High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1980: Chapter 201: Switch

Familiarizing with the rules in a scenario where no one knows them yet.

In a sense, it’s not really cheating; it’s more like taking advantage of the information gap to gain an edge—like the child of a university professor who, from a young age, can leverage their parent’s lab to produce a few cutting-edge technology papers that can be published in ”Nature” or ”Science”; whereas the studious rural kid might still be agonizing over which elective to choose for easy high marks this semester.

Their career planning for the future is like the gnome at the bottom of the well versus the gnome standing atop the mountain, inherently possessing a huge disparity in perspective. This gap will exponentially expand as they graduate into the real world.

Of course, people with high emotional intelligence might say that this all falls under the freedom of personal choice and doesn’t count as cheating. People with low emotional intelligence might angrily flip the table, cursing the world’s unfairness.

But that’s how this world is.

Some people know some things, some know other things, and the dynamics produced by exchanging information gaps drive the society toward a more profound development.

Zhu Si didn’t think so profoundly.

As a witch who got lost in the mirror as a child and grew up in the bizarre world of Dreamland, her way of thinking still carries a touch of youthful innocence and purity, with a very distinct division between good and evil in the world.

So when she realized Korma seemed to want to cheat through her, her face immediately turned a little sour.

”Sorry,”

The lecturer of the Dream Interpretation course at First University slightly raised her chin, her tone carrying a hint of pride: ”Whether it falls within the rules or not, I will not aid you in cheating.”

”I already said it’s not cheating.” The North District Great Wise Person tried hard not to roll their eyes, putting on a helpless expression: ”...This is what I planned to do these few days anyway, so, since you can’t be of any help...”

She shrugged and touched the now-empty wine glass in front of her, subtly indicating to the guest that her tavern had closed.

Zhu Si’s slightly lifted chin dropped a bit, and she asked somewhat unwillingly: ”Really, there’s nothing else?... There must be a reason I came here.”

The guest was even more frantic than the owner about inexplicably finding themselves in this small tavern, so if it was just to have a glass of juice, listen to a small story, and then leave hastily, she felt it would betray her extraordinary inspiration.

Korma firmly shook her head.

But midway through the shake, her peripheral vision caught another glimpse of the bright red mark on Zhu Si’s forehead, her expression startled, and her motion slowed slightly, showing a trace of hesitation on her face.

”Well, there is indeed a small matter.”

The North District Great Wise Person fished out a small wooden box from under the bar, pushed it to the guest, and opened the box full of bean-sized polyhedral rules that looked like rubies filled with magic but emitted a stronger magical fluctuation than Magic Gems.

Of course, this power was currently bound by a stronger Magic Binding in the box.

”As you can see,” Korma extended a finger and picked up a red crystal, handing it to the guest: ”These are replicas developed by the Northern District with the help of Doctor Du Zemu... replicas of the Philosopher’s Stone... and the one you use could be considered a genuine one.”

Zhu Si reached out for the replica, instinctively raising her hand to touch the red birthmark-like mark on her forehead. For a moment, she seemed to sense a weak yet distinct resonance between her fingertips.

By the time she snapped back, the tavern owner’s explanation hadn’t concluded: ”...If you have time, you could help evaluate this replica, write about the experience of using it and the differences between them... or any suggestions for improvement you may have for the replica... The Northern District Wizard would be tremendously grateful for this.”

Compared to the previous matter that might involve cheating, this was much easier to handle.

Zhu Si joyfully nodded, was about to agree, when suddenly her face changed, a surge of magic power welled up from within, and the witch’s figure abruptly blurred, leaving Korma surprised by this scene, with the Tarot Cards in her hand flipping quickly.

In the next second, the blur dissipated, and the greater Zhu Si disappeared.

In her place appeared a little witch of about ten years old, rubbing her eyes with a bewildered look around. The replica Philosopher’s Stone in her palm had dimmed considerably.

Meanwhile, the crimson mark on her forehead appeared even more vivid.

”Can magical fluctuations during transformation absorb magic of similar nature to gain extra replenishment?” The North District Grand-Wizard pondered silently, assessing the little witch before her.

”Huh? Why did I come out so quickly?”

The lesser Zhu Si murmured, her gaze skittered over the night, the candle, and Korma, finally landing on the bottle of Amber Light and another empty glass not far away.

She tiptoed, measuring the distance between herself and the glass, then disdainfully pursed her lips.

”Ah, that guy drank again?” she muttered to herself, seemingly oblivious to the silver-haired witch behind the bar: ”...Always fooling around and having the nerve to call themselves an adult!”

”Does drinking cause you to transform passively?” Korma propped her elbows on the bar, leaned slightly forward, casting a shadow that just swamped the petite figure below.

This oppressive feeling from above made the lesser Zhu Si slightly uncomfortable.

But she continued to pretend not to see the silver-haired witch in front of her, spread her hands, stared at the dark red crystal in her palm, and cautiously poked it, feeling its hardness: ”...Can this thing be eaten?”

”You can try, it’s free anyway.” Korma replied with a smiling squint, curiously pursuing: ”Do you know who I am? Do you two share memory or sensations?”

The little witch finally couldn’t keep ignoring the pressure from above her.

Tilting her head, she mumbled: ”What two... there’s no ’we’... only ’I’... just ’me’! But sometimes, to be safe, I would consciously forget some things... Of course, if I try hard to remember, I should be able to recall them... like... like...”

She furrowed her brow, displaying a concentrated expression akin to a student silently writing a spell formula in an exam room.

Magic power surged silently.

After a moment of blurry shape, the greater Zhu Si reappeared before Korma.

”Sorry, a bit of a hiccup.”

She apologized with some embarrassment, stuffed the replica deeply into her pocket, and hurriedly headed for the tavern’s exit, speaking as she went: ”She’s still a child, don’t trouble her with our issues... I’ll complete the evaluation report on the replica as soon as possible and hand it to you... Sorry for the intrusion tonight.”

Before her words had finished, the witch’s tall figure disappeared swiftly into the dark night.

Leaving only a bewildered Korma standing blankly in place.