Seeing the two of you coming and going, those who have seen my other works should have a sense of déjà vu.

Well, the voice that followed the dash was indeed an "acquaintance" - a spirit behind a thousand years. Anyway, my articles are basically full of cameos, and there are not one or two of them. Well......

At the end of this chapter, there is a little warmth, after all, it is father and daughter. Although Opal didn't really think of Snape as a father......

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Holy Grail 3 (Orthopedic): Heals.

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Illusion Chaos Center

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It seems that there is no end to the starry sky walkway, and every step of the walk will stir up shining ripples like ripples, and then gradually spread and subside.

The starry sky in front of us, and the road that has been walked behind has long since become a road of grass woven by dots of new greenery and blooming with unknown fragrant flowers.

The scene is very beautiful, and the melodious singing voice performed by an unfamiliar language like a phoenix chirping in the ears has an illusory and unreal feeling.

Opal knew he was here again.

[Come out, I know you're there.] ]

After composing himself, the pigeon's blood-red eyes looked around, with a faint unnaturalness and guard.

With Opal's voice, countless mirrors, large and small, suddenly appeared, forming a house of mirrors that belonged to each mirror, and Opar's figure was reflected in each mirror.

Similar but different.

But that's definitely not yourself.

Opal was sure of that, because when she stood in front of one of the largest mirrors, the "self" inside raised a slight eyebrow, revealing a "wicked" smile that she would never have revealed, somewhat similar to Vivien.

Obviously, they have the same silver hair, the same red eyes, the corners of the eyes, the eyebrows, the lip line, the body, the skin of the hands and feet are all different.

But as long as you really take a look, you can completely distinguish the difference between the two.

- So sure? Aren't you afraid that I'll release your pigeon?

[Didn't you come out?] ]

There is no hostility, no fear.

Looking at the image in front of him, Opal found that his emotions were unexpectedly calm.

- Tsk, it's getting harder and harder to fool.

[Drag me here?] ]

Opal didn't believe he had come to this place for no reason.

――It must have been your own inadequacy that your head was stepped on by a troll to poke out the big basket, and I had to run out to help clean up the aftermath. I say, next time, before you act, can you let your action go through your brain instead of your muscles?

Hearing this spicy sarcasm that can be described as "long gone", Opal couldn't help but raise an eyebrow: [Should I say nostalgic?] Your sarcastic tone. ]

――Are you M?

Quite a sharp riposte.

[I don't think you're an S.] ]

A more blood-spitting counterattack.

- Uh-huh, I haven't seen you for a while, but I've grown a little bit. Nurtured by your negligent father?

[No, it's just that seeing you evolves naturally.] ]

There was silence.

Finally, Opal looked in the mirror and smiled at himself in the mirror that was not exactly the same, but meant the same thing.

- Don't run away from your heart anymore? I didn't expect you to figure it out one day.

[He wants me like this, so why don't I keep it like this?] Too many lies will always become "true", and the records in the history books fully prove this. ]

- Really, one or two are so stupid.

[a?] Two? ]

――You don't really think I'm your past, your subconscious, do you?

[So...... What to call it? ]

――そら（sora）。 (Tenyin: Japanese for "empty.") ）

[I assume, can you speak English?] Otherwise, German or Italian will do......]

Although she used to be a Chinese living in Japan, she had been losing her for many years, whether it was Japanese or Chinese, and suddenly heard her sincerely say that the pear was too big......

――No, the person who named me was Japanese.

[May I ask who?] ]

-- Haruaki Abe.

[……]

――What is your expression?

[Just ignore it.] ]

After rubbing his face and breaking his dislocated jaw back, Opal decided to give up consulting about someone's real age.

- Your father is very nervous about you, and he is running out of magic in order to help you sort out your magic, and he is still helping you make potions for sorting out your magic.

There was a faint ripple in the pigeon's blood-red eyes, and then he regained his composure.

