Robert took a deep breath.
He had made up his mind.
Plant trees.
Not just a few—he needed to expand his planting on a much larger scale. As long as the quantity was sufficient, even the crops he had planted in the Muggle plantation, which had barely yielded Black Iron-grade reward light spheres, could now be leveraged to stack abilities toward Legendary levels. The magical herbs he had encountered in the Wizarding World were even better, providing higher-tier rewards. With sheer quantity, raising his abilities had become far easier than before.
The only problem was land. Robert frowned, thinking carefully.
For magical herbs, a greenhouse was ideal. Plants matured faster and produced greater rewards there. But securing enough space in a greenhouse for Robert's ambitious plans would be nearly impossible. Every greenhouse was a vital resource for herbologists—their research and funding depended on the herbs grown there. Even if a greenhouse had a few experimental plots free, gathering enough for a mass planting would be challenging, and scattered plots would be a management nightmare. Borrowing land was out of the question.
"No," Robert murmured. "The land must be large, concentrated, and under my full control. Only then can I manage it efficiently and avoid disputes."
A glimmer of realization shone in his eyes.
"I'll reclaim it myself."
He had considered this before, back when he had only a single experimental plot. At that time, his magic was weak, and juggling classes, charms practice, and potion planting kept him constantly busy. Reclaiming land in the wild was far harder than greenhouse planting, with countless interfering factors. If his herbology skills weren't sufficient, half a year's work could vanish overnight. Magical herbs often attracted dangerous creatures, too—and his magic then wasn't strong enough to handle them.
But now, things had changed. Robert was already capable of mass-producing Guardian Trees in the greenhouse and planting higher-level crops. He was no longer a beginner. Resilient Black Iron-grade plants could withstand wild conditions, and ordinary magical creatures no longer intimidated him—he had even defeated an Acromantula single-handedly.
The biggest hurdles—physical labor and resources—were trivial for him. With his stamina, reclaiming a hundred acres without rest posed no problem. Needed resources like fertilizing potions could be obtained through the Ministry of Magic, thanks to a previously signed contract.
Robert paused, genuinely surprised. Without realizing it, he had grown significantly. The conditions for reclaiming and planting land were fully within his reach.
Yet he wasn't rash.
"Aunt should know more about this," he thought. "I'll ask her about precautions first."
At Professor Sprout's office, he explained his plan. She was clearly surprised.
"Robert," she said, "isn't a Little Greenhouse enough for your planting? So many experimental plots—if a mule were to plow the land, it would—"
She paused, imagining Robert working tirelessly. Comparing him to a mule suddenly seemed insulting. Where others complained about work, Robert thrived on it. He was a born herbology workhorse.
Sighing, Professor Sprout shook her head.
"You child. So young, and yet always working. Shouldn't you be enjoying campus life? Playing, falling in love, going on trips?"
Robert's cheek twitched. It felt as if Aunt wanted him to continue the Sprout family legacy immediately. He quickly shook his head.
Professor Sprout's expression softened, then grew serious.
"Reclamation and pioneering aren't something you can do just anywhere. Hogwarts land, even the Forbidden Forest, is strictly regulated. The founders standardized its use centuries ago. Even Dumbledore couldn't simply use a corner of the Forest without scrutiny. Reclaiming land elsewhere without protection risks Muggle interference. Muggles are everywhere—even in remote locations. Satellites, Merlin preserve us, have made secrecy harder. And privately reclaimed land cannot connect to the Floo Network without Ministry approval. You'll need a pioneering permit to secure protection and connectivity."
Robert's eyes flickered. A permit made perfect sense. Conveniently, he could request it along with fertilizing potions. He immediately sent a letter to the Ministry via Hogwarts' owl.
Professor Sprout sighed.
"The Ministry probably won't reply for a few days. Umbridge's death has reporters swarming. Minister Fudge must be overwhelmed. And the Aurors haven't even found out who killed her yet."
A glint passed through Robert's eyes. He had anticipated the complications of killing Umbridge. That was why it had been done in the Forbidden Forest, leaving a suitable scapegoat. If the Ministry investigated, it would be contained, and the Two-Faced Man would naturally prevent interference until Robert obtained the Philosopher's Stone. After the school year, any investigation tied to the Forest would implicate the Two-Faced Man, not him. He relaxed slightly.
Returning to the Little Greenhouse, Robert's face lit up.
A mass of shadow emerged from the dark corners, affectionately rubbing against his leg. Shadow had awoken from its deep slumber, grown from having "eaten too much."
"Shadow?" Robert asked, delighted. "Your shadow magic… has grown?"
The shadow swayed, nodding. Lines of text appeared:
Full.
Grown up.
More strength.
Shadow can carry Father now. Do you want to try?
"Carry me?" Robert asked, stunned.
Eagerly, Shadow formed a vortex on the ground, as if opening a gateway to a shadow world. Previously, Shadow could almost disappear at will but lacked the strength to carry Robert. Now it could.
Cautiously, Robert had Shadow test small objects first. From tables to stones, items disappeared from one shadow and reappeared intact from another. Seeing this, his heart raced. In life-or-death situations, Shadow could now transport him, potentially turning battles around.
Could this be Ancient Shadow Magic?
Breathing deeply, Robert stepped into the shadow vortex. Light vanished instantly, replaced by a tunnel of shadows. Around him, the world was pure shadow magic.
He had observed Shadow countless times before, yet without sufficient Magic Perception, understanding had been limited. Now, immersed in the magic, the mechanics became clear.
Emerging from the vortex, Robert found himself back in the greenhouse. The contrast between pure shadow and a magic-filled environment deepened his understanding. The mysteries of Tollerman Transformation, a major branch of Transfiguration, were now more comprehensible. Observing was nothing compared to experiencing.
Checking his system panel, he noticed his Transfiguration, previously at the Azure grade, had deepened its glow. He smiled fervently—Shadow had become a private tutor beyond any teacher's capability.
"Good Shadow," Robert said. "Do you still have strength? Can you take me again?"
Shadow hesitated.
"Father, you don't have shadow magic. Shuttling repeatedly could harm you."
Feeling residual magic pain from previous shuttles, Robert grinned.
"It's fine. As long as it doesn't kill me, I'll go all out."
Shadow opened the passage again, transporting him repeatedly. Residual shadow magic thickened, eroding his flesh slightly, though negligible to his Legendary Life. The pain, sharper than confinement training, didn't deter him. His gaze stayed fixed on his Transfiguration study.
The azure glow deepened with every pass.
Time flew. Two days passed in a blink, filled with training, growth, and the faint thrill of mastering ancient magic.
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