High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2300: Chapter 521: The Beginning of the Margins

With the increasingly lively magic tides in recent years, the Wizard World has been witnessing the emergence of more and more young wizards, and the call to establish a new academy within the entire Alliance has been unceasingly heard. Every year, between the entrance examination and the start of the academic season, those heavyweight newspapers are inevitably filled with extensive discussions and analyses about this matter.

The only question is whether this new academy will be established within the First University, becoming the fifth academy of the school, or will it be independent of the First University, only sharing this giant Buji Island with it.

Of course, regardless of the situation, the establishment of a new academy must receive the consent of the First University.

Because in its early stages, it will inevitably siphon off the resources, power, destiny, and even the prestige monopolized by the original four academies of the First University—In a sense, the Alliance is eager to see such things happen.

Similarly, the emergence of the new academy will also bring great benefits to its initiators and builders.

Benefits of every kind.

Just thinking about this, the Old Fishman, who initially decided not to heed the suggestion of the Northern District Wizard, suddenly felt his heart stir, and even the long-declined magic power within him couldn’t help but throb, as if celebrating and cheering in advance.

A big piece of fat meat that has not yet been cooked is a huge temptation for many people, and everyone would want to take a bite—this was the second thought that popped into the Old Fishman’s mind, and he didn’t even need to manipulate dominoes or a crystal ball to predict how many coveting eyes the establishment of this new academy might attract.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but turn his head and seriously scrutinize the young witch beside him, wondering if she knew the value of this plan and suspected whether she could guard this precious treasure.

However, thinking of the rumor on Buji Island, if this young witch beside him indeed has a good relationship with the newly acclaimed legend, Rat Immortal, then she might be able to protect this fruit.

Korma noticed the gaze from beside her.

She mistakenly thought that her recent daydreaming had been somewhat arrogant, attracting the scrutiny of the Old Fishman, so she hurriedly restrained her emotions, slightly shifted her conversational focus, and softened her tone:

”...I’ve always believed that Fishmen and Wizards aren’t too different—from wandering in the ancient magic tides to rising and falling in the gentle tides of fate—the distance between us and you is far less than the distance between us and the starry sky. Since Wizards can encompass the starry sky, why can’t they leave us a little gap?”

She looked at the old professor, her eyes bright, making the Old Fishman feel as if her eyes had replaced the hidden moon in the sky, illuminating everything around them transparently.

He unhooked the Da Lian hanging on his belt, reached inside, lowered his head, and his voice returned to its initial murkiness:

”Indeed, just as you said, Horse-Men, Minotaurs, and even some of the already civilized Troll tribes would welcome your proposal. As for us...”

The Old Fishman withdrew his hand from the Da Lian, clutching a worn parchment book, and after wiping off the moss that adhered to it, he tore off the decayed clasp and turned to hand it to the witch:

”If you really audited my class, you should know the phrase I often mention to my students in class—destroying order cannot bring freedom; only order can bring freedom—just like the diviners’ oracle. For your proposal, this phrase also has two interpretations; one is not to heed your suggestion to ’destroy the existing order’, and the other is to heed your suggestion to ’establish a new order.’

If it were before the Battle of the Black Prison, I would have chosen the first interpretation. But after the Battle of the Black Prison, the increasingly surging magic tides between heaven and earth told me the old order has already been gradually disintegrating, and the new order isn’t completely established yet... So this time, I chose the second interpretation.

The Fishman of Lin Zhong Lake has been in the school for a long time and had some muddled thoughts about the establishment and operation of several academies... Take this book and use it as a rough reference.

May the Principal bless us, and I hope we all have good luck.”

The witch, looking solemn, reached out to receive the book.

It didn’t move.

The Old Fishman held onto the book tightly, seeming somewhat uneasy as it was being taken away: ”Have you really made up your mind? You should know, establishing a new academy is not just about finding some stones, laying a few walls, or piecing together a few shabby labs... Alliance, school, Silent Forest, Silent River, you will face countless unsolvable problems...”

