https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-415-Irrali-We-Will-Mass-Produce-Magic-Puppets-/13685428/
Chapter 416: Hello, I'm the New Professor
After Wade Gray stepped down from the podium, two strikingly attractive wizard and witch approached the stage to demonstrate the use and various features of the Communication Pea.
The rest of the product launch event still had many scheduled segments, but they no longer concerned Wade.
Originally, there had been plans for a reception afterward—a chance for Wade, as the highly anticipated Alchemist, to network with influential figures. But when Machionni consulted Professor Mor on the matter, the professor firmly declined on his behalf.
“Being seen this much is more than enough. Greedy merchants are like vermin—they always grow bolder the closer you get.”
Professor Mor said this directly in front of Machionni, who, far from feeling offended, stroked his chin and nodded thoughtfully.
“True… If they realize how easygoing you are, they might trick you into signing a binding covenant you can’t break.” He chuckled. “If Wade gets lured away by some scheming adult, I’d have no one to cry to!”
Wade, already impatient with the whole affair, nodded in agreement. Relief washed over him.
Now that his speech was over, he could finally spend time freely with his friends. As he descended the stage, his steps lightened. He parted the curtain and stepped into the backstage area—then froze.
Professor Mor was staring at him with an expression of pure joy, his eyes glistening.
“Oh my goodness… I’m so incredibly proud of you! This is truly magnificent—I can’t even believe it! Watching you grow from such a small, uncertain child into someone so accomplished… Your effort, your achievements—they fill me with such overwhelming happiness. Every struggle, every sacrifice… it was all worth it.”
Machionni stood beside him, dramatically dabbing at his eyes with a handkerchief while exaggerating his emotional display. He winked at Professor Mor.
“—You were going to say exactly that, weren’t you, Professor? No need to be shy! Just be honest with Wade—tell him how moved you are. I’ve already set the example. Now, go on—start!”
Professor Mor’s lips trembled. “Get lost.”
“Right away, sir!” Machionni bowed awkwardly, then clapped Wade on the shoulder as he passed. “Today was absolutely brilliant, Wade.”
“Thanks,” Wade said with a quiet smile.
Machionni returned to the front to continue hosting the event. The backstage was now empty except for Wade and Professor Mor.
Looking at his most exceptional student, Professor Mor’s brow relaxed, his lips curling slightly at the corners. The joy was unmistakable, slipping through his features like sunlight through leaves.
He had meant to say so much—but words had clogged his throat. Machionni’s interruption had eased the pressure, calming his emotions.
“Though Machionni’s a complete fool,” Professor Mor paused, “he’s right about one thing…” He met Wade’s eyes. “I’m truly proud of you, Child.”
“Thank you, Professor,” Wade said, bowing slightly. “I promise I won’t let you down.”
Professor Mor gazed at the young man whose height now nearly reached his chin. Emotion welled up in him, and he raised his hand as if to ruffle Wade’s hair—but paused, hesitated, then gently placed it on his shoulder instead.
“You’ve already surpassed me in achievement. But the horizon ahead is even wider. Keep that passion alive. Keep striving. Don’t let the temptations along the way trip you up.”
“Yes,” Wade replied firmly.
“By the way,” Professor Mor added, “why did you change the second half of your speech?”
“I… forgot some of the lines,” Wade admitted sheepishly. “I was worried about a dead air, so I just went with the design process instead.”
Professor Mor chuckled. “There were quite a few colleagues in the audience! I’d already prepared to step in and stop you. Lucky for you, the core ideas weren’t exposed.”
For a first-time appearance on such a grand scale, Wade’s performance was more than satisfactory. And as for the small misstep? Professor Mor didn’t care.
After all, the content Wade presented, though challenging for some listeners, proved his genuine mastery. Judging by the audience’s reaction, he considered the speech a resounding success.
“Alright,” Professor Mor said kindly. “Your friends are waiting. Go on—before some annoying merchant tries to corner you.”
…
As Wade stepped out through the back door of the hall, he felt a flicker of unease.
