The Heretic of Cleric Academy-Chapter 92

I lifted my head to stare into Ma Yu-hyeon’s eyes. They were endlessly black, so deep their bottom couldn’t be fathomed. Suddenly I felt fear. ’Heretic Detector’... Ma Yu-hyeon’s nickname suddenly came to mind, bringing terror. The black, acrid smoke from that Starless Night flickered before my eyes.

"When I saw you at the appointment ceremony, I was wondering, but this..."

Ma Yu-hyeon muttered meaningfully while clearly staring into my eyes. My lips went completely dry. I wanted to swallow, but I held back.

I must not show signs of tension. I couldn’t explain why, but I instinctively felt that way.

Ma Yu-hyeon, who had been quietly staring at me with an inscrutable expression, slowly nodded and opened his mouth.

"You’re quite handsome with that pretty face. What was your name again?"

"...Do Seon-woo."

"Right. Let’s hang out after school. To get to know each other."

Ma Yu-hyeon tried to act friendly with me and casually arrange to meet. It didn’t seem like he had figured out that I was the leader of Voodoo.

No, had he figured it out but was pretending not to know? I couldn’t tell. I could only hope he hadn’t noticed.

I tried to calm my nerves and answer belatedly, but words wouldn’t come out well. If I opened my mouth now, I would definitely stutter.

"...Well, if you’re busy we don’t have to hang out. But why aren’t you answering? It’s awkward."

"Can I come too? If Do Seon-woo is going, that is."

Kang Dae-man answered for me instead. Ma Yu-hyeon frowned.

"Kang Dae-man, you can’t come. The girls said they’re scared, so don’t bring you."

"Then just don’t bring girls."

"That won’t work. I’d rather not bring you at all."

Ma Yu-hyeon said this and turned his gaze to me. Those sharp eyes stared at me. It was a gaze that was difficult to get used to.

"So are you coming? I think the girls would like you if you came."

"Girls?"

"Yeah. Not from Florence, just, girls from here and there. They’re kind of stupid but... they’d probably like your face."

Girls from here and there... From what I heard, they didn’t seem like girls worth meeting. I knew Ma Yu-hyeon frequently hung around with bad kids anyway. The ’girls’ he mentioned were probably that type too.

Just as I was thinking it would be better to refuse, Kim Jin-seo, sitting next to me, gently tugged at my collar.

"...Don’t, don’t go."

Her tone was firm yet somehow urgent. Her eyes looked desperate.

"I won’t go. I have prior commitments too."

I firmly refused.

"Really? That’s a shame. Then tell me when you have time next time. We’ll hang out then."

When I nodded at Ma Yu-hyeon’s words, Kim Jin-seo tugged at my collar again. Then she opened her mouth in a voice like a whisper.

"Don’t go next time either."

This time her tone felt cool rather than desperate. I nodded to Kim Jin-seo’s words as well.

Watching us have our private conversation, Seong Ha-yeon tilted her head and Han Su-ryeon let out a silent scream. I wasn’t sure about Seong Ha-yeon, but it was clear that Han Su-ryeon was having some kind of misunderstanding about us.

Yeo Min-seo stayed dazed for quite a while, then belatedly snapped to attention as if coming to her senses and looked around. Then she looked at Ma Yu-hyeon with trembling eyes and opened her mouth.

"Ma Yu-hyeon, sit down."

"Sit down?"

"Yeah, sit... down. So we can start the meeting."

Yeo Min-seo’s tone was unusually non-aggressive. Ma Yu-hyeon then seemed satisfied and obediently sat down. Yeo Min-seo looked up at the sky and sighed. She seemed to be trying to compose herself, but it didn’t seem to be working well.

"The next agenda item is about the Satan worship expulsion operation that’s finally beginning."

Yeo Min-seo, who had sighed repeatedly to release her worries, soon resumed the meeting. Satan worship expulsion. It was an interesting agenda item. Because of those Satan worshipper bastards who had infiltrated Florence, my house burned, Kang Ji-ah almost died, and Basar Shopping Center exploded.

Yeo Min-seo continued while scanning through documents.

"First, we need to make sure students don’t know that expulsion operations are taking place."

"Why?"

Kang Dae-man asked as if genuinely curious.

"The teachers... no, it’s orders from the faculty. Something about preventing discord among students."

"Discord! The justification sounds plausible."

"Florence always has plausible justifications. Anyway, the expulsion operation will be carried out next week. Centered around the Holy Name of Humility Ma Yu-hyeon here, teachers and the rest of the officers will proceed secretly together."

According to Yeo Min-seo’s explanation, they planned to expel Satan worshippers using holy items prepared by the faculty, Ma Yu-hyeon’s talent, and a ’special method’ prepared by the Council of Elders. She didn’t tell us exactly what the special method was. The reason was that Yeo Min-seo didn’t know the method either.

"That’s just like the elders. What do they think happens when only they know. Vain old men. Wonder when they’ll die."

