"I've almost forgotten what sunlight feels like," the gargoyle sighed contentedly. "In the castle, all I ever do is stare at candle flames."
Tom chuckled and patted its head. "If you like it, get some more sun. I'll have Parra come later to wax you properly and give you a full maintenance."
"No!" The gargoyle shook its head vigorously. "How could a lowly house-elf touch my noble body? If anyone's waxing me, it has to be you."
"I don't have time for that," Tom refused immediately, then smoothly changed his tone. "But if you help me with a small favor, I might reluctantly give you a proper polish."
The gargoyle eyed him sideways. "You Slytherins are all full of schemes. Fine, what do you want? I'm just a statue, don't expect miracles."
"It's simple," Tom said with a grin. "You just need to act as a sparring partner for Hermione and the others. You're thick-skinned anyway, getting hit a few times won't hurt."
"If you agree, I guarantee you'll return to Hogwarts shiny and glossy."
Hearing that it was such a trivial matter, the gargoyle relaxed and agreed readily. "No problem. Let those little girls hit me however they want."
"Great. Keep sunbathing, then. I'll go let them know. Oh, and you still have to guard the door at night."
"Old job. No problem at all."
At lunchtime, Tom explained the arrangement with the gargoyle. Daphne and Astoria did not care much, but Hermione was clearly delighted.
Looking at Daphne, who seemed carefree and only interested in eating and having fun, Tom sighed helplessly. "Don't say I didn't warn you. There's still an exam when school starts. No matter how lazy you are, you must study at least half an hour every day."
"What can you even learn in half an hour?" Hermione frowned, feeling Tom's standards for Daphne were far too low.
"For her, it's enough. As long as she doesn't regress."
Tom had never intended for Daphne to become especially strong. As long as she stayed around an average to slightly above-average level, that was enough.
She had already taken so many strengthening potions that they barely worked anymore. Her life essence had been raised significantly. With half, or even less, of the effort others needed, she could keep up just fine.
"Hehe, Tom treats me best," Daphne said smugly, raising her chin at Hermione.
It was so childish that Hermione could only laugh, not get angry.
Still, she felt a bit envious.
Unfortunately, she was not the type who liked acting cute or relying on others. She preferred to be strong on her own.
During the afternoon break, Daphne and the other two went to nap. Tom headed down to the deepest room in the basement.
This was his laboratory, and also the safest, most isolated room in the entire house. Thick iron plates lined the walls, layered with countless protective enchantments. No outside disturbance could reach in, and nothing inside could leak out.
A battered book with a purple cover suddenly appeared in Tom's hands.
Even without opening it, the surrounding space seemed to warp slightly. The book at the center of that distortion radiated a strange allure, causing pain and fascination in equal measure, drawing one toward madness.
This was not just a book.
It was a terrifying magical tome.
Kel'Thuzad's Notes, Volume One.
When Tom drew this book from the legendary lottery the previous night, he had been completely stunned.
The infamous Kel'Thuzad was someone he knew all too well.
In Warcraft, he was second only to the Lich King among liches. Originally a human and a member of the Kirin Tor's Council of Six, he stood near the pinnacle of human mages before being tempted by the first Lich King, Ner'zhul, to transform himself into a lich.
From that moment on, he dedicated himself to wreaking havoc across the world.
His superiors died one after another, yet he remained active.
The Scourge, summoning the Burning Legion, invading the Shadowlands. He was everywhere. A true model worker among villains, active from the level sixty era all the way to the Sanctum of Domination.
Even though this was only the first half of his notes, it fully deserved the status of a legendary reward. If it were the complete version, it would undoubtedly be an even higher tier.
But still…
With that aesthetic, shouldn't the reward have been Medivh's book instead?
He had no interest in unleashing an undead apocalypse.
Yet having drawn it, not studying it would be an unforgivable waste. The notebook had already been completely tamed by the system. All its whispers, temptations, and negative effects were neutralized, which was why Tom dared to open it.
After skimming through it, he realized things were not as bad as he had imagined.
Though called a lich's notes, it also contained Kel'Thuzad's insights and experimental records from his time as a human.
Some were useless in this world. Others could be adapted through magical simulation.
The most useful parts for Tom were Kel'Thuzad's understanding of frost magic, mental magic, and a vast number of biological experiment records.
Compared to Slytherin's rather meager experiments, Kel'Thuzad's documentation was immensely rich.
Originally, Tom planned to study it in the learning space, but the system informed him that the space's level was too low to simulate the mental guidance embedded in the notes. Ironically, studying it in the real world was faster.
That did not trouble Tom. He split off part of his mind into the meditation room to benefit from its bonuses, still boosting efficiency considerably.
While Tom was calmly studying knowledge that could make the world tremble, Lucius Malfoy had returned to his manor.
Ignoring his wife's and son's questions, he went straight into the library to search for information on Horcruxes.
Night fell.
After turning down dinner for the third time and telling Narcissa he would not be coming out, Lucius finally found what he was looking for.
In a notebook written by a Malfoy ancestor in the fifteenth century, he found descriptions of Horcruxes, their functions, and the atrocities committed by one Horcrux creator.
There was no method of creation.
The more he read, the paler Lucius's face became. Sweat dripped down his forehead.
Snap.
Lucius slammed the book shut and collapsed onto the floor.
This time, Tom Riddle had utterly ruined him.
Both of them had.
Completely.
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