High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2978: Chapter 22: A Minor Incident at the Graduation Ceremony

”——The graduation ceremony is scheduled to begin in thirty minutes. Students not participating in the ceremony in the First Hall, please leave promptly. Relatives of the graduates may continue to stay in the first-floor circular corridor to observe the ceremony!”

”——Graduates, please find your respective academy groups and wait patiently in formation! Any loud or unruly behavior is strictly prohibited!”

”——How did a little fox get up onto the podium? Whose pet has not been properly managed? To reiterate, graduates may bring pets and construct life forms to the ceremony but must manage their pets well. Pets are strictly forbidden to run around; if found, they will be immediately expelled from the venue!”

”——Please prepare for the entry of the Forest Flower Chorus, and Abunaike Band should prepare to go on stage!”

”——The graduation ceremony is scheduled to begin in twenty-five minutes...” 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

The slow, clear, and resonant announcements came from the speaker flowers entwined around the columns surrounding the hall. Some speaker flowers were guiding guests to their seats in the observation area, some were reminding graduates in the hall to maintain their composure, while others were devotedly humming songs, seemingly oblivious to the surrounding noise.

The Forest Flower Chorus’s sound check intermittently echoed.

The soothing prelude of ”Dreams and Passions,” the first movement of Berlioz’s ”Fantastical Symphony” composed in 1827, was also gently flowing in the First Hall. Vibrant bands of color accompanied the music, rolling across the starry sky above, harmonizing with the intense magical energy fluctuations within the hall.

At the center of the hall.

The graduates from the four academies were lined up neatly in four distinct long rectangular formations, wearing their respective academy robes, quietly waiting for the dean to move their tassels. The large, semi-transparent academy emblems hovered slowly above each formation, surrounded by vibrant bands of light dancing around them.

”Less than fifteen minutes remain... He really might not return for the graduation ceremony.”

Xiao Xiao glanced one last time at several still silent archways, sighing softly. As a student graduating ahead of schedule, he stood at the back of Jiuyou Academy’s team with Jiang Yu, unobstructed on both sides with a very clear view, easily noticing that staff had begun to close the doors.

Even a small person like him could tell.

Jiang Yu naturally noticed long ago.

She pursed her lips without speaking, but her eyes were unable to conceal her disappointment. As if sensing its owner’s dismay, a white kitten emerged from her hood, climbed up to her shoulder, meowing softly, nuzzling her ear.

Xiao Xiao clearly noticed this scene.

Then recalled something the witch once asked him to pay attention to, paused, and added: ”——Um, also, that black gemstone cat still hasn’t returned to the dormitory. Probably taken away by trash, I mean, Brother Qing. You don’t need to worry; several professors at the school assured they have other things to handle...”

”Why should I be worried... The last time I saw him here, he was surrounded by a lot of high-level wizards, quite majestic indeed, hardly needing anyone else’s concern.” The witch smiled lightly, but the smile made Doctor Xiao’s back shiver, silently mourning for someone in his heart.

...

...

”——This graduation ceremony is hosted by Simon, the Deputy Dean of Starry Sky Academy...”

”——Please welcome Urban IX, the Dean of Atlas Academy, to perform the blessing ceremony...”

”——Please welcome Professor Yao Xiaomi, Dean of Jiuyou Academy and Director of the Magic Philosophy Research Institute at First University, to deliver the opening speech for this graduation ceremony...”

”——Please welcome Ms. Tilda Strange, Acting Dean of Alpha Academy, on behalf of the Professor Joint Meeting and all faculty of First University, to bestow blessings upon the graduates of 2010!”

”——Next, please welcome the representative of the 2010 graduates, student Jiang Yu from Jiuyou Academy’s Astronomy Class 08-1, to speak...”

The lengthy and intricate ceremony made Xiao Xiao stand at the last row drowsy, and if it weren’t for Sima occasionally glancing at him from the faculty team, he would’ve closed his eyes and feigned sleep long ago.

