Godfather Owl: Guardian of Batman

Earlier, Lupin had confidently stated that Ares recognized Bruce at first sight.

This meant that Ares not only knew of Batman but also knew that Batman's true identity was Bruce Wayne.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have recognized him.

Being a billionaire might seem impressive, but to a god, it was no more significant than the fleeting life of an ant.

Bruce had his suspicions. Kathoom had previously mentioned that Batman once traveled tens of thousands of years into the past.

It was then that Barbatos took notice of him.

If so, it wasn't entirely surprising for Ares to have taken notice too.

However, Kathoom's reaction to this issue was exceptionally strange.

"What's so odd about it?"

The owl remarked, "After all, Ares is a god. Some prophetic abilities are normal. You know he knows you, so why overthink it?"

Something was off!

Bruce immediately noticed Kathoom's unnatural response.

What did he mean by "after all, Ares is a god"?

Yesterday on the train, Kathoom had agreed with Bruce's viewpoint, saying gods were merely powerful beings.

And now he was backtracking?

Moreover, the information about Batman traveling to the distant past came from Kathoom himself.

Now the owl wasn't even bringing it up.

Something was definitely wrong.

In that instant, Bruce considered reporting Kathoom to Lupin. This owl at his side might have been compromised—chosen by Ares, brainwashed into becoming a battle-mad war owl.

It might be time to teach him a lesson.

"What's with that look?"

Kathoom noticed Bruce's distrustful gaze. "You think there's something wrong with me?"

"It's nothing, don't mind me."

Bruce shook his head.

The thought of reporting to Lupin was just a fleeting joke; he wouldn't actually suspect Kathoom.

The two of them were soul-linked. If Kathoom had a problem, Bruce wouldn't escape unscathed either.

But why would the owl hide something?

Bruce's curiosity was now piqued, and he wanted to uncover the truth immediately.

Yet, in the end, he suppressed his restless thoughts.

Forget it.

Their long-standing partnership had taught Bruce to trust Kathoom.

The owl might act unreliable most of the time, but in critical moments, he wouldn't let him down.

If Kathoom didn't want to talk, Bruce wouldn't press.

He'd wait until Kathoom decided to say something—or he'd investigate on his own.

"Honestly, what worries me now is the secret war Lupin mentioned."

Bruce said, "Not knowing what's going to happen is the scariest part. Ares enjoys manipulating humanity into conflicts, exploiting the darkest corners of the human heart to create the most horrific scenarios."

Hopefully, it wouldn't involve pitting students against one another in a deadly battle.

In this world, such things were unthinkable!

"We'll just have to take it one step at a time."

Kathoom sighed. "It's only been a day since school started. Even if Ares wants to stir up trouble, he shouldn't have had time yet, right?"

---

Reality quickly proved that Kathoom's optimism was misplaced.

Ares's influence became glaringly apparent just one day later.

On the second day of term, during breakfast in the Great Hall, Bruce was eating oatmeal as usual.

Kathoom, perched on the table, had his head buried in his own bowl of porridge.

When he looked up, his face was smeared with oatmeal.

"Hogwarts' kitchen needs reform."

Kathoom grumbled, "It's always porridge. I can't even get a decent noodle dish!"

"Are you an American owl?" Bruce asked skeptically. "Who even thinks about noodles for breakfast?"

"I wasn't talking about spaghetti! Ugh, forget it."

Kathoom gave up explaining. There was no point; Bruce, being an American, couldn't comprehend the concept of eating noodles for breakfast.

"Wait, tell me exactly what kind of noodles—"

As man and owl quarreled, Hermione approached.

She wanted to discuss which elective they'd attend first that morning.

When it came to electives, the two were usually in sync.

"Bruce—"

Hermione had barely started speaking when something unprecedented occurred within Hogwarts Castle.

Dong—

A deep, resonant sound echoed through every corner of Hogwarts.

It sounded like a bell… or a gong, as though signaling the start of some grand ceremony.

