High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1107: Chapter 169: Visiting Doctor Du Zemu

Zheng Qing had attended the Fu Lu Class on Monday afternoon before heading to the Abnormal Life Research Institute in Beta Town to meet Dr. Terry Duzem. In order to have a suitable excuse, he had also packed the dormitory’s group of sprites into a cardboard box and carried them along.

Since the last health check for the sprites, Zheng Qing had not visited this courtyard for a long time.

Partly this was because Dr. Duzem’s residence resembled a secluded retreat, and Zheng Qing always felt that it was not good to disturb him too often; on the other hand, his group of sprites had strangely mutated for some reason, not only surviving normally but also flying about healthily every day without the need for any special potions.

Zheng Qing was always worried that if he brought them to Dr. Duzem’s laboratory a few more times, these sprites might be at risk of being dissected by the doctor—a concern not unfounded, as even staying in the dormitory, these sprites had already greatly piqued Xiao Xiao’s interest, not to mention the research-obsessed Dr. Duzem.

He had originally planned to come with Jiang Yu today, but for some reason, recently Jiang Yu seemed to be avoiding him, always finding various excuses to decline. Fortunately, the witch had not completely refused the young scholarship student’s request and still signed a permission slip for him.

Although Zheng Qing had realized earlier that he could find Dr. Duzem’s residence even without the permission slip signed by Jiang Yu, he never refused the witch’s kindness, always reporting to her before heading to the Abnormal Life Research Institute.

This was for safety as well as for assurance.

When they met, it was already dark.

Dr. Duzem was reading a research report in his study.

The old servant, Constantin, served tea to the two young masters before closing the door and quietly withdrawing.

The study was very quiet, and the lighting somewhat dim.

Sitting behind the desk, Dr. Duzem’s face looked somewhat gloomy. After Zheng Qing had brought out the sprites, the doctor did not pull out his equipment case but merely glanced at them and, seeing the sprites bouncing and flying around the room, he nodded affirmatively, ”They are very healthy... I have nothing more I can do.”

It seemed somewhat perfunctory, but it was the truth, and Zheng Qing knew it too. Dr. Duzem was not someone who liked superfluous formalities or beating around the bush.

The young scholarship student, holding the cardboard box, called the sprites down one by one, hesitated for a long while, and finally stammered out his purpose, ”Doctor, someone wants to meet you. May I tell him where you live?”

He had hesitated all day long, ultimately deciding to directly state his request.

This proved to be the quickest and simplest method.

”If you can tell others, feel free to let it be known. Though I doubt it,” Dr. Duzem said, contrary to Zheng Qing’s expectation, as he seemed not so concerned about the seclusion of his residence: ”This courtyard has always been too quiet... Sometimes, I even forget I’m still alive.”

Listening to this was somehow inexplicably sad.

”You don’t mind... being known?” Zheng Qing couldn’t help questioning further.

”Mind? Being known?” Dr. Duzem chuckled, his face creasing into a smile, ”What’s minded is not me, but the school, or perhaps some folks in the Mage Alliance... They have cast very powerful spells on my residence and name—unless it is someone with permission, or someone with very strong magic power, they can’t even remember my name.”

Zheng Qing arched an eyebrow.

Obtaining permission must be related to Jiang Yu’s and his own past experiences.

And the magic power was incredibly strong, likely the work of Rat Immortal and Fat Rui the Hamster, among others. They were the ones who could break through certain ancient magic bindings, delivering the hidden threads from behind the fog into the hands of a few young wizards.

At the same time, Zheng Qing vaguely remembered that he had mentioned Dr. Duzem to others before but had not been bound by magic. This sense of breaking the rules involuntarily made him think of his transformed black cat and the descendent of Satoguya that he had shot, casting a shadow in his heart.

”Oh, right... If you really can tell others about me, you might as well stop by the Wandering Bar to collect some reward money,” Dr. Duzem jokingly said, ”If I’m not mistaken, Constantin once told me that there have always been several rewards posted for information on Terry Duzem in the black market of the Wandering Bar. Enough for you to complete the Registered Wizard ceremony.”

Zheng Qing chuckled dryly, diplomatically ignoring the suggestion.

He would rather slowly save up copper by copper than risk dealing too much with those black wizards.

Revealing some information about Dr. Duzem as a black cat could still allow for some ambiguity, making it too risky for anyone to act recklessly. But blundering into the territory of the Wandering Wizards to claim a reward would mean not even turning into a black tiger could save him from being chopped up for wine—it would end with his mangled tiger remains sent to an educational institution or the Mage Alliance as an act of good faith.

Although that always-smiling Wandering Wizard operated in a gray area, he knew what mattered and certainly wouldn’t go against the owner of Buji Island on matters that the school paid close attention to.

It was like someone dealing in detailed personal information of bio-weapon specialists on the black market in the Mortal World; if the owner of the black market had any sense, they would definitely turn in such information to the authorities rather than ignoring it. At most, they might skim a little profit in the process.

”Will Jiang Yu be in trouble?” Now that the doctor had agreed, Zheng Qing immediately expressed concern about another issue, ”If I reveal your information...”

A rare teasing smile appeared on Dr. Duzem’s face.

”My, what an enviable age.” His tone was nostalgic, ”Back in my days at the university, I too had many close female friends, but life is unpredictable...”

Zheng Qing felt his cheeks heat up—after more than half a year of university, it was a sensation he rarely felt anymore.

”No, it’s not like that...” The young cost student stammered, but couldn’t find the words to finish his sentence, frantically waving his hands in denial.

A sprite poked her head out from a box and anxiously clutched the warlock’s finger. She keenly sensed some disturbance in the warlock’s mood.

Zheng Qing took a deep breath and silently recited the Heart Sutra, calming his emotions after a moment.

Then he rubbed the sprite’s cheek, signaling that he was alright. The sprite gave a soft ”Hehe” and obediently returned to her box.

Dr. Duzem quietly observed the interaction between the warlock and the sprite, and after a while, he softly replied, ”As long as you haven’t handed out the note Jiang Yu gave you or exposed my information through her, she won’t be in trouble.”