The Heretic of Cleric Academy

Clatter, clatter, clatter.

Dozens of Holy Knights in full combat gear for riot suppression were marching down the street in formation.

Two people led the procession at the front. Commander Han Dae-ho and Religious Doctor Oh Hee-jin.

Fear and curiosity rose in the eyes of citizens watching them. Those who were afraid quickened their pace, while the curious took out their phones to photograph and upload pictures of them. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"...Commander, are you sure this is okay?"

Oh Hee-jin, armed from head to toe, looked at Han Dae-ho and asked. The notebook he always carried was tucked into his side.

Han Dae-ho walked silently while looking toward Florence’s direction.

"It’s fine."

"If we go and it turns out to be nothing serious... you won’t be able to avoid dismissal."

"Really? Dismissal is tolerable. At least it’s not execution."

Han Dae-ho spoke as if it was nothing and chuckled.

However, he was just as anxious as Oh Hee-jin. Marching through the streets in full combat gear was an act that instilled fear in citizens, and from the Vatican’s perspective, it could unnecessarily cause misunderstandings or severely damage the Romanica Church’s image depending on the situation.

If they went to Florence and there wasn’t an incident serious enough to warrant full combat gear, Han Dae-ho would have to take responsibility for it. It would be no less than suspension-level discipline, and in severe cases, dismissal could be considered.

"Commander, even now, shouldn’t we return and reduce armament to alert status..."

"I’ll take responsibility anyway. I did this because I’m confident. Don’t worry anymore and don’t interfere."

"...I was overly interfering. I apologize."

Oh Hee-jin bowed his head. And the Holy Knights walked.

When Han Dae-ho’s left foot moved forward, the Holy Knights’ left feet also moved forward. The procession’s steps were almost perfectly synchronized between left and right feet.

Their faces weren’t visible due to their helmets. However, beyond the helmets, their faces were filled with their own pride and enthusiasm.

Due to the aftermath of subsequent incidents, Han Dae-ho had put special effort into training combat Holy Knights, and as a result, the Holy Knights’ spirits were perfectly armed.

Clatter, clatter, clatter...

Their synchronized steps created a disciplined sound that stopped when Florence’s walls became visible to the naked eye.

"Magi..."

Around the walls, unusual magi was flowing. Black mist was undulating threateningly, but it never crossed the walls toward the Holy Knights.

Like a wall-climbing prevention device, the magi was just stuck to the top of the walls.

"It seems... we won’t be able to cross the walls."

Oh Hee-jin said.

"Right. Since we don’t know what black magic this magi comes from..."

"Yes, it could be ’Contract’ or ’Erosion’."

Since they couldn’t tell where the magi was flowing from, they couldn’t rashly cross the walls.

If Han Dae-ho became a humanoid magical beast or demon species due to ’Contract’, things would become very complicated. The same would be true if he became unable to fight due to ’Erosion’.

"This is when we need anti-magic masks."

"Do we have any in stock?"

"No. I was just saying. Besides, masks can’t block ’Erosion’ anyway, right? We just have to accept it."

"Yes. ’Erosion’ has smaller magi particles than other black magic, so masks can’t block it either."

Oh Hee-jin explained at length. He was also well-versed in Satan worship black magic.

"Thanks. Very useful and hopeful information."

Han Dae-ho spoke sarcastically and sighed.

"Come to think of it, isn’t black magic too overpowered? At best, blessings just make you stronger and clearer-headed."

"You shouldn’t say blasphemous things. Satan worship has few believers. It’s like an elite few. Moreover, even elite Satan worshippers can’t use ’Contract’ and ’Erosion’ frequently."

"Right... This was also just idle talk."

Han Dae-ho nodded and moved his steps.

Seeing magi flowing around the walls, something seemed to have happened. He thought it was good that they came in full combat gear and quickened his pace toward the school gate. The Holy Knights followed Han Dae-ho to Florence’s gate.

It was strangely empty. No security, no students, no teachers. Only quiet silence and somehow eerie and ominous atmosphere lingered around the gate area.

"Was there originally no security? I remember there being some in my time. I don’t see students either."

"Well..."

Han Dae-ho expressed doubt, and Oh Hee-jin peered around the gate like a meerkat. The gate was wrapped in silence to a somewhat chilling degree.

The fact that magi had spread to the walls meant that an incident related to Satan worshippers had definitely occurred inside the school. Yet there wasn’t a single student evacuating.

Either the situation wasn’t urgent enough to require evacuation, or the situation was so serious that evacuation was impossible. It meant one of the two.

