High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2176: Chapter 397: Set Up (Part 2)

”This is truly disgraceful!”

The public-funded student of Jiuyou Academy nodded angrily and reached out to twist Poseidon’s ear, admonishing, ”At such a young age, you’re already learning to deceive. How will you manage when you grow up? You have to do your assignments yourself, to find out what you’re missing and reinforce your knowledge... What’s the point of having someone else write it for you?”

Poseidon looked at the warlock, whom he thought was his savior, in shock. His eyes were filled with disbelief after witnessing the collapse of his faith, so much so that he couldn’t avoid Zheng Qing’s grasp.

Su Shijun slapped away the warlock’s hand that was twisting the little fox’s ear.

”No twisting children’s ears!”

She then turned her ire towards the warlock, looking displeased, ”Getting someone to write your assignment deserves punishment, but not understanding a devil’s contract is even more embarrassing. If other Clans of the Moon find out that Poseidon signed a devil’s contract, even if we find a way to break it, she will become a laughing stock in the Moon Council!”

Zheng Qing withdrew his hand and instinctively rubbed his own ear, which had just been twisted red-hot not long ago, feeling an inexplicable sense of awkwardness in his heart.

The owner of the mansion didn’t mind the boy’s moment of distraction, her eyes falling on the head maid at the door.

”Sister Man, take Dong Dong to finish tomorrow’s assignments.”

After giving the order, she turned her stern gaze towards the little fox, who had a trace of delight in her eyes, warning, ”...Don’t be too happy just yet. Tomorrow, besides completing your daily assignments, you also need to write down from memory the common traits of devil contracts I just taught you! If I catch you slacking off, don’t think about leaving the mansion for the next week!”

The little fox gleefully tossed aside the book ”Understanding Devils,” and dashed out of the study. A child’s happiness is always very simple and short-sighted; what’s to come the day after tomorrow can be dealt with then, and it’s enough to be happy tomorrow.

”Tail!”

Su Shijun called after her, ”Watch your posture! Keep your body straight when walking, and don’t take such big steps! And stop wagging your tail around!”

The little fox who had just touched the ground seemed to have been hit by an immobilization spell, standing rigidly on the carpet for a few seconds, her head cocked, trying hard to recall the classical wizard etiquette she had learned. Finally, under the stern gaze of the mansion’s owner, she raised her head, puffed out her chest, slightly raised her tail, and walked out of the study with the graceful steps of a cat.

Then, as soon as she turned a corner, her large tail swished with a whoosh, instantly regaining its wildness, as she dashed towards the door.

Inside the study.

Su Shijun held her forehead with a hand, letting out a sigh of sorrow. The young public-funded student seized the opportunity to pull away a soft chair, sat down, and sighed comfortably, his eyes falling on the nuts and tea in front of him—he hadn’t noticed when these things appeared in front of him, only marveling at the efficiency of the mansion’s maids.

”Don’t worry too much, she’s still a kid,” Zheng Qing picked up an Arhat fruit, tossed it into his mouth, chewed it, and comforted, ”...In a few more years, when she grows up a bit, she surely won’t be this headstrong.”

”In a few more years she’ll be transforming!”

Su Shijun glared at the boy, lifting a finger in a mock point, ”If she doesn’t develop good habits as a child, it’ll be very difficult to correct them when she’s older... How did you raise kids before?”

I raised them like pets, the young public-funded student muttered in his heart.

Just then, the blue paper crane that had been perched on his shoulder fluttered its wings, lightly flying up, elegantly landing on the witch’s finger, a flash of blue light passed, transforming the paper crane into a jade coin.

High-level magic transformation!

The term flashed through Zheng Qing’s mind as he watched that jade coin turning in the witch’s fingers with a trace of awe and admiration.

The owner of Greenhill Mansion smiled demurely, ”This jade coin was a Thanksgiving gift you sent earlier, slightly unexpected... I haven’t received such an unexpected gift in a long time.”

Zheng Qing blinked, unsure of the witch’s attitude—it seemed she was satisfied, but her words also carried a hint of oddity. Understandably so, as inheritor of the Qingqiu Su Family, an Upper House Member, and Big Wizard in the Moon Council, this jade coin must be the cheapest and most tacky gift Su Shijun had ever received.

”Ahem, that tail was also unexpected.”

The young public-funded student recalled the fox tail trap he received during Thanksgiving, cleared his throat, picked up the teacup in front of him, took a small sip, and smoothly changed the topic, ”Just like the message you sent today saying you wanted to discuss something...was also unexpected... What I mean is, if there’s anything, just let me know directly, no need to be so formal.”

”Is that so?”

Su Shijun adjusted her large red glasses, a slight smile tugging at the corner of her mouth, ”If that’s the case... then remember to attend the moonlit ball on Christmas night... as the master of Greenhill Mansion.”

Zheng Qing began to cough violently.

This time it was a real cough.

Tiny droplets of tea carried by the strong airflow sprayed in all directions, but the witch behind the desk seemed prepared, tapping her finger lightly on the table, a flash of blue light passing, and the air instantly clearing.

”The... moonlit ball?” the young public-funded student stuttered, repeating the word.

”The ball hosted by the Moon Council on Christmas Eve.”

The owner of Greenhill Mansion replied nonchalantly, ”The entire First University, or rather the whole of Buji Island, I’m the only Upper House Member in the Moon Council. I have to make an appearance that night and open the ball... As for why I chose you as a dance partner, do I really need to explain?”

Pushed by Poseidon’s departure not even a minute ago, no explanations were necessary.

Zheng Qing tightened his robe—increasingly due to tomorrow’s Xiaoyuan Festival, the chill in the air had grown stronger than usual, making him shiver involuntarily.

After much effort to stay low-key, he was gradually regaining the right to walk in the sunlight, without worrying about a passerby suddenly grabbing a stone and smashing it on the back of his head.

But now, he felt that the smiling witch in front of him was reaching out to pull him back into the shadows.

”But, but, but I don’t know how to dance!”

The public-funded student’s voice carried a note of despair—he seemed to already envision a scene at the ball, with a group of red-eyed werewolves and vampires baring their ghastly white fangs at him.

”You can’t always be so cautious.” Su Shijun said impatiently, touching her large red-framed glasses, though she ultimately didn’t take them off.

This allowed the warlock to breathe a slight sigh of relief.

”It’s not that I’m afraid; I’m worried about embarrassing you.” Zheng Qing changed his tone, trying to make his words and expression appear more sincere.

”With me present, even if you thrash around madly or streak, no one will give you a second look... So there’s absolutely no need to worry about dancing wrong.” The witch seemed oblivious to the heavy blow her words dealt to the young boy.