High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2432: Chapter 653: Ninth Day of the First Month

February 22nd, the ninth day of the first lunar month.

Ninth day, a hidden dragon should not act (heavy mist).

Although a coincidence, Zheng Qing felt it unexpectedly fitting—this idiom implies that when something is in its early stages, although promising, it is still weak, so one should be cautious and avoid reckless moves—this aligns very well with the current state of the Edge Academy, and holds significant reference value for himself.

After a night of spreading, the news of the opening of a new academy at First University had gradually fermented.

Newspapers of all sizes, including the ”Beta Town Post,” which had already finalized their weekend editions, all issued extra editions this morning, analyzing in detail the impact and significance of this matter from various angles.

In the morning, when Zheng Qing and Xiao Xiao went for their morning class, they were momentarily worried about facing the same situation of being watched as sometime last year. But as they actually walked around the campus, he was surprised to find almost everyone holding a newspaper, either reading it seriously or arguing heatedly with companions, with almost no one paying attention to the passersby.

”At least for this morning, you’re still peaceful.”

While having breakfast, Xin Fat Man comforted the newly appointed young teaching assistant: ”I just thought of another question, in your current position, should you wear a red academy robe, or a black teaching assistant robe when walking around campus?”

This was another angle Zheng Qing had never considered.

”A red robe, just a red robe.”

He answered vaguely, stuffing an entire tea egg straight into his mouth, ensuring he had a good reason not to speak for a while.

”A red robe is good, it represents... staying true to one’s original aspiration...”

The Fat Wizard mumbled, lowering his head and writing furiously in his little notebook, composing what was probably another report, completely ignoring that the meat pie by his hand was no longer warm.

On a normal day, this kind of ’blasphemy’ against food would never happen to Xin Fat Man. Zheng Qing was quite gratified to see that after a winter break, his companion had become more diligent.

He sipped a bit of goat’s milk, struggled to swallow the egg in his mouth, and turned to look at another companion.

Xiao Xiao was holding a small brass spoon, absentmindedly stirring the yogurt in his bowl, with the ink green raisins and golden dried fruits on the milk skin rising and falling with the spoon, making it quite appetizing to watch.

Zheng Qing noticed that he was holding a copy of the ”Beta Town Post” in his other hand, and the article on the back seemed to be extensively introducing the two deans of the Edge Academy. One could see the folded part exposing the portrait of Sister Korma and Professor Montreya from the neck up, as if their heads were chopped off.

”... Alma de Kinny, once studied at First University, held an important position in the student union of Jiuyou Academy, is an ambitious witch... During her time at the academy, her most famous act was using a rupture spell to synchronize the menstrual cycles of a group of Alpha Academy witches, affecting their practical exam results... After an illegal sacrifice, she became a Big Wizard...”

”... Professor Lia is a dangerous bloodline research expert, hailing from Alpha Academy... It is rumored he once conducted research related to the transplantation of demon flesh... The notorious black magic... Recently, the illegal experiments by the ’Ravens’ organization, wanted by the school and Trident Sword, were related to this... In order to find more ’cheap’ experimental materials for his laboratory...”

Swish!

The newspaper flipped a page, covering the content Zheng Qing was intermittently reading.

He couldn’t help but look up at Xiao Xiao: ”What are you reading? Share a few pages with me... Any new remarks from the Beta Town Post?”

”It’s all the same clichés and old topics.”

Although Xiao Xiao rated the content of the newspaper very low, his eyes never left the newspaper in front of him: ”From the origin of the new academy’s name, to the enrollment standards of the new academy, to the pressure on resources for the four old academies after the emergence of the new academy... Actually, what everyone is concerned about is more or less the same...”

”Then why are you reading so intently?”

”I’m not reading the newspaper, but the attitude.” Xiao Xiao put down the newspaper and tapped the content he just finished reading with the brass spoon: ”All kinds of attitudes...”

A drop of yogurt fell from the spoon, hitting the shiny forehead of a certain commentator’s portrait, causing the commentator to turn angrily and vanish from the newspaper.

Xiao Xiao put the spoon into his mouth, sucked on it, and continued speaking: ”... As mentioned in this article, actually, the school had long planned to establish a new academy, but all kinds of interests were difficult to balance, so it had not been realized.

For example, the Moon Council wants to establish a dedicated Moon Academy; the hunting teams from the New World want to establish a Hunter Academy to specifically train New World hunters; even magical races like the Horse-Man, Fishman, and Giant hope for a Magic Academy... But because the enrollment size of Moon Academy is limited, and its enrollment qualifications overlap significantly with Alpha, while the requirements of Starry Sky Academy and Hunter Academy for students are basically the same, the number of humanoid magic tribes is scarce and the differences between individuals are too large... so the ’plan’ of First University had to always be maintained at the ’plan’ stage.

Until Korma brought her Northern District Wizards.”

Zheng Qing savored the salty and fresh flavor of goat milk and egg mixed together, frowning slightly: ”But... compared to the Moon Council or the New World hunting teams, I see no advantage of the Northern District Wizards... Their spell-casting ability is not strong, other than Sister Korma, there is not even a second Big Wizard, whether in terms of foundation or background, they are not superior.”

Xiao Xiao lifted the brass spoon in his hand, wiggling it.

Zheng Qing saw the bit of yogurt left at the corner of his mouth and really wanted to remind him, but was even more eager to know the advantage of the Northern District Wizards, so he had no choice but to force himself to focus on other matters.

”Numbers.”

When the spoon wiggled for the third time, Xiao Xiao’s slightly serious tone echoed in Zheng Qing’s ear: ”More than ten thousand Northern District Wizards, even if only half become ’Northern District Wizards’, it is still a massive number of over five thousand... That’s over five thousand formally certified wizards capable of casting Binding Spell, Confusion Spell, Soft Leg Curse... Bear in mind, First University has only over two thousand students in total, and I doubt if the number of resident wizards in Beta Town adds up to thirty thousand... Although the qualifying number of wizards released by the Alliance exceeds a million, dispersed by the sheer number of New World, the clustering of several thousand with ’a single nature’ and ’only’ one example...”

”Plus, the belief the Northern District Wizards have towards Korma.”

The Fat Wizard, who was enthusiastically taking notes beside, chimed in at the right time, adding: ”Based on what I’ve gathered... the wizards of Atlas who believe in righteous gods are dissatisfied with the fanatic worship emerging from the North District of Beta Town, and many institutions within the partnership, including other academies, also feel uneasy about this phenomenon...”

”More importantly!”

The Doctor apparently was displeased at the Fat Wizard’s interruption, giving him a glance before resuming: ”The Northern District Wizards are a marginal group within the Alliance, but the marginalized group isn’t just them... Among the wizard groups marginalized by the entire Alliance, there is not only one Big Wizard... Without proper placement, many of them will turn to Starry Sky, Evil Gods, Black Magic, and even the embrace of demons... The Alliance and the schools would not allow such a situation to arise...”

Zheng Qing, relishing the conversation, stretched lazily, only then noticing the cafeteria seemed a bit quiet.

Looking around, there were few people.

The boy paled as he pulled out a pocket watch, glanced at the time, and suddenly leaped up from his seat.

”Ah!”

He exclaimed, dashed out: ”Hurry up! Less than ten minutes until class starts...”