High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2457: Chapter 678: A Classroom for Only Two

The clear yet flustered sound of footsteps echoed distinctly in the empty corridor, causing many portraits, which were originally resting in their frames, to look around, curious to see who was so inconsiderate to be running during class time in the school building.

Unfortunately, they saw nothing.

The classroom for the Art of Body Transformation is located in the west building, room 403.

When the two invisible young wizards hurriedly arrived outside the classroom, they found the door ajar and felt an unusual silence inside, unlike the presence of anyone.

Jiang Yu shot a glance at Zheng Qing, and the warlock decisively stepped forward, leaning half his body inside.

Then his body froze there.

Jiang Yu pushed him several times from behind, hesitating on whether to cast a ’Reverse Petrification Curse’ on him when a familiar voice emerged from the classroom, startling her into a surge of magic power that nearly disrupted the effect of the Invisibility Talisman.

”You two are here now? Late, aren’t you! Come in... come inside, you’re the only ones left now.”

The classroom door was pulled open from inside, revealing the smiling yellow face and shiny slicked-back hair of the Dean of Jiuyou Academy, puffing on a pipe, his gaze ticking around the empty hallway: ”Take off your invisibility talisman, I’m here, nothing should happen...”

Under Old Yao’s gesture, the two young wizards muddled their way into the classroom.

Before entering, Zheng Qing deliberately looked up again at the plaque hanging by the classroom door, positively confirming it was West-403, matching the number on his schedule.

The stick figure behind the door had long been buried under a thick layer of chalk dust, without a sound.

Zheng Qing remembered clearly, the Art of Body Transformation teacher was Professor Vincent de Ruiter, whom he and Jiang Yu had just discussed, and he had even inquired about that professor’s appearance from Xiao Xiao——definitely not Old Yao!

”I certainly don’t have a twin.”

Walking in front, Dean Yao turned to give the bewildered warlock a meaningful glance, teasingly said: ”I always knew you liked to open up others’ minds, never expected yours to be so expansive...”

Zheng Qing’s expression tightened, a series of soul-protecting talismans already cast upon himself and Jiang Yu. Almost simultaneously, a stream of light flew from the hands of the witch, enveloping her and Zheng Qing.

The professor contentedly nodded.

Then waved a hand.

”Sit, sit anywhere.”

As he spoke, without any concern for his image, he casually perched on the front row desk, giving the young ones no more time for perplexity, simply explaining the situation: ”Originally this class was hosted by Professor de Ruiter, you remembered correctly. But last night, Professor de Ruiter was tasked by the school with a certain assignment and entered the lab. Apparently, he won’t be able to fulfill teaching duties for some time... So I’m here as the substitute.”

Saying this, he looked around the empty classroom, his expression somewhat rueful.

”As for the other students,” the Dean of Jiuyou Academy shrugged, removing the pipe from his lips, exhaling a plume of helpless smoke: ”One switched schedules two nights ago for an easier course; one hasn’t arrived yet, supposedly in Egypt eating sand; and another...is gone.”

”Gone?” Zheng Qing withheld other curiosities, perplexed as he repeated the word.

”Yes, gone.”

Professor Yao’s expression was serene, tone casual, as if discussing what to have for lunch: ”He was a senior in Starry Sky Academy, long selected by a New World hunting team. Last semester it was confirmed he would take this course...During winter break, tagging along with the hunting team to a newly developed world for experience, simultaneously completing his practice task, he disappeared. Allegedly the team encountered a mad native god, melting away a large part of its body with acidic fluid.”

Knock knock.

The professor knocked the ash out from his pipe, slowly exchanged it for a tuft of golden tobacco, giving the young wizards enough time to digest.

After pausing three or four minutes, he reignited the pipe, biting into it.

Whoosh—

He took a heavy inhale.

”So, between tomorrow and the unexpected, you never know which will arrive first.” Old Yao exhaled a dense smoke, finally summarizing: ”...Living in the world, it’s best not to leave regrets.”

Zheng Qing felt his hand quietly grasped by another, squeezed.

It was cool, soft.

Without lowering his head nor turning around, he responded with a squeeze as well.

”Ahem.” The Legendary Wizard coughed loudly, accusatorily looking at the two young wizards as if lamenting they didn’t take him seriously.

Zheng Qing blinked.

”So Professor, this class originally only had five students?” He attempted to shift the conversation.

”Five, quite enough.”

The Dean of Jiuyou Academy patted the lecture notes beside him: ”Advanced magic like the Art of Body Transformation is uncommon for current students to study...Not to mention the Art of Body Transformation, even Transformation, almost half of the registered wizards can’t do it, and of the other half, most require the assistance of magic potions during use...”

At this point, he changed the topic: ”...That’s enough idle chat. Class has been on for almost half an hour, yet you haven’t even taken out your textbooks, what is this?”

The empty classroom suddenly echoed a sound of chaotic rustling through textbooks.

”Additionally, just a reminder about the principle of time travel.”

Old Yao’s voice eerily cautioned: ”I won’t emphasize the content. Although I’m not as rigid as certain departments demanding strict adherence without crossing a line, still don’t be overly arrogant... Next time if the portraits in the corridor notice your presence, be prepared with a self-reflection of three feet long, then come to see me for reflection.”

The two young wizards upon hearing this, lowered their heads submissively, meekly responding, without daring to refute.

”...Compared to Transformation, the significant feature of the Art of Body Transformation is the word ’clone.’ Meaning, you can both maintain yourself in ’wizard’ state while splitting a transformed entity; or you can split a similarly transformed entity while transforming yourself.”

Perhaps due to having only two students, Old Yao today taught very casually, sitting arch-legged on the front row desk without any formality, his fingers tracing in the air, leaving behind a complex series of spell formulas and concept highlights: ”The focus for this class is how to split out this clone. There’s an important concept—Incarnation—this is crucial, certainly on the exam, make sure to jot it down...”