Chapter 120 — From Now On, I’ll Be Vesey’s Guardian

Chapter 120: Chapter 120 — From Now On, I’ll Be Vesey’s Guardian

Chapter 120 — From Now On, I’ll Be Vesey’s Guardian

Of course, Vesey knew Nicolas would be angry. Anyone who cared even a little about someone would be furious upon seeing that person treat their own body so recklessly.

She quickly got to her feet, put on a flattering smile, and said:

"Sorry, Teacher. I just wanted to learn everything as soon as possible... It’s too difficult. If I keep sleeping and resting, when am I supposed to finish reading all these books?

"If I don’t work hard, what if you really do commit suicide? I promised you I would learn it. How could I break my promise and then go back on my word?"

[Ding! Energy Points +10]

[Ding! Energy Points +10]

[Ding! Energy Points +10]

[...]

Vesey was stunned.

She knew that saying something like this would definitely earn her some Energy Points from Nicolas, but she hadn’t expected to receive so many.

How many people were around?

She was just about to use her Energy Points to check when she suddenly noticed a house-elf lying in the corner.

Right!

She had forgotten that this little creature could also provide her with Energy Points.

She pretended to yawn, then blinked a few times as if trying to stay awake before looking at Nicolas.

"Teacher, I finished reading these books over the past few days, and I found that this plant looks very similar to the one mentioned in The Alchemy Chronicle...

"I also found..."

She continued speaking fluently.

Everything she said was correct.

Nicolas Flamel didn’t even need to turn the pages to know that she had grasped the key points of the books.

This was indeed the result he had wanted.

But he didn’t want this child to spend her life buried in books like this.

Obviously, even a genius would need some time to understand these books to this extent.

The reason Vesey had managed to do it so quickly was because she had worked herself to the limit.

His previous anger at Vesey for neglecting her health suddenly disappeared, replaced by a faint sense of guilt.

It was obvious that he had been pushing this child.

So why should he be angry with her?

He had told her that if she couldn’t learn alchemy properly—or couldn’t learn it at all—he would commit suicide.

Of course the child would work herself to death trying to learn it.

He gave a wry smile.

He had thought that even if Vesey worked hard, she would merely work a little harder than ordinary people.

He had never expected her to push her body this far.

"You..."

Nicolas was about to tell Vesey to take better care of herself when he lowered his head and discovered that she had already fallen asleep, leaning against the wall.

She must have relaxed the moment he stopped talking.

She had fallen asleep after only a brief moment of rest—and she had even fallen asleep standing up.

Even Nicolas couldn’t help feeling distressed.

He asked the house-elf to carry Vesey back to her room to sleep, then walked out of the study.

He finally understood why, in that future, he and Perenelle had been able to make the decision to destroy themselves after Vesey’s death.

They had only spent a relatively short time together, yet he had already begun to feel so protective of this child.

How could anyone not love her?

If a child who nearly forgot to eat and sleep for your sake, and nearly worked herself sick in order to fulfill your expectations, still wasn’t lovable, then what kind of child would be?

Perenelle stood beside him, looking guiltily toward the room where Vesey was sleeping.

It was her fault.

Because she knew she shouldn’t disturb Nicolas while he was in his study, she had never gone inside. As a result, she hadn’t even realized that Vesey had been in there all this time without coming out.

Of course, perhaps she simply hadn’t gotten used to having a child in the house yet.

But that would change.

From that day onward, Vesey completely settled into a regular routine.

At around seven or eight in the evening, Perenelle would urge her to stop studying and go outside to relax, play for a while, or simply go to bed.

Whenever Vesey ate, Nicolas would accompany her. Even if she ate a little less than usual, Nicolas would immediately ask whether the house-elf’s cooking wasn’t good enough.

Every time that happened, the house-elves would stare at Vesey nervously.

What else could Vesey say?

Of course she had to eat a little more, proving that she absolutely didn’t dislike the house-elf’s cooking.

More than a month passed, and both Perenelle and Nicolas grew even more fond of her.

Vesey wasn’t merely hardworking.

She was extraordinarily talented.

She had already created a beautiful necklace based on the books Nicolas Flamel had occasionally given her.

As long as someone wore the necklace, they could communicate with animals.

Unfortunately, the necklace could only be used three times.

But even so, that was enough to be considered a work of genius.

Nicolas Flamel held the necklace in his hands, eager to show it off to everyone.

Unfortunately, the door still hadn’t opened.

This left him somewhat disappointed.

But he knew very well that it wouldn’t be long now.

And that day soon arrived.

The moment Nicolas’s manor opened its doors, two people appeared at the entrance.

Dumbledore and Snape.

Not long after Vesey had disappeared, they had remembered what Vesey’s diary had revealed about her future.

They believed she should be here.

Dumbledore had even contacted Nicolas Flamel directly. After discovering that even Fawkes had no way of locating Nicolas, he became even more certain.

So for more than a month, they had frequently lingered around this area.

Especially Snape.

He practically lived here.

"Is Vesey here?"

Snape asked nervously.

Nicolas Flamel raised an eyebrow.

"Dumbledore, who is this?"

"Severus Snape!"

Snape didn’t even wait for Dumbledore to introduce him. He simply gave his own name.

Nicolas Flamel had heard of him.

He nodded and said:

"Vesey is here—"

Before he could finish, Snape had already rushed inside.

Nicolas stared at Snape’s retreating figure in shock.

"Has he always been like this?"

Dumbledore smiled awkwardly before quickly following him inside.

"He treats Vesey like his own daughter," Dumbledore explained as he walked.

Nicolas understood.

After all, Vesey was so cute and well-behaved. Anyone who spent enough time with her would naturally grow attached to her.

Just like him.

He already regarded Vesey as his own daughter.

So he said naturally:

"Vesey is certainly lovable, but there’s no need for you to trouble yourself anymore. Perenelle and I can be Vesey’s guardians.

"And I believe a teacher can also become her guardian, can’t they?"

Dumbledore’s footsteps suddenly stopped.

He turned around and stared at Nicolas Flamel in disbelief.

What had this man just said?

He wanted to be Vesey’s guardian?

The Potters had friends, relatives, and teachers who could take on that role. Why would they need someone else to become her guardian?

And Snape—

Didn’t this man understand what was happening?

Believe it or not, Snape was probably going to fight Nicolas right here!

That man had been holding back his anger for more than a month. He had even secretly poisoned several pure-bloods to avenge Vesey.

And now Nicolas was telling him that Vesey didn’t need him anymore?

First come, first served.

Didn’t he understand that?

Nicolas, however, didn’t understand any of this.

Nor did he have any intention of understanding it.

Especially when he saw Vesey happily throw her arms around Snape.

His teeth practically itched with irritation.

He walked over to Snape and said with a sneer:

"When she needed you, you weren’t here. And now you’ve finally come."

Snape wasn’t far behind.

He had heard from Dumbledore that Nicolas Flamel wanted to take Vesey as his apprentice. He guessed that Nicolas had also read the diary.

With undisguised disgust, Snape said:

"Such an old man, getting angry with a child and ignoring her for ten years. And now you’ve finally regretted it?"