The mastermind behind Hogwarts

Chapter 99 The Adorable Elf Head

"The Matrix?" A flash of lightning struck Moriarty's mind, like a light in complete darkness, appearing and disappearing swiftly, leaving behind a fleeting brilliance.

Moriarty's thoughts seemed to be carried to the horizon by the colorful lights, or as if all his memories had been stirred up.

He saw a rectangular array of numbers, abstract symbols, and magical runes that he had seen and learned before flying into the array and corresponding one by one, forming an n×n square.

He observed that each element in the square appeared only once in the same row or column, yet it formed a three-dimensional prototype.

When he infused the three-dimensional array with magic and enveloped it with his mental power, the elements seemed to be activated, sparkling and undergoing magical transformations time and time again. Of course, in the realm of alchemy, this is called transformation.

The three-dimensional matrix then transforms into a parent entity, which can also be called a program or system!

Moriarty prefers to call it artificial intelligence!

If Moriarty wanted to develop a set of wands, he could create one!

Of course, that step is still a long way off. Just building the matrix has exhausted Moriarty's mind. He has become somewhat dull, his eyes are dim, and he stands there blankly.

Lilith and Jericho were terrified, but the armored figure said, "Don't worry! This wizard boy is undergoing a transformation. The matrix can't be built all at once, but I see that his mind is blank. Maybe he'll be able to build it in another two hours."

You'd better prepare some dragon meat for him to eat, and then let him have a good sleep, otherwise he'll become an idiot!

"What are you talking about?" Lilith roared in disbelief, "What happened to Moriarty? Explain yourself! Otherwise, we'll really destroy the castle murals! We're not afraid of being fired!"

Jericho drew his wand again.

"No, no, no, no!" the armored man hurriedly said. "Alchemy requires raw materials, right? This wizard kid is using his own mind as alchemical material to create a system using the matrix template!"

In other words, his mind is a kind of alchemical tool! But human thought is infinite, and this undoubtedly belongs to the mysticism!

Alchemy also belongs to the mystical arts. The formulas and magical runes he had previously conceived were shortcuts to the mystical arts, but now he no longer needs to take shortcuts; he is born into the mystical arts!

Lilith didn't understand; she was only concerned about Moriarty's safety. Seeing the little witch about to draw her wand, the armored figure quickly said, focusing on the essentials, "Do as I say, and I guarantee he'll be alright. After all, he's a Slytherin descendant. Merlin and the old Slytherins made a pact; I'm counting on them to help me find my head!"

Jericho understood a little; he compared Moriarty's current situation to a computer in the Muggle world.

"Mr. Armor, I heard you say 'system'? Is that correct?"

In other words, Mr. Moriarty used alchemy to refine a part of his mind into a program like a computer system.

Then, as long as Moriarty inputs the command, the program will automatically generate the content?

This time, it was the armor's turn that couldn't understand. He turned to Jericho, then to Lilith, and remained silent.

Jericho assumed his behavior was simply a matter of "looking around blankly," rubbed his temples, and muttered to himself that he had been too hasty.

How could knights from King Arthur's time possibly know anything about computers?

Even Jericho only saw a few computers because the Blanche family had some contact with the Muggle world.

But the armored figure let out a meaningful sigh. "Boy, I don't understand what you're talking about, but I know you still don't get my point. That Slytherin used up all of his thinking—not just a part, but everything—to build the Matrix!"

"No!" Lilith screamed. This time she understood, but she wished she hadn't! What would happen if a person had no thoughts? Lilith's eyes suddenly reddened; she dared not think about this question.

The armor seemed to have a particular fondness for Jericho, saying only to him, "Listen, kid, I told you before, but you clearly didn't take my words to heart! What did I say? Human thought is boundless!"

"Yes," Jericho stared longingly at the armor, "Mr. Moriarty hasn't lost his mind, has he?"

"Of course, he's just exhausted his thoughts, it's not like he can't think!" The armored figure spoke with such an air of self-righteousness: "I dare say that people have far too many thoughts, and thanks to some special magic, I can see the thoughts of most people."

