bacchusnovels Chapter 156 Why Me of All?
Chapter 156 Why Me of All?
Chapter 156 Why Me of All?
Sean was stunned, his doubts and surprise surging like a flood.
He stopped and gazed at the seemingly still sunset, its fiery afterglow bathing his face in a golden glow.
The surrounding scenery was bathed in warm hues by the setting sun, and a golden wheat field swayed gently in the wind, bringing him an unreal tranquility.
He continued on his way, pondering this strange phenomenon.
He remembered that his textbook, "Why Are There Ten Directions?", said that the afterglow of the setting sun was produced by the change in the relative position of the sun caused by the Earth's rotation.
However, what he is experiencing now is completely different.
Does this, in some way, indicate that he has left Earth?
He tried changing his direction of walking, hoping to find out the truth behind this strange phenomenon, but no matter which way he walked, the setting sun always followed him, maintaining the same distance and angle.
As he moved forward, Sean gradually realized that the farmland seemed to have no end. He walked through field after field of wheat, crossed countless paths and rivers, but his view ahead was always dominated by an endless golden sea.
An inexplicable unease and confusion welled up in his heart. Just then, he suddenly looked up and saw a wisp of smoke rising in the distant sky.
The appearance of this wisp of smoke was like tearing a hole in this endless golden wheat field, revealing a trace of human life.
Sean was stunned; his unease and confusion reached their peak at that moment.
How could smoke suddenly appear from this seemingly endless farmland?
Does this mean that someone lives nearby?
But more importantly, could this smoke be the breakthrough he was looking for, leading him out of this seemingly bewitched, cyclical space?
Sean took a deep breath and decided to head towards the direction of the smoke.
Perhaps, that's where all his doubts can be answered.
As he drew closer, the wisp of smoke gradually became clearer. It was no longer a solitary wisp.
Instead, it is formed by the convergence of multiple plumes of smoke, resembling a thin bridge connecting reality and the unknown.
Sean quickened his pace, his anxiety gradually replaced by curiosity and anticipation.
Finally, he arrived at the source of the smoke.
There was a quaint little house, with wisps of smoke rising from its roof, creating a beautiful scene as the sun set.
In front of the cottage, an old woman was busy preparing dinner. She was dressed in simple clothes, her hair was white, but she was in good spirits and her face was full of a warm smile.
Upon seeing Sean's arrival, she stopped what she was doing and greeted him warmly.
When Sean saw the old woman's face, he froze on the spot.
He could hardly forget that face; after all, when he was in school, her portrait—Helga Hufflepuff—had always hung in the common room.
"You're here again? Perfect timing, let's have dinner together."
The old woman's words were warm and familiar, as if she had long anticipated Sean's arrival.
Sean nodded blankly, almost unable to believe his eyes and ears.
The legendary founder unexpectedly met him here and even invited him to dinner.
He felt like he was in a dream, and everything seemed so unreal.
Oh, right... a dream!
Yes, it was a dream... No, it wasn't a dream after all!
Sean's memory returned to the dream he had the night he emerged from the Forbidden Forest a year ago. :: (Recovering foreshadowing from Chapter 62)
"Where am I?" Sean murmured softly, his voice tinged with confusion and bewilderment.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, dappling his face and creating a warm and bright feeling.
He rubbed his eyes and looked around.
I found myself lying on a bed in a simple yet cozy little house. The house was decorated in a rustic style and exuded a faint scent of wood.
Some handicrafts hung on the wall, looking particularly exquisite.
Through the half-open window, one can see a lush green scene outside, with birds singing merrily in the branches.
The fresh air, carrying the scent of morning dew, drifted into the room.
Sean frowned. He clearly remembered falling asleep on his bed in the office last night. How did he end up in this strange little room when he woke up?
He looked around, and everything seemed so real. From the texture of the wooden headboard to the faint woody scent that filled the room, and the warm sunlight streaming in through the window, everything told him that this was not a dream.
Could this be a dream?
Sean suddenly had this question.
However, he had dreamed before, but never had such a clear and real experience.
In dreams, he is usually unable to perceive such subtle details, nor can he have such coherent thoughts.
Sean instinctively raised his arm, ready to pinch himself.
