High School of Demon Hunting

On Tuesday evening, many people did not sleep well.

Especially Zheng Qing.

Even though it was confirmed that there was no significant harm to his body, the elder wizards of the project group still left that transparent glass coffin in the 403 dormitory, only dismantling the exquisite brass chair. The constant noise made him unable to sleep for half the night. In contrast, his two companions outside the Barrier in the same dormitory could sleep peacefully, with only slight light pollution, easily mitigated by pulling up a curtain.

"This thing is just in case."

Before Professor Montreya left the dormitory, he pointed at the transparent coffin and seriously reminded Zheng Qing: "--If you feel unwell, there’s no need to notify us, just pull off the lid and lie inside. The school will handle the rest."

Zheng Qing looked at the coffin with the gently undulating green liquid inside, feeling reluctant.

The good news was, they only left the coffin, and the space resonator used for temporary dormitory expansion was not left behind either, so Zheng Qing did not need to worry about having to sprint a hundred meters to reach the toilet in the morning.

The bad news was, as the only one not affected by abnormalities, Zheng Qing seemed to have become the last eligible candidate for the ’Giant God Soldier’ project, which meant Old Yao’s suggestion for him to ’exit the project group’ was becoming increasingly unlikely.

Wednesday morning.

Early in the morning, Zheng Qing, before even heading for his morning class, sent the just-returned Black Gem Cat out again, letting it make a trip to the Sakura Pub. Besides being troubled by the Edge Academy’s project, he thought he needed to listen to some insider advice. Furthermore, the ’injured’ Big Wizard mentioned by Professor Montreya last night also made him feel a bit uneasy.

The Black Gem Cat sighed mournfully as it ran along the wall corners.

It only managed to reach Gu Diao Street as the sun was almost at its peak.

Contrary to Zheng Qing’s imagined tense and quiet atmosphere, the Northern District Wizards were as busy as usual today, each face filled with natural vitality, not resembling the situation of Korma being in trouble.

Of course, it couldn’t rule out the possibility that she was concealing news of her injury.

The Sakura Pub seemed no longer open to the public.

At least, the two times the Black Gem Cat came, there were no guests.

Just as it squeezed through the door crack into the pub, a cheerful voice sounded from behind the bar: "--In the morning, I heard a magpie chirping incessantly at the door, turns out it’s you who came."

A swarm of fireflies gathered under the beams.

A faint white light showered down.

Illuminating the face of the pub owner behind the bar.

Today, Korma wasn’t drinking Sea Monster Langmu, but had taken a bottle of Amber Light, enjoying some self-pouring and drinking accompanied by a dish of fried peanuts.

The Black Gem Cat circled the dish of peanuts twice.

Its gaze didn’t settle on the dish, but instead kept looking up, carefully observing the witch in front, paying special attention to the silver strands of hair hanging down on her forehead, as though wanting to count exactly how many strands of white hair she had.

Korma rested her chin on her hand, smilingly engaging in eye contact with it.

Until the Black Gem Cat couldn’t withstand her composure and admitted defeat.

"Yesterday evening, a bunch of people rushed into my dormitory." It turned its head, gruffly describing the events of the previous night, and finally looked back at the pub owner: "--My body thinks you might be the injured Big Wizard."

"Me? Not me."

Korma showed a trace of surprise on her face, then a relieved smile, as the small wine glass in her hand lightly touched the Black Gem Cat’s forehead: "That he remembers to care for the disfavored concubine, I’m very grateful..."

The Black Gem Cat’s expression turned dark.

As a slow-witted stone, it felt it couldn’t endure the witch’s teasing, no wonder its main body didn’t dare come personally.

"--But that person really isn’t me."

Korma’s expression slightly subdued, her tone became more serious: "When you were conducting the eligibility assessment, I was observing with other deans... The Big Wizard among the eligible ones is someone else, just that according to regulations, their identity can’t be disclosed externally... Just like your eligibility status, other eligibles also aren’t aware."

The Black Gem Cat stepped on the tip of its tail.

"You seem, seem," it tilted its head, frowned, pondered for a long while, then managed to come up with a suitable word: "seem quite calm?"

Yes, calm.

Korma not only seemed unperturbed by the loss of the Edge Academy project but was calm, even somewhat pleased? The Black Gem Cat’s gaze fell on the bottle of Amber Light.

Instinct told it, this bottle of wine wasn’t for sorrow, but rather for celebration.

The question is, why?

"You’re as sharp as your main body."

The witch appreciatively gave it a gentle flick on its forehead, then shook the wine glass in her hand, slowly explaining: "Imagine this. If a registered wizard, or one of even lower level, easily obtains power surpassing ordinary registered wizards, even Big Wizards, through alchemy, what would other wizards think? How would those seriously studying magic think? This is the greatest desecration of magical rules."

"I don’t quite see it that way," the Black Gem Cat muttered: "--Just like wizards from wealthy families, having always been able to use powerful magic artifacts, use stacks of talisman paper, use ancient jade-carved Array Plates, contract powerful Spiritual Beasts, challenging beyond their level. It’s not uncommon."

"It’s different." Korma shook her head: "Those you mentioned are ultimately external means, whereas the Giant God Soldier... Do you remember how you used it?"

"Through resonance, consciousness entering its shell?" the Black Gem Cat tentatively answered.

"Exactly."

The witch heavily set down the wine glass in her hand and sighed: "Consciousness inhabiting another’s shell, this is the edge of magic within edge magic, a magic hanging between taboo and prohibition... If the resonance is high enough, it implies you have the opportunity to claim a Big Wizard’s shell for yourself. From an ordinary little wizard, reaching the heavens in one step to become a Big Wizard—some people might call this a shortcut, but I prefer to consider it as a wicked path, or, to put it nicely, it’s an unorthodox method."

"You also achieved Big Wizard status through unorthodox means." The Black Gem Cat rudely reminded the witch.

The witch’s face showed a hint of blush.

Whether it was from alcohol or not was unclear.

"Totally different!"

She curled her fingers and heavily tapped the Black Gem Cat’s head, smoothing down the strands of silver hair: "To gain something, something must be lost. This principle of ’equivalent exchange’ is the greatest truth in the Magical World, different from "The Code" or any other concept, it’s an ancient concept engraved on the foundation of the world since the savage era! And until yesterday, I couldn’t see what those wizards who easily attained high-level power were paying as a price."