High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 986: Chapter 48 Starting from Houdou

Beta Town is a wizard town with a diverse array of civilizations.

The Forest Goods Market, located near the North District port of the town, boasts a comprehensive and varied selection of goods, which attracts representatives of different races, civilizations, and powers. This diversity blends together, creating a unique architectural style.

The buildings here are not tall, with most of them staying below ten meters. However, the materials used in these buildings vary greatly, ranging from commonly seen red bricks, bluestones, and black tiles to lightweight wood panels, lush greens of bamboo, brown beast skins, to crystal-clear ice blocks, shiny metallic structures, and even buildings entirely made of white bones and colorful foam.

And similarly, the architectural styles of these structures are equally diverse and eccentric.

Just by walking around the periphery of the market, Zheng Qing saw a wooden boat-shaped restaurant, a castle-like inn built of bluestone, a bar nestled inside a big tree, a supermarket beneath bamboo huts, and a huge, square golden tent, which dazzled the eyes and left one awestruck.

Zheng Qing could understand why the buildings weren’t tall.

Because this market is situated close to the Silent River port, at the edge of the Silent Forest, it is in the most remote area of Beta Town and not completely under the protection of First University—even the community that sits at the foot of Alpha Fortress where Beta Town is located doesn’t belong to First University. They were born because of First University, but it has no obligation to ensure the safety of the town.

Even if First University has levied some taxes from the town.

In contrast to this precarious sense of safety, many dangerous magical creatures live in the Silent Forest and Quiet River outside the town, many belonging to high-risk categories as defined by the Mage Alliance.

Intelligent beings like the Centaur, Mermaid Tribe, Goblin Tribe, Giant Tribe, and some ancient Dragon Beasts could be negotiated with for peaceful coexistence. However, numerous wild magical creatures without such intelligence were not bound by these restraints.

In seasons of abundant food, it’s fine since those unintelligent creatures steer clear of wizard-controlled areas under the influence of instinct. But at the tail end of winter, the onset of spring when food is scarce, their hunger instinct overpowers all other fears, driving them to attack the town and plunder food.

At any time, a tall figure is a conspicuous target.

After several rounds of such attacks, the residents of Beta Town gradually grew wise. They discovered that by making their homes lower and more compact, as long as they did not exceed the height of the large trees at the edge of the Silent Forest, they could greatly reduce the risk of magical creature attacks during specific times.

Thus, the buildings in Beta Town now display an interesting pattern—the closer they are to the forest edge, the lower and simpler they are; the closer to Alpha Fortress, the taller and more ornate they become.

But low buildings don’t mean small spaces, and simple style doesn’t mean lack of personality. In this era, where pleasing everyone is difficult, learning to be versatile is one of the key reasons for Beta Town’s survival.

Wizards from the South Seas like bamboo huts; those from the North Pole prefer ice houses; wizards from the prairies are accustomed to living in tents; those from the rainforest only dwell in tree nests; the old-fashioned lone wolf wizards like to build magic towers filled with traps, and the traditional wizards from Europa prefer to live in ancient stone fortresses.

All of this, clustering together, presented before Zheng Qing without a hint of discordance.

”Indeed, human adaptability is the most powerful force in this world,” the young funded student couldn’t help but remark during his visit.

Half a year ago, he was still in a gloomy city, speaking ordinary words, being an ordinary person. Now, he’s able to weave through a peculiar world with ease, looking at extraordinary figures, and doing unimaginable things.

This kind of upheaval often gives rise to a feeling that the affairs of the world are incredibly fickle.

”Strength does not come from adaptability, but from habit,” Xiao Xiao squatted in front of a stall selling magical creatures, checking on the few little Houdous in the cage while seriously answering Zheng Qing, ”Once you develop a habit, the feeling of maladjustment naturally disappears. Moreover, this isn’t about strength... it’s about rules.”

”Rules and strength aren’t necessarily at odds,” Zheng Qing unconsciously retorted.

Doctor Xiao uttered a skeptical snort through his nose but did not continue to engage with Zheng Qing on the issue.

Right now, most of his attention was concentrated on the cages in front of him.

To be precise, on the few little Houdous inside the cages.

Houdous are a very typical type of fire-eating magical creature. Unlike creatures such as Fire Dragons or the ferocious fire beasts that can consume people and meat, Houdous only eat flames, and at most, actively burning charcoal or fire oil. Furthermore, their excrement is flame, too, though it loses most of its heat after passing through them.

For example, blue flames going in might exit white; yellow-white flames might turn to orange-red upon exit; and orange-red going in could come out purple-black – it’s different with each fire, the nuances are plenty.

Overall, the stronger the Houdou, the higher the quality of flame it requires.

Most of the time, these marvelous magical creatures live deep in the craters of volcanoes and are very rarely seen near the outskirts of Silent River. Especially now, at the end of winter, nature is extremely unfriendly to such creatures.

The little Houdous in front of him appeared to be only a few months old, barely able to lick at the purple-black remains of some charcoal fires, barely clinging to life. Zheng Qing found this quite difficult to watch.

Of course, feeling compassion didn’t mean he was prepared to take these little ones home out of kindness.

Not to mention that the vendor of magical creatures, seeing the distinct First University aura about the three young wizards, was asking for a lion’s share; but even just buying the Houdous and figuring out where and how to keep them presented a big problem.

Taking on responsibility without any preparation is actually irresponsibility.

Zheng Qing considered himself to be a responsible person.

So, he wouldn’t buy them, and he also wouldn’t suggest that Xiao Xiao did.

”We’re just looking. You don’t really plan to buy it, do you?” Zheng Qing couldn’t help but tug at Doctor Xiao’s collar as he noticed that Xiao had been squatting at this particular cage for a bit too long, ”We haven’t even finished buying all the materials we need for next semester’s potions!”

”Just leave him here; let’s go buy it ourselves!” Xin Fat Man was also getting impatient.

Hearing the urging of the two young men, Xiao Xiao had not yet responded when the vendor of magical creatures became anxious first.

”These are very purebred Houdous! I’m selling each for just under two jade coins... whether you keep them as magical pets or use them for experiments, it’s a great deal!” the vendor, wearing a dragon leather jacket and a leather cap, said very earnestly to the two young wizards, ”If it weren’t for the fact that I have too many animals and can’t take care of them all, I definitely wouldn’t want to part with them.”