MeowthTL
patreon
HP: From Failed Art Student to Dark Artist of Hogwarts - 176
🕑 Added 2025-09-16 19:41:09 +0000 UTCChapter 176: [Mr Lamp] Did It – What Does It Have to Do with Me, Ethan?
As his words fell, "BOOM!" A crimson pillar of fire erupted skyward with devastating force!
Instantly, the supreme heat burnt away all oxygen in the surrounding air. The goblins felt their skin suddenly tighten and contract, their mouths becoming dry as desert sand.
Without even managing a brief scream of terror, the leader who had been grinning smugly just seconds ago was now reduced to nothing but fine ash scattered on the wind.
When the magical flames finally dissipated, absolutely nothing remained on the charred ground. As if even the traces of his existence had been completely erased from reality itself.
The entire goblin camp fell into deathly silence, broken only by the crackling of dying fires.
The surviving goblins stared in blank horror at Ethan, as if the seemingly innocent human boy had suddenly sprouted fangs, tentacles, and other nightmarish appendages!
In the flickering firelight that cast dancing shadows across his features, Ethan tilted his head with genuine confusion: "Dead already? That pathetically weak?"
"You're so feeble, yet you dared act so arrogant and threatening?"
Who gave you such misplaced courage?
The goblins exchanged horrified glances: "..." You're the one being completely ridiculous here! We're supposed to be an elite squad!
Could this suddenly appearing "human-skinned monster" be after the precious [treasure] we're escorting?
"DIE!" A desperate roar erupted from the remaining goblins!
Ethan looked up calmly at the goblin who had raised his enchanted axe and instantly appeared before him with supernatural speed. Raising his wand with practised ease, he quickly chanted: "Stupefy."
"BANG!" A brilliant red light shot forth with tremendous force.
The goblin attempting the sneak attack was struck and sent flying through the air! Like being charged head-on by an enraged rhinoceros, he streaked through the night sky like a crimson meteor before crashing into a massive tree trunk with a sickening thud!
He slid down the bark limply, his head lolling to one side at an unnatural angle, completely unconscious.
The remaining goblins stared in disbelief: "?!!" This... this is supposed to be a simple Stupefy spell?! The devastating physical version?!
Only then did they belatedly realise with growing dread: Something is very, very wrong about this situation.
A goblin gripped his battle axe with white knuckles, swallowed hard, and managed to croak hoarsely: "Who... who are you exactly?"
Ethan began confidently: "My name is E..."
Then he paused mid-sentence, suddenly recalling his solemn promise to Mr Lovegood not to alter historical events in any significant way.
Ethan glanced at the goblin leader who had been burnt to absolute nothing and the unconscious subordinate who had collided with the tree. He fell into thoughtful contemplation.
Oops, I acted without properly thinking things through. Ehehe~
But they're so incredibly weak, probably just insignificant pawns who die easily in this chaotic time period anyway, right?
Mm, this shouldn't create any major problems. Just need to exercise more caution in future encounters.
Ethan nodded with renewed confidence. Looking directly at the goblin who had asked for his identity, he paused for a moment in consideration.
A brilliant flash of inspiration struck, and he spoke with theatrical authority: "I am [Mr Lamp]. The Lamp of Dawn, the Merciless Lamp who brings judgement."
Saying this, Ethan proudly curved his lips in satisfaction. Since I can't reveal my real name to these historical figures, I'll simply use [Mr Lamp]'s established title! I really am such a clever little genius.
Hearing this declaration, the goblins looked at each other in complete confusion. What kind of "[Mr Lamp]" is this? We've never heard of any such person!
One particularly brave goblin gritted his yellowed teeth, raised his weapon defiantly, and roared with desperate courage: "Don't care who this monster claims to be! We have dozens of battle-hardened brothers here. Surely we can handle one human child?!"
"CHARGE!" Instantly, crimson magical lights slashed toward Ethan from all directions, completely surrounding his position!
Ethan didn't move from his relaxed stance. A pale blue card simply materialised in his outstretched hand like magic itself.
