Chapter 144: The Living God of the Wizarding World

Late at night, Fleur had just left the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor’s office. Her face was flushed, and she was slightly out of breath as she glanced around cautiously. Seeing no one, she quickly made her way toward the room where Beauxbatons students rested. Fortunately, she had informed Gabrielle beforehand, so it was unlikely anyone would notice her returning so late.

Her mission had failed, and she had suffered considerable losses. Fleur’s emotions were tangled and overwhelming. She had tried her best, yet the love potion had no effect on Kahn whatsoever.

All of this was silently observed by a black cat lurking in the corner. That very night, Filch heard a few meows, which barely registered with him, but the lady in his arms, Lolis, furiously bristled.

After the Christmas Ball, aside from their daily lessons, the students eagerly awaited the second task of the Triwizard Tournament. The magical world lacked much amusement; counting it off, there was wizard’s chess and Quidditch, and beyond that, mostly games for younger witches and wizards. The Triwizard Tournament, a rare and long-anticipated event, held immense allure for them.

Kahn finally found a rare moment of peace. Apart from sending his shadow duplicates to teach classes, he spent the rest of his time immersed in alchemical research or constructing sources of magical power.

Alchemy consumed a vast amount of magical materials, especially high-grade ones. Thus, Kahn entrusted Caitel with a large sum of gold to purchase expensive magical ingredients like mythril, adamantine, unicorn tail hairs, phoenix feathers, and dragon scales.

Unfortunately, the secrets of refining mythril and adamantine were guarded closely by the fairies, who preserved the recipes meticulously. It was said not even the Cruciatus Curse could force them to reveal their craftsmanship. Such materials were tremendously valuable in the wizarding world, and certainly, some Dark Wizards had tried to obtain them illicitly.

Alchemical items held great utility for Kahn. Magical artifacts with self-protective enchantments could be traded if he no longer needed them. Exceptional items often required equally extraordinary objects for exchange; ordinary gold or silver rarely sufficed unless the other party was desperate or naive.

After forging several defensive magical accessories, Kahn ceased further production. His current alchemical prowess only allowed him to create items of this caliber. He resolved to continue only after fully studying Nicolame’s alchemy notes or mastering techniques to craft more potent magical artifacts.

The magical materials could be stockpiled. Compared to plain gold or Galleons, advanced magical components were more valuable to Kahn.

Moreover, Kahn had made significant breakthroughs in constructing sources of magical power. Drawing inspiration from a substance transformation array left within the alchemy system, he successfully simulated the first source of magical power—a magical vortex.

This vortex continuously maintained a swirling state. Although the magic within was fluid, the runes composing the vortex were stable and complementary, rendering the magical swirl remarkably steady.

“Magic or chakra energy,” Kahn mused, “is difficult to observe directly. Artificial intelligence simulations might accelerate understanding quite a bit…”

After some thought, he decided to experiment with various methods of inscribing runes. If none proved superior, he would maintain this method of constructing the magical vortex within his body.

The second task commenced as scheduled, much as Kahn remembered: rescuing a cherished individual from the lake. It tested the champions’ abilities to gather intelligence and adapt quickly. Human instinct fears deep water, and the lake teemed with magical creatures, so pulling someone out demanded considerable courage.

Kahn had missed the first task. For the second, he had no excuse to stay away. After all, Dumbledore invited him back precisely to bolster the Triwizard Tournament’s competitive strength. Avoiding it any longer would be indefensible.

Upon arriving at the venue, the competition was nearly underway.

“Hermione, are you still working on the Felix Felicis potion?” Kahn approached Hermione and inquired, noticing a troubled expression on her face.

“Is something bothering you?” he asked gently.

“…It’s Harry. He hasn’t mastered a single spell. If only he had deciphered the Golden Egg’s secret sooner, he wouldn’t have had to consume that uncertain gillyweed,” Hermione replied, though this was merely a convenient excuse; her true worries lay elsewhere.

Kahn counseled, “Boys during their hormonal surges are like that—without pressure or motivation, they naturally lack drive. Look at it optimistically; Hogwarts still has the best chance of winning.”

“Godfather, I’ve succeeded in brewing the Felix Felicis,” Hermione said, presenting a small vial of potion to Kahn, her expression calm.

Her anger had transformed into determination. After months of attempts since summer, with many failures, she finally brewed a flawless batch a few months ago.

