The Heretic of Cleric Academy-Chapter 58

Scritch.

He drew out a dagger and cut his own palm with it. He let the blood that flowed freely drip onto the blessing circle.

The blessing circle then emitted a brilliant light and gradually lost its form, shedding like a snake to be reborn in a new shape.

The light flowing from the blessing circle drove out the dark magic that filled the livestock building.

The dark magic, which had been so thick that one couldn’t see even an inch ahead, was slowly purified by his blessing circle, and the black magic circle installed near the tower of corpses also stopped operating.

It was a miraculous, wondrous, and beautiful sight. All the teachers were mesmerized and gasped in admiration.

"What is... how does that work like that?"

Ha Ye-jin tried to analyze the blessing circle with her eyes, but no matter how much she analyzed it, she couldn’t find an answer.

It was a blessing circle at an infinitely high level that she couldn’t analyze with her knowledge.

While Ha Ye-jin stared blankly at the blessing circle with a dumbfounded expression, the person who had drawn the blessing circle maintained a calm face.

"The dark magic will be purified within 10 minutes. Holy Knight teachers should measure the dark magic concentration, and when it drops below a certain level, enter and dismantle the tower."

"Understood, senior. Regarding victim identification..."

"Is that what you call a question? Do the victim identification while dismantling the tower."

"Yes, understood!"

Kim Bok-dong answered in an at-attention posture. His military discipline was tight.

"Then we’re done with the livestock building. Next is... the Sacred Training Ground. Where is that?"

"Yes, senior. May I guide you there?"

"Please do."

Kim Bok-dong walked with precise steps, guiding him to the Sacred Training Ground. He followed with a somewhat arrogant gait.

Kim Bok-dong was also a bishop-level cleric in the ecclesiastical hierarchy, but in front of Saint Judas, who was a cardinal and ’former’ inquisitor, he couldn’t even lift his head freely.

Meanwhile, the healing priest following Saint Judas was anxiously biting her nails. Ha Ye-jin looked at her with puzzlement.

"What’s wrong?"

"Saint Judas’s hand has a wound."

"Won’t he take care of it himself?"

"But still..."

The healing priest’s gaze was fixed on the wound on Saint Judas’s palm.

Many healing priests had obsessive-compulsive tendencies. They felt a compulsive urge to heal whenever they saw wounds. It could be called a kind of occupational disease.

"Ugh... I can’t stand it. If I let this go, I won’t be able to sleep tonight."

Eventually, the healing priest couldn’t overcome her anxiety and approached Saint Judas.

"Saint Judas, the wound is deep. If you need healing, I could..."

"It’s fine. Don’t come any closer."

When the healing priest tried to approach Saint Judas while emitting divine power, Saint Judas stopped her with a contemptuous, crumpled expression.

The priest was momentarily flustered and stopped walking, but unable to overcome her anxiety, she approached Saint Judas again.

"If you don’t heal it now, the bleeding will..."

Thud.

The healing priest, who had been drawing a healing circle, collapsed on the spot without finishing her words.

Her pupils were rolled back and foam was bubbling from her mouth.

"I clearly told you not to come."

Saint Judas looked down at the healing priest sprawled on the ground with disgust, twitching his eyebrows.

A startled Ha Ye-jin rushed over and checked the healing priest’s condition. She seemed to have fainted.

Ha Ye-jin looked up at Saint Judas with cold eyes.

"What did you just do?"

"I didn’t do anything. She was poisoned by residual dark magic on my clothes. That’s why I told her not to come, but priests are so..."

Priests are so what?

"You should have said that from the beginning!"

"Senior. If it’s dark magic poisoning, may I ask what treatment should be given?"

Just as Ha Ye-jin was about to say something angrily, Kim Bok-dong intercepted her words.

Kim Bok-dong’s military discipline was tight, and he wore an unsuitable smile on his lips. It was a professional smile.

"Since it’s diluted dark magic anyway, she’ll wake up on her own in half a day. If you’re really worried, cast a recovery enhancement blessing."

"Understood, senior. May I explain to the other teachers and continue the guidance?"

