The Heretic of Cleric Academy-Chapter 72

"Guh, grr... ugh..."

Strange sounds flowed from my open mouth. Everything in front of my eyes was red.

I couldn’t tell whether blood flowing from my forehead had entered my eyes, or whether blood was flowing from my eyes themselves. I didn’t need to know. As long as I could just enter the ark, that would be enough.

"Examinee Number 041666 Do Seon-woo, ark entry. 1:09:12.67."

"Examinee Number 041666 Do Seon-woo, ’2. [Undisclosed condition]’ satisfied."

Finally, as I entered the ark, a bundle of light enveloped me along with a rigid mechanical voice. Immediately after, the red in front of my eyes gradually turned white and drowsiness washed over me.

The pains that had spread throughout my body and persistently tormented me also began to disappear little by little.

"Heh, heh..."

Without realizing it, laughter escaped me. It wasn’t just because I had passed the first gateway.

It was because Seong Ha-yeon’s words that the open path was a trap and going that way would definitely result in elimination had been wrong.

It was indeed a trap, but in the end, I had not been eliminated. Rather, I had passed the first gateway while even fulfilling the undisclosed second condition.

I wasn’t wrong.

Seong Ha-yeon’s words were wrong, and as a result, my judgment in not trusting Seong Ha-yeon had been correct.

That made me so happy that I was unconsciously letting out laughter. Even as the bundle of light enveloped my body and my vision was covered with brilliant light, until the moment my consciousness finally cut out.

The smile that lingered on my lips did not leave.

* * *

"That was Do Seon-woo who just passed by, right? Wow... He looked really fierce."

Han Su-ryeon said while rubbing her arms as if she had gotten goosebumps.

She was recalling Do Seon-woo, who had been covered in blood all over his body, streaming bloody tears as he cut through the waterfall. He seemed like a completely different person from Do Seon-woo who would smile foolishly while taking care of Jeong In-ah and Gu Jun-hyeok.

...A different person?

"..."

While Han Su-ryeon tilted her head at a strange sense of déjà vu, Seong Ha-yeon was blankly staring at the spot where Do Seon-woo had passed. Seong Ha-yeon’s eyes, which hadn’t moved even slightly during her argument with Yeo Min-seo, were now noticeably trembling. Fear was clearly evident.

"That bastard really has some persistence."

Yeo Min-seo’s rough way of speaking cut through the silence. The smile on her lips was as cold as always. She looked at Seong Ha-yeon with a much calmer face.

"Hey."

At the calling voice, Seong Ha-yeon turned her head. Though not as much as before, there was still fear remaining on her face. It was a face that hadn’t yet regained composure.

What had made Seong Ha-yeon so afraid was unknown. However, since there was no need to know, Yeo Min-seo decided not to bother asking and just conveyed her business.

"Sorry about earlier. You had your own thoughts, didn’t you?"

"...Pardon?"

"What, you judged that he would climb up on his own, right? If you had such a plan, you should have told me beforehand. Then there would have been no reason to fight."

Yeo Min-seo said with a smile. It was a villainous smile. Seong Ha-yeon looked at Yeo Min-seo with a reluctant expression. Her mind, which had drifted away because of Do Seon-woo, seemed to become even more distant because of Yeo Min-seo.

Seong Ha-yeon barely suppressed her extremely confused feelings and slowly nodded.

"Yes, well..."

"Anyway, everything went according to plan. Let’s get out of here."

The venom that had filled Yeo Min-seo’s eyes had somehow disappeared. Yeo Min-seo unfolded the note she had received as soon as the exam started and scanned its contents once.

"What, why isn’t the exit method written? Can’t we forfeit? I kind of want to get out."

"...That, probably if you tear the note you can get out. I’ll go out first."

Rip, riip.

When Seong Ha-yeon tore the note, light began to leak from her body. More precisely, it wasn’t leaking out but her body was gradually changing into light and disappearing. Eventually, Seong Ha-yeon’s form vanished without a trace.

"How does she know that? Is it because her dad made it?"

Yeo Min-seo tilted her head and continued speaking.

"Well... Anyway, I’m getting out too. Han Su-ryeon, you come out quickly too."

"Bye~ Have a good trip~"

"What good trip, we’ll see each other right after I get out."

Riip!

