High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2236: Chapter 457: The Great Etiquette Question

”Thank you.”

The young man raised his glass of orange juice and gently clinked it with the witch’s, intending to quickly withdraw. But at that moment, the witch’s voice, as if in casual conversation, reached his ears:

”Speaking of the fat guy working overtime, I have a friend who works at the Beta Town Post. She said the editor got hold of some big news last night, about the school covering up the winter hunting incident...”

Zheng Qing abruptly halted his raised foot, turning around somewhat awkwardly.

”Winter hunting incident?”

The young postgraduate student forced a smile, trying hard to appear curious: ”Weren’t there no casualties this time in the winter hunt? How could there be an incident? Is the Beta Town Post trying to make up some big news again...”

The last remark was something the campus newspaper often used to tease the post, and Zheng Qing had heard the fat guy say it many times, so he had learned it too.

Hearing the familiar teasing, even Barnes couldn’t help but smile.

”This time it’s probably not the post making the news, but the school,” the witch said meaningfully, before taking control of the conversation again: ”By the way, when the School Guardian Array was activated, the Atonement Hunting Team was also outside... did you see... or hear anything terrifying?”

”Like what?”

”Like some out-of-control magical creatures... or something even scarier, etc.,” the witch mused, choosing her words carefully: ”like the wild dragons and two-headed ogres we encountered.”

Zheng Qing very slowly shook his head.

”If I remember correctly, Victor Patrol Team was also outside the Protecting Legal Formation at that time,” he didn’t directly answer the witch’s question but tried to redirect the topic: ”Did you see anything?”

”After the Atonement Hunting Team left, we went in another direction to assist the Violet Patrol Team... you know Violet, right? Violet Jessop, the purple-haired witch from the Assistant Team, she’s close to Victor, and also participated in the Battle of the Black Prison.”

Of course, Zheng Qing had a deep impression of the witch who had once ruined his Charm Gun—the one he knew wasn’t in control of Violet’s body at the time.

Linda continued, ”... Then in the area where your hunting team was, there appeared a powerful Magic Barrier and a chaotic Starry Sky turbulence, blocking all detection magic... so we didn’t see anything unusual... Everyone guessed that something must have happened there, but no one knows what exactly happened. Then the school came, and the winter hunt ended.”

As she spoke, the blonde witch kept a close eye on the warlock’s face, seemingly trying to read something from his expression.

However, Zheng Qing was now quite adept at hiding his expressions.

He maintained a warm smile on his face, his eyes watching the entrance as if observing the guests’ movements, while casually responding, ”Hmm, I know about as much as you do... And the fat guy probably mentioned to you that the school had us sign a Silence Contract... So I can’t divulge any more information to you...”

The witch persisted for a few seconds, realizing she wouldn’t get any more information from the young postgraduate student, and had to raise her glass and clink it with Zheng Qing’s.

Clink!

”What a pity,” she pouted, ”The fat guy could have written a report like this... which would greatly help him obtain the Golden Feather.”

”Indeed... very unfortunate.”

The warlock slightly bowed his body, and before he could straighten up, he heard a somewhat teasing voice from behind.

”Dong Dong said you like to flirt with witches, and I was initially hesitant to believe it... You seem to be chatting so happily here, does your Monitor know about this?”

As that voice sounded, the entire store seemed to brighten up, and the originally noisy environment quickly quieted down, as if a stern professor had walked into a classroom.

The young postgraduate student’s body swayed, and the light smile on his face quickly turned stiff and helpless.

Meanwhile, the blonde witch in front of him looked radiant, her eyes shining, as she looked past the warlock at someone behind him, her hand now holding a light gold Feather Pen that was twisting unconsciously in her palm.

Zheng Qing’s heart pounded as he quickly turned around to see Su Shijun, who had just entered the store.

She was wearing a bright red gown, with bare shoulders and a luxurious necklace, covered with black gemstones and pearls, making her skin look all the more pale—judging from her get-up, Zheng Qing almost thought she was here for a Moon Council party.

Apparently noticing the warlock’s pale face.

The new Upper House Member subtly winked at him, and then that slightly teasing voice resounded in Zheng Qing’s ears again: ”Rest assured, only you heard that last sentence... this one too... it’s just a simple little magic.”

This time, Zheng Qing clearly saw, the owner of Greenhill Mansion hadn’t opened her mouth.

He took a deep breath inwardly.

Then he realized he had forgotten to breathe just now.

After resuming his weak breathing, cold sweat oozed out.

In just a few seconds, the warlock’s mind flashed through a series of scenes—moonless nights, dirty burlap sacks, angry crowds, a row of decapitated Nightmare Dolls, fire and screams, Dylan’s coffin, choir songs, black tombstones, and on the tombstone, blood-colored letters:

”Here lies a heap of debris, his greed destroyed everything.”

”Help me arrange an exclusive interview with Su Councilor! I’ll agree to any conditions!”

A soft and earnest voice from the blonde witch reached his ears, like a mosquito’s hum, but the young postgraduate student ignored it and unhesitatingly abandoned the former editor behind him.

”Welcome, welcome!”

He greeted the biggest guest at today’s anniversary celebration in a loud and steady voice, but his words sounded like those of an underpaid waiter in a soon-to-close inn: ”Please come in... What would you like?”

Zheng Qing could almost hear the sound of everyone’s eyes rolling in unison.

The sprites bustled, holding beautiful trays with an assortment of drinks, snacks, and fruits, greatly alleviating the awkward atmosphere brought on by the young postgraduate student’s clumsy display.

Su Shijun’s expression remained indifferent, with a slight nod, appearing proud and reserved—matching her usual image in the eyes of others—but beneath the indifference, the voice of the Upper House Member from the Moon Council babbled incessantly in the young postgraduate student’s ear:

”Seeing your performance just now, I suddenly realized, have you never attended balls held by the Clans of the Moon? Besides attire, accessories, appearance, and dance steps as these necessary conditions, selecting wines, making small talk, and interacting with dance partners are also very important!”

”Do you know what glass should be paired with Late Harvest Amber Light and Ice Wine?”

”Or do you know the difference in the placement of bone china, silverware, and copper tableware?”

”And can you tell the different steps for raising a wine glass and raising a tea cup?”