Seeing this casual display, the goblins became even more certain of their numerical advantage! No matter how powerful this mysterious monster claims to be, he can't possibly fight against a hundred determined warriors simultaneously...
"Hm?" When the charging goblins finally came to their senses, they discovered with mounting shock that their movements had somehow stopped entirely.
Holding their raised axes in various attack poses, they found themselves frozen like living statues. With each laboured breath, white vapour escaped their mouths in visible puffs.
So... so impossibly cold...
The surrounding environment had unknowingly transformed into a pale white winter wonderland. As if the harshest winter season had arrived in a single instant, defying all natural laws.
At the centre of this supernatural phenomenon, the cheerful campfire had been completely extinguished. White gauze-like mist fluttered through the air with ghostly beauty.
Ethan wore the goddess's protective skirt draped over his head like a mystical veil, holding the pale blue painting that continuously generated this world-changing arctic air.
Standing in the now-silent camp like a winter spectre given human form. Or perhaps a white-coloured Dementor manifesting in the mortal realm.
Damn, I've accidentally created some kind of rare magical variant.
The frozen goblins' eyes bulged with impotent fury and terror. They stared with wide, unblinking eyes, struggling desperately against the supernatural cold, yet couldn't move even a single inch.
Even their internal magical power had crystallised within their bodies like ice, completely preventing any form of spellcasting.
What... what kind of impossible magic is this? We didn't even hear the human brat chant a single incantation!
Who exactly is this mysterious [Mr Lamp] character?
Ethan held his Frigid Aura card steady, surveying the beautifully frozen goblins arranged around him like ice sculptures, and nodded with deep satisfaction.
Look at them! They're all still perfectly intact and whole! Excellent preservation of historical integrity.
What objections could anyone possibly have? Everything destructive was accomplished by [Mr Lamp], the notorious figure. What does any of this have to do with me, a harmless future third-year student?
Just then, ghostly blue text materialised before Ethan's enhanced vision:
【Congratulations!】
【You have initially lit a glimmer of radiance in the pages of history.】
Ethan's cobalt eyes immediately lit up with triumph! The Lamp doctrine can actually spread its influence through historical time periods! How absolutely awesome!
"Bringing the gospel of radiance and enlightenment to people of the past," Ethan declared with genuine emotion. "What a great, selfless act of charity! They must be feeling very happy and grateful too."
Such noble, hard work on my part. I really am a white wizard spreading justice and righteousness throughout time itself.
Ethan was deeply moved by his own virtue.
【Lamp brightness increased】
【Guiding your destined path】
A stream of pale golden light began flowing from Ethan's body like liquid starlight. The radiance formed a thin, glowing thread that pointed steadily toward the depths of the goblin camp.
Oh? Dropped loot detected!
Ethan followed the helpful light indicator, stepping forward with eager anticipation.
Seeing his deliberate movement in that specific direction, the frozen goblins' pupils contracted sharply with alarm! That direction leads directly to where our most precious treasure is hidden!
Has this supernatural human already seen through all our carefully constructed disguises and protective barriers?
No, that should be impossible. This is our most closely guarded secret. Except for our supreme leader Ragnok himself, absolutely no one knows about the treasure's existence!
Moreover, the precious cargo has layers upon layers of concealment barriers. There should be no possibility of discovery by outsiders.
"Ah, found it," Ethan announced cheerfully.
The goblins' minds reeled: "..." Why so incredibly fast?!
They stared in helpless fury, desperately rolling their eyes to glare at the object now held casually in Ethan's hands. A scroll-shaped metal case, carved with intricate silver spiral patterns that seemed to move in the flickering light.
It was precisely the ancient magic relic they had gone through countless hardships and sacrificed many lives to finally locate!
"You... you really came specifically for this treasure!" A goblin managed to grit his teeth and force out the accusation through frozen lips.
Deep in his warrior's heart, primal fear began creeping upward like poison. What kind of terrifying existence is this [Mr Lamp]? Why does he seem so omniscient about our secret operations?
