Chapter 38 Voldemort who passed by (Patreon)

As soon as Maca finished speaking, there was a sudden movement in the bushes behind Ronan. Hagrid raised the slingshot again, but it turned out to be the second centaur, with black hair and a dark body, looking rougher than Ronan.

"Hello, Bane," Hagrid said. "How have you been?"

"Good evening, Hagrid. I hope you're doing well."

"Not bad. You see, I was just asking Ronan if you've seen anything strange around here lately. A unicorn got injured—do you know anything about it?"

Bane walked over and stood next to Ronan, looking up at the sky.

"Mars is very bright tonight," he said.

"We've heard that before," Hagrid said impatiently. "Well, if any of you have seen something, please let me know, alright? Let's keep going."

"Oh, alright," Maca said, turning back to greet the two centaurs. "Goodbye, both of you."

The four of them resumed their search. Harry and Hermione chatted with Hagrid about the centaurs, while Maca carefully surveyed their surroundings.

Just as they turned a corner on the path, Hermione suddenly grabbed Hagrid's arm.

"Hagrid! Look! Red sparks! The others are in trouble!"

"You two wait here!" Hagrid shouted. "Stay on the path and don't move. I'll be right back."

He rushed through the low bushes, leaving Harry and Hermione standing there, looking frightened. Gradually, Hagrid moved farther away, and they could only hear the rustling of leaves in the wind.

"Maca, do you think they'll be alright?" Hermione asked quietly. "I don't care if Malfoy gets hurt, but if something happens to Neville—it's because of us that he's here facing punishment."

"Don't worry, with Hagrid and Fang around, the creatures in the Forbidden Forest won't harm him," Maca reassured her with a smile.

After a while, Hagrid returned with Malfoy and Neville. Fang followed behind, sniffing around, indicating that there was no danger.

In fact, Malfoy had intentionally frightened Neville, but he didn't expect Neville to be so timid and immediately send out a distress signal.

"You two caused quite a commotion. Now, it's all up to luck if we're going to catch that thing. Alright! Let's switch teams—Neville, you're with me, Harry, and Hermione. Maca, you're with Fang, and this idiot," Hagrid said, pointing at Malfoy.

"I'm sorry," Hagrid whispered to Maca, "but he won't be able to easily scare you. Let's get this done quickly!"

Malfoy clearly didn't want to be with Maca at all, but when Maca glanced back at him, he didn't dare to say much.

So, Maca and Malfoy walked towards the center of the Forbidden Forest together, accompanied by Fang.

Fang had become familiar with Maca, always enjoying circling around him. However, this time Fang remembered their purpose and didn't suddenly jump up to lick Maca's face as it usually did.

Maca walked swiftly, forcing Malfoy to jog to keep up and avoid being left behind. They walked for a maximum of fifteen minutes, and as they delved deeper, the surrounding trees grew denser, and the path became almost impassable.

The bloodstains on the ground became increasingly prominent. One tree root protruded from the ground, splattered with blood, but Maca paid it no mind and continued forward. After a few steps, they reached a clearing ahead.

Maca extended his arm, halting Malfoy's progress.

In the center of the clearing, something pure white shimmered, strikingly visible in the night.

"Stay here and don't come out," Maca whispered, regardless of whether Malfoy would heed his words. He took two steps forward.

Fang obediently positioned itself beside a tree, peering timidly toward the other side of the clearing.

It was a unicorn—a silvery white creature with a sleek mane and a long, spiraling silver horn on its head, radiating purity and beauty. Though lifeless.

Maca stood silently behind the branches on the edge, waiting. He knew it would be soon.

In the hushed depths of the night, time seemed to creep along. Malfoy appeared increasingly restless, glancing in all directions and occasionally casting a glance at the unicorn's lifeless body. Perhaps due to Maca's presence or the apprehension of the Forbidden Forest, he dared not make a move.

After about ten minutes, a faint slithering sound emanated from the edge of the clearing. Maca immediately fixed his gaze on the source—the nearby bushes rustled.

Soon, a figure wearing a hood emerged from the shadowy undergrowth. It crawled slowly across the ground, reaching the unicorn and began drinking its blood from the wound on its body.

"Ah! Ahhh—!"

Malfoy let out a horrific scream. He stood motionless for a brief moment before bolting away. In that moment, Yaya's timid nature was also laid bare—it fled without hesitation.

