High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 505: Chapter 174: To Go or Not to Go _1

The Huntsmen Art Exhibition is one of the most popular events in a series of activities held during the Moon Hunt.

As the name suggests, this exhibition primarily displays hunting scenes. The common elements include depictions of hunting teams, portraits of hunters, hunting landscapes, and ferocious demons.

However, this doesn’t mean that the Exhibition rejects art in different themes.

After all, painting, alongside music, is one of the highest enjoyments that cultivates the spiritual world for wizards. Some wizards may not like days of basking in the lab or bathing toads, but surely they wouldn’t dislike an idle afternoon spent appreciating a beautiful painting while listening to soothing music.

Unlike the Hunt Race or the Hunting Dance, which pursue the ultimate beauty of movement, the Huntsmen Art Exhibition focuses more on the static beauty in life. The wizards capture images, sign their names on the canvas, and create paintings that endure through the ages.

Perhaps, some pieces are simply pencil sketches that wizards hastily throw together, portraying cute characters rolling around, telling jokes, or pointing the way.

On the other hand, some pieces are delicate works of art, painstakingly detailed and colored by artisans. The people in the images possess near lifelike qualities, and the scenery gives off a genuine sense of nature, unadorned.

Others are creations of masters, who pour great effort, time, and massive magic power to build masterpieces.

Such works — no, such pieces of art often possess inexplicable magical power.

For instance, legend has it that in Europe, there was a noble wizard named Dorian Gray. The Great Painter Holvard carefully painted a personal portrait for him. With the ’blessing’ of the notorious Fallen Wizard Lord Henry (some say it was The Duke Ulrich), the portrait gained astonishing magic power. It kept its owner forever young while it absorbed all curses targeted at him, including the ravages of time and the sins left by the long journey of life.

Another rumor from the Wandering Bar was that the Mist Captain, the throne of the Sea Demon King, had a Beast Skin Map imprinted with the shadow of the Scale of Osiris, the gatekeeper of the underworld. This map allowed communication with the underworld and weighed the true names of wizards. The mysterious Mist Captain had once smuggled souls from the Reaper World with this Beast Skin Map.

The Huntsmen Art Exhibition hosted by the First University during the Moon Hunt wouldn’t have such legendary masterpieces. Most of the displayed works are by first to fourth-year students.

However, discerning attendees can always savor unique themes from these somewhat immature works.

Of course, for most attendees, this exhibition is more like a huge, quiet art salon — where guys can naturally discuss art pieces with girls they like without awkwardness.

As long as there’s an appropriate venue and topic, even a conference tasting dog poop can attract a bunch of guys in heat.

Although Zheng Qing didn’t want to join a meaningless gathering in a crowded place under circumstances littered with rumors and no guarantee of personal safety, as they say, you have the right to choose, but not the power to choose.

”The Huntsmen Art Exhibition is one of the most important parts of the Moon Hunt Events Series.”

”Every scholarship student in the school received this invitation.” Doctor Xiao pointed with his chin while eating chicken feet, ”The student council sent this and requires your attendance. This is your duty as a scholarship student. Indeed, it is your obligation.”

”It... is an obligation?” The young scholarship student gave a bitter smile.

”That being said, considering the current chaos... I would recommend you to stay in your dorm and study Elena’s Ancient Runes instead,” Xiao Xiao tore open the paper bag, hesitated for a moment, stuffed the last chicken leg into the Orange Cat’s dish, then crinkled up the empty bag and tossed it into a nearby trash can.

Tuan Tuan purred satisfyingly, waved its tail, and leisurely tore the small strips of meat from the chicken leg, eating down till oil spread across its face.

”Did you hit the jackpot? Why are you so generous today!” Dylan exclaimed in surprise from the side: ”You actually gave that Fat Cat a whole chicken leg to eat!”

”That was my chicken leg.” Zheng Qing grumbled.

Xiao Xiao seemed oblivious to their conversation.

”I can help you get an absence,” the doctor squeezed into the washroom to wash his hands and continued, ”or you can write a sick note and I’ll give it to the duty officer in the student council office... Of course, it might slightly tarnish your reputation in the council. Not a good thing for the club.”

”Go! Why shouldn’t I go!” Zheng Qing stiffly held his ground, ”The way you say it, makes it seem like I’m scared!”

”Aren’t you scared?” Doctor Xiao gave him a sidelong glance.

”Heh.” The scholarship student scoffed several times, shoved his hand into the grey cloth bag and pulled out a stack of Talisman paper, waving it in the air provocatively.

”You could indeed go,” Dylan suddenly interrupted, ”This kind of invitation usually allows the invitee to bring a female or male companion. Maybe the challengers will be less reckless and impolite in front of a girl.”

Zheng Qing’s eyes brightened.

But before he could fully relish the joy this suggestion brought, Doctor Xiao showered cold water on his hopes.

”That might not be a good idea,” the doctor shook his head, ”Do you think that with Elena standing beside him, Zheng Qing would still have the courage to refuse someone’s challenge?”

Zheng Qing was stunned.

Indeed, if Elena was watching him, he would bravely step up even against his will. This is not about courage, but a matter of a man’s pride.

The young scholarship student’s heart sank.

”In that case...” Dylan stowed away his brush and straightened his robe, opened the dorm door and headed out, ”I’ll go reserve a bed for you in the campus hospital.”

Zheng Qing kept his face stern, unfazed by the gallantry of Mr. Wolfman.

”Is Fatty coming back today?” Zheng Qing pinned his last hope on his ’bodyguard’.

As bodyguards bound by magical contracts, Xin Fat Man and Zhang Ji Xin were certainly reliable meat shields. Considering Elder Zhang was currently grinding out some Hunting Team Training Maps with his brother, Fatty appeared to be the scholarship student’s final safeguard.

”He probably won’t make it by noon... Fatty will be at the Campus Newspaper office until the ’Extra’ is released,” Xiao Xiao sat in front of the desk, opened his notebook, and stretched, ”He might attend the opening of the Huntsmen Art Exhibition as a journalist, but that’s not certain.”