The former would be fortunate, but if it was the latter...

Han Dae-ho gestured toward the inside of the gate while feeling ominous. It was a hand signal meaning to advance.

"Reconnaissance team first."

Five Holy Knights at the front of the procession bowed their heads toward Han Dae-ho. Then they took out shields barely large enough to cover their faces from their pockets and entered through the gate in step.

The reason for sending a reconnaissance team before advancing all at once was simple.

From a Satan worshipper’s perspective, the first thing to do before causing an incident would be to blockade the school gate.

They had to block escape routes for students and teachers inside the school and prevent Holy Knights or Holy Warriors from entering for rescue. Therefore, the gate that should naturally have been blockaded was too openly open. The walls were in that state, but only the main gate was intact.

Han Dae-ho expected that there would definitely be traps or ambushes hidden at the gate, and he wanted to send a reconnaissance team first to check for danger factors.

Clang! Crack!

And his expectation was correct. Iron balls flew simultaneously at the heads of the five reconnaissance team members who had crossed the gate with their upper bodies bent low and quick steps.

Some were lucky enough to block with shields, but others weren’t. Although they wore helmets, the impact of being hit on the head with fist-sized iron balls was significant.

Two of the five reconnaissance team members collapsed and fell to the ground instantly without even screaming.

"Assault team with equipment, escort the reconnaissance team! I’ll lead!"

Han Dae-ho quickly made hand signals and ran toward the fallen reconnaissance team. The assault team with their respective weapons and holy relics followed. They surrounded the fallen reconnaissance team members with fast and controlled movements.

Han Dae-ho looked around. The enemy’s position couldn’t be identified... However, the enemy was definitely watching them. They couldn’t see the enemy, but the enemy was watching them... It was the worst situation.

Han Dae-ho gave standby orders to the shooting team at the rear of the formation. He planned to decide whether to give firing permission based on the situation.

"This is the Eastern Holy Knight Order! Drop your weapons and surrender!"

Han Dae-ho shouted toward the invisible enemy. No answer came back. Han Dae-ho put strength in his stomach and raised his voice again.

"If you don’t surrender, we’ll have no choice but to forcibly suppress you for obstructing official duties! Drop your weapons and surrender! If you do, we won’t question your crimes..."

Thud.

Before Han Dae-ho could finish speaking, a giant man appeared in front of him. The man appeared suddenly as if he had literally dropped from the sky.

The man had pure white pupils with no focus. His half-open lips were dry without moisture. His face was covered with scars. He held a pitchfork in his right hand.

"Leave."

The man spat out a single word to Han Dae-ho like a warning.

"Who’s telling whom to leave... Are you a mercenary? What organization?"

"No reason to tell. Leave."

"...’Crow’."

Oh Hee-jin quietly muttered beside him. Han Dae-ho’s face contorted.

’Crow’ was the name of a mercenary group active in Incheon. They were famous for making money through various illegal activities, and the Holy Knight Order was in an adversarial relationship with them.

"Pitchfork... Crow’s blind man..."

Oh Hee-jin muttered with a pale face while looking at the pitchfork in the man’s hand. His voice was trembling.

Most of Crow’s mercenaries had unclear identities. This was because they always covered their faces with hoods. Particularly, nothing was known about the leader’s personal information.

However, only Crow mercenary group’s vice-leader was very famous. First, because he used a unique fighting style utilizing farming tools, and second, because he was blind.

Thud.

Han Dae-ho placed his hand on Oh Hee-jin’s shoulder. Oh Hee-jin felt the trembling stop.

Han Dae-ho stared intently at the man’s face and opened his mouth.

"What are guys from Incheon doing all the way here... What’s the commission content, and who’s the client?"

"Commission to ensure no one enters or leaves through the gate. Cannot reveal the client. Leave. If you don’t leave within three counts..."

The man looked at empty space with unfocused white pupils and raised the pitchfork that had been dragging on the ground above his head.

"I’ll drive you out by force. One."

Han Dae-ho let out a hollow laugh while glaring at the man.

A mere mercenary daring to threaten a Holy Knight?

Soon he gave firing preparation orders to the shooting team he had ordered to standby.

Click, a heavy and chilling sound came from the shooting team’s guns. What was loaded was unfortunately not live ammunition but rubber bullets, but it was sufficient to deal with mere mercenaries.

"Two."

"I’m telling you for the last time, drop your weapons and surrender. If you don’t, I’ll classify you as rioters and suppress you by force. And if the one who hired you is a Satan worshipper."

