The Heretic of Cleric Academy-Chapter 47

"There was no supervising teacher?"

"That’s right. While it was called a class, it was essentially life guidance..."

"I can’t believe this. They’re calling students for something like that? What would those kids know?"

The meeting hadn’t even started yet, but the conference room was already bustling with noise.

Watching the teachers chattering among themselves, So Do-jin frowned deeply and opened his mouth.

"So much talk. While you were just sleeping in the faculty office..."

"Shh! Watch your words."

Ha Ye-jin, who was beside him, cautioned So Do-jin. So Do-jin let out a scoff as if incredulous.

"It’s not like I said anything wrong."

"You can’t live long if you only say what’s right."

So Do-jin looked somewhat displeased, but soon nodded and closed his mouth. Kim Bok-dong also quietly nodded in agreement with Ha Ye-jin’s words.

Creak.

At that moment, the door opened and the vice principal entered. The noisy conference room instantly became quiet. It was because of the white-haired old man who followed behind the vice principal.

One of the three ’elders’ of the Florence Council, who had received the baptismal name ’Gabriel’ from the Pope. He was one of Florence’s power holders along with the chairman.

"Today’s meeting will be conducted by Elder Gabriel."

The vice principal said. When Gabriel raised his hand in greeting, the teachers solemnly bowed their heads to show respect.

A long period of silent prayer continued, and Gabriel swept back his white hair and opened his mouth.

"Let’s proceed, quickly. Where are the three professors who investigated the ’Tower of Corpses’ and, rescued the students?"

Kim Bok-dong, Ha Ye-jin, and So Do-jin raised their hands in turn. Gabriel swept his quick eyes over the faces of the three.

He was slow in speech and action, but only his eye movements were fast.

"There was a black magic circle, set up around the tower?"

Gabriel always divided one sentence into two parts when speaking. It was either a habit, or because he was out of breath from old age. Either one or both.

"Yes, that’s correct."

Kim Bok-dong answered.

"Has the composition of the black magic circle, been identified?"

"We’ve roughly identified 2 out of 6 black magic circles. ’Beast Transformation’ and ’Contract’."

"What about, the remaining 4?"

"The ’Contract’ black magic is still active, making it impossible to approach, so we’re having difficulties with identification."

Those affected by ’Contract’ black magic become humanoid magical beasts or demon races. Therefore, except for certain special bloodlines with particular blood, it’s impossible to even approach the black magic circle.

Kim Bok-dong immediately continued.

"For now, we’ve requested cooperation by calling Former Inquisitor Saint Judas."

"Did he say, he would come?"

"No response."

"That fellow is always, late to respond."

Gabriel frowned and muttered while shuffling through documents. Then he raised his eyebrows as if he had found something interesting.

"7 out of 22 magical beasts died from, lightning strikes?"

"Yes."

"Was the lightning, ’natural’ lightning?"

"I didn’t hear well, could you say that again?"

"I’m asking if there’s no possibility that it was lightning caused by, a cult demon."

Kim Bok-dong gulped.

A cult demon.

It was a question about whether a Voodoo prophet had used the power of a ’Loa’ demon to wield lightning.

During the Holy War 7 years ago, the Voodoo prophet had wielded the power of lightning, making countless clergy tremble in fear.

There are still countless clergy who haven’t recovered from the shock of that time and faint from panic attacks whenever lightning strikes.

After pondering for a moment, Kim Bok-dong shook his head and opened his mouth.

"The possibility is low."

"May I ask, the reason?"

"The scale is too small compared to that time."

Kim Bok-dong suddenly recalled that time.

The night of the new moon. Dark clouds had gathered to block even the starlight, filling everything with endless darkness. The prophet had caused lightning to split the sky.

No, the expression "split" wasn’t enough. It would be more appropriate to say he "filled" the sky with the flash of lightning. It was a scene as if heaven and earth were collapsing and disaster was arriving.

If the lightning from that time was a tiger, today’s lightning was merely a day-old puppy. The possibility that it was lightning caused by the Voodoo prophet was low.

"Also, there’s no reason for the Voodoo cult leader to save Florence students."

"That’s also, correct."

Gabriel nodded.

The 3rd Voodoo cult leader. He had inherited the blood of the 2nd cult leader and the prophet’s authority.

He’s said to be so cunning and crafty that comparing him to a demon wouldn’t be enough, and there are even theories that he’s plotting evil schemes to overthrow the Romanica religion. At least that’s how he’s known to the world.

There was no reason for him to save Florence students.

"But to say it was naturally, occurring lightning..."

Gabriel muttered as if puzzled.

If it wasn’t cult magic, meaning the power of Loa, then naturally occurring lightning had killed 7 magical beasts.

It wasn’t impossible, but the probability was too low when calculated statistically.

"It doesn’t seem to have occurred naturally. I’m speculating it might be a reproduction of a miracle."

This time Ha Ye-jin answered. Several faculty members listening tilted their heads.

"Weren’t the people at Eden Hill first-year students? But a reproduction of a miracle?"

