High School of Demon Hunting
Chapter 1310 - 57: The True Black Wizard (Part 1)

Chapter 1310: Chapter 57: The True Black Wizard (Part 1)

Korma brought to the North District Mages something that was far more than just the status of a Northern District Wizard.

Because of her, all the merchants in the wizard world could foresee that the supply of cheap labor with even a hint of magic ability would become increasingly scarce in the market. Accordingly, black intermediaries like the short wizard could anticipate a shortage of mages available for ’experimentation.’

So, in recent times, the short wizard’s peers had struck from all sides, relentlessly ’binding’ North District Mages who had not yet received the Spell Mark, preparing for the impending ’winter.’

What they were doing was akin to a form of ’hunting’—only the prey was wizards, and the hunters were also wizards.

"We just came out of Jini Cottage!" Zheng Qing raised his eyebrows, reminding them.

He didn’t think these two Black Wizards had the guts to provoke a Big Wizard.

Admittedly, many Black Wizards had driven themselves insane in the pursuit of Taboo Magic, but these were in the minority. Most wizards still had a clear sense of self-awareness.

Zheng Qing figured this was probably just a misunderstanding.

On one hand, he and Jiang Yu had both dressed in grey robes today to keep a low profile, looking more like two rather neat Mages.

On the other hand, Zheng Qing had a flying small green frog on his shoulder—a slightly mutated frog with frail wings under its ribs, which a Northern District Wizard had caught to use as a sacrifice.

When Zheng Qing had left Jini Cottage, he happened to see the frog staring at him with big watery eyes, and feeling a moment of compassion, he took it with him, planning to release it at Lin Zhong Lake.

Wearing grey robes and even toting a green frog, the pet now fashionable in the North District—it was not surprising that the Black Wizards mistook him for a Mage looking to make a forceful contract.

"That’s true," said the short wizard as he adjusted his large sunglasses and grinned, "But didn’t you walk out with bare foreheads?"

Zheng Qing thought for a moment, then quickly caught on.

These Black Wizards were indeed not stupid—because of Korma’s influence, they wouldn’t randomly hunt North District Mages, instead choosing those Mages who were ’unwelcome’ by Jini Cottage.

A simple way to judge ’welcome’ was to see if one would receive the Spell Mark upon entering Jini Cottage. If a grey-robed person entered 33 Gu Diao Street and came out with a still smooth forehead, then it was highly likely they were disfavored by the Great Sage.

Of course, such judgments could be wrong.

But compared to blindly grabbing people in the North District, the probability of error with this method was much smaller. It must be admitted, wizards who could survive in the mixed world of the Dark World each had their unique philosophy of survival.

"We are not Mages," Zheng Qing asserted with a stern face.

"I understand, I understand," the short wizard said with a sigh, consolingly speaking like someone who has been through it all, "Good Mages are in high demand... and don’t last long. But business is business. You’ll get used to it as it comes and goes."

The indifferent tone sent shivers down the spines of the two Young Wizards.

"This place is Buji Island, the territory of the First University, and now there is still a Big Wizard stationed in the North District... Aren’t you afraid of violating the Wizard’s Code and being thrown into Black Prison?"

The two Black Wizards looked at each other and laughed in unison.

"Death?" said the tall, thin one as he tugged the brim of his peaked hat, responding courteously, "From the moment of birth, every person is running towards death... we have been dying, without ever stopping."

"Fear cannot prevent the arrival of death," the short, fat wizard added.

Zheng Qing finally gave up arguing with the two lunatics and pulled out his Law Book from the Grey Cloth Bag, opened the cover, and raising his arm, let the pale blue curse light flow from the book like water, affecting a serious tone,

"Now, let’s summarize the central idea of what you just said."

"Hands up!"

The two Black Wizards looked at the glowing Law Book, then at each other in disbelief.

Both raised their hands in unison.

The victory that seemed to come too easily in fact filled Zheng Qing with a strong sense of unreality, so much so that he hadn’t prepared what to do next—he had already been ready to chant a spell.

Should he tie them up and deliver them to Trident Sword, or hand them over to the school patrol team? Zheng Qing looked at the witch beside him with an inquiring glance.

Jiang Yu also seemed to be in a quandary, as she bit her lip and shook her head, indicating that she too was at a loss.

As the two young wizards hesitated, the short, fat wizard opposite them spoke up again:

"Are you really not tricksters?"

His tone was full of annoyance and frustration, tinged with a hint of ingratiating expression, which led Zheng Qing to marvel at how intricate a human face could be, capable of blending so many rich expressions into such a small area of skin.

"From what angle do you think we’re tricksters..."

The short wizard’s gaze fell upon the small frog on Zheng Qing’s shoulder. Puffing its cheeks, the frog shot a pink bubble towards the short wizard.

Pop.

The short wizard laughed awkwardly: "Um... well then, since this is all a misunderstanding... can’t we all be peaceable and settle this privately? We’ll pay... two gold beans. As compensation for the offense to your wizardly honor."

"Do you think we’re only worth two gold beans?" The warlock bristled with dissatisfaction.

He had already decided to hand these two over to Trident Sword.

After all, the school was not a law enforcement agency and might show mercy to them.

"Three gold beans... that’s the most we can do. We don’t have much to our names. Who would be in this kind of no-capital business if they had any savings?"

"It’s not about the money," the wizard said sternly, rejecting their offer of peace.

The short, fat wizard sighed heavily.

"That’s why I hate dealing with students from the school," he muttered, shaking his head.

Before chanting the Binding Spell, Zheng Qing suddenly thought of how these creatures that scuttle through the gutters always had inside information; maybe they knew about Big Black’s whereabouts. So he halted his movement.

"Have you recently hunted a Black Mountain Goat?"

The warlock gestured seriously the size and appearance of Big Black, adding, "If you can provide valid information, when I hand you over to Trident Sword, I’ll put in a good word for you."

The tall, thin wizard twisted his mouth into a wry smile.

The short wizard, meanwhile, displayed an ambiguous grin.

"We haven’t seen any," he licked his lips and winked at Zheng Qing, "... but we can help get you one. Shiny, sleek coat, and gentle as a lamb."

"The tastes of the kids at school are really getting heavier," the tall Black Wizard sighed, his gaze falling on the witch nearby, "I never knew what fun there was in goats or wild boars... aren’t flower maidens prettier?"

Zheng Qing closed his eyes—why isn’t being alive good enough?—and in his heart, he offered a second of silent condolence for this Black Wizard.

Sure enough, the next moment, he heard the indignant rebuke of his witch classmate beside him:

"Min Tianjiwei!"