The Heretic of Cleric Academy-Chapter 41

"Jeong In-ah is also resting today due to illness, according to the contact we received. Since it’s almost exam period, please take good care of your health, absolutely don’t get sick, and kidnapping! Kidnapping incidents. As I always say, be careful. This time another person has gone missing due to kidnapping..."

Ha Ye-jin’s morning assembly was long today. As could be inferred from the word "also," Jeong In-ah hadn’t come to school for the past two days.

I had tried texting her and even called her yesterday, but she hadn’t responded to any contact.

Since it seemed Ha Ye-jin was in contact with her, it didn’t appear to be a situation where she couldn’t receive contact.

So she was intentionally avoiding our contact. I couldn’t tell why she was doing this.

"As you all know, due to unfortunate circumstances, the Holy Name of Charity has become vacant, so there will be a re-election exam soon! We plan to select based on exam content and usual conduct. The exact schedule hasn’t been decided yet, but keep it in mind. Then have a good day!"

Ha Ye-jin left the classroom with those final words. Gu Jun-hyeok had been sleeping throughout the entire assembly and woke up stretching when Ha Ye-jin was about to leave. Then he approached me with listless steps.

"What did the teacher say? I was sleeping so I couldn’t hear."

Gu Jun-hyeok always misses the morning assembly because he’s sleeping.

"Kidnapping incidents and the Holy Name of Charity re-election."

"Re-election happened? Or is it going to happen?"

"Going to happen. They’ll select based on exam content and usual conduct."

"Aha. Huh?"

Gu Jun-hyeok, who had been nodding indifferently and yawning, suddenly let out a puzzled exclamation.

"They’re also looking at usual conduct? Why?"

"Probably because of Bae Seong-hyeon. He was expelled for character issues."

"Wow, no, that bastard Bae Seong-hyeon..."

Then he grabbed his hair and wailed.

Gu Jun-hyeok sleeps during every class, doesn’t do homework, and talks back jokingly when teachers scold him. He’s famous among teachers for having a bad reputation.

If they score based on usual conduct, Gu Jun-hyeok would probably receive the lowest or second-lowest score.

"Should I just give up? It seems like there’s no possibility."

"Yeah, do that. From what I can see, you’re hopeless too."

"Hey, you bastard. You should at least comfort me with empty words."

There weren’t even empty words to comfort him with, considering how bad Gu Jun-hyeok’s usual conduct was. Unless he did extraordinarily well on the exam, there was no possibility of Gu Jun-hyeok becoming the Holy Name of Charity.

Of course, if he really did exceptionally well on the exam, usual conduct and everything else would become meaningless. Florence originally had a strong tendency to value ability over character.

The statement about looking at usual conduct also seemed like a pretext to add teachers’ subjectivity to the selection process. It wasn’t certain, just speculation.

[How strange.]

While we were discussing the re-election exam, Legba muttered to himself.

What was strange? If he meant Florence’s structure of prioritizing skill over faith was strange, I would agree.

Florence’s taboo against religious devotion felt abnormally deformed, beyond just strange.

[Not that. Why did another missing person appear?]

"Ah."

"What, suddenly?"

Gu Jun-hyeok looked at me puzzledly, but I didn’t have time to pay attention to him. It was because I understood what Legba meant.

The fake Voodoo church had habitually committed kidnappings to gather believers. The perpetrator of the recent kidnapping incidents was also the fake Voodoo church. This was a fact that Han Su-yeop himself had confessed, so it was certain.

Then, logically, no more missing persons should appear. The fake Voodoo church, which had been the main culprit of kidnappings, had collapsed, and its leader Han Su-yeop had become a zombie errand boy.

But another missing person had appeared.

Why?

Clap!

"Ah, startled me. What?"

My train of thought was abruptly cut off. It was because Gu Jun-hyeok had clapped right in front of my face. Gu Jun-hyeok was staring down at me with an incredulous expression.

"You were spacing out big time. Let’s go, I said."

"Why go out? Is there a practical today?"

"No? It’s class, but outdoor class. At Eden Hill. Are we going hiking or something?"

Gu Jun-hyeok pulled me along as we left the classroom. I followed him like I was being dragged. My head was still complicated.

