High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1297: Chapter 44 Standing by with folded arms

”One thousand frogs, representing one thousand spells—regardless of their strength, one thousand spells is an quite an impressive number. The frogs raised in the neighboring pond, I fear, do not even number a thousand.”

”Moreover, this Trickster mentioned that he could provide even more frogs in the future.”

”Under such terms, even the few Northern District Wizards seated at the long table could not help but straighten up a bit. And the slightly flattering reference to the ’Gene Mage Group’ made the corners of the mouths of the old people originally from Gini Cottage twitch, revealing a look of interest.”

”Only Sister Korma, seated in a black high-backed chair, showed no change in expression.”

”After a long while, she finally spoke, her voice not loud, but it clearly echoed throughout the entire hall, giving it an exceptionally solemn air:”

”Many good people have died in the past.”

”Brave, kind, intelligent, cunning, fearless, strong, stubborn, and so many, many good people have died in the past.”

”Some for ideals, some for convictions, and others merely to survive, struggling to live on. Then these good people, they all died in the past.”

”We who are alive, must not forget the past.”

Accompanying Sister Korma’s reflective tone, the North District Mages on both sides of the long table unanimously bowed their heads in remembrance. The middle-aged Trickster crawling in the center of the hall buried his head even lower, displaying even greater reverence.

”...murder, betrayal, plunder, exploitation, deception...”

”Someone must pay the price for these deeds.”

”And there should be those who seek justice for the tragedies of the past and uphold righteousness.”

At this point, Sister Korma paused, as if thinking about what to say next. The Wizards seated in the hall keenly sensed the tense atmosphere slowly permeating the air, their spirits growing more taut.

Meanwhile, the middle-aged Trickster on the floor began to tremble.

Sister Korma looked at his splendid robe, incongruent with that of a Trickster, and suddenly let out a light laugh, ”Just now, you mentioned you would provide us with one thousand, or even five thousand frogs? Where do you get your frogs from?”

Of course, by having the Tricksters capture them, quick and cheap, isn’t that how people in the North District always do it?! The thought had just flashed through Zheng Qing’s mind when he suddenly came to a realization—even if half of the North District Tricksters transformed into Northern District Wizards, it would mean a significant shrinkage in the abundant supply of cheap labor, driving labor costs through the roof.

This would affect the interests of many related parties.

Like the middle-aged Trickster who applied for a spell brand, according to Zheng Qing’s simple understanding, he should belong to the ’comprador’ or ’capitalist’ class within the Trickster community, obtaining high returns by exploiting his own kind and colluding with the Black Wizards.

”So... you shouldn’t have come here.” Sister Korma curled her lips slightly, ”We were bound to meet. But not like this. Things should have developed differently. We would have come to find you, to find all of you.”

”In that case, I would not need to waste my breath, nor would you need to kneel until your legs became numb.”

The hall fell silent.

The Northern District Wizards’ fierce gazes were fixed on the middle-aged Trickster seated along the long table, just waiting for the Queen on the black chair to give the signal, and then they would swarm forward to tear him to shreds.

But atop the throne there was no response.

Two strong, Grey-robed men came around from behind the hall, dragging away the Trickster who had collapsed on the floor. Zheng Qing, standing behind the teacher, had witnessed everything from beginning to end.

”How do you view Sister Korma’s approach?”

”How do you evaluate what Sister Korma just said?”

”How do you evaluate Sister Korma?”

The gentleman stood silently with his hands in his sleeves, not turning around, but instead posed three questions to Zheng Qing in quick succession, much like a teacher asking students after presenting a case in class.

Zheng Qing furrowed his brows in thought for a moment before slowly responding,

”People hate what they fear... Wizards and Tricksters, or Tricksters and Wizards, it’s all the same. But revenge does not dissolve enmity. It only adds to it.”

”Of course, I am not opposing the Northern District Wizards’ clearing of the originally corrupt Northern District system.”

”Any society is always in a state of dynamic equilibrium, balance between individuals is needed to maintain the most basic order. From the moment Sister Korma became a Big Wizard, the original balance of the North District was already broken. People of the North District, including other areas of Beta Town, even the First University, even the entire Mage Alliance, all need to readjust the weights in their hands to ensure that the balance that maintains order is not destroyed.”

”The Trickster who acted as a ’comprador,’ and the group he represents, are the discarded weights.”

”From this perspective, there’s nothing wrong with Sister Korma’s reasoning or actions.”

”I support her.”

Having said this, Zheng Qing nodded with self-satisfaction, proud that he could analyze the deep sociological principles behind the scene before him.

Then, the gentleman turned around, his eyes holding some disappointment.

”Is that all?” he asked softly.

Zheng Qing began to feel a bit flustered, looking around and even gazing up at Sister Korma who sat on the high-backed black chair, before finally stuttering out an addition,

”Sister Korma knew of the Trickster’s past misdeeds, and in this, she was wise in her knowledge of people; the Trickster did not realize what his actions meant in the eyes of Sister Korma... that is a lack of self-awareness.”

These words, the young scholarship student had summarized based on what the gentleman had said before class. It was a bit far-fetched, but Zheng Qing couldn’t find another angle to approach from in that moment,

”Having self-awareness is precious; daily reflection on oneself is very necessary... In this great hall, many who just shed their Trickster identities, now adorned in fine clothes, indulging in delicacies, have forgotten their past pain; but Sister Korma has not lost sight of her original intentions... not losing sight of one’s original intentions is the key to enduring.”

After finishing his muddled speech, Zheng Qing was exhausted—such high-sounding yet ultimately hollow talk was not his forte, that was Xin Fat Man’s domain.

The gentleman let out a small sigh, ”You’re vaguely on the right path, but not profound enough... like flowers seen through the fog, or the moon viewed from behind a window.”

You’re no different from me with that kind of talk!

Zheng Qing rolled his eyes internally but couldn’t help recalling a certain monkey’s trials in seeking enlightenment, giving the gentleman a few extra glances, worried that he might miss out on any cryptic message.

Was the gentleman standing sleeve-handed now to tell me I should ”seal my dwelling and silently recite the Yellow Court”? Or was he saying, ”A myriad of words and proper advice are not as good as silence”? Or maybe ”The carefree gentleman in the green field stands with hands in sleeves, yet laughs while everyone else is alert”?

The young scholarship student was lost in wild thoughts when he saw the gentleman begin to walk upstairs.

Stepping into thin air, as if ascending stairs:

”Let’s leave it at that for now, next I’ll take you to see another case.”

Zheng Qing grasped at the gentleman’s sleeve in a hurry, mentally shouting ’wait for me,’ and followed him up.