The Angel Awakens to Reincarnation (4)
Yeah, the Divine Studies department has always had this kind of atmosphere.
Refri organized his thoughts as he watched the flustered Lamone. And in doing so, he finally understood why Lamone was picking a fight with him.
In the Divine Studies department, centered around the old church orders, and throughout the healer industry, the Cardinal Clan still wielded immense power. It was even famous at the Central Superhuman Academy that every incoming first-year in Divine Studies had to serve as priests to the Cardinal Clan's children in a ritual akin to an initiation ceremony.
He's mad because I didn't follow Divine Studies first-year etiquette.
Refri recalled the etiquette rules for first-year "novice priests" that had been announced via SNS.
Deep bows to seniors. Permission from seniors before eating. Strict phone etiquette (incredibly complicated). Mandatory honorifics. No earphones. No latest-model phones. Drop everything and come running if a senior calls assembly. And so on.
There were so many rules that Refri had given up memorizing them long ago. On top of that, the constant surprise assemblies, random insults, and outright abuse of power from the Cardinal Clan's kids—even someone like Refri, who had lived his whole life at the bottom, couldn't just stand by and watch.
That's why Refri had never participated in any Divine Studies events. Assemblies included.
As a result, he'd been marked by the Divine Studies seniors from the start, and today, that grudge had led Lamone to pick on him.
"Can't you hear me? This is Divine Studies business!"
As Lamone threw his tantrum, the Divine Studies students reluctantly gathered around him with grim expressions. Still, the other students didn't back down.
"No, the news has covered how bad the hazing in Divine Studies is multiple times... Hasn't anything changed?"
"It's embarrassing to be in the same academy."
And then the snickers spread.
Hearing them, Lamone trembled with rage.
"Refri, apologize for your mistake right now. The other departments are getting the wrong idea."
"My mistake?"
"Yeah! You didn't even recognize me, your senior from the Cardinal Clan, at first. And you ignore department events and rules completely."
"Is that a mistake? I came here to study, not to be the Cardinal Clan's slave."
Refri tilted his head innocently, as if he had no clue. The other Divine Studies students now stared at him in shock.
"You... don't want to make a living as a healer?"
"I've got a bit too much talent for that."
Refri smiled. Lamone exploded.
"Heretic!"
"Pardon?"
"This guy's a heretic!"
No matter how much Lamone shouted, the reaction from non-Divine Studies students was lukewarm at best.
"Senior Lamone, there are a lot of eyes on us."
"...What are you waiting for? Grab him!"
"Senior!"
The more Lamone ranted, the colder the surrounding students' moods grew.
"This guy's really out of line."
"Yeah, they say the Cardinal Clan kids have been losing it for a while... This seems extreme."
The Divine Studies students started hesitating. Compared to other departments, Divine Studies had weak combat prowess. They trained healers and support buffers—roles that naturally lacked raw power. They couldn't stand up to other departments in a fight.
"Why aren't you grabbing him? You a heretic too?"
"...Senior—no, young master!"
"Ugh, want your holy power sealed too? Grab him already."
Lamone stayed dead serious, still pointing at Refri.
Refri spoke up.
"Seal holy power? You mean... a heresy trial?"
"Right, starting with you who broke our department rules..."
Heresy Trial—the Cardinal Clan's secret technique. They compared holy powers, appointing the one with superior Heavenly Authority as judge. The inferior one was branded a heretic, having their holy power partially or fully sealed at the judge's discretion.
Refri shook his head. A lowly Cardinal Clan scion versus the former Archangel of Heaven. Who would be the heretic, and who the judge?
One thing was certain: it wouldn't go as Lamone expected.
Ugh, if this weren't the Shaman King's residence, I'd just let him do the trial.
But Refri had to hide his angel identity, so he couldn't unleash his full holy power. Unaware of Refri's dilemma, Lamone kept pointing and yelling.
"Grab him quick!"
The Divine Studies students edged closer, one step at a time.
"They're seriously gonna try it?"
"These guys are insane."
Of course, Refri's defenders didn't budge either.
Then, a voice echoed from the sky.
"Heh heh heh. Is this the level of the Central Superhuman Academy?"
A elderly man in a suit floated above. His tie pin bore the Eastern Academy emblem, and his long staff was etched with countless shamanic runes. Oddly, he wore dark sunglasses that clashed with his outfit.
Though his hair was dyed blond, the occasional white strands peeked through inescapably.
Overwhelming power.
Despite his aged appearance, the old man's gaze burned intensely.
I can feel his stare even through the sunglasses.
It felt like the students' souls were an open book, pages flipping one by one before the elder.