Because as they parted, Professor Mor had cast a spell to lock the door behind him. Wade had caught a glimpse of the wand—and suddenly remembered: Professor Mor’s original wand was still in his possession.
In fact, the last time he’d returned from the island, it would’ve been the perfect moment to return it. But Mabel’s sudden transformation into a Silent Shadow had overwhelmed him, and the moment had slipped his mind.
Still, he thought, They’re all still in the hall… We’ll cross paths again soon. I’ll find a proper moment then.
…
Over the years, Aslan Magical Workshop had grown into a major force, reshaping many corners of the wizarding world. But Gringotts Wizarding Bank remained unchanged—its stone halls as unyielding as ever.
Wade met up with Remus Lupin and the others, then headed straight for the bank. They all needed to withdraw some pocket money, and Harry also wanted to exchange some Galleons for Muggle currency.
Remus Lupin now had a Treasure Vault of his own at Gringotts, and thanks to the generous share Wade had given him, it was already stuffed with Galleons and Sickles.
As they waited outside, they watched him load nearly all his money into a sack. In the end, only a few dull Knuts remained in the vault.
“Remus, what are you buying with all that?” Harry asked curiously.
“A present,” Remus said, his tone slightly awkward.
“Is it enough?” Wade offered. “If not, I can lend you some.”
Remus smiled. “Don’t worry. It’s just enough.”
As the small cart carried them back to the surface, they saw a man with a grim expression being led out of the main hall and into the stone corridor. He climbed into the same cart Wade had just ridden, and the young goblin hopped in beside him, settling into the driver’s seat.
“Vault 716, correct?” the goblin said. “Please fasten your seatbelts. We’re departing now.”
Wade glanced back instinctively. The cart rattled away, gaining speed with a sudden lurch, then shot down the winding track and vanished into the depths.
“What’s wrong?” Michael asked. “Do you know that man?”
“No,” Wade said, shaking his head. “But I remember vaults starting with ‘7’ have extremely high rental fees. That man didn’t look like someone who could afford it. That’s why it felt… strange.”
Vaults at Gringotts were numbered from top to bottom—lower numbers meant closer to the surface, cheaper rent, but less security. Higher numbers were safer, but vastly more expensive.
Perhaps Machionni’s endless rants about greedy merchants still echoed in Wade’s mind. He found himself unconsciously observing the man’s clothing.
The wizard wore plain black robes—barely decent, really. But a closer look revealed worn sleeves and frayed cuffs. The pocket where he kept his wand was so worn it gleamed.
“Maybe he’s a descendant of some old wizarding family?” Michael guessed. “His ancestors might have rented that vault for centuries. Even now, they can keep it despite having no money.”
“Hmm… possible,” Wade nodded. “That makes sense.”
…
Standing in the bustling street, Remus glanced at his watch. “You all go ahead and buy gifts. I… uh… I’d like to pick up something too.”
He hurried off.
Harry frowned. “Remus is acting weird… He can’t possibly be someone who’d fall for scams, can he?”
He remembered the news reports from the Dursley household—stories of people ruined by gambling or fraud. The thought unsettled him.
He took a step after Remus, determined to check.
But before he could take two steps, Michael grabbed his collar and yanked him back.
“Save it,” Michael said. “Remus might just be buying a Christmas gift for a girl. If we show up with our own presents, he’ll feel awkward.”
“A girl?” Harry blurted. “Really?”
“Sure,” Michael said confidently, pointing at the passing crowd. “Look at his expression—almost dreamy. He’s thinking about someone special.”
He turned to Wade. “You’ve noticed it too, haven’t you?”
Wade said nothing.
He hadn’t noticed. But Michael mentioning a girl immediately brought to mind Remus’s mention the previous day—Tonks.
The woman who would one day become his wife. The one who would share his life, his death. The one who would bear his son.
Harry looked at Wade again. He didn’t seem surprised at all.
Why am I so slow?
…
Remus Lupin, his pouch heavy with coins, arrived at Aslan Magical Workshop’s shop. There it was—the pale red vest still sitting behind the glass case.
His breath released in relief.
