High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 264: Chapter 188 Beta Town Post_1

”Why are you giving me this?” Zheng Qing curiously accepted the stack of thick newspapers.

Before he could even flip through them, the strong smell of ink hit his nose, causing him to frown.

In Zheng Qing’s view, the world of wizards is one filled with contradictions and paradoxes. Of course, all of this stems from the unscientific nature of magic.

In the world of ordinary people, various electrified devices have been widely used. Television, computers, mobile phones, people have many ways to gather information from various dimensions.

But in the magical world, wizards stubbornly continue to use ancient magical techniques to achieve the same effects.

For example, paper cranes for conveying information, things with the ”animation” effect, and newspapers or magazines with ”short videos”.

If these were found hundreds of years ago, these nearly miraculous magic techniques would amaze and awe the talentless ordinary people.

But now, if these magical items were circulated in the human world, they would probably explore this unknown civilization with great curiosity and enthusiasm -- without fear or worship, just a voyeuristic curiosity for the unknown.

Flipping open the newspaper, on the huge front page photo, a black wizard is energetically waving his arm behind the podium; his expression is somewhat excited. Next to the microphone on his speaking desk, something that looked like a skull was placed - because the newspaper was censored with a mosaic, Zheng Qing wasn’t entirely sure about this.

There is an eye-catching black headline on the front page: ”American Wizarding General Election in Washington heated, Barack and Willard intensely debate the monster bill.”

”I’ve always been curious why the photos in the newspapers can’t talk. They’re not even as good as my TV.” Zheng Qing used his finger to push aside the hand of the black wizard in the photo, revealing a beautiful long-haired female witch behind him. ”And just now, weren’t we discussing the student council exam... why did you give me this newspaper? Are there exam questions in here?”

”I remember we discussed this issue on the charter flight.” Xiao Xiao answered Zheng Qing’s first question first: ”Anytime in human society, traditional forces are very powerful... under the same convenient conditions, you can’t expect wizards who are accustomed to law books and spells to switch to unfamiliar electronic products.”

”Even if magic is more complex and backward, don’t expect them to change.” Dylan suddenly stuck his head out from behind the curtain and complained: ”You haven’t lived in a vampire castle, it’s like a living history museum. You can see ancient vampires from the times of King Arthur wearing tattered linen and full of black teeth, you can see noble women from the Elizabethan era strangling their waist into a gourd shape with whale bone skirts, and you can also see the hippies from the seventies, with metal rings and nails all over their faces, walking like they were hit by a ’tap dance curse’.”

”Like Assistant Hilda?” Zheng Qing tilted his eyes and glanced at Mr. Wolfman who was resting his head on the edge of the coffin.

”Even more twisted than him.” Dylan shivered and shook his head.

”As for why the pictures in newspapers can’t talk,” Xiao Xiao raised his voice slightly to steer the conversation back to Zheng Qing’s question: ”Personally, I believe that it’s because overlaying too much magic on such a simple piece of paper will lead to a situation called ’curse void corrosion’... this is a state of instability of the magic patterns.”

Zheng Qing shrugged.

Although he didn’t understand fully, he roughly got it: overlaying too many curses will make the magic unstable. Perhaps the newspaper will ignite at high temperatures, freeze the image at low temperatures, and create lag in sound and image at normal temperatures.

These situations are all easy to understand.

”You haven’t explained why...” Zheng Qing waved the newspaper in his hand, which emitted a strong smell of ink.

The little sprites flapped their wings, disgustingly distancing themselves from their master.

Tuan Tuan moved its crumpled paw outward, blocking its pink nostrils.

”Why am I giving you a newspaper?... It’s because the student council’s recruitment exam cares a lot about items such as current events and debates.” Xiao Xiao patiently explained: ”According to the student council, they need progressive young blood... not old scholars and tomb-keepers.”

While this explanation seemed somewhat formulaic, it was flawless.

”In fact, I think they’re just lazy to create new test papers.” Xin the Fat Man mocked on the side: ”Just like the last essay question, slightly alter the prompt, have you analyze it, and creating the question takes less than a minute while you have to spend half an hour answering... one model is enough for ten years’ worth of questions.”

This reason was extremely convincing.

Zheng Qing did not continue to discuss the issue of the student council examination with them. Instead, he quickly flipped through the newspaper in his hands, finding many interesting headlines.

Besides the debate over the controversial ’Demon Related Laws’ mentioned as a major headline, there were other intriguing articles. In the ’News Background’ column, there was a piece about the ’Blood Race’s council protesting against the Werewolves’ atrocities in Romania!’. The ’Economy Section’ mentioned the ’East Heavy Machinery settling in South America’. The ’Entertainment Section’ featured the ’Ghost concert in Mang Mountain’s premier performance showcasing soul music’. The ’Exotic Interests’ column included a curious account – ’Black Wizard’s shadow appearing on Gold Coast, dozens of villages experiencing mysterious curses’. Even the ’In-depth Column’ had a series about ’The First University’s attack and the past and present life of the female demon Nikita’.

Had he not picked up this newspaper, Zheng Qing wouldn’t have realized how captivating the world of wizards was.

It seemed as if in an instant, his perspective moved beyond the narrow confines of the First University and the isolated Buji Island, into a new, unfamiliar world.

It was just like how he felt the first time he entered Hui Zi Ji.

Joy, surprise, blankness, and a faint feeling of helplessness.

”What newspaper is this?” Zheng Qing reopened the newspaper’s first page, his eyes falling on the publication name at the top.

Beta Town Post.

”This is a rather serious newspaper, representing mainstream views from the wizarding world, read by wizards worldwide. Of course, some of its views have always been controversial... such as its inherent bias against Jiuyou Academy.”

Xiao Xiao adjusted his glasses, changing the topic abruptly, ”You lack general knowledge as a wizard, which won’t be good for your future development. So it’s not a bad idea to take this opportunity to read up on current affairs.”

Zheng Qing nodded earnestly in agreement.

”Didn’t you notice something... missing?” Xin Fat Man suddenly spoke up, disrupting Zheng Qing’s plan to continue reading the newspaper.

”Missing?” Zheng Qing frowned, looking displeased, ”About the student council exam?”

He pulled out the slightly crumpled letter and read it meticulously once again.

”Not as far as I can tell,” he confidently replied, ”If you’re talking about the ’No. 11 pavilion’ issue, I’m confident I can find it.”

Zheng Qing emphasized the point of ’being confident’.

”Are you sure?” Xin Fat Man’s face seemed to crumple into a chrysanthemum.

It was a grin full of confidence.

It was apparent that he’d noticed something that Zheng Qing had missed.

Xiao Xiao also looked up, curiously looking towards Xin Fat Man.

”You overlooked the most crucial point,” Xin Fat Man rubbed his chin, looking at the confused Zheng Qing and said maliciously with a grin, ”Your weekend afternoon... is already accounted for... If you don’t mind, I can help the beautiful Elena with her homework.”

”Oh, no!” Zheng Qing groaned, plastered the newspaper over his face, and fell back onto his six-pillar bed.

The elves, who had been napping on the back of the cat, thought their master had met with some accident. Hehe screamed and fluttered its wings to take refuge within the tent.