High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 259: Chapter 183: The Story of Augustus Part 1

He ascended to the second floor of the mansion, passing priests dressed in white vestment robes, by means of a curved escalator.

This place was a small study room.

The desks and chairs were made of solid wood, ancient bookshelves, coupled with a collection of thick, dazzling array of books on the shelves, bathed the entire floor in the fragrance of books.

The Alpha students wearing white robes sat in pairs at their desks, quietly poring over the books before them.

Occasionally, some curious looks swept over the red-robed male wizard who had ascended the stairs. Afterward, they would quickly retract their gazes, immersing themselves back into the boundless Magical World.

Zheng Qing passed through them, filled with deep emotion.

The ways the four academies selected students were different, but all successful students shared the same characteristics.

No one achieved success by being sloppy.

Even in Alpha Academy, which emphasizes bloodline inheritance and the importance of talent, students who have achieved something have experienced tireless reading and forgetting food and sleep.

In this process, different academies just had different focal points.

For example, Jiuyou Academy focuses on examinations, hoping that every student can lay a solid foundation and train a correct way of thinking; Alpha Academy focuses on talent, hoping that every student can ignite the sacred flame of thought, and in the instant of learning, sparks of wisdom will burst out; Starry Sky Academy emphasizes practice, hoping that every student can apply what they have learned, truly integrating the use of magic into daily behavior, into the memory of the bloodline; Atlas hopes that each student can forge ahead on the path of truth-seeking and never forget their original intent.

While pondering these thoughts, the servant had already led Zheng Qing to the top floor of this mansion.

At the top of the stairs was a classical-style silver-white dome carved wooden door.

Two upright white-robed servants stood on either side of the door.

A few students were quietly queuing in front of the door, waiting for the opportunity to enter.

The servant who led Zheng Qing up the stairs directly bypassed the queuing students, and after whispering a few words with the two doorkeepers, he beckoned, signaling Zheng Qing to follow him inside.

Zheng Qing was stunned. He glanced awkwardly at the other queuing students and lowered his head to follow.

However, after only a few steps, he was forced to stop.

A female student stood in their way.

”We came first. Why do they go in before us? This female wizard then stood at the door, lowering her voice. Her frustration was apparent as she stared at the doorman.”, this female wizard stood at the door, lowered her voice, and glared at the doorman in her frustration.

This female wizard was not tall, had pale skin, short black hair, deep green pupils, and somewhat high cheekbones. Judging purely from her appearance, she was not outstanding.

Zheng Qing took a closer look at her.

Earlier, during the baptism in the small chapel on the first floor, this female student was already in front of him.

He vaguely remembered that the witch was called Louise Cody, who seemed to be the heir to a manor.

”Zheng Qing has an invitation from Augustus,” the servant looked at her calmly, his gaze unwavering: ”If you object, you can submit the relevant appeal form to the Discipline Committee.”

”If you don’t object, please don’t obstruct our work.”

The witch pursed her thin lips and reluctantly took a step back, glaring daggers at Zheng Qing.

Zheng Qing remorsefully smiled at her.

However, she only saw his smile as a form of mockery and provocation.

”Zheng Qing?” The witch looked at the young wizard, and there was a tone of provocation in her voice, ”The genius Fu Master from Kunlun that Arthur keeps talking about? Why does the cost student of Jiuyou Academy come to Alpha Castle!”

Before Zheng Qing could speak, the servant beside him had already bowed slightly, signaling Zheng Qing to enter.

”Please come in.”

”Sorry.” Zheng Qing murmured, then brushed past the witch and followed the servant into the lounge.

The silver-white carved wooden door then closed again, blocking the furious witch outside the door.

Compared to the first two floors, the third floor of the club was slightly smaller, and there were fewer figures coming and going.

The entire floor was laid out in a semi-open manner. Looking around, there was no tall decoration in sight, making the space appear much more expansive.

The ceiling, walls, and even the carpet underfoot were all silver-white, perfectly aligning with the color of Alpha Academy.

Low square coffee tables were staggeringly placed in this space.

Each coffee table was surrounded by off-white soft leather low-back sofas.

Broad-leaved, lush ferns were planted as a natural barrier between the sofas, marking out small ’privacy nooks’.

Between these plants and sofas, there were exquisite brass telescopes, slowly rotating armillary spheres, antique and sturdy sundials and moondials, and occasionally a few gorgeously dressed flower sprites carrying baskets, hopping around amongst the leaves.