Why wasn’t Jeong In-ah coming to school? Why did another missing person appear? Why are we suddenly having class on a mountain? What kind of class is it anyway?

Various thoughts and questions floated endlessly in my head. My mind became turbidly clouded and distant. My already departed consciousness showed no signs of returning.

For quite a while, I seemed to just follow Gu Jun-hyeok blankly.

[Don’t think, just surrender your body to the flow. Today too, and always, beware of fire!]

I came to my senses at a voice that suddenly rang out. I looked around. The scenery was unfamiliar. I had arrived at Eden Hill before I knew it.

Purple mist danced beside me, greeting me like it was saying hello. The mist eventually rode the wind and was carried up to the sky.

* * *

"Damn it. I’m sleepy. I feel like I’m going to die from sleepiness."

So Do-jin said while holding an Americano in one hand. Beside him were Kim Bok-dong and Ha Ye-jin standing together. All the department professors had gathered.

They were walking somewhere while having various conversations.

"That’s because you don’t get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation leads to muscle loss. Cut down on caffeine too. Too much is poison."

Kim Bok-dong scolded So Do-jin. He was holding a protein shake in his hand.

"Leave him alone. If he wants to die soon, what can we do."

Ha Ye-jin said with a bright smile. Despite her gentle appearance, her way of speaking was a bit rough. She walked gracefully while occasionally sipping the cocoa she was holding.

So Do-jin looked at Kim Bok-dong with a dissatisfied face and opened his mouth.

"Why are they making us do this kind of thing? It seems like a waste of manpower."

"The elders can’t do this kind of menial work!"

"Then why are they making us do the menial work? Is this something that needs three people in the first place?"

"There must be a greater purpose."

"Greater purpose my ass."

So Do-jin drank his Americano in one gulp, then roughly crumpled the empty cup and threw it on the ground. A dry sound echoed loudly throughout the area.

Ha Ye-jin’s eyes widened in surprise.

"Pick it up! This is illegal dumping."

"It’s bothersome..."

"Bothersome nothing! Pick it up quickly!"

So Do-jin reluctantly picked up the cup he had thrown. Then he took it to a nearby trash can and threw it away. Only then did Ha Ye-jin smile with satisfaction.

"That’s right. As a teacher, you should set an example!"

"Stop nagging. My head hurts."

So Do-jin pressed his temples with his hands. It was a headache from lack of sleep.

He had only slept 2 hours yesterday too. He was already sleepy enough to die, but Ha Ye-jin kept nagging beside him, getting on his nerves. Ha Ye-jin seemed exactly the same as in high school.

"Having three of us like this reminds me of our Florence days."

While walking, Kim Bok-dong was suddenly overcome with nostalgia. So Do-jin frowned with disgust.

"Keep reminiscing to yourself."

"Come on, memories are more enjoyable when shared."

"You have a bear-like build but you’re unnecessarily sentimental. Right?"

Ha Ye-jin also shook her head in distaste.

"Exactly."

So Do-jin nodded in agreement.

All three were Florence graduates and classmates. The three had been inseparably close during their school days, but drifted apart briefly after graduation, then met again when they became Florence teachers. It was truly a miraculous coincidence.

"Kim Bok-dong."

So Do-jin called to Kim Bok-dong, who had been lost in reminiscence for quite a while. Kim Bok-dong’s distant pupils gradually regained focus.

"Yeah. What."

"Do you still do that thing? Special conditions or whatever... that ridiculous thing."

"If you mean the physical fitness test, of course I do. The special conditions are still there too."

"Is there anyone who’s actually done it?"

"Kang Dae-man is one. Besides that, they don’t even attempt it. Ah, Do Seon-woo almost succeeded though."

Kim Bok-dong said while stroking his rough beard. So Do-jin raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Do Seon-woo attempted it too?"

"That’s right. Did you make that rhyme on purpose just now?"

Kim Bok-dong laughed heartily. So Do-jin frowned. He still found it hard to appreciate Kim Bok-dong’s jokes.

Ha Ye-jin, who had been listening, sipped her cocoa and spoke.

"Do Seon-woo, that kid seems a bit unique."

"How so?"

"He can barely handle blessing circles, but sometimes he shows talent in strange areas."

