High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2053: Chapter 274: An Aromatherapy Duck

”As for Absolution...”

On the podium, Professor Yao didn’t strain to maintain order; he merely tapped the lecture desk, raising his voice slightly: ”I believe everyone here knows them more than I, this old man... They’ve kept the momentum from last year’s freshman competition victory, showing a phenomenal level that surpasses most ordinary hunting teams. I think using the somewhat plain term ’super student hunting team’ to describe these young Hunters is quite appropriate.”

While speaking, he glanced at the back left corner of the classroom.

Whether it was an illusion or not, for a moment, Zheng Qing felt the aura of the projection on the podium grew more robust, and its gaze became more lively.

As if the professor’s gaze had truly swept over them.

The young public-funded student instinctively straightened his back, sitting up a bit more. Almost simultaneously, the students in the front row turned their heads uniformly to look at their corner, with eyes full of excitement, admiration, and envy.

”Second matter!”

The professor on the podium didn’t give the students more chance to chat, paused for a moment, then tapped the lecture desk again: ”About some arrangements for next week... including study arrangements, hunting competition arrangements... I actually think this matter should be mentioned at the outset... Does anyone know what week of the term we’re in?”

”Week seven!”

Scattered replies from the audience.

”Yes, it’s already the seventh week.” The professor raised his voice slightly: ”Tomorrow is the eighth week, and midterm exams are usually scheduled for the tenth or eleventh week, meaning that after the end of the Moon Hunting, you’ll have to face a new round of exams in your second year.”

The classroom was instantly filled with a chorus of sighs, following his subtle emphasis.

Zheng Qing could clearly feel that the spirits that had been buoyant under the school hunting competition had plummeted into a trough just because of this remark.

The professor’s tone softened a bit: ”I emphasize this matter not to discourage your enthusiastic participation in the school hunting competition, nor to ask you to redirect all your energy back to studying during this period. Rather, to say that you need to value more the balance between study and practice, practice and leisure... Every aspect of life is important, every task being done should be completed seriously, without divided attention.”

The atmosphere in the classroom gradually became more upright.

”The midterm exams are not an insurmountable hurdle,” the professor nodded with satisfaction and continued enthusiastically: ”Just like last year, most exams are class-based, with each professor independently setting the questions, including open-book exams... However, I suggest you set high standards for yourself because this test summarizes your mastery of magic knowledge at this stage, and it’s a great opportunity if you wish to identify and fill gaps.”

”Apart from the study aspect, some school hunting meeting arrangements also need your attention.”

”This part was originally planned after the third matter, but considering timing, I won’t waste your precious holiday last few hours, so I’ll give you a heads-up in advance.”

”Next week Monday to Friday, um, to be precise, until noon on Friday, there are no formal hunting competitions scheduled, but related derivative activities of the school hunting meeting will be held relatively concentratedly, such as freshmen experience competitions, hunting meetings, hunting garden round-ups, hunting dance events, hunting art exhibitions, hunting collection appreciation, etc. I hope everyone can achieve, as I emphasized earlier, a balance between various activities and studies...”

Zheng Qing’s ears slightly twitched, hearing the fat wizard in the front row gossiping softly with the red-faced male wizard next to him: ”...until Friday noon? Meaning the final is scheduled for Friday afternoon, taking up the practice class time.”

”Not surprising at all.”

Zhang Ji Xin pouted: ”It’s the so-called ’everything falls under practice,’ the opening ceremony counts as social practice, the school hunting meeting counts as magic practice, being occupied by Old Yao counts as philosophical practice... Practice is a basket, in which all matters big and small can be tossed.”

Even though the young public-funded student wasn’t part of their chat, he still couldn’t help but nod, indicating agreement.

”...Then the last matter, about the results of the school hunting meeting selection and the final rules.” The statement on the podium immediately pulled back the attention of those in the class who were distracted.

Including Zheng Qing.

He lifted his head, and the professor was reaching into his chest, seemingly retrieving the results sheet. The young public-funded student couldn’t help but perk up, sitting even more upright than before.

The entire classroom, only Nicholas might be more active; ever since the Fringe Hunting Team was commented as ’surprising’ by the professor, this tall and thin Northern District wizard had always looked restless, at this moment almost had his whole body leaning over the desk, seemingly wanting to help the professor pull out his hand from the chest.

The whole classroom held their breath, yet the projection on the podium wasn’t hurried, actions seemed slower than before. Zheng Qing couldn’t help but speculate whether Professor Yao’s body and the projection were too far apart, causing magic power to lag.

Fortunately, ’lag’ didn’t equal ’stall’.

The professor’s hand did come out, but unexpectedly, the item he withdrew wasn’t the results sheet, nor a notebook, but a fist-sized, round, brass duck.

The classroom immediately erupted in exclamations.

The little duck seemed frightened by these exclamations, curled up into a ball, head tucked under its wing making a series of crisp collision sounds, only then did Zheng Qing notice the little duck was made of brass.

”Quiet down, don’t frighten it!”

The professor scolded the young wizards who were being dramatic under the podium while knocking the back of the brass duck lightly with his fingers: ”...And you, you’re a brass duck, yet your courage is even smaller than that of a porcelain one!”

The duck quivered its head out, quacking twice.

”Hmm,” the professor dismissed it, pulling out a few pellet-shaped objects, stuffing them by the brass duck’s mouth: ”Quickly eat... Finish your task early, and go back to stay on the rack earlier, it’s safer there.”

The brass duck craned its neck, pecking up, gobbling the pellets within moments. Then, seemingly emboldened, it paced back and forth on the lecture desk, flapping its wings.

Mist-like smoke faintly drifted from its back with its movements.

Only then did the professor lift his head, offering a brief explanation: ”Regarding selection results and final scores, the student council and the Hunting Committee have decided to announce them collectively... The location remains the Dreamland, pretty much as usual, should be similar to the situation when you watched competitions before... This incense-smoke duck can help you better and more quickly enter the Dreamland... Don’t resist the sleepiness with magic power, otherwise, you might experience slight troubles when entering the Dreamland.”

Damn.

This was Zheng Qing’s last thought before consciousness fell into darkness, accompanied by the little magic power he had stirred up, now desperately dissipating.