Chapter 93: Idealists

The poker game ultimately didn't happen.

Serika fled the scene again.

"You're so good at running, why not change your name from Serika to Sprinter?"

When Murphy returned to the Magical Research Institute, he felt as if a long time had passed, like suddenly traveling from the last century to the modern era.

The village trip left him physically and mentally exhausted. After both Serika and Murphy took a disinfecting bath and arranged for a team to disinfect the village again, Murphy fell asleep in his isolation ward.

He slept deeply, in a haze where he seemed to see many pairs of eyes.

Hanging in the distant night sky, eyes of various colors, each showing different expressions - pity, anger, laughter, or madness.

These eyes were motionless, staring at him.

Spanning endless distances, as if traversing eons, their gaze was ancient and eternal, focused and patient.

Murphy woke up in a cold sweat.

Upon waking, he found himself clutching an unidentified creature's fur.

"What is this thing?"

After removing it from its base, the fur seemed to lose its magic and became indistinguishable from ordinary fur.

Murphy decided to let the institute's scientists study it first.

After several days of isolation to ensure neither he nor Serika were at risk of spreading the plague, they were released.

Serika had mostly recovered after thorough medical checks and just needed some rest to fully recover.

As for Murphy, since he had immunity before entering the village, he never contracted the plague and was full of energy after a few days of rest. But he felt restless from not being able to go out, aside from occasionally watching TV or reading.

A few days later, the disinfection team also returned from the village. Led by Alex, the team of over a dozen experts and several domesticated sprites conducted a week-long repeated disinfection, ensuring the village was plague-free.

They also brought back several frozen ash snake eggs. According to them, the village was littered with these, but most had hatched and burned up again.

Once it was confirmed that the village was safe, Murphy was relieved. The magical forest surrounding the village would ensure no one accidentally wandered in for a long time. Even if some traces of the plague bacteria remained, it would be hard to spread.

For now, he didn't have to worry about a biological crisis.

Once the isolation was over, Murphy eagerly dove back into work.

He first visited the domesticated sprites to see how they had adapted to their new roles in the institute, performing tasks like cleaning and cooking, and helping researchers. With the help of magic, they performed very well and, due to the researchers' curiosity and kindness, felt a level of care they had never experienced in the wizarding world.

Aside from the sorrow of being dismissed by their previous owners, they were generally happy.

Murphy also met Dobby, the only domesticated sprite with a true owner and thus respected by the others.

However, Murphy immediately fired him, telling him to negotiate his salary with Laura.

There was no need for such formalities with a domesticated sprite.

With the sprites' help, the muggle staff was no longer needed. For confidentiality, they would all be dismissed.

However, about a dozen people wanted to stay, even refusing substantial severance packages.

"They are very eager to stay, some even said they would work without pay," Laura said.

"Oh?" Murphy was surprised, "Why?"

"Because without this place, they won't see magic anymore."

Murphy met with these people.

They might not be essential, but there were still tasks they could do, like managing the domesticated sprites.

The sprites were loyal and efficient but too rigid. Without someone to coordinate, it would be troublesome. With these workers, they could plan and organize the sprites' work more efficiently.

After using Legilimency to weed out a few opportunists, Murphy kept nine people.

"I hope you understand what staying here means," Murphy said. "The research here might not be publicly disclosed for a long time. Staying here means being cut off from the world, and when you have to leave, you might still undergo an Obliviate spell, erasing these years from your life."

"The longer you stay, the more of your life you'll lose."

"Even so, do you still want to stay?"

All nine nodded silently.

"Why?"

They looked at each other. Finally, a middle-aged man who used to manage housing stepped forward, "I'm Shane Danton, a common man. My life has been utterly ordinary. I've managed hotels my whole life, raised two kids, but beyond that, I don't know what my life means. Until I came here, I saw magic. I feel lucky. I've witnessed miracles. I don't want to go back to not knowing about them."

A female chef added, "I feel like I'm part of something great."

Others said, "Seeing magic makes me happy."

Murphy listened to their reasons, "I understand your feelings."

"Magic is indeed miraculous, as you described, like a miracle in the dull reality."

"I understand the feeling of being called, as if witnessing or participating in something great."

He recalled the dream he had in the village.

What's the difference between him and these muggles? He's just luckier to be able to use magic.

But that's what sustains his existence.

Having this seemingly omnipotent power, he felt he might find his true self.

"I'd like to say that this is all an illusion," Murphy said. "You are ordinary. You don't have the qualities to use magic, and your intelligence and knowledge probably won't help much in magic research. So, participating in something great, or touching magic, might just be wishful thinking."

The workers were disheartened. Their replaceability was the reason for their dismissal.

"But, how should I put it? I admire your courage."

"Pursuing an unreachable dream is unwise. Many may think you're foolish. Maybe one day, you'll think the same. But who isn't living in an illusion they've built?"

"In that sense, I'm not much smarter than you."

"Life is but a dream, and all we can do is revel in it."

Murphy said and shook hands with Shane Danton, "So, I personally welcome you to stay. Idealists."

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