High School of Demon Hunting

When Zheng Qing was in the classroom venting to his companions about the perversity of the test paper.

Under the Cat Fruit Tree.

The Black Gem Cat was also waving its tiny paws in the air, spitting salivary bubbles as it vividly described to the Big Fox and the White Jade Cat the scene at the registration exam for shape-shifting wizards earlier that day: "—Such a huge conference room, so empty, and just me sitting dead center as the only candidate! A whole three rows of proctors staring at me with dozens of eyeballs, it makes my scalp tingle just thinking about it!"

Three exclamation marks in a row clearly showed the complexity of its feelings.

"I took the registration exam for shape-shifting wizards a while back, and didn’t encounter such a situation, huh?" The White Jade Cat looked puzzled and speculated: "—Could it be that someone from the Alliance came to inspect the work and happened to pick your exam?"

This speculation was quite reasonable.

The Black Gem Cat thought the same.

However, the Big Fox beside them apparently knew a little more.

"Tch."

The Big Fox let out a disdainful sound, with a playful smile on its face: "Those old gentlemen of the Alliance have no time to come and inspect a student’s exam... others may not know this, but I happened to hear a bit of a clue... many who walked into that exam room today were originally planning to appear at your graduation thesis defense... But unfortunately, thanks to my efforts, your thesis will be featured on the cover of ’Magic’ next month, and the defense will be held anonymously... so those slowpokes hurriedly came today to get a glimpse."

The Black Gem Cat was dumbfounded.

In the end, it couldn’t bring itself to shamelessly ask ’why’.

Though it was a stone, it was a sentient stone, aware of many of Zheng Qing’s secrets.

So, eventually, it only shook its head and muttered: "—To what end, to what end! I can’t even see the wizard now. They have time to watch me, they’d be better off waiting at the bookstore’s door!"

"Where sight can transcend the binds of space and time to converge in higher dimensions."

The Big Fox’s expression turned slightly grave, looking seriously at the Black Gem Cat: "—Not to mention how many people even know about the bookstore’s existence. The current situation is many people want to see the wizard but can’t; so they settle for the next best thing, hoping the wizard sees them. And you just happen to be one of this world’s few easily accessible ’nodes’..."

"Basically, you’re like a ’mud statue’ in the temple right now!"

A somewhat abrupt voice suddenly came from above the Cat Fruit Tree, where the Shadow Cat poked its head out, mockingly looking at the Black Gem Cat and provided a perfect example: "—Those people seem to be burning incense to the temple’s statue, but in reality, they are worshipping the large unseen Buddha behind it!"

"Even a shadow is smarter than you." The Big Fox teased, swishing its tail and knocking the nosy figure out of the tree crown.

These two guys sure don’t know how to say anything pleasant.

The Black Gem Cat watched as the Shadow Cat disappeared screaming into the night and then turned to the White Jade Cat: "—You said you took the registration exam for shape-shifting wizards a while back; when did the results come out?"

"Within a week... if fast, two to three days." The White Jade Cat pondered and gave a vague timeline, then asked back: "Why, not confident about your results?"

Confident? As if!

The Black Gem Cat heavily sighed—though the written exam only counted for forty percent, and practical marks were sixty percent, this was still not a talisman class pop quiz; it couldn’t imagine getting all practical points. As for the written, getting ten out of forty would already be a blessing.

With this calculation, the originally assured two credits seemed to be slipping away.

Putting a shadow over the upcoming graduation.

It can’t be possible to stay another semester, or even a school year just for two credits!

The Black Gem Cat’s mind raced with such chaotic thoughts, noting the White Jade Cat’s somewhat worried look, it said nothing but cleared its throat, putting on a nonchalant expression: "Grades? How could I not be confident! I just think that if I barely pass, it won’t reflect well..."

"You really don’t need to worry about your grades."

The Big Fox slightly nodded: "Even if you’re not confident in your own grades, you should trust those cunning folks in the school and the Alliance; even if your exam score falls short, they’d give you some extra points just for having a clean and tidy robe..."

See, she always has to speak so unpleasantly.

As if I’m someone who relies on connections!

The Black Gem Cat turned away, slightly sulking, facing away from the Big Fox, and after a few seconds, with a hard look on its face, turned back around with drooped ears: "...um, I just wanted to ask, according to what you said, isn’t that thesis already published in ’Magic’? Why is an anonymous defense still needed?"

The White Jade Cat gave it a peculiar look.

The Big Fox smiled mysteriously: "—What do you think is the reason for an anonymous defense?"

The Black Gem Cat righteously guessed, from the best angle: "Probably because the content of the thesis is highly confidential! To prevent it from falling into the hands of extremist elements like the Fallen Wizard of the Land of Desolation or the Dark Council, we are avoiding a public defense..."

Heh.

This time, the Big Fox didn’t laugh; instead, it was the White Jade Cat who couldn’t help but lower its head, lift its paw, and cover its mouth.

Which left the Black Gem Cat both embarrassed and frustrated.

"What are you laughing at?" It elongated its face.

"Me? I... I thought of something funny." The White Jade Cat eventually took care of the Black Gem Cat’s face, giving it a barely acceptable pretext.

"I thought I explained pretty clearly last time at the manor." The Big Fox showed no such tact, reaching out with a paw to briskly tap the Black Gem Cat on the head: "—The point of ’thesis is confidential, no public defense’ lies in the latter, where ’I will outline the key points for you, you just have to memorize them’... Do you get it now?"

She ultimately took some care of someone’s self-esteem.

Unfortunately, the Black Gem Cat still looked bewildered—what connection was there between needing to memorize that incomprehensible thesis and an ’anonymous defense’?

The Big Fox and the White Jade Cat both noticed the Black Gem Cat’s confusion.

"Truly befitting a stone." The Fox sighed.

"It’s okay, you’ll understand tomorrow." The White Jade Cat patted the Black Gem Cat’s head reassuringly, awkwardly changing the topic: "—Speaking of which, the island has been quite peaceful this weekend, that Black Wizard hasn’t stirred anything up... even class meetings have resumed."