He placed the pouch on the counter. “I’d like to buy this vest.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” the clerk began, “but this is a demonstration piece. It hasn’t been officially released for sale yet…”
Then he looked up—and froze.
“Mr. Lupin?”
“Yes,” Remus said, pulling his scarf down slightly. “I know this item isn’t officially for sale. But could you sell it to me?”
It was the first time he’d used his identity to request special treatment. His face flushed. But he held his ground.
The clerk hesitated. Then stepped out from behind the counter.
“If it’s you, of course it’s possible. But why not just ask Mr. Gray directly? This vest was his idea—along with the two Mr. Weasleys, after all.”
And you wouldn’t have to pay so much for it.
“This is a gift I’m preparing for someone,” Remus explained. “I want to earn it myself.”
At the moment, Aslan Magical Workshop’s entire sales strategy revolved around the Communication Pea. The Curse-Deflecting Vest had only a few prototypes—Machionni had predicted it would be a massive hit. To prevent competition between the two products and to ensure sufficient stock, the vest hadn’t even been given a name yet. It was displayed in the shop with a sky-high price tag, labeled as “non-saleable.”
If anyone inquired, the clerk would simply say it was an exclusive item—no matter the offer, it couldn’t be sold.
But Remus Lupin was different. In a way, he was Wade—representing the heart of the workshop. He’d even helped sign the covenant with the Weasley Twins.
So despite his surprise, the clerk took the vest from the display, wrapped it in a gift box, and handed it over.
Remus emptied his pockets to pay. Then used his last few Sickles to hire two owls at the Post Office. Watching them carry the unmarked gift box into the sky, he felt a quiet joy.
She didn’t need to know who sent it.
As an Auror, her job was dangerous. All he hoped was that this vest would keep her safe.
His heart filled with warmth—and a quiet ache.
…
Wade and the others wandered Diagon Alley for over an hour, buying everything they wanted. Throughout, Wade and Harry kept their faces mostly hidden beneath scarves, careful not to be recognized.
The cold weather made their appearance perfectly ordinary. Blending in with the holiday shoppers, they were utterly unremarkable.
But there was a downside: limited visibility.
Harry had just finished choosing a book for Hermione, paid, and turned to leave—when he accidentally bumped into someone behind him.
The man, reaching for a book on a high shelf, lost his balance. He fell, crashing into the bookshelf with a loud crash.
Clang!
Three or four shelves toppled like dominoes, tumbling to the ground and scattering hundreds of books in disarray.
Fortunately, they were all ordinary, non-magical books. No major disaster occurred.
The shop assistant, still ringing up another customer, froze in shock. He stood there, holding a few Sickles, utterly motionless—like a statue.
Michael instinctively stepped back. “We… we should run.”
Harry stared at him, then at the wreckage, and remained speechless for a long moment.
Then he heard a groan.
The man was lying on the shelf, clutching his side.
Harry snapped to attention. He rushed forward, helped the man up, then stared at the mess.
“Don’t worry, child,” the man said, smiling. “It’s my fault—I wasn’t steady. But fixing this is simple.”
He raised his wand.
With a flick, the shelves stood upright again. The books floated through the air, snapping back into place as if time had reversed.
The assistant dropped the Sickles and sprinted over. By the time he reached the front, the shop was perfectly restored.
He stood gaping, dumbfounded.
“Lucky,” the man said slowly. “No books damaged. So no responsibility to worry about, right?”
“Y-yes! Of course!” the assistant stammered.
“Wow,” Harry said, genuinely impressed. “Thank you, sir. I thought I’d caused a disaster.”
“Not at all,” the man replied. “You’re from Hogwarts, aren’t you?” He glanced at their heights. “Yes, I can tell.”
“Yes,” Harry nodded.
The man smiled. “Then I’ll be one of your professors soon. I hope we get along well over the next semester.” He paused. “I’m Ryan Troke.”
“The new professor?”
The group exchanged glances. “But we don’t have any missing professorships, do we?”
“Hmm?” Ryan Troke scratched his head. “I heard the previous Defense Against the Dark Arts professor resigned.”
(End of Chapter)
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