read my new story : American Fast & Furious NSFW
Knockturn Alley underground, Magical Creatures Trading Market.
Pushing open the door to a room the size of a broom cupboard, Ares, who had become accustomed to the fresh air of the Hogwarts campus over the past month, felt slightly uncomfortable with the stuffy stench of excrement and pungent odor of feathers and fur from various creatures filling the air.
Once his eyes adjusted to the light in the room, which was starkly different from the gloomy, ghostly environment outside, the noisy magical creature market before him plunged Ares into a momentary daze.
In every stall separated by bamboo fences before him, bloody and cruel transactions were proceeding as usual.
Compared to this, the day-to-day, almost monotonous life at Hogwarts seemed like a fairy tale world.
However, although the underlying pillar of that aloof fairy tale world was sturdy, there was only one.
Once that pillar broke one day, the school would inevitably have to face this world whose underlying logic was engraved with [Cruelty].
Taking a moment, Ares calmed the ripples in his heart, then stepped towards Brockle's stall.
Brockle—the guy who sold dragon blood to Ares last time.
The main purpose of Ares leaving school this time wasn't dragon blood... the amount he bought last time was enough to last him a while. He came to find Brockle based on a promise to someone.
Standing in front of Brockle's stall, ignoring the calculating look the man gave him, Ares looked up at the Norwegian Ridgeback bound to a cross by chains as thick as a bowl.
After nearly two months of recuperation, the dragon's condition hadn't improved.
In fact, it seemed to have gotten worse.
Compared to the last time he saw it, its dark brown scales looked even duller, and its demeanor was more listless... its huge, hideous head drooped onto its chest, too weak to even lift.
"What's wrong with its eyes?"
Tilting his head, Ares examined the dragon's eyes—the Norwegian Ridgeback's closed eyelids were swollen high, with scarlet blood stains remaining at the corners.
"Taught it a lesson with a Conjunctivitis Curse."
The seller, Brockle, also recognized Ares as a repeat customer through the details of his cloak.
Spitting on the ground, Brockle turned back and glared gloomily at the dragon.
"When I was stocking up, that Norwegian dragon smuggler had several wild dragons. I saw this wild one was a brooding female and thought the dragon egg should be worth something, so I bought it back at a high price."
"Hmm, and then?"
"Turns out dragon eggs aren't easy to sell."
The wild dragon dealer said grumpily.
"Because dragon eggs only have value if you hatch them. If they don't hatch, it's just a dead dragon, can't sell dragon blood, and dragon liver, heartstrings, and such aren't mature either, so they can't be sold...
Hmph, this beast is much smarter than I thought. Since it came here, it refuses to incubate its egg no matter what."
"So, you taught it a lesson?"
"Oh, not really, after all, it's a valuable treasure itself."
Brockle spat at the dragon again, then looked at Ares.
"This dragon laid one egg this time. Half a month ago, I was lucky enough to meet a pretentious fool who thought he could hatch it, so he bought the egg...
As a result, this female dragon went crazy, desperately trying to fight back to retrieve her egg. Fortunately, my Stunning Spell was reliable enough, so it didn't cause... but the surrounding stalls were overturned by it, so I taught it a lesson."
A moment of silence—
"Didn't you say it only laid one egg?"
Ares raised his chin slightly, pointing to the wooden crate under Brockle's bottom.
"Then what's that under your butt?"
"Oh, that fool who bought the egg from me tossed and turned for a week after going back, but the dragon egg didn't move at all, so he returned the egg to me."
"Heh, you're such a good person, actually willing to take it back?"
"Why wouldn't I be willing?"
The wild dragon dealer said smugly.
"That fool only asked for half the refund... Besides, after the dragon egg was sold, this female dragon refused to eat anything. How could this continue? It would starve to death."
"In my opinion—"
Ares looked at the Ridgeback, clearly noticing that it was breathing out more than in.
He said in a calm tone,
"Even if it were willing to eat, this dragon wouldn't live much longer."
"I beg to differ—"
The wild dragon dealer sized Ares up and down a few times, revealing a somewhat mocking smile.
"The vitality of such beasts is much more tenacious than you think... And I have a way... just get it pregnant with another egg, and it won't be seeking death anymore—Alright, enough chatting with you. Have you decided to buy the dragon egg?"
"Oh? You noticed?"
Ares asked, but his tone held little surprise.
"Naturally—"
The wild dragon dealer said smugly.
"A wizard like you wouldn't stand here listening to my nonsense unless you were interested."
"Name your price."
"Two thousand Galleons, no bargaining."
Under the large hood, Ares moved his eyelids indifferently.
"That doesn't seem to be the true value of a dragon egg—you just said dragon eggs aren't worth much."
"For people who don't want a dragon egg, it is indeed worthless,"
The wild dragon dealer said in a playful yet smug tone.
"But for a customer who wants it, it is still valuable."
Screech—
Unknown whether the conversation between the two woke the seemingly fainting dragon, or if it understood that the wizard in front of it wanted to buy its egg.
The drooping-headed Norwegian Ridgeback struggled to prop up its head, facing Ares with eyes it couldn't open, emitting a sorrowful low whimper.
"I can give you five thousand Galleons."
Ares withdrew his gaze from the female dragon, his tone calm and unruffled.
Hearing his offer, the wild dragon dealer didn't show any joy; instead, he looked very solemn. His bottom slowly left the wooden crate, his drooping sleeves covering his hands.
"What do you mean?"
"I want the dragon egg,"
Ares said, gesturing to the female dragon with his chin.
"And I want this dragon too."
"Oh, how comical. A saint popping out of nowhere for no reason?"
The wild dragon dealer narrowed his eyes into slits, sneering coldly.
"I'm sorry, sir, but have you ever seen a fool sell the hen that lays the golden eggs?"
The wizards mingling in the underground market had noses sharper than dogs.
Those passing nearby had already smelled a faint murderous intent and detoured one after another, fearing trouble would reach them.
The owners of neighboring stalls also looked vigilant, setting up magical barriers of various lusters in advance!
Ares's gaze under the hood pointed to the dragon dealer's sleeve, his tone calm and rippleless.
"And if, I insist on buying it?"
The dragon dealer grinned.
"Oh, then that would be very, I mean... Avada Kedavra!"