The servant led Zheng Qing to a coffee table by the floor-to-ceiling window deep within the room.

The large plants surrounding the coffee table were exceptionally luxuriant, almost completely separating it from the rest of the room’s environment; it felt utterly tranquil.

A wizard was half lying down, his body partially buried in a milky white low-back sofa.

On the tea table in front of him was a luminously transparent crystal ball.

”She is the Minister of External Affairs for the First University Students Council,” the wizard said, his low head playing with the crystal ball in his hand, his voice bearing a hint of fatigue. ”Destiny is so magical... It decides everything for you when you least expect it.

”What?” Zheng Qing seemed somewhat confused.

He looked to the side helplessly, only to find the servant who had brought him here had disappeared without a trace.

When he turned back, the wizard had stood up and extended a hand towards him.

”Zheng Qing.” The other party smiled as he grasped Zheng Qing’s hand and affirmed, ”Nice to meet you.”

”Mr. Augustus?” Zheng Qing smiled nervously, ”It’s my honor!”

The hand of this Alpha figure was cold and broad.

Of course, he was also a tall figure.

His golden hair shone brightly like the sunlight outside the house, and his deep blue eyes could compete with the sky that contained the sun.

Compared to this handsome appearance, Augustus’s attitude was incredibly gentle, some might even say casual.

”How about some coffee? Dragon’s saliva, Phoenix nest, musk... or just pure black coffee?” The Alpha figure slumped back on the sofa, picked up the crystal ball, fixated on the tiny light spots in it, his tone was casual as if chatting with a good friend, ”The Blood Comrades have a fairy barista who has provided service for five hundred years, the brewed coffee is very authentic.”

Immediately, an image of an ugly fairy with a rag tied around its waist, an old face, slowly grinding coffee beans into powder came into Zheng Qing’s mind.

”Thank you!” The young cost student shook his head decisively, ”I prefer clear tea.”

”A pure Jiuyou man.” Augustus did not take it amiss, he laughed softly and, after snapping his fingers, filled in the drinks they had ordered on the menu that the sprite had brought.

Zheng Qing hesitated before sitting down on the couch, feeling somewhat uneasy.

In the end, he decided it was better to nip things in the bud and take care of today’s business first.

”I’m very sorry,” he looked earnestly at the blond wizard in front of him and said hurriedly, ”I have to attend the recruitment exam for the student council on Friday night, so I can’t attend the Blood Comrades welcome dinner... Really, I’m very sorry.”

”It’s okay, don’t worry.” Augustus waved his hand casually, lifted his head and smiled at the young cost student, ”Just like I said earlier... Destiny is always very magical, you never know if the figure you pass by today, will become the nightmare in your future vision.”

Zheng Qing shared an agreeing smile.

Even though he had no idea what the big shot in front of him was referring to.

”On the path to pursuing the truth of magic, we all have to learn to control ourselves.” Suddenly, Augustus changed the topic and told Zheng Qing a little story:

”When I was little, I once saw a fishman on the lakeside tying a snake to a stone, peeling off its scales piece by piece.”

”The fishman was laughing strangely.”

”The snake was hissing in pain.”

”I couldn’t bear the justice in my heart, I rushed up, killed the fishman and untied the snake from the stone.”

”I thought that the snake would be grateful.”

”However, the snake turned its head around and bit me in return.”

”I know, it was a natural reaction... it was too frightened, having suffered torment for so long... it was purely a conditioned reflex.”

”But I still killed it.”

”Because I too have a conditioned reflex... I told you, it bit me.”

”I regretted this incident very much.”

”Not only did I regret saving a snake, I also regret killing a snake, as well as killing a fishman.” Augustus looked deeply at Zheng Qing: ”I killed two lives, obtained a scar, and long-lasting regret.”

”Is there any action more failing than this?”

Zheng Qing listened to this story in silence, not uttering a word.

He always felt that there was some deeper meaning hidden beneath the words of this Alpha figure.

”I heard you made a deal with Sepulano?” Augustus changed the topic again: ”Then you have to be careful... that man, has never made a losing deal.”

”Friedman may be a bit stupid... but he’s a good man. Nothing too serious has happened between you two, which is very good.”

”If you run into any trouble, feel free to write me a letter.”

Listening to these words spoken in a calm tone, Zheng Qing felt his hairs stand on end and wished he could make himself deaf.