"Student Kim Jin-seo was among the children at the scene."

When that name was mentioned, the teachers nodded and immediately showed understanding.

Kim Jin-seo had previously reproduced a miracle, so the thinking was that this time too, it was likely her doing.

"Of course, it’s still just speculation. We need to hear directly from the children before making a judgment."

However, it was all talk of possibilities. While it was highly likely to be Kim Jin-seo’s doing, there was no proof that it was Kim Jin-seo’s work.

There were too many uncertain things about this incident as well. This could be gradually deduced by combining the statements of the four students who would come to the conference room.

"When will the children we called, arrive?"

Gabriel said while scratching his eyebrow with his pinky finger. Ha Ye-jin checked her watch.

"They should be here soon."

* * *

There were four children called: Gu Jun-hyeok, Yeo Min-seo, Do Seon-woo, and Kim Jin-seo. They were contacted to come at 3 PM, 3:30 PM, 4 PM, and 4:30 PM respectively.

The first to arrive was Gu Jun-hyeok. He came at 3:15 PM. He was a full 15 minutes late.

"I’m late, sorry~" Gu Jun-hyeok gave a perfunctory greeting and entered the conference room. Several teachers clicked their tongues in displeasure.

"Gu Jun-hyeok. I told you to come at 3 o’clock."

"Haha... I definitely set an alarm and went to sleep. But the alarm didn’t go off? Maybe it’s time to change my phone."

"Just sit down quickly."

Ha Ye-jin said curtly. Gu Jun-hyeok sat down with a somewhat apologetic, awkward face while scratching the back of his neck.

His shoulders were stiffly tense. It was because he had unconsciously become nervous due to the murderous atmosphere in the conference room.

Gu Jun-hyeok looked around and opened his mouth.

"Is this some kind of investigation? I didn’t do anything wrong, did I?"

"No, you didn’t do anything wrong. We’ll just ask two questions and send you right back."

Ha Ye-jin said with a bright smile. Only then did Gu Jun-hyeok let out a sigh of relief.

Ha Ye-jin meaninglessly shuffled through documents containing the question list and opened her mouth.

"Student Gu Jun-hyeok was surrounded by 9 magical beasts during the incident, right?"

"Yes. I almost died."

"7 of them died from lightning strikes. Do you have any guesses about this?"

"Guesses? What should I guess?"

Gu Jun-hyeok asked back with a face that was innocent to the point of being stupid.

The intention of the question was to ask about the cause of the lightning, but Gu Jun-hyeok seemed to have completely failed to grasp that intention.

"I’m asking if someone might have caused the lightning through ’miracle reproduction’."

"Ah~ Ahh. Yes! I understand. Hmm... Ah!"

Gu Jun-hyeok slapped his knee and exclaimed. He had a confident face as if he knew something. A slight smile lingered on his lips.

"I don’t really know! Hahaha, sorry."

However, the answer that followed had no substance at all. Gu Jun-hyeok laughed awkwardly as if embarrassed.

"Ah, yes."

Ha Ye-jin sighed as if somewhat disappointed and immediately moved to the next question. She placed a small, unidentified machine on the table.

It was the machine that had come from the head of the taxidermied magical beast.

"What do you think this might be?"

Gu Jun-hyeok narrowed his eyes and stared at the machine for a long time.

Unable to guess its identity no matter how much he looked, Gu Jun-hyeok soon tilted his head and opened his mouth.

"Hmm. Is it a camera?"

"Yes~ Good work. You can go now."

"Eh. Is it over? Already?"

"Yes. Thank you for answering sincerely~"

Gu Jun-hyeok got up from his seat with an awkward expression, scratching the back of his neck, and immediately left the conference room.

Soon it was 3:30 PM, and as if she had been waiting, Yeo Min-seo burst through the door and entered.

"Yes. You said you had something to ask?"

She sat down in any empty seat and opened her mouth in a rather unfriendly tone. Ha Ye-jin’s brow furrowed slightly.

However, she couldn’t openly frown in front of a student, so she forced a smile and opened her mouth.

"Student Yeo Min-seo, during the incident, you were surrounded by 9 magical beasts..."

The questions were the same as those asked to Gu Jun-hyeok. The first question was about the ’cause of the magical beasts’ death,’ and the second question was about the ’machine that came from the magical beast’s head.’

Do Seon-woo and Kim Jin-seo, who would come soon, would also receive the same questions.

After hearing the first question, Yeo Min-seo tilted her head and surveyed the faces of the teachers filling the conference room.

Soon she smiled brightly like a child and opened her mouth.

"Elder is here?"

"Student Yeo Min-seo, please answer the question first..."

"Ah, yes. But you’re asking the question in a roundabout way. Who caused the lightning? Couldn’t you just ask directly like that?"

Yeo Min-seo asked nonchalantly. She was very quick-witted.

Ha Ye-jin felt both displeasure and eeriness. Yeo Min-seo’s flat, empty eyes seemed to be trying to tear apart her face.

"Anyway, well... I have no idea about the lightning."