”You and I are both edge people, and what is the most important for edge people?”

The witch exerted a little force and pulled the book into her hands, her lips curling into a brilliant smile: ”It’s the attitude. The attitude of not fearing difficulties, being indomitable, and disregarding everything as insignificant.

Ever since I was sensible, I had to solve at least three unsolvable problems every day... During the day, I go to the Silent Forest to pick mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms to make soup for everyone; at night, I steal the water mussels raised by the Kappa on the Silent River to earn some living expenses; I still have to complete the magic assignments assigned by the teacher, learn how to prepare effective magic potions with as few materials as possible... For the people of the Northern District, living has always meant facing countless unsolvable problems.”

The Old Fishman looked at the witch with emotion: ”Everyone says you were lucky to achieve the Big Wizard status at a young age. Now it seems, every coincidental success has its inherent conditions.”

The witch raised three fingers: ”Just like those three dilemmas that appear daily... In this world, there are three things on which the more deeply and enduringly I ponder, the more vividly they evoke surprise and awe in my heart. One is the vast starry sky above us, another is the morality within us, and the third is the courage of the Northern District Wizards who struggle amidst hopelessness. Those who have seen light have that strand of light buried in their hearts, called hope; but for those who remain perpetually lost in darkness, the courage to seek the light... That’s the reason I can never give up on them.”

Her words expressed her determination well.

The Old Fishman nodded slightly, feeling very satisfied inside.

”Your newly established... educational institution,” he chose his words carefully, cautious and serious, already beginning to play a role of some advisor: ”Is it an academy or a school?”

’School’ implies independence from the First University, although there would be fewer constraints, the benefits you can share from the Alliance or Buji Island would also be fewer. You know, this world originally doesn’t just have the First University.

As for an academy—

The Old Fishman had already begun to ponder which professors among the First University’s four academies might become the new academy’s friends and which professors might be everyone’s enemies.

”Naturally an academy,” Korma clenched her fist, as if trying to cheer herself: ”After all, the school originally planned to expand with one more academy... right?”

Obviously, she wasn’t entirely sure about this either.

Professor Garcia chuckled, now sensing the youth of the young girl before him.

He pinched the large yellow-skinned frog in his hand, giving the young Big Wizard no more pressure: ”There are too many young Wizards from marginalized groups within the Alliance who wish to learn high-level magic but are unable to do so. If you fulfill their dreams, even with just an ordinary academy independent of the First University, you will earn their gratitude... You should also know, this academy will make you a legend among all the marginalized. An edge legend, though not far off, will inevitably stand at the edge of legend.”

Having finished this, perhaps feeling the young witch before him still too youthful, the Old Fishman couldn’t help but add a wordy remark: ”...What I mean is, it’s only a matter of time.”

Korma lowered her eyelids, her tone as calm as her expression.

”It’s almost impossible, as the consequence of advancing opportunistically is that the foundation is too thin.” Her voice carried a hint of self-mockery and a touch of relief: ”I guess if I were really to have a chance of reaching that step, the school might not agree to the establishment of this academy. The First University is big, yet also small. It cannot accommodate too many legendary existences.”

”Have you decided on the name for the new academy?”

”Edge Academy.”

The witch answered softly: ”It will be the academy for the edge people and will also become their sanctuary. The prosperity and greatness of a society are never seen through the height of mainstream culture but through whether edge people also have the right to survive and develop. By the way, you’ve raised quite a good number of frogs... how about selling me tens of thousands of them?”

”Tens of thousands?”

The approval on Old Garcia’s face vanished at the speed of light, and his fist clenched tightly, squeezing the large yellow-skinned frog in his hand so hard that its long tongue flailed wildly, its eyes almost popping out:

”Do you think they are cockroaches? Even with cockroaches, there’s no reason to want tens of thousands at a time!”