Chapter 42 The Power of Ignorance
"I'm very proficient with the Illumination Charm now. If I make it into a card, will its proficiency be blank, or will it be based on my actual level of proficiency?" Basil asked hastily.
He was beginning to feel grateful for this system, this sprite-like, youthful version of Riddle.
Without it, to find out the answer, Basil would have to spend 100 gems to make one now.
Then, without using a wand, [Wand Appearance Component], or using 'Magic Power' and Magic Power simultaneously, and only using the [Spellbook], he would compare the spell's power.
Because the card didn't display proficiency.
The standard feature for system-based protagonists—a data bar showing the subtle progress of hard work and training—
was absent in him.
Riddle pondered for a moment. "My lord, the essence of creating a card is to photograph the spell you cast and inscribe it in the [Spellbook]."
"Later, this might cause imbalance due to the habit of 'walking.'"
"But initially, the two are equivalent."
Basil suddenly realized. "So, if I really create a spell card [Illumination Charm], it will inherit my proficiency in that spell."
Riddle smiled: "Yes. If your mastery of the spell itself surpasses that of the spell card, you can update the data by 'photographing' it again."
Basil narrowed his eyes. "I have another question. You just said that you hone your intention and form to perfection, which will make the spell 'come alive' and be engraved in your heart. But from what I've observed, almost no one strives for this."
"Even the most meticulous Hermione is only extremely serious about the form."
"Even Dumbledore. From what I know from watching the movies, it's hard to imagine him as the kind of wizard you're describing—one who's completely absorbed in magic, without a single distraction. He wouldn't emphasize the precision of technique and the appropriateness of intention like Professor Flitwick. In short, he doesn't seem like someone that magic can change."
Riddle raised an eyebrow. "It's hard to imagine that a college dropout could have such keen observation skills."
"This is the smooth path for a true wizard to grow."
"The path of the 'intelligent' people of Ravenclaw to learn magic."
"This behavior is called madness, nerdhood, by other houses."
"Like other houses. The weak among them are mostly infected by the black and white magic that is very 'alive,' coming to life as soon as it is cast."
"But the truly strong ones, like Dumbledore."
"rely on their unshakable ego."
"Change magic through self. Not by giving spells 'souls' and letting them change them. But by unfounded confidence, making ordinary spells extraordinary."
"Like your friends, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. They hardly care about theory. They just believe that when they recite a spell, a spell, a magical phenomenon will occur."
"Sometimes, ignorance is also a kind of power."
"Like Dumbledore, who believed that love could change everything. His magic truly possessed unparalleled power."
At this point, Riddle gagged.
"Do you have any more questions?"
"If not, I'm going to go back to my room to chat with my other self."
"This feeling is really strange."
Basil shook his head.
That room refers to the interior of the statue, the room that originally contained bookshelves filled with Slytherin's treasured books and documents.
The other "him" Riddle mentioned was the original Horcrux, the diary.
Even with the diary hidden in this secret room, Basil was still a little uneasy.
After all, there was still a Voldemort's main body possessing Quirrell.
Although he probably wouldn't tell such a private place to someone he considered less than a servant,
what if?
What if he suddenly decided to revisit the place and discovered his Horcrux here?
Dumbledore would have to deal with two Voldemors at once.
The plot would completely fall apart.
Basil hoped for a plot twist so he could earn more gems.
But not something so bad.
Therefore, he innovatively invented using Voldemort to guard Voldemort.
Before entering the statue, Riddle reminded him, "My lord, I suggest you don't move these pieces of furniture back to their original positions."
"Although I'd be happy if Dumbledore sensed the magical magnetic field of my younger self and was terrified,"
"you don't seem to want that."
"
"Basil, I found it!"
"I found out what a Grand Wizard is!"
"It's called 'The Grand Wizard of the 20th Century,' I found it in the library! A Grand Wizard is short for a Great Wizard. Any wizard who has made outstanding contributions can be called a Grand Wizard!"
"Luckily you're here!" Basil let out a sigh of relief.
He had almost instinctively tried to put the broken desks and chairs back into the empty classroom.
So this is what it means to be a "transmigrator" who knows everything and has everything under control?
Why wasn't he like that?
He was no different from his past self when he had dropped out and given up on life—careless and forgetful.
Suddenly, another thought struck him.
"If that's the case… then Dumbledore must already know about me constantly destroying desks and chairs."
Riddle didn't say anything.
But his silence was clearly an admission.
Basil collapsed onto the bed, feeling disappointed.
So this was how he ended up catching that old bastard's attention.
Other transmigrators either got noticed while looking into the Mirror of Erised with Harry, or by sneaking into restricted areas and facing Voldemort for the first time.
But him? He got noticed just for causing damage.
"Why didn't you remind me earlier?" Basil subconsciously shifted the blame.
"Is there a possibility that I didn't exist yet and hadn't been created by you?" Riddle reminded him softly. "Besides, you were probably already on his radar. From what I know about Dumbledore, the moment you stole Harry Potter's spotlight and killed Fenrir, you were already on his list."
"Alright…" Basil gave a dry laugh.
How could he forget the moment during sorting when he felt someone staring at him intensely?
In the end, the desks and chairs from the empty classroom were erased by Riddle with a Vanishing Spell.
They were completely removed from this beautiful world.
The lesson ended there.
Basil had originally wanted to learn the Killing Curse.
Although he could also learn it through the "Fenrir Wolf" echo ability…
But one teacher was Voldemort, and the other was the echo formed from Voldemort's hunting dog.
Even a troll would know which one to choose.
Anyway, Hermione suddenly rushing into the dormitory interrupted Basil's connection with Riddle.
She was out of breath from running, her face flushed red, and her two prominent front teeth—paired with her delicate features—made her look especially cute.
---
Basil had a headache! A huge headache!
What kind of Grand Wizard is this?!
He suppressed his urge to complain and patiently explained, "The great wizard in this book might be different from what I'm talking about."
"I saw it in my great-great-great-grandfather's notes. About six hundred years ago."
"Back then, he met a wizard completely different from other wizards, one who truly had magic flowing within him. He called him the great wizard. That wizard explained that the magic flowing within him was born from a concept of nothingness, transformed into reality through belief, will, and intense desire."
Hermione paused for a moment before saying, "I'm not saying I don't believe your ancestors."
"Magic is evolving. Just like in the Middle Ages we believed in geocentrism. Now everyone knows heliocentrism is correct."
"In the past, everyone believed in magic. But now, the textbook of the world's best magic schools—'The Theory of Magic'—states that magic doesn't exist."
"Our special abilities all originate from magical magnetic fields."
"So, could it be that your ancestors were mistaken? After all, 'The Theory of Magic' also says: [You can sense it, and you can make others perceive it, but it doesn't actually exist]."
Basil was speechless.
"I deduce that you are not lacking in intelligence, but unfortunately, you are too narrow-minded, short-sighted, and closed-minded."
He didn't know who said this.
Having never read the novel, he only knew it was an assessment of Hermione.
Before, he thought it was just some Hermione-bashing nonsense.
But now—it's fucking accurate!
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(End of Chapter)