Hogwarts: From Selling White Peppers to Becoming a God

Chapter 369 King of the World

Dumbledore paused, taken aback. He'd never heard of the term "retirement syndrome" before, but it did seem somewhat fitting.

Even his previous self-destructive tendencies, upon closer examination, do seem to contain a significant element of this tendency.

It wasn't just because he lost his position as headmaster of Hogwarts or the job of president of the Confederation, but more so because he couldn't find any justification for opposing Murphy. However, Murphy's actions were indeed a denial of everything he had ever upheld. If he didn't deny Murphy, it would be tantamount to denying himself.

Unable to firmly identify Murphy as his enemy, he was actually constantly internally drained and had long been physically and mentally exhausted.

The so-called retirement syndrome, for Dumbledore, was actually a profound sense of bewilderment following the failure of his self-identity.

The cause he had dedicated his life to was negated, and his life seemed meaningless.

As an elderly man, he could hardly feel a greater fear and loss than this.

However, in that instant, Dumbledore suddenly felt a sense of relief.

"You never seem to feel lost, Murphy. Is it because you come from the future that you're so certain you're right?"

"Not really..." Murphy said, "I don't know anything about gods either. In fact, I can't be sure I'm right."

"Perhaps the gods are far more powerful than I imagine. Perhaps breaking the secrecy law is equivalent to tearing down our walls, which could lead to our annihilation."

"However, Professor, I cannot know everything, nor can I have all the information—at least not now—no one can have complete information, and each of us must make decisions within the scope of our own knowledge."

"So in fact, we are all betting that the future will be pretty much the same as what we expect."

"You seem to bear the fate of the entire wizarding world on your shoulders, so you must be even more cautious, since cautious reforms are always safer than radical decisions. But I don't have that burden; I am only responsible for myself."

"I only need to consider whether the consequences of losing the bet are acceptable to me."

"In this matter, I cannot accept the idea of ​​being stuck in the past and limiting myself, even if it means I can survive safely. If development means facing destruction, then I will choose to keep moving forward and gamble on that impossible probability. It's my personality, and I don't intend to change it."

"As for the fate of wizards and the fate of humanity, to be honest, those are things I only care about incidentally."

"If because I lost my bet, wizards become extinct, or even humanity is destroyed, then I'm sorry, but if you can curse people in hell, then curse me all you want."

"You're portraying yourself as very selfish," Dumbledore said.

"I preemptively say what others are going to say about me to shut them up. That's my usual strategy."

Dumbledore smiled. "I know you a little better now."

"You're right, Murphy, there might still be some things I can do."

As he spoke, he stood up and went to the unconscious students. "They have had too much magic drained from them, and at one point even their souls were torn from their bodies. The older students are okay, but these younger kids may not live to see you finish making the potion."

As he spoke, he waved his wand, and a magic circle connected him with the students.

Then he looked at Murphy, "My standing here will be an obstacle for you. You will bring more changes to the wizarding world, but that will inevitably encounter a lot of resistance. They know I have opposed you, and as long as I live, they will not give up."

Murphy frowned. "Excuse my bluntness, Professor, but even if you die, I won't encounter much less resistance."

Dumbledore smiled wryly. "Perhaps so. But at least I hope to do something meaningful before I die."

"This is the best way I could choose to die," Dumbledore said.

Death is the last thing in life, and in a certain philosophical sense, it can even be seen as the only thing in life.

Choosing how to die is sometimes the same issue as choosing how to live, and it carries the same significant meaning.

In the original story, Dumbledore chose to use his own death to set up a trap against Voldemort. At this moment, he still wanted to accomplish something through his death.

Murphy can understand; this is probably Dumbledore's aesthetic of life.

He hesitated for a moment, then looked at Grindelwald. "Aren't you going to stop it?"

Grindelwald sighed. "That's his decision."

Murphy frowned, carefully weighing the potential consequences, and finally sighed. "Professor, have you made up your mind?"

"Yes, Murphy, I'll leave things to you from now on."

As he was speaking, preparing to activate the magic array, a spell suddenly struck his back, petrifying him.

Murphy grabbed Dumbledore by the collar, lifted him out of the magic circle, and tossed him to Grindelwald.

"I'm sorry, Professor, but could you please find another way to die?" Murphy said. "It's more cost-effective for me to sell myself to them for such a great favor."

As Murphy spoke, a group of Watchers were summoned by a burst of crackling lightning. He gathered them all into the magic circle, giving each of them a magical metal to link their own magic power together, and then connecting them with the students.

"Unleash your magic, prepare to save them."

……

"Albus, you're awake?"

Inside a carriage imbued with a traceless stretching spell, Grindelwald sat opposite, leisurely reading and sipping tea.

Dumbledore was awake, but he didn't want to open his eyes. After a while, he finally sighed and slowly sat up. "He actually... he actually..."

Grindelwald smiled and said, "Have a cup of black tea to calm down."

"Why? What good would it do him to keep me around?"

"Ah, about that..." Grindelwald handed several newspapers to Dumbledore, "He certainly wouldn't let go of the opportunity to exploit your value."

Dumbledore took the newspaper, and saw a large headline on the front page:

"Dumbledore joins the Wizarding Union and will serve as its vice-chairman."

Dumbledore's eyes widened as he looked at the next newspaper: "Dumbledore drops charges against Murphy, admits to being misled by a villain."

Another one reads: "Consensus Reached! Dumbledore Discusses Wizarding Development and Supports the Alliance Constitution!"

Another one reads: "Dumbledore calls on the Ministries of Magic of all nations to stabilize the situation and prevent conflict in the Muggle world."

This refers to the tense situation between the three countries after the United States bombed Britain and France with missiles. Murphy is clearly preparing to directly interfere in Muggle affairs.

"He's using your name to promote his Wizarding League," Grindelwald said.

Dumbledore felt that his reputation was ruined and he might as well be dead now.

He frowned deeply for a long time, then suddenly smiled helplessly, "Forget it, let him be. Where are we going?"

"The French Ministry of Magic"

"Um?"

"You will serve as the vice-chairman of the Alliance and persuade the French Ministry of Magic to join the Alliance," Grindelwald said.

Dumbledore stared at him in astonishment for a long while before asking, "Why should I go?"

"He said that if you cannot succeed in peaceful negotiations, he is prepared to wage war against the French Ministry of Magic next month."

"..."

"and you……"

"Oh, I forgot to mention, I'm now the Alliance's Foreign Minister, we're on the same level. We're going to the German Ministry of Magic later, and I'll be responsible for getting those guys on board."

"..."

"What exactly is he trying to do?"

"It's obvious he's trying to win over allies," Grindelwald said, half-jokingly and half-seriously.

"Then let everyone crown him and make him the king of the world."

(End of this volume)

Originally, the outline stipulated that the principal would die here to save the students. This fit his character and my aesthetic view of him. Besides, villains need to die to redeem themselves, which is reasonable. But as I wrote, I became reluctant. Why bother? Aesthetics and such are meaningless, and the pursuit of meaning is also meaningless. Rather than a grand, tragic death, I prefer him to continue living like this. Murphy prefers this outcome, I prefer it too, and I believe everyone else wouldn't dislike it either.

(End of this chapter)