"I think I know what you mean. He has distinctive aspects."

Kim Bok-dong nodded. So Do-jin tilted his head.

"Well, I’m not really sure."

So Do-jin blankly looked up at the sky.

Do Seon-woo. He did have unique aspects as they said. However, there were particularly many students showing outstanding talent this year, so Do Seon-woo’s level of talent didn’t seem that exceptional.

For example.

"Han Su-ryeon or Kim Jin-seo. Or what, Gu Jun-hyeok? Kids like these are much better."

"Yet when we had that meeting last time, didn’t you defend him quite a bit?"

Ha Ye-jin said teasingly with a chuckle. So Do-jin’s eyebrows twisted unpleasantly.

"I wasn’t defending him, it’s just that the teachers kept saying ridiculous things so I pointed it out."

"Teachers! We’re teachers too."

"We’re different from those guys. It’s embarrassing to be called the same kind of teacher."

So Do-jin grumbled with sharp words. Perhaps because he was tired, he was on edge. They walked slowly while having such trivial conversations.

The Livestock Building No. 1 began to come into view in the distance. Ha Ye-jin wrinkled her brow and sniffed.

"There’s a strange smell."

"Smell?"

Kim Bok-dong also sniffed along with her. However, he couldn’t smell anything.

Ha Ye-jin continued sniffing with a face that had lost its smile. The more she smelled, the deeper the fear in her eyes became.

"...Corpses?"

Ha Ye-jin said. Ha Ye-jin had a keen nose and was particularly good at distinguishing smells. Her smelling corpses meant there were definitely corpses nearby.

So Do-jin and Kim Bok-dong’s faces hardened stiffly. They hurried their steps toward Livestock Building No. 1. Not a single word of conversation was exchanged during this time.

When they finally arrived at the livestock building, the scene they faced was shocking.

"Ugh. Sorry, just a moment...!"

Ha Ye-jin couldn’t bear to face it and turned her back to vomit. Only after throwing up all the cocoa she had drunk could Ha Ye-jin finally raise her head.

Even while catching her breath, nausea kept washing over her. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Oh my."

Kim Bok-dong let out a short sigh. Even he, who knew no fear, was terrified by the scene before his eyes.

"This fucking... So this is why they sent us. There really was a greater purpose."

So Do-jin cursed sarcastically.

Last night, all the CCTVs monitoring Livestock Building No. 1 had broken down. Along with that, a ’certain phenomenon’ began occurring at Livestock Building No. 1.

Therefore, the council made a decision through a meeting to give So Do-jin, Ha Ye-jin, and Kim Bok-dong a mission. To check the condition of the CCTVs and investigate the ’certain phenomenon’ that occurred at Livestock Building No. 1.

And now. That ’certain phenomenon’ was unfolding in real time before their eyes.

"It’s quite similar to the taxidermy incident that happened 2 years ago."

"The scale is different. Back then it was at most one or two. Now it’s..."

So Do-jin trailed off.

The ’certain phenomenon’ was magical beast transformation. Mass magical beast transformation at that. All the livestock in the building had become magical beasts and were rampaging wildly, baring their sharp teeth.

At least fortunately, the magical beasts hadn’t broken through the fences to get out.

However, what was shocking was that ’tower.’ In the center of Livestock Building No. 1, a tower built with human corpses. Naked corpses holding each other’s hands, forming a human tower like acrobats.

The tower was tilted very slightly toward the south. Even so, it stood firmly without falling.

Around the tower, a black magic circle was drawn. The black magic circle was emitting black magical energy, feeding on the blood and flesh of the corpses. The black magic was still active.

"Don’t tell me that’s... the Leaning Tower of Pisa? This is ridiculous."

So Do-jin said quietly while looking at the tilted tower. He soon drew the sword at his waist and bowed his head deeply. It was preparation for a leap.

He was thinking of jumping out to destroy that tower of corpses to stop the black magic from activating.

"No."

Just as he was about to rush out and swing his sword, Kim Bok-dong stopped him. His fingertips were trembling slightly.

"The black magic is still active. If you approach carelessly, you might become a humanoid magical beast."

"Then you’re saying we should leave that as it is?"

"No. I’m saying we should leave it to an expert."

