Hogwarts White Knight

Compared to the rough and deliberate option at the beginning, Gawain felt that the current Salazar Slytherin looked closer to himself.

——For the purpose, no matter the means.

Instead of gambling on the possibility that an opponent's will is not strong enough through torture, threats, mental control, etc., Salazar would rather pay a sufficient price when he encounters something he is determined to get.

He even skipped the haggling, since it wasn't like he could still use the stuff anyway.

A simple, crude exchange.

Gawain is also very convinced that the effectiveness of this contract will ensure that Salazar can fulfill everything he promised.

——Through "Horkes", he can "perceive" a majestic existence.

It is somewhat similar to the will that suddenly descended when Gawain cursed "Riddle" a few days ago.

They seem to be a concept in the field of occultism, following a certain preset program or instruction, and will be executed when a request is received and sufficient and corresponding rewards are received.

Although there are differences in both existence and performance, this Horx can definitely ensure the realization of the treaty.

"What are you waiting for? The wealth I left behind is enough for you to squander for hundreds of years; and the knowledge even records many secrets of alchemy, immortality, turning stone into gold, and fading away from mortal life. And even if Spells that are considered taboo in black magic, they are all my own research!"

Salazar's eyes light up when he talks about his research.

Thousands of years ago when we were still ignorant, even any exploration of science would be regarded as "heresy" by the Holy See, let alone witchcraft and magic.

Not to mention systematic teaching, even writing a pamphlet or even drawing a few specious symbols on a piece of paper might be burned at the stake by the church and farmers holding pitchforks.

As for the nobility?

They would only choose to force the wizards to reveal all their secrets, and then package them to the church, and enthusiastically prepared the platform and haystack needed for the burning stake, as well as a small platform for the priests to sell indulgences.

But Salazar and the others managed to develop a feasible, communicable, and teaching-worthy spell system in that era, not to mention his secret achievements in black magic and alchemy.

And it will be regarded as a "collection" by Salazar, the richest and most picky among the Big Four, and its value is naturally unknown.

But Gawain must refuse.

From just now, his wand has been trembling quietly, as if he has seen some extremely terrifying natural enemy.

Gawain never forgot the day he named his wand.

If the wand is willing to surrender to Slytherin, then even though he will be reluctant to let it go, he will try his best to keep it, but if it persists enough, Gawain may consider letting it go.

But now the wand is in fear.

If Gawain handed it over for the sake of his own safety and these so-called "inheritances", what would he think of himself when he encounters more choices in the future?

- A traitor.

He would never be able to look at himself, and he would never be able to look up at anyone.

"You can be suspicious, but you can never betray your own people, never."

Colin, who was always easy-going and was not angry even after Gawain made that pot of beef stew, was particularly serious when he said this.

Gawain had already made his decision with almost no need to think about it.

"Fire? It's a pity that the saltpeter is gone."

Gawain tightened his grip on the wand in his hand.

He has absolutely no understanding of this strange space, but that doesn't stop him from understanding it based on some of the most common principles.

As long as the yield is large enough, it will definitely be able to explode.

"It seems you have made up your mind?"

Salazar noticed Gawain's actions and sighed.

It seemed like that was a stupid and wrong decision.

"Even at a cost?"

Gawain responded to him with silence.

"Rowena is wrong, I am wrong, and Godric is wrong. I do not like you, not at all, but I recognize you."

Salazar raised his head and looked directly into Gawain's eyes. He didn't open his mouth, but the voice rang directly in Gawain's mind - no longer arrogant, no longer crazy, just a kind of relief.

The black lines originally carved on the walls in the hall suddenly came to life and peeled off from the walls to form an extremely fine green network, wrapping him and Gawain in it.

“The caretaker hates it, the caretaker approves of it.”

"Performance."

Gawain suddenly understood their meaning.

And this scene was not unfamiliar to him, because he had seen a similar scene in the damn tent in the centaur camp in the Forbidden Forest.

The green net completely swallowed them up.

When Gawain regained consciousness again, he found himself in a room with very simple decoration. I don’t know if it’s because of the strange hobby of the owner of the room, but there are many snake decorations here.

A sinuous, twisted snake.

"If I were you, I wouldn't speak to the owner of this room like that."

An inexplicably oily voice sounded.

"who is it!"

Gawain quickly turned his head, and at the other end of the room, he saw a "strange" wizard.