Yeo Min-seo, who had snorted, roughly tore her note. Soon her body also became light and disappeared. Han Su-ryeon felt a strange sense of dissonance while watching Yeo Min-seo disappear.

Just moments ago, Yeo Min-seo had been growling at Seong Ha-yeon as if she would kill her, but as soon as things went according to plan, she apologized to Seong Ha-yeon. The attitude change was too sudden. It was as if she was a different person.

"A different person."

Rip.

Han Su-ryeon suddenly thought that Do Seon-woo and Yeo Min-seo resembled each other in strange ways as she tore her note. Soon her body also changed into light and disappeared.

* * *

When I came to my senses, I was sitting in a chair. In front of me was a huge dining table, and holy communion was set upon it.

"Aaah! Han, where did that bitch Han Su-ryeon go!"

"Ah shit, that startled me. What is this."

At that moment, someone suddenly shouted. Startled, I muttered to myself and turned my head to see Gu Jun-hyeok there.

Cold sweat was streaming down his forehead and his eyes were bloodshot red. He looked extremely angry.

"...What. Where is this, huh. Do Seon-woo? Why are you here too?"

Gu Jun-hyeok, who had been looking around, asked with a puzzled expression.

Since I was also in the position of not knowing why I was here or where this was, I just stared blankly at Gu Jun-hyeok without saying anything. Silence flowed for quite a while.

Click, click, click.

Then, the sound of footsteps came from a distance.

I turned my head in the direction of the sound. Someone was walking slowly toward us with their hands behind their back, wearing a faint smile. The robe they wore was blue as if it contained the sea.

"Welcome! First gateway successful examinees."

It was Noah. He laughed heartily while adjusting the sleeves of his loose robe.

"Though it’s not ’examinees’ but three people! Hahaha. Well anyway, the reason I’ve gathered you all here is..."

"Wait, wait a moment. Noah... Noah-nim?"

While Noah was continuing his explanation, someone raised their hand and spoke. It was a powerless, listless voice. It was Seo Ha-rin.

She looked at Noah blankly with a reluctant expression and barely managed to open her mouth.

"I don’t remember entering the ark, that is. I don’t remember passing the first gateway. I just opened my eyes and found myself here."

"Ah~ Student Seo Ha-rin! I know, I know. You opened your eyes and found you had passed the first gateway, wondering if this is an error~ That’s what you’re trying to say, right?"

"Ah, yes."

Seo Ha-rin nodded while pressing her lips into a line. Noah looked back and forth between Seo Ha-rin and me with a grinning face and opened his mouth.

"To explain simply! No, it’s not an error! While Student Seo Ha-rin was unconscious, Student Do Seon-woo carried you on his back and entered the ark!"

"Ah, ...ah? Student Do Seon-woo, no, Do Seon-woo? Yes?"

Seo Ha-rin looked at me with a face clearly showing bewilderment. I avoided her gaze and turned my eyes toward Noah. Noah was looking at me with sparkling eyes as if finding it interesting, making me uncomfortable.

Looking at Seo Ha-rin was awkward, and looking at Noah was also awkward. Hanging my head was the best option.

"Hahaha, well. As you heard, Student Do Seon-woo came to the ark carrying Student Seo Ha-rin on his back. Do you need any more explanation than that?"

"Ah, that’s not it... Why, why me?"

"That’s right, ’why’! That ’why’ is important! Very good question. That’s exactly the question I was going to ask!"

Noah said while frantically pointing at Seo Ha-rin with excitement. Startled Seo Ha-rin’s shoulders shrank a little. The excited Noah had somewhat scary aspects.

Soon, Noah turned his gaze to me. Eyes sparkling excessively to the point of being burdensome rushed toward me as if to pierce through me.

"Student Do Seon-woo, I’ll ask again. Why did you carry Student Seo Ha-rin on your back?"

"..."

It was a difficult question to answer. I kept my mouth shut for a moment.

The reason I carried Seo Ha-rin all the way to the ark was twofold. One was Baron Samedi’s prophecy. His prophecy to not go around alone suddenly came to mind.

However, naturally, it wasn’t just because of Baron Samedi’s prophecy that I endured the hardship of carrying Seo Ha-rin on my back up against the waterfall.

"A biblical verse came to mind."

Noah’s face brightened upon hearing the answer.

