High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1155: Chapter 217: Self-Defense

Jiuyou Academy’s Dormitory Hill, inside a cramped single room.

Nicholas got up a bit early today, just before dawn had fully broken, as he clambered out of bed, fumbling and sitting wrapped in his blanket at the corner of the bed, gazing outside through the blurry glass at the heavy sky. His expression was weary.

On the gray stone desk in front of the bed, there lay an open copy of the Beta Town Post, the dim light sneaking in from outside clearly showcasing the headlines in bold—Weekend Roundup: Fishman Demonstration, Publicly Funded Student Suspected of Murder, Jiuyou Academy Student Speaks His Mind.

Not far from the Post, there was a folded copy of the First University Campus Newspaper, featuring a significant article as well. Compared, however, to the Beta Town Post’s provocative and ambiguous headlines, the Campus Newspaper’s choice of words was considerably more tactful—Sepulano and Sir Friedman make statements, and both of them are paying attention to this student.

It was evident that both newspapers had been read and reread many times; the pages were full of fine creases, with many paragraphs and words highlighted with red lines.

After a long while, Nicholas finally let out a deep sigh and cursed softly,

”Damn it to hell.”

He was the student mentioned in the Campus Newspaper, the one ’watched by Sepulano and Sir Friedman,’ and the same Jiuyou student from the Beta Town Post who ’spoke his mind.’

But this was not good news, especially in the current climate of public opinion.

Nicholas didn’t fancy himself better at handling such whirlpools of public discourse than Zheng Qing, especially not as a transfer student thrice-over with average grades and without any claim to fame or honors. His present situation was truly worrisome.

”You were just voicing your opinion at the wrong time, in the wrong place... none of this is your fault,” Liu Fei Fei had comforted him, her words still echoing in his ears.

The Witch had not distanced herself from Nicholas because of his mistake, but had instead stood steadfastly behind him, offering encouragement, ”Don’t let gossip and rumors affect you, you are a man, be brave... aside from the current public opinion, what you said wasn’t wrong, was it? We indeed support a righteous cause.”

In theory, she was absolutely correct.

But reality does not operate on theory.

The reality for adults often defies reason.

Even the most correct statement, misplaced in the wrong context, can be utterly wrong—as Tang Dun had once told him after a class, ”When expressing opinions, one must consider their stance. If you’re biased, don’t blame others for reprimanding you. With our status, who are we to talk about being ’objectively neutral’? As part of Jiuyou Academy, we inherently bear the academy’s label!”

Nicholas had never claimed to be ’objectively neutral,’ nor did he intend to be any sort of opinion leader.

He had only accepted that interview from the Beta Town Post for the fifty bronze coins as ’throat-soothing fee.’ Had he known it would lead to such a commotion, he would have never done it.

Reality has no ’ifs’ or ’buts.’

Everyone must take responsibility for their own words—if they do not wish for others to shoulder the burden for them.

With these thoughts, Nicholas suddenly stood up, throwing off the blanket wrapped around him, and rubbed his face vigorously before slapping himself forcefully, ”You’re a man... you can’t let a girl stand in front for you.”

As a publicly-funded student and top performer in her freshman year at Jiuyou Academy, Liu Fei Fei had recently faced immense public pressure, a situation brought about by him. Nicholas wanted to change this.

Even if he couldn’t provide total shelter from the storm, he had to figure out a way to make her stand in it a little more easily, to feel a little warmer.

Resolving to act, he pulled out the chair in front of his desk and sat down with a flop.

He then smoothed out the manuscript paper he’d already prepared, and grabbed the gray feather pen from the ink bottle.

”You finally decided to pick me up,” the feather pen cried out angrily, ”I’ve been drinking ink all night... have you figured out what you want to write?”

”I’ve figured it out, figured it out.”

Muttering to himself, the Warlock moved the feather pen over the manuscript paper and without a moment’s hesitation wrote down his name—Nicholas Green Oswald hereby makes the following declaration...

Outside the window, the mist hung low, the spring air waning.

...

...

In front of Book Mountain Library at Jiuyou Academy,

early-rising witches queued, ready to enter.

”Things have been feeling so weird around the campus lately,” Jiang Yu sighed softly, standing behind Liu Fei Fei.

”Really?” the top student, clutching a copy of ”Philosophy of Magic,” rocked her head as she read and looked around in bewilderment, ”Isn’t everyone just studying like usual?”

Indeed, judging by the scene in front of the library, the students of Jiuyou Academy were all studying diligently.

But this was a survivorship bias.

”Don’t you think there’s been too much talk about Nicholas in the newspapers these past few days?” Jiang Yu hinted meaningfully, ”Even Sir Friedman and Sepulano have expressed their opinions.”

”It’s not like he did it on purpose,” Liu Fei Fei finally caught up with the rhythm of the conversation, replying sullenly, ”And, he didn’t really say anything wrong in essence... There are also many topics about Zheng Qing in the newspapers.”

Jiang Yu bit back the urge to argue. Zheng Qing was different from Nicholas.

Unlike the somewhat naive bookworm in front of her, Jiang Yu, who came from a great wizarding family, could see Nicholas’s situation much more clearly than most students in the academy.

As the saying goes, when many point fingers, sickness ends without disease. The pressure of public opinion is terrifying in any society. And even more so in a wizarding world that believes in the power of the ”True Word” and ”Decrees Becomes Law.”

”Maybe you should suggest to Nicholas to take a few days off to rest,” Jiang Yu considered, offering her own advice. Time was always the ultimate solution to ease conflicts.

”No way,” Liu Fei Fei shook her head vehemently, serious, ”This is the most crucial time of the academic year, we can’t afford a delay... He’s already spent two years in the first grade, there’s no more time to waste. We might as well just keep our distance.”

Jiang Yu let out a deep sigh.

Suddenly, a groggy voice piped up next to her.

”Rest?” Li Meng, clutching a stuffed bear and with eyes not fully open, inquired, ”Cousin, isn’t the library opening? Are we going back to rest?”

She had not caught the main point of Jiang Yu and Liu Fei Fei’s conversation, focusing only on the one word she most wanted to hear.

Though she too stood in line to enter the library, it wasn’t really her intention. Compared to queuing, she’d much prefer to spend Saturday morning playing chess with the Duke of Zhou and enjoying some tea.

But with Jiang Yu, her industrious and serious cousin, the little witch’s wishes were but a luxury.

”Wake up! You haven’t written a single word for your Magic Script homework!” Jiang Yu shook Li Meng’s shoulders vigorously, ”For such a young girl, why so much sleep early in the morning!”

Li Meng finally sobered up a bit from the vigorous shaking.

”There are still two days to go,” she mumbled, holding the stuffed bear tighter. The stuffed bear wisely kept its mouth shut, not daring to interrupt while the two mistresses discussed studying.

”You only have this morning to do your homework,” Jiang Yu added coldly, ”For the rest of the time, I’ve prepared three sets of exam papers for you. Stop thinking about slacking off.”

Li Meng’s face immediately fell, making her feel as though her entire life had dimmed a great deal.

Much like the foggy morning that lay before them.