He wore a graceful Byzantine noble robe, with a long ribbon hanging to the ground, but he also wore a pointed wizard's hat. Even at a Halloween party, Gawain had a hard time imagining anyone combining the two elements.

"Don't you know? Why do you ask?"

There was a sarcastic smile on the man's lips.

He looked like he really deserved a beating.

But if Gawain's guess is correct, there really is no one in this world who can beat him up.

Whether it's because of his strength or because...this man - Salazar Slytherin has been dead for more than a thousand years.

"You see, this is the magical place of contract magic. Even if I sign a contract with myself, as long as the price is enough, it can be realized. I promised myself that I will serve as the caretaker and choose a suitable successor for our 'plan'.

Indeed, I don't know what I should do to preserve my consciousness long enough. But the contract helped me, tearing off a small part of my soul and enough memories, and stored them in this room. "

Salazar said lightly, "That really hurts." He took a breath and shook his hand.

It didn't look like he had half of his soul ripped out, but like he accidentally cut a small cut on his finger while chopping vegetables.

"So what... was that just now?"

Gawain carefully considered his words.

"You want to make a joke? Or? It depends on which one you are talking about."

Salazar snapped his fingers, and a high-bottomed wooden cup appeared on the table, filled with lavender liquid.

He picked up the cup and drank it in one gulp.

Even his eyes narrowed.

"The contract stipulates that I must examine the applicants and select them based on the established standards; when I find someone I approve of, I will provide him with a short period of absolutely 'safe' time.

As a legacy, I don’t think there’s anything more convenient than this, right? "

He said with a relaxed smile, as if he was very proud of his idea. But even Gawain noticed what was missing in Salazar's words.

--cost.

Every bit of time is earned by burning his soul. Gawain saw that Slytherin's feet were becoming hollow little by little, like ghosts, but this process did not stop at all.

The shadow is burning silently.

“I thought no one would ever come over again.

That fool Godric wanted to rush in front of 'Him' to buy a little more time.

But he didn't understand at all, what changes would happen in several decades?

The smart-ass Rowena lost her crown and had it stolen by her daughter Helena, a foolish and arrogant fool who didn't even have the courage to wear it.

And there’s Helga, who we all love, and she’s a hopeless coward. She decided to forget everything and stay with the school until the end. "

Salazar said suddenly angrily.

“They never understood, never figured it out.

The wizard was cursed from the day he appeared. We shouldn't exist in the first place, we are just a bunch of wretches who are proud of their talents. Wouldn't it be better to just let those ordinary people live stupidly but happily?

Accepting them will only hasten the end. "

He took another sip of the lavender liquid that had been quietly filled up for some time. Gawain could only barely guess that it was probably the "look" of wine from thousands of years ago.

The window had been opened at some point, and Gawain could see the large black lake shining in the sun.

The castle at this time was not as spectacular as it would be in the future.

In fact, it's a bit shabby.

But Salazar kept staring at it, as if looking at a rare treasure.

"What you, or rather we, have is not love, but a curse.

There is a price you pay between 'seeing' and 'recognizing'.

But until you ‘realize’, you don’t even realize what the cost is.

Godric loses caution, Helena loses emotion, and Helga loses herself.

As for me? What I lost is called trust. "

Salazar was reduced to a shadow even from the knees down.

"Merlin is a sinner, he brought the doomsday to our world; but Arthur is a hero, because he at least dared to bear his own sins. I don't know what means he used, but I know that He is still waiting there. The day the stone crown was opened."

For some reason, Salazar suddenly mentioned Merlin.

Not Merlin's Merlin.

"Muggle boy, I will leave you my fortune. Also, our plan failed, but there may be some value in it."

Slytherin took one last deep look at the castle before looking away.

"Good luck to you, kid.

You will use it. "

Almost before Gawain could react, most of the remaining body of Salazar quickly turned into a shadow and burned vigorously. At the same time, the room once again turned into a large emerald green net.

But this time, around Gawain.

It forms a cocoon.

A large amount of mysterious information poured into Gawain's mind, too much for him to digest at the moment. It was so important that he didn't even dare to remember many of the contents and had to sink into the deepest part of his memory.

But Gawain finally remembered some.

——Occult ritual: contract.

And Slytherin's last words.

"Leave my old friend alone, he's still just a kid.

You must not be me, because I know that I can't resist the temptation. "