High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1195: Chapter 257 Poet Sepulano

”Mike Gold Cypress Plano?”

”Yes.”

”On the evening of April the eleventh, did you violate the Campus Management Regulations of the First University by being near Lin Zhong Lake?”

”Yes.”

”Were you aware that it was within the jurisdiction of the Night Patrol Team at that time?”

”Yes.”

”Did you realize that the Night Patrol Team has the right to enforce compliance with any violations of campus regulations?”

”Yes.”

”Did you use offensive magic against a member of the patrol team?”

A restive murmur rose from within the ranks of the white-robed, because Sister Korma’s question was heavily leading. Indeed, Sepulano had used offensive magic against the Absolution Hunting Team, but the other party was not a helpless little rabbit waiting to be captured; it could be said the situation was evenly matched.

However, through Sister Korma’s question, it now seemed as if Sepulano had first violated the rules and then attacked a patrol member, with a premeditated intent to do harm, which instantly made the nature of the matter much worse.

From another angle, Sister Korma’s questions all pertained to the factual inquiry, leaving no room for interjection.

Sepulano paused for a moment and finally gave a simple answer:

”...Yes.”

”What was your purpose for being there?” Sister Korma continued to press.

The Fat Wizard looked silently at the questioner, Sister Korma, and said nothing for a long time. Undoubtedly, this question was another trap; if Sepulano did not want to break the rules of questioning, he could only remain silent. The Witch showed no sign of embarrassment and waited for an answer, her eyes sharp.

The chairman in the center of the stage gave a soft cough and tapped the small gavel in front of him: ”Given the special nature of the question, the presidium allows Mr. Mike Gold Cypress Plano to describe his purpose in no more than one hundred words.”

Before the words had died away, the representatives in red robes erupted in protest.

”Protest! This is a blatant double standard!!”

”How much more shameless can you get?”

”Ha! If the people of Alpha had any shame, the Fishmen in Lin Zhong Lake would be considered paragons of virtue!”

”Bang! Bang! Bang!” The chairman pounded the small gavel forcefully, bellowing, ”Silence! Silence! This is the unanimous decision of the presidium! If there are suggestions, they can be raised again during the second round of questioning! Any student who attempts to disturb the order of the hearing will lose their subsequent voting rights!”

The last threat proved highly effective; the previously boiling atmosphere was quenched like cold water had been thrown over it, instantly quieting down. Although some of the red robes still muttered resentfully under their breath, a chaotic scene like before would not occur again.

Zheng Qing faintly heard two students from Jiuyou Academy behind him whispering:

”People from Atlas have always looked up to Alpha... Why would Lei Zhe agree to let that yellow-robed be the moderator?! It’s clear that he’s favoring Sepulano! We should have had someone from Starry Sky Academy as the moderator.”

”Perhaps it’s a form of balance, after all, Sister Korma is the first inquisitor... and compared to the folks from Atlas, those from Starry Sky Academy aren’t quite as adept at verbal sparring.”

This analysis was logical and interesting, but Zheng Qing didn’t listen closely to the rest because Sepulano had already begun to speak again, answering Korma’s previous question:

”I seek peace of mind. Like flocks of birds black as raindrops, they fly from dusk into the night. The night is void of everything, yet it brings me comfort. Stripping away vanity, the world outside the window remains noisy, so I can only choose to walk into the night by the lakeside, in search of that sliver of tranquility. The night by the lake is too dark, too quiet, too bountiful, and in this bounty, I glimpsed the gaze of the God of Death.”①

There was a moment of silence in the conference room as everyone stared, dumbfounded, at the fat wizard sitting at the right hand, as if they were seeing him for the first time. Even Korma, who had asked the question, was so shocked that her eyes went wide.

The response was poetic and very much that of a wizard, filled with the pursuit of truth and hope.

But this answer was ’too un-Sepulano’.

The fat wizard was known among the young wizards of the First University for being overbearing, fierce, and cunning, with a gloomy temperament. Few had seen such a literary side of him, not even the students of Alpha Academy—although many students there were adept at such elegance and artistry, Sepulano was not among them.

The blunt and aggressive style of Sepulano was also the main reason he wasn’t accepted by certain circles within Alpha Academy. Yet today his answer skillfully extended an olive branch to those factions. With just a glance, Zheng Qing noticed the surprised expressions on the faces of the white-robed ones.

Many seemed to realize for the first time that beyond Sir Friedman, Alpha had other choices.

And his answer gave the impression that he was like a fledgling swallow trembling in search of light amidst a storm, wholly lacking the ferocious demeanor of a night owl or a vulture, revealing a sense of ridiculousness that also tasted of a spicy satire.

Zheng Qing noticed that at the podium, Augustus’ mouth twitched slightly while Lei Zhe’s expression became more inscrutable. The young scholarship student hadn’t realized that Sepulano was using this hearing as a platform to unify representatives of Alpha Academy students. He could only discern that Sepulano’s answer was nonsense, and yet, it fulfilled the requirement for word count.

Indeed, the fat wizard’s response was ninety-two words long, without any punctuation, and certainly within the limit of a hundred words.

But Zheng Qing was absolutely unconvinced that Sepulano had gone to the Lakeside of Bell Lake for a leisurely stroll or to clear his mind.

Korma didn’t believe it either.

The inquisitor quickly adjusted her mindset, cleared her throat, and posed the next question: ”There is evidence to suggest you engaged in illegal trade with the Fishman Tribe of Bell Lake. Is this true?”

Sepulano’s lips twisted into a sarcastic smile: ”Yes.”

”On the evening of April Eleven, did your visit to the lakeside include trading with the Fishman Tribe?”

”No.”

This time, even many of the students from Alpha Academy lowered their heads in silence, pretending not to hear Sepulano’s answer. The atmosphere where the representatives of Jiuyou Academy sat began to boil again—the cooling effect of the previous splash of cold water had almost worn off.

”We should slap a couple of ’Honesty Charms’ on the person in question,” grumbled a red-robed one to his companion in a whisper: ”That Sepulano guy doesn’t have a truthful word in his mouth!”

His companion was well aware of the current situation: ”Low Tier Talismans won’t have much effect on Sepulano, and the Student Union doesn’t have the budget for High Tier ones... and since Sepulano isn’t from Atlas Academy, we can’t have him swear on the Bible either. So, it’s a no-win situation.”

”This hearing is like children playing house.”

”...Who can say it isn’t?”