High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2301: Chapter 522: Examiner

Every visitor coming for the first time to the Trident Headquarters Office would be astonished by its cramped and inconspicuous appearance, completely unmatched with the institution’s immense reputation within the Alliance.

A brass plaque hangs at the entrance, featuring a badge with three small interlaced swords and the full name of the stationed institution. The plaque is quite shiny, evidence of someone diligently taking care of it regularly.

The threshold and doorframe are engraved with runes against Black Magic and curses. The polished marble floor reflects the candle light from the ceiling, like strands of intertwined starlight, together constructing the protection array enveloping the entire office; even the gaps in the floor are not wasted, as a glimmer of spell light occasionally emerges from the crevices, silently scanning every guest’s robe corners, sleeve buttons, and pointed wizard hats, ensuring that they won’t suddenly explode inside the office.

Inside the office, to the left, are several rows of wooden chairs where visitors hold parchment slips, waiting in orderly lines. Occasionally, a grumpy trash can clangs and clatters past the guests’ feet, snapping its deformed lid, collecting every piece of paper scrap within its domain.

To the right is a row of recessed arched doors, each adorned with The Door God and Peach Charm. The patrolling Door Gods on them have been spirited throughout the years, yet they don’t show dark circles. Some say it’s because Trident generously offers to the Door Gods, while others suggest that Trident staff often secretly replace the Door Gods at midnight to ensure they remain in good spirits when work starts the next day.

Between the left and right sides is a square-shaped office desk, forming a square loop. Inside sits the receptionist Agatha of Trident; she is in her forties, wearing a loose non-standard robe—earlier, before Director Robert took office, she could still wear dresses—her daily work involves providing different types of keys according to the varying requests of visitors. With the key, visitors head to the wooden door, open it, and reach their desired destination.

Agatha had been sitting inside this ’square loop’ desk since she was eighteen. She didn’t get into the First University, but fortunately, her elders had some influence, allowing her to secure this iron rice bowl through recommendation.

It’s been over thirty years now.

She has transformed from a delicate young girl into the sort of aunt she once detested—plump figure, loud speaking voice, and face covered in thick lead powder—the monotonous work year after year killed her passion for life, most of the time responding to visitors’ seemingly endless yet actually scant questions in brief terms with a stern face.

Only occasionally when handsome warlocks pass by, she’d display a slightly gentler demeanor.

Just like now.

A group of young hunters, evidently freshly out of school, nervously stands outside the counter. Their awkwardly delicate faces trigger Agatha’s maternal instincts, making her want to pinch their bright cheeks.

”How can I assist you?” she asks gently, discreetly opening the drawer while sweeping the half-eaten waffle from the table into it.

Before the young warlocks can speak, a plump elder wizard rushes out from one arched door, wearing a green vest over his robe with flair, and slaps a brass key onto her desk.

”Agatha! I’m supposed to go to the Rapid Response Office for Emergencies, not the Supervisory Department!” The fat wizard speaks with a hint of annoyance: ”You nearly ruined my important mission!”

”You won’t encounter trouble unless you planned to bribe the Rapid Response Office’s commissioner,” the witch behind the counter’s face changes, her tone becoming much firmer.

Were it not for the young lads nearby, she might elevate her voice several tones and employ more colorful language.

”What...bribe!”

The plump elder wizard’s first two words are high-pitched while the latter two are subdued, sneaky in glancing left and right, resembling a flower cat stealing sardines.

The lead young wizard can’t help but chuckle.

The elder wizard glares at him discontentedly, then promptly looks at the receptionist inside the looped desk, explaining further: ”...I just want to express gratitude for the Rapid Response Office’s staff for their diligence and professionalism in handling affairs... What are these lads here for?”

He extends a thick short finger, pointing at the young hunters.

”School duty,” Agatha responds coldly, while selecting another brass key from the box in front of her, tossing it onto the elder wizard’s extended finger.

”School? First University?”

The elder wizard’s eyes brighten, retrieves the key, and the discontent on his face quickly fades, replaced by a genial smile: ”Truly outstanding! I am Marvin Smith, operating a small alchemy workshop; my ancestor Kyle Smith studied at The Alpha College of the First University...”

While speaking, he already hands over a rather luxurious business card.

The leading young hunter feels a bit unprepared, glancing back at the short warlock with black-framed glasses behind him, uncertain about whether to accept the card.

”Your family hasn’t entered the First University for two generations, what do you have to engage with these young folks!”

The receptionist behind the desk snatches that business card and tosses it into the box before her, sternly pointing towards an empty arched door nearby: ”...don’t disturb Trident’s visitors!”

As if annotating her words, three faint spell lights ascend from the crevice beneath Marvin Smith’s feet, crossing his robe, then gently dissipating into the ceiling.

The chubby elder wizard forces a dry laugh, no longer daring to ramble, retrieves a handkerchief from his chest pocket to wipe his shiny forehead, nodding repeatedly to both the young wizard and the receptionist, backing away swiftly into an arch door.

Agatha then turns back, looking at the young hunters, repeating what she had previously asked: ”How can I assist you?”

Her demeanor returns to gentleness.

The lead young wizard clears his throat, striving to speak with a calm tone: ”We are here to meet the reviewer.”

”Reviewer?”

Upon hearing this title, Agatha lifts her eyebrows in surprise, undisguising the suspicion in her gaze: ”Are you here for an Alliance hunting mission?”

She confirms, noting the total of five youths fitting the standard composition of a hunting team.

”Yes.”

The leading young wizard hands over a parchment and a badge: ”This is the permit issued by the School Works Committee and Hunting Committee...and our hunting team’s badge.”

Agatha receives the materials, with the parchment’s formal, mechanical content and the row of gleaming red stamps below verifying the young wizard’s claim.

The badge, however, is a plain brass texture, with ”Absolution” inscribed in clerical script on the shield-shaped base.