The Heretic of Cleric Academy-Chapter 127

"Holy Name of Charity! I’m counting on you!"

After leaving the building, Ma Yu-hyeon shouted to me as he moved away.

I didn’t answer. Even so, Ma Yu-hyeon vigorously waved his arms above his head, stubbornly greeting me.

When I gave a rough greeting by nodding my head, only then did Ma Yu-hyeon seem satisfied and turn around. He would now search for missing people together with Yeo Min-seo.

And I finally became alone.

The building we had come out of was a place that only had faculty offices like the chairman’s office and principal’s office.

It was located in the most secluded spot among all the buildings on campus, making it a place that new students unfamiliar with the school would have difficulty finding.

I looked around, turning my head this way and that. There was no one.

The CCTVs would have long been destroyed or broken by the Satan worshipper. As mentioned earlier, this building was in such a secluded location that there was almost no student traffic.

In other words, there was no one watching me now. No one could see me. Completely alone.

Realizing this, the tension released and my body became languid. I inhaled. Cool air carrying the scent of rain filled my body. Wind seeped into every part of my body, flowing along my skin. The wind was kind to me. Naturally so.

"Bade."

Because it was Bade’s wind.

[This is natural wind! My wind is stronger and more fierce!]

"Why are you lying? It’s cool and nice."

[Hmm, actually you’re right!]

When I praised the wind, Bade excitedly opened his mouth.

[You were sweating coldly, so I thought I’d cool you down a bit.]

"Thank you."

[I wanted you to catch a cold. It’s nothing to be thankful for, not at all!]

Even while saying this, Bade’s wind continued to blow. The wind wrapped around my skin softly and coolly.

My mind, which had become murky while traveling with Ma Yu-hyeon and Yeo Min-seo, was gradually clearing. The sky I looked up at was turning black and gloomily murky. The sky was heavy and low as if rain and wind would pour down at any moment.

[The weather is very nice, isn’t it!]

"Yes, it is."

I gave appropriate responses to Bade’s words, who liked gloomy weather, and turned my palm over. The palm that had been supporting the sky now faced the ground.

The air current of the wind changed. The wind that had been blowing scattered and fragmented began gathering around me as the center.

Whoooosh!

The momentum of the wind changed. Weight was added to the wind that had been blowing lightly and refreshingly. The wind that had been torn into several strands merged into one strand and circled around me.

I stepped on the wind and stood in the air by treading on emptiness. At first, my posture was a bit precarious, but when I fixed my center of gravity with the Blessing of Superhuman Strength, I soon became able to fly stably.

[Let’s go to Mars like this!]

"Just take me to that spire over there."

[What a shame. Today is a day when the moon is beautiful.]

Bade said. The wind was getting stronger. I barely maintained my balance and entrusted my body to the wind.

The wind carried me forward, passing the trees planted throughout Florence. Leaves brushed past, tickling my cheeks, and tree branches waved their hands, greeting me.

[We’ve arrived.]

Psssss...

The wind delivered me to the spire on the main building’s rooftop, then carefully withdrew while rustling the tree branches.

The sound of leaves rustling came close then moved away. Along with it, Bade’s voice also grew distant. However, the wind still remained by my side. I surveyed the scenery spread out below the spire within the wind.

The debris of the collapsed gymnasium was scattered in a corner of the playground. Students who had come out of classrooms wandered around the playground, having lost their destination. They all seemed to be first-years.

For some unknown reason, their faces were filled with fear and confusion. There were also children who had dark red bruises somewhere on their faces as if they had been beaten.

Though not certain, it seemed something serious was happening inside the first-year building. However, I couldn’t tell what was happening inside the building.

Standing on the main building’s spire, I could see almost all the school’s scenery at a glance. However, from below, they wouldn’t be able to see who was on top of the main building’s spire.

It was that way due to the angle, and that way due to the situation. I could see them, but they couldn’t see me. It was cozy and comfortable.

Screeeeech!

Then, a roar erupted from the speaker mounted right below the spire. The comfort and tranquility that had filled my entire body retreated, and chilling, eerie tension filled the empty space. Along with the roar and static from the speaker, an urgent voice began flowing out.

"Students, this is an announcement to all students in the school! Multiple taxidermy have appeared in the first-year building!"

It was the vice-principal’s voice.

"Students in that building should quickly evacuate to other buildings! Students not in that building should wait for the evacuation order that will follow! Repeat... urgh!"

Thud, crack, crunch...

The vice-principal’s words were cut off. Sounds followed as if the vice-principal was being hit by someone, and hit again, and something breaking.

The fear on the faces of the children wandering the playground grew larger. After some silence flowed, static began flowing from the speaker again.

"...Ah, ah. There was an error. The report about taxidermy appearing was misinformation. Students in the first-year building should remain at your posts."

That was also the vice-principal’s voice.

However, the tone was different. The real vice-principal’s voice had urgency and bewilderment, and even a slight hint of tears could be felt. However, in the fake, taxidermy vice-principal’s voice that had now taken over the broadcast room, no such emotional fluctuation could be felt at all.

