High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2689 - 910: On the Right of Pioneering

Luna Huisu’s potential entry into the Yuzui Hunting Team is still uncertain.However, Atonement has indeed reached a stage where recruiting is necessary.

As a hunting team officially registered in the Alliance, Atonement naturally possesses the rights to explore new worlds. In other words, new worlds discovered by the Atonement Hunting Team can directly apply to the Alliance to become private territories.

But a successful application doesn’t mean the new world will definitely belong to this hunting team. Any war of exploration is brutal and prolonged. If, within the stipulated time — which varies according to the world’s size, as set by the Alliance — the hunting team fails to establish an effective order (dominion) in the new world, then other qualified hunting teams within the Alliance can enter this new world with approval from the Great Wizard Conference, exercising ’freedom of exploration’.

The allure of having a cake all to oneself versus sharing it with others is self-evident.

Therefore, to endure the attrition of long-term exploration wars, a truly mature hunting team needs to establish a well-rounded talent pipeline, continuously infusing new blood to bolster the team’s strength.

Otherwise, even if many new worlds are discovered, it only amounts to crafting bridal gowns for others.

The Atonement Hunting Team is still very young, far from becoming a hunting team capable of exploring new worlds. But with Zheng Qing and Jiang Yu graduating this semester, the Atonement Hunting Team will transition from the ’juvenile’ to the ’mature’ stage, taking on tasks across the entire Alliance.

Moreover, at this stage, the Atonement Hunting Team possesses a ’hidden advantage’ that many hunting teams in the Alliance lack, in that Atonement will become a team capable of both on-campus and off-campus activities.

This is a very valuable ’qualification.’

It’s crucial to understand that not every off-campus hunting team can extend their reach into the First University. As the place with the highest concentration of excellent young wizards in the Wizard World, the First University is a ’training ground’ coveted by all hunting teams. Yet, most years, only the renowned Super Hunting Teams can use the First University as a recruitment base.

More ordinary hunting teams have to sift for gold amid the sand, scouring through rounds of life-and-death selections to find their talents. Many hunting teams, due to the lack of a reliable reserve force, fall into decline day by day amidst the exploration wars.

Its rise is vigorous, its fall sudden.

Zheng Qing does not want Atonement to become a fleeting hunting team.

This hunting team, from its establishment to formation, carries most of his memories of the First University. Many years later, he might forget the statues in front of the school museum, the white small tower on Lake Heart Island at Lin Zhong Lake, the store signs on Beta Town Pedestrian Street, and the mouse-wolves, Houdou, and ogres in the Silent Forest.

But as long as Atonement remains, his adventures in Dreamland, participation in the Battle of the Black Prison, resistance against the Silent Black Tide, and all such memories will never fade.

"...Recruiting for the hunting team is necessary, but exploring new worlds? Isn’t this topic a bit premature for you?"

Su Shijun, while patiently dressing Zheng Susu in a beautiful long dress, commented without turning her head on the term Zheng Qing just mentioned: "A twenty-year-old young man thinking of exploring new worlds right after graduation, even those old guys at the Great Wizard Conference would surely give you a second glance hearing that idea."

At this point, she paused, halting her hand that was tying the belt in front of the Great Elf, then glanced back at the boy to add: "...Well, of course, they’ve already looked at you many times."

Zheng Susu stood properly in front of Su Shijun, not daring to move, while her two good sisters timidly hid behind Zheng Qing, scarcely daring to breathe.

Zheng Qing, on the other hand, stole glances at the witch’s charming figure crouched in front of him, his gaze fleeting.

Today was a Sunday, and he originally came to Greenhill Mansion to check how the three Great Elves were adapting to the Wizard World, only to unexpectedly find Su Shijun helping them try on coats.

Indeed, Su Daxu was personally dressing the Great Elves.

She clearly could have used magic or had the mansion’s maids do it, yet she insisted on doing it herself, and as a result, due to uneven strength, she ended up tearing several beautiful dresses.

Zheng Qing looked at the torn silk cloth scattered on the ground beside him, feeling a significant sense of regret.

"I never said I would immediately go looking for new worlds after graduation," the young assistant professor sniffled, speaking in a muffled voice: "But since Atonement has exploration rights, it does seem a bit wasteful not to use them..."

Su Shijun finally finished dressing Zheng Susu, then patted her on the bottom.

The Great Elf, as if receiving a great pardon, grabbed her skirt corner and darted behind Zheng Qing. Had her new dress not lacked an opening at the back, Zheng Qing was sure her two pairs of wings would have frantically fluttered by now.

The witch watched this scene with a smile, unangered by their rudeness.

"If you seriously read the ’Outline of Magic History’ compiled by the Alliance’s Historical Committee, you will discover that in this land flowing with magic and miracles, nothing is more precious than patience."

The owner of Greenhill Mansion stretched lazily, unconcerned about exposing her graceful figure to the warlock: "You’re still very young, with a long future ahead. It’s unnecessary to be like those prospects-lacking crows, impatiently pecking at every worm you see..."

She turned her face and winked at the boy.

Hearing the word ’crow’, Zheng Qing’s gaze seemed stung, suddenly becoming much clearer.

"Have you found the real crows?" he couldn’t suppress the excitement in his voice as he pursued the question — he believed Su Shijun wouldn’t mention this term for no reason.

The witch didn’t immediately answer his question but instead asked in return: "Why are you so persistent about them? From what I understand, those crows haven’t really harmed you... even that copper bean has benefited you more than harmed you."

As she spoke, her hand rested on Zheng Qing’s shoulder, gently squeezing it, her face showing a bit of admiration, seemingly very satisfied with his firm deltoids.

Zheng Qing felt half of his body go numb.

"Because, fish tank, aquarium, sick fish."

The young warlock avoided the witch’s gaze, stammering as he repeated the reasoning he had explained to the witch a long time ago: "We cannot wait until the aquarium is contaminated by sick fish, and all fish have turned belly-up, then take action..."

Snap!

Su Shijun snapped her fingers, cutting off the boy’s explanation, looking at him with deep meaning: "This is precisely the point I just emphasized to you. You are still young and don’t need to think from such a high position. You’re just a little wizard, only needing to consider from a little wizard’s perspective what benefits you, what harms you... thinking out of place may not necessarily mean ’worrying about the world’s concerns first’, and it might lead to well-meaning but misguided actions."