High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1550: Chapter 294 Temporary Meeting

”We need some time to reconsider the transaction with you.”

The captain of the hunting team finally responded to the old mansion’s owner.

Another tentacle stretched out from the crack behind the door, reaching into the bubbling cauldron of mushroom soup, stirring it briefly before retracting.

The faint sound of rustling came from behind the door.

Zheng Qing tried hard not to imagine a giant octopus hiding behind the door, licking its tentacle.

”The soup isn’t ready yet,” the rustling sound stopped, and the mansion’s owner graciously offered more choices to the guests: ”You still have some time to make your final decision.”

The guests from another realm gathered at the small courtyard gate, far away from the cauldron, forming a tight circle.

Jiang Yu directed the glowing little mushroom creatures. A small group clustered at the center of the circle, providing essential illumination for the impromptu meeting, while the rest blocked the space between the circle and the main entrance of the house, ensuring that the black wizard named Engla behind the door wouldn’t secretly pull any tricks.

For added shock value, Nikita and Zhuzhu were also placed in the circle, with their backs to the house’s main entrance, facing directly opposite Zheng Qing, under the aim of the charm gun’s barrel. For safety, a spacious gap was left between them and the others, wide enough to fit a Banna.

The female demon showed no displeasure with this arrangement and cooperated generously.

”Should we accept this transaction?” At the beginning of the discussion, Zheng Qing candidly expressed his concerns to his companions: ”This isn’t the First University, and our supplies are very limited... His memory is polluted by the Starry Sky; this is a very dangerous, extremely dangerous matter.”

Almost everyone agreed with this judgment.

Except for Xiao Xiao.

He held the heavy black notebook, twirling a brush between his fingers like a spinning windmill as he spoke: ”Do we even have any other options? The water vortex in the Skye River has been destroyed, and the tree holes in the Enchanted Forest are ruined too...”

Zheng Qing felt his face flush slightly. Fortunately, the night shrouded them, and the dim light from the mushroom creatures might have kept others from noticing.

”... If we give up this shortcut, we’ll have to face a long road back,” Xiao Xiao adjusted his glasses and looked around, pausing especially on Zhu Si: ”We must consider the health of our companions... as well as our academic progress.”

”Oh, that’s right!” The red-faced male wizard exclaimed: ”It’s almost the final exams! If we don’t take the exam, won’t we have to repeat the year? That would be so embarrassing! My brother would kill me!”

”Instead of worrying about repeating the year, you should worry about getting expelled.” Xin Fat Man’s somber voice echoed next to Zhang Ji Xin: ”Right now, what we’re doing has already seriously violated school rules, considering everyone present...”

The fat man’s gaze skimmed over Jiang Yu before quickly changing his wording: ”... everyone standing here, aside from the monitor, has all been punished by the school before, especially our captain, who’s still under probation... I have reason to suspect the school might directly expel us all over this incident.”

Zhang Ji Xin looked devastated, as if he’d been hit by a heavy blow.

”So, that means we must return as quickly as possible.” Xiao Xiao stopped twirling the brush, clutching it in his palm: ”Which leaves us no choice.”

Zheng Qing let out a soft breath, raised an arm, and pinched the bridge of his nose.

The throbbing ache in his mind troubled him, making it difficult to focus his thoughts, but on the other hand, this pain made his mind exceptionally perceptive, easily capturing thoughts he’d overlooked before.

”But it’s very difficult, extraordinarily difficult... He wants to forget the faces of the gods,” the young scholar slowly repeated the mansion owner’s request, speaking in measured tones: ”How can we accomplish this transaction?”

The group fell silent for a few moments.

”How about a Forgetfulness Spell?” Zhang Ji Xin suggested first, though he seemed unsure of his own idea, looking expectantly at Xiao Xiao: ”Doctor, is there a stronger version of the Forgetfulness Spell than the ordinary one?”

Xiao Xiao shook his head.

”Casting a Forgetfulness Spell relies on a wizard’s understanding of memory and the soul, as well as their mastery of magical power manipulation techniques,” he said, adjusting his glasses and offering a brief explanation: ”The deeper the understanding, the more precise the magical operation, and the stronger the spell’s effect. As for us...”

He looked around, then shook his head:

”... perhaps if all of us cast it together, the spell’s power would be slightly enhanced. But even then, the maximum impact might only erase partial memories from a top-tier registered wizard... Do you all think Mr. Engla belongs to that tier?”

Although the mansion owner had remained behind the closed door, avoiding direct contact with the young wizards, the answer was evident, given that he nearly caused them to lose control earlier with mere words.

”At least a Big Wizard,” Zhang Ji Xin confidently stated: ”I still have some grasp on sensing a Big Wizard’s aura... That tentacle of his, along with the power of his words, can only belong to someone of that caliber.”

”An elderly Big Wizard,” Xin Fat Man added simultaneously: ”Remember how he referred to Elder Atar as ’Little Atar’? That means when Old Atar was very young, he was already a formidable wizard.”

”A Big Wizard nearing loss of control due to Starry Sky pollution,” Jiang Yu offered her analysis: ”Initially, when we approached this mansion and were dragged into an illusory world, it was already a clear sign... Based on later interactions, we can deduce that while he harbors no ill intent towards us, he uncontrollably cast illusions on us. Such behavior is a classic case of being out of control.”

”And those tentacles, plus the impact of his memories,” Zheng Qing recalled the times the mansion owner merely reminisced about his past and plunged the group into danger, still feeling a lingering fear: ”If he suddenly burst out of the house next, flinging those tentacles to strangle us one by one, I wouldn’t find it surprising at all.”

A slender tentacle abruptly stretched out from behind Zheng Qing, swaying in the fragmented glow emitted by the mushrooms, seemingly greeting the young wizards.

The unexpected tentacle startled the young wizards immersed in their meeting.

Zheng Qing almost pulled the trigger, ready to fire at it.

”Relax, take it easy.” A cluster of eyes and several mouths suddenly appeared on the tentacle, speaking to the group in unison: ”I greatly admire your caution and attentiveness... Indeed, I am a Big Wizard... But I must emphasize one thing: I am very stable in my current state. The illusory world you encountered upon entering was merely protective magic for safety.”

”Additionally, I must remind you that casting a Forgetfulness Spell creates a secret connection between the wizard and the consciousness receiving the spell... In other words, the wizard might need to endure the backlash from the memories.”