Han Dae-ho and the man’s gazes crossed. The man’s pitchfork was glinting sharply as if ready to strike the ground at any moment.

The shooting team aimed their gun barrels at the man. The darkness of the gun barrels was unfathomably deep. Cold silence and tension flowed between the man and Han Dae-ho.

"I will judge you in Adonai’s name."

"...Three."

BANG!

The moment the man shouted three, an explosion sound echoed. It didn’t come from Han Dae-ho’s side. The explosion sound was coming from inside the school.

Pop!

Within the echo left by the explosion, a gunshot rang out. A rubber bullet hit the man’s thigh. The hit area turned red with bruising, but the man didn’t care and struck down with his pitchfork.

Crack!

Using that as a signal, ’Crow’s’ mercenaries who had been hiding appeared.

Someone with iron balls loaded in a slingshot, someone with a club, someone with a sickle, someone with a spear. Their weapons were varied. They all covered their faces with hoods.

Those with clubs and sickles took positions behind the shooting team. It was instantaneous.

"I clearly warned you. Think of it as self-inflicted."

Clang! Clang!

Iron balls hit the Holy Knights’ heads. Those with spears pulled their arms back behind their heads and prepared to throw. Their movements were very systematic. They seemed well-trained. However, the Holy Knights’ movements were also just as quick as the Crow mercenary group’s.

"Shooting team target the slingshots and spear throwers! Reconnaissance team escort the shooting team! Assault team form ranks!"

Before Han Dae-ho finished shouting, the reconnaissance team that had been fallen got up in unison and started running. Immediately after, the reconnaissance team took positions behind the mercenaries who had taken positions behind the shooting team.

The reconnaissance team was composed of elites with quick movements and exceptional combat ability. Under the reconnaissance team’s cover, the shooting team raised their gun barrels.

Pop! Pop!

Rubber bullets were fired. Several mercenaries who had been aiming at Holy Knights with slingshots from trees were hit in the head with rubber bullets and fell to the ground.

However, rubber bullets couldn’t hit all of them. Spear throwers who weren’t suppressed threw spears at Han Dae-ho in unison. The mercenaries instinctively realized that Han Dae-ho was the most threatening and strongest among the Holy Knights.

Crack!

And Han Dae-ho blocked all three spears flying toward him by smashing them with his fists. His massive body was unbelievably fast despite appearances. Light of blessing swirled around his body.

"...Pray to Adonai. That I won’t kill you."

"I don’t believe in god."

Whoosh!

Han Dae-ho’s fist flew toward the man’s jaw. The man’s pitchfork swung toward Han Dae-ho’s crown. Explosion smoke and unknown magi shot up into the sky. The sky was turning dark and murky.

* * *

"Get down!"

Yeo Min-seo’s sharp shout thundered through the principal’s office.

The principal’s body was distorting and swelling up irregularly. It was a precursor to explosion.

They say when taxidermy explodes, flesh and bone fragments fly and embed all over the body. The injury risk was particularly high in enclosed spaces. At least by getting down, damage could be minimized.

BANG!

"Ah, ahhhh...!"

However, I couldn’t get down. Because of the handcuffs.

I concentrated strength in my right arm with the Blessing of Superhuman Strength. Even so, strength didn’t enter properly. Could I release it by drawing blessing circles to add strength? No, too late. Besides, I’m not very good at utilizing blessings. The strength added by mere blessings couldn’t break these handcuffs.

"...Bosu."

[Oh! Is this a situation where I can pull out pillars!]

I nodded.

Bosu was strangely obsessed with pulling out pillars. They say that from ancient times, superhumans made pulling out pillars to collapse buildings a basic accomplishment, but I don’t really know.

Anyway, right now was a situation where I needed Bosu’s power, whether pulling out pillars or not.

[It might hurt a little!]

"I know, so hurry...!"

When I urged him, Bosu’s power finally began circulating through my body.

Suddenly my head became dizzy and my vision blurred, and my body began to heat up. My heartbeat and breathing became clear while other sounds became faint.

My arm filled with Bosu’s superhuman strength. Along with the superhuman strength, I put my body weight into it and pushed my right arm with all my might. I judged it would be better to push and break the handcuffs rather than pull and break them. Usually, people have stronger pushing power than pulling power.

Creak, crack...

However, the handcuffs didn’t break. Instead, the wall was being torn apart. The wall tore and a chunk of concrete came out attached to the handcuffs.

