Chapter 120: The Awards Ceremony
After talking Penelope out of her fatalistic spiral, Ryan emphasized a key point: a weapon can be used by anyone. There was no rule saying that just because Muggles invented something, wizards couldn't use it. Both were carbon-based lifeforms. While Muggles had superior numbers, wizards could use magic to easily bridge that gap.
One only had to look at the Communicator production line Ryan had established on the first floor of the Tower of Wonders. For wizards, manpower was not important; the ability to use magic was. In the Muggle world, a single factory workshop required many people working together; a full production line demanded countless individuals working grueling hours. For a capable wizard, it could all be done with a few spells.
Penelope was still skeptical. That sounds reasonable, but the wizarding world's greatest strengths are mystery and the defiance of logic. Isn't imitating Muggle industrialization just playing to their strengths while highlighting our weaknesses?
As if sensing her doubt, Ryan continued, "In truth, just as Muggle technology is divided into civilian and experimental applications, we can only industrialize basic spells and charms. The truly top-tier magic... the wizarding world doesn't even fully understand it itself, let alone industrialize it."
Take, for example, the Time-Turners hidden away in the Department of Mysteries. Everyone knew they were creations of ancient wizards, but not even Nicolas Flamel was confident he could build a new one. The raw materials, the composition, the creation process—everything about them was a mystery. The deeper one delved into alchemy, the more terrifying the existence of an object like the Time-Turner became. Even considering that a master alchemist could incorporate conceptual power into an artifact, the Time-Turner simply defied all known principles.
"Look at it this way," Ryan explained, switching to a more familiar analogy. "The Dagger is said to incorporate the 'concept of slaughter.' In game terms, that basically means it has modifiers like +sharpness, +armor penetration, and +bleed damage. The Elder Wand, for all its fame as a Deathly Hallow, is essentially a wand with Magic +15. But the Time-Turner is different. That's not a piece of equipment you can craft in a game. That's a cheat code."
As the two chatted, they gradually drifted away from the professors, completely missing the exchange of knowing glances between Dumbledore, Flitwick, and McGonagall behind them.
Evening fell, and the Great Hall was prepared for the feast. In addition to the four long House tables, a new, large round table had been added, surrounded by dozens of small, high stools. Upon them, the little golems sat, trying their best to be prim and proper but fidgeting as if they had ants in their pants, constantly twisting and looking around.
At the head table, Dumbledore delivered a passionate speech. He began by offering his sincerest well-wishes to the students who had been injured during the incident and expressed his deepest respect and gratitude to the students and staff who had bravely stood up to the threat.
"And here, I especially want to commend a group of very special guests who came to Hogwarts' aid in our time of need—the golems from the Adventurers' Club!"
After spending the day with them, even students who weren't members of the club had grown extremely fond of the adorable little constructs. They burst into applause at Dumbledore's words.
Dumbledore's voice boomed: "Therefore, after careful consideration, we have decided to present the entire golem collective of the Adventurers' Club with the Hogwarts Special Contribution Award!"
The applause grew even louder.
The little golems couldn't sit still any longer. They began hopping off their stools and zipping over to the other tables to play with the new friends they had made that day.
"You really can't tell she's an alchemical creation at all," Penelope remarked for what felt like the hundredth time. She was gently pinching Doro's small, chubby cheeks, which felt smooth and delicate. Doro, in turn, playfully nuzzled her face against Penelope's hand.
"Actually, it's very easy to tell them apart," said Ryan, who had managed to avoid the head table and was pretending to be an ordinary student.
"Easy?"
"Even if they have all the physiological traits of a living creature, they aren't truly alive," Ryan explained. "Can you imagine a species that contains no negative emotions at all? One that is composed solely of truth, goodness, and beauty?"
"I can't. What you're describing only exists in fairy tales," Penelope said, shaking her head.
"When I created them, the memories and logical frameworks I installed contained only those positive virtues. There are no negative emotions. That's why they can never be truly living beings." Ryan picked up an orange from the table and handed it to Doro, who giggled with pure, infantile innocence.
The reason he hadn't added negative emotions was partly due to his own personal preferences, but mostly it was a technical limitation. A mind built only on positive virtues has a relatively simple and stable logical structure. Once you introduce complex emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, grief, fear—the computational power required to ensure the accuracy and stability of every action becomes immense. Otherwise, the constructed personality would collapse. At least for now, that was beyond his ability.
At the head table, Dumbledore continued with the awards. "Next, I want to commend Mr. Neville Longbottom of Gryffindor and Miss Hannah Abbott of Hufflepuff. These two students stood tall in the face of crisis to protect others. For this, I award thirty points to each of their houses!"
Neville's face turned beet red. Being praised by the Headmaster in front of the entire school was something he had only ever dreamed of. Now that it was actually happening, he was too flustered to even speak properly, managing only a foolish grin in response to the congratulations from his housemates.
Over at the Hufflepuff table, Hannah was far more relaxed. While she struggled to control herself in high-pressure situations, in a positive environment like this, her personality swung to the opposite extreme. She went from socially anxious to a social dynamo.
"Finally, there is one more young wizard," Dumbledore's voice grew somber for a moment. "Although he is not with us tonight and remains in the hospital wing for treatment, I must commend his courage to you all."
"Mr. Ron Weasley! His actions proved the depth of his bravery. For this, I award fifty points to Gryffindor!"
Dumbledore spoke from the stage, and the students below listened intently. It was strange, however, that he didn't specify exactly what Ron had done, perhaps because it was a difficult story to explain.
At the Gryffindor table, Hermione was counting on her fingers. She calculated that even with the new points, Gryffindor had only just managed to climb back to zero. The road to the House Cup was still long and arduous.
"And concerning the events of today," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling, "I have one more piece of good news to share with you all."
He smiled cheerfully, and in a tone one might use to discuss the weather, he announced:
"We've captured Voldemort."
Ah, they've captured Voldemort. The students began to applaud out of pure reflex.
Clap... clap... clap...
Then, slowly, one person stopped. The silence spread like a contagion, one student after another falling quiet, until the Great Hall was utterly still.
A single, collective thought hung in the air.
Who did he say they caught?
Voldemort?
Which Voldemort?
~~~
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