High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2762 - 983: Temporarily Adjusted Class Schedule

Similar to Sand Time Worms and Lazy Bugs, Earworms are also a very troublesome magical insect beast.They like to nestle in a wizard’s ear, stealing the wizard’s scarce magic power, and repeatedly ’enjoy’ the sounds that wizards find pleasant—this includes music, stories, chants of spells, and even poetry recitations. In magical language, the symptom for earworm victims is the automatic replay of music in the brain, known as the ’Earworm’ phenomenon.

In other words, they are insects that enjoy singing karaoke inside a wizard’s ear.

If you listen to ghost stories before bed or listen to music for too long, you might attract earworms. They seem to appear out of thin air; no one knows how they come about—according to current research, earworms are dimension creatures similar to Sand Time and Lazy Bugs.

Whether they are half-dimensional, 1.5-dimensional, or two-dimensional, there is no authoritative conclusion yet. The only confirmation is that they are definitely not ordinary three-dimensional life forms.

Unlike Sand Time and other insects, earworms only reveal their physical form when in a dormant state.

This means that even if you realize you’ve attracted earworms, there’s a high chance you won’t find them. Even professional healers often determine if a patient has attracted earworms through the ’involuntary music phenomenon.’

The reason why wizards generally aren’t bothered by these little bugs is primarily that earworms have a strong ’migratory’ nature. They rarely stay in a wizard’s ear for more than a lunar cycle. By the time the wizard realizes they’ve attracted earworms, the bugs are usually ready to leave.

More importantly, the sounds earworms appreciate or replay are often preferred by the wizards as well.

For example, a beautifully rhythmic melody that ordinary people might only hear once can be repeatedly enjoyed by a wizard with earworms for a long time; similarly, an elegant spell chant, for students, repeatedly listening to a demonstration by a high-level wizard is very helpful in mastering it.

That being said, even the most beautiful music can become tiresome if listened to too much.

Especially for those sensitive to earworms, attracting them can easily lead to symptoms such as fatigue, drowsiness, dreaming, and indigestion. Although these won’t last long, they can still have certain harmful effects on junior wizards.

"—Meng Meng has been very sensitive to earworms and lazy bugs since childhood, and the related symptoms are more pronounced. The elders at home believe it’s connected to her identity as a spirit witch and is unavoidable, so every time she attracts bugs, they must be dealt with promptly."

Jiang Yu explained simply to Zheng Qing why Li Meng looked so lazy.

And Zheng Qing had only one thought in his mind.

"Such a good constitution for slacking off."

He unconsciously praised, sincerely meaning it, but perhaps due to a delusion, he felt the little witch who was originally lying listlessly on the desk suddenly glared harshly at him.

But she quickly returned to her languid demeanor.

"Do you think she might be feigning illness?" Zheng Qing wasn’t indulging her whims.

Jiang Yu couldn’t help but chuckle.

"She’s not that foolish anymore."

She pinched Li Meng’s small face, leaned near Zheng Qing’s ear, and slightly lowered her voice: "...When she was young, after realizing her susceptibility to attracting bugs, she often feigned illness for a while. The elders at home noticed but didn’t expose her. Instead, whenever she feigned illness, they’d prescribe her very bitter herbal medicine... I tasted it once, those medicines are truly bitter. Given a choice, I’d rather memorize a hundred spells than drink such stuff again. I think she feels the same because her ’bug-attracting’ incidents significantly decreased afterward... this is probably only the second time this year, she attracted lazy bugs during the recent Awakening of Insects."

"Did you prepare bitter medicine for her too?"

"Not really... she’s smart now, even if she feigns illness, she won’t pretend strongly; instead, she actively attracts one or two earworms or lazy bugs to herself. Don’t ask me how she does it, I think it’s the spirit witch talent. Sometimes, considering her academics, focusing on mystical studies might have promising prospects..."

The two conversed happily, wholly oblivious to the passage of time.

Until the stick figure behind the door loudly shouted.

"Hey! You in the front row dawdling with the lady!"

It waved its twig-like arms, bouncing on the white paper: "The potion class professor is already at the corner of the corridor, aren’t you going back to your seats?"

The previously somewhat noisy classroom suddenly fell silent.

Everyone’s gaze fell in unison on a certain warlock.

Zheng Qing blinked.

The idle Jiang Yu had already returned to her seat at some point, seriously reviewing the "Standard Potions" at hand, while the half-dead Li Meng showed him a mischievous face full of malicious intent.

With a stiff expression, the warlock forced out a smile while trying to maintain a steady pace amidst everyone’s teasing gaze. Just as he passed the podium, he couldn’t help but glance at the box of chalk, contemplating whether to grab one and smudge the noisy fellow into a blank paper.

Only now, time didn’t permit.

Almost at the same time Zheng Qing settled in his seat, Li QiHuang’s slightly hunched figure appeared at the classroom door. He drifted like a wisp of smoke through the passage, but did not ascend the podium as usual. Instead, he whispered something to Jiang Yu in the front row, where Zheng Qing had just been sitting.

Zheng Qing resented his seat being so far back for the first time.

He craned his neck, resembling a sluggish turtle, trying to hear what the professor was saying to Jiang Yu. Meanwhile, he hesitated about whether to cancel the Art of Body Transformation—his black gemstone cat was still on the witch’s desk and must have heard. Canceling the transformation would allow him to receive the memories of his alter ego.

Only, firstly, the professor seemed not to have finished speaking; canceling now would be like listening to half, which would be even more frustrating; secondly, he was unsure whether Jiang Yu would appreciate his almost ’eavesdropping’ behavior.

While the boy was indecisive.

The potion class professor helped him resolve this dilemma.

"Come, gather closer, everyone."

Professor Li beckoned to the young wizards in the classroom, his voice as gentle as ever: "—Li Meng has attracted an earworm, a relatively rare insect type. Originally, I planned to take you to see Shatang Trees today; the Shatang Trees in the Hundred Herb Gardens were infested... but since there is a better alternative now, let’s slightly adjust the lesson plan, and everyone come to see the earworm first."

Thus, Zheng Qing, who had just taken his seat for less than a minute, had to stand up again and head to the front row of the classroom.

Though his seat was at the back, his reaction was the fastest.

Almost rushed to the first row immediately.

Triggering a burst of laughter behind him.