Outside the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
Before Lynn even stepped into the classroom, a smell of garlic so thick it was almost physical hit him like a wall.
It was so pungent that he nearly stumbled.
He hesitated for a moment, subconsciously taking two steps back and rubbing his nose vigorously.
He looked up at the door sign and then down to check his schedule, his face full of confusion.
This is the right classroom, isn't it? This isn't the Hogwarts kitchen or a cellar for storing ingredients. Why does it smell so much like garlic?
"Ugh~ what's that smell? It's so strong!" Edgar, who was behind him, also pinched his nose and complained in a muffled voice.
William and Ollie also frowned deeply, their expressions hard to describe.
"I'm not sure, but the bell is about to ring. Let's just go in first."
After stepping into the classroom, the pungent odor became even stronger, as if the entire space had been soaked in garlic juice.
Many students were fanning themselves with their hands or books.
The class bell rang on time, and after a short wait, the classroom door was pushed open.
Professor Quirrell, wrapped in his exotic turban, walked in somewhat timidly.
[Ding! Mission Issued: Obtain an official permission slip to enter the Library's Restricted Section from a Professor. Reward: Only Eat the Sugar Coating]
[Effect: The "shell" portion of any magic you learn or cast—including negative effects, side effects, and backlash damage—will be ineffective against you.]
[Eat the sugar coating and throw the shell back! Be a happy "freeloader"!]
Lynn looked at the mission issued by the system and then up at Professor Quirrell, who was stuttering on the podium and seemed easy to talk to.
It should work, right? Lynn thought. This Professor doesn't look like the type who would refuse a student.
He made up his mind to try after class…
The bell rang.
Professor Quirrell looked as if he had been granted a grand pardon; he almost immediately tucked his books under his arm and tried to hurry out of the classroom with his head down.
"Professor! Please wait!" Lynn seized the opportunity, lunging forward to block Professor Quirrell's path.
???
A huge question mark rose simultaneously in the minds of Professor Quirrell and a certain someone on the back of his head.
I've disguised myself as such a pathetic, loathsome loser; how can I still be attracting a student's attention? Quirrell felt a surge of panic.
Lord Voldemort's remnant soul was even more alert: A Hufflepuff? What does he want? A spy sent by Dumbledore?
Quirrell stiffly and slowly turned his head to look at the little Hufflepuff Wizard who had called out to him, trying to search his memory for a name—it seemed to be… Lynn?
"H-h-hello… M-m-may I ask… i-i-is there… s-s-something… I can d-d-do for you?"
Lynn took a deep breath, only to be choked by the garlic smell and let out a light cough. He spoke bluntly, "Professor, I would like a permission slip to enter the Library's Restricted Section."
He couldn't think of any roundabout way to put it. How else do you ask for a permission slip?
"N-no…" Professor Quirrell instinctively wanted to refuse; he avoided any request that might attract Dumbledore's attention.
However, just as he uttered a syllable, a voice exploded in his mind: "Give it to him, Quirinus."
Professor Quirrell jerked in fright, and the refusal at the tip of his tongue took a sharp turn, becoming: "…I-it's… i-impossible… n-not… to g-g-give it to you."
When Lynn heard the first "N-no…", his heart sank halfway, thinking the system mission was going to fail.
But then Professor Quirrell followed up with the bizarre phrasing "impossible not to give it to you"?
I knew it! Lynn was instantly overjoyed. How could the system issue an impossible mission! Professor Quirrell really is a "good person"! (^v^)
"C-come… w-with me… to… to my office… for a moment."
Hearing this, Lynn immediately nodded like a woodpecker. He waved to the curious Edgar and the others, mouthed "wait for me," and followed Professor Quirrell, whose steps were a bit unsteady, toward his office.
As soon as they entered the office, which was filled with the same strange smell, Professor Quirrell seemed to transform into a different person.
His movement in closing the door was crisp and efficient. Although his face remained pale, he no longer stuttered.
"Mr. Lynn," Quirrell's voice was steady, "the permission slip, I can give it to you."
Lynn felt a surge of joy.
"However," Quirrell's tone shifted, "there is one prerequisite."
Lynn wiped the smile off his face and put on an attentive look.
"The condition is that, for the time being, you need to study… the Dark Arts with me for a while."
Quirrell's lips curled up.
"I imagine that for a student who actively seeks knowledge from the Restricted Section, you wouldn't… mind, would you?"
Lynn's heart skipped a beat.
This Professor doesn't feel like a good person! Actively teaching a student the Dark Arts?
The Dark Arts… sound very powerful. Anyway, I wanted to learn them in the first place, and getting the slip and the reward is my primary goal.
Learning from a Professor also provides a "formal" channel, even if this channel seems a bit crooked… but the [Only Eat the Sugar Coating] reward from the system…
Thinking of this, Lynn felt like this deal wasn't a bad one.
"Alright, Professor. I'm willing to learn from you."
Quirrell nodded with satisfaction. "Very well. Then, every Saturday morning at eight, I will set aside half an hour specifically to instruct you. Here is your permission slip—keep it safe."
He quickly signed his name on a piece of parchment and handed it to Lynn.
"Thank you, Professor!" Lynn took the precious slip and tucked it away carefully, his heart leaping with joy.
Whatever fishy business was going on, at least the reward was in hand.
…Leaving Quirrell's suffocating office and breathing the relatively fresh air of the Castle corridor, Lynn felt wonderful.
Not only had he successfully obtained the mission reward [Only Eat the Sugar Coating], but he also got an extra pass to the Restricted Section!
In high spirits, he decided to follow his tradition and go fishing at the Black Lake, rewarding himself for today's "excellent" performance with a good catch.
---
Meanwhile, inside the Defense Against the Dark Arts office, Professor Quirrell slumped in his chair, gasping for breath.
The voice in his mind, however, let out a low, gleeful laugh:
"Hahaha… Foolish! Naive! A Hufflepuff, actually coming to the door of his own accord to learn the Dark Arts!"
"That old man Dumbledore, preaching love and courage all day long—he'd never imagine that in the house he considers the kindest and most aloof from the world, a Little Badger would actively embrace the darkness!"
"Once I lead him astray and let him taste the sweetness of power, watching him fall step by step… the expression on Dumbledore's face then will surely be magnificent!"
"How I look forward to it, hahaha…"
---
Happy Reading. Be sure to leave a review. Thank you.
Read my other novel: Naruto: Multiverse Adventures.