Tver was not surprised that Godric had realized this. In fact, ever since he encountered Helga guarding the Forbidden Forest, he had vaguely sensed that all four founders had been wary of a possible Muggle invasion.
They simply differed in how they viewed it. And among them, the disagreement between Salazar and Godric was clearly the greatest.
The ruthless, hard-edged Salazar was deeply opposed to any form of integration with Muggles, while the bright and open-hearted Godric pessimistically believed that wizards were destined to be absorbed by them.
So, in order to improve the position of wizards, he had decided to let Muggles possess magic as well.
Once magic was no longer rare, Muggles would no longer go to war over magical wealth.
But honestly, that was a little too wishful.
If magic became widespread, the magical materials in the wizarding world would be nowhere near enough to support the sudden expansion in the wizard population.
Opening it up rashly would only turn those resources into the private preserve of a few people. Powerful Muggle regimes, in particular, would absolutely not hesitate to wage war to seize them.
It would only lead to disaster.
"So, you decided to study the nature of magic?"
"Exactly. But obviously, without Salazar's help, even with Rowena and Helga working with me, we still couldn't push that research any further."
"Of course," Godric said, shaking his head helplessly, "Rowena and Helga didn't believe this would really reduce Muggle hostility."
"They just treated it as one possible approach and did a little exploratory research."
Seen that way, although the four founders disagreed on the details, their core thinking was actually quite similar.
Whether it was Slytherin, Gryffindor, or the other Houses, they had all been established to train young wizards and provide the wizarding world with its backbone.
"The fact that you were willing to take that step is already remarkable, especially in your era. Wizards held such a lofty position, yet you were still able to look at Muggle development objectively."
Honestly, if he were not a transmigrator, he probably would not have been able to imagine just how extraordinary the world would become twenty years later.
He would most likely have simply drifted along with the tide, living as an ordinary wizard, going to school, graduating, working, and then dying after a lifetime of struggle.
Tver looked at Godric with quiet admiration.
"So, did your research produce anything useful?"
"No." Godric shook his head broadly, his answer firm and direct, only a little less intense than when he had been getting angry on Salazar's behalf.
"If we'd really achieved anything, Rowena and Helga wouldn't have just gone through the motions!"
"But the general direction was right. Maybe you could give it a try?"
"No thanks." Tver waved both hands at once. "Then how were you planning to deal with the Muggle problem?"
"Hehehe." Godric suddenly broke into a gleeful grin, so cheerful it was almost shameless.
"We discussed it for ages and still couldn't come up with a good solution, so we simply gave up. By the time Muggles really do start a war against wizards, our leftover souls will probably have faded away anyway~"
He planted his hands on his hips, looking completely justified, and the bright smile on his face left Tver speechless...
"So you just gave up, left behind your respective marks to observe the wizarding world, and dumped the whole mess on later generations?!"
"Bingo!" Godric snapped his fingers excitedly, as if Tver had just said something brilliant.
"But Rowena asked the three of us for a portion of magic containing the essence of our thoughts. She said she wanted to make a little tool out of it, as compensation for our laziness."
"This?" Tver quickly pulled the badge from his pocket. It was already a third lit up.
"I knew it was with you. Otherwise, I would not have been guided here!" Godric still looked immensely pleased with his squid navigation setup.
The problem was, if Dumbledore had not suddenly come up with one of his bizarrely scheming ideas, Tver would never have wanted anything to do with a giant squid.
Godric took the badge, running his fingers over the abundant magic within it with a mixture of curiosity and emotion.
"Are they... doing well?"
It was the first time Tver had heard him speak in such a gentle voice, and his own voice softened without thinking.
"Professor Helga is still in the Forbidden Forest, protecting the entire barrier around Hogwarts."
"Madam Ravenclaw dispersed the soul she had left in the Diadem inside the Room of Requirement."
"And Salazar, as you already know, became one with the castle."
This time, when Salazar was mentioned, there was no anger on Godric's face. Instead, he fell into memory.
"That really does sound like them..."
"Funny, when you think about it."
"I used to complain that Rowena thought too much and was never decisive enough. I complained that Helga was always so gentle no matter what happened, like she had no temper at all. And I especially complained about Salazar, always saying things had to be cut off at the root, always insisting dark wizards should be wiped out completely."
"But after all these years, I've gradually realized that really, they should have been the ones complaining about me."
"They were the ones who put up with my recklessness and impulsiveness. They were the ones who helped me clean up all the trouble I caused by always wanting to fight."
"I should thank them. Well, all except Salazar, of course!"
Godric suddenly clenched the badge. The quarter of magic that had always belonged to him responded at once, as if it had come alive, sending out pulses like steady breathing.
"I've already activated the magic in it. When the time comes, just take it and leave. As for the soul power I left here, that I can't give you!"
With a casual flick, Godric tossed the badge back, grabbed the Sorting Hat, and drew the sword straight out from inside it.
"What are you doing?" Tver asked in surprise as he caught the badge.
All the magic in it had been activated. Just holding it made him feel as though his whole body were being washed clean and purified.
But what caught his attention even more was Godric heading toward the door.
"Obviously, I'm going to blast through the lakebed," he said without turning around. "Didn't you say Salazar's magic is protecting the castle? Now that I have the sword's support, I can definitely break a hole in the bottom of the lake!"
Are all Gryffindor founders this reckless?!
Tver hurried after him and grabbed his arm.
"There really is a problem with the Slytherins, but changing their common room won't solve it. If anything, it'll just make the students think Slytherin is even stranger!"
Godric did not turn around, but he stopped walking.
"Then what do we do? Slytherin may have been left behind by Salazar, but I... I can't just stand by and watch them go bad, can I?"
"Don't worry. The current Headmaster of Hogwarts, Dumbledore, and I will both do everything we can to solve this. Right now, careful guidance is the best approach for Slytherin House."
Tver suddenly felt a little strange.
Slytherin and Gryffindor were always at each other's throats, yet here was Godric, Gryffindor's own founder, trying to make sure Slytherin students would not be pushed aside...
"Then it's settled!"
Godric turned around with a beaming smile, and not a trace remained of the overwhelming force he had been giving off just moments ago.
He shoved the Sorting Hat and the Gryffindor Sword into Tver's hands, as if he were passing on his mission.
"Slytherin House, and the future of the wizarding world, are in your hands now!"
Before the stunned Tver had any chance to think, Godric instantly transformed into a surge of blazing magic, shining through the entire Headmaster's office like the sun itself.