High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1955: Chapter 176: Lunchtime

Upon hearing the news that Carmen was looking for Elena, Zheng Qing wasn’t as calm as he appeared in front of Xin Fat Man. However turbulent his inner emotions were, he couldn’t let it show in front of his companions.

Because this matter involved too many unspeakable secrets—Mr. Wu, the Outer God, the Forbidden Curse, his ’death’ and ’rebirth’, and even the contract he signed with Jiang Yu.

Each of these things was precious information that Black Wizards outside the school would go to any lengths to obtain.

This state of mind left him distracted during the office meeting, barely catching what the members of the Hunting Committee were discussing.

It wasn’t until the meeting ended, when he walked out of the office building with the meeting minutes, that he came to his senses at the sight of Xin Fat Man and the lunchbox he was holding, with the enticing aromas of grilled meat, rice, and pickles in the air.

”Going to the library?”

Xin Fat Man took the meeting minutes from Zheng Qing, reading through the parchment greedily without lifting his head, and asked, ”We can stay until afternoon classes start... the Doctor should still be there.”

”Eat first! No food allowed in the library.” The young cost student snatched the lunchbox from the Fat Wizard, and the two of them found a cat-free bench under the shady trees and sat down.

As he opened the lunchbox, Zheng Qing sighed contentedly—getting Xin Fat Man to help with lunch was the best decision. He always found the tastiest options in the cafeteria.

The long-grain rice was golden, not the color of frying, but the magical hue of magic plants. Draped beside the rice, the grilled meat smeared with vivid chili sauce immediately whetted one’s appetite. A few fresh, crisp pickles added to the mix made Zheng Qing’s mouth water before he’d even started eating.

For the first bite, he bypassed the rice, grilled meat, and pickles, opting for the fried banana at the edge of the lunchbox. Coated in condensed milk, the fried banana eased the Warlock’s hunger, preventing him from squandering this delicious meal like Zhu Bajie with the Ginsengfruit.

”So, is this year’s school Hunt Competition still student-run, huh?”

Xin Fat Man, flipping through the meeting notes, predictably started to complain: ”Last year, the school delegated power because they were busy with major events in the Black Prison, leaving the professors with no time... what about this year? Are they hoping to see another rabid demon dragon in the freshman competition?”

During last year’s freshman competition, poor pre-clearing left a demon dragon, unscreened, hiding in the hunting ground.

That was a very dangerous incident.

You see, demons that have undergone proper ’screening’ won’t fatally harm fresher hunters due to the effects of the Causality Turning Curse, unlike that dragon, whose bite was truly lethal.

Luckily, the worst-case scenario didn’t occur, sparing the lives of many student council and club leaders—it’s said this incident was one reason why Lei Zhe and Augustus ended their terms early.

”I suppose it’s to train us.”

Muttering through a mouthful of fried banana, Zheng Qing, not bothering to wipe off the condensed milk from his lips, already had his eyes set on the grilled meat, responding in a muffled voice: ”Last semester, when the professors were in the Black Prison, the student council organized the cleanup of the Black Tide well... as for the previous school Hunt Competition, barring the demon dragon, it was well-organized... and this year, the professors are also quite busy.”

”Is it for the Black Prison World’s reconstruction project?” Xin mused, subconsciously mentioning Union Academy’s President: ”I wonder if Old Yao will participate in this year’s opening ceremony.”

”His projection counts as participation, just like he’s done in classes these past few weeks.” Zheng Qing picked up several pieces of grilled meat and stuffed them into his mouth, snorting, ”As for hosting the hunting competition, no way... each academy takes turns hosting one year. Technically, it’s Starry Sky Academy’s turn this year.”

”I’ve always thought President Sun’s true form was especially impressive.” Fat Man couldn’t help but sigh with envy, recalling the imposing Pottery Figurine Warrior he saw in the Black Prison.

This time, Zheng Qing didn’t respond.

Because an unknown tortoiseshell cat had settled in front of him, curling its tail and gazing eagerly at the lunchbox in his hand.

”Can’t give you any. The meat has chili sauce on it, and it’ll give you diarrhea.” Zheng Qing warned, waving his chopsticks to shoo it away.

”Meow~!” The tortoiseshell emitted a soft cry.

Zheng Qing found it hard to resist such sounds.

”One piece! Just one piece... don’t come to me if you get a stomach ache from it!” The young cost student warned incessantly, picking up a small piece of meat, wiping the chili sauce off on the rice, and tossed it in front of the little cat.

A crunching sound quickly emerged from near his feet.

The young cost student seized the opportunity to shovel rice furiously, lest the tortoiseshell finish and start wailing again. Whether gobbling it down wasted the deliciousness was no longer part of the equation.

Before he’d even dug in twice, while his mouth was still crammed with food, Xin Fat Man’s scream interrupted him.

”What the heck? This year’s school Hunt Competition rules have changed?”

Xin Fat Man’s voice sounded like a cat having its tail stepped on, startling the tortoiseshell gnawing on grilled meat to leap sideways.

Realizing there was no danger, the tortoiseshell cat yowled angrily at Fat Man before dashing back to its piece of grilled meat, resuming its nibbling.

Fat Man didn’t mind the cat’s reaction.

He grabbed the young cost student’s arm, giving it a vigorous shake: ”...are you kidding? What was the student council thinking? The hunting party’s rules aren’t child’s play, how can they change like that? And this year, the school Hunt Competition is allowing freshman hunting teams... this is nonsense!”

Zheng Qing hurriedly chewed two more bites, chased the food down with juice, swallowed hard, and gasped while hitting his chest to clear it: ”What? The rules changed? To what? Haven’t freshmen always been allowed to join the school Hunt Competition?”

Xin Fat Man gave the Warlock an exasperated glance.

”Last year we entered a derivative event of the school Hunt Competition, the Freshman Competition.” He quirked a brow and shook the parchment: ”Besides, don’t you know if the rules changed? Didn’t you go to the meeting?”

Zheng Qing didn’t feel the least bit embarrassed, replying with a tone as righteous as Li Meng’s typically was: ”I daydreamed, didn’t listen, haven’t you ever spaced out in class?”

This retort immediately turned the tables, leaving the Fat Man speechless.

Zheng Qing, taking advantage of the moment, decided not to further provoke Fat Man, paused, and naturally returned to the previous topic: ”...so, how did the rules for this Hunt Competition change?”

Saying this, he took a bite of the pickle, then shoveled a large scoop of rice and grilled meat into his mouth.