"That's not your fault..."

"I have a Pensieve, Gellert..."

A flicker of pain crossed Dumbledore's eyes, and he shook his head, softly saying, "Do you think I haven't seen that memory?"

"...Albus."

Grindelwald's lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something.

However, after several attempts, the first-generation Dark Lord ultimately couldn't utter a word, casting a glance at the white-haired little puffball sitting next to him with a gossipy expression, all his unspoken words transformed into a soft sigh.

They were no longer young, and there was no point in deceiving themselves any longer.

Moreover, they weren't the only ones present. It was better to let those old stories be completely buried in the riverbed of history, with no need to let those disgraceful events continue to circulate.

However, what Grindelwald didn't realize was...

At the same time, sitting beside him, Aeliana nodded thoughtfully, a look of understanding appearing on her face.

Although Dumbledore and Grindelwald's conversation was exceptionally vague, and most people probably couldn't understand what they were talking about, she, having read the original books, almost immediately understood.

If there were no surprises, the two of them were discussing the accident involving the accidental death of Dumbledore's sister.

That incident, which happened on the eve of Dumbledore and Grindelwald's "elope," was a crucial turning point in the wizarding world that influenced the subsequent half-century...

"I don't deny that there are great goals in this world worth sacrificing for, existences more important than death."

Before Aeliana could recall the details, Dumbledore's voice continued in her ear.

"But before that, I must hold onto some of the most trivial bottom lines. Even if it might make everything difficult, or even miss opportunities—this is what I tell myself every day since then."

"Even if killing one person could save ten, or even hundreds or thousands of innocent lives?"

Grindelwald shook his head noncommittally, his tone filled with deep mockery.

"If every wizard who stands a little taller and sees a little further thinks like that, then this world would have ended long ago! Someone has to tell the people below what the future direction should be—at least which paths are definitely wrong, instead of sitting back and watching one avoidable disaster after another happen, and then coming out to clean up the mess."

"But on the other hand, Gellert, have you ever considered..."

Dumbledore frowned, interlacing his fingers in front of him, his expression solemn.

"Over the years, whether in the wizarding world or the non-wizarding world, it is precisely those who sacrifice others without regard for the consequences, for the sake of grand causes and lofty goals, who have frequently plunged this world into disaster."

"I understand, Gellert Grindelwald, plunging the world into disaster?! That's your conclusion after all these years."

Grindelwald took a deep look at Dumbledore, grinned, but there was no hint of a smile in his eyes.

"Fifty years have passed, although I have been in Nurmengard Castle, I am still very clear about what changes have taken place in the outside world—indeed, I killed a lot of wizards, I started a war. But have you ever considered why so many half-blood wizards or Muggle-born wizards have been born in these years?!"

"But thinking about it carefully afterwards, there were more appropriate ways to do it at the time, weren't there? You yourself admit that."

"Those were necessary costs. If no one takes this step proactively, you can never achieve 100% perfection in a non-repeatable matter. Even today, I have never felt ashamed of my goals."

Grindelwald squinted, stared at Dumbledore for a few seconds, and then slowly asked back.

"As for you, Albus. A dozen years ago, when dealing with that Voldemort, how many people lost their lives in vain because of your hesitation, have you ever thought about this question? You could have quickly quelled the entire situation by simply killing some of those guys in time, instead of letting it eventually evolve into the rise of another Dark Lord."

When he mentioned Dark Lord, Grindelwald snorted noncommittally, his tone with a hint of disdain.

After a slight pause, the first-generation Dark Lord continued in his slow and deliberate tone, softly saying.

"Or rather, has your teaching experience at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry made you forget how to fight?"

"Gellert, we both know that there are many ways in this world to destroy a person."

The old wizard shook his head, his blue eyes gazing at Grindelwald through his half-moon spectacles.

Dumbledore's voice was still the same volume as before, but every word carried weight, his slightly bent back straightened completely, and his whole person seemed to be enveloped in a layer of sharpness, looking somewhat terrifying.

"As you said, over the past dozen years, I have had countless opportunities to kill Voldemort and eliminate the Death Eaters. However, this way of fighting violence with violence, fighting killing with killing, once crossed, there is no turning back."

"Sometimes, I feel fear, not for you, Voldemort, or anyone else in the wizarding world, but for myself—the most terrifying thing in this world is not pure villains, but righteous envoys who have released the beasts in their hearts..."