, sprawling plants. "What are you planning?"
"I want to see what my plants are capable of," Leonard said. "And I need volunteers who come knocking on their own."
He still needed to keep an eye on the botanical garden's long-term task. He hadn't earned any evolution points yet, let alone evolved a plant.
Leonard was eager to see what abilities the new evolution module offered.
But as strong as the botanical garden was, it was still a passive entity—unlike the Acromantulas, it couldn't go out and hunt.
It could only lie in wait, like a spider with its web, for uninvited guests to wander in and get themselves killed—then consume them to grow.
"Hey, hey! That's insane! Isn't that basically indiscriminate killing?" Midgard shouted.
"That depends on your rumor-spreading skills—whether you attract Dark Wizards instead of innocent potion-makers or whoever else," Leonard said with a shrug. "I suggest you talk to Marcus."
"…Fine." Midgard agreed reluctantly.
...
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