"Don’t ask about every little thing. It’s bothersome."

"Yes, understood."

Kim Bok-dong conveyed Saint Judas’s words to the other teachers following behind.

She was poisoned by dark magic that was on Saint Judas’s clothes. Since it’s diluted dark magic, she’ll wake up in about half a day, so don’t worry. For now, transport her to the infirmary and put her to bed.

While the teachers carried the healing priest to the infirmary, Kim Bok-dong whispered to Ha Ye-jin. Ha Ye-jin frowned as if displeased.

"Why me?"

"I’ll explain later. Just do it for now."

Ha Ye-jin reluctantly nodded.

Kim Bok-dong entrusted the unconscious priest’s care to the teachers, then immediately resumed the guidance. Ha Ye-jin glared at the back of Saint Judas’s head with a displeased, crumpled face.

’Don’t act up?’ 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

It was something she’d heard quite often as a student, and actually even after becoming an adult, but anyway.

She never thought she’d hear these words even after becoming a teacher. Her insides were boiling, and she wanted to yell at Saint Judas right then and there, but she held back.

Because Kim Bok-dong’s face when he said that was more serious than ever before.

"Senior, this is the place."

Before long, they had arrived at the Sacred Training Ground. Saint Judas looked around and suddenly frowned.

"There are students here."

"Ah, yes. This period is practical training..."

Kim Bok-dong said with a reluctant expression. At the Sacred Training Ground, students from the Charity, Kindness, and Patience classes were gathered, and in front of those numerous students, So Do-jin was explaining the practical rules in a tired voice.

"Is the blessing circle you asked me to draw for the practical training?"

Saint Judas shot Kim Bok-dong a sharp look. Kim Bok-dong broke out in cold sweat and barely managed to speak.

"We plan to use it for practical training as well, but due to the recent series of incidents, we deemed it necessary to train teachers and security..."

"So you called me here for ’mere’ practical training and training."

Saint Judas’s face was no longer crumpled. Just a hard, expressionless face.

Kim Bok-dong felt a dizzying sense of crisis as if his heart had stopped for a moment. He rolled his eyes quickly, looking for an excuse.

"Also! I thought it would be good study for your daughter as well. In the process of analyzing your blessing circle, I thought your daughter might gain some enlightenment..."

"Hmm."

Saint Judas, who had been looking down at Kim Bok-dong with cold eyes for a while, finally smiled slightly with satisfaction and nodded.

"That’s a good thought. There haven’t been many opportunities to teach since she entered the dormitory."

Saint Judas emitted divine power from his fingertips. The divine power immediately became a blessing circle, and eventually became a massive fusion blessing circle composed of dozens of blessing circles. Recovery, healing, damage reduction... Ha Ye-jin tried to analyze it, but the blessing circle was so huge and complex that she couldn’t dare attempt analysis.

"This should be enough. I’m leaving."

After deploying the blessing circle, Saint Judas left the Sacred Training Ground without looking back. Kim Bok-dong followed behind him.

"I’ll escort you outside."

"That’s unnecessary. I’ve memorized all the paths while coming here."

Saint Judas coldly rejected Kim Bok-dong’s offer.

Just as Kim Bok-dong was nodding and about to return to the faculty office, Ha Ye-jin hurried after Saint Judas with quick steps. Her face was full of dissatisfaction.

"Saint Judas. Eden Hill has also been contaminated by dark magic. It needs purification."

Ha Ye-jin spoke boldly. Saint Judas slowly, stiffly raised his lowered head to look down at Ha Ye-jin.

"I only received requests to purify the ’source of dark magic’ and deploy a blessing circle at the Sacred Training Ground. I’ve never received a request to purify the dark magic spread throughout the hill."

"But there’s still a lot of dark magic left on the hill. If it’s not purified, it will affect the students’ health..."

"Do I have such an obligation?"

Saint Judas asked while staring intently at Ha Ye-jin. His pupils were extremely empty and flat, reflecting nothing.

Ha Ye-jin gulped and forced her reluctant mouth to speak.