Just then, a series of steady and powerful footsteps broke the silence outside the cabin.
Sean's attention was drawn to the sudden sound, and he immediately looked up towards the door.
As the footsteps grew closer, a figure gradually appeared at the doorway.
When Sean saw the person's face clearly, he was surprised to find that it was a familiar face—Helga Hufflepuff.
Sean stared wide-eyed at the legendary founder in disbelief.
He had seen her image many times in school portraits and legends, but now she was standing right in front of him, smiling at him.
"Phillips, you're awake," Helga said gently, her voice full of kindness and warmth.
Sean was stunned for a moment before he came to his senses and lowered his raised arm.
This saves me the trouble; I don't need to pinch myself anymore.
Aside from in dreams, who can see figures from a thousand years ago?
However, even in his dream, Sean was always careful to maintain his image.
So he sat up, straightened his clothes, and then bowed gracefully to Helga as a sign of respect.
"Ms. Hufflepuff, it is a great honor to meet you in my dreams," Sean said sincerely.
Helga chuckled softly. Instead of explaining, she said directly, "You just woke up and haven't eaten yet, let's have breakfast together."
Sean paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded in agreement, "It's my pleasure, Ms. Hufflepuff."
Sean did not doubt the "reality" of the dream.
As a Hufflepuff student, it's perfectly normal for you to meet Helga Hufflepuff, the former headmaster, and have breakfast together, right?
What is inheritance?
This is what we call the legacy of Guanyuan!
They walked out of the cabin together. The morning breeze carried a slight chill, but also brought the freshness of the forest.
In the open space outside, a long table has been set up, with various exquisite tableware placed on a clean white tablecloth.
The breakfast selection was dazzling. The fresh fruit platter was colorful, with various seasonal fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, and kiwis carefully cut into small pieces and arranged neatly.
Next to it was a plate of steaming hot toast, the golden bread slices emitting an enticing aroma, and topped with homemade jam, making it irresistible to take a bite.
For the main courses, there were perfectly fried eggs, bacon, and sausage, as well as a salad made with fresh vegetables. In addition, there was a bowl of steaming hot oatmeal porridge sprinkled with nuts and dried fruit, which was both nutritious and delicious.
The most appealing things are the steaming pot of rich, aromatic coffee and the refreshing pot of green tea.
At Helga's prompting, Sean sat down at the dining table.
The morning sunlight shone on him, bathing him in a golden glow.
Helga gently placed an exquisite ceramic cup in front of him, the Hufflepuff School logo prominently displayed on it.
"Green tea or coffee?" Helga asked gently.
"Honey lemon black tea." Without much hesitation, Sean smiled and answered instinctively.
If you can't even drink your favorite beverage in your dream, then that dream is truly pathetic.
Hearing that this answer wasn't among the options, Helga gave Sean a meaningful look.
With a gentle wave of her wand, a cup of brightly colored honey lemon tea appeared before Sean, its aroma blending with the refreshing scent of lemon, creating a truly delightful experience.
"Thank you, Ms. Hufflepuff," Sean said respectfully, then picked up his teacup, took a small sip of black tea, and felt the sweet flavor spread through his mouth, as if it could sweeten his heart.
Indeed... it must be said that Lady Hufflepuff truly lives up to her name.
Her food magic has reached a pinnacle. This black tea is the best black tea Sean has ever tasted, bar none. It is perfect in terms of aroma, taste, and aftertaste.
Perhaps... we should ask Ms. Hufflepuff about the recipe for this black tea?
When the thought popped into Sean's head, he found it ridiculous.
In a dream, ask someone who doesn't exist for the recipe of real-world black tea?
No matter how I think about it, it seems unreliable.
As if sensing Sean's thoughts, Helga smiled and said, "I used special honey, fresh lemon, and carefully selected black tea leaves for this cup of tea. These are all key ingredients. Moreover, the water temperature and brewing time are also strictly controlled."
She explained in detail, as if she were imparting a precious skill.
Sean stared in disbelief at what was happening before him, feeling a strange sense of absurdity.
By the time he came to his senses, Helga had finished her cooking class and gestured for Sean to try the delicious food she had prepared.
Sean reached for the toast; the crust was crispy, while the inside was soft and sweet.
