"I use the 'Twilight Zone' for smuggling!" Only those who have struggled financially uand the true value of money.

  This was the first bold idea that popped into Ian's mind. If he could use the 'Twilight Zone' for smuggling, who better than him to make golden Galleons? Those Aurors, the police of the Muggle world, even if they knew he was a smuggler, would be powerless to chase traband into the 'Twilight Zone'!

  The more he thought about it, the more Iahis was a brilliant idea! Of course, entering the 'Twilight Zone' only once a week wasn't very effit, so he'd probably have to focus on high-value goods.

  Dragon eggs? Western dragon corpses? Or even Gringotts' vaults!

  'Cough cough. That st one was a bit too ambitious and off-track…' Although Ian was tempted by this money-making scheme, he still had enough se to voice it.

  He opened his mouth. Deep down, he khat what the witch referred to as "more impressive things" probably wasn't this. While it seemed like a graure to him, most wizards clearly didn't care about golden Galleons.

  "It's not about bringing things from the outside to hide here... But I also 't take things from here out." Ian frowned, lost in thought again.

  At that moment, the witch spoke. "Alright, my apprentice, you're not strong enough yet. The time you stay here is very limited, and I don't want to keep watg you squatting there like you're holding something in." It was hard to imagine such blunt words ing from a witch of her noble bearing, leaving Ian feeling awkward after being mocked.

  "I was just thinking about what you said, Professor Mara," Ian defended himself.

  "You have plenty of time to think once you return to the real world." The witch gently raised her hand, and a er of the painting on the wall flowed toward Ian like clear water. Instinctively, Ian reached out. The liquid-like metal solidified into a wooden wand in his hand.

  "e on, show me." The witch turned her head toward the kit, and a squealing roasted sug pig flew out— yes, a roasted sug pig, still squealing as if it were alive.

  Ian was stunned.

  "I hope you haven't been sg off." The witch rested her cheek on one hand, zily leaning against the exquisite, shimmering chair. Her meaning was clear.

  Ian immediately uood and pointed his wand at the "living sug pig."

  "[Adventus Timoris]!"

  This magic shared simirities with [Legilimency], though it was much simpler. Its main fun was to awakearget's deepest, most direct fears.

  Everyone's fears are different, but everyone's subscious knows its own fears. Well, probably even a roasted sug pig? As the slightly grayish beam shot out, the seemingly alive roasted sug pig let out a pierg, panicked screech. The sound made the furniture tremble in fear.

  "Not bad." The witch seemed very pleased with Ian's performance, her smile growing more pronounced.

  "All thanks to your teag, Professor." Ian quickly offered some fttery.

  The witch was clearly pleased. "Runes are not simple or easy to uand. For you to learn this magi just seven days is quite exceptional, even in my time." The witch's praise was never reserved.

  Ian appreciated that. "An excellent wizard needs an even more excellent wizard to teach them. I'm very fortuo have met you, Professor Mara." Ian didn't hold ba the pliments.

  From her expressioiced that Professor Mara didn't seem to care much about whether her students were humble or not. After all, "Of course." The witch herself wasn't a humble wizard.

  "The first time I learhis magic, it only took me two days. I knew I was destio bee a powerful wizard, and ihat's how it turned out." The witch proudly shared her story.

  "..." Ian opened his mouth but hesitated to speak. However, the witch didn't notice. "In the information I left for you, I used some small tricks. The fact that you were able to learn this magic means you've at least mastered the application of Runes."

  "This will save you a lot of trouble in your future studies." With another wave of her hand, the squealing roasted sug pig lost its liveliness, returning to its fragrant state, and flew back toward the kit.

  Ian couldn't help but marvel at the sight.

  "pared to learning magic, truly uanding the knowledge behind it is the most important thing. And Runes are the best key to helping wizards grasp the essenagic." She paused for a moment before adding, "At least, that's how it is in my view."

  She still didn't speak with absolute certainty. Perhaps only when it came to learning knowledge did this witch show a rare hint of humility.

  "Alright, I'll remember that." Ian nodded seriously for once.

  "Regarding potions, I o do some studying first. Before that, what you o do is..." The witch was about to begin her formal teag for Ian this time.

  Suddenly, a cacophoed outside the castle.

  "Huh?" Ian was startled. He quickly looked at the witch, only to see her expression shift from a smile to one of fury, as if she had just returned from a lecture under Snape.

  Ian was about to cautiously ask what was happening, but the otion outside made him realize.

  "Pandero, is Ian really here?"

  "Ariana! Trust me! Ian must have been captured by this evil woman!"

  "I don't think the dy is bad, but her armor is really scary!"

  "Don't be afraid; these things are nothing. Watch me skewer three... no, four at once!"

  "Amazing! You're s!"

  "Ha ha ha ha, the gate is right ahead! One kid it'll split into over seven hundred pieces. I tried it st time."

  ...

  The voices beloo friends Ian knew well. It andero, the lively friend from Ian's memories. The st ent made the witch, Mara, lose her posure. She cursed and waved her hand, causing the gates to swing open automatically.

  Ian quickly looked over.

  "Ah, the gate's open? What a shame, little girl, you won't get to see my heroic stance."

  Sure enough, a boy dressed in simple burp clothes, leading a pale-faced girl, strode in with fide was the overbearing Pandero and the timid Ariana.

  Seeing these two, Ian was both surprised and stunned.

  The witch's rea, however, was the plete opposite.

  "Damn butcher! You think I'm afraid of you?" The witch roared.

  But Ian couldn't help but feel that this roar... cked a bit of vi.

  (End of Chapter)

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