Taboo (2)
Seong Hyun-jin, who had stormed out of the stadium declaring he'd find proof, glanced around restlessly. He was scanning for any sign of where the Wise Star Abraham might have gone, but there was no way the man who had already left would still be in sight. Especially since Seong Hyun-jin had no idea where Abraham was staying in the vast Celestial Academy or even what the academy's layout was like—his chances of tracking him down were practically zero.
Realizing this a beat too late, Seong Hyun-jin broke out in a cold sweat.
"…So how the hell do I find him?"
"Find what, Junior?"
"!"
The sudden voice from behind made Seong Hyun-jin whip around in surprise. First to catch his eye was a fluffy mop of light pink hair, followed by jewel-like pale blue eyes staring right at him.
"Elena-senpai? What are you doing here?"
"Well, you just bolted off on your own, so someone had to come drag you back, right?"
"I'm just gonna grab some evidence and head right back. Once I prove what I saw was real, everyone'll believe me."
"Hmm."
Elena pondered for a moment before making a casual suggestion.
"How about we look together, then?"
"Huh?"
"Two sets of eyes are faster than one. That way, I can haul you back quicker."
"Do I really need to hurry back, though?"
Seong Hyun-jin had no events left for the day anyway. There was no reason to stick around, and if he wanted, he could always head off for personal training to prep for duels. So Elena had no real grounds to stop him from wandering like this.
When he pointed that out, Elena flashed a light smile.
"I told the other juniors I'd bring you back. If you're too late, they might all come swarming out to hunt you down themselves."
Seong Hyun-jin pictured the scene for a second. Yeah, if he took too long, Serena, Ciela, and even Yeonhui might come charging after him like a pack of hounds.
"…Got it."
He decided to accept Elena's help.
"Mind giving me a hand, then, senpai?"
"Sure thing. But what kind of evidence are you planning to find, exactly?"
"If my gut's right, this Wise Star guy might not be the kindly old man he seems. Or even if he was once, he sure isn't now."
"Intriguing theory. So you're hunting for proof that backs it up?"
"Yeah."
Seong Hyun-jin explained.
"Dean Shania said she invited the Wise Star here this year, right? There has to be a reason for that."
"The reason he came to the academy?"
Elena thought it over briefly, then nodded.
"You're right. I've never actually heard why."
"That's what I'm starting with."
Seong Hyun-jin continued.
"My master told me once—people at the Palstar Heroes level don't just hole up alone without a damn good reason."
"Your master? Oh."
Elena had heard bits about Seong Hyun-jin beforehand, so she knew who his master was.
"You're talking about the Sword Star."
Seong Hyun-jin nodded.
"The Wise Star's the same—used to live all by himself."
"True."
"So for a guy like that to suddenly show up at the academy? There must be something big behind it. Kinda like how my master sent me to Terastial Academy and then came here herself because she was lonely without her disciple."
"…?"
Elena tilted her head at the odd claim.
"The Sword Star gets lonely?"
"She doesn't show it much, but yeah—she missed having her disciple around."
Karin would've scolded him for spouting nonsense if she'd heard, but no one here was around to call him out.
Elena found the idea surprisingly endearing and let out a soft chuckle.
"Sounds like she's pretty attached to her first disciple."
"Of course."
Seong Hyun-jin replied matter-of-factly and pressed on.
"Anyway, point is, we need to figure out what convinced a lone Palstar Hero to come to the academy. That could be our lead."
"So, find out what the Wise Star's up to here?"
"Exactly."
"That should be simple enough," Elena said breezily.
"Huh?"
"It's gotta be spirit-related research. What else would the Wise Star be doing?"
"Then the specifics of the research are key."
"I've heard he visits the finance office a lot. If we check there and see what he's been requesting, we can probably figure out what he's working on."
"Whoa…."
Seong Hyun-jin gave her a thumbs-up, genuinely impressed.
"You're seriously sharp, Elena-senpai."
"Pfft, I haven't even done anything yet and you're already hyping me up?"
Elena waved it off humbly.
"Save the praise for after we actually learn what he's doing."
"Fair enough."
"Finance office is that way. Let's go."
"Right, yeah."
Heading to the Celestial Academy's finance office, Seong Hyun-jin and Elena saw staff bustling about frantically.
"Doesn't seem like the time to ask questions…."
"Yeah, everyone looks swamped."
Elena tapped her cheek thoughtfully.
"Probably prepping supplies for the exchange meet?"
"Hmm…."
As they hesitated, a female staffer sorting boxes peeked up and called out.
"If you've got a claim, just leave the form and go! Too busy to handle it personally right now!"
"It's not about a claim. It's about the Wise Star…."
Seong Hyun-jin was about to say they'd come to ask what the Wise Star had been buying, but before he could finish, the woman cut in.
"…Wise Star? Ugh, did he send someone else to hound us again?"
She muttered irritably to herself and strode into the back. When she returned, she was carrying boxes stacked in both arms.
Thud!
She slammed them down in front of Seong Hyun-jin and Elena.
"Take 'em. Tell him everything he requested is in here."
"…Pardon?"
"Everything's here."
Ignoring his confusion, she spun on her heel and dove back into her work.
"……?"
As Seong Hyun-jin opened his mouth to protest, Elena jumped in first.
"We'll deliver these to the Wise Star ourselves."
"Huh? We didn't even get asked to run the errand, though. Is that okay?"
"But this way, we find out what he's been ordering."
Seong Hyun-jin snapped to realization with an "Ah." He nodded, hefted the boxes, and headed out of the office to a quiet corner away from prying eyes.
Setting them down carefully, he exchanged a glance with Elena.
"Shall we?"
"Let's."
Seong Hyun-jin pried open a box and peered inside.
"Some kinda ore… and what's this? Looks like human skin?"
"Artificial skin. Over here are wigs, and that ore is stellis—a mineral used for cores in dolls or golems. Stupidly expensive stuff."
"Cores for dolls? So all this is materials for making dolls?"
"Yep. Not simple wooden puppets, either—these are for high-end, human-like ones."
Elena explained.
"Looks like the Wise Star needs advanced dolls for whatever research he's doing."
"What kind of research needs dolls?"
"Beats me. I'm not big on spirit studies myself."
"Oh."
Seong Hyun-jin belatedly remembered Elena was in the swordsmanship department.
'Wonder if Ciela-senpai would know something.'
He regretted not having her here.
"Anyway, we've ID'd what's in the boxes. Let's deliver them to the man himself and fish for some info on the research while we're at it."
"Sounds good."
Seong Hyun-jin started to close the box but paused, spotting something else. He reached in again.
"Is this doll stuff too?"
"Huh?"
What he held was a black cube-like object, its surface rough and oddly unsettling.
Elena shook her head at the sight.
"…Nah, that's got nothing to do with dolls. Probably materials for some other project."
"What is it?"
"A evil spirit core. Well, technically not from one born evil—it's a byproduct from disposing of a rampaging spirit."
"…Why's something like that here?"
"Rampaging spirits are rare, but they do happen."
"Isn't it dangerous?"
"Not at all. These have already been safely processed for circulation."
Elena added.
"Spirit research often uses risky materials. Spirit studies cover everything about spirits, after all."
"…I see."
Seong Hyun-jin nodded like he got it and tucked the core back in. He picked up the box and stood.
"Then let's drop this off with the Wise Star. We can probe him a bit about the research on the way."
"Do it."
"But where to?"
"Not sure on the exact lab, but I know he holes up in one spot."
Elena pointed to one of the four tallest spires in Celestial Academy.
"The Wise Star's in the Tower of Salvation."
It was the Tower of Salvation.