High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2278: Chapter 499: Red Envelopes After Christmas

On Christmas Eve, Zheng Qing slept quite restlessly.

This wasn’t surprising.

Especially the previous evening at the Christmas Eve ball, he had just danced with three witches, and the backlash from the Alpha white-robed ones hadn’t completely dissipated. He would inevitably have a few nightmares for several nights.

In the morning, when Zheng Qing was putting on socks, he felt something hard inside. Groggily, he poured it out, and instantly, a feeble scream began to echo in the dorm, startling him into a cold sweat and waking him up completely.

”What the hell? It’s so early in the morning, can’t a person sleep peacefully?”

The Fat Wizard’s bed erupted with a shout filled with resentment, joined by Fatty Cat Tuan Tuan. The sprites carrying toothpaste, toothbrushes, and hot towels also joined in the fun, making the room unusually lively.

”Sorry, sorry!”

The young cost student wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, grabbed the glass-like spinning top thing that had fallen out from his sock, and stuffed it under his pillow, pressing it down hard.

The screaming finally subsided.

The long night had drained the warlock of too much energy, and he had completely forgotten the existence of this Black Magic Mirror.

”You could try a Suppression Symbol.” Xiao Xiao, who was also preparing for morning classes, offered his suggestion.

”Haven’t the gifts all been unwrapped? Why is it still screaming?” Zheng Qing expressed his confusion as he cleaned up the Nightmare Dolls with missing heads by his pillow.

”Because malicious intent surrounds you everywhere.”

The Doctor uttered a very apt but useless comment.

...

...

Christmas was on a Friday, followed by Saturday.

Another sunny day.

Zheng Qing suspected that the school’s weather monitor had already used up all the snowballs, and the remaining days of this winter might not have snowfall weather as severe as the past few weeks.

The snowmen that hadn’t melted dragged their soggy bodies and cautiously wandered under the shadows of the small woods and buildings, occasionally digging up a few snowballs from the piled snow in the corners and applying them to themselves, supplementing their gradually shrinking bodies.

The young cost student noticed that many snowmen had large holes on their faces—their noses had been snatched away, leaving wounds that couldn’t be patched because new carrots couldn’t be found.

”That’s really inconsiderate, not even sparing the snowman’s nose.” Xiao Xiao, who was out with Zheng Qing, sighed with a hint of melancholy, ”The world is getting worse, people’s hearts have changed.”

”But their noses are really tasty.” Zheng Qing recalled the piece of carrot he had eaten yesterday, still sensing a trace of sweetness on his tongue.

After finishing morning classes, Xiao Xiao went to save a spot in the library, while Zheng Qing took a trip to the School Works Committee.

After a consultation last night, the young cost student decided to hand over the remaining ’Dangerous Gifts’ to the college, hoping to curb some evil trends slightly.

”It’s difficult... very difficult.”

The grey-robed official receiving the warlock dragged on his officious tone, carefully fiddling with the trays filled with boxes wrapped in Talisman papers, displaying a troubled expression, ”Firstly, your gifts don’t have a clear giver; secondly, even if we find those involved, it would be difficult to apply beyond criticism according to the ’First University Campus Management Regulations’... I remember a saying to describe such behavior—more than a prank, less than a curse—so for now, the only thing we can do is help you safely dispose of these ’gifts’.”

”Is that all?... Alright.”

The young cost student didn’t show much disappointment, as he already had expected the School Works Committee’s efficiency and the difficulty in tracing responsibility for this matter, just holding a bit of hope to give it a try.

But from another perspective, handing those ’Dangerous Gifts’ to the school somewhat achieved part of the purpose. With this comforting thought, Zheng Qing nodded slightly in gratitude, intending to leave.

”Ahem, ahem!”

The grey-robed official behind the reception desk coughed forcefully twice, and upon noticing the warlock’s puzzled gaze, he discreetly glanced to the side.

Following his line of sight, Zheng Qing saw another Black Magic Mirror besides a little wooden box on the clean tabletop. Unlike the Mirror he had tucked under his pillow, the one at the School Works Committee was silent, like a dead object, shimmering with charming colors under the sunlight outside, looking almost like an artwork.

Inside the small wooden box, a few Copper Coins were scattered.

Is this a tipping box?

Hesitant, under the grey-robed official’s approving gaze, Zheng Qing fished out two Copper Coins and dropped them into the wooden box.

Ding dong!

”Rest assured, we will handle these dangerous items according to the school’s highest safety standards, ensuring not a bit of trouble for you!” The grey-robed official said with a cheerful promise.

”Is your Magic Mirror broken?” The young cost student kindly reminded him at the end.

This remark caused laughter in the office.

”This is a standard Anti-Black Magic Mirror distributed by the Alliance, it won’t react to prank-level Black Magic.” The grey-robed official, in charge of reception, added with a smile, ”Otherwise, certain naughty kids on campus would keep it screaming non-stop for seven days and twenty-four hours.”

That’s exactly right.

Zheng Qing thought that every person coming to the School Works Committee for matters would carry some grudges against it.

Leaving the School Works Committee Office, he went to the library. At the library’s front desk, Zheng Qing spotted another wooden box. But unlike the solitary box at the School Works Committee Office, the library’s was much larger, resembling a donation box at the church’s entrance.

Every passing young wizard threw a couple of Copper Coins inside. Some even extravagantly put Gold beans, jade coins, or even various gemstones.

”Do we give tips after Christmas too? How come I don’t remember this happening last year?”

Upon finding Xiao Xiao, Zheng Qing immediately voiced the confusion in his heart, while also detailing his encounter at the School Works Committee Office to the Doctor.

”It’s not a tip, but close, a sort of hybrid between ’Boxing Day’ and ’tips’.” Xiao Xiao adjusted his glasses, briefly explaining his understanding, while asking back, ”Since you mentioned last year... do you remember what you did the day after Christmas?”

This required some calculation.

The young cost student counted on his fingers and silently invoked Divination Magic. After a while, he revealed an enlightened expression, ”Oh, last year’s Winter Hunting was delayed, right after Christmas came Winter Hunting day... we went into the woods.”

Doctor Xiao shrugged and continued reviewing his coursework.

This seriousness and diligence made Zheng Qing very ashamed.

Today is already the penultimate day of the seventeenth week, with only a week left for review before the end-of-term exams this semester. Winter Hunting, Christmas, and other ’external factors’ that interfere with studying and reviewing have basically disappeared, and everyone has no reason to be lazy anymore.

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