High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 355: Chapter 24: Several Ways Demons are Produced_1

A small elf carried a cup of steaming medicinal broth to Zheng Qing.

This was to get rid of any residual toxicity from the previous medication and to neutralize any remaining test reagents in his body. Every two hours, Zheng Qing had to have a cup of this until he was discharged from the hospital.

”It’s never-ending.” The young public-funded student grumbled, yet still obediently pinched his nose and gulped down the medicine in one go.

Before he could open his mouth, the little elf, considerate as always, handed him a warm towel.

Zheng Qing wiped his face, took a long sigh, and collapsed back onto the hospital bed.

Then he noticed the sidelong glances from those around him.

”What’s with that look...?” He glared unhappily, about to complain about the frustrating rules of the therapists, when a commotion broke out in the hallway outside the ward.

He barely had time to register the noise, when the single wooden door was cautiously cracked open.

A round-faced witch with fluffy bangs peered in.

Then she noticed the scrutinizing glances of a group of boys.

”Sorry!” It seemed she was startled and drew back slightly.

”This is an intensive care unit... who are you looking for?” Xin Fat Man asked in a deep voice, not at all bothered by the eyerolls from those around him.

”Is Lin Guo here?” The round-faced witch squinted, seemingly trying to make out the faces of the patients on the beds.

”Lin Guo?” The men turned their heads in unison, looking towards a corner of the ward.

The round-faced witch seemed to realize something, quickly leaning further into the room to look at the other side of the ward.

The visually obstructive curtains around Lin Guo’s bed had been removed by the elves.

Jiang Yu was patiently peeling an apple for the youngwizard, while Li Meng was earnestly discussing with him the eighteen ways to cook a swallow.

The eyes of the round-faced witch immediately lit up.

”He’s in here!” Turning around, she let out an excited squeal.

The ward’s door was pushed open forcefully, and a swarm of unfamiliar white-robed witches burst in, laughing and jostling each other.

These were witches from Alpha Academy, Zheng Qing immediately identified them by their robes.

The young men around him stood there gaping, looking at the caring expressions on the witches’ faces as they circled around the little wizard’s bed with various gift boxes in hand.

Zheng Qing let out a sigh - gaining him a round of sympathetic looks from the other guys.

”What’s with you guys!” The young public-funded student became quite frustrated.

”It’s so unfair to compare people,” Duan Xiao Jian spoke meaningfully, prompting nods of agreement from the others.

”I initially thought that Lin Guo would be bullied in Alpha... it seems I was wrong.” Xiao Xiao adjusted his glasses and ridiculously added his two cents.

”If this is considered ’bullying’, then please let me be ’bullied’ a hundred times harder!” Xin Fat Man gritted his teeth regretfully, ”To have been born Xin rather than Guo!”

”Hey, are you guys students of drama schools or something?” Zheng Qing had had enough and was seriously contemplating whether or not to put up the surrounding curtains again.

Then he remembered something else and knocked on the bedstead.

”I just remembered something!” He spoke in a low voice, ”About what happened last night!”

As expected, the boys’ attention was drawn back.

”I remember Professor Montreya mentioning that there were no unusual bite marks on the wild demon. What did he mean by that?” Zheng Qing squinted, trying to recall the face of the unfamiliar professor from the night before. He added, ”I think Professor Montreya has a lab that specializes in something related to ’bloodlines’.”

”Oh!” Xiao Xiao responded softly, his face reflecting understanding.

”Do you know him?” Xin Fat Man noticed Doctor Xiao’s reaction and asked curiously, ”Or rather, do you know the meaning behind what the professor said?”

”I do indeed know Professor Montreya. He is an authority in the field of bloodline exploration, and he has his independent lab in the First Academy.” Xiao Xiao didn’t fail to live up to his title as doctor, seemingly all-knowing, ”As for what he meant... I believe this signifies that the kappa demon was not the result of another demon’s rampage.”

”Isn’t that a good thing?” Zheng Qing seemed more confused, ”Why do I recall that everyone’s faces fell when they heard this news...? If it wasn’t birthed from another demon’s rampage, doesn’t that mean we only have that one wild demon in the campus?”

”Have you thought about where that wild demon came from?” Xiao Xiao countered.

The question returned to the beginning.

Zheng Qing found the circular reasoning absurd and couldn’t help but laugh.

Perhaps sensing his explanation had been somewhat rough, Xiao Xiao paused for a few seconds before providing a different explanation:

”As you should know, the birth of most demons happens through three mediums: bloodline inheritance, hostile takeover, infection...”

Zheng Qing sighed, interrupting the doctor’s lecture by raising up his hand and mumbling, ”I don’t know...”

Xiao Xiao glanced at him, paused, and then explained, ”Big demons birth small demons; this is bloodline inheritance. When a wizard kills too many demons and falls due to the influence of demonic energy, this is hostile takeover. When one is bitten by a demon and transformed into a wild demon, that’s an infection.”

”Simple and clear!” Xin Fat Man gave a thumbs up.

Doctor Xiao ignored the noise from the side and continued, ”Generally speaking, demons with inherited bloodlines are very talented and often born with many powerful talents. They are also rare among demons... clearly, that kappa demon doesn’t have a powerful background.”

”Demons produced through hostile takeover are extremely strong in mana before they transform and often immediately become high-level demons after transformation... this also doesn’t align with the kappa demon’s performance.”

”The last one, infection-type demons are the most common and essentially cannon fodder. After transformation, most of them can only maintain basic instincts. Following logical deduction, the kappa demon you encountered could only be this level of creature... and these types of wild demons definitely bear wound marks from a demon’s bite. It’s their identifier, their foundation for transformation, and the source of their power.”

”But the wild demon we caught by the lake didn’t have any bite marks,” Zheng Qing finally understood, responding thoughtfully, ”So you’re saying that this wild demon wasn’t born through any of the three regular means you mentioned?”

”I think that should be the reason for the unhappy expressions you mentioned on the professors’ faces.” Xiao Xiao readjusted the notebook in his arms before adjusting his glasses again, ”In this world, the most vexing thing isn’t when accidents happen... but when accidents happen and you have no clue why.”