"Also, since the Satan worshipper says they will blow up the hospital in 20 minutes, to prevent greater damage, students should not attempt amateur rescue efforts and should remain at your posts. Repeat, the report about taxidermy appearing..."

The taxidermy vice-principal repeated nonsensical announcements. There was no need to listen. I just needed to know that the broadcast room had been taken over by the Satan worshipper. It wasn’t surprising. I had somewhat predicted that the Satan worshipper would take over the broadcast room first.

However, what was unexpected was the Satan worshipper’s message about blowing up the hospital. Why would they suddenly blow up the hospital?

To lure students?

No, if that were the case, there would be no need to specifically say "to prevent greater damage, students should not attempt amateur rescue efforts."

In the first place, who would believe such an obviously suspicious broadcast?

"..."

At that moment, I intuitively realized. The Satan worshipper had no intention of luring students to the hospital. Students had been outside the Satan worshipper’s interest from the beginning.

The Satan worshipper was luring me. While I was tied down trying to save the hospital patients, they were planning to do something else. However, I had no intention of moving according to the Satan worshipper’s intentions.

"Dan Wedo."

[Today... weather... good.... Go on... date...!]

Dan Wedo’s muttering was clearer than before. It seemed to be thanks to the substantial offerings I had given last time.

The sky was still black and gloomy. As soon as Dan Wedo finished speaking, black and thick storm clouds covered the sky.

The sun squeezed between the storm clouds and spat out light. The storm clouds filled the cracks of that light. The sky was painted with darkness.

Swoooooosh...

Rain fell. I was caught in that rain. The raindrops were fierce and sharp but also kind at the same time. Like Bade’s wind. The school uniform I was wearing became soaked. All the scenery visible was getting wet in the rain, adding to the darkness.

I didn’t know how the Satan worshipper would blow up the hospital. If they planned to blow it up using taxidermy, even I wouldn’t be able to stop it.

However, if they had installed bombs and such throughout the hospital, I could offset secondary damage like fires with Dan Wedo’s rain.

I didn’t know much about bombs, but I felt like that would work somehow. In the first place, it wasn’t clear whether the Satan worshipper’s words about blowing up the hospital were true or false, so I couldn’t rashly go to the hospital.

Most importantly, I had other things to do now.

"Granbwa."

[...Was the medicine tasty?]

Granbwa, whom I summoned, asked dejectedly.

"No, it was bitter."

[Then you should have given it to me instead.]

"...I’ll give it to you next time."

I answered with a bitter smile to Granbwa’s blunt words.

[Good! It doesn’t seem like a lie.]

Along with Granbwa’s cheerful answer, ivy climbed up the main building. The leaves made rustling sounds as they bumped into each other.

Rustle, rustle, rustle...

The sound, which had been almost inaudible at first due to being covered by the rain, gradually approached and tickled my ears. Before I knew it, the ivy that had risen to the top of the spire swayed gently and greeted me.

I grasped the ivy with fingertips that had a greenish tint. My consciousness fell to the ground through the vines. I could hear the sounds of plants that had taken root in the ground. The vision that had been painted black brightened, and the world seen through the plants’ eyes unfolded. Sound and vision were divided into several branches.

"What, are we supposed to evacuate or not?"

"I think they’re telling us to stay put for now? I don’t know either..."

"Wait, let me call... Huh? Why is the signal..."

I listened to each sound and thought.

The Kim Jin-seo taxidermy I met earlier didn’t have a rosary on her wrist. The Seong Ha-yeon taxidermy had a scar on her palm. The Jeong In-ah and Seong Ha-yeon taxidermy were like the real ones. However, the Kim Jin-seo taxidermy was different from the real one.

The Satan worshipper pursuing ’perfect taxidermy’ implemented even the clothes Jeong In-ah usually wore and the scar on Seong Ha-yeon’s palm. Then why didn’t they implement Kim Jin-seo’s rosary?

Couldn’t they do it, or didn’t they do it?

"Teacher, should we evacuate? Or..."

"Wait a moment, let me call other teachers..."

The Satan worshipper makes perfect taxidermy to the extent of their knowledge. In other words, they can’t implement ’characteristics they don’t know about.’ The reason Kim Jin-seo’s taxidermy didn’t have a rosary was also for this reason.

The Satan worshipper didn’t choose not to implement Kim Jin-seo’s rosary. They couldn’t implement it. The reason is simple. Because they didn’t know that Kim Jin-seo had recently been wearing a rosary.

On the other hand, the Seong Ha-yeon taxidermy had a scar on her palm. This meant the Satan worshipper knew that Seong Ha-yeon had a scar on her palm.

"Teacher! The signal isn’t working!"

"Huh? That’s right, why is the signal suddenly..."

The Satan worshipper doesn’t know that Kim Jin-seo has recently been wearing a rosary, but they do know that Seong Ha-yeon got a scar on her palm. Seong Ha-yeon, who was proud and haughty enough to be second to none, wouldn’t have gone around showing off the scar on her palm.

In other words, the person to whom Seong Ha-yeon showed her scar, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Among them, the person who met Jeong In-ah this morning but hasn’t met Kim Jin-seo recently. That person was highly likely to be the Satan worshipper.