“Hermione, you truly are a genius…”

She muttered softly, “Just a coincidence, Godfather. I might not replicate it next time. This bottle is for you, albeit a very late Christmas gift.”

“Alright, Hermione. Let me share a secret.” Kahn leaned closer, lowering his voice. “There’s a storage cabinet in the Potions classroom holding a secondhand advanced potion-making textbook. It was left by Professor Snape himself. It contains his verified insights into potion improvements and herbal extractions. You should get that book.”

Hermione’s eyes widened with surprise. “Professor Snape’s notes? He abandoned them?”

“Those were from his youth. Even then, Snape’s talent in Potions was unparalleled. While others conformed to the Dark Arts, he innovated and researched.”

Kahn had to admit that Hermione’s aptitude in Potions couldn’t quite match Snape’s, despite the resources Kahn provided. Snape had no wealthy patron backing during his school days, yet he excelled beyond most.

For now, Hermione mastering all known potions was impressive. Innovation and inventing new potions would likely have to wait until her twenties.

Reading the expression on Hermione’s face, Kahn guessed her thoughts and added, “Don’t underestimate Professor Snape. If he hadn’t wasted time as a Death Eater in his youth and devoted himself fully to Potions, few in the wizarding world would surpass him.”

Hermione’s eyes grew even wider. “Snape was that formidable in Potions?”

“Not an exaggeration. If he weren’t so difficult to communicate with, I’d consider having him teach you.”

Hermione quickly shook her head. “No, thank you. Even if he’s powerful, learning under him could backfire. As for the advanced textbook, I’ll look at it later.”

As they spoke, the second task neared its conclusion. Unlike before, Fleur was not eliminated; although late, she was the last to rescue Gabrielle from the lake.

Dumbledore then announced the results: Cedric placed first, Harry second, Viktor third, and Fleur fourth.

After the announcements, the crowd by the lake dispersed. Though none witnessed the underwater scenes, imagination and post-match commentary sufficed to fuel their fantasies.

Once everyone was safe, Hermione suddenly asked, “Godfather, if I were in the lake, how would you rescue me?”

“Waterproof and moisture-repelling enchantments. I’m not fond of getting my clothes wet,” Kahn replied.

Hermione shrugged. “Godfather, those are household charm categories for lakes…”

Kahn smiled. “Hermione, any charm, given sufficient magical energy, can have its power altered—even a simple household spell.”

Pointing at the lake, he calmly caused the surface to part as if pushed by an invisible force, revealing more than ten meters of the lakebed, complete with plants and magical creatures caught off guard.

The story of Moses parting the Red Sea had its origins among wizards before reaching Muggles. With Kahn’s power, parting a lake was still feasible.

“I see, Godfather,” Hermione said, amazed.

As Kahn withdrew his magic, a few lingering students at the lakeside stared in shock. Before they could call their friends back, Kahn and Hermione already departed.

At present, Kahn’s magic was potent but unrefined. Once the magical vortex was fully formed, his power would undergo a transformation, enabling him to wield spells with greater strength.

The title “Magic God” was no fabrication by Kahn but a claim grounded in careful deduction.

...

When constructing the magical vortex, Kahn chose the internal space of his pet pouch. It was spacious, secure, and free from disturbance. He had also taken a small amount of Felix Felicis.

Despite further attempts, he found no method superior to his initial approach, prompting him to abandon further research for the time being.

“After inscribing the runes, send them into the body, then control and stabilize…”

Kahn recalled the construction process carefully, having prepared extensively to avoid mistakes.

He began inscribing ancient runes with his fingers, each stabilizing steadily under his craftsmanship before flicking them into his body. The first hundred runes primarily mobilized his entire magical energy, forming the core of the magical vortex.

Next came the vital phase: ensuring stability and adaptability.

Maintaining the vortex’s balance while allowing spontaneous spellcasting would make magic seamless.

Among the thousands of runes to be inscribed, many represented abilities Kahn only partially understood, lacking complete traditions—a regret, as a more perfect vortex might have been possible.

Time flowed slowly. As the runes entered his body, his magic gradually converged, forming a swirling vortex.

With each successive rune, the vortex’s rotation quickened but grew more stable, with no magic leaking.

When the last ancient rune entered, the massive magical whirlpool instantly steadied. Though still spinning, it was entirely transformed.

“Success…” A faint smile appeared on Kahn’s face. Achieving this on the first try exceeded his expectations, perhaps aided by the clarity granted by the Felix Felicis.