I often find them to possess an imagination that makes me applaud, and their ideas—who says they can't become reality? Maybe they can't become reality in this world, but what about the next? Perhaps they simply imagine a world! You never know, right?

The topic was too profound, and Lilith and Jericho were confused, but it seemed to make a lot of sense.

"These all belong to the occult, children," the armored figure said understandingly. "It's normal that you don't understand. In fact, no normal person wants to study the occult. Even Merlin gave up after learning half of it; he felt that continuing would bring disaster!"

"How do you know Merlin only learned half of it?" Moriarty looked at the armor, his eyes regaining their luster, but a cold glint flashed in them. His vigilance towards the armor did not diminish despite the formation of the alchemy matrix.

"Moriarty!" Lilith laughed with delight. "I thought you were going to go crazy!" Then, her eyes flashing with anger, she said to the armored figure, "If I remember correctly, you said he needed two hours to recover? What do you mean now?"

The armored figure was speechless with shock. He staggered back several steps towards Moriarty, only managing to utter an incredulous sound when he was far enough away from Moriarty: "You...you? So fast! But, why?"

Merlin spent a whole day building the alchemy matrix, exhausting all his mental energy. He only recovered after drinking from the sacred spring in the Elf Forest. How could you do that? How did you manage to do it?

"Answer my question first!" Moriarty raised his voice slightly, but he wasn't going to tell the armor why he could regain his senses so quickly.

The armored figure obediently complied: "Because I was right there when Merlin gave up his studies! And old Slytherin too! He was there too!"

"You're lying!" Moriarty said coldly, "This passage isn't in the notes left by our ancestor Salazar."

"I didn't!" the armored man said, patting his chest. "In fact, it was old Slytherin who persuaded Merlin to give up his studies."

At that time, Merlin said he wanted to stay at Hogwarts to learn how to use dragons as alchemical materials to create a huge and powerful alchemical artifact, as if it were to protect something.

But old Slytherin said it wasn't necessary, and I don't know what they talked about after that. It might have involved another mission, and I'm only responsible for my own. Everyone has their own duties! Merlin has always been like that.

Moriarty stared at the armor, and his words sounded impeccable, but the problem lay with Merlin!

Fabricating a lie about a mysterious figure whom no one knows is a great way to make the lie seem exceptionally believable.

Not many people know Merlin, and even fewer know the magical world of the era of the Four Great Wizards, which means that if the armor is lying about this, no one can refute it.

Jericho raised his hand and asked, "Mr. Armor, you're saying dragons can be used as alchemical materials? Is that even possible?"

"Why not?" the armored figure retorted, then its tone changed: "If I find out again that you're not listening to me properly, I'm ignoring you!"

As I mentioned before, dragons and elves are the most suitable beings in the world to study mysticism, and using dragons for alchemical experiments is a tradition of Avalon.

If it weren't for Merlin's special relationship with the elves, perhaps I would have gotten an adorable elf head!

"Excuse me, you? Are you a woman?" Jericho said with difficulty, his tongue seemingly tied in knots.

"You can't discriminate against me because of my sexual orientation!" the armored figure seemed angry. "I'm a male knight!"

"Ugh!" Jericho suddenly understood. He turned his head, as if he had used all his strength to avoid vomiting in the principal's office. He patted his chest to catch his breath.

Moriarty subtly took a step back and said, "I'll consider the Merlin matter settled for now. It's getting late, I need to get something to eat... dragon meat? Let's see if your recommendation is delicious, hmm?"

"Go on, little Slytherin," the armored figure waved lazily, "Your brain is much better now. Go back and eat some meat, get a good night's sleep, and then experience the magic of the Alchemy Matrix. I bet you'll become a great Alchemy Master. Your talent surpasses even Merlin's!"

As for Merlin? Well… I can't say much, but it's true that dragons can be used as alchemy materials. If you have time, you can look up your school's motto. That's all I can say.

Alright, I should go now. A knight is always charging towards the battlefield!

The armored figure took a step and ran off with a clanging sound.

(End of this chapter)