High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2277: Chapter 498: The Afterglow of Christmas

It was approaching midnight when Zheng Qing finally returned to the academy.

If it weren’t for Su Shijun granting Zheng Qing a special pass in advance, Grandpa Niwu would never have allowed the young cost student to enter the dormitory. To the Bronze Beast, coming back late was as hopeless as hyperactivity.

The lights were still on in Room 403.

As Zheng Qing pushed the door open, he was almost hit in the face by a cloud of thick smoke mixed with a foul stench, nearly making him vomit up last night’s dinner.

”Have you all gone mad?” The young cost student’s good mood for the evening vanished in an instant. He pinched his nose and let out a sharp cry that sounded like a duck being strangled: ”Performing magic experiments in the dorm could cost you academic credits!”

”Gentle Breeze!”

Xiao Xiao’s slightly muffled incantation resounded through the smoke. A gentle breeze appeared out of nowhere, rolling up the stench and smoke, transforming them into a slender tornado, which rushed straight out of the window.

Then, Zheng Qing saw his roommates neatly dressed in Dragon Skin Protective Suits and wearing protective masks.

”This isn’t a magic experiment.”

A muffled voice came from the short figure in the Dragon Skin Protective Suit, filled with grievance: ”We need to renegotiate the fee for helping you unwrap gifts.”

”A few Anti-evil charms aren’t enough.” Xin Fat Man removed his protective mask and let out a long sigh. His chubby face was greasy with sweat, and his gaze at the young cost student was exceptionally firm.

Only then did Zheng Qing notice the mess of gift boxes scattered on the ground — most of them had been opened, leaving just a few sealed with Yellow Talisman Papers. They occasionally trembled in place, emitting suspicious sounds.

Compared to when he left, there seemed to be more charred marks on the walls and ceiling around the dormitory, and his curtains were torn and tattered, as if a giant claw had fiercely raked across them.

Perhaps noticing the shocked expression of the Warlock, the Fat Wizard explained with a cold laugh: ”You should be thankful that Dylan was the one opening the gift boxes, not you... The Blood Race’s teleportation magic talent far surpasses your mediocre Escape Technique.”

Zheng Qing swallowed subtly.

After a moment, he hesitantly asked, ”Where are Tuan Tuan and the Sprites?”

”In my coffin. It’s not safe outside.”

Mister Blood Werewolf also removed his protective mask — the young cost student noticed a barely visible thin blood scar on his cheek, which was probably the mark left by the claw wind mentioned by the Fat Wizard.

”Do you need Bai Xian or Snake Oil?” Zheng Qing looked uneasily at the scar on Dylan’s face, feeling deeply apologetic: ”Or you could go to the campus hospital... I can completely reimburse you!”

”No need.”

Dylan turned his head slightly, making the scar more apparent, with a subtle tone of pride: ”Don’t you think having a scar on the face adds more manliness? I’ve participated in unlimited fighting so many times, always wanting to get a scar... But unfortunately, the Blood Race’s and Werewolves’ regeneration abilities are too strong; many times, before I can make it to the campus hospital, my wounds have already healed.”

His words were filled with a sense of regret.

Only then did Zheng Qing realize that Dylan came from Starry Sky Academy and had a completely different worldview and values from these ’bookworms.’

On the other hand, Xiao Xiao and Xin Fat Man were not as easygoing.

”The claw wind Dylan encountered should be mixed with a curse originating from the Voodoo cult,” Xiao Xiao removed his protective mask, his tone somewhat serious: ”Voodoo’s lingering curses are notoriously hard to dispel. Many African small tribal priests will also mix their inherited spellcraft to modify them, making it difficult to find a corresponding antidote in the standard anti-curse system... I actually recommend he go to the campus hospital tonight.”

”It’s not that serious!”

Mister Blood Werewolf was determined not to remove the scar on his face: ”My intuition tells me that within a week, this little scar will disappear without a trace, without even leaving a scar.”

Seeing Dylan’s insistence, Zheng Qing suddenly realized a peculiarity.

”Aren’t you going to class today?” He pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time, noticing it was almost midnight. According to Mister Blood Werewolf’s schedule, he should be in class now.

”Today is Christmas, a statutory holiday at Starry Sky Academy.” The Fat Wizard answered Zheng Qing’s question on behalf of Dylan, bringing up the previous topic again: ”Don’t change the subject... We defused so many ’bombs’ for you. What kind of reward are you planning?”

”What do you want?” Zheng Qing asked straightforwardly and pulled out a Grey Cloth Bag, recalling how much gold was left in his little treasury.

”What did you give Poseidon for Christmas?” The Fat Wizard pulled out a Feather Pen and notepad as if out of thin air, rubbing his hands like a plump fly: ”I don’t want gold, just this answer.”

Zheng Qing opened his mouth, eventually choosing to remain silent and turned to look at his other two companions: ”What about you two?”

”If possible, I’d choose the same ’reward’ as the Fat Man.” Dylan stood before the dressing mirror, examining the scar on his face. In the end, he added, ”Oh, it’d be even better if you could get a congratulatory card signed by Su Councilor.”

”I can help you get the card, but the Christmas gift is a personal secret, and I won’t disclose it!” The young cost student flatly refused his roommates’ request, pulling out a small bag of gemstones and pouring them onto the desk: ”Here, choose some gemstones for yourselves.”

”Don’t think I don’t know, these gemstones were tributes from those furballs on the Cat Fruit Tree!” The Fat Wizard grumbled, yet his actions were very honest, quickly selecting the stones he liked.

These gemstones were very useful in magic experiments and alchemy.

While his companions picked over the stones, Zheng Qing also counted his Christmas gifts.

”Why are there so many books?” Zheng Qing dug through the stacks upon stacks of seemingly tedious reference books, expressing his bewilderment.

”Probably, to people at other academies, the Jiuyou People’s favorite gift is books.” Xiao Xiao adjusted his glasses and reminded him: ”Even Sir Friedman, Sepulano, they also gave you books.”

”They give me books; they book-give me.”

The young cost student mumbled, gathering them while trying to find some enjoyment in these dreadful gifts. Eventually, his gaze fell on those gift boxes sealed with yellow talismans, still unopened: ”... What do you plan to do with these?”

”The Doctor suggests using a Fire Curse to burn them directly, and Dylan suggested selling them to Apple Pavilion — they love these quirky gifts when making ’Pandora’s Magic Boxes’ — I think handing them over to the school might give a lesson to those who sent these gifts.”

The Fat Wizard, satisfied with his small pile of gemstones, responded happily.