"As a cleric, this is naturally..."

"I am no longer a cleric. I’ve retired. Purifying the dark magic spread on the hill is something you clerics should do."

Saint Judas was simply expressionless, showing not a trace of guilt or responsibility.

Ha Ye-jin trembled with anger at that shamelessness, but had no words to refute and could only keep her mouth shut. Indeed, Saint Judas was no longer a cleric since he had retired.

Saint Judas looked at Ha Ye-jin with disgusted eyes as if looking at an insect and continued speaking.

"And I am not some tool for purifying dark magic."

"..."

"Furthermore, I am not in a position to take orders from you. If anything, I should be the one giving orders. Please know your place and... Cough!"

Thud.

At that moment, Saint Judas let out a short scream. Ha Ye-jin, who had been silently biting her lips and keeping her head down, raised her head.

Saint Judas had fallen to the ground, and in front of him, a male student was fidgeting anxiously with a surprised expression.

"What is this now..."

"Ah, I’m sorry. I was late for practical training and was hurrying, so I didn’t watch where I was going. Shall I help you up?"

The male student extended his hand toward Saint Judas. The distance was close. It was close enough that he should have already fainted from residual dark magic poisoning.

Yet the male student was smiling as if nothing was wrong. As if he had immunity to dark magic.

"No, it’s fine. If you’re late, hurry and go."

"No, I’m so sorry about this. Anyway, if you say to go, I’ll go."

The male student bowed his head lightly in greeting, then quickly ran into the Sacred Training Ground. He had said he was sorry, but he didn’t seem particularly sorry.

Ha Ye-jin stared at the familiar male student’s retreating figure with a dumbfounded expression for a while, then suddenly came to her senses and shouted.

"Hey Do Seon-woo! How many times have I told you not to be late for class!"

"That student’s name is Do Seon-woo?"

Saint Judas approached Ha Ye-jin, who was yelling at the running Do Seon-woo, and asked.

At the sudden approach, she was startled and stepped back two steps. It was to avoid being poisoned by residual dark magic.

"Yes, that’s right. Why?"

"Do Seon-woo. Do Seon-woo indeed."

Saint Judas nodded while looking at the Sacred Training Ground. He seemed to be following with his eyes the traces of Do Seon-woo, who had already entered the Sacred Training Ground and disappeared from view.

"Two in one generation... Whether that’s good luck or bad luck."

"Pardon?"

"It’s nothing. I’ll be going now."

Saint Judas muttered something incomprehensible, then walked away with dignified steps. Ha Ye-jin watched his retreating figure and crumpled her face in anger.

"Suddenly talking to himself. Has he gone senile?"

It was belated venting that Saint Judas wouldn’t hear.

* * *

"I’m sorry. I’m late."

As soon as I entered the Sacred Training Ground, I apologized first. Thanks to running using Bosu’s divine power, I wasn’t too late, but being late was still being late. So Do-jin, who had been explaining the practical training, looked at me with vacant eyes.

"What’s the reason for being late?"

"There isn’t one."

I spoke rather boldly. When asked for a reason for being late, I had nothing to say.

I was late because I was listening to a ’prophecy’ from Baron Samedi who had suddenly appeared.

The excuse of going to the bathroom wouldn’t work anyway. It was better to quickly admit it.

"I see. No reason."

So Do-jin didn’t get angry. Rather, he nodded calmly and continued speaking.

"Then do you think I’ll give you penalty points or not?"

"I think you will."

"Oh. You think I will? Why?"

"Because I was late for class."

"Right, correct answer. Go in."

I joined the Charity class formation. He was planning to give penalty points regardless of how I answered, so I don’t know why he asked such questions.

But thinking about it, being late was my fault. Perhaps because I had unintentionally encountered Saint Judas earlier, my thoughts seemed to keep flowing in negative and aggressive directions.

Meeting Saint Judas was truly coincidental.

As always, Baron Samedi had suddenly appeared and said ’there will be an unexpected meeting today,’ but I never thought it meant meeting Saint Judas.

[Was bumping into him also coincidental?]