No, that person would be the Satan worshipper.

First, I had to find Seong Ha-yeon. And I had to ask who knew about the recent scar on her palm. Using Granbwa’s power, I moved my consciousness from flowers to trees, from trees to weeds, searching for Seong Ha-yeon.

"They say taxidermy appeared? Shouldn’t we evacuate?"

"It was misinformation. I think we just need to stay..."

"Huh? What’s that? Wh-what is that! Shit!"

It was a voice heard from the direction of the first-year building. Seong Ha-yeon’s figure wasn’t visible. Her voice wasn’t heard either.

She opened her mouth when I wanted her to shut it, and conversely kept her mouth shut when she should open it. Suppressing my irritation, I calmly searched for Seong Ha-yeon’s figure.

"What’s that over there? Why are the kids acting like that?"

"Could the taxidermy appearance actually be true...?"

"Hey, why are you saying such ominous things..."

Found her.

I found Seong Ha-yeon. She was walking along the third-floor corridor of the first-year building. Kim Ra-hee was with her.

I maintained Granbwa’s power while raising wind with Bade’s power. Patter, the wind splashed raindrops as it approached me. I planned to ride the wind and fly straight to Seong Ha-yeon.

"Kyaaaaaah!"

"Waah, waaaah!! No, damn, what is this, shit..."

"Quiz! Quiz!"

"Urgh...!"

Then, sharp and loud screams came from somewhere. The screams weren’t just one. Screams created by several female and male students tangled together and struck my ears.

The screams were loud and long enough to cause ringing in my ears. My concentration broke and Granbwa’s power was also cut off. The consciousness that had seeped into the plants returned to my body. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Screeeeech!

There was no time to catch my breath or calm my surprised heart. A sharp and loud shriek echoed across the playground, just like the screams heard from the first-year building. Something huge in the middle of the playground was raising its head and shrieking.

Screech! Screeeeech!

It was a magical beast.

A gigantic magical beast of a completely different scale from the dog magical beasts I had seen in the stable or the bird magical beasts I had seen in Eden Garden.

It had three heads and six legs. The six eyes on its heads were red. In the darkness, the magical beast’s red glow swept over the students’ faces.

Kyaaaah... Kyaaah...

Students screamed and ran away. The screams were faint because of the distance, but the fear and terror contained within them were vivid.

Thump, thump!

Every time the magical beast stepped on the ground chasing students, a heavy sound rang out as if the ground was shaking. The students’ legs were too thin and slow to escape the magical beast’s pursuit.

[There’s a child like you over there.]

Legba said.

While everyone was scattering and running away from the magical beast, there was one child crossing the playground toward the magical beast.

She held a sword in her right hand. Kim Jin-seo was pointing that crude and blunt sword at the magical beast while striding forward.

The magical beast noticed her hostility. Six red eyes stared at Kim Jin-seo. Six legs simultaneously kicked the ground. Claws larger than most people rushed fiercely as if to split her body in half.

Her sword was also aimed at the magical beast’s neck, but compared to the claws, the sword was infinitely shabby and dull.

I raised my index finger and aimed it at the magical beast’s head.

Crash!

Light struck the magical beast’s center head. It was lightning that fell without warning.

The claw tips that had been rushing toward Kim Jin-seo trembled and lowered to the ground. I could see her looking at the magical beast with surprised eyes, then belatedly coming to her senses and looking around.

Screech, screeeeech...!

However, it wasn’t time to let my guard down. The magical beast wasn’t dead yet. Being large with many heads, the magical beast’s body was tough and sturdy.

[Impossible! To withstand my lightning! That magical beast is a true warrior!]

Rumble!

Sobo, who appeared belatedly, spouted nonsense along with thunder. The rain and wind were fierce, and the thunder was loud. A storm that had arrived before we knew it was engulfing the school.

I raised my finger and aimed at the magical beast’s right head. Despite the urgent situation, Sobo opened his mouth in a tone full of mischief.

[Lightning doesn’t strike the same place twice!]

"What kind of nonsense are you suddenly-"

Boom!

Contrary to Sobo’s words, lightning struck the same place twice, completely burning the magical beast. The loud sound created by the lightning cut off my words.

Dan Wedo’s raindrops fell on the magical beast’s body, which had instantly turned to ash. The magical beast’s body was melting away in the rain, darkly staining the playground floor.

"...It struck twice though?"

[My capricious lightning sometimes strikes twice. Haha!]

Rumble!

Thunder roared as if responding to Sobo’s words. Storm clouds collided and spat out light. The light tangled with the storm clouds and was shaped sharply and keenly.

Crash!

Light fell on the corpse of the magical beast that had turned to ash and was melting away.

Lightning that split the sky and fell split the magical beast’s belly. The exposed entrails spewed black and ominous smoke. The smoke didn’t rise to the sky but settled on the ground, wrapping around the students’ bodies.

[It strikes three times too! Amazing, right?]

"...Yes, amazing."

I gave appropriate answers to Sobo’s words while staring toward the first-year building where Seong Ha-yeon was.