High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 324: Chapter 248: Merlin Medal_1

One of the most prestigious awards in the wizarding world is the Merlin Medal.

The issuance of the first Merlin Medal can be traced back to the twelfth century A.D. The Great Wizard Council, during their conflict with the ’Whip of God,’ commended the heroic efforts of those who banished the ’Plague Messenger.’ They imprinted the legendary Guardian Spell onto the Hexagram Amulet to increase the heroes’ chances of success.

With the end of the war, the Great Wizard Council did not halt the issuance of these amulets. Instead, they enhanced this form of recognition – by establishing the Merlin Medal in the name of the legendary figures Merlin the Mage, who was the highest-ranking wizard who sacrificed himself during the medieval war. The medal aimed to honor those who made substantial contributions to the improvement of magic and the development of the wizarding world.

At its inception, there were many stringent restrictions on the recipients of this medal.

For example, the wizard’s age must be over sixty, a native of Earth, without any significant adverse history, and so on; wizards who obtain the medal due to an advancement in magic are subject to the Council’s review. They must win the support of over two-thirds of the council’s members, and the corresponding magic must be archived in the Great Wizard Council’s library.

Accordingly, the original version of the Merlin Medal was made without distinction of rank, unified by being cast in gold and mithril.

This old-fashioned medal is circular, its chassis is a hexagram made of tiny gemstones, with a blooming Other Shore Flower in the center, looking like a phoenix in nirvana, appearing gorgeous and solemn.

Every medal has a unique Guardian Spell inscription, some of which include the legendary ’Great Blessing Spell’ that resurrects the dead or the ’Great Summoning Spell’ that binds powerful spirits.

It is fair to say that, in the wizarding world from the fourteenth to the nineteenth centuries, a Merlin Medal was a wizard’s reliable guarantee for securing an upper-class social status.

With the passage of time, especially after the rise of new wizard powers represented by Dimensionism, a large number of inconspicuous but critical magical skills have been improved by modern wizards.

Sometimes, more than ten major magical advancements occur in just one year.

In this era, the scarce and intricate old-style Merlin Medals seemed out of step with the times.

Therefore, after multiple reviews, the Alliance of Wizards also reformed their award system.

For instance, the single medal transformed into two levels and four ranks; One was the Great Merlin Medal, which continued the strict and demanding application criteria of the old-style medal. Often, no one could meet the application conditions for four or five years. The other was the small Merlin Medal, which was further subdivided into Merlin’s Gemstone Medal, Merlin’s Mithril Medal, and Merlin Brass Medal. The appearance of the medals did not vary much, only slight differences in specifications.

Another instance is that the scope of the awardees greatly expanded. For example, the small Merlin Medal no longer strictly requires a wizard’s age and origin; the granting institution is not limited to the Great Wizard Council, but could be issued by different institutions according to the medal rank; the Guardian Spells imprinted on the medal also gradually descended from legendary curse level to Great Wizard standards.

In a sense, these changes diminished the value of the Merlin Medal.

Yet, due to the influence of the old traditions, even in this age where Merlin has been gone for over a thousand years, many old-fashioned wizard families still regard obtaining a Merlin Medal as a life goal and pursuit.

Zheng Qing received a Merlin Medal.

To be precise, it was a small Merlin Medal, a Merlin Brass Medal.

However, the young scholarship student would rather not receive the medal—if the price is something called ’conscience’.

The opening ceremony was coming to an end.

The Professor who was the master of ceremonies had just announced the good news, pushing the atmosphere of the ceremony to a climax.

Regardless of whether they were the new students behind the corridor, upperclass students on the second and third floor, or even the Teaching Assistants, Lecturers, and Professors on the balcony, everyone was extremely enthusiastic and excited, cheering for the new Merlin Medal recipient of ’Entering First University’.

”...The youngest recipient of the Merlin Medal in twenty years... he will be the pride of Jiuyou Academy, the pride of First University, and the pride of the entire wizarding world...”

