High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 145: Chapter 69 Mendel’s Paradox_1

In the wizarding world, maliciously killing innocent small animals is considered a serious crime and is generally classified as second-degree murder. Especially in wizard settlements, like First University, Four Seasons Pavilion, and Beta Town, the judgement on such behaviors is even stricter.

This is done to protect the wizards.

In modern magic, transformation magic is a widely disseminated and used spell. In long-term practice, wizards have gradually summarized many characteristics of transformation magic. One of the most important is known as ’Mendel’s Paradox’.

Mendel’s Paradox is also referred to as the Impossible Triangle Law.

This law states that a wizard cannot simultaneously achieve free species transformation, independent will, and magic power stability.

Free species transformation refers to the process of a wizard transforming from a human form into other creature forms; Independent will means that the wizard can maintain their original will after the transformation, without being contaminated by the transformed creature; Magic power stability means that after the transformation, the wizard’s magic power will not be thrown into chaos due to the change in form.

To put it in layman’s terms, if a wizard wants to successfully cast a transformation spell, they can at most accomplish any two of the aforementioned conditions, or just one, but never all three.

If a wizard wants to retain independent will after the transformation, they must give up their magic power to prevent an explosion of power; if a wizard wants to maintain magic power stability after the transformation, they must give up their independent will, yielding to a completely new life consciousness. Of course, a wizard can also choose not to transform, in which case they can always maintain their independent will and the stability of their magic power.

This means that, besides some who are willing to completely split their consciousness, most wizards who have used the transformation spell will turn into a powerless ordinary animal.

Moreover, it has been discovered through practice by wizards that the stronger the wizard, the weaker the creature they transform into with magic. For example, some powerful wizards become a frog after transformation - a green-skinned frog that can speak but cannot even defeat a duck.

Although this well-known rule has not been theoretically verified, in actual operation, wizards will default to it as a law.

As a result, the criminal law section of the ”Wizard’s Code” has been revised many times over the past hundred years, ultimately clarifying that any killing of innocent animals is a serious criminal act.

Protecting small animals is equivalent to protecting wizards themselves.

This has become a long-standing convention.

In order to implement this principle, many powerful wizards are willing to send their incarnations to the human world to promote concepts of mercy and protection towards small animals, thus safeguarding their own interests from the widest possible range.

Zheng Qing didn’t quite understand this so-called Impossible Triangle Law, but from his first day of contact with the wizarding world, he was repeatedly reminded that wizards must never harm small animals.

So, when he was faced with a small cat with its eyes gouged out, he didn’t realize the seriousness of the situation at hand.

Jiang Yu was different.

After carrying the kitten from the rockery to the ground, the magician from the prestigious family knelt in front of it, silent for a long time.

”This is not right,” Jiang Yu finally said. With downcast eyelids, she stared intensely at the silent kitten and murmured, ”Such a severe act of murder, why has the school not reacted? Even if the school has independent judicial and law enforcement powers and doesn’t need to consider public opinion, it still amounts to second-degree murder!”

”What is second-degree murder?” Zheng Qing asked Xiao Xiao in a lowered voice.

Xiao Xiao was originally planning to go to the library, but by the lakeside of Bell Lake, he saw two classmates from his same class, one standing and one kneeling. After briefly inquiring about the situation, he didn’t leave immediately, but stayed quietly by the lake with the two.

A large leaf floated down from the paulownia tree, drifting with the wind like a swing, swinging around, landing on the lake surface in the end.

Several tadpoles hopped onto the leaf, their bodies greedily imbibing the refreshing air under the sunlight.

Xiao Xiao stared blankly at this scene, a bit lost, ignoring Zheng Qing’s question.

”What is second-degree murder?” Zheng Qing poked him and asked again in a whisper.

Xiao Xiao finally came back to his senses, thought for a moment, and gave Zheng Qing a simple explanation of ’Mendel’s Paradox’ and the considerations in the ”Wizard’s Code”.

”Does that mean it’s considered murder if you squish an ant?” Zheng Qing was dumbfounded in shock.