Leaving the pet pouch’s inner space, Kahn sensed the castle’s anti-magic charms. Having cast an instant detection spell enhanced by the magical vortex, his scan of the entire Hogwarts was far stronger than before.

He even detected secret passages and the Room of Requirement on the eighth floor—no longer hidden from his magic.

“What a wondrous sensation. My magic is far stronger. If I used apparition now…”

Kahn felt confident he could effortlessly Apparate out of Hogwarts, a fundamental difference from his prior reliance on runes for spellcasting.

“It’s late. Luckily, Phil is still at Hogwarts, or I’d be stuck with food meant for house-elves.”

Just as Kahn prepared to ask Phil to make him dinner, a knock came at the door.

He waved his hand to open it and was surprised to see Fleur standing there, fresh from the competition.

“I didn’t expect you to come find me. What do you want this time?”

Fleur closed the door behind her and bowed. “I hope Professor Pente will give the Delacroix family one more chance.” Once a proud and elegant young woman, she now restrained her pride and grace before Kahn.

“The Delacroix family’s history, connections, and diplomatic skills in the French magical community far surpass those of the foreign wizards Professor Pente recruited. It’s better to have someone from the Delacroix family liaise with the French Ministry of Magic,” Fleur explained earnestly. She seemed well-prepared this time, speaking more convincingly than ever. The remaining value of the Delacroix family lay in these aspects. If they could raise sufficient funds, they might rebuild within a decade, relying on these factors.

Kahn pondered before shaking his head. “That alone... honestly isn’t enough.”

“And me, Professor Pente.”

Fleur had been psyching herself up for this moment. She stood, revealing her elegant figure and cascading silver hair. She’d noticed earlier that Professor Pente seemed quite fond of her physical charms.

This was understandable; with a quarter Veela blood, she was confident in her beauty.

“I can assist Professor Pente whenever needed... in handling certain matters...” Fleur’s voice was soft but determined.

Kahn considered this. If he agreed to handle things, he would gain Galleons and prestige. No one in the French magical world dared offend them lightly. However, such moves often bred isolation. Yet, accepting the Delacroix family seemed reasonable, and having local allies would simplify matters.

After some reflection, Kahn altered his initial stance. He produced a magical contract, made some amendments, and handed it to Fleur. “Take this to your father. The Delacroix family may retain some assets and receive one last chance. If you seize it, within five years...”

“My father will agree, Professor Pente,” Fleur said eagerly. She knew her family’s situation well; this contract was the best offer possible.

She was also surprised by Kahn’s influence—he produced a magical contract pre-signed by the British Ministry of Magic’s International Trade Association. Once she brought it back and her father had it signed by the French counterpart, the contract would take effect.

Kahn warned, “I hope you don’t make foolish mistakes this time. Tell your father.”

“I understand, Professor Pente.” After saying this, Fleur hesitated, blushing slightly as she lowered the zipper of her garment...

...

Soon, the third task began. The Triwizard Tournament had spanned nearly a year, bringing great excitement to the British wizarding community. However, the credit did not go to Fudge but was stolen by the International Magical Cooperation Department. Fudge remained mired in criticism.

The next Minister of Magic election was imminent, and Cornelius Fudge had no chance of reelection—he simply lacked the capability.

During this period, aside from teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, Kahn focused on alchemy. He began crafting a full set of magical clothing for himself—a challenging endeavor but not beyond his skill.

What truly captivated Kahn was Hogwarts Castle itself. He wandered its halls in his free time, studying every spell and alchemical formula embedded within.

If possible, he hoped to imbue his seaside villa with alchemical enchantments for defense or repelling intruders. Besides that, Kahn spent many nights assisting Fleur in developing her Veela heritage, which flourished under his guidance.

The third task’s venue was ready, having undergone numerous secret inspections by Alastor Moody, who ultimately identified two Death Eater infiltrators.

Malfoy’s two lackeys, Goyle and Crabbe, were caught tampering with the third task’s key—originally a trophy that teleported champions to the award ceremony upon discovery. Their interference redirected the destination.

However, Dumbledore had placed magical marks on the trophy. Moreover, Kahn also left a mark.

He might be leaving for a while tomorrow. If Voldemort truly intended to resurrect during the Triwizard Tournament, Kahn would be there to stop him.

Kahn had long sought a formidable magical opponent. Were Dumbledore thirty years younger, Kahn would eagerly duel him.

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