"Min-seo, you... Sigh. Never mind."

Han Su-ryeon, who had tried to stop Yeo Min-seo, sighed as if giving up. No matter how much I heard it, I couldn’t get used to Yeo Min-seo’s way of speaking. Just like Ma Yu-hyeon’s gaze.

"The expulsion operation will target all first-year students, but instead, the ’prime candidates’ selected by the faculty and me will be handled a bit more strictly."

"Prime candidates?"

I unconsciously repeated Yeo Min-seo’s words. Yeo Min-seo glanced at me and nodded.

"There are too many to be called prime candidates. Well, should I read the list?"

"I’m curious if I’m also under suspicion. Please read it."

"Right. Everyone would be curious about that. I’ll just read it for confirmation."

Yeo Min-seo recited the list. Yu Chan, Lim Dan-myeong, Ha Dae-su, Yoon Woo-jin, Jeong Seong-hui... Names endlessly poured from Yeo Min-seo’s mouth. There really were too many to be called prime candidates.

"Kim Gu-hak, Myeon Jeong-nam... Do Seon-woo, Gu Jun-hyeok."

"...What? What’s the criteria..."

"Last, Yeo Min-seo. Including me, that’s all the prime candidates."

Cutting off my attempt to protest, Yeo Min-seo called her own name. That seemed to be the end of the ’prime candidate list.’ I stared at Yeo Min-seo in bewilderment for a moment.

Let’s overlook the fact that I was on the list. No, actually it was natural for me to be on the list. I was leading a double life as both a Florence student and the leader of Voodoo. I might have unconsciously acted suspiciously.

What was truly puzzling was... why Yeo Min-seo’s own name was on the prime candidate list that the faculty and Yeo Min-seo had compiled together.

"Everyone must be confused... Based on what the teachers and I deduced, the Satan worshipper’s characteristics are like this." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

I wasn’t the only one with questions. All the other kids were looking at Yeo Min-seo with puzzled eyes. Even Ma Yu-hyeon. Yeo Min-seo continued as if willing to resolve our doubts.

"First, they’re smart. Good with numbers. Have some obsessive-compulsive tendencies, and extremely strong narcissism. Judging by how they try to display their crimes, they also have extreme exhibitionism. ...Most importantly."

Yeo Min-seo paused and caught her breath briefly.

"There’s a very, very high possibility of split personality. So... there’s a possibility they don’t realize they’re a Satan worshipper. When we considered that aspect, I couldn’t be free from suspicion either."

"I knew it! I’ve suspected you might be a Satan worshipper for a very long time. My judgment was correct."

"So, it’s not that I am a Satan worshipper. It’s that there’s ’some’ possibility of that. Kang Dae-man, you blockhead bastard."

Yeo Min-seo unleashed a stream of curses at Kang Dae-man, then sighed again.

"...That’s all, meeting’s over. See you next week."

* * *

Even leaving the student council room, my heart remained troubled. Partly because Gu Jun-hyeok and I were on the suspect list, but mainly because of Yeo Min-seo’s words that the Satan worshipper might have split personality.

The Satan worshipper might not know they’re a Satan worshipper... The possibility that someone around me, or even myself, might be a Satan worshipper was extremely unpleasant.

"Going straight to the classroom?"

Kim Jin-seo, who had been walking with me for a while, suddenly asked. I nodded.

"I should."

"That’s the opposite direction."

I was thinking of going straight up to the classroom, and Kim Jin-seo seemed to be planning to go exercise. The building with first-year classrooms and the building with the gym were in completely opposite directions.

"That’s a shame."

"What is?"

"...I don’t know."

Kim Jin-seo muttered something incomprehensible, then waved briefly and turned toward the building with the gym. Her steps were a bit faster than usual. After her figure completely disappeared from view, I started walking toward the classroom.

"Excuse me."

The path to the classroom felt longer than usual today.

"Excuse me?"

The stairs also felt higher and steeper than usual for some reason. I hurried toward the classroom.

"Excuse me, don’t ignore me and..."

"Ah, why!"

After ignoring her for a while but she kept following me, I had no choice but to respond. It was Seong Ha-yeon who had been chasing me. She was holding both hands awkwardly, looking at me with frightened eyes. She seemed startled because I had suddenly yelled.

"...Right, what is it."

Thinking I had yelled too suddenly, I corrected my response. Only then did Seong Ha-yeon straighten her posture and clear her throat.

"Ahem. Don’t you have something to say to me?"

"Something to say?"

"Yes."

Something to say. What would I need to say to Seong Ha-yeon?

"Um, ’get lost’?"

I couldn’t think of anything no matter how hard I tried, so I decided to say what I wanted to say.

"...Not that."

"’Stop following me,’ ’shut up for a bit.’"

I recited a few more things I wanted to say, but they apparently weren’t the right answer. I knew from the start they wouldn’t be the right answer anyway. Seong Ha-yeon looked up at me with furrowed brows as if angry.