"A verse! What verse might that be? Which Chapter and verse?"

"I don’t remember the verse number, but probably Genesis Chapter 6... There, where God told Noah to ’bring into the ark pairs of all living creatures, male and female.’"

I ended my words there, but Noah looked at me with sparkling eyes as if expecting more of an answer.

Wondering what more I should say, I pondered briefly and barely managed to open my mouth.

"Yes, I thought the undisclosed condition might be related to that verse, so I entered the ark together with Student Seo Ha-rin."

"Yes, the part you mentioned is Chapter 6 verse 19. You deduced the undisclosed second condition through the content of the scriptures! Then, may I ask one more question?"

Noah finally smiled with satisfaction and asked. When I nodded, he opened his mouth with a much brighter face.

"If your deduction had been wrong, what were you planning to do?"

"Pardon? What do you mean?"

"For instance, what if you had gone through the trouble of carrying Student Seo Ha-rin but the undisclosed condition wasn’t fulfilled?"

Noah looked at me with eyes full of expectation. It was an obvious question. I immediately opened my mouth.

"Then I would have been a bit disappointed."

"Hahahaha! Ah, truly excellent. Yes. Haha, ah, hahaha. Oh my."

Noah showed excessive laughter, even throwing his head back, finding something so amusing. Me, Gu Jun-hyeok, and Seo Ha-rin looked at the giggling Noah with strange eyes as if looking at a weird person.

"Ah, I laughed a bit. It’s been so long since an examinee fulfilled the undisclosed condition... Yes. Anyway, let me continue explaining what I was explaining earlier. The reason I gathered you all here is one."

Noah, who had been laughing for a while, spoke. He slowly caught his breath that had become rough from laughing and continued.

"To ask whether you will take the second gateway!"

"What?"

Gu Jun-hyeok expressed his confusion. His face was completely twisted from how puzzled he was. It was an expression I’d never seen before. How does one even make such an expression? At this point, I was starting to think it was impressive.

Noah glanced at Gu Jun-hyeok’s face and continued speaking with his still smiling face.

"If you consume the holy communion spread before you, that is, the bread and wine, we’ll judge that you have the will to take the second gateway and immediately move you to the second gateway location."

"Ah. So, if we eat this, we move to the second gateway?"

Gu Jun-hyeok asked somewhat crookedly. Noah seemed not to mind at all and just smiled as he opened his mouth.

"Yes, that’s correct. Those who wish to take the second gateway can consume the bread and wine~"

"What, there’s nothing to think about."

Gu Jun-hyeok spoke as if it was no big deal and picked up the bread and cup of wine in both hands. Just as Gu Jun-hyeok was about to put the bread in his mouth, he suddenly stopped moving and glanced at me.

"Hey, you should give up around here. I’m going to win anyway."

"What? What are you suddenly saying..."

Gulp!

At that moment, Gu Jun-hyeok stuffed the bread and wine into his mouth. My words didn’t reach Gu Jun-hyeok and disappeared.

His intention to provoke was so obvious that rather than feeling bad, I found it amusing.

I immediately picked up bread and a cup to follow Gu Jun-hyeok to the second gateway.

"I will forfeit."

Then, Seo Ha-rin, who had been hanging her head and fidgeting with her hands, suddenly spoke. Noah raised his eyebrows as if puzzled.

I was equally puzzled as Noah. To forfeit when I had gone through the trouble of bringing her to the ark.

"What’s the reason?"

When Noah asked, Seo Ha-rin looked back and forth between Noah and me with quite determined eyes.

"I didn’t pass the first gateway with my own ability. Honestly, I don’t even remember..."

"Hey, wasn’t getting to travel with Student Do Seon-woo also Student Seo Ha-rin’s ability?"

"Uh, that’s, um. Honestly, I don’t have confidence I’ll do well in the second gateway either, so."

Seo Ha-rin continued hesitantly. Noah smiled as if trying to ease her tension.

"Of course, that’s also your freedom! If you don’t wish to take the second gateway, just leave the bread and cup and go out through that door."

"Ah, yes."

Seo Ha-rin got up from her seat and walked toward the door with powerless steps. When she opened the door, she too was enveloped in light and disappeared.

Eventually, I was left alone at the communion table.