I couldn’t break the handcuffs, but at least I could move now. I put the force I had used to push my arm to try to break the handcuffs into my feet and kicked the ground. Then I charged forward.

The principal’s body had swollen irregularly and was almost at the point of bursting.

I swung my heavy right arm straight forward. The concrete chunk attached to the handcuffs struck the enlarged principal’s body hard. The sensation of swinging an iron mace resonated in my right arm.

BANG!

The principal’s body hit by the concrete chunk flew far into a corner. The giant principal’s body hit the wall and exploded.

Some flesh and bone fragments flew and embedded in my body, but since the distance was far, the wounds weren’t deep. Blood from the wounds was staining my clothes.

"Kahak...! Haa, ha..."

Immediately after, I collapsed as if crumbling. The wounds weren’t deep, but wounds were still wounds, and most of all, muscle pain was rising throughout my body due to overusing Bosu’s power.

It was pain as if every bone joint and muscle fiber was tearing. My shoulder hanging on the floor was dangling loosely. It seemed like a joint had dislocated.

[I said it might hurt a little...]

Bosu’s dejected voice was heard penetrating through my mind clouded by pain.

This wasn’t a little but way too much pain. But without Bosu’s power, the taxidermy would have exploded and flying fragments would have embedded all over my body, and I would have died as a hedgehog. I was rather grateful to Bosu.

"Huff, ugh...!"

I caught my breath and drove away the pain. Then I pulled out the fragments embedded in my body with my fingers. Fortunately, the depth of the embedded fragments wasn’t deep. It was at a level where I could pull them out by hand.

Thud.

Meanwhile, Kim Chang-won’s body, which had been backing away with a dazed face, hit a chair. His legs were shaking precariously as if they would collapse at any moment.

He supported his body by gripping the chair and bowed his head with a face filled with despair.

"Since when... was I the one being played..."

Behind such Kim Chang-won, Ma Yu-hyeon and Yeo Min-seo approached me with large steps.

Ma Yu-hyeon had a face full of delighted laughter, and Yeo Min-seo carelessly threw the broken mop on the floor with a face that seemed unsurprised.

"Wow, what the hell. What is this? How did you do it? Is this the Blessing of Superhuman Strength? It’s different from what Bae Seong-hyeon used."

"Of course it’s different. This guy was originally strong. Ma Yu-hyeon, you heal him."

"Huh? I don’t know how to use healing."

"What? Aren’t you in the Priest department? How can a priest not use healing? Are you stupid? Don’t lie at a time like this."

"No... I really don’t know."

Yeo Min-seo sighed and pressed her forehead.

"Ah, shit... I’m not confident with healing either..."

"...I’ll do it."

The one who walked behind the cursing Yeo Min-seo was Kim Chang-won.

Ma Yu-hyeon crouched down and blinked while looking up at him. Kim Chang-won emitted divine power and quickly drew several blessing circles and healing circles at once.

For me, it was movement so fast and orderly that I couldn’t even gauge its level.

"I’m sorry. I never expected Gabriel and the principal to both be taxidermy..."

"It’s fine."

"No, I’m not fine. I’m really sorry. What on earth did I do... Vice-principal, please give me the handcuff key."

Kim Chang-won knelt and even bowed his head while apologizing politely.

He seemed to want to apologize for everything - suspecting me and putting handcuffs on my wrist.

Following Kim Chang-won’s instructions, the vice-principal brought the handcuff key, and my right arm finally regained freedom. The wrist area where the handcuffs had been was bruised dark blue.

When blessing and healing light enveloped my entire body, the pain faded and wounds healed. However, the muscle pain brought by Bosu’s power didn’t completely disappear. Kim Chang-won silently drew blessing circles and healing circles with a murky complexion and opened his mouth.

"I committed too great a sin. I don’t even hope for forgiveness..."

"No, it’s really fine."

"I’m truly sorry..."

Kim Chang-won was Florence’s chairman, and if someone with such power felt guilt toward me, it would actually be good... but it wasn’t something to say out loud, so I just kept my mouth shut.

Then, Yeo Min-seo tapped the shoulder of Kim Chang-won, who was mechanically emitting divine power while lost in despair.

"Chairman, I think you can stop now."

"No, it would be better to do a little more..."

"Just heal the wounds roughly. This guy has good recovery ability too, anyway... This isn’t the time for this."

Yeo Min-seo spoke with a quite serious face. Only then did Kim Chang-won stop emitting divine power. Yeo Min-seo crouched down and folded her fingers one by one as if counting, then opened her mouth.