Really fragrant.
After the storm had passed, Sean wiped his mouth with the coins he had used, then looked at Helga.
"Ms. Hufflepuff, your cooking is absolutely superb!" he exclaimed sincerely. "This is the most delicious breakfast I've ever had. I wish I could have such a meal again."
Helga smiled. "There will be an opportunity."
"There will be...a chance?" Sean repeated Helga's words softly.
For some reason, he always felt that there was a deeper meaning behind those words.
"You should wake up," Helga said softly. "There are still many things waiting for you to do, Phillips."
Sean blinked, looking at Helga with some confusion.
wake up?
He almost thought he was dreaming.
However, usually one wakes up naturally and experiences a novel feeling when one is imagining characters in a dream.
Sean was still thinking, however, when he met Helga's deep gaze, a strange feeling welled up inside him.
It was a feeling that was both familiar and strange, as if a forgotten story was trying to surface from the depths of his memory.
"Wake up, Sean." Helga's voice echoed in his ears like an ancient incantation.
Suddenly, a powerful light burst forth from Helga's hand, gradually enveloping Sean.
Sean felt a sudden flash of light before his eyes, then was plunged into darkness.
In the darkness, he seemed to see his past life and a possible future. The skyscrapers that flashed by felt both familiar and strange. He saw the number one leader of his former "company" sitting in the front row, facing him, saying, "Let's talk behind closed doors."
Then, he saw himself through those eyes.
A more mature and resolute version of myself is sitting there, wearing a white shirt and an executive jacket.
He was sitting in that huge office.
"Wake up, Sean." Helga's voice rang in his ears again, but this time it sounded more distant and ethereal. "Your adventure has only just begun."
Then the darkness faded, and Sean opened his eyes again.
He was lying on the bed in his office, with Bella's soft, sticky bun pressed against his face, making it hard for him to breathe.
She murmured softly in her sleep, "It's so... itchy..."
Sean stared at the drool dripping from the steamed bun, lost in thought for a moment.
Did he have a dream last night?
I dreamt that Helga Hufflepuff made him a delicious breakfast...?
Never mind... I'll go back to sleep.
"So...that wasn't a dream?" This time, before Helga could even greet him, Sean took the initiative to sit down at the table by the door.
Above is the steaming hot dinner that Helga just prepared.
"Hmm." Helga nodded slightly, then sat down opposite Sean.
The two men shared a similar level of respect for food, so they ate in complete silence.
Sean wasn't alarmed by this change; he had been here once before... Besides, he had seen old monsters from the same era as Helga before.
He even suspected that at some point in the future he might bump into Gryffindor and Ravenclaw in one of the chair crowns.
But then again, no wonder Slytherin said he smelled like Hufflepuff.
It turned out to be the case.
Sean enjoyed his dinner while thinking this through.
Honestly, it's really delicious.
Only after they finished eating and Helga had cleared the table did Sean finally ask, "Why...did you call me here?"
Helga first took out a teacup and poured Sean a steaming cup of honey lemon black tea, then poured herself a cup of green tea.
To Sean's surprise, Helga was now using a Hufflepuff gold cup instead of the teacup she was using this time.
Yes, the Hufflepuff cup he just lost.
This made him stare at it intently.
After doing all this, Helga took a small sip of green tea and said slowly, "I didn't ask you to come."
It's fate.
"Fate?" Hearing this mysterious word, Sean frowned and looked at Helga with some confusion. "I don't quite understand what you mean."
Helga smiled slightly and pointed to the golden cup on the table. "This golden cup guided you to me. This is my destiny."
"Hmm?" In just a moment, Sean found the logical flaw. He hesitated and asked, "But... when I came last time, I hadn't obtained the Golden Cup yet."
“That’s right, you didn’t have the Golden Cup when you came last time.” Helga nodded, looking at Sean with deep eyes. “But fate had already laid the clues. Even though you hadn’t obtained the Golden Cup yet, your arrival was destined. Fate linked you with this Golden Cup in a mysterious way.”
Sean remained silent for a long time after hearing this, trying to process the information.
He always felt that this explanation was too far-fetched; in other words, the word "fate" was too vague.
So elusive that he couldn’t fully believe what Helga said.