"You... you think after doing this, our great leader Lord Ragnok will spare you..." The goblin's voice carried desperate defiance. "Lord Ragnok has already discovered the key clues to ancient magic. He'll systematically kill all you damned wizards!"
Ethan's face brightened with delighted interest: "Really? He actually possesses genuine ancient magic clues?"
The goblin realised his mistake: "..." Somehow I feel like I just said exactly the wrong thing.
He immediately clamped his mouth shut, but ice was already spreading upward, completely freezing his entire body solid. Each of these elite goblins was a death warrior, magically enchanted to self-destruct if they revealed operational secrets.
Seeing this protective measure activate, Ethan sighed with genuine regret: "What a pity and waste."
"It looks like to obtain authentic ancient magic knowledge, I'll still need to locate the goblin rebellion leader, this Ragnok character, personally."
"I just don't know where this mysterious leader might be hiding..."
Ethan began examining the metal scroll in his hands with growing fascination. After systematically destroying various protective spells layered around it, the artefact's existence became extremely conspicuous and obvious.
The relic was wrapped in deep, mysterious magical power that flowed around it like thick moonlight made tangible.
However, though Ethan could clearly see and sense its unique supernatural properties, he couldn't manage to open the container no matter what methods he attempted.
Like having a pocket full of Galleons but being completely unable to spend them anywhere. Extremely frustrating.
Just then, the previously dormant silver key suddenly began glowing with renewed energy. The ancient magical power emanating from the metal scroll was slowly absorbed into the time-travel device, reactivating its temporal functions.
Ethan realised with satisfaction: "So it needs to absorb authentic ancient magic energy to reactivate and transport me back to my own time."
There's no point in staying here any longer. Maybe after returning to the present, I'll find some way to properly open this scroll and access its secrets.
With this practical thought in mind, Ethan gripped the silver key tightly in his palm.
Brilliant white light erupted around him with blinding intensity. In an instant, Ethan vanished completely from the frozen camp.
Not long after Ethan's departure, rustling sounds emerged as several figures in dark cloaks moved through the forest undergrowth.
Leading them was a striking black-haired woman with lustrous hair reaching her waist. Tall and graceful, her form-fitting outfit outlined her elegant figure perfectly. Dark curls swayed slightly behind her with each purposeful movement.
Her piercing green eyes radiated wolf-like wildness and intelligence.
Eve Blackwood stared in amazement at the supernatural scene spread before their scouting party. The goblins were frozen in various attack poses like elaborate ice sculptures created by some mad artist.
A winter wonderland stretched in all directions, deathly silent and otherworldly. Soil, trees, grass – everything was covered in intricate frost patterns and filled with pale, drifting mist.
Like mistakenly entering the realm of the dead itself.
A terrifying, evil aura assaulted their senses with overwhelming malevolence!
Led by graduate Eve Blackwood, they represented Hogwarts' specialised anti-goblin squad. They had come tracking a goblin unit with highly suspicious movements through the wilderness.
Originally prepared for fierce battle, they never expected to find all enemy forces already eliminated upon their arrival!
What exactly happened in this place?
Eve gripped her wand tightly, struggling to suppress her body's instinctive trembling in response to the supernatural cold and lingering dark magic.
Under a massive tree, she discovered a barely surviving goblin warrior.
After restoring his consciousness with medical spells, before Eve could even begin her interrogation, the goblin seemed still trapped in the grip of an absolute nightmare.
His eyes bulging with terror, he screamed in panic: "It's... it's the [LAMP]! The [LAMP] came here!"
Lamp? Eve was startled by this unfamiliar designation.
Who is this [Lamp] character? Since our war against the goblin rebellion began, we've never heard this name mentioned in any intelligence reports.
But regardless of the mystery surrounding this figure, anyone capable of instantly eliminating an entire goblin military camp was absolutely beyond normal comprehension.
And if this [Lamp]'s ultimate target was also ancient magic...
"Prepare yourselves for the worst," Eve Blackwood spoke grimly, her green eyes flashing with unyielding determination.
"Besides the goblin forces, we may now face a dangerous new human enemy as well!"
