High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1859: Chapter 80: Trial’s End

Thus, the discussion about the origin of the Two-headed Ogre ended without resolution.

The young wizards of the Absolution Hunting Team returned to the complicated yet necessary post-battle cleanup work.

Aside from the tasks like skinning, extracting tendons, and collecting the ogre’s eyes and heart, which are magic materials, they had many other things to do. For instance, re-confirming if there were any significant changes in the map of the hillside area, clarifying the earth’s energy and veins disturbed by the ogres, and finding a scenic hilltop with a broad view for a picnic.

Today was the last day of the seven-day trial, and other teams participating in the trial were striving to complete their final tasks to aim for a good rating or above.

Only a team like the Absolution Hunting Team, which had gained a significant advantage from the start, could afford a leisurely half-day picnic on the desolate trial ground, sitting on the hilltop, gazing at the giant Earth Dragons winding and gliding at the horizon’s edge.

By the time the picnic concluded, it was already afternoon.

Considering there wasn’t enough time to take on and complete new tasks, the group slowed down their pace even further, taking nearly two hours to return to the trial camp.

Even then, they were the first team to return to the camp today.

Before entering the camp gate, Xiao Xiao tugged on Zheng Qing’s sleeve.

The young cost student turned back, puzzled.

”A previous remark by that Old Crow reminded me of something.”

Looking at the dead raven hanging over the camp gate, the Absolution Hunting Team’s diviner weighed his words and lowered his voice, saying, ”Speaking of which, your Little Snake is indeed remarkable... but also a bit troublesome. The school doesn’t allow us to use pets or alchemical items on the trial grounds for the sake of fairness. Make sure this Little Snake of yours doesn’t get discovered... it would cost you points.”

Zheng Qing quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

When Xiao Xiao first spoke up, he feared the Watermelon Head might be planning to report him.

”It should be fine,” the young cost student replied with seeming nonchalance, though he wasn’t entirely confident, using a tone of certainty: ”If the school could discover it, they would have sent it away on the first day... just like they did with Furry Bean. If they didn’t notice it before, there’s no reason they suddenly will today. Besides, nobody can prove it’s my pet or alchemical item.”

Even though the last sentence sounded somewhat like sophistry, Zheng Qing was sincere.

He’s just a young wizard from First University who had just completed his first-year studies and hadn’t even started his second-year studies, let alone claimed the ’remains’ of a top Ancient One.

Yes, in Zheng Qing’s heart, whether that Little Green Snake was a residual essence of the Sea Demon King or something else, it wasn’t something he could meddle with. He always regarded it as a ’tenant’ in his ear. If the school discovered the Little Green Snake and wanted to do something with it, Zheng Qing would welcome it with open arms.

But he seriously doubted the school’s elder wizards would be so stubborn.

”It’s good that you’re mentally prepared.”

Xiao Xiao patted Zheng Qing on the shoulder, turned back, and took one last glance at the dim skies over the distant wilderness: ”Don’t end up like some people, ’diving into their fate without any experience or mental preparation, like falling into an abyss.’”

Zheng Qing stroked his smooth chin, feeling that his diviner had become increasingly profound.

In the camp, the teammates were handing over their day’s hunts to Old Verne.

The Two-headed Ogre’s body was packed into a palm-sized black box by a young supervisor. The spine bone with an embedded nameplate was wrapped carefully in a small piece of deerskin and sealed with a gold imprint, then put away cautiously into his coat.

This supervisor, dispatched by the Trial Committee as a third-party observer for the young wizards’ trials, had been interacting with the young wizards from the Absolution Hunting Team for nearly a week. He was somewhat stiff, and Li Meng regularly enjoyed teasing him. However, today, even though the supervisor wanted to seize the One-eyed crow, the little witch didn’t react much.

”According to the content of your report, this crow was transformed by the demon art of an Ogre Shaman. For everyone’s safety, the school must detain it.”

The supervisor’s gaze swept over Old Verne, Zheng Qing, Jiang Yu, and finally landed on Li Meng: ”...If you have any objections or requests, you can submit them to the Trial Committee and the School Works Committee.”

The last sentence was mainly because he had heard that the little witch had kept the crow as her pet for a day and was worried she might cause trouble, so he pre-emptively warned her.

In response, the always somber Li Meng, since waking up, only cast a glance at the listless Old Crow and accepted it calmly without causing a fuss.

She was still concerned about having fainted on the battlefield.

Even though several teammates — including Zheng Qing, who wanted to complain the most — reassured her repeatedly that it wasn’t her fault, the little witch couldn’t get over it.

After all, wasn’t she the only one who passed out?

Zheng Qing noticed the little witch’s dejection and looked worriedly at Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu made a reassuring gesture towards the young wizard.

”We have no objections.”

The captain of the Absolution Hunting Team felt slightly relieved, quickly agreeing to the supervisor’s request. However, after hesitating a bit, he asked a question that had puzzled the teammates for a day: ”But there is one strange thing... This crow was under the demon art of the Two-headed Ogre, and theoretically, the demon art should have been nullified after the Two-headed Ogre’s death... Our hunting team’s diviner was also forcibly transformed, yet after the Two-headed Ogre’s death, he reverted to his original form.”

As he spoke, he pointed to Xiao Xiao and then to the One-eyed crow squatting on the ground: ”But it hasn’t changed back at all. We tried using restoration magic on it, but it was to no avail.”

”It indeed sounds peculiar.” The supervisor examined the One-eyed crow in surprise, then glanced at Xiao Xiao, and once more at the report in his hand: ”You didn’t document this!”

Zheng Qing blinked, glancing at Xiao Xiao.

Xiao Xiao maintained a stoic expression and remained silent.

The incident of transforming into a frog was something Doctor Xiao had expressly requested to be removed, much like Li Meng’s fainting episode, as part of their ’dark history,’ and to avoid any additional point deductions, Zheng Qing agreed to it vaguely.

Old Verne stepped forward, his big hands prodding the diviner of the Absolution Hunting Team, frowning as he asked, ”Feeling any discomfort? How about mentally? Has there been any change in the compatibility with the flesh? As a diviner, you should be sensitive to these things.”

Xiao Xiao, not often subjected to such concern, seemed a bit uneasy.

”No... it’s all fine.” He shifted uncomfortably.

Upon confirming the young wizard’s well-being, Old Verne breathed a sigh of relief and cast a stern look at Zheng Qing: ”Trial reports must be accurate and complete for your safety. Magic such as Forced Transformation Spell might result in aftereffects on wizards and cannot be easily overlooked!”

”After the trial, the school will provide a comprehensive medical examination. Your report experiences will serve as important reference material for the therapists... This isn’t a trivial matter!”

”Regarding the crow,” Old Verne glanced at the One-eyed crow beneath his feet, shaking his head: ”Magic is never static, especially magic as intricate and advanced as the Forced Transformation Spell, not to mention that it was performed by a half-baked shaman. It’s no wonder if there’s been some mutation.”

”The school will handle the ensuing matters, so you don’t have to worry about it!”