Mark of The Devil

Now, the achievement has been cleared, the gold Galleons have been earned, and two magical animals have been captured.

But what should be done with these three wizards and the Murtlaps?

The Imperius Curse cannot last forever. To maintain control for a long time, it must be reapplied at intervals. Otherwise, when the magic fades, they will regain consciousness.

Ethan would be leaving for Hogwarts in a month, and he certainly didn't want to take them—or the Murtlaps —with him.

Should he kill them?

Perhaps it would be better to see their reactions once they wake up.

But first, their wands and magical items must be confiscated.

With a wave of his hand, Ethan lifted the Imperius Curse from them.

The moment they awoke, they were momentarily confused. But as soon as they saw Ethan, they recoiled in terror, as if they were facing a ghost.

Before Ethan could speak, Dennis and the other two wizards knelt down in unison, pleading for mercy.

Their memories of being under the Imperius Curse were intact. The ease with which Ethan had used the curse to control them, and the effortless, wandless way he had killed Kipling—it was beyond their wildest fears. And yet, it had all been done by a young wizard.

Later, he even tamed the Lethifold and the Swooping Evil. How could they possibly stand against that?

Even if they wanted to fight back, they would need their wands, which had already been confiscated. So, in desperation, they knelt and begged for their lives. Revenge for humiliation? Everyone there was a dark wizard—such notions were too naive.

"In that case, you'll follow me from now on!" Ethan decided after some thought.

Having subordinates could be an advantage, even though he knew they wouldn't truly be loyal. They would most likely flee the moment they found an opportunity.

"Yes, we are willing! From now on, my lord, we are your loyal servants," Dennis and the others groveled, crawling toward Ethan, ready to kiss his shoes to demonstrate their complete submission.

They even introduced themselves: Dennis Garr, Berkeley Andrew, and Don Jeff. Their magical abilities were average—just a little better than typical adult wizards. They knew the three Unforgivable Curses, though they were only proficient in the Killing Curse. Their knowledge of dark magic was limited, and they were familiar with standard spells.

Contrary to Ethan's expectations, Dennis and the others didn't see following him as a bad deal. Though young, Ethan was powerful.

In this post-Voldemort, aging-Dumbledore era, Ethan seemed like a legend in the making. And it wouldn't be long before his name became known. Following such a wizard might even earn them a place in the history of magic.

Ethan, for his part, didn't reject their submission.

Just then, he heard the system sound.

[Foundation]

"Even the smallest grains of sand can build a tower. You've taken your first step and are no longer fighting alone."

Achievement goal: Acquire a subordinate (1/1)

Achievement reward: Magic: Mark of the Devil

This was the first time Ethan had received a specific magic reward instead of a random one.

As he absorbed the information, he understood what this new magic was.

Mark of the Devil was an auxiliary spell. It allowed Ethan to plant a magical mark on a target that couldn't be erased. The marks were interconnected, allowing Ethan to sense the location of those marked and summon them when needed. It was similar to Voldemort's Dark Mark.

"Raise your head," Ethan ordered.

"Yes!" Dennis responded promptly, but the moment he looked up, he froze. Ethan's long wand was pointed directly at him.

He's going to kill me, Dennis thought at first, but he quickly dismissed the idea. If Ethan wanted him dead, he wouldn't need a wand to do it.

Before he could fully comprehend what was happening, a cold magic flowed into his body through his forehead, eventually settling in his chest.

Ethan repeated the process with the other two.

"This spell is called the Mark of the Henchmen. No matter where you are, I'll be able to find you and guide you back to me."

After explaining the spell, Ethan silenced their vows of loyalty.

"Stop calling me 'Master.' Just call me 'Boss,'" he interrupted. The title "Master" was too reminiscent of Voldemort, and Ethan's new spell was too much like the Dark Mark already.

Ethan then asked about their future plans and how they intended to handle their poaching organization. Accepting them as subordinates meant assigning them tasks, not cleaning up their messes. If their organization started to recover and investigate, it would be troublesome, though Ethan wasn't worried.

The three of them had already planned their next move. They would pin everything on Kipling, claiming he had run off with the magical creatures and gold Galleons while they were out looking for buyers. With the organization out of contact, and problems arising not only in Britain but also elsewhere, it was impossible to deal with the situation properly. They figured it would just fade away.

They asked if Ethan wanted them to leave the organization, but he declined. There was still nearly a month before school started, and he had no tasks for them at the moment. It was better for them to stay within the organization—they might be useful later.

After everything was settled, Ethan handed them over 230 gold Galleons, keeping the remaining 3,500 for himself as spoils. He left them with the Mortra rats and the box with the Undetectable Extension Charm, though he took an empty spare box for himself. Its space was smaller, but sufficient for his needs.

By the time he stepped out of the two-story house, night had fallen.

Ethan activated Shadow Stealth, quickly moving through the shadows. In just 20 or 30 seconds, he had left Knockturn Alley and found an empty corner in Diagon Alley, where he dispelled the magic.

When he emerged from the Leaky Cauldron, the driver who had been waiting outside looked anxious. Ethan had said he would only be gone for two or three hours, but more than five had passed since he went in.