Legba asked. I shook my head.

Coincidental? Of course that wasn’t coincidental.

When I encountered him while rushing to the Sacred Training Ground, I was flustered. The confusion soon became anger, and the anger became an indescribably complex emotion. It felt like my bronchi were tangled, a feeling where my insides hurt sharply and felt stuffy every time I breathed.

So I deliberately rammed into him with my body. Right now, this was the only thing I could do. It was childish, but if I didn’t do at least this much, I felt I’d regret it later.

"Wow, you’ve got guts. The kids are all staring. Cool."

Gu Jun-hyeok approached and spoke teasingly. Looking around, the children were staring at me with puzzled eyes as if looking at a stranger.

"I don’t think they’re staring because it’s cool?"

"That’s true. So why were you late? It wasn’t because you went to the bathroom, right?"

"That’s exactly right."

"Make your excuses more creative. If you always say you were late because you went to the bathroom, who will..."

At that moment, So Do-jin threw something. It was a pen.

The pen struck Gu Jun-hyeok’s temple hard, and Gu Jun-hyeok collapsed on the spot. Fortunately, the pen tip wasn’t extended, and it wasn’t thrown very hard, so he wasn’t hurt.

"Gu Jun-hyeok. Don’t chatter."

So Do-jin said this and continued explaining the practical training. Gu Jun-hyeok got up from his position, scratching his temple and twisting his lips as if wronged.

"Why do I always get caught? You were talking too."

"Your voice is too loud."

"Mm. Okay."

Gu Jun-hyeok nodded as if convinced.

So Do-jin continued explaining. Something about sparring and brackets, it seemed today’s practical would be 1-on-1 sparring. It was quite exceptional. Florence rarely did sparring practicals.

There were two reasons. First was injury risk. This needed no explanation. How could a cleric school let students get hurt?

Second was efficiency. The enemies of the Romanica religion could be broadly divided into three categories.

Magical beasts, demon races, Satan worshippers.

Magical beasts and demon races aren’t human, and even Satan worshippers can hardly be considered human since they use demonic power to transform their bodies.

Therefore, there was no reason to teach human-to-human combat, and even less reason for sparring practicals. It was much more efficient to spend that time learning about the characteristics of magical beasts and demon races and how to deal with them.

Yet if they were doing sparring practicals anyway, it was probably...

"Until now, magical beasts and demon races were our enemies."

So Do-jin continued with a somewhat complex expression.

"Satan worshippers don’t show themselves. There’s no chance to encounter them. Even knowing that Satan worshippers are the source of magical beasts and demon races, it was hard to think of them as ’enemies’ since they don’t show themselves."

So Do-jin drew his sword.

"It was like that until now, but the situation has changed. Satan worshippers have begun operating in earnest. I don’t know when it will be, but someday a holy war might break out. Then you’ll become crusaders."

His sword gleamed in the light.

"Not magical beasts or demon races, but humans. No, you might have to cut down Satan worshippers wearing human shells."

As expected.

I wondered why they were suddenly doing sparring practicals. It seemed the religious order was also conscious of the Satan worshippers who had infiltrated Florence.

It might also be conscious of the ’Tower of Corpses’ incident that news outlets have been competing to report on recently.

In any case, it was clear they felt a sense of crisis.

"Therefore, today is sparring practical in preparation for that. Blessings and weapon use are free. The victory condition is ’killing.’"

Since it was practical assuming wartime conditions, the condition was ’killing,’ not ’subduing.’ But Florence wouldn’t really let students die.

Then the role of that massive fusion blessing circle emitting brilliant light in the corner of the Sacred Training Ground was obvious.

"Don’t worry. You won’t really die. You won’t get a single scratch. It will hurt a bit, but it will only hurt."

The role of the fusion blessing circle was to prevent students from getting hurt during sparring. In other words, it was insurance.

"I’ll display the bracket. It wasn’t decided fairly, it’s just luck. Likewise, I won’t accept complaints."

So Do-jin said this and injected divine power into a holy item.

Flash!

Immediately after, a bracket appeared before our eyes.