"...You became the Holy Name of Charity thanks to the International Theological Society. Do you know that?"

"So?"

"You should say thank you, shouldn’t you?"

Seong Ha-yeon crossed her arms and looked at me with an attitude like ’let’s see you say it.’

There were two organizations that helped me become the Holy Name of Charity. One was Kim Chang-won’s Florence Foundation. The other was Saint Judas’s International Theological Society.

Needless to say, Kim Chang-won helped me because of Kim Jin-seo. However, I had no idea why Saint Judas’s International Theological Society helped me.

From what she was saying, it seemed Seong Ha-yeon had asked Saint Judas for some favor. Then, why exactly was Seong Ha-yeon trying to help me? To get me to join the International Theological Society? She wouldn’t have helped me out of simple goodwill. Seong Ha-yeon wasn’t that kind of person.

Whatever the reason, I didn’t think I had any reason to be grateful to Seong Ha-yeon.

"...Excuse me, where are you, where are you going. No, you keep ignoring me..."

I tried to ignore her and quickly enter the classroom, but Seong Ha-yeon blocked my path. I was getting annoyed.

"What now."

"Is saying thank you once really that difficult?"

It is difficult. Just as it had been so difficult to get one word of apology from Saint Judas. So difficult that I still haven’t heard an apology from Saint Judas. No, Saint Judas probably doesn’t even know if I’m alive or dead. Or doesn’t care either way.

"...Do you perhaps dislike me?"

Seong Ha-yeon asked. I neither nodded nor shook my head, just held my forehead.

"I’m asking."

"Just, a bit... Yeah. I wish you wouldn’t catch my attention."

When I see Seong Ha-yeon, I think of Saint Judas. When I think of Saint Judas, I think of Father. Around that point, my head starts to ache.

Saint Judas, whom I saw beyond the illusion Father left behind, comes to mind, followed by Father burned to black ash.

The reason I dislike Seong Ha-yeon is because of the chain of memories that come to mind whenever I see her. Because of the headaches that come flooding in due to those memories.

"That’s it? ...Why?"

I heard Seong Ha-yeon’s puzzled voice behind me. I ignored it and entered the classroom. I felt dizzy.

* * *

"Do Seon-woo?"

After school, just as I was about to go home after closing class, Ha Ye-jin called me over.

"Yes?"

"Do you know where the conference room is?"

I don’t know. I shook my head.

"Really? Then follow me. That would be better."

Not knowing why, I followed Ha Ye-jin to the conference room.

"How’s your body? No aftereffects or anything?"

Ha Ye-jin asked, glancing back while climbing the stairs.

"Yes, I’m all better."

"Really? Your recovery is incredibly fast."

"Ah, I’ve heard I recover quite quickly."

"Oh... Right, that does seem likely."

Ha Ye-jin nodded as if understanding. Before long, we had climbed all the stairs and reached the top floor of the building. Around that time, Ha Ye-jin was sweating profusely and breathing heavily. She looked ready to collapse at any moment.

"Huff, gasp. Yes, here. Ah, if you go into this conference room. Whew. That’ll be fine."

I silently nodded and opened the conference room door. The spacious conference room was filled with darkness and silence. Only one light was struggling to push away the darkness. Under the thin, precarious light, So Do-jin and Kim Bok-dong sat side by side with their arms crossed.

"...Are we having interviews today by any chance?"

Thinking the atmosphere was too heavy, I tried to speak casually. So Do-jin let out a hollow laugh as if incredulous.

"Well... similar. Though we’re not the interviewers."

"Hahaha! That’s right. You could say Do Seon-woo is the interviewer, not us."

Kim Bok-dong responded to So Do-jin’s words with hearty laughter. Ha Ye-jin entered the conference room while breathing heavily and took a seat between So Do-jin and Kim Bok-dong.

Clap!

She clapped once as if to refresh the atmosphere and opened her mouth.

"Um... what should I say first. Seon-woo, come sit here first!"

Though it was quite sudden and I felt a bit awkward, I sat down as Ha Ye-jin instructed.

Kim Bok-dong, Ha Ye-jin, and So Do-jin sat in front of me in order, watching me. Especially Kim Bok-dong and So Do-jin’s gazes felt very burdensome. In the silence, Ha Ye-jin continued.

"Seon-woo, you were absent for ten days while hospitalized, right? During those ten days, we had course selection. Other students have already chosen their courses, but you haven’t chosen yet, so..."

I didn’t even have time to feel confused. Kim Bok-dong suddenly jumped up from his seat. I was startled and leaned back slightly.

"Right. We called you here for course selection."

He approached me and continued.

"Therefore, we professors from each department will do self-PR to recruit you. Are you ready to listen?"

"What? No, I’m not mentally prepared yet..."

"I’ll start first."

Course selection began so suddenly.