Ancient Wizards Return to Hogwarts...

Chapter 239 Rice: Rowena asked for it (Bonus Chapter)

"I approve of your plan. Remember to find a way to involve Granger in this." Ravenclaw reminded Rice to make sure Hermione gets a trial.

After some discussion, Rice and Rowena arranged the students' final exams.

"But why did you involve Potter? Because he defeated Voldemort?"

Ravenclaw was quite curious about the unfamiliar name in the Rice Project: why bring in someone who seemed insignificant?

"Increase the difficulty of Daphne's exam, otherwise the three of them could have easily passed it."

Rice's words made Ravenclaw laugh.

However, what he said was true. The twisted spirit in Riddle's diary might have a strong desire to attack, but its true strength was another matter. In a one-on-one fight, it might not be able to do anything to Daphne, let alone with Astoria and Hermione Granger involved. Rhys didn't think the little witch who had been taught by Ravenclaw for half a year would be a bookish nerd who only knew theory.

Since the diary wasn't causing the trio much trouble, he decided to artificially increase their workload, giving them some extra pressure. A mature wizard should know how to protect his novice companions.

And this was also a small personal motive of Rice's. He believed that Gryffindor should at least have someone share in the benefits. Harry was a good candidate, and Rice believed that if Godric were there, he would choose Harry as well.

After the two reached an agreement, it was Rice's turn to execute the plan.

Without further hesitation, he decided to set off immediately.

However, Ravenclaw asked him to wait a moment, and then she brought over a crystal ball the size of a pigeon's egg.

"Please take this with you; I'd also like to see how Granger performs."

Rice understood Ravenclaw's meaning—she wanted to watch the live stream. He briefly examined the crystal ball to make sure his old friend hadn't left any strange backdoors on it, then put it in his pocket.

Where is the trust between people?

"Reflect on what you did to me and Godric before," Rice retorted bluntly. Ravenclaw's treatment of him today was entirely deserved.

"I remember sending someone in for you before, why didn't I see her?" Before leaving, Rice suddenly remembered the cultist he had captured.

She hasn't shown up at all during these visits to Ravenclaw; she couldn't have run away, could she? And what about Helena?

"Helena wanted to explore the seal, so I let her. As for that experimental subject..." Ravenclaw's expression was slightly embarrassed: "It broke down after I did a few experiments with it. Did you need to see her?"

Rice shook his head; he was just asking. Having been captured for so long, Virgo had completely lost her usefulness. Even if she were released back into the Secret Order, the monks wouldn't accept her again.

But what does it mean that it broke? Is Ravenclaw's experiment still as wild as ever?

"Be careful not to cause any trouble. Don't forget you're inside the seal right now," Rice warned Ravenclaw, lest she do something too outrageous.

"I know," Ravenclaw waved his hand.

She felt that Salazar should understand her; if there really was an interesting experiment in front of her, how could she possibly resist?

Rice understood, so he returned the crystal ball to Ravenclaw.

Ravenclaw: ?

"Royna, use my crystal ball, it works just as well." Rice took out a crystal ball he had made himself from his bag. Functionally, it was exactly the same as Ravenclaw's, the difference being that his crystal ball was absolutely reliable.

Ravenclaw: ?!

After leaving the dungeon, Rice headed straight for the Forbidden Forest to begin further planning and preparation.

With spring in full bloom, the Forbidden Forest is teeming with life, a vibrant tapestry of all things thriving.

With Riddle's diary in hand, Rice ventured deep into the Forbidden Forest and soon arrived at the place where he had encountered the eight-eyed giant spider, guided by his memory. The spider's corpse had long since been devoured by the beasts of the Forbidden Forest, leaving not a trace.

Susu!

Hundreds of snakes slid down from Rice's sleeve and scattered. Rice sat under the tree, quietly waiting for the snakes' response.

Soon, his snake helped him find the eight-eyed giant spider.

Swish, swish!

Click, click!

A wild boar was running through the dense forest, seemingly trying to escape some terrifying predator, while a strange "clicking" sound came from behind it as it got closer and closer.

A flicker of fear crossed the wild boar's eyes: it had just witnessed its kin being captured by a strange, giant spider. It knew all too well that if it couldn't escape faster, it would suffer the same fate.

A loud bang suddenly rang out from the woods behind the wild boar, and the clicking sound, which sounded like a death knell, immediately disappeared.

The wild boar had no idea what was happening; it simply sped up and ran deeper into the forbidden forest.

"Why does it seem like every time I see a giant eight-eyed spider, it's catching wild boars?" Rice looked at the dying spider, which was as big as a draft horse, and couldn't help but feel puzzled.

Within a radius of several dozen meters, there were four dying eight-eyed giant spiders, two of which still had wild boars they had just caught in their large claws.

After a moment's thought, Rice concluded that this was related to the wild boar's powerful reproductive ability. This creature could reproduce but lacked magic, relying solely on physical means for self-defense, naturally making it a favorite meal for carnivorous magical animals.

No longer agonizing over the recipe for the eight-eyed giant spider, Rice tossed the Riddle Diary from his arms onto the spider's corpse.

The fresh blood and the soon-to-dissipate soul stirred the Riddle Diary, which greedily absorbed the last remaining life force within the giant spider's body, and through this means, it restored its strength at an astonishing speed.

"Killing is still the fastest way." Rice sighed from the bottom of his heart as he felt the changes in Riddle's diary.

Riddle had spent months painstakingly extracting enough power from Ginny to materialize it, and now he had achieved the same result in just a few minutes.

That makes sense, considering it involves several lives.

Seeing the diary in his hand becoming increasingly restless, Rice released a wisp of his magic in a show of defiance, and the diary immediately calmed down. Although the monster in the diary had lost its mind, its survival instinct remained, so it was immediately subdued by Rice's fright.

Rice continued to wander in the area and soon discovered another giant spider.

This time, instead of killing, he threw the diary onto the spider's back.

The notebook seemed to be coated with superglue, firmly stuck to the spider's back, disappearing into the dense forest along with it.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Update here!!!

I still owe one more chapter; let me pay it back slowly.

Updates will be regular on Thursdays, just a little later. Check back in the morning!

(End of this chapter)