High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2132: Chapter 253: I Have a Friend (Part 2)

Just like last time during the ’Burn Zheng Qing Da Parade’.

The cold front on Saturday night didn’t linger over the academy for too long. By the next morning, the sun was shining, and the weather had warmed up again. That evening during the class meeting, when the nervous young cost student walked into the classroom, he was surprised to find that the monitor showed no sign of being upset. Instead, in a good mood, the monitor even greeted him happily and handed him a colorful lollipop.

”That’s my lollipop!”

Li Meng whispered angrily on the side, like a golden retriever whose food had been stolen. But both parties ignored the little witch’s complaint.

”Did the aftereffects of the Transfiguration Magic act up these days?”

The monitor of Astronomy Class 08-1 brushed the long hair falling on the side of her cheek behind her ear and asked briskly, ”...I heard you went out for a walk again a few nights ago.”

”No, it didn’t. No.” The young cost student, feeling flattered, immediately took the lollipop out of his mouth, smacked his lips, and added, ”The shamans’ Moonlight Magic Essential Oil is very effective; I even applied some before going out today...”

Saying this, he deliberately turned his face sideways, seemingly to let the witch see the bright temple he had applied the oil on.

At the same time, the boy continued explaining tirelessly, ”These days, I haven’t visited anywhere other than the classroom, library, and dormitory. Saturday night was a society meeting that I had to attend...”

Speaking of this matter, the warlock couldn’t help but sneak a glance at the girl, seemingly wanting to confirm something.

The witch seemed oblivious to that sneaky glance, casually replying while tidying up the textbooks and homework on the desk, ”Magic essential oils are not panaceas. The factors triggering the aftereffects of transfiguration magic are very complex and full of uncertainty. I read a paper in the library this afternoon, mentioning there’s a tangled relationship between transfiguration aftereffects and ’Transformation Cognitive Barrier Syndrome’...”

The so-called ’Transformation Cognitive Barrier Syndrome’ mostly manifests in wizards after transformation, where changes in their life form lead to deviations in intelligence, memory, and even behavioral habits.

For example, after Zheng Qing initially turned into a cat, he quickly picked up bad habits like grooming, climbing, and purring. Such changes are not limited to the surface; more profound, bidirectional feedback might occur - like Zheng Qing’s increasingly vigorous curiosity, which he finds hard to determine whether it is due to him becoming a cat or if he was originally predisposed to liking to explore matters.

From this perspective, maintaining a certain level of ’animal abilities’ and maintaining a certain level of ’animal habits’ after returning to human form don’t seem to make much difference.

Seeing the thoughtful expression on the boy’s face, the witch slightly smirked and quickly jotted down a string of numbers on a piece of paper torn from her notebook:

”...Hmm, this is the index of that article; you can look it over in the library next time, maybe you’ll get some new ideas. Additionally, Professor Montreya and Doctor Duzem have profound knowledge in magical creatures and bloodlines; you should find some time to discuss with them.”

With that, she handed the note to the warlock.

Zheng Qing glanced at the slender familiar handwriting on the note, a silly grin appearing on his face. He was about to say something when the stick figure behind the door started yelling:

”Old Yao is here! Old Yao is here!”

He could only smile apologetically, clutching that note as he hurried back to his seat.

...

...

The next day, Monday.

Seizing the leisure after lunch, Zheng Qing, following Jiang Yu’s suggestion, went to the Abnormal Life Research Institute in the East Zone of Beta Town, intending to chat with Doctor Duzem about his transfiguration aftereffects. However, at that rundown little yard, he only met the old servant, Constantin.

”Master has gone out, not sure when he’ll return.” The old servant would only repeat this sentence: ”Master is someone doing big things... Would you like some coffee?”

With the master not present, Zheng Qing felt it inappropriate to continue disturbing and had to leave sheepishly.

As for the other reference provided by Jiang Yu - Professor Montreya - there was no need for the boy to specifically visit the research institute because, this semester, Professor Montreya had taken over from Lady Emma as the Magic Language Professor for Astronomy Class 08-1, and he could be seen every Tuesday afternoon.

Therefore, after the Magic Language class on Tuesday afternoon, as soon as Professor Montreya departed the classroom, the young cost student quickly exited, catching up with the equally hasty professor at the end of the corridor.

”Which part didn’t you understand just now?”

This was the first question the professor asked upon seeing Zheng Qing.

Despite having assisted in Professor Montreya’s lab for some time last semester, Zheng Qing hadn’t had any private dealings this semester, so the professor’s first thoughts were still on the classroom material.

”No, it has nothing to do with the Magic Language class.” The young cost student quickly denied, hurriedly explaining his intention, ”It’s an extracurricular issue related to Transfiguration Magic...”

As he spoke, Gan Ning, the magical zoology lecturer, happened to pass by and stopped with interest.

Professor Montreya glanced at the unexpected visitor beside him and then looked at the slightly nervous expression on the young warlock’s face, patiently asking, ”Summarize it briefly.”

Zheng Qing cleared his throat and, bracing himself, began, ”I have a friend...”

As soon as this sentence was out, he immediately noticed both Professor Montreya’s eyebrows unapologetically raised, and Gan Ning’s face bore an inscrutable smile.

This made the boy’s cheeks flush slightly, subconsciously quickening his speech, ”...Uh, my friend used Transfiguration Magic some time ago and experienced some... like suddenly hearing sounds from far away and occasionally sprouting a tuft of transformed creature fur... He wants to know if this is considered a normal range of aftereffects and what should be done...”

”Head to the school hospital.”

Professor Montreya looked at him sternly, bluntly offering his opinion, ”Transfiguration Magic is a high-risk magic. Under normal circumstances, you lower-year students need to go through approvals and use it under school supervision. If there’s any discomfort during the transformation, first find the supervising teacher, and second, go to the school hospital, instead of casually stopping other professors after class.”

Zheng Qing drooped his head, already regretting his choice.

Moreover, the magical zoology lecturer beside him evidently had a different view, asking with interest, ”Moderate use of Transfiguration Magic wouldn’t cause aftereffects... How often does your friend use Transfiguration Magic?”

”Well, maybe just once or twice a week.” The boy mumbled in response, his tone filled with uncertainty, or rather a feeling of guilt.