High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1523: Chapter 267: Northern District Wizard’s Main Battlefield

”Museum?”

Nicholas croaked, repeating the word, a trace of unease flickering in his gaze. He remembered clearly that earlier, in Liu Fei Fei’s study room, when the hunters of the Absolution Hunting Team were discussing ways to enter the World in the Mirror, they had proposed infiltrating the Magic History Museum at First University to use a magical mirror for access.

At that time, Nicholas had analyzed for everyone how it was an unusual matter that the magical mirror had been moved into the museum. Now, when he heard Korma the Wise mention that something had happened at the museum, his first reaction was that trouble might be brewing for the Absolution Hunting Team.

Perhaps because the incidents at the museum were a bit removed from the Northern District Wizards.

Korma quickly averted her gaze.

”It might just be some student sneaking into the museum under the cover of night and accidentally triggering some of the school’s magical defensive measures.” She knew quite well that under the immense pressure of final exams, the young wizards at the school could do anything to unwind: ”The School Works Committee and Assistant Team have already sent people to investigate... It should be fine.”

”This is not the focus of our concerns!”

Her tone shifted, redirecting the attention of the Northern District Wizards back to the imminent rise of the Black Tide: ”But it is precisely the focus of our discussion today... The Northern District belongs to the Northern District residents; it does not belong to First University. When the Black Tide rises, the only ones we can rely on completely are ourselves.”

”There isn’t a university full of wizards we can call on behind us. When an unexpected situation arises at the school’s doorstep, just like today’s museum, the school can gather the Assistant Team, recall retired old staff workers, and even invite alumni who have long since graduated... But we can’t. We only have ourselves.”

”Our ancestors are buried in the Silent Forest and Quiet River; our friends live in the cramped Northern District. We are poor and cannot afford to hire a powerful hunting team... We only have ourselves.”

”Where the Black Tide will come from, we do not know.”

”How large the Black Tide will be, we also do not know.”

”The school has already started operations in the Black Prison. The hunting team of the New World has been gradually recalled for over a year now. The entire university is in a state of high alert, yet we know almost nothing about it... We don’t know how many Black Wizards might be mixed in with the magical creatures carried in by the tide. We don’t know how many wizards in Beta Town, this little wizard city, will stand with us.”

”Today, I stand here to tell you all.”

”When the Black Tide emerges from the Silent Forest, to the school, this place is just a dispensable supporting battlefield. But to us, this is the frontline!”

...

...

Two blocks away from the Sakura Pub.

Beta Town, Pedestrian Street, Ninety-Nine Shop, San You Bookstore.

The shop was quiet.

No customers, not even mice. Aside from a Flower Cat snoozing away, the only other presence was the red clay teapot puffing steam atop a small stove.

In stark contrast to the tranquil interior, there was quite a bit of noise outside.

The shouts of the Northern District Wizards hadn’t yet reached this calm little street. But from the Wandering Bar diagonally across the street from the bookstore, waves of booming chatter occasionally broke through, accompanied by the rhythmic swaying of the door curtain.

The Yellow Flowered Cat was curled atop a wooden desk near the window inside the bookstore, nestled against a hefty volume of the ”Wizard World Encyclopedia,” purring contentedly.

Its ears drooped lazily, pressed flat against its head, blocking out the noise.

Two passing warlocks spotted the orange-yellow figure behind the glass and excitedly approached, curling their fingers and tapping on the window with rhythmic ’dong dong’ sounds, uttering ’meow meow’ noises in hopes of capturing the Flower Cat’s attention.

But the Yellow Flowered Cat wasn’t interested in entertaining them.

Not even a single dried fish offered—so stingy. Squinting its eyes, it continued to purr, a slightly disheartening thought flickering through its mind. If the ones outside were two witches... two pretty little witches, perhaps it might begrudgingly offer some kindness by stretching out lazily. But now? Two rowdy boys? Let their ’meow meow’ noises go to hell.

Young wizards are always quick to divert their attention.

The Flower Cat behind the window refused to engage them, but next door at a small shop called ’D&K,’ two cats standing at the entrance were actively enticing customers, their tails held high, brushing against the ankles of every wizard passing by.

The boys entered the small shop next door.

The Yellow Flowered Cat seemed to regain its peace and purring rhythm.

Just then, behind the door of the San You Bookstore, the small brass bell hanging under the doorway suddenly jingled with a crisp ’ding ding ding,’ as though someone were pulling the bell cord. Yet, there was no one outside the door.

The Yellow Flowered Cat’s purring halted abruptly. It opened one eyelid and glanced at the shop door.

A faint yellow light portal materialized, merging with the actual door. As the bell jingled, the portal began to quiver slightly before slowly opening.

Beyond the portal lay a pitch-black world, where only a few points of dazzling starlight were faintly visible.

Mr. Wu stepped through the light portal from the darkness beyond, brushed the dust off his robe, crossed to the desk, and comfortably sank into a vine chair that still retained some residual warmth, casually lifting the red clay teapot from the stove.

The tea was perfectly warm, its leaves fully steeped but not scalding.

He took a small sip, sighing in satisfaction.

”Any customers today?” he asked casually.

The Yellow Flowered Cat’s eyelid drooped shut once again, snorting in mild frustration: ”You’ve only been gone for a few minutes. How would you not know if there were customers?”

”I have to ask; it brings some liveliness to the day.”

”Pretentious!”

”It’s called the ritual of life.”

The Yellow Flowered Cat raised a paw to wipe its whiskers, glared irritably at the shopkeeper, but couldn’t resist giving in to its underlying curiosity. ”So, what did you see on your trip far away?”

”There’s nothing new among the starry sky. But Yog has refined his mastery of time and space remarkably,” Mr. Wu replied, shaking his head as he took another sip of tea. He paused briefly before adding, ”My breakthrough provided guidance for some of the old folks, and it’s also inspired quite a few others who lack the depth... Perhaps they believe my focus on Forbidden Magic has a special reason, which is why they’ve shifted their focus to that child.”

”Zheng Qing?” The Yellow Flowered Cat twitched its whiskers.

”Who else besides him is related to Forbidden Magic?” Mr. Wu answered calmly.

The Yellow Flowered Cat was preparing to mock the Outer Gods’ arrogance when it suddenly turned to peer out the window—you could say its ears reacted even faster than its head.

Simultaneously, Mr. Wu also glanced toward the direction of the campus.

”It’s the museum.” The Yellow Flowered Cat nodded with certainty before kicking over the hefty encyclopedia beside it, cursing loudly: ”Damn it! I knew it! I knew it!! I knew it!!!”

It cursed three times yet ultimately did not reveal what exactly it knew.