Professor Sprout's expression was one of deep worry, her brow furrowed as she watched Char work with the piranha algae. But as she listened to him humming contentedly, her confusion only grew. This wasn't at all the reaction she had expected. She remembered all too well the previous student who had tried to cultivate the algae—the poor boy had burst into tears the very first time he put his hand into the tank.
Before Professor Sprout could fully process Char's unusual reaction, he had already finished the first round of cultivation: he had deftly picked out the weaker algae fronds and gently pressed the healthy ones against the tank walls, just as the instructions required. The whole process was smooth and efficient, with none of the hesitation or pain she had seen before.
Then, lines of glowing handwriting appeared in Char's vision:
[You successfully planted Piranha Algae]
[Available Rewards: Slightly Improved Water Affinity (Black Iron Level)]
Accompanying these words, faint reward orbs began to appear in the water tank. But instead of being elated, Char frowned. The number of reward orbs was disappointingly small. At this planting density, even if he filled more than a dozen tanks, the number of orbs he could harvest each time the algae matured would be far too limited.
Char knew that the cutting spell bonus the piranha algae provided was only at the very weak Black Iron level. To build that ability up to legendary status—or even just to gold level—would require an enormous number of reward orbs. With the current yield, it would take years of patient work.
There was only one solution: increase the planting density.
Char turned to Professor Sprout, his expression thoughtful. "You told me earlier that the planting density of piranha algae shouldn't exceed a certain value. But if the density is higher, will it actually harm the algae's growth?"
Professor Sprout blinked, startled out of her reverie. "Oh? No, not really. Unlike most aquatic plants, piranha algae doesn't need sunlight, so overcrowding won't cause it to die off. And the water in these tanks is treated with magical potions, so even the densest growth won't suffocate the algae. The real problem is for the gardener—if the density is too high, putting your hand in there is like diving into a school of piranhas. It's dangerous!"
Char nodded, a spark of understanding in his eyes. "So the density isn't a problem for the algae—it's just a problem for the person tending it."
"Exactly," Professor Sprout said, her voice tinged with concern. "Most students would be risking serious injury if the tank was too full."
Char looked at the sparse piranha algae currently massaging his hand and felt a strange sense of dissatisfaction. The sensation was pleasant, but it wasn't nearly as stimulating as he'd hoped. If only there were more algae, more spines, more of that crisp, tingling feeling.
With a sudden grin, Char poured the rest of the piranha algae seeds into the tank. In moments, the water was a swirling mass of dark green fronds, each covered in tiny, serrated spines. The density was now more than ten times higher than before—and so was the frequency of those spines brushing against Char's skin.
If anyone else had tried this, their hands would have been shredded in seconds. But Char, with his legendary vitality and gold-level night vision, found the experience invigorating. He worked methodically, humming happily as he tended the algae, his hands moving with precision and ease.
By the time he finished, his muscles felt relaxed, his blood circulation improved, and his fingers more nimble than ever. He pulled his hands out of the water, flexing his fingers with satisfaction. "Now that's a proper massage," he said, grinning.
He looked at the tank again. The reward orbs were now so numerous that they formed a glowing, continuous mass in his vision. This was the kind of efficiency he needed.
Char turned to Professor Sprout. "Are there any more piranha algae seeds?"
Professor Sprout stared at him, her mouth slightly open. She had just watched Char dump an entire bag of seeds into a single tank, creating a swirling jungle of sharp fronds. The thought of anyone else putting their hand in there made her shudder. It would be like reaching into a blender.
"Char," she said, her voice serious, "you must promise me that no one else will ever put their hands into these tanks. It's far too dangerous."
Char nodded solemnly. "I promise."
Reassured, Professor Sprout waved her wand, conjuring warning signs and sticking them to the tank. Then she handed Char more bags of piranha algae seeds.
Char worked through the night, filling all thirteen water tanks Professor Sprout had allocated to him. By the time he finished, it was early morning, and the greenhouse was bathed in the soft light of dawn. The reward orbs in the tanks were so dense that they seemed to form a glowing carpet, a sight that filled Char with anticipation.
Piranha algae took about three months to mature. Char couldn't help but wonder: just how much would these thirteen tanks boost his cutting spell abilities when harvest time came?
As he stretched and rubbed his hands, Char's mind turned to another question. The piranha algae would give him a bonus to cutting spells, but the only cutting spell he currently knew was the pruning charm. While it was excellent for trimming plants, it had little use in combat—unless he managed to hit an opponent's wand, which was easier said than done.
He needed a more powerful cutting spell, something specifically designed for battle. Unfortunately, the first-year Charms curriculum didn't cover anything lethal. The professors were careful not to teach dangerous magic to young wizards, for obvious reasons. Char guessed he wouldn't have access to such spells through official channels until at least fifth year.
But Char wasn't one to wait. He already had a plan. If he couldn't learn through formal channels, he would find another way.
He remembered the story of Harry Potter and the mysterious Half-Blood Prince. In the original timeline, Harry had learned a powerful cutting spell—the Shadowless Sharpness—from an old, heavily annotated potions textbook. That spell had nearly cost Malfoy his life, and its creator, the Half-Blood Prince, had been none other than Severus Snape.
Char's mind raced. He needed to find that book: Advanced Potion-Making, sixth-year edition, with a brown cover and pages crammed with handwritten notes and spells. It was probably still sitting in a cupboard in one of the Potions classrooms, waiting to be discovered.
With a determined nod, Char made up his mind. He would track down the Half-Blood Prince's textbook and learn the Shadowless Sharpness spell. Combined with the cutting spell bonus from the piranha algae, he might just have the edge he needed to face the challenges ahead.