Survival Guide After Accidentally Kissing a Demon - Chapter 52

Overnight, the steps and plaza of Holy Island Academy were transformed to resemble an ancient Roman Colosseum.

The massive circular structure had three tiers in total.

The ground floor was lined with evenly spaced arches and stone columns, each column carved with exquisite reliefs.

Between them lay a vast expanse of clear blue water, the pool floor covered with brilliantly colored coral and large, lustrous pearls.

Several graceful mermaids sang in the crystal-clear water.

Their voices were ethereal, like music from the heavens.

They leaned elegantly against the pool’s edge, their hair floating like seaweed, and the scales on their tail fins shimmered with dreamlike colors as they moved.

The middle tier of the building was filled with rows of tables and chairs for the audience.

The tables were already piled high with all kinds of fresh fruit and delicious pastries, so that the students could comfortably eat while watching the closing Hunt Banquet.

The top tier was also a viewing area, where three groups of people were seated.

At the very center of the top tier sat Dean Madeline and all the Bishops in their sacred robes.

Behind each country’s Bishop stood a Magic Screen, displaying the royal family of their respective nation.

On one side of the top tier, ten hunter students dressed in extravagant finery sat in neat rows.

Floating beside each student was a sphere shaped like an eyeball.

These eyeball-shaped spheres projected their current expressions and movements onto several enormous Magic Screens suspended above the pool.

Even the undisguised arrogance in their eyes was clearly displayed.

On the other side of the top tier sat the prey students.

Beili swept her gaze around.

Including herself and Susanna, there were fewer than ten students who had signed up for the closing Hunt Banquet.

Ever since Cyril had dominated the top spot for two consecutive years, the students from Sainthos had grown more arrogant, and their abilities in all aspects had improved, gradually surpassing those from other nations.

The previous two closing events didn’t have Cyril, but this year, the strongest contender was participating in the Hunt Banquet.

Signing up for the closing event now was almost like lining up to be humiliated once again.

With such sentiments, even fewer students registered for this year’s Hunt Banquet.

……

“Miss Bartholomew…”

Susanna mustered her courage and walked up behind the gray-haired, red-eyed Bartholomew.

During her routine correspondence with the Duke last night, Madam Constance had learned from her that her elder sister, Bartholomew, had signed up to be prey.

Madam Constance was both angry and anxious, repeatedly instructing her to take good care of her sister.

“What is it?” Bartholomew’s tone was indifferent.

Her deep red gaze remained fixed ahead, not sparing Susanna a single glance.

Miss Bartholomew’s expression was icy cold.

Susanna couldn’t help but guess-her sister must still be angry about the Black Lamb.

But ever since her sister took the Black Lamb yesterday, it hadn’t returned.

She only hoped that the poor Black Lamb hadn’t been harmed in her sister’s wrath.

“Mother… asked me to look after you during the event.”

Susanna twisted her fingers, her voice so faint it was almost inaudible.

“Mm, all right.”

Bartholomew replied succinctly.

Hearing this, Susanna stood stiffly in place.

She had expected her sister to refuse angrily, since that would imply her sister was weaker than her.

If her sister had refused, then she wouldn’t have to worry about her sister’s situation during the event…

Susanna lowered her head, a complex emotion flickering across her delicate features.

Perhaps sensing her grievance, Bartholomew finally turned to look at her.
Then, Bartholomew raised his hand and pointed at the neatly seated hunter students across from him, saying, “Just right, tell me who those people are. Which kingdom are they from, and what are they good at?”

Hearing Bartholomew’s words, Susanna lifted her head, her clear gaze slowly sweeping over the students opposite.

…

As time passed, more and more students appeared on the middle level.

A booming voice rang out from the top level-

“The closing Hunt Banquet is about to begin!”

Dean Madeline looked toward the three Red Cardinals from Santos Kingdom, who were all sitting with their masks on.

Dean Madeline, through the Magic Screen, addressed the King of Santos seated behind them: “Your Majesty, this year it’s the turn of Santos Kingdom to choose the venue.”

Behind the screen, a faint smile appeared on the aged face of the King of Santos.

“I heard Cyril took first place again this year, and this is also his first time participating in the closing event. Then let’s choose the first venue,” he said slowly.

The booming voice repeated-

“The closing Hunt Banquet will be held in Venue One!”

As the words faded, the largest Magic Screen above the pool gradually revealed a labyrinth scene.

The booming voice announced again-

“Confiners, enter the field!”

Then, on the giant Magic Screen, white figures began to appear at various points along the labyrinth’s edge, slowly moving like pearls.

Next, images on some of the floating screens flickered, then revealed the faces of a few people.

In these images, the prisoners-euphemistically called Confiners-looked as if they had been cleaned up and dressed in spotless, pure-white prey uniforms.

They were thin, their hair cropped short, each holding a weapon-dagger, club, chain-moving cautiously within the labyrinth.

…

Among the hunters’ seats, someone looked at the Magic Screen and laughed:

“Oh-is this the so-called surprise?”

A female student in the seats also glanced at the screen, her eyes widening in surprise. “How can these Confiners still have weapons?”

Someone responded to her, their tone laced with the disdain of someone from above, “If they didn’t have weapons, the event couldn’t be called the closing Hunt Banquet-it should be called the closing hide-and-seek.”

“Mhm, that’s the perfect description. Just thinking about it sounds unbearably dull.”

A tall student said, “Even if prey has no claws, it still has sharp teeth. So letting them have weapons is entirely reasonable.”

“What, are you afraid?”

A burly male student sneered, leaning in toward the female student. “Once we’re in the field, I’ll let you follow behind me and finish off a couple of prey I leave behind.”

“How generous of you-I’m almost moved to tears,” someone couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Me, afraid? What a joke!”

The female student, provoked, snorted heavily, her gaze icy. “Once we’re in the field, who follows whom is still up in the air! You arrogant, stupid boar!”

“What did you say?”

The male student, called a stupid boar, instantly flushed with anger. “Even the princes of Santos Kingdom wouldn’t dare say that-how dare a filthy cat like you?”

“Guess why I dare?”

The female student stuck out her tongue and said mercilessly, “Because that’s what everyone calls you-Nauze’s dumb pigs!”