Kim Bok-dong looked at Ha Ye-jin. Ha Ye-jin was muttering prayers with her hands folded modestly.

Soon, divine power poured out from her body. The divine power became clouds and floated gently above the tower of corpses.

It was the reproduction of a miracle.

Thud, thud.

Baseball-sized hail began falling one by one from the clouds, hitting the tower.

Crash crash crash!

Soon, dozens and hundreds of hailstones poured down. Countless hailstones relentlessly battered the tower.

The already tilted tower was gradually collapsing under the hail. Later, the hail obscured whether the tower had collapsed or not.

Eventually the hail stopped. Thick dust enveloped the livestock building like fog.

The cries of magical beasts echoed. There was no other sound besides that.

Soon the fog cleared.

"Eh. It didn’t work."

However, the tower hadn’t collapsed. Ha Ye-jin hung her head in disappointment.

So Do-jin gripped his sword and bowed his head again. Then he spoke.

"Whether I become a magical beast or not, I’ll destroy the black magic circle first. If I’m lucky and don’t become a magical beast, that’s fortunate, and if I do become one, you can kill me."

"No."

It was Kim Bok-dong who stopped So Do-jin this time too.

"Why? If you’re going to pull friendship and emotional stuff..."

"It’s an impossible plan to begin with. You’re an active Holy Warrior and I’m a retired has-been. I can’t beat you or subdue you. Even joining forces with Ha Ye-jin, I can’t guarantee the outcome."

So Do-jin stared blankly at Kim Bok-dong, at a loss for words.

"Don’t be prideful and judge rationally. Even Ha Ye-jin’s miracle couldn’t destroy it. Right now, retreating and reporting is the right thing to do."

"..."

So Do-jin sheathed his sword. Kim Bok-dong was right. Now wasn’t the time to be prideful.

In urgent and desperate situations, calm and rational judgment must be made.

So Do-jin calmed his mind, caught his breath, and carefully examined his surroundings. He needed to find anything that could be a clue or key.

So Do-jin’s eyes, which had been moving busily, stopped at one point. His pupils were trembling slightly.

"Bok-dong. What’s that?"

"What are you talking about, ah."

So Do-jin and Kim Bok-dong’s gazes overlapped at one point.

In the corner of the livestock building, a birdcage.

A space where ornamental birds like parrots or finches were raised. Since they were birds only about the size of a fist, thin wire mesh was installed instead of fences.

That thin wire mesh was being torn to shreds by the birds that had become magical beasts.

The bird magical beasts flapped their wings, then quickly escaped through the cracks.

Birds that had grown as large as eagles or even larger took flight toward Eden Hill.

Rustle...

The wind created by the birds’ wingbeats brushed against tree branches.

Ha Ye-jin stared blankly at the scattering leaves, then spoke with a terror-stricken face.

"T-today there’s class at Eden Hill. In the morning. Our class too, is there. Joint class."

Her voice was intermittently cut off and her words were incoherent.

"What? What class are they having on the hill, not even a practical?"

"The school said to manage the kids’ mental health, so landscape viewing class or something, some weird..."

Her lips were trembling. So Do-jin’s face crumpled.

The students had gone to Eden Hill for some ridiculous class called landscape viewing. The birds that had become magical beasts flew toward Eden Hill on the wind.

Students and magical beasts were in the same location.

The bird magical beasts were large. It was due to prolonged exposure to black magic. Even the smallest were hawks, and the large ones were comparable to eagles. They weren’t magical beasts that students could handle.

"Ah, really fucking hell. Haah..."

So Do-jin cursed and closed his eyes. Soon the light of blessing enveloped his entire body.

Then So Do-jin shot out toward Eden Hill. The expression "shot out" was appropriate. His speed was no different from a cannonball.

Kim Bok-dong followed behind him. His speed was not inferior to So Do-jin’s.

"Huh? Wait. You can’t go in right now. Hey! I said wait...!"

The two disappeared in an instant. It was an unbelievable speed for humans. Ha Ye-jin’s shouts didn’t reach them.

She just stared blankly at the afterimages they left behind.

"Geez, really! These idiots!"

She threw a tantrum and ran in the opposite direction from where they had gone.

Dark clouds were gathering over Eden Hill.