High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 711: Chapter 59 Explanation_1

Building 601 East, spell class classroom.

The classroom door is closed, blocking out the frigid chill outside.

The north wind howls outside the window, causing the glass to tinkle, reflecting the young wizards’ trepidation in the room.

Dressed in a gray uniform, a small elf carries a hot pot of tea, sliding down from the ceiling, flapping its wings and landing on the lectern, silently filling the professor’s cup.

Old Yao picks up the cup, takes a sip, and sighs contentedly.

”Nothing beats the taste of the classroom tea.” The professor strokes the teacup in his hand, strolls around the podium leisurely, and rambles on, ” I’ve become so used to the school that anywhere else feels unusual... even the taste of water doesn’t seem right.”

Below the stage, the young wizards of Astronomy Class 08-1 finally put aside their sorrowful moods, widen their eyes, and exchange glances. The information Professor Yao hinted at sparked everyone’s interest.

’Where is this ’other place’? What were the professors doing? From Old Yao’s words, he’s been out of school recently? Are the other professors not in school either?’

”Old Yao...” Li Meng was the first to raise her petite arm and speak out. Among the entire Astronomy Class 08-1, or perhaps the entire Jiuyou Academy, or even the entire first university, perhaps only this little girl would dare to inquire in this manner during class.

Professor Yao raises his hand, grinning, indicating for the little witch to lower her arm.

”Don’t worry, don’t worry, I know what you want to ask.” The professor obviously guessed the question everyone was concerned about, and said in a relaxed tone, ”However, as is my custom, I will pose a question before answering one...”

”Since when does he have this habit...” Zheng Qing couldn’t help but turn his head to look at Xiao Xiao, muttering under his breath. The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted it- because just as he turned his head back, he saw Professor Yao’s sparkling eyes.

”Zheng Qing!” The professor shouted with vitality, ”Our Merlin Medal winner, the stipend student of Jiuyou Academy, it sounds like you’re impatient to speak...”

The eyes of the other students in the classroom turned in unison towards the young stipend student, filled with pity.

Zheng Qing stood up with a long face, hesitating whether to speak.

Since Old Yao already called him out, not saying a few words wouldn’t let him sit back down quietly, so he might as well hear what his question is first. Fortunately, they are all adults, and they shouldn’t deal with classroom conflicts by making one stand in the corner or calling parents.

”What do you know about the Silence Tides?” Unexpectedly, Old Yao’s question was very simple, so simple that even Zheng Qing, who had just entered the wizarding world for over two months, had some understanding of it.

Upon hearing Old Yao’s question, Zheng Qing let out a sigh of relief. In addition to the influence of Dr. Xiao on weekdays, he had heard Dr. Du Zemu, from the Abnormal Creatures Research Institute, talk about this natural phenomenon.

”The Silence Tides are a unique natural phenomenon on Buji Island.”

”Every late winter and early spring, around the Forbidden Magic Festival when the Return Soul Poplar leafs out its first bud, the well-fed literary ray herds that roam the deep sea swim upstream via the broad and tranquil Silent River to the depths of the Silent Forest.”

”The beasts in the Silent Forest that had been sleeping all winter were already starving, waiting specifically on the banks of the Silent River to hunt the migrating fish... From downstream to upstream, almost for an entire month, the Silent River stays deep red.”

”Because this phenomenon occurs in the Silent Forest and the fish continue to return in waves like a tide, it’s called ’Silence Tides.’ Another theory is that since the literary ray do not speak but only migrate in silence, they are called Silence Tides.”

After explaining, Zheng Qing hesitantly looked at the professor, not sure if he could sit down now.

”Very good, very good!” Old Yao put down his teacup and softly applauded, ”If I wasn’t familiar with transfiguration, I would almost believe you and Xiao Xiao swapped identities...”

The joke wasn’t funny at all.

Zheng Qing forced a smile, considering it a face-saving gesture for the professor with the beetle head on the podium.

”However, although the explanation was clear, there is no credit reward.” Old Yao waved his hand, indicating Zheng Qing to sit down, and then turned to the others, ”As you all know, this year’s Silence Tides came a lot earlier than previous years. What do you think are the implications?”

The people below glanced at each other and no one spoke.

”Never mind, feel free to speak your minds. If you’re not clear, you can try divination, and see what you can predict,” Old Yao encouraged everyone, apparently not worried about the time wasted in his spell class.

As soon as the professor finished speaking, a clattering sound resounded in the classroom.

Crystal balls, tarot cards, divination tokens, cao herbs, tortoise shells, copper coins, and a wide variety of divination tools were taken out by the students, who were deep in thought and scribbling calculations on their draft papers.

”We don’t need the process, as it’s too complicated and we don’t have that much time.”

”We don’t need the data either. While you can use your own data for calculations, there is no need to reveal your findings. Although I don’t want to burst your bubble, I don’t think your data have much practical relevance. Of course, they might barely be sufficient for trend prediction.”

”One course credit for the first person to give a valid answer...”

Before Old Yao could finish, Xiao Xiao, sitting in the back row of the classroom, suddenly stood up. Just a few seconds slower, Iliana also raised her hand.

Zheng Qing bit the end of his pen, squinting his eyes towards Dr. Xiao’s face. He was considering whether to poke him in the waist or the leg.

Xiao Xiao subtly moved a few steps towards the window, avoiding the potential attack range of Zheng Qing’s pen.

”Alright, alright, Xiao Xiao has already stood up.” Old Yao shouted, and also nodded at Iliana, ”And Joan... er, who would like to go first, you guys?”

A lament echoed in the classroom - sometimes, the world can be so unfair.

Xiao Xiao adjusted his glasses, heard an almost inaudible threat nearby, and finally let out a sigh: ”Ladies first, let Iliana go first, professor.”

”No, professor. Xiao Xiao was faster than me... and he’s already stood up.” Iliana refused Xiao Xiao’s humility and, half-jokingly, pointed out his current state.

Old Yao folded his arms and looked back and forth between the two divination students several times, finally nodding at Dr. Xiao, ”Alright, Xiao Xiao, as per my requirement, you were the fastest.”

At the back of the room, Zheng Qing sighed in disappointment.

He turned his head to look at the corner on the other side, where Iliana had already lowered her head and started to put away her tarot cards.