"Welcome, everyone. I am James Tardun, principal of the Eastern Academy."
James bowed politely before the students.
"Before we begin the selection, why were you all quarreling?"
Refri blushed in embarrassment. Getting grabbed by the collar for not recognizing a department senior, things escalating like this—it was childish.
Well, they are students, so...
Still, it was mortifying. Lamone, oblivious to any shame, spoke boldly to James.
"This is our department's business, Principal."
James smirked.
Got Vice Principal Park Jinho's permission too. Now I can examine these students' souls directly.
James removed his sunglasses and peered deeply into Refri and Lamone using his ability.
Lamone: Powerful holy power befitting the Cardinal Clan.
I was chosen by Heaven. A chosen-people mentality straight out of the Cardinal Clan. Rigid ego, utter shamelessness.
Want to give him a good flick on the forehead.
James felt rare irritation. Wielding heavenly power was bad enough, but with such obnoxious thoughts too?
Disappointed, James turned to Refri next.
A small, warm soul. Not a bonfire, but enough to warm those nearby.
...Hmm, that flame is suppressed. That's why it looks small.
James instantly saw through Refri's soul. Holy power weaker than his fame suggested. No—suppressed holy power.
Suppressing holy power? Why?
James had lived a long life, but he'd never met a holy power user who suppressed their own gift. Holy power was Heaven's boon; even the humblest wouldn't dare reject it if they respected Heaven.
Yet this boy did. Interesting.
Of course, Refri was merely restraining his Angel Power to hide his identity... but James had no way of knowing.
"Haha, enough quarreling, everyone."
James had descended to the ground, surveying the students gathered at the lodge.
Wait, most students are standing by Refri? Did most of them side with that boy during the fight?
Another intriguing fact.
These students risked making enemies of the Cardinal Clan to defend him? What makes that boy so special?
James smiled again and slowly entered the mansion.
"Wait a moment. I'll fetch the tools for the selection exam."
The tools were already prepared. James had stepped away out of curiosity about how the brewing conflict would unfold.
His soul is boiling over. That Cardinal Clan boy will explode soon. If he can't hold back and demands a heresy trial on Refri...
How would Refri react? Kneel and beg forgiveness? Or shrug it off, saying he didn't care about losing his holy power?
A soul kneeling to the Cardinal Clan—or one cynically renouncing Heaven's gift as worthless. Either would be entertaining.
Kneeling would mean still dependent on Heaven—disappointing. Cynicism would mean no true hero potential—also disappointing.
I need to be disappointed. No more clinging to false hopes like Heaven or heroes. That's just torture.
Even so, James was already deeply intrigued by Refri's soul.
As James entered the mansion, Lamone exploded just as predicted.
But not at Refri—the blast turned on his own Divine Studies peers.
"You lot. Why didn't you grab that heretic?"
Realizing he couldn't pressure Refri with his solid allies, Lamone vented on the surrounding Divine Studies students.
"Senior—no, young master! Students from other departments are watching! We were protecting you..."
"Shut up! Our church events aren't comparable to those worldly departments! So you're making heretic excuses, huh?"
Lamone sneered, pulling a black holy book from his pocket.
"Time to start the heresy trial."
James sighed.
"Damn. Even uglier than I thought."
James's interest was solely in Refri's soul—the only one in his long life suppressing holy power. He had zero interest in Lamone.
Oblivious, Lamone kept threatening his classmates.
"I'll strip your holy power first. You messed up with my brother last time and lost half, right?"
"S-sorry!"
A trembling first-year senior knelt. But Lamone showed no sign of stopping.
That girl on the verge of losing her power—she vowed to become a great healer, feed her siblings, and entered this academy. She's endured the Cardinal Clan's tyranny just to graduate.
For his own curiosity, James couldn't allow an innocent sacrifice. Especially not a student.
Grimacing, the principal prepared to intervene.
That's when Refri spoke.
"Stop it."
Refri instantly regretted it. He had to hide being an angel. He couldn't reveal his Angel Power.
But I can't just watch this as an angel.
Lamone's voice rang out.
"What? What did you say?"
Refri pulled small leather gloves from his pocket. Known as Sanctus, they were one of the angels' sacred weapons.
"I said stop, you heretic."
James was stunned by Refri's response. Not kneeling to the Cardinal Clan... nor cynically abandoning holy power.
"Unbelievable..."
The boy had a warm heart willing to stand up for his former foe—yet rejected dependence on Heaven.
The suppressed holy power began to unravel alongside the gloves.
"Th-this soul's light?"
In that moment, James witnessed the impossible. A holy power radiance blooming like a solar flare—brighter than belief itself.