High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2883: Chapter 1104: How Does He Maintain Order?

How many days can it last?

What about after those days?

What does he plan to do?

Inside the black box is a piece of ’Primordial’ flesh — even though it is already withered, it is still the flesh of a deceased legend — even such a level of a spiritual object cannot halt the trend of Professor Montreya’s body disintegration. Dusumu really couldn’t think of anything else that could save the professor’s life.

He couldn’t think of anything.

Professor Montreya couldn’t possibly come up with a way to ’restore order’ in just a few days. Likewise, he didn’t think the professor would calmly accept his fate as his true form fell apart bit by bit after those days.

So, he wisely ended the topic — he didn’t want to know what Montreya intended to do — not only didn’t want to know, he didn’t even want to ’think’ about it!

”What will you do about classes in your current state?”

The genius alchemist quickly found another very appropriate point to break the deadlock, quietly shifting the topic: ”Lin Guo praised your class just a few days ago, saying he didn’t notice any abnormality in your body at all. Well, Lin Guo is an alchemy assistant assigned to me by the school, with talent even better than mine back in the day.”

”I know that kid.”

Professor Montreya closed the black metal box again, but this time he didn’t put it in his sleeve. Instead, he caressed the slightly sharp, slender ridges on the lid and gently smiled: ”We met back when he was a freshman. One night, when he was patrolling Lin Zhong Lake with Zheng Qing, they encountered a little accident...”

He suddenly stopped speaking, silently looked out the window, paused, and when he resumed speaking, the topic had shifted to another area: ”—As for classes, the artificial body can handle it.”

The professor waved his sleeve, and the curtain in a corner of the laboratory suddenly flew up, revealing a figure underneath with a pale and rigid expression: ”—The school never restricts wizards from using puppets, artificial bodies, or even projections for teaching, as long as no one complains that you are zoning out in class.”

Zoning out implies that the puppet or artificial body is out of control.

Was that supposed to be a joke?

Doctor Duzem was a bit unsure, but he was certain that he needed to leave this laboratory as soon as possible.

But before leaving, he had to find a way to clarify one thing with Professor Montreya. Just as he hesitated over how to start, the professor spoke first.

”Before you came today, I recalled something you said in a previous meeting.”

Professor Montreya toyed with that small black box, his tone carrying a hint of nostalgia: ”—Back then, you said an instant accident is just an accident, but over time, an accident becomes a perpetual tragedy. Ordinary people attacked by wild werewolves or vampires face such a tragedy; wizards bitten by demons are forced to fall, and they face such a tragedy... Accepting our seeds and becoming a raven test subject also leads to such a tragedy. At the time, I thought your feelings were purely based on that accident from over a decade ago. Now it seems your insight turned prophetic.”

Doctor Duzem chuckled dryly.

He hadn’t expected words he said months ago to find their way back to his ears.

”Just some idle thoughts, becoming a prophecy or not is purely coincidental.”

He finally decided to resolve the issue with Professor Montreya in the most straightforward manner. He lowered his voice, his tone slightly more serious: ”—But some other matters should not be a coincidence. I’ve heard some rather unsettling rumors in the project group. Although your name or any association with certain illegal organizations wasn’t mentioned, they are certain that you’re conducting illegal magic experiments. This isn’t a good sign, especially at such a sensitive time...”

”Pay no mind to those rumors.”

Professor Montreya’s tone was calm, as if he saw through Duzem’s careful thinking. His grayish-green eyes seemed to turn black, deep and sharp, within their sunken sockets: ”I’ve been at this school long enough to know what to do. I won’t respond to any accusations against me, nor will I accuse anyone else. I am just a law-abiding old wizard, modestly wearing my pointed hat, wanting to do something right.”

Doctor Duzem’s ears slightly flushed.

But he bravely added one more sentence.

”I don’t care about accusations, I only hope that in the future if you cause trouble, don’t turn in your little brother.” He said this half-jokingly, but after the words were out, the professor gave him no feedback.

The laboratory lapsed into an awkward silence.

”—Then I won’t disturb you further.” Duzem bowed slightly, awkwardly saying his goodbye. Compared to when he entered, the atmosphere between them had gained a touch of unfamiliarity.

However, before he exited the door.

Duzem came to a delayed realization and finally remembered the only successful case from the raven experiment.

”Zheng Qing...”

He muttered the name, accidentally feeling a bit of a prick, licking his lips, suddenly turning back to look at Professor Montreya: ”—How does he maintain the balance of flesh? Or rather, how does he maintain order within his body?”

The professor looked at him.

Blinked.

Then suddenly laughed: ”—Yes, how does he maintain order?”

...

...

After the ’High-level Magic Rune and Bloodline Research Laboratory’ closed again, the light inside the room dimmed once more. The ’artificial body puppet’ standing in the laboratory’s corner, previously with its head bowed, suddenly raised its head, revealing its pale, bluish face.

”I’ve heard a saying before — a Big Wizard’s lack of restraint is the innocence of a child, approachable, whereas a registered wizard’s lack of restraint is ignorance of one’s limits, unrefined; similarly, a Big Wizard’s restraint is well-mannered, esteemed, while a registered wizard’s restraint is overly cautious, restricted, petty.”

The artificial body, wearing a face identical to Professor Montreya’s, suddenly spoke in a gentle, lively voice: ”...Listening to your conversation today, I suddenly wonder if that doctor has restraint.”

Professor Montreya didn’t turn around.

”You shouldn’t have spoken.”

His speech was slow, seemingly criticizing the other party, yet without anger: ”—Putting you into my guise is because it’s the safest way. You’ve taught magical zoology, familiar with teaching... originally, it could hold out for a while longer.”

”But?”

”—But, I can’t hold on much longer.”

The laboratory fell silent once more.

After a while, the ’artificial body puppet’ spoke again: ”...Is it related to the last question that doctor asked? Are you planning to devour him?”

The professor chuckled in spite of himself.

”Heh heh... I may be in body disintegration, but not in spirit. I’m a professor at the school, not yet fallen to the Land of Desolation. Stop worrying pointlessly. With that energy, you should think carefully about where to hide in a few days.”