Chapter 58: How Does This Kid Look Anything Like a Unicorn?!  

The entire unicorn herd treated Cohen and Alexia with the utmost kindness and acceptance, quickly embracing Cohen's identity as a Hogwarts student. 

*"Do students and unicorns clash?"* 

To them, the bond of blood was more reliable, much like how humans trust their own eyes. For unicorns, blood magic *was* their eyes. 

It was no wonder unicorns were hailed as "the most wonderful creatures imaginable in every fairy tale." 

Surrounded by the herd, Cohen found himself forced to sit by the lake. 

The circle of snow around them had vanished thanks to their magic, revealing soft, verdant grass underneath. Who knew why there'd be green grass beneath winter snow? Cohen figured unicorn magic just turned everything around them into a "fairy tale." 

A golden unicorn foal (unicorns are gold when young, turning silver as adults) even gifted Cohen a pink flower. After placing it in his hand, the little creature rolled around in his lap. 

The unicorns' soul strengths ranged from 15 to 40, and their souls bore a "curse of purity." Anyone who tried to kill them would be marked with an indelible brand. 

Cohen wasn't entirely sure what this curse did, though. 

The books only vaguely warned, "When you kill such a pure, helpless life out of greed and selfish desire, you'll be left with a half-dead, cursed existence." 

As for how the curse actually worked? No details. 

That's why desperate fools kept hunting unicorns for their blood, dismissing the curse as trivial. 

Cohen suspected it might affect one's fate—after all, Quirrell and Voldemort, who'd drunk unicorn blood, failed to steal the Philosopher's Stone. Quirrell died, and Voldemort was reduced to a bodiless wraith again. 

But none of that had much to do with Cohen. He was just here for some blood. As a "new member" beloved by the unicorn herd, collecting fur or blood was a breeze. 

When Cohen explained that a dark wizard had threatened him into harming his "kin" for blood, they practically competed to donate— 

Especially the herd leader, Feodor, who took it upon himself with a strong sense of duty. 

It insisted on giving its own blood and firmly told Cohen not to hurt himself. 

*It really… I could cry,* Cohen thought. 

So, he took only a full vial of blood—nothing more. 

**[Is that all you need? Won't that monster keep bothering you?]** Feodor asked, concerned. 

*[Ding! Sin Value +100]* 

*[Note: You said, "Unicorns don't lie to unicorns."]* 

"If he keeps bothering me, I'll… I'll…" Cohen mimicked Hermione's fake bravado. 

**[Don't be afraid, child. If he keeps troubling you, come back to us. We'll face him together.]** 

Feodor nuzzled Cohen's hair affectionately. 

"Episkey." 

Cohen cast a healing charm on its wound, and the bleeding gash slowly closed up. 

The gesture warmed Feodor's heart, and its gaze softened even more. 

*[Goodwill Value +100]* 

*[Note: Every evil villain knows how to play the part.]!* 

*This is pure kindness, you idiot!* 

Cohen was beyond annoyed with the system's barely-there commentary. It was clearly trying to nudge him down an evil path. 

Not that he needed any nudging… 

"Rustle—" 

As Cohen stashed the vial in the system's nine-slot inventory, a noise came from the woods on the other side of the frozen lake—like hooves. 

Cohen knew what it was in an instant. 

Centaurs, drawn by the scent of unicorn blood. 

"Is that the one attacking unicorns again, Feodor?" 

Bane, a black-furred centaur with a bow slung across his back, burst out of the trees. 

"I smell unicorn blood—why's *he* here?!" 

Bane's eyes locked onto Cohen. 

This odd wizard kid had a vibe eerily similar to that dementor who'd inexplicably helped clear out the Acromantulas. 

If it were near the Acromantula nest, Bane wouldn't care. But this was too close to the forest's only unicorn herd… 

**[He's our new kin, a unicorn foal,]** Feodor neighed at Bane. 

**[And his mother, Alexia.]** 

"How does this kid look anything like a unicorn?!" 

Bane's voice boomed like he'd heard the most absurd thing imaginable, shaking snow from the treetops like a fresh flurry. 

"He doesn't even have a horn!" 

Cohen pitifully hugged the golden unicorn "sibling" in his lap tighter. 

**[You're scaring him, Bane,]** Feodor said, its tone edged with anger. 

**[We have our own standards.]** 

"Are you blind?!" Bane shot back, equally furious. "Don't forget an unicorn was attacked not long ago!" 

But not a single unicorn sided with Bane. They stubbornly insisted "Cohen is a unicorn"—to the point where Cohen almost believed it himself. 

Bane, clearly unable and unwilling to argue with the herd, stormed back into the woods. 

Cohen lingered with the unicorns for a while. Their scent shifted with his mood—from vanilla ice cream to honey cake, even briefly turning into the smell of White Rabbit candy. Cohen was certain there was no White Rabbit candy around here. 

Sadly, their food offerings were limited to grass and shrub leaves. After Feodor pushed a pile of fresh grass and tender branches toward him, Cohen excused himself with, "I need to get back to the castle to study," and left with "Mother" Alexia. 

He wouldn't send Alexia back to Hagrid's this time. With the dragon egg, the hut's living conditions were basically a volcanic cave. 

If he got the chance, Cohen wanted to raise a purebred unicorn himself. 

**[So you're saying I don't meet the standard?]** Alexia said, her tone odd. 

"You don't smell like vanilla ice cream, and you'd better not get any weird ideas about me," Cohen warned. "Just so you know, in human society, that'd be called—" 

**[What nonsense are you spouting? If you're so fed up, just break that Unbreakable Vow already!]** 

Alexia let out an indignant snort through her nose. 

**[How are you and that bird both so full of weird ideas…]** 

She nearly said, "How did I give birth to a kid like you?" but stopped herself. Cohen wasn't exactly her offspring—just a product of wizards taking her blood. 

"Does following me really put you at a disadvantage?" Cohen countered. 

"I've been good to you and Earl, haven't I? Earl gets the fanciest owl treats, you get Hagrid's butterbeer, and I don't oppress either of you…" 

"Or… how about you live with the unicorn herd from now on?" Cohen suggested suddenly. "Get cozy with them?" 

**[Deal.]** 

Alexia agreed with unnatural speed. 

Cohen immediately sensed something was off. 

"Wait—you're not allowed to drag the herd into drinking with you!" 

(End of Chapter)