High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2741: Chapter 962: Qualification Exam

May 1st, Saturday.

The tenth week of the second semester of sophomore year.

The ninth week was mid-term exam week, but due to the early graduation plan, Zheng Qing and Jiang Yu did not follow the school’s standard teaching schedule. He once thought he wouldn’t have to worry about any exams before graduation.

But just a week later, this ’thought’ was declared merely wishful thinking.

After the second class of Command Studies on Saturday morning, Zheng Qing didn’t rush to the cafeteria as usual. Instead, he devoured a prepared bacon sandwich with some milk while finding an empty classroom to turn his hourglass over once more.

After a conversation with Professor Severus at noon yesterday, Zheng Qing immediately submitted an application to the School Works Committee for ’additional use of the Time Converter.’

Originally, he thought the report involving timeline adjustments would only be resolved the following day.

However, that afternoon, just as the Practice class ended, Hilda handed him the receipt from the School Works Committee before he could slip away.

"Your application for additional use of the Time Converter has been approved."

The Practice class instructor rubbed the copper nail on her ear, scrutinizing the parchment she had just received with a look of frustration: "Damn it, our safety surveillance coverage has increased by nearly forty percent!"

Since the Thomas betrayal incident, Zheng Qing already knew Hilda was also a member of the Guard Team, so they never avoided this topic during casual chats.

"Thanks for your hard work!" The young man’s gratitude was awkward.

"——In any case," Hilda shook the parchment in her hand, eyeing her young colleague with a slightly heavier tone: "You must strictly follow the route on the application form... If you run outside our protection range on the timeline and get caught by the crows, who will cut off what shouldn’t be cut off, you won’t have to go to the Cat Fruit Tree anymore in the future."

He glanced with ill will at Zheng Qing’s lower half.

Zheng Qing felt a chill run through his scalp.

He felt as if he had no privacy in the eyes of these guards and wondered how much of his information these guys exchanged behind his back that words like ’Cat Fruit Tree’ could come out so naturally.

...

...

Because it was the first time reversing time while eating.

Zheng Qing inevitably felt a bit uncomfortable—considering that over six hours had passed since breakfast and in order to stay alert during the next three hours of assessment, he had to quickly replenish some energy—going back three hours earlier, Zheng Qing inexplicably felt bloated, even splitting a mouthful of milk into seven sips couldn’t help.

This caused him to keep hiccuping as he entered the examination room, attracting glances from others in the classroom.

If it had been a year and a half ago, he would have blushed under such scrutiny, concealing his face and leaving.

But now, he could face it all calmly and even cheerfully wave to acquaintances.

"Good noon, Miss Jessop!"

The young man greeted the purple-haired witch sitting by the window.

Violet Jessop, a senior teaching assistant, was, like Victor, Thomas, and others, a graduate of the ninety-ninth year, together with Hilda, Gen Hoshino, and others, forming the core group around the current acting head Zhang Yu.

Zheng Qing had met this witch on the special aircraft for new students.

Later, during the school hunting competition, winter hunt, and the Battle of the Black Prison, he had sporadic interactions with Violet, though they weren’t too frequent, they barely qualified as acquaintances.

"Good morning."

Violet corrected the young man’s choice of words while subtly nodding—Zheng Qing didn’t feel the purple-haired witch was rude, she was always this cold.

But when she said ’good morning,’ Zheng Qing realized he was back to three hours earlier.

Being busy all morning, he completely forgot the time.

Sitting down and stuffing the whole sandwich into his mouth, he drank milk and looked around, only then belatedly realizing he was the only one in the room wearing a colored robe.

The colored robe identified students.

Everyone else in the classroom wore very formal black robes, exuding the ’murky’ aura of ’social beings.’ Everyone quietly read their materials in their own spot; there was no whispering, nor was there anyone wandering around, making the atmosphere exceptionally clean.

All of this was markedly different from the style of the students.

The young scholarship student couldn’t help but squirm in his seat, wanting to share this discovery with others. Unfortunately, Xiao Xiao and Xin were not by his side, making it even more stifling.

Nine o’clock sharp.

The classroom door opened on time.

The entire room seemed to come alive instantly—people were tidying their books, regulating their breathing, or hastily applying cooling oil to their temples or burning a Wakefulness Talisman—this quiet yet busy atmosphere made Zheng Qing feel as though the people in the room hadn’t been breathing before.

Three black-robed wizards entered the room in succession, none of whom Zheng Qing recognized, only the square-faced wizard at the front looked vaguely familiar to him.

"Ladies and gentlemen, good morning."

The leading middle-aged wizard wasted no time, quickly introducing his colleagues: "I am the proctor for this ’Registered Talisman Draftsman’ exam, Drag Barton..."

Upon hearing the name, Zheng Qing instantly remembered that this wizard was a researcher at the Magical Creatures Research Institute and had heard his name in Gan Ning’s class.

However, having a wizard who researches magical creatures proctor a talisman draftsman exam was curious.

"——This is Mr. Jiang Jizhou, the senior commissioner sent by the Trident Sword Faction as an examiner."

Drag Barton gestured to his side, where a pale wizard stepped forward and nodded slightly, looking somewhat sullen.

Zheng Qing recalled Jiang Yu mentioning that most wizards with the surname ’Jiang’ come from the Zombie Clan, and judging from this examiner’s appearance, this seemed very probable.

"——And the third-party supervisor sent by the Wizard Council, Mr. Gregory LePont."

The square-faced proctor pointed to the last round-faced warlock, who greeted them before the proctor turned the topic towards the exam rules:

"...I, on behalf of the First University, welcome Commissioner Jiang and Mr. LePont, as well as all examinees participating in the ’Authorized Symbol Bomb Maker’ qualification exam, hosted by the Wizard Covenant, co-hosted by the First University and the Magic Association Investigation Bureau.

Though everyone has participated in many assessments, before this exam, I still need to remind everyone of some things.

Firstly, obviously, cheating is prohibited in this exam — this includes but is not limited to using Luck Elixir, auxiliary talisman structures, and other magic potions or rituals that temporarily enhance intelligence and dexterity. Any discovery will result in annulled scores. Informants, after verification, may receive a bonus score reward."