The hooded figure lifted its head at the sound, but Maca had already moved to a different location, remaining undetected.

Now, Maca leaned against the trunk of another tree, tilting his head as he observed the figure moving in the direction Malfoy had fled, lost in his own thoughts.

"Should I take action here?" he pondered. "Although I didn't intend to encounter him in this place, since we've crossed paths, perhaps I can seize the opportunity to strike him once more while he's vulnerable, delaying the situation a bit longer—"

Just as the thought crossed his mind, Maca shook his head once again.

"Forget it, killing him once here is useless anyway. It's better to take this opportunity to personally experience his character. Hmm, I also need to confirm the effects of creating Horcruxes and splitting the soul on him."

With this in mind, Maca decisively took a step forward.

"Wait." Maca feigned a terrified expression, "Who are you? Did you kill the unicorn? What are you planning to do?"

The figure had already walked into the woods, but Maca's sudden appearance made him turn back again.

The other person seemed unwilling to speak and quickly rushed towards him.

"Obstacles abound." Maca's panicked demeanor vanished in an instant as he swiftly waved his wand, casting a barrier spell.

"All petrified." Seizing the opportunity while the opponent was caught off guard, Maca followed up with a second curse.

Just as the opponent's movements were restricted by Maca's surprise attack, Maca suddenly heard the sound of hooves.

"Huh?" Maca looked surprised. He didn't remember this part, "Petrification lifted."

Maca swiftly cast a counter-spell, releasing the bound opponent who immediately darted into the bushes, disappearing deep into the woods. From beginning to end, Maca hadn't exchanged a single word with him, clearly foiling his calculations.

Almost simultaneously with the departure of the figure, a centaur leaped out from behind Maca, taking a few quick steps on the open ground and glanced in the direction the figure had gone.

"Are you alright?" He turned around and asked Maca.

"I'm fine," Maca sighed inwardly, but his face displayed a hint of gratitude, "Thank you."

"You'd better go back to Hagrid. The forest is not safe at this time..." the centaur said and added, "My name is Firenze."

"Nice to meet you, Firenze." Maca smiled, "But first, I have to call Hagrid over. We came here this time to find him."

He raised his wand, and the green light began to gather at the tip, emitting a brilliant glow in the darkness.

After a while, Hagrid emerged from the darkness on the opposite side, seemingly carrying someone under his arm. Maca took a closer look and realized it was Harry, who appeared to be slightly injured.

"What happened to him?" Maca asked, surprised.

"He was bumped by a figure. I believe that's the person who killed the unicorn," Hagrid gasped, "I scared him off, but unfortunately, I couldn't catch him!"

Maca looked at Harry, who seemed downcast. His gaze flickered, his thoughts unclear.

"That's because killing a unicorn is an extremely cruel act," Firenze remarked while looking at the unicorn's lifeless body on the ground. "Only those who have nothing and desire everything would commit such a monstrous crime."

He paused for a moment and then glanced at Harry.

"Is that the boy from the Potter family?" he said. "I can see his forehead."

"Hello, I am," Harry said weakly, looking at Firenze.

"Let's not talk for now. Put him down so I can have a look," Maca suddenly said. "Harry, where are you injured?"

Hagrid, upon hearing this, helped Harry lean against the trunk of a tree, thinking it would provide him some relief.

"My leg... it hurts a lot. I think it might be broken," Harry said, pointing to his left calf, while enduring the pain.

Maca bent down and lightly touched his wound, causing Harry to let out a low groan and break out in a cold sweat.

"It's alright, it's not a magical injury, and I don't think any bones are broken."

Maca took out a bottle of bright green potion, removed the stopper, and handed it to Harry.

"Drink this, it will make you feel better soon."

During the wait for the potion to take effect, the two centaur beings they had encountered earlier arrived at the scene. They were quietly discussing the corpse of the unicorn on the ground, and fragments of their conversation could be heard.

"The person who hunted the unicorn probably wanted to prolong their life."

"That seems likely, but it's clearly too insane."

"Yes! Unicorn blood can grant eternal life, but it comes at a heavy price. To save oneself by slaughtering a pure, gentle, and helpless creature, and in turn be cursed with immortality... It's madness."

"Alas... Mars is exceptionally bright tonight."

"Yes, unusually bright..."

Harry slumped against the tree trunk, watching them and couldn't help but ask loudly, "But who is that outlaw?"