He didn’t think there could be anything more fantastical than this.

”Insects like ants don’t count,” Xiao Xiao explained, ”So far, it’s known that the creatures that wizards transform into basically belong in the warm-blooded category and most of them fall within the range of the Chinese zodiac. So, when determining a criminal law interpretation, only some of the insects and cold-blooded animals were included.”

”Cats are included in the Chinese zodiac?” Zheng Qing stared at Watermelon Head blankly, feeling like his intellect had been assaulted.

”Listen carefully to my definition - most,” Xiao Xiao emphasized, ”Also, in some countries, cats are indeed a part of the Chinese zodiac.”

”That is strange indeed,” said Zheng Qing thoughtfully, peering at the deceased kitten. ”As you said, if this constitutes as a second-degree murder, then the school’s reaction is quite odd... Moreover, among the huddled masses that first made up the scene, none sought to contact relevant authorities. It’s beyond strange.”

”It is very odd,” Xiao Xiao muttered, pulling out his own timer and patting Zheng Qing’s shoulder. ”You stick with Jiang Yu for now. I’m heading to the library to do some research.”

”You need to do research?” Zheng Qing asked in disbelief.

Xiao Xiao said nothing and hurried away with a glum face.

After a considerable pause, Jiang Yu finally spoke again:

”I’ve always wanted to keep a cat.”

”But the conditions at home always prevented it.”

”I heard that there are many small animals on the campus of the first university, so I came to school a month early, hoping to have the chance to adopt a kitten.”

”On my first day at school, I met it.”

”At that time, the kitten was just a tiny little thing.” Jiang Yu sniffled and her eyes grew reddish. She sketched a shape in the air with her hand: ”Just this big. It was all alone, nestled under the big bluestone.”

Perhaps because she had been kneeling for too long, her body swayed a bit.

Zheng Qing quickly helped her up.

Jiang Yu clung to his arm, gripping it tightly, her voice choked with tears:

”At first, the kitten wouldn’t eat anything. It just wailed all the time, crawling up and down the bluestone path by the lake. Skin and bones, and its fur was all matted.”

”Perhaps its parents abandoned it here.”

”The janitors from the school board were rough, whether they were cleaning or feeding, it seemed like they were abusing it. I couldn’t bear it, so I submitted an application and volunteered to adopt it.”

”Based on the advice of our family doctor, I managed to get some fish-flavoured dairy products, then the little guy started eating.”

”Gradually, it got used to me, and if I didn’t feed it, it wouldn’t eat.”

Jiang Yu sniffled at this point and took a long breath.

”Don’t feel sorrowful.” Zheng Qing tried to comfort her clumsily, but couldn’t find the right words to say.

Jiang Yu silently looked at the kitten, gripping Zheng Qing’s arm so hard that it hurt.

”Should we chant some prayers for the departed soul?” Zheng Qing suggested quietly.

”I’ve already done that.” Jiang Yu thanked him softly.

”Where should we bury it?” Zheng Qing scanned the area for a suitable spot.

”My family will deal with it.” Jiang Yu gripped Zheng Qing’s arm and struggled to stand up, swaying slightly in the breeze. ”The school must show accountability.”

Zheng Qing fell silent.

”I must not find out who did this!” Jiang Yu bit her lip forcefully, wiping her eyes. ”Let’s go... It’s already late, I’m meeting with the professor at 9:30.”

”If it’s not convenient today, it can be postponed.” Zheng Qing hesitated, feeling it was inappropriate to trouble Jiang Yu on such a day.

”It’s OK.” Jiang Yu looked up at him, attempting a smile. ”You can wait, but your little elves can’t... My cat is gone, if your elves are affected by this incident, I’m afraid all we can do is sob.”

Zheng Qing looked up, feeling a dryness in his eyes.

”The sky is overcast and the wind is strong.” He lowered his head and casually wiped his face with his robe, then lifted his head and revealed a brilliant smile. ”Let’s go! We can’t let your friend wait.”