High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1568: 312 Chapter A Long Night (5)

From Gu Diao Street to Danghag.

The direct distance spans thousands of kilometers. If flight magic were used, Korma estimated she’d be hanging in the sky for a long time. Fortunately, Gu Diao Street is located on Buji Island, which boasts the Wizard World’s highest density of Clock Portal systems.

So, as Venus barely glimmered in the night sky, the newly promoted Big Wizard from the North District had already donned her cloak and was standing at the entrance of Danghag’s foreign affairs reception office.

It was her first time in Danghag.

In her imagination, this place should resemble other ancient magical institutions, adorned with dazzling golden decorations, exquisite carvings everywhere her eyes could see, air filled with the scent of Cao Herb and mugwort, and wizards donned in robes of various colors hurriedly passing by, austere and silent.

But in reality, it resembled a cold, sterile bank branch.

Silver-gray dominated the space, while an air of closure defined its ambiance. On both sides stood towering cabinets tens of meters high, filled densely with mailboxes. In the middle was a narrow corridor, which ended at a sturdy glass window. In front of the window sat a soft chair, and behind it, a chubby witch.

She was wearing an iron-gray uniform, had a white silk scarf tied around her neck, and had polished red nail polish on her ten plump fingers. Perhaps her nail polish was the most vibrant thing in the entire space.

Korma noticed the enormous circular dial behind the witch. A pointer on the dial swung gently, and the markings weren’t numbers but various departments—such as the Filing Court, Execution Bureau, Joint Court, Foreign Affairs Bureau, Criminal Trial First Court, First Civil Judicial Court, Judicial Supervision Court, First Circuit Court, and more.

In front of Korma stood another visitor—a tall, thin wizard clutching a notepad under one arm and a feather pen clipped behind his ear, constantly jotting things down. When his turn came, he promptly sat in the soft chair.

”Attending Su Councilor’s inquiry meeting,” the thin wizard explained while continuing his scribbling. ”Are all other members present?”

”Including you, the inquiry committee is complete now, Duke,” replied the chubby witch behind the glass window.

Snap—the feather pen’s tip broke against the notepad, as though the calculations went wrong. The thin wizard cursed under his breath, finally raised his head, and adjusted the brim of his hat. ”Where is Su Councilor now?”

”She’s on her broom,” replied the receptionist witch behind the glass.

’A witch riding her broom’ meant she was traveling—or about to land. It was an old-school wizard idiom, rarely used by the younger generation anymore.

The thin wizard muttered something under his breath, drumming his fingers lightly on the armrest of the chair.

After stamping a series of seals, the witch behind the glass handed over a sheet of paper. Then Korma saw the pointer on the massive circular dial behind the witch swing swiftly toward ”Judicial Supervision Court.”

The thin wizard in the chair suddenly became enveloped in a blur of mosaic, flickered for a moment, and vanished without a trace.

Korma felt a flash of realization. Stepping forward, she walked to the glass window and sat in the soft chair.

But before she could speak, the chubby witch behind the glass raised her index finger and spoke quickly, ”First time here?”

The guest raised her eyebrows lightly, nodding in reply.

The chubby witch sighed. ”Do you know the question I get asked the most?”

The question once again broke Korma’s train of thought.

She tilted her head, pondered briefly, and replied, ”How long do I need to wait?”

”Why are we doing this,” said the chubby witch, shaking her finger with a slight sense of melancholy. ”Why am I doing this, why are you doing that, why aren’t they doing that... Why not do it this way, I think this method is better, blah blah blah blah.”

”Because of regulations?”

”No.”

”...To make it all seem official?”

”No... Excuse me, hold on a moment,” the chubby witch interrupted, retracting her wagging finger, apologetically smiling at the guest, then turned and shouted toward a corner behind the glass window, ”Jacqueline! I saw your ponytail!”

Korma removed her hat and followed the receptionist’s gaze.

She then saw a young witch with a ponytail stumble out from the corner, running toward them clumsily. Perhaps due to her oversized robe, she tripped several times on her short journey.

”Jerry stole Tom’s cat treats and even beat him up,” the little witch sobbed, wailing. ”I tried to stop him, but couldn’t...”

”Tell Spike to help!” the chubby witch gestured grandly, shooing her away.

The little witch muttered assent and clumsily scampered off again.

”Apologies,” the chubby witch turned back, looking at Korma with a beaming smile. ”The reception office is understaffed, and pet management has always been a problem. So, I’ve asked the younger generation in my family to help... Did you bring a pet?”

”No.”

”Good to hear.” The chubby witch clearly let out a sigh of relief.

”Um...”

Just as the guest was about to speak again, the chubby witch continued, ”Where did we leave off?”

Korma was silent for a moment.

”It’s my first time here. What do I need to do?” she helpfully steered the conversation back on track.

”Right, first time here,” the chubby witch seemed entirely unaware that the dialogue had veered off previously. ”First-time visitors to Danghag must provide valid documentation, which includes but isn’t limited to a Wizard Covenant-issued universal passport, meeting invitations, extraterrestrial passports, New World pioneering qualifications... hmm, as long as it’s issued by an official organization, it’s accepted here.”

Korma pondered for a moment before pulling out her student ID from underneath her cloak.

Not too long ago, she was still a student at First University—her enrollment hadn’t even been formally canceled yet. Surely this student ID was still within its validity period.

The chubby witch accepted the ID.

”Ah, a First University student?” She pinched the ID between her fingers polished with bright red nail lacquer and deftly pulled a mounted magnifying glass closer, peering at the document. ”Wow, you’ve already completed registration as a wizard... Another future elite? Oh, a student council vice president no less... The document is genuine and valid!”

Snap—a red seal was swiftly stamped on the student ID’s title page.

”Your purpose for visiting?” She stuffed the ID back and pulled out a form from nearby while glancing at the guest, continuing to ask, ”Observing a trial? Applying for an internship? Visiting friends? Or are you standing in for one of your professors at a meeting?”

Korma paused briefly.

”Seeking assistance,” she answered honestly.

”Refreshing motive,” the chubby witch briskly recorded the guest’s purpose of visit, simultaneously directing her to sit properly. ”Hands on the armrests, sit up straight... good, hmm... lower the head a bit, young one. Your height exceeds the teleportation array’s limit!”