"So, the taxidermy discovered so far is 6 people including the principal and Gabriel. That’s just what we found, and there are probably more in reality. Anyway, taxidermy are currently wandering around the school pretending to be people."

"How... then, how do you distinguish between taxidermy and people?"

"Ma Yu-hyeon is good at distinguishing. I don’t know the principle, but anyway, the accuracy rate has been 100% so far. I think we can trust him."

Yeo Min-seo glanced at Ma Yu-hyeon. Ma Yu-hyeon showed a bright smile. Yeo Min-seo frowned then relaxed.

"And the gymnasium exploded. Ma Yu-hyeon and I also escaped from there and came here after hearing the broadcast. Oh, Chairman. Did the second-years not come to school today?"

"Students dispatched would have gone to their duty stations, and the rest would have come to school. Third-years are all at duty stations, so they wouldn’t be at school."

"Is there any black magic related to space among black magic?"

"...There’s black magic called ’Bottomless Pit’."

"Really? Then I think black magic was cast on the second-year building. When I looked around, the second-year building was completely empty."

Every time Yeo Min-seo recited the situation, Kim Chang-won’s face visibly hardened.

Even listening from the side, the situation seemed quite serious. Kim Chang-won turned his head toward the vice-principal who still hadn’t come to his senses.

"Vice-principal, go to the broadcast room right now and issue an evacuation order..."

"Even if you issue an evacuation order, it won’t mean anything."

The one who cut off Kim Chang-won’s words was Ma Yu-hyeon.

"There were big guys lined up at the school gate, right? The walls have magi around them so you can’t climb over either. Ah, Seong Ha-yeon could cross."

"When did you see all that?"

Yeo Min-seo frowned and asked. Ma Yu-hyeon laughed carelessly.

"No, things were flowing strangely so I tried to go home and sleep. But there was no chance to get out."

"...Right. Anyway, Chairman. Even if you issue an evacuation order now, it won’t mean much. It would only increase confusion."

"Magi around the walls... Then, should I contact Cardinal Saint Judas now..."

"Oh, by the way, transmissions are cut too. Phones don’t work now."

"..."

Kim Chang-won closed his mouth. Despair settled in his eyes. On the other hand, Yeo Min-seo’s eyes were burning with obsession. It was obsession close to madness.

"Since Ma Yu-hyeon is here, we should be able to find and eliminate the taxidermy somehow. The problem is not knowing what the Satan worshipper will do next. If they blow up other buildings like they did the gymnasium, there could be very large casualties. Or they could spread magical beasts or demon species."

"Then, the method is..."

"Right now there are three biggest problems."

Yeo Min-seo held up three fingers and continued.

"First. There are strange big guys at the school gate so evacuation is impossible. Looking at their eyes, they seem to be mercenaries. Far from evacuation, we can’t even get near the school gate."

"If we can’t evacuate, the damage will increase exponentially..."

"Yes, so this is first. Next, second. As you saw, Chairman, the principal and Gabriel here were taxidermy. Then where did the real principal and Gabriel go? I think the Satan worshipper kidnapped these two. There’s a possibility that other people besides these two were also kidnapped or went missing. If we can’t find them quickly, the problem might get bigger."

"Hey, what’s the big deal if one elder disappears."

Ma Yu-hyeon objected. Yeo Min-seo glanced at Ma Yu-hyeon, then sighed softly and continued.

"...Third. We don’t know what the Satan worshipper will do next. Right now there are no casualties. Even the gymnasium explosion, thanks to Ha Ye-jin, no Teacher Ha-jin evacuating students well, no one died or got hurt. But that’s just until now, we don’t know what will happen next."

Yeo Min-seo, who had been speaking rapidly like a machine gun, caught her breath.

"So, here are solutions to these three problems. First, drive away the mercenaries blocking the school gate. Second, find the missing people. Third..."

"Find the Satan worshipper and kill them."

I barely managed to answer. Yeo Min-seo stared at me with eyes that had grown round with surprise.

"Right. The problem is ’how’. How to drive away the mercenaries, find the missing people, and find the Satan worshipper. Once we find the Satan worshipper, how to kill them."

Crack.

While Yeo Min-seo was chattering, I reattached my dislocated shoulder.

Black smoke was rising from the Gabriel taxidermy that had been pierced to death by Yeo Min-seo. Pure white hair remained on the sofa where the taxidermy had been lying.

"...I have a plan."