- You didn't react at all, you are really ruthless. He's your real father, isn't he? The blood connection can never be erased.

[So, how should I react?] ]

The only thing that can be given to others is friendship, and it is not close to the end.

Her family affection and love are all in the "Tom Marvolo Riddle" who raised her and educated her to grow up.

From the very beginning, it was determined that the most important person was the one who would smile at her gently, the one with whom she fell asleep when she had nightmares, the one who would hold her in his arms and say that he never got bored of it, and the dark-haired man with blue eyes.

It was her choice, and that was what that person needed. Putting it on others will directly distort and degenerate suffocating emotions, but it is really just right between the two of them.

She never denied her selfishness, after all, people's hearts are biased. So at the beginning, she chose to give up exploring her background, even if she knew who her father was, she always kept a short distance. As for his mother, after knowing that "she loves herself", she gave up continuing to investigate.

- Your legacy will begin when you reach the age of 18 in this world, and until then, you can choose to give up by looking for Vivien and exchange something.

[This is...... Advice? ]

- No, just a reminder. But you have something that you have to accomplish, whether you inherit it or not, for sure.

[Reveal so much...... Is it okay? ]

-- The rules of your world can't control me for the time being. In fact, I'm curious too......

[Huh?] ]

-- How far can you and him go?

[？ ]

-- I will also see if fate is really irreversible and inevitable......

The playful expression of himself in the mirror made Opal frown subconsciously.

It was similar but different from the unicorn, like a play on words, the words that seemed to have hints but were so vague that she felt as if she could vaguely grasp something, but the thought was as slippery as a loach in oil and she couldn't grasp it completely.

If...... It would be nice to have a little more hints.

[Just a bystander?] ]

In the end, she could only guess the meaning of the other party's words.

-- That's all I have. Remember, "equivalent exchange" and "material oneness" are the basic laws of this world, and no one can violate them.

[So-called, conditioning?] ]

――If you understand it that way, that's fine. You have to give what you get, and so do your title of "Son of Gaia" and the corresponding abilities. To be wise, don't use the name of Son of Gaia until you have fully inherited it, or you will have to pay too much to afford if you give up the title in the future.

[What does the so-called indiscriminate use mean?] ]

- A declaration or promise made in the name of the goddess of nature, in the name of your real name, in the name of the son of Gaia.

The man in the mirror answered that Opal froze suddenly.

She remembered that she had used the corresponding "name of the goddess of nature" to prevent herself in unicorn form from being spelled by a Norwegian spiness in her first year.

[What happens if I use it?] ]

-- Each time it is used, it represents a commitment to a key event. Even if you choose to give up the title, this commitment will represent something that you will have to do even if you die because of it. Of course, you can also think of it as a coercive conditioning.

[It's really forced to win the lottery, why didn't anyone remind me when I first used it?] ]

- Huh? Didn't I warn you?

After I had already used it inadvertently, and then inexplicably put a forced constraint on my back?!

Looking at the rogue smile with a hint of shame on himself in the mirror, Opal was indignant - although he had the same appearance, why did he feel so itchy and want to smoke someone!

- You see, it's better to know later than not to know, isn't it?

[You're just happy to see it happen, aren't you?!] ]

――Is it being seen?

[……]

Can she beat someone or walk away?

- Okay, okay, it's almost time this time, and I've already reminded you when it's time to remind you. If anything goes wrong, it's none of my business. Before you become an adult, think about the path you want to choose in the future and have fun.

[Alas?] etc. ......]

Before Opal could finish speaking, the mirrors that surrounded her, along with the path under her feet, suddenly disappeared.

The familiar feeling of falling hit him, completely suffocating Opal's voice.

===================== I'm the dividing line =================== switch back to reality

Hogwarts Potions Professor's Office

、！！！

Suddenly opening his eyes, Opal was stunned for a moment before he realized that he had returned to reality, and then he couldn't help but grind his teeth in hatred.