Bruce was puzzled. Did Hogwarts even have a gong that large?

Hermione, meanwhile, suddenly clutched her hand, her face contorted in pain.

"Hermione, what's wrong?"

Bruce immediately noticed her distress and spoke up.

"N-nothing…"

Hermione bit her lip, unwilling to say anything as she held her hand and tried to leave.

Her face was a mixture of fear and agony.

Bruce grabbed her arm at once.

"Don't try to hide it."

He said, "What's wrong with your hand? Let me see!"

"It's nothing—"

Hermione tried to brush it off, but Bruce wasn't having it. He held her arm firmly, though he refrained from prying her hand open like he would with a criminal.

"Really, it's nothing," Hermione insisted.

Bruce countered, "I promised Aunt to protect you at school. If you don't tell me what's going on, I'll write to Aunt immediately!"

Hermione was momentarily stunned.

She vaguely recalled her mother telling her to look after Bruce instead.

But it was too late to argue. Bruce's determined expression made it clear that unless she explained, he wouldn't let it go.

"I…"

Hermione hesitated, an inner voice urging her not to reveal anything.

But with Bruce standing right there, she knew he'd uncover the truth by any means necessary.

"Fine—"

Hermione finally relented. She moved her hand aside, revealing her palm.

On the back of her hand was a mark the size of a coin, its design resembling an owl engraved onto a medallion.

The mark's color was fading, slowly disappearing.

"This is—!"

Bruce whipped his head toward Kathoom.

"This has nothing to do with me!"

Kathoom immediately defended himself. He had no idea why such a pattern would appear on Hermione's hand.

"I'll ask you later. You'd better have a convincing explanation!"

Bruce was now deeply disappointed in Kathoom.

He had placed his trust in the owl, only for this to happen.

The evidence was damning. Who else would narcissistically imprint an owl onto someone?

"I swear I didn't do anything!"

Kathoom squawked indignantly. "This owl mark isn't mine! If you keep doubting me, you'll owe me a hundred apologies when the truth comes out!"

Kathoom's vehement denial caused Bruce to hesitate.

If it were anyone else, he'd settle the matter with a beating first.

But this was Kathoom.

Would his companion betray him?

After a long pause, Bruce finally relented slightly.

"I'll trust you one last time!"

He said, "If you've lied to me, I'll never trust anyone again!"

Then he turned to Hermione. "When did this appear?"

"I don't know."

Hermione's face showed helplessness and fear. "Everything was fine before, but as soon as that strange sound rang out, my hand became like this!"

"Then why hide it?"

Bruce pressed. "If it was sudden, why keep it from me?"

His tone grew sharper, his frustration mounting.

Why shoulder something like this alone, without even trusting family?

"Because a voice in my head told me."

Hermione's voice grew softer, her distress more evident. "It said I couldn't tell anyone. If I did, anyone who found out would be killed."

"A voice? A man, then."

Bruce sneered. "He wants to kill me? Let him try!"

Bruce was utterly unafraid.

Plenty had tried to kill him; anyone new would have to wait their turn.

"Besides threatening you, did the voice say anything else?"

"…Yes."

Since she had already broken the voice's command, Hermione decided to confess everything.

"The voice told me to come to the Great Hall at midnight tonight.

"It said others with the same mark would be there too.

"No one else will be able to enter the Hall.

"There will be a banquet… and then—"

Hermione hesitated for a long time before continuing, tears streaming down her face.

"And then a secret war of glory will begin! One life for another. That's what it said."

A secret war.

Bruce's mind reeled.

Lupin's earlier warning echoed in his thoughts. Ares was moving faster than he had anticipated.

"Is there anything else?"

Bruce asked, his tone grave.

"No, all the rules will be revealed at the banquet."

Hermione shook her head. "The only other thing is the banquet's name."

"What's it called?"

Hermione's tearful response came as a whisper.

"The Banquet of the God of War."

---

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