Chapter 23: Toby, the Tame Little Sprite

After Dumbledore left, Tom returned to his room to pack his things. Naturally, Weeder was not idle either. He didn’t have many belongings to begin with—not even extra clothes. However, after an owl from Diagon Alley delivered the items he had purchased, his possessions suddenly increased.

Weeder found a large bag and packed everything inside. Then he quietly began reading The Complete Guide to Elementary Charms. Perhaps it was due to the invigorating potion he drank in Diagon Alley that, even at midnight, he felt no sleepiness at all.

“Ding! Hourly chime: 12:00 AM. New items have appeared in the shop!” Suddenly, a familiar alert sounded in his mind. Weeder set down the charms book and, as usual, checked the system shop. It had been a long time since any new items suitable for him had appeared; he wondered if there would be any surprises tonight.

[Item 1: The Complete Guide to Transfiguration (Unlocked) – 1000 Merit Points]
[Item 2: House Elf Butler (Unlocked) – 300 Merit Points]
[Refresh Countdown: 23 hours 59 minutes 35 seconds]
[Merit Points: 1400]
[Dark Lord Achievement: Not Achieved]

“Finally, new stock...” Weeder looked at the two items with delight.

[The Complete Guide to Transfiguration: This book contains all foundational knowledge of transfiguration, encompassing the insights of all transfiguration masters throughout history.]

Weeder was somewhat stunned by the system’s description. It included the wisdom of every transfiguration master from ancient times to the present? No wonder a single book was worth 1000 merit points!

His gaze shifted to the next item.

[House Elf Butler: An experienced house elf who formerly served a pure-blood dark wizard family. Since the last member of that family passed away half a month ago, the elf tragically gained freedom. Upon purchase, the elf’s master will change to the buyer, and the elf will never betray the new master.]

This was the first time a living creature had appeared in the system’s shop! Yet Weeder was pleased—who wouldn’t want such a skilled house elf? This was a rare and invaluable helper! Moreover, the elf was so affordable, costing only 300 merit points.

Without hesitation, Weeder first purchased The Complete Guide to Transfiguration. Drawing on his previous experience, he exchanged the book for the simplified Chinese version.

The next moment, a novel titled The Count of Monte Cristo suddenly appeared in his hands. Clearly, The Complete Guide to Transfiguration was disguised in the same way as The Complete Guide to Elementary Charms!

After putting the book away, Weeder proceeded to buy the second item.

“Ding! Congratulations, host, on successfully purchasing the House Elf Butler!”
“Ding! Please locate the house elf!”

Following the system’s prompts, a semi-transparent mini-map appeared in Weeder’s field of vision. A bright red dot and a small arrow were marked on it.

Weeder studied the map carefully and understood: the arrow represented himself, and the red dot indicated the elf’s location.

He noticed that the red dot was not far from him. However, it remained completely still on the map, which puzzled him. Was the house elf asleep? Why would it remain motionless?

Without wasting time, Weeder grabbed a kerosene lamp and quietly left the orphanage. Following the map, he walked about two hundred meters east along the muddy main street, then turned into a narrow alley.

The alley was cramped and filthy, emitting occasional nauseating stench. Weeder carefully stepped over puddles as he reached the alley’s end. In the dim lamplight, he saw a dilapidated trash bin. Next to it lay a tiny figure.

“Ding! Host has arrived beside the house elf.” The system’s voice ended, and the mini-map vanished from Weeder’s view.

Setting down the dim kerosene lamp, Weeder drew his wand.

“Lumos!”

A glow emanated from the wand’s tip, illuminating the dark alley. On the ground lay a barely breathing house elf. Draped in filthy rags whose original color was no longer discernible, its tennis ball-sized eyes were tightly shut.

Weeder noticed the elf bore various wounds on its face and body. It seemed to have been recently attacked with a sharp weapon and had fainted from severe blood loss.

Despite such grievous injuries, the house elf had not died but clung to life by a thread.

Weeder guessed that after purchasing the item, the system’s power must have temporarily sustained the elf’s life.

No wonder it was so cheap—apparently, the elf had only half a life left…

Thinking this, Weeder wasted no time. First, he used a cleansing charm to clear the dirt from the elf’s wounds.

Then he took out the white salve he had previously exchanged from the system and carefully applied it to the injuries.

The system-produced white salve worked wonders: the wounds began healing rapidly as soon as the salve touched them!

After treating the wounds, Weeder retrieved a potion he had leftover from earlier. This potion replenished energy and temporarily enhanced physical strength, which explained why he had not been as exhausted as Tom upon returning.

Now, it seemed the perfect moment to use it.

Holding the wand in his mouth, Weeder gently lifted the elf’s head with one hand and slowly fed the remaining half bottle of potion into its mouth with the other.

After a while...

“Cough, cough...” The house elf slowly opened bloodshot eyes and immediately saw Weeder’s face before him.

“Kind sir... are you the one who saved Toby’s life?” The elf struggled to sit up, astonished at his now healed wounds.

When he looked at Weeder again, his eyes burned with fervor.

“Yes. I found you lying here, wounded all over. So I performed some basic treatment,” Weeder said calmly, lowering his wand from his mouth.

“Thank you, kind sir. But Toby is a shameful elf, unworthy of your potion and care, for he is free now...” Toby’s voice trembled with sorrow as he began to weep.

“Though it’s not Toby’s fault—his last master died in a duel...”

“Toby foolishly gained this shameful freedom... Kind sir, could you take Toby in?”

“I am Weeder, Levi Weeder. If you wish, I can become your new master,” Weeder replied quietly.

Of course, he would not refuse Toby’s loyalty; he was no Hermione.

Besides, this had cost him 300 merit points and two potions.

Toby struggled to his feet and knelt on one knee before Weeder.

“As you wish, Master Weeder. From today onward, Toby shall be your most loyal servant, forever!”