That damn bastard who likes to sell off! Although everything that should be said has been said, what is this kind of practice of mentioning everything and not explaining the cause and effect at all?!

"Awake?"

The cold, silky voice that she had long been familiar with reached Opal's ears, and she finally came to her senses from the slander she had made to someone.

[Professor Snape!] ]

Startled, Opal reflexively tried to get up, but as soon as her body moved, the throbbing pain from her temples and the soreness and tingling of her body's nerve endings caused her to fall back into the black mattress, [hiss......]

It was worse and more miserable than the magical riot in her first school year......

Obviously, he is conscious and can command his body, but both his limbs and his body are unable to move as if they have been imprisoned quickly, so he can only turn his little head - just like this, it is accompanied by a violent throbbing pain in his temples.

But the last magic riot was obviously not so bad......

Thankfully, the gravity clasps on his wrists and ankles had been removed, Opal turned his gaze around and found himself in a cold-toned room of silver, green, and black. Looking at the distinctly Slytherin décor and furniture around her, she could have guessed that she was in the bedroom in Snape's cellar office at the moment.

Oh, she'd rather wake up in the medical wing.

"I'm assuming that your brain, which has been washed away by Gryffindor's recklessness, and a modicum of Slytherin sanity, should know that Dementors are definitely not something a student of your grade can face."

The familiar tone of taunt made Opal secretly relieved - from what she knew about Snape, it meant that he didn't have much anger himself. At this time, as long as you pretend to be well-behaved, you will basically be fine.

After all, she doesn't always survive the Slytherin Serpent King's venom spit, even if her Animagus is a unicorn.

"Drink the medicine."

Snape, who had walked into the room with a low chill, stood by the bed and handed over a cup of potion.

The cup contained a dark blue liquid with silver crumbs moving slowly, and the air was filled with a sweet scent with a fragrance because of the potion.

Opal remembered the potion that Snape had used to regulate the magic in his body and relieve stress when she had a spell in her first school.

Merely......

[…… Professor Snape ......]

Slightly embarrassed, she raised her eyes, and after meeting the obsidian eyes that were staring at her fixedly, Opal immediately looked away, feeling a heat on her face, [...... That, that...... I can't move...... For the time being......]

Damn it, she hated her current powerless situation.

Because of the embarrassment, the magic fluctuations seemed extremely small, and Snape felt that if it weren't for the fact that he was standing nearby, he might not really be able to hear clearly.

Looking at Opal, whose face was about to turn pink because of embarrassment, Snape's heart moved slightly, and finally he bent down slightly and sat on the edge of the bed, pulling Opal into his arms with a stiff but gentle movement, holding her half-circle with one hand and bringing the potions bottle to her mouth with the other.

[……]

Almost half frightened to death by Snape's actions that were not at all like he would do, after repeatedly confirming that the mana fluctuations of the person in front of him had not changed, and that it was not someone who was disguised with a polyjuice potion, Opal stiffened his body and drank all the potions in one breath without knowing the taste, and then ...... Rightfully choked.

After patting Opal on the back to help her breathe, Snape let her lie back down with a cold face, and then took the potions bottle and strode out of the room, with a rather imposing "thud" on the door.

Harm...... Ashamed?

Noticing the red at the base of his ears under his black hair as Snape turned to leave, Opal suddenly felt much better at the depression he had felt from not being able to move. However, when she thought of the words spoken by the "empty" in the dream, she felt a little at a loss.

[…… Father...... Is it? ]

Opal muttered to himself, slowly closing his eyes, [...... I thought it would ...... Why ......]

She never expected to feel the so-called "affection" from anyone other than Riddle, but why...... After only secretly following her for so long, how could you be so close to her?

I really don't know what kind of stab he received...... Well, it can't be because of this magical riot, right?

She didn't see that outside the door, which had been quietly reopened because she had forgotten something, a black figure was frozen there, sensing the murmur of the magic fluctuations in the air.

She...... Got it?!

herself, is her biological father's business?!