After staring at Ha Ye-jin’s face for a long time, Yeo Min-seo opened her mouth. Kim Bok-dong, who was listening, tilted his head.

Yeo Min-seo had said she had no idea ’about the lightning.’ Her tone suggested she might have some idea about something other than lightning.

"Wait, let me ask one more question. There were two magical beasts with penetrating wounds to the heart. They appear to be gunshot wounds. Do you know anything about this?"

Kim Bok-dong immediately threw a question at Yeo Min-seo.

Yeo Min-seo tilted her head for a moment as if trying to understand the question’s intent, then laughed maniacally. Kim Bok-dong felt his spine tingle.

After laughing for quite a while, Yeo Min-seo barely stopped laughing and caught her breath.

"Ah, sorry. I thought of something funny."

"Answer the question first."

Kim Bok-dong said solemnly. Yeo Min-seo completely wiped the smile from her face. Then she cleared her throat lightly.

"To conclude, Do Seon-woo did that."

"What? Explain in more detail. What did Do Seon-woo do and how?"

"I don’t remember well. You should ask him directly instead."

She evaded the question with an ambiguous answer.

Earlier she spoke as if she knew everything, but now she says she doesn’t remember?

She definitely seemed to know something, but she apparently had no intention of telling the teachers about it.

It would be difficult to expect answers even if they asked more. Ha Ye-jin gave up and moved to the next question.

Thud.

Ha Ye-jin placed the machine on the table.

"What do you think this might be?"

"It looks quite ominous. Is it something from Satanism?"

Yeo Min-seo answered immediately without thinking.

At the unexpected answer, Ha Ye-jin forgot what to say and hesitated. Kim Bok-dong continued the questioning in her place.

"You, what are you saying now..."

"Are you suspecting us of being Satanists?"

Yeo Min-seo interrupted Kim Bok-dong’s words.

Kim Bok-dong stared at Yeo Min-seo for a moment with a dumbfounded expression. There was no sign of tension or fear on her face. She even seemed relaxed.

"That machine device is something related to Satanists. That object came from the place where we were. So you must have judged that there’s a Satanist among us, right?"

"..."

"I’m sorry to say this, but Satanists aren’t that stupid. You can’t catch them with these old methods."

Yeo Min-seo spoke as if making a declaration.

The machine from the taxidermied magical beast’s head... it appears to emit flashes intermittently, but that’s not actually the case. It was designed to emit light in response to receiving some kind of ’signal.’

In other words, the Satanist was watching the situation at Eden Hill and sending ’signals’ to the machine, controlling the magical beasts with it.

Therefore, the Satanist is a student from the Charity, Patience, or Kindness classes who were at Eden Hill during the incident.

Among them, especially the four who were close to the taxidermied magical beast with the attached machine: Gu Jun-hyeok, Yeo Min-seo, Do Seon-woo, and Kim Jin-seo. One of them is highly likely to be the Satanist.

This was the teachers’ speculation, but Yeo Min-seo’s thinking was a bit different.

"The teachers had no choice but to suspect us. That machine was probably deliberately placed where we were."

"What do you mean by that?"

So Do-jin sharply retorted. His gaze was cold. Even so, Yeo Min-seo continued speaking without showing any sign of fear.

"It’s the Satanist’s trick to confuse the teachers."

Based on their actions so far, the Satanist is quite clever. You could say they’re good at psychological warfare.

Such a person wouldn’t have been so careless with the cleanup. They probably made the cleanup appear careless to confuse the teachers in reverse.

"Well. In my eyes, you look like a Satanist."

So Do-jin said quietly. Yeo Min-seo smiled brightly.

"If I were a Satanist, would I say such things? I would have just smiled stupidly like an idiot. Pretending to know nothing."

"...Alright, let’s say you’re right. The Satanist deliberately placed the machine there to confuse us. What’s the possibility that this is double confusion?"

"It’s not impossible, but it’s low. Double confusion carries high risk. And if you go that far, there’s no end to it."

"Hmm."

So Do-jin nodded slightly. It was a reasonable argument.

However, So Do-jin still didn’t withdraw his suspicion of Yeo Min-seo.

Even in this situation, Yeo Min-seo was too calm. There was no other evidence, but that attitude was suspicious.

Most of all, Yeo Min-seo seemed to be trying to dismiss all the evidence discovered so far as ’Satanist confusion.’

But suspicion is just suspicion. Without proof, nothing could be confirmed.

"I think I’ve helped enough. Can I go now? I don’t have much time."

"Yes... Please go quickly."

With a lively smile on her lips, Yeo Min-seo greeted the teachers energetically and left the conference room.

A cold silence lingered in the conference room for quite a while.

"What kind of kid is that?"

So Do-jin muttered to himself.

"She seems smart. But somehow annoying..."

Ha Ye-jin nodded in agreement with So Do-jin’s words.

Knock knock.

Not long after, there was a knocking sound. Kim Bok-dong checked the time on his phone.

4:02 PM. It was time for Do Seon-woo to arrive.