High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2333: Chapter 554: Face to Face

It couldn’t possibly be just a simple robe that caused two companions to conspire against Zheng Qing. In fact, during several internal discussions, the Absolution Hunting Team had expressed some degree of suspicion about the relationship between the Northern District Wizards and the Raven.

Especially the owner of the ’White Crow’ pub captured earlier outside the Eagle Dragon Hunting Ground, whose thirst for magical knowledge and the kind of inner fervor and faith he expressed was something they had only seen in the Northern District Wizards before.

This time, Zheng Qing chose the Sakura Pub as the resting place for the Absolution Hunting Team, with the subtle intention of probing indirectly.

The incident that occurred tonight is a great opportunity to do so.

With these thoughts turning over in its mind, the Black Cat effortlessly climbed to the second floor and slipped in through the half-open door.

Every time Zheng Qing came to Jini Cottage, he could feel the visible changes here. From the number and quality of the candles hanging from the ceiling, to the magic runes embroidered on the curtains on either side of the long table, to the width of the hall—though concerning the last point, there might be a slight visual discrepancy as it was the Black Cat who came today.

But no matter what, the changes never stopped.

Just like the North District Grand-Wizard sitting at the end of the long table in the high-backed chair, every time Zheng Qing saw her, he could sense her aura becoming more solid and immense, and further removed from reality.

”Back already?”

Korma had a stack of documents in front of her and was holding a quill, sitting neatly at the table, correcting the documents. When she noticed the movement of the Black Cat, she merely glanced up and gave a simple greeting: ”Would you like to drink something?”

Only when she asked did the Black Cat realize it was somewhat thirsty.

”Plain water will do, thank you.” It jumped onto the long table, sitting elegantly with its tail coiled in front of it.

”Bring it a plate of beef jerky and a glass of apple juice... and the rest of you can leave.” Korma seemed not to have heard the Black Cat’s words as she gave orders unperturbed. A group of gray-robed Northern District Witches bowed their heads and silently retreated.

Only a Grand Wizard and a Black Cat remained in the entire hall.

The Black Cat inexplicably felt a bit nervous.

Soon, its beef jerky and apple juice were served. Perhaps to make it easier for the Black Cat to eat, the beef jerky had been carefully cut into small pieces, and Zheng Qing felt he could eat a piece in one bite.

”Is there something you need?”

Just as it finished eating the third piece, the North District Grand-Wizard lifted her head after correcting a document, looking at the cat which was quite far from her with a playful expression: ”Why are you staying so far away? Afraid I’ll eat you? Rest assured, I do have some self-awareness... considering you have Su Councilor, how could you possibly be interested in mundane people like us.”

The Black Cat choked on the piece of beef jerky in its mouth and had to quickly lap up a few sips of apple juice.

”Nonsense!” It retorted immediately after catching its breath.

”Oh?” Korma’s eyes brightened: ”Nonsense? Does that mean you are interested in mundane people like us? Or have you had a falling out with Su Councilor?”

The Black Cat knew it couldn’t continue to let the other party lead the conversation.

”I came to retrieve my robe!”

It tugged at its ears, for the first time seriously looking at the Grand Wizard at the end of the long table. Perhaps it was an illusion, but it felt that her surroundings were emanating a brilliant glow, causing its pupils to narrow into a line.

The Witch pouted.

”You’re always so timid.”

She snapped her fingers, and Zheng Qing’s robe descended from the sky, landing in front of the Black Cat, freshly washed, neatly folded, exuding a faint scent of cherry blossoms and a hint of sunlight.

The Black Cat felt it needed to wash the robe again before wearing it out.

It slowly collected the robe.

Then it grabbed another piece of beef jerky, chewing slowly, contemplating how to steer the conversation towards the Raven.

”Is there anything else?”

The North District Grand-Wizard leaned leisurely at the end of the long table, smiling as she watched the conflicted Black Cat—she definitely knew what it wanted to ask, the Black Cat muttered in its heart. However, it also realized that when conversing with a Grand Wizard who knew it well, it shouldn’t hide anything.

”Why didn’t you take action tonight?”

The Black Cat asked abruptly, taking a few steps forward, staring intently at the Witch across from it: ”Don’t tell me you didn’t react... if you had acted, the walls of the Sakura Pub wouldn’t have been broken.”

The Witch tilted her head, seemingly surprised by the Black Cat’s first question.

”Why should I take action?”

Her tone revealed a hint of puzzlement: ”Just a mess caused by a Black Wizard who reached registration level only after going mad, do you expect me to act?... The Northern District Wizards have their patrol teams; they can handle such troubles... If even such minor issues require my intervention, then what is the point of them becoming Northern District Wizards? They also need to learn to train themselves.”

Saying this, she paused slightly and then added: ”Additionally, I am also giving them an opportunity to atone for their mistakes. Otherwise, if I really did take action, I worry that some overly sensitive children below might not be able to bear the humiliation and commit suicide.”

Her words were full of seniority and had a unique demeanor of someone in authority.

The Black Cat did not notice this.

But it keenly caught a certain word within them, instinctively getting up and taking two more steps forward: ”Mistake? What mistake? You mean it was a mistake by the Northern District Wizards that caused the wizard named Varis to lose control today?”

Korma let out a quiet chuckle.

”Oh, so that’s what it’s about.”

She clearly realized the Black Cat’s true intention for coming this time, leaning slightly forward, propping her chin with one hand, playing with her silver-white ponytail with the other, and said with a smile: ”By ’mistake’, I mean that such minor chaos within the Northern District Wizards shouldn’t appear under my eyes... Do you know the term ’when the master is humiliated, the subordinate dies’? The Northern District Wizard Group is now imbued with a slightly fanatical atmosphere... I know it’s bad, but I haven’t figured out a solution yet.”

Fanaticism.

The Black Cat bit into another piece of beef jerky, mulling over the word.

”You know the Raven, right?” It decided not to beat around the bush, asking straightforwardly: ”That Mr. Varis is connected to the Raven... how much do you know about the Raven?”

”Not much... I’ve heard they’re a Black Wizard organization with many illegal laboratories in the Silent Forest and that they kidnapped the daughter of the Rat Immortal during last year’s hunting competition.” At this point, the North District Grand-Wizard showed a trace of emotion: ”That’s why, never touch Black Magic, it will ruin your mind... A wizard with a sound mind would never touch a Legendary Wizard’s child!”

”There have always been many Black Wizards in the North District, don’t you really know?” the Black Cat asked persistently: ”Last year when I came here with Jiang Yu, we encountered two robbing Black Wizards on our way back...”