High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1416: Chapter 163: Listening to the Tide (Complete)

The office was spacious, yet there were not many desks within—only three in total.

A main desk sat at the head, its chair empty with no one seated there, and the desk surface barren, not even a crystal ball in sight. On the wall behind the main desk, a single massive character hung, the simple word ’Dao,’ which lent boundless charm to the entire office.

Separated by several stairs, on each side, there were two subordinate desks arranged in an outward facing V-shape.

Vice Principal Ruo Yu was seated at the left subordinate desk. Behind the right-hand subordinate desk sat a bright-eyed young girl dressed in a simple elegant robe, who looked to be around twelve or thirteen years old.

Beyond the subordinate desks and down several stairs, two rows of long tables stood, with dozens of high-backed chairs behind them, though most were engulfed in the deep shadows. As far as the eye could see, only a sparse few silhouettes sat in quietness behind those tables, silently listening to the debate on the stairs.

”...Demons, Dark Council, and now those beings from the depths of the starry sky.” Vice Principal Ruo Yu’s voice sounded somewhat heavy: ”As far as the eye can see, beneath the veneer of calmness, dark tides surge everywhere.”

”Surging my ass!” The young witch sitting diagonally across from Ruo Yu, despite her youthful appearance, spoke with a cantankerous tone, giving even old men a run for their money: ”Counting them over and over again, those few old creatures are the only ones capable of troublemaking and bold enough to extend their reach... If we’d followed my plan and crushed their lairs early on, we wouldn’t be having so many issues now!”

”If we followed your plan, most of the Clans of the Moon would have been obliterated,” Ruo Yu said, gripping his wolf-head cane tightly, his voice growing firmer slightly.

”There’s no perfect solution in this world. Wasn’t the original purpose of creating forbidden curses to protect the school!”

”The Moon Council is also part of the Alliance. Many students of the First University come from the Clans of the Moon... You’ve never regarded them as your allies. Besides, this time they will serve as supporting defenders, entering Black Prison...”

”I’ve always thought that was our gravest mistake.” While speaking, the witch stood up from her subordinate desk and descended the stairs.

”What are you going to do?” Vice Principal Ruo Yu asked, using his cane to stand.

”Making a trip to Danghag.” The witch tightened her cloak and glanced at the old man: ”...Regarding the law hearing for the illegal sacrifice performed by the Northern District Wizard. Why, do you wish to go?”

”...Going there to show the school’s position would suffice.” Ruo Yu tightened his grip on his cane, his tone softening slightly: ”Don’t waste too much time. The school’s situation is very complex right now.”

The witch huffed lightly and walked past the rows of long tables on either side of the aisle and headed out.

Those sitting behind the long tables all stood up, bowing their heads, a mark of respect for the witch.

”Squeak!”

The distant door was opened.

The roar of a giant dragon came from outside.

A chill breeze surged through the hallway, lifting the witch’s cloak. Under the dim light, her figure gradually elongated and matured. In no time, she transformed from a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl into a woman in her thirties, poised and sophisticated.

Her gaze was serene, her thin lips sharp as a knife, radiating an arresting presence.

Only after her figure disappeared beyond the door, and the cold wind in the aisle gradually dissipated did the tense atmosphere in the office ease somewhat. Those behind the long tables took their seats again, except for one figure who stood up.

That was a warlock in a yellow robe.

”Urelban...?” Ruo Yu, head bowed, sized up the conspicuous warlock, with an inquiring look in his eyes.

The warlock bowed his head and placed a hand over his chest, saluting the vice principal, then spoke softly: ”I request to return to the school grounds for defense.”

”To fall back, then.” Vice Principal Ruo Yu pondered for a moment.

Another wizard dressed in a blue robe also stood up: ”Master Ruo Yu, no matter what, someone has set their sights on the students. We cannot pretend to be blind... Be it drawing the tiger away from the mountain or looting a burning house, we have to fulfill their wishes to let them know what despair means.”

The vice principal slowly sat back down in his seat.

”The school’s defenses are already well-arranged.” He paused, tapping his cane, and the entire office echoed with the heavy ’Dong Dong’ sound: ”First University will protect every student... please rest assured.”

”The only thing you need to focus on now is the defense of The first University.”

”The school has assembled most of its combat power, recalling hundreds of hunting teams from the New World and gathered five Upper House Members of the Moon Council, not to flaunt our strength to the Alliance... but because our enemies require our full effort.”

”Gentlemen... please make every effort.”

Dong, dong, dong.

The heavy sound of the cane tapping on the floor echoed in the office for a long time before slowly fading away.

The figures behind the long table also quieted down once again.

...

...

Zheng Qing, who was shuttling through the campus, was unaware of how far the topic of ’the tide’ had extended into reality.

Indeed, the Absolution Hunting Team had discussed the school’s challenges and potential external risks more than once, as well as received ominous omens in divination.

But all those risks seemed hollow and vague with the intervention of magic.

As if looking out through a window covered in mist, one could see flames burning outside, painting the sky crimson, and the looming approach of a giant shadow, but how far the flames or how close the shadow were always remained unclear, like flowers in the fog.

In the campus, the most discussed topic among the students was still the final exams.

And they were drawing ever so closer.

Even the topics of Nicolas and the Outer Gods, Lei Zhe and Augustus changing terms, had to make way for the exams on some level. Because the upcoming week marked the start of the 08-09 academic year, the final exam week.

At such a critical moment, Zheng Qing still managed to steal some leisure time from his busy schedule and took a trip to the Absolution’s little shop on Pedestrian Street, DandK.

Because he had arranged to meet Lin Guo there.

By the time the young state-funded student arrived at D&K, it was already getting dark. There were no customers in the shop; Hank from Greenhill Mansion was sitting behind the bar, tidying up the accounts, while Lin Guo was holding a snow globe, pinching the spells with both hands, turning the snowflakes inside the glass ball into a vast sea, and then stirring the tide to roll and roar inside the cramped globe.

”Why not meet at 403... or the library!” As soon as Zheng Qing saw him, he started to complain: ”The exams are next week, and I still have more than ten Magic Potion formulas to memorize... If you were willing to study with us, Fatty could even help you reserve a spot in the library.”

”It’s convenient.” Holding the glass ball, Lin Guo looked up at Zheng Qing and cheerfully replied: ”I made a few Alchemy Devices for the kind old wizard at the Wandering Bar this afternoon... He promised to help me find Big Black!”

Zheng Qing raised his eyebrows.