Sean didn't ask if he would still be here if he deliberately found the Golden Cup, since that was just a hypothetical situation. The problem now was that he was already here, and he was more concerned with what he needed to do.
So, after much deliberation, Sean finally asked, "Ms. Hufflepuff, now that I'm here, what am I supposed to do? What task or mission does this golden cup, or rather 'destiny,' expect me to accomplish?"
Helga looked at Sean, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes. She said slowly, "Your appearance certainly means there are some important tasks that need to be completed by you. However..."
Helga suddenly paused, and under Sean's watchful gaze, she continued, "..."
I know what you need to do.
Nani?
For a moment, Sean was stunned.
It felt like a million alpacas were galloping across the grassland in his heart.
Zhe knows you're talking nonsense.
Perhaps sensing Sean's resentment, Helga also felt a little embarrassed.
Ultimately, Sean is her junior.
I admit that what I said was a bit...
So she added, "I think you could start by collecting the artifacts of the four of us. Maybe after you've done that, you'll receive guidance from fate again... just like today."
"The Four Great Abominations?" Sean pondered to himself.
He now possesses the Hufflepuff Cup, the Ravenclaw Crown, and the Slytherin Locket; all he lacks now is the Gryffindor sword.
That sword is currently in Dumbledore's hands. If he could find a suitable reason, it wouldn't be unreasonable for him to borrow it and study it for a couple of days.
"Zhe is this object," Helga suddenly picked up the golden cup on the table and said, slightly formally, "or rather, Zhe is the object in its current state."
As she spoke, the originally dull gold cup on the table suddenly trembled slightly, and then burst into a dazzling light.
Sean stared in surprise at the golden cup as it slowly rose and hovered in the air, its surface seemingly shimmering with ancient runes.
"This is..." Sean stared wide-eyed, looking at the scene in disbelief.
"Every treasure contains immense power, but they need to be activated to reveal their true form and abilities," Helga calmly explained. "The golden cup, the crown, and the pendant in your hands, as well as the sword you are about to find, all require specific methods to awaken their power. And now, this golden cup is revealing its true nature to you."
"As for this cup, I can restore it to its original state for you."
As Helga spoke, the Ravenclaw tiara and the Slytherin locket that Sean had been carrying in his pocket seemed to be summoned by some unseen force, and simultaneously flew into Helga's hands.
Helga gently stroked the two items, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes, as if recalling the past years associated with them.
"So... I have to find the other three founders?" Sean asked tentatively.
If that's the case, Sean feels he's lost out big time.
He had just encountered Slater in the Chamber of Secrets not long ago, and witnessed Slater's soul vanish into the heavens and earth.
Asking Slytherin to "consecrate" his locket seems to have become a possible possibility.
Yes, he used the word "consecration".
He felt that these vouchers were like blessing items.
"That's not how it works." Helga shook her head slightly. "Finding their bloodline descendants will have the same effect."
"Besides, I also don't know whether Ravenclaw and Gryffindor have left their souls in this world." Helga sighed, "That is to say, for some reason, I left a wisp of my soul here."
"As you've probably noticed, this forbidden art is unusually large," she continued.
"I cast a seamless stretching spell on it."
Yi Jinyi used the Seamless Stretching Spell?!
Sean's eyes widened; to him, this was an utterly unbelievable thing.
Generally speaking, this incantation is usually used to apply porcelain in a relatively enclosed space, since only in such a space is it possible to apply porcelain.
However, Helga used a seamless stretching spell on the outside of the forbidden art, expanding its area and creating an extremely concealed domain beneath it.
This is simply...:
He apologized for not being able to find the right words to describe the matter.
Even Dumbledore himself struggled to achieve this, which requires not only a massive amount of magic but also exquisite control, to the point that almost no one has discovered it now.
But... what exactly did Helga go to such lengths to achieve?
Is it merely to protect this forbidden art...?
Or perhaps it's to protect Hogwarts?
still...
Sean looked up at Helga's ambiguous smile, knowing that the answer to this question couldn't be easily obtained from her.
So Sean took a deep breath and decided to ask the question that had been nagging at him: "Why me of all people?"
"Because of your soul..." Helga paused, then said in a low voice, "Zhe belongs to this world."