Over the next two days, Severus managed to explore almost the entire Forbidden Forest, thanks to the kitten. The little one's presence frightened off all monsters. Even the blockheaded trolls and wild goblins didn't dare come near while he sat on the boar's head.
As for the goblins, they were small, ugly green creatures from his world. He happened to notice them when they were about to attack. Because of the spike on the boar's back, the monsters failed to recognize the true terror of the entire Forbidden Forest. They paid for this. As soon as they ventured into the light, one swipe of the kitten's paw was enough to send their heads flying off their shoulders.
Having recognized these creatures, Severus wasn't very surprised. After sorting through his memories, he finally discovered where that feeling came from. It was entirely his own. In his past life, he had fought a battle mage from the small guild 'Grumel' when he was still a beginner-rank Magister and wanted to test his strength. It was no surprise that he didn't remember that moment particularly well. The opponent hadn't lasted even ten seconds, and he hadn't paid much attention to his movements. Even now, they seemed too raw to him. Still, this moment had lodged in his mind but was buried in the deepest recesses of his memory, so he couldn't recall it.
His movements were very similar to those depicted on the walls; in fact, they were identical, though on a lower level. The way magic circulated through his body when striking was also very different. Only after examining the drawings a second time did Severus realize that the grey coloring sometimes used to paint the human figures represented magic. It was only then that he understood how wrong he had been to consider those movements on the walls mediocre. Everything was quite the opposite. If an Archmage who wielded water magic used them, he would become invincible at that rank. Proper use of these techniques allowed the casting of terrifying spells. This also served as further confirmation that this world and the one he came from were somehow connected.
Beyond that, Severus remembered another legend. The Grumel Guild was founded by the Creator Farrello Grumel, or as he was called in historical books, the Water Deity. He was also one of the mages who fought against the Devils. This sent a jolt through Severus's mind, fueling a terrible suspicion to which many clues pointed. Could that very surviving Creator, during the battle against the Devil Lord, have moved to this world and sealed that very monster along with its servants here?
Still, he rejected the latter thought. If he were sealed here, he would have escaped long ago. That barrier was not capable of containing a creature that could fight on equal terms with five Creators.
After some thought, he decided to set the issue aside for now, until he reached Archmage rank and returned to the Magic Jungles. But the idea that somewhere on Earth a true Creator might be hiding or lying dormant haunted him. Who in their right mind would refuse an artifact from such a powerful being? What he really wanted, though, was a Creator-rank core. With it, achieving Grand Archmage level no longer seemed impossible. Even though over thousands of years it might have expended most of its magic and was of the opposite element to his own, the core could still be of great help.
As for those techniques, he was unlikely to use them. They were effective only for wizards with a strong water affinity and could only harm him. But just in case, Severus memorized them, then completely erased any mention of them from the cave.
Of course, this wasn't the only strange place the kitten showed him. Besides Monsters' Paradise, there were several more: a small village razed to the ground, easily a couple thousand years old, now inhabited by goblins; a building resembling a palace deep underground, with only the roof visible from above, through which they entered. There was nothing valuable there, most likely because it had already been plundered, and some floors were completely filled with earth. There were also several more destroyed structures where monsters lived, one of which was home to centaurs, with whom Severus didn't particularly want to talk. Besides them, the little one also showed him lairs of various monsters, from those same Acromantulas and bees to trolls and pixies.
One piece of good news was finding the White Lotus, which grew beside a small pond in the western part of the Magical Forest, as well as some other rare ingredients that Severus didn't mind taking with him.
It was already two in the morning when he appeared on the doorstep of his home. He was accompanied by eight boars, six of which were only slightly larger than the kitten. The kitten, after their two days of traveling together, had grown to trust him more and decided to go with him. Of course, the fish had played a big role. Ever since then, the little beast couldn't stand raw food at all anymore.
As for the pigs, one was the boar that had carried him all this time, as well as his mate and offspring. Severus simply couldn't leave them alone in the forest, and he didn't mind.
A few seconds later, a nervous house-elf appeared before him, the one who had previously served the Lestranges.
"Look after them for now, and tell all the beasts not to eat them," Severus ordered. He looked at him, then turned to the magical creatures. "You will live here until tomorrow. When I return from school, I'll show you where you can settle. Don't enter the gazebo," he added sternly, pointing at it.
"Oink! Oink-oink!" The pig nodded quickly, then turned to his family and began explaining everything to them.
Severus yawned wearily and looked at the kitten, who, like the piglets, studied the surroundings with curiosity.
"And prepare some fish for him." Hearing this magic word, the little beast's ears twitched. He immediately directed his gaze at the house-elf, who became a bit embarrassed at the sight of the little one's burning eyes.
"M-master."
"Mm?"
"U-unknown intruders attempted to breach Master's estate and demanded entry. They appeared quite menacing. W-when I told them Master wasn't home, they grew threatening, insisting I let them inside since they were certain Master was h-home. I d-did as Master ordered in such situations. I let them in and o-ordered the guard beasts to c-catch them."
"Get to the point," Severus muttered with a weary sigh. Retraining them was proving exhausting.
"Y-yes," the elf nodded eagerly. "S-sorry. Forty of the sixty-three are dead. They swallowed poison. The r-rest were captured and l-left in separate cells. The poison was removed from their m-mouths. Five w-wolves are dead."
"Is that so? I see. You did the right thing. Well done," Severus said with a smile. But inside, his irritation grew. Though he knew someone had penetrated his territory, the fact that they used poison and even managed to take five wolves at once made it clear that professionals were operating. This meant that once again, someone was targeting him and not letting him deal with his business peacefully. "Fine. I'll sleep tomorrow."
He teleported to his room and carefully removed Nagini from his neck. He laid her on the bed, then tenderly stroked the snoring snake's head. He went back outside to the others.
"Nelly."
"What can I do for Master?" The house-elf materialized next to him, frightening the other house-elf, who hadn't noticed she had been there all this time. But at the same time, he felt a surge of fierce excitement; someday he might become just as strong and confident as his senior colleague.
"Here's fish for you. Also, warn the beasts not to touch the boars."
"Oink."
"Mrrrow." The kitten purred contentedly, fixing his gaze on the other house-elf.
"And you'll come with me and tell me more about what happened." Severus gently patted the startled elf's head and entered the house. The magical creature looked after him with mild surprise, stroking his own head. Still, he wasn't used to such sudden kindness. In all his years serving at the Lestrange estate, he had never once been praised, only constantly beaten and humiliated. Here, he was truly treated like a normal servant, not even insulted, let alone having a hand raised against him. For him, this place had become a true paradise. More than anything, he didn't want to go back to his former masters.
"Go. Don't make Master wait." The female house-elf said sternly, pushing him forward and snapping her colleague out of his thoughts.
"Y-yes! I beg your pardon!" the male house-elf babbled quickly, nodding to her. In an instant, he Apparated to Severus and followed after him. He looked with admiration at his master's broad back and silently vowed to become the best servant and not disappoint his kind Master.
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Chapters on Patreon progress: Currently at;
1. Harry Potter: Satan? Nah, Just My Family Crest = CHAPTER 259
2.Marvel: Cosmic Forger of Infinity = CHAPTER 181
3.Harry Potter: Beyond Good and Evil in the Wizarding World = CHAPTER 260
4.Harry Potter: Reborn as Draco Black = CHAPTER 108
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