Compared to the crude and deliberate options at the beginning, Gawain felt that Salazar Slytherin now seemed closer to him.

- For the sake of the end, at the expense of the means.

Rather than gambling on the possibility of an opponent's lack of determination through torture, threats, mind control, etc., Salazar would rather pay enough price when confronted with something he was determined to obtain.

He didn't even have to haggle, and he didn't look like he could still use these things anyway.

Simple, brutal exchanges.

Gawain was also very sure that the validity of this contract would ensure that Salazar would be able to fulfill everything he had promised.

- Through "Holkes", he was able to "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 within the realm of the occult. It will only be executed according to a pre-set program or instruction when a request is received and a sufficient and corresponding return is received.

While there are differences in both presence and performance, Holx will certainly be able to ensure that it happens.

"What are you waiting for? I have left behind enough wealth for you to squander for hundreds of years, and there are even many secrets of alchemy recorded in that knowledge.

Immortality, turning stones into gold, fading away from mortal wombs. And spells that are taboo even in the dark arts, they are all my own research!"

Salazar smirked as he spoke about his research, his eyes glowing.

Millennia before ignorance, even any exploration of science would have been turned "heretical" 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 slip of paper, could be tied to the stake by the church and the peasants holding pitchforks.

As for the nobility?

They would only choose to force the wizards to reveal all their secrets before packing them up and sending them to the church, and preparing the tables and haystacks needed for the stake.

There was also a platform where the priests could sell indulgences.

But Salazar and the others had developed a system of spells that was feasible, spreadable, and had teaching value in those years.

It will be regarded as a "collection" by Salazar, the richest and most discerning of the Big Four, and the value is unknown.

But Gawain had to refuse.

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

Gawain never forgot the day he named his wand.

If the wand was willing to throw itself at Slytherin, he would do whatever it took to keep it, but if it was insistent enough, Gawain might consider letting it go.

But now the wand is in fear.

If Gawain handed it over for the sake of safety and the so-called "inheritance", what would he think of himself?

- A traitor.

He will never be able to face himself.

And never be able to look up at anyone.

"It's okay to be suspicious, but you can never betray your own people, never. ”

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

With little to no thought, Gawain had already made a decision.

"Fire, it's a pity that the saltpeter is gone. ”

Gawain clenched his wand.

He had no knowledge of this strange space, but that didn't prevent 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 blow through.

"Looks like you've made your mind?"

Salazar noticed Gawain's movements and sighed.

It seems like a stupid and wrong choice.

"Even if it's a cost?"

Gawain responded with silence.

"Rowena was wrong, I was wrong, Godric was wrong. I don't really like you, not at all, but I approve of you. ”

Salazar looked up and looked straight into Gawain's eyes. He didn't open his mouth, but the voice sounded directly in Gawain's head—no more arrogant, no longer crazy, just a relief.

The black lines that had been carved into the walls of the hall suddenly came to life, peeling off from the walls to form an extremely fine turquoise net that enveloped him and Gawain.

"The caretaker is disgusted, and the caretaker approves. ”

"Fulfillment. ”

Gawain suddenly understood what they meant.

And it was a scene he wasn't unfamiliar with, as he had seen it in that damn tent in the Centaur camp in the Forbidden Forest.

The turquoise net engulfed them completely.

When Gawain regained consciousness, he found himself in a very quaintly decorated room. I don't know if it's because of the strange hobby of the owner of the room, there are many snake decorations here.

Meander, twisted snakes.

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

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 aristocratic robe, with a long ribbon that hung down to the ground, and a wizard's hat topped with a tip.

Even at a Halloween party, Gawain had a hard time imagining anyone combining the two elements.

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

The man had a sarcastic smile on his lips.

His appearance is really quite unbeatable.

But if Gawain didn't guess wrong, there really wasn't anyone in this world who could beat him.

Whether it's because of strength, or because...

This man

— Salazar Slytherin

It's been dead for more than a thousand years.

"You see, that's where contract magic comes in. Even if I make a contract with myself, as long as the price is sufficient, it can be realized. I promised myself that I would act as a caretaker and choose the right successor for our 'plan'.

Indeed, I didn't know what to do to keep my consciousness alive long enough. But the contract helped me, tearing off a small part of my soul and enough memories to store in this room. ”

Salazar said lightly, "It hurts," and he took a breath and shook his hand.

It didn't look like a small half of his soul had been torn off, but like a small cut in his finger while chopping vegetables.

"So just now... What is it?"

Gawain carefully considered the language.

"Are you joking? or? It depends on which one you are talking about. ”

Salazar snapped his fingers, and a wooden cup with a high bottom appeared on the table, containing a lilac liquid.

Picking up the cup, he drank it all.

Even his eyes narrowed.

"The contract stipulates that I must scout people and select them according to the criteria that have been established, and when I find someone who I recognizes, I will provide him with a short period of absolute 'safety' time.

As a legacy, I don't think there's anything more convenient than doing it yourself, right?"

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

- The price.

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

The phantom is burning silently.

"I thought no one would come again.

Godric, the idiot, wanted to rush to 'Him' and buy a little more time.

But he didn't understand it at all.

What can change in a few decades?

Rowena, who pretended to be clever, lost her crown and stole it from her daughter, Helena, the stupid and arrogant stupid woman, but she didn't even have the courage to put it on.

And Helga, whom we all love, is a desperate coward who even decides to forget everything and stay with the school until the end. ”

Salazar said suddenly indignantly.

"They never understood, never figured it out. - The wizard has been cursed since the day he appeared, and we should never have existed.

A bunch of poor creatures with self-disciplined talents.

Wouldn't it be nice to let those people live stupidly and happily!

Accepting them will only hasten the end of the world. ”

He took another large sip of the lilac liquid that had been quietly filled up at some point, and Gawain could only barely guess that it was probably the "appearance" of wine thousands of years ago.

The window had been opened at some point.

Gawain could see the large black lake, shining in the sun.

At this time, the castle was not as spectacular as it would have been.

Actually, it's a bit tattered.

But Salazar kept staring at it.

It's like looking at a rare treasure.

"What you, or indeed us, have, is not love, but curse. Between 'seeing' and 'recognizing', you pay a price.

But until you 'realize' it, you don't even know what the cost is.

Godric loses his prudence, Rowena loses his emotions, and Helga loses himself.

As for me, what I've lost is called trust. ”

Salazar was reduced to the knee down.

"Merlin is a sinner who brought the end of the world into our world, but Arthur is a hero because he at least dares to bear his own sins.

I don't know what he used, but I do know that He is still waiting for the day when the crown will be opened. ”

For some reason, Salazar suddenly brought up Merlin.

Not the Merlin of Merlin.

"Muggle boy, I'll leave you my wealth. Also, our plan failed, but there may be some value in it. ”

He took one last deep look at the castle, and then slowly withdrew his gaze.

"Good luck, boy.

You'll use it. ”

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

But this time, it revolves around Gawain.

It forms a cocoon.

A huge amount of mysterious information poured into Gao Wen's mind, so much that he couldn't digest it for a while, 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 remembered some after all.

- Occult Ritual: The Contract.

and Slytherin's last words.

"Leave my partner alone, it's just a child.

You can't be me, because I know I can't resist temptation. ”

PS: Holkes is the son of Eris, the goddess of discord in Greek mythology, and is the result of the anthropomorphism of oaths and oaths.