High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1269: Chapter 16 A Different Stage

”At your assistance, we made contact with Doctor Du Zemu...”

Upon hearing this, the witch could no longer hold back and burst out, ”What do you mean ’at our assistance’? I don’t even know that Doctor, alright? We are just little wizards conducting minor experiments in the North District... You can’t be unreasonable!”

From the description of the Rat Immortal, she could already tell that Doctor Du Zemu was considered a ’taboo’ person for the First University. As for the North District, the trouble they were already facing was enough; she wanted nothing to do with the external troubles.

”You are not that little,” chuckled the Rat Immortal, ”You are now a true Big Wizard. A Big Wizard needs to act like one.”

Korma really wanted to stuff the rat in front of her into her wine glass, letting it make close contact with the ice cubes inside to give it a good wakeup call—what does being a Big Wizard entail? Carrying the can?

The reason she didn’t immediately do so was because she still maintained enough sanity.

The Big Mouse was too powerful; she couldn’t beat it.

Ignoring the witch’s fierce mental struggle, the Rat Immortal continued slowly, ”We contacted Doctor Du Zemu and asked him to create a new ’Man-made God’, planning to sneak into Black Prison and steal two Xuan Huang Fruits while the school battles with demons...”

Korma felt a whirl of dizziness.

She raised her glass, poured the remaining speck of cerulean wine along with the two remaining ice chunks into her mouth, and then chewed vigorously with a crunch.

But even under the dual stimulation of the Green Bee and ice, she still felt like she couldn’t breathe.

The statement the Old Mouse had just made contained more information than she could handle—what does ’creating a Man-made God’ mean? Since when was the school going to battle with demons? And since when was Black Prison a place one could just sneak into? Are Xuan Huang Fruits real?

She had always thought that Xuan Huang Fruits, like the Nine Revolutions Golden Pill, were just elements of legends and fairy tales.

Seemingly guessing the witch’s current mood, the Rat Immortal quieted down for a moment, sipping the clear tea from his glass.

After a long time, the witch hoarsely exclaimed in anger, ”Why would you tell me something like this!”

It was like a robber planning to rob a bank but randomly grabbing a passerby before the act and divulging his entire plan to them—of course, to speak the truth, Korma and the Rat Immortal were somewhat closer than mere strangers.

But this did little to comfort the witch, instead intensifying her sense of indignation.

She was as furiously agitated as an enraged little cat.

”Do you think I want to drag you down?” The Rat Immortal sipped his tea, smiling kindly at the infuriated little cat in front of him, his tail erect and swinging side to side, ”No, no, no. This matter is not some conspiracy. Any witch who reaches a certain position knows a bit about it... Haven’t you ever noticed the battles in the newspapers between the Moon Council and the First University, or the sudden intensification of the contrast between Jiuyou and Alpha? Have you not been curious about why the professors often collectively absent themselves from certain activities or classes, with vague explanations given?”

”If you haven’t paid attention to any of these, then you must admit that you, as the vice president of the student council, are not doing your job.”

”Some things have always been happening, never ceasing.”

”The difference is that previously, you were just a Registered wizard. Now you are a Big Wizard, entitled to know about these matters... and indeed, if you are courageous enough, also entitled to have a share in this affair.”

”Just as the war between witches and demons has never ceased, in the New World, in the void, in the stream of time, skirmishes and Death dance together. It’s only that matters such as these are too distant for those below the Registered wizard level to grasp.”

”Distant turmoil won’t affect your enjoyment of the full moon or eating mooncakes at the Mid-Autumn Festival.”

”I’m telling you this just to offer you one more option, just as Alpha Academy’s former motto stated, ’Justice allows people to have their due, freedom allows people to have choices’...”

”I am a student of Jiuyou.” The newly promoted Big Wizard finally found an opening to interject, speaking hesitantly, ”Moreover, Alpha’s definition of freedom isn’t what you said... ’Freedom teaches people to let go.’”

”Once, once,” the Old Mouse blew the whiskers by his mouth, sounding somewhat displeased, ”it isn’t the first time Alpha Academy has changed its motto. I think that version was the best.”

Korma was skeptical about this.

Of course, she also guessed from Old Mouse’s reaction that he might have once studied at Alpha Academy. That’s why he cared so much about lineage, tribes, and the mottos of Alpha.

At the same time, she suddenly thought of a very crucial question:

”Why do you want to get involved in this sort of thing?”

For such obviously troublesome matters, most wizards could hardly stay away fast enough, yet the Old Mouse was getting involved? Despite violating the restrictions and bans of First University, despite offending the Yellow Flowered Cat?

In the Witch’s impression, the Old Mouse had always been a very laissez-faire little old man. He was someone who detested trouble.

”Because I’ve stayed in this realm for too long.” The Old Mouse lowered his head to look at the tea leaves floating in his cup, his voice unexpectedly gentle:

”So long that I’m almost starting to forget Juice, forgetting her mother... As you’ve said before, magic is the greatest miracle of the universe. To save them, I must create a miracle, possessing a power that exceeds that of a Big Wizard... The Xuan Huang Fruit might be able to help someone like me.”

He didn’t explain what he meant by ’someone like me.’

”Juice’s mother isn’t...” the Witch began, then paused, finding herself at a loss for words. She wanted to say that Juice’s mother had fallen, but suddenly she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

”Yes, she’s now in Black Prison,” the Old Mouse simply replied, ”that day, after learning that Juice had gotten lost in the World in the Mirror, she lost control. The principal and I didn’t lay a hand on her... but that doesn’t mean the school won’t. They have locked her in Black Prison. This time, I chose to cooperate with the Wandering Wizard, apart from the well-known reasons, there was also her. I hope she can regain her freedom.”

”She has already become a Demon!” the Witch stressed a particular term. For a young wizard educated in schools, becoming a demon was equivalent to being beyond redemption.

The Old Mouse’s expression revealed a faint, inexplicable look.

He softly answered, ”Yes... a demon... What does it matter? Do you remember the two questions I asked you that night? How much do you know about demons... how much do you know about First University?”

As a Veteran and the vice president of the student council at First University, Korma could have confidently claimed that she knew a lot about demons and First University—everything was clearly introduced in books.

But now, she suddenly lacked that confidence.

Because only after becoming a Big Wizard did she gradually realize how different this world was from what she had imagined.

”’We ascent to a stage not of our choosing, to perform a script not of our choosing,’” the Old Mouse sighed deeply, ”before, I always thought that Aebictaide’s words were too pretentious. Now, I realize it’s not the words that are pretentious, but life itself is so.”

”You can try again next time,” Korma said using honorifics once again, gently persuading in a low voice, ”You can choose to step onto a new stage... You don’t have to take risks on this one.”