High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1524: Chapter 268: Aftermath One

The heavy ”(Baike Quanshu)/”Encyclopedia” fell from the desk but was gently lifted mid-air by a soft force, floating to another bookshelf and steadily slotting into the gap there.

The Yellow Flowered Cat’s soft fur bristled, resembling an angered hedgehog.

Mr. Wu’s gaze shifted back from the direction of the museum.

He glanced at the irritable Flower Cat and said calmly, ”This isn’t the child’s fault. When I saw those images in Yog’s domain, I already knew... As a Little Wizard, he doesn’t have the power to refuse gifts descending from higher dimensions. It’s like raindrops descending from the sky, drenching the seedlings in the fields. The seedlings might know they are cared for by farmers and are not worried about lacking water, but when the rain comes falling, can they refuse it?”

”You could totally build a glass greenhouse to block those random showers.” The Flower Cat smoothed its bristling fur, snorted disdainfully.

In the distance, the pitch-black horizon rumbled with thunder.

”He can’t stay in a greenhouse forever.” Wu, holding a small red clay teapot, observed the pearly mist escaping from the spout and exhaled lightly: ”Just like an Ugly Duckling can’t always mingle with a flock of ducks... From the day that seed was buried in the soil, it was destined to grow into a towering tree. And a greenhouse cannot contain a towering tree.”

...

...

”Whether greenhouse flowers can bloom outdoors is the question we need to think about for the next step.”

At First University, in the Two-Dimensional Evolution Lab, outside a temporary barrier, Su Shijun, adorned with red glasses, stood before a crowd of researchers delivering the summary following the experiment’s conclusion:

”...Whether the transcendents cultivated in the lab can guide Wizards in the real world towards the path of transcendence is the original purpose of establishing this lab and also the ultimate goal of progressing dimension evolution experiments.”

”Today’s experiment was very successful; we now have the second experimental subject to transcend the two-dimensional world...”

A researcher dressed in a white robe raised a glass box, just in time. Inside the box lay a pitch-black Little Snake, lounging in a pile of sawdust, lazily flicking its tongue.

A silver plaque was embedded on the box, etched with the word ’Foil.’

Su Shijun’s gaze moved away from the transparent glass box and returned to the crowd: ”...If transcendence from the two-dimensional world to the real world is achievable, then we have reason to believe that the real world can transcend into higher dimensions. Similarly, if the lab can cultivate the first and second transcendents, we can certainly cultivate transcendents in different dimensional states in the future!”

”Today’s success is not the end of the Two-Dimensional Evolution Lab; rather, it is the mark of the true beginning of its work!”

”I believe the Logic Prize and Merlin Medal are already within arm’s reach of every member in this lab!”

Applause erupted in the spacious yet confined lab.

Su Shijun noticed that outside the crowd, Greenhill Mansion’s Head Maid, Su Man, was quietly bowing to her, and she frowned. She knew Su Man wouldn’t interrupt her work over trivial matters.

The Witch waved a hand, signaling the researchers to continue their work.

The crowd quickly dispersed, the celebratory atmosphere giving way to focused discussions as researchers grouped in small clusters to analyze the dimensional fluctuation data retrieved from this experiment and the collapsing timelines of evolution observed. Many remained gathered around the transparent glass box, studying the lazy Little Snake inside, whispering about the ’Foil’ performance in different two-dimensional worlds, hoping for unique inspiration.

Su Man ghosted silently to her mistress’s side.

”What is it?” Su Shijun held the experimental report submitted by the researchers, her Feather Pen sketching rapidly as she asked absentmindedly, ”I’ve told you before, unless the School Guardian Array gets bombed, don’t bother me... Has the school truly been bombed?”

”The school hasn’t been bombed.” Su Man replied respectfully, flipping her hand to reveal a jade bracelet and presenting it before her mistress: ”But the Guardian Array has signaled that there’s trouble at the school.”

Su Shijun raised an eyebrow.

This bracelet was something she had entrusted to Su Man.

More precisely, it was a bracelet given to her by Old Yao to monitor the school’s safety. If the bracelet emitted light, it meant the school was facing trouble that required intervention.

During the recent two-dimensional evolution experiment, the bracelet had been faintly glowing, which was quite annoying, so Su Shijun had handed it to her Head Maid for safekeeping.

Now, the bracelet gleamed like a hundred-watt bulb, attracting the curious stares of the researchers in the lab.

The Witch’s palm passed over it, and the jade bracelet vanished into her sleeve, taking its blinding glow with it.

Like other Witches, Su Shijun loved things that gleamed, but she didn’t appreciate this particular bracelet shining so brightly—it meant major trouble at the school requiring her presence as the stationed Big Wizard.

”What’s the issue?” She shut the experimental report, her tone slightly irritable.

”There’s a violent magical reaction within the Magic History Museum of First University,” Su Man reported swiftly, with clarity and structure: ”According to the Protective Array Monitoring Room’s staff, there’s a strong Geiger reaction onsite, highly likely belonging to otherworld interference in reality... Other sources suggest that the interference might be connected to Dreamland.”

”Other sources? Dreamland?”

”It’s a conclusion synthesized from information gathered by the School Works Committee, Wandering Bar, Trident Sword, and Moon Council channels.”

”Was this caused by Demons?” Su Shijun furrowed her brows, displeased—such events amidst major experimental breakthroughs were bound to be irritating—however, Qingqiu’s upbringing and the dignity befitting a Big Wizard compelled her to rein in her annoyance promptly:

”Were there traces of Demon activity near the museum? I recall Professor Yao mentioning they were planning something recently.”

Su Man assisted Su Shijun in removing her white robe and replacing it with a red coat.

”Currently, we cannot rule out that possibility.” She whispered near her mistress’s ear: ”But according to information from the Council, there’s also the possibility of Outer Gods’ involvement...”

”Which one?”

”Shub-Niggurath.”

”I don’t recall any connection between Her and Dreamland. Why Her?”

”Because eyewitness accounts and Trident Sword’s records confirm Nicolas’s projection had appeared in Beta Town... For now, all possibilities are merely speculation, with no definitive evidence.”

”What do Shen Tu Yu Lei have to say? What’s planned for the school?”

”Tonight, they only witnessed a student-led Hunting Team entering the museum with proper authorization... No unauthorized infiltrations were detected. The School Works Committee indicated an upgraded risk level for the School Guardian Array but cited insufficient manpower to fill the critical nodes of the upgraded formation... The Executive Committee has proposed supplementing manpower by involving fourth-year students in array maintenance tasks...”

”Where did this Hunting Team come from?”

”...According to reports, it’s led by Zheng Qing.”

”Damn it,” Su Shijun finally couldn’t hold back and muttered a low curse: ”Why is he causing trouble everywhere... And Poseidon?”

”Poseidon is at Greenhill Mansion, under Su Ya’s care.”

”Smart of him.”

With that, the maid pushed open the lab’s doors, and the silhouettes of the two Witches swiftly faded into the campus’s dim shadows.