High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2274: Chapter 495: The Importance of a Helping Hand

Beta Town, Pedestrian Street.

Number 99.

In front of the San You Bookstore.

Not far away, D&K at No. 97 on the pedestrian street is still open, with the night wind faintly carrying the enthusiastic voice of the Ears Brother inviting customers; across the street, the Wandering Bar is about to enter its busiest time of the week—today is both Christmas and a Friday—the big frog checking hand stamps at the bar’s entrance is so tired that its tongue is lolling out.

Zheng Qing, holding Poseidon, stood with two witches in front of the bookstore.

The orange light inside the shop shone warmly on the warlock. Through the window, Zheng Qing could see the Yellow Flowered Cat sitting on a thick tome of the Wizard’s Codex with Mr. Lying on a rocking chair, holding a copy of Li Baichuan’s ”The Wizard of Oz.” Beside him, a small red clay stove brewed steaming tea, the pearlescent mist from the kettle’s spout forming strange shapes that bared their fangs at the uninvited guests outside.

”See, I told you Mr. was in the store!” The young cost student turned his head in satisfaction, looking at the North District Grand-Wizard.

Korma looked at the shop and then the boy, her expression somewhat serious.

She turned to look at Su Shijun.

”Can you see it?” Her question seemed somewhat bewildering to Zheng Qing.

Su Shijun took a step forward, then a step back, then shook her head: ”I can’t see it... the bookstore is empty, the window sill has a thick layer of dust, and there are traces of mice gnawing on the shelves, must have been a long time since anyone came... Expelling Charm, confusion spell, stealth spell, and so on, none of those spells I know have such a powerful effect.”

The young cost student finally understood what they meant.

”Are you saying you can’t see the people in the house?” He looked left and right, his tone incredulous, feeling a chill run down his neck: ”No way, can you see the light on me? And my shadow... Dong Dong, can you see these?”

He lifted the Little Fox in his arms.

Squeak!

The Little Fox nodded affirmatively, wagging its tail, indicating that it could also see.

Crash!

The bookstore door suddenly opened, interrupting the small argument at the entrance.

”Come in and talk.”

The familiar voice of the Yellow Flowered Cat came through, as grumpy as ever: ”Disturbing an old man’s rest late at night, don’t you have any decency? Celebrating the holiday is your reason to bother me? Besides, who celebrates Christmas! That Jesus guy is younger than me, why should I celebrate his birthday!”

The Little Fox was so startled by the Big Cat that it shuddered and buried its head into his arms, curling its big tail around itself, looking quite the coward.

Zheng Qing didn’t have time to focus on the Little Fox’s little movements.

He hesitated, glanced at the Yellow Flowered Cat, who had already moved away from the ”Codex,” then turned to look at the two witches beside him, the meaning very clear.

”Come in and talk!!” The Flower Cat extended its neck and roared.

Zheng Qing coughed twice.

”Let’s go inside first, we’ll talk inside,” he quietly suggested to the witches, and then, uncertain, he asked, ”In your view, did the bookstore door open?”

The two witches nodded silently.

Zheng Qing exhaled lightly and walked into the bookstore first. The orange light through the door’s crack left a trapezoidal glow on the ground, seeming like a long narrow staircase, or perhaps a narrow door①. The boy’s slender shadow fell on that glow, quickly spreading as he moved, until it merged into the dark night outside.

Compared to outside, the inside was warm, mingled with the scent of books and tea, so much so that the Little Fox, initially trembling in the boy’s arms, couldn’t help but raise its head and look around cautiously.

”Give me the kid, you go chat with the old man!” The Yellow Flowered Cat stood on two feet, swaggering to the boy, a fleshy plum blossom blooming on his outstretched paw.

Zheng Qing hesitated for a second, obediently handing over the Little Fox, now curled into a fur ball, to the Yellow Flowered Cat.

”You shouldn’t have brought so many people.” The Yellow Flowered Cat grumbled, shaking its head as it took the Little Fox.

”Su... uh, she’s Dong Dong’s, uh, mother... and Sister Korma, they’ve both helped me a lot.” The young cost student stammered explanations, cautiously turning his head, surprised to find no one behind him: ”...Where did they go?”

”That’s not a reason to bring so many people... don’t worry, they’re in the right place.”

The Flower Cat gave the boy a blaming glance, its furry paw rubbing the Little Fox’s furry ears, contentedly purring a few times: ”Purr, purr, the old man probably told you he’s gradually cutting ties with this world, purr, purr, you bringing people is like tying strings to him, purr.”

The continuous purrs emitted a reassuring feeling, and the Little Fox finally bravely raised a paw, stroking the fur of the Flower Cat.

”I wish you would stay a bit longer.” The boy looked imploringly at the gentleman lying on the chair.

Mr.’s half-head emerged from behind the ”The Wizard of Oz,” looking over his glasses at the young cost student: ”Staying or not isn’t determined by time... time means nothing to me, but choice does. Just like Little Korma coming today. You should know, her getting into this bookstore today isn’t due to some big thing she did in the North District, but because she gave you a push outside the exam room, and, at a crucial moment when you entered the Wizard World, made an important choice for you.”

Most of the time, Zheng Qing only half-understood Mr.’s words, comprehending very little.

Like now.

He could discern that Mr. acknowledged Korma’s help to him, and could also discern that Mr. didn’t mind staying a little longer, which was enough. As for choices or no choices, it was too abstract and mystical, not suitable for pondering now.

Mr. put down the ”The Wizard of Oz” in his hand, reached for the teapot, poured himself a small cup of tea, raised it, blew on it, then asked leisurely: ”So, what brings you here today?”

”Don’t you know?” Zheng Qing was somewhat doubtful.

”I just don’t care to know.”

Mr.’s honest answer took a hit at the young wizard’s confidence, his gaze skimming over the Little Fox playing with the Yellow Flowered Cat, adding: ”Not long ago when I came out of The Land of Void, I said to you ’that seed of yours was an accident, Poseidon’s birth was an accident’, today I’d add that your visit tonight is also an accident.”

At this point, he half-jokingly raised the teacup in his hand:

”...Sometimes, I can’t help but wonder, did this world originate from an accident... perhaps ’accident’ is also a good way to converge? Just like that shadow Black Cat that escaped from you, it too was an accident.”

He displayed a thoughtful expression on his face.

Zheng Qing, meanwhile, rolled his eyes internally.