High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2224: Chapter 445: Two News Articles

The newspaper that Zheng Qing received from Xin Fat Man wasn’t the campus paper but the Beta Town Post. Checking the issue date, it was Monday, December 14th, the day after the Winter Hunt had just ended, and all members of the Absolution Hunting Team were undergoing health assessments in a secret laboratory arranged by the school.

Perhaps this is why Xin Fat Man referred to it as ”old news”?

The young scholarship student, slightly unsure of himself, cautiously unfolded the newspaper.

At a glance, the front page was filled with six or seven headlines of varying sizes—”Suspected Uprising in the Land of Desolation, Witch Mentor Ulrich Missing,” ”Danghag Conducts Another Surprise Inspection at Dark Blue Castle,” ”First University’s 2009 Winter Hunt Concludes,” ”Trident Sword Proposes Again to Expand New World Jurisdiction,” ”Filtz’s Magic Potion: Partnership Invitations Sent to 43 Potion Masters,” ”The New Order Within the Alliance,” ”Chief Justice Sam Holds Hearing on Activation of ’Special Security Law’”—none of which particularly stirred his sensitive nerves, making him instinctively sigh a little in relief.

The report on the Winter Hunt was a brief article, easily overlooked. The most eye-catching sentence inside was ”No accidental deaths reported in this Winter Hunt,” a statement suggestive of harmonious content in the brief article.

However, the article about the new order slightly caught the Warlock’s interest.

”The New Order Within the Alliance—Conservative Wizards Must Respect the Existence of Fringe Wizard Communities”:

”...From the North District of Beta Town to the sunless Underground World; from the declining Gypsy Camp to the dark depths of Lin Zhong Lake, fringe wizards have always been present... Do not underestimate the influence of North District Wizards and other fringe wizards on the entire Alliance... Today, they have already gathered a significant number of wizards, and in the near future, this numerical advantage could well transform into stronger magical power.”

”...These (fringe) wizards are extensively involved in all magical activities within the Alliance—from the reconstruction of the new Black Prison World, to the improvement of the Lin Zhong Lake ecosystem, to laborers in Alchemy Workshops, to mushroom gatherers in the Silent Forest, they are everywhere yet nearly nonexistent...”

”...The cautious discussion at the First University regarding the possibility of North District Wizards auditing courses indicates that the importance of fringe wizard communities is steadily increasing. As the number of traditional wizards decreases, the power dynamics within the Alliance are undergoing dynamic changes... Fringe wizard communities are gradually realizing that they should not blindly follow the rules of the minority... but should become an important part of the new order...”

”...Of course, this respect does not imply harm to the interests of traditional wizards... Ultimately, besides principles and laws, the wizard world also includes magic power... The continuous exploration of the New World means increasingly abundant magical resources, sufficient to support necessary reforms within the Alliance and provide fringe wizards with a more comprehensive advancement environment...”

”...The First University has played an important role in popularizing modern magic theory, but its capabilities extend beyond that... Strengthening the education of the new generation of fringe wizards might be seen as an alternative to traditional laissez-faire approaches... On the other hand, fringe wizard communities will also find it difficult to adapt to the elite education model of traditional wizards, necessitating the exploration of an entirely new educational model... From a third-party observer’s perspective, fringe wizards seem more inclined to use magic skills and mysticism as a means to compensate for insufficient magic power... For fringe wizard communities, gaining respect and enhancing magic power are equally urgent issues...”

The young scholarship student read the newspaper, swiftly skimming the text, before hearing the mischievous voice of a Fat Wizard:

”What do you think of this article?”

”What about it?”

Zheng Qing, puzzled, still earnestly replied, ”Fringe wizards are indeed a big issue, including the Ears Brothers from our store. In a way, they also belong to the fringe wizard category...”

”Fringe wizards? What fringe wizards?”

Xin Fat Man blinked, grabbed the newspaper from Zheng Qing’s hand, flipped a few pages, then tossed it back with annoyance: ”This one! The analysis report by Little William Blair!”

The newspaper traced a crooked arc through the air.

Landing in Jiang Yu’s hands.

The Fat Wizard gasped, showing a look of having made a mistake. Zheng Qing’s eyelid twitched, and before he could figure out how to retrieve the newspaper from the Witch’s hands, he heard her calm voice: ”An article by Little William Blair? Let me see... Ah, it’s this one, ’Su Shijun’s Lover’s Identity Exposed? We Analyze the Related Report.’”

Xiao Xiao and Zhang Ji Xin, who were discussing the school’s hunting team results from this Winter Hunt, simultaneously turned to look at the witch holding the newspaper, then again at the scholarship student whose face was gradually turning pale.

Xin Fat Man awkwardly fished out a box of candied fruits, popped a sugar-coated sour plum into his mouth, then wore a bitter expression.

The Witch cleared her throat confidently, repeated the article’s title, and began reading:

————

Su Shijun’s Lover’s Identity Exposed? We Analyze the Related Report

Columnist: Little William Blair

This past Misty Month (October 22 to November 20 of the Gregorian calendar) a stunning report emerged①: Zheng Qing, a second-year student at the First University’s Jiuyou Academy, is actually the de facto husband of Lady Su Shijun, a member of the Moon Council, and the two have a son, nicknamed Neptune and properly named Poseidon (currently it is unclear which surname this child will ultimately bear).

As an ambitious young Warlock from a humble background, Zheng Qing may indeed have a chance to overcome worldly prejudices and the entrenched bloodline beliefs of old wizard families, thus joining the upper echelons of society.

However, many experts express skepticism about this report.

Miskatonic University History Department Professor Mack De Weir, who tracks the affairs of Great Wizards within the Alliance, stated, ”From several reliable sources, we’ve received no such information.” Weir added that the Wizard Alliance’s Family Protection Agency, which oversees the marital status of Great Wizards, has not documented any itinerary of Councilor Su Shijun that coincides with the young Warlock mentioned in the news report.

He also said, ”Every aspect of this story invites skepticism.”

[Picture: Su Shijun attending a grand banquet of the Moon Council]

Is Zheng Qing truly Councilor Su Shijun’s spouse? Below are some known romantic encounters and interactions of Councilor Su, as well as some responses and uncertainties about the report.

[Picture: Distant shot of Poseidon (somewhat blurry)]

What’s in the expose about Su Shijun’s husband’s identity?

”Daily Horn Newspaper” (a tabloid known for being irresponsibly gossipy) unabashedly hinted in its Monday report that Zheng Qing, a student from the Ninth-Grade Astronomy Class 08-1 at the First University’s Jiuyou Academy, is indeed the spouse of Councilor Su Shijun from the Moon Council. Rumors about Councilor Su’s spouse had been spreading wildly since last year but had never produced a convincing answer.