The Master of Ceremonies, the professor, was still enthusiastically commending in the center of the hall with grand and stirring words.

Behind the corridor, the young newcomers of Jiuyou Academy had long forgotten the terror of the enforcement team, immersed in chaos.

”I see now!” exclaimed Xin Fat Man, as he spun around to declare loudly, ”After yesterday’s class meeting, when Old Yao left you behind, it was because of this!”

”Your name will be written onto the shadow wall!” Nicolas pushed through the crowd, his face red with excitement: ”Perhaps next year’s pupil handbook, ’Entering First University’, will have your profile featured...”

”God... How many credits will this add!” Duan Xiao Jian looked at him enviously and speculated, ”Maybe you won’t have to take the final exams and can directly advance to sophomore year.”

Nicolas’s face darkened slightly, and he refrained from speaking.

But his mood had evidently fallen a great deal.

Zheng Qing didn’t notice these details.

In fact, ever since the Master of Ceremonies began promoting his ’remarkable achievements,’ he had been looking down at his toes in deep concentration.

It was fake.

All of it was fake.

He didn’t use the thunder curse to destroy a street, nor did he bravely rush in front of the rampaging wild demon. Even that poor wild demon was nothing more than a hapless fat man.

Back then, he was just a pure ’novice,’ who had just started to get in touch with the wizarding society. Apart from a few poorly drawn talisman papers, he couldn’t even cast a single spell.

Faced with the rampaging wild demon, he was hiding inside the magical shield put up by Thomas; facing Thomas casting the thunder curse, he covered his ears, trembling all over; even the wild demon hypnotized by his talisman paper was merely a coincidence - at the time he just wanted to retrieve his own Calm Heart Talisman that still had recycling value.

But could he come forward and deny all this?

What Old Yao said to him after the class meeting last night reappeared in his ears:

”...Perhaps at the award ceremony tomorrow, you’ll hear a story that’s a bit different from your own memories...”

”Don’t worry, it’s just a little exaggeration by the school’s publicity department...”

”After all, we have to consider the needs of the Four Seasons Pavilion, the Wizard Council, as well as the school itself...”

”You should not pay too much attention to those details... You only need to prepare an acceptance speech for tonight...”

”... There’s no problem, right?”

These words rolled over and over in Zheng Qing’s mind, causing his mind to be in chaos.

No problem.

No problem!

No problem...

”What would I do if there was a problem?” he muttered to himself.

He looked up, and in front of him was a group of excited, flushed faces.

Even that dreamy smile was looking at him with surprise.

The explanation welling up his throat, for some reason, dissipated without a trace.

What else could he say?

”...Now, let’s invite the Director of the Wizard Alliance Investigation Bureau, the member of the Wizard Council Security Committee, former outstanding student of the First University, Robert Nud, to present the award to this brave freshman!”

The host professor’s strenuous shout won even more gorgeous cheers.

The Speaker Flowers around the hall were playing rhythmic music, sirens blowing flutes and holding harps, echoing in the background; colourful elves fluttered in mid-air, forming gorgeous rainbows that connected the freshmen’s dormitory of Jiuyou Academy with the center of the hall.

Even the discipline enforcers had abandoned their duty to maintain order and joined the sea of joy with the others.

After hesitating for a few seconds, Zheng Qing, pushed by his classmates, stumbled towards the center of the hall.

Keep silent, keep silent, just silently walk onto the stage, accept the deep red honor, and the hefty medal.

Until the commencement ceremony was declared over by the host professor, Zheng Qing had a befuddled feeling.

He didn’t even remember what he had said on the award stage a few minutes ago.

The certificate in his hand and the medal in his arms were like two red-hot branding irons, making his heart ache.

”Quickly show us...” Xin Fat Man bellowed at the side.

Before he could finish his sentence, Zheng Qing quickly stuffed the two symbols of honor into his arms.

Then he finally let out a sigh of relief.