Throughout the process, perhaps only the blessing segment by Ms. Strange slightly revived his spirits—because Ms. Strange did not perform the blessings through traditional rituals using sandalwood, sacred oils, or spells as in previous years, but instead directly used magic for the blessings, significantly reducing the time wasted on this segment.

Other than that, the graduation ceremony proceeded exceedingly smoothly—perhaps due to the chaotic influence consumed by Professor Montreya earlier. Nonetheless, there were no incidents of people falling, fainting, or any radical wizards intruding the ceremony in protest today.

Of course, it wasn’t without flaws.

A rather subtle mishap occurred during the tassel-moving ceremony.

Moving the tassel is a crucial component of completing the graduation ritual, and even if a graduate cannot attend due to some reason, someone else ought to hold their wizard hat to complete this ritual on their behalf.

Zheng Qing was absent today.

Theoretically, Professor Yao, as the Dean of Jiuyou Academy, could easily complete this small step for his student. However, when it came time to call the name on the podium, Professor Simon repeated the name thrice, and no one responded.

”Next, student Zheng Qing.”

”...Jiuyou Academy’s Zheng Qing from Astronomy Class 08-1?”

”...Zheng Qing? Student Zheng Qing? Or, is there an alternate representative for Zheng Qing?”

Despite being the Deputy Dean, Simon—originating from Starry Sky Academy—perfectly maintained the perception everyone had of the Blue Robes. Clumsily, he called the name thrice, only then belatedly cast a glance at the professors’ direction.

Everyone averted his gaze, either looking skyward, downward, toward equally innocent colleagues beside them, or stubbornly focused on their own noses, resolutely refusing to respond.

Including Professor Yao.

When Simon looked at him, Old Yao was seriously tilting his head, muttering something softly to Sun Qi, the Dean of Starry Sky Academy, this made the forthright Simon frown heavily.

Just as he planned to call the name a fourth time, two figures simultaneously moved.

Below the podium, Jiang Yu, awaiting her tassel-moving ceremony, took early action, wearing and holding a wizard hat, advancing toward the stage.

Beside the podium, from the faculty team on the viewing platform, Su Shijun, wearing a cyan robe, also removed her spectacles and gracefully stepped forward from the crowd.

Step, step, step.

Thud, thud, thud.

Their footsteps echoed especially clearly in the spacious hall.

The hall’s originally dull atmosphere immediately lifted, everyone instantaneously perked up, their focused gazes roving over the two witches, an inexplicable excitement surged through the air. Even bystanders not quite understanding this excitement were unwittingly influenced, holding their breath.

One on the left, one on the right.

The two witches simultaneously stepped onto the podium, pausing in their tracks—the distinction being, Jiang Yu stopped in front of Professor Yao, as moving the tassel is done by the academy dean, while Su Shijun halted before Professor Simon, promptly extending her hand.

Wizards have to fetch their diplomas from Professor Simon after the tassel-moving.

Professor Yao seemingly finally recalled his responsibilities, briskly moved the tassels on both of Jiang Yu’s hats, offered a few encouraging words with a smile, then urgently looked toward the next graduate awaiting the ceremony.

Professor Simon hesitated for a few seconds—typically, wizards collect their diplomas post-ceremony; such mid-way interception was unprecedented, but considering her known ’special ties’ as Zheng Qing’s thesis advisor, Su Shijun arguably had more reason to claim the diploma.

The adjacent tassel-moving ceremony concluded.

The Upper House member of the Moon Council squinted, noting the Deputy Dean’s hesitance, impatiently reaching out and seizing the stout diploma.

Professor Simon coughed lightly, his expression seemingly dissatisfied, yet internally sighed in quiet relief.

The two witches exchanged silent acknowledgements.

With slight nuances, they smiled at each other, nodded, and turned to leave independently.

Below the stage, an air of satisfied yet slightly disappointed exhalations spread forth.