High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2872: Chapter 1093: A World Without Surprises

After the school’s hunting competition ended last October, Old Yao rewarded the young hunters from the final-bound Atonement Hunting Team and the Fringe Hunting Team with some talismans carrying a legendary aura.

Among them, Zheng Qing received a Soft Leg Curse Talisman, Jiang Yu a Binding Spell Talisman—Nicholas and Liu Fei Fei picked the same talismans as theirs—Xiao Xiao chose ’Restricting South Mountain,’ Zhang Ji Xin chose ’Wolf Struggling Its Whiskers,’ Xin Fat Man chose ’Sleep Without Hearing,’ and Carmen chose ’Obscure.’

More than half a year has passed.

Zheng Qing isn’t very aware of what happened with those talismans from the Fringe Hunting Team.

But as for the Atonement side, as far as he knows, Xiao Xiao used the ’Restricting South Mountain’ in the campaign against the black wizard Walter, withstanding the school’s Protect Legal Formation’s indiscriminate area attack of the Thunder Curse; Xin Fat Man’s ’Sleep Without Hearing’ was given as a gift to his girlfriend, Miss Linda Barnes.

The other talismans, including his own, are still in their hands.

After all, these talismans carry a trace of legendary aura, and with the level and usual activity range of these young wizards, it’s hard to find appropriate opportunities to use them.

”Zheng Qing, you’re the captain of the Atonement team, why don’t you say what prize you guys plan to ask for?” Old Yao beckoned, indicating for the daydreaming young assistant to stand up.

The eyes in the classroom all turned and focused on him.

Envy was plainly written on their faces.

Zheng Qing stood up feeling slightly nervous, his gaze sliding over his teammates one by one.

Jiang Yu didn’t turn around, as usual sitting properly; instead, Li Meng turned around, mouthing ’extra credits’ silently, with two fingers crossed, indicating they needed at least ten more.

As the semester was nearing its end, with upgrade exams looming, extra credits indeed held great allure for Li Meng.

Those sitting around Zheng Qing, Zhang Ji Xin was hugging his arms, frowning, lost in thought, apparently still unsure what prize to ask for; Xin Fat Man was busy listing desires on parchment, and with just a glance, Zheng Qing already saw at least seven wishes written down.

He wanted to remind Xin Student that Old Yao’s rewards were limited, not a wishing machine.

As for Xiao Xiao, he gave a suggestion that Zheng Qing did not expect.

”Credits!”

The diviner of the Atonement Hunting Team sat up straight, lips slightly moving, whispering softly: ”Just ask for extra credits! For Jiuyou People, getting more credits is never a loss!”

Zheng Qing rubbed his ears.

Thinking he must have heard wrong.

Does Doctor Xiao still need extra credits? For him, isn’t it just a matter of taking more elective courses to get as many as he wants? Why waste a legendary wizard’s reward on that?

”Have you decided what you want yet?” From the podium, Old Yao prompted.

Zheng Qing’s mind raced, inexplicably reminded of the Christmas gift he sought from the teacher with Poseidon at San You Bookstore last winter, then tentatively asked: ”——Is a blessing possible?”

Though not comparable to the teacher, a blessing from a legendary wizard should be quite valuable, he mused internally. Sitting beside him, Xiao Xiao silently gave him a thumbs-up, evidently satisfied with this; Zhang Ji Xin nodded slightly, and Xin Fat Man sighed heavily, striking out the lengthy list he’d prepared.

”A blessing?”

On the podium, the headmaster of Jiuyou Academy paused, then chuckled with a shake of the head: ”——You do know how to take the easy way! But no need. When you received the award, the school had already granted its blessing...no need to waste the opportunity again. It’s fine, since you can’t reach a consensus right now, I’ll give you whatever I decide.”

With that, he waved his hand.

Ten streams of light suddenly fell from the podium, five falling into the hands of Xiao Xiao and the others, the other five landing uniformly into Zheng Qing’s embrace.

As the light faded, Zheng Qing focused his eyes and found five thumb-sized light purple gemstones in his hands. Without needing an explanation from the professor, he immediately realized only one belonged to him, the other four were for Dylan, Blue Bird, Lin Guo, and Shi Yuan.

”Professor, what are these gemstones?”

Closest to the podium, Li Meng was the first to jump up, voicing the curiosity of everyone in the classroom.

”A bit of my mana.”

Old Yao casually explained: ”I had pondered for a while, for your rank, if the prize is too heavy, you won’t be able to handle it, and if too light, it’s embarrassing for me... The First University has been open for so many years, I’m the only one serving as a counselor in a legendary capacity, so there’s no reference. That’s why I asked earlier, to see if you had any particular desires.”

He shook his head as he said this.

”——Actually, there aren’t many surprises in this world, especially when you become legendary, the world feels increasingly insipid. Since things can proceed naturally, there’s no need for unnecessary actions.”

Perhaps due to the legendary aura’s influence, Zheng Qing always felt there was some deeper meaning in Old Yao’s words, yet despite deep contemplation, he couldn’t grasp what he was trying to convey.

In front of the podium, Li Meng leaned half her body out of the desk, raising her short arm high.

”Professor! What can this mana be used for?” She persistently inquired—even with her status, she’d never received such a unique gift.

Old Yao, clutching a pipe, slightly raised an eyebrow: ”What can it be used for? Whatever you want. Sell it, make artifacts, scare people...uh, it can serve as self-defense, but can’t be used against other wizards, since it’s a legendary-level mana. If you cause trouble, hurt someone, it must have nothing to do with me.”

He removed the pipe from his mouth, knocked it on the lectern, and glanced around: ”——And others, don’t go blabbering about this everywhere. Otherwise, next time, I won’t give you extra rewards.”

”Absolutely not!”

”Definitely won’t, professor!”

”Professor, whoever dares to betray, make them repeat the year!”

Unswerving voices resounded all around.

...

...

At night, even lying in bed, Zheng Qing was still pondering Old Yao’s words.

What is proceeding naturally?

What is unnecessary action?

He flashed through hypothesis after hypothesis in his mind, but couldn’t pin it down. Just as he was sinking into a muddled sleep, thinking the night would pass peacefully like this.

A rapid knocking sounded outside dorm 403.

Knock knock knock!

Almost simultaneously, a similar sound came from the window—tap tap tap—a paper crane pecking on the glass, a sound Zheng Qing was very familiar with.

Groggily, he reached for the watch by his pillow, glancing at the time, finding less than ten minutes until midnight.

Knock knock knock!

Tap tap tap!

The noise grew increasingly urgent.

The dormitory lights came on.

The three young wizards who hadn’t fallen asleep yet turned over in unison, getting out of bed, looking at one another warily and uneasily, unsure of what was happening.