"Student Do Seon-woo will of course be taking it, right?"

Noah asked with a sly smile. Naturally, I planned to take the second gateway. There wasn’t even room for consideration. However, there was one thing on my mind.

"Is there bonus points for fulfilling the second condition?"

"Of course, naturally."

"Exactly how many bonus points will be added?"

Although it wasn’t a big difference, I had entered the ark later than Gu Jun-hyeok. Though the second gateway still remained, as things stood, it was unclear whether I could beat Gu Jun-hyeok in the exam.

Therefore, I asked about what the ’reward for fulfilling the second condition’ would be. If I knew the reward for fulfilling the second condition, I could gauge roughly what my chances were of beating Gu Jun-hyeok in this exam.

"Since we’re still in the middle of the exam, I can’t give you a definitive answer,"

Noah continued while adjusting his collar.

"You’ll find out when you get out. You’ll probably be quite surprised."

Saying that, Noah smiled meaningfully. It was a somewhat vague answer, but it seemed difficult to expect a more detailed answer than this.

I gave up and put the bread and cup in my mouth.

"Good luck."

In my fading consciousness, I heard Noah’s voice.

* * *

When I opened my eyes, I was lying on a rock.

The beating sunlight was mercilessly hot. When I looked around, sand dust stuck to my head fell with a pattering sound. Sand was everywhere, and even the occasional wind carried sand.

The second gateway location was none other than a desert. Heavy construction noise echoed from a distance as if construction work was going on.

[Truly a mystical space.]

While I was unable to gather my wits and looking around, I heard Legba’s voice. At the same time, a stabbing headache arose from inside my head.

It was the same feeling as the headache I had when I first put on father’s ring, fell under sorcery, struggled, and barely regained my senses.

[A very precise illusion. I can’t believe Saint Judas made this.]

"...So what?"

[No, Saint Judas may have made it. But I don’t think he made it ’alone.’]

Legba muttered.

Didn’t make it alone?

According to the memories I glimpsed, Saint Judas was father’s friend. Father was skilled with sorcery. With father’s abilities, implementing such a precise illusion wouldn’t be difficult.

Moreover, the ark’s illusion has a faint scent of sorcery. I can feel the thick, sticky smell characteristic of Voodoo magic power clinging to various parts of the ark.

Could it be, perhaps...

Thud.

Then, a note fell from the air. Confident it would be a note with rules about the second gateway, I unfolded it.

[Examinee Number 041666 - Charity Class Do Seon-woo]

The theme of the second gateway is ’Babel’!

Overcome numerous obstacles and stop the construction of the Tower of Babel! The method is free, but if you fail to stop construction within 1 hour, you will be eliminated. Naturally, if you are killed in an accident, you will also be eliminated!

Evaluation criteria: 1. [Undisclosed condition] / 2. [Undisclosed condition]

The ’Ark Exam’ ends with the second gateway, and records will be transmitted to administrator ’Noah.’

Good luck!

"Oh my goodness."

After reading the note, my headache seemed to get worse.

Putting aside whether I could stop the Tower of Babel construction within 1 hour, having all evaluation criteria undisclosed seemed too harsh. I couldn’t even begin to grasp what to start with.

Rumble rumble rumble!

While I was pressing my temples to drive away the headache, there was a sound like something collapsing in the distance. When I turned my gaze, I saw a tower.

It was a tower so high and massive it seemed to reach the sky, arrogant in its grandeur. Below the tower, strange beast-like races, not humans, were carrying stones and building the tower.

"...This is a bit too much."

I muttered to myself while looking at the tower.

First, there were too many workers building the tower. In the scriptures, construction was stopped by making the workers’ languages confused, but I didn’t have the ability to confuse their languages.

There was one Loa related to language, but even that one wasn’t omnipotent enough to confuse languages.

That meant I had to stop the tower’s construction by other methods, but no suitable means came to mind. No matter how I racked my brain, only absurd methods came to mind.

"..."

So, while I was lost in thought, vaguely looking at the tower, I felt a sudden sense of dissonance and looked around.

In the vast desert, cacti were sparsely growing, and tumbleweeds rolled by in the sand-carrying wind. No matter how I looked around, I couldn’t find any trace of humans.

...Nowhere were there traces of humans.

Then, where had Gu Jun-hyeok gone?