High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1080: Chapter 142: Riding a Cat in a Tree

”A few days ago, when your school was holding the winter hunt,”

”a brief but intense spatiotemporal fluctuation erupted near the hunting ground outside your school. It might have been a terrifying wizard attempting to break through the temporal bindings to attack the school; it could also have been one of the school’s top figures trying to reverse time and subvert causality.”

”Regardless, due to that brief and intense spatiotemporal fluctuation, a small fold formed in the space near Buji Island.”

”Well, to put it in a metaphor... imagine a plastic film laid flat on a tabletop. It was smooth and even. But because someone pulled on it, a little bubble formed in the film. If you have some understanding of Magic Universe Study, then you can understand what ’bubble universe’ means.”

”In other words, that little bubble is the secret realm you’ve been longing for.”

”Normally, First University, or rather, upon the emergence of such a newly born secret realm on Buji Island, the school would usually conduct a search, anchor it, and then organize a hunting team to explore and clean it, finally registering it based on whether it has any developmental value.”

”But for some reason, the school’s response was a bit sluggish this time. The secret realm has already been born for two months, and there’s still no sign of their searching or cleaning.”

”This is your opportunity.”

”It might also be your only chance.”

The Rat Immortal did not elaborate to the witch where he had got this information, nor did he tell the witch the specific location, entry method, or intensity of the secret realm. He just gave the witch this opportunity.

Upon hearing the news, Korma couldn’t suppress her joy.

However, at the same time, her attention was clearly drawn to some of the content in the Rat Immortal’s words. She keenly asked, ”A severe spatiotemporal fluctuation occurred in the hunting ground outside the school? Is it related to our premature ending of last semester’s winter hunt? Everyone’s been saying it’s related to the Dark Council; is that true?”

The Rat Immortal’s whiskers quivered, and he placed his arms back on the black hardwood armrests of the Taishi Chair. He didn’t directly answer the witch’s question.

”Rumors, rumors, who can really say what’s true and what’s false,” the Rat Immortal shook his head amicably, and told Korma, ”You’re still young, you have plenty of time. I will tell you what you should know. What isn’t suitable for you to know, knowing too much isn’t beneficial to you.”

”Like a few days ago, that Satoguya fellow projected himself from the Deeps of Starry Sky, staring with those big yellow eyes over Buji Island as if he was looking for something. He ended up having his eyeballs directly poked out by someone from the school”

”Do you remember that happening?”

Korma raised her eyebrows and slowly shook her head. In her memory, apart from the news about a certain pet snake and Painted Skin causing a stir, everything else seemed rather calm at school—she instinctively overlooked the conflicts among the clubs and the Fishmen.

The Rat Immortal nodded, ”As I expected. Since my children told me that nothing unusual happened that day, I guessed as much. Just like I just said, things the school considers unsuitable for you to know, even if you do know about them, you won’t have any impression of them.”

”This is for your protection. Throughout history, many talented young wizards have fallen into madness because they were exposed too early to knowledge not suitable for them. Some even became corrupted and fell into decay. These are lessons from history.”

”Once you are in the right position and have enough capabilities, you will always learn the corresponding facts.”

Speaking of which, Rat Immortal tugged at the corner of his mouth, hissed a cool breath, and muttered, ”With these words finished, I always feel that I am more suited to study historical texts like Old Master Qian Zhiji, rather than blabbering about biological evolution. Maybe if I had studied historical texts, I would have long gotten rid of this neither human nor mouse appearance.”

Korma remained silent, just silently noting down every word that Rat Immortal had said. After going to university, the more she learned, the more she was filled with awe for this world and understood the importance of seizing every opportunity to accumulate knowledge.

Rat Immortal paused for a moment, his slender toes tapping again on the black hardwood armrest, ”Back to the matter at hand... You just asked me where there is a small world suitable for placing your magic circle, and my answer is the clue I just gave you. It is a newly born secret realm that hasn’t been included by the school yet. How to enter, whether there will be dangers, all these are for you to resolve yourselves.”

Upon hearing this, the witch couldn’t help but roll her eyes secretly, looking towards Rat Immortal with the last glimmer of hope.

”Please!” she clasped her hands together, adopting a pitiful look as she pleaded, ”You are an immortal, a big shot, an ancestor. Just a casual glance would tell you the exact whereabouts of that secret realm, a simple circle drawn could find the entrance to that realm. I am just a university student who hasn’t graduated yet. Even if my academic performance is slightly excellent and I barely have the power of a registered wizard, I am still seventeen or eighteen certificates away from qualifying to explore new worlds!”

”I’m no immortal or ancestor, I’m just a little mouse!” Rat Immortal clearly remembered what the witch had said earlier, responding with a hum. However, Korma’s flattery was not entirely ineffective, it made Rat Immortal very comfortable inside; he listened, smiling till his eyes narrowed into slits.

The witch continued clasping her hands, still looking pitifully at Rat Immortal, remaining silent.

It must be admitted, sometimes silence is more moving than reasoning.

”Alright, alright, always the same look when things don’t make sense,” Rat Immortal’s paw, rarely lifted from the hardwood armrest, waved slightly at the witch, ”This matter is both difficult and easy. Although due to some restrictions, I can’t help you directly, I can find you a guide.”

”A guide?” Korma blinked, almost speaking out but then hesitated.

The task she planned was nothing significant for Rat Immortal. But for the school, for the Mage Alliance, it was strictly prohibited, an absolute no-go zone.

Engaging in such an activity, without absolute trust, one must never reveal it to others.

Therefore, when Rat Immortal mentioned ’guide’, she naturally looked a bit scrutinizing and wary. But on the other hand, Rat Immortal had shown her guidance, and had also guessed what she wanted to do. As the saying goes, old people become crafty. A rat aged is a crafty rat too. He should not be unaware of those taboos.

So, the witch did not immediately refuse but was quietly watching Rat Immortal, hopeful he would offer a suitable guide for her.

Rat Immortal, squinting, suddenly laughed, ”Before introducing that guide, how about I throw you a brain teaser?”

Korma nodded vaguely, not sure what the old man was up to this time.

Rat Immortal coughed lightly, and asked very seriously, ”Question: There are seven cats in the tree, no cats on the ground, how many cats in total? Whose cats are they?”