High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 540: Chapter 209: Owad and Sima_1

”If we’re just comparing hunting abilities, we could leave them in the dust by miles.”

In the small world, the hunting ground.

Luke looked at the hunters of the Clover hunting team in the distance, then glanced at the nervous wild demons on the baobab tree, and grudgingly added: ”that is, if they play fair.”

”Looks like it, they don’t seem to have any plans for a fair competition.” Ani Black squatted halfway on the ground, one hand on his knee and one hand moment in the grass, tilting his ears to distinguish the signals nature was sending: ”...If I’m not mistaken, that yellow robe newbie from Clover should be a druid...”

”Nicholas Dunnigan, from the Crimea Peninsula, the ’Ovate’...” Zhan Shichen started, only to be interrupted by an urgent and tiny voice.

”Sor, sorry... Sharp Fork, what does Ovate mean?” Peter’s slender voice came from behind him.

Zhan Shichen paused, sighed softly, and explained:

”Ovate is the lowest-ranking clergy in the druid order—similar to a deacon in Catholicism, but not quite. They hardly bear any external responsibilities for the order and are mostly focused on learning. It’s somewhat similar to our status.”

”After a long period of learning, an Ovate can become a true druid.”

”So, as I said, that student from Atlas isn’t really a ’druid’ yet. I guess when his hair turns from green to blue, then to white, he’ll be a druid. But regardless, it speaks to his talent that a man of Slavic origin has secured a spot to further his studies in a Druid order filled with Cornish and Brittany folks.”

Zhan Shichen retrieved his compass again, patiently observing the needle’s sway in the Tianchi while quietly analyzing Clover’s opponents to his companions:

”Relatively speaking, I’m more worried about that scholar with the oriental face... I remember his name being Sima Yi, right?”

Recorder tilted his head, looking at Black who was deep in thought: ”Is he related to the history teacher Mister Sima ... or rather, is he related to the Sima family?”

The Sima family is a well-known ’Recorder’ family in the wizarding world and one of the oldest families. The most prominent members of this family do not devote their talents to the development of magic theories or the refinement of spells, but rather to the tedious task of ’recording history’.

The specific responsibilities bestowed on them has given the family a neutral status which, combined with a lengthy history, has lent them a profound background. Even the great demons rampaging in the wizarding world might sometimes show the Sima family some respect, allowing them to objectively record events on-site.

The Sima family has consistently focused on the First Academy since its establishment.

There have always been members of the Sima family present at the school - studying, teaching, or simply visiting. Young wizards from the Sima family who choose to study at the First Academy are mostly dispersed into Alpha Academy. Only a very few, like Sima Yangyun, manage to complete their education at Jiuyou Academy for one reason or another.

Zhan Shichen clearly remembers that the wizard who held the title of the publically-funded student for four consecutive terms and once served as the president of the First Academy student union was a Sima. A few years ago, the young witch from Alpha Academy who applied for the registered wizard exam just over a year into her studies was also a Sima.

With such remarkable achievements, they naturally draw attention.

So when he noticed that there was an additional ’Sima’ on the opposing side, Clover, he instantly became alert.

”If there is one, it’s a distant relative... the kind outside the five degrees of kinship.” Ani Black didn’t lift his head, but affirmed assuredly: ”If he were truly a bud from the Sima family, he wouldn’t have kept such a low profile in school for so long. And I definitely would have recognized him... I’ve never seen him at the Shanglin Garden Spring Hunt.”

The Shanglin Garden Spring Hunt is an important social event for wizard nobility — especially for the younger wizards of these families. Hosted every spring in the renowned secret location ’Shanglin Garden’, hence the name. Everyone who receives an invitation to the Spring Hunt is either a direct descendant or an outstanding individual from a wizard family.

So, if he didn’t meet ’Sima Yi’ at these gatherings of younger generations of wizard families, it is highly possible that he isn’t the ’Sima’ everyone is worried about.

Still, it isn’t entirely reassuring.

”Maybe he’s just naturally lazy,” Zhan Shichen paused, then added: ”...Being the right aide in Clover, he can’t be worse than Arthur Ness?”

”Arthur Ness is a complete waste of space.” Ani Black scoffed at the left auxiliary hunter of Clover.

This attitude won a round of laughter from his companions.

Perhaps in response to their casual demeanor, the grass beneath the hunters’ feet suddenly stretched its leaves, like tendrils, twining around their calves and boots.

The deer that were patiently grazing were suddenly alarmed to find that their ’food’ was rebelling. Panic-stricken, they attempted to flee, but found their hooves tightly bound by the grass. As they attempted to pull free, they stumbled and fell flat on their backs.

”Tch, can’t handle even the slightest provocation.” Luke plucked a long thin blade of grass, stuffed it into his mouth, chewed while chuckling: ”...it seems like, that ’Ovate’ is just of this level.”

As if in response to his words,

the once quiet grass was lively again. Some lengthened their forms, weaving ropes, while others grew fine saw-teeth along the edges of their leaves. They began to wriggle under the hunters’ feet.

”There’s no lethality... but it’s very annoying.” Ani Black lifted his leg to break free from the entanglement of a few grass blades and commented: ”And the choice of plants is terrible... if he could control the devil vine, he might give us a little more trouble.”

”I reckon his range of control isn’t that wide... the trouble he’s causing us should be a result of fine-tuning.” Zhan Shichen spun the compass in his hand, speculating.

”Is... is that so?!” Peter jumped surprisingly, dodging a few creeping grass blades. He looked uneasily at the grass underfoot and muttered, ”What the heck is that druid... trying to do?”

”What else can they do... trying to rob us.” Luke spat out heavily, spitting out the grass that had been chewed to bits. He then strode towards the team leader.

When the deer fell, the witch had already alighted gently beside it.

Now, she was standing with one hand on her hip, the other on her long sword, head held high, looking at the towering baobab tree in the distance.