The Wise Star's Mysterious Death
“......What?”
Not only Siela, but Serena as well, couldn’t help but widen their eyes in shock. The Wise Star Abraham Nobwells had suddenly died last night. A mysterious death, with no known cause.
“He died...? Abraham?”
“Indeed.”
Eleonora and Karin also seemed to be hearing this for the first time, their expressions hardening. Among them, it was Eleonora who spoke first.
“How on earth did you manage security! He was a suspect before the formal trial even began...!”
Though her words accused them of failing to manage the suspect, anger was laced within them. Like Shania, Eleonora had grown up in a generation that greatly revered the Wise Star Abraham.
Jerónimo VIII raised his palm as if to calm her, swearing to the heavens.
“Calm down and listen. We have never been negligent in our oversight.”
“How dare you say that...!”
“I swear it on my parents.”
“......!”
“So, you’re saying there was some other factor in Abraham’s death.”
Unlike the agitated Eleonora, Karin asked Jerónimo VIII calmly. He continued his explanation.
“Abraham was imprisoned in the most heavily guarded and secure facility in the Holy Nation. You all know it, don’t you? Nastrod Prison.”
Nastrod Prison. Named after the hell from ancient myths, this massive penitentiary held the Holy Nation’s most serious criminals and religious heretics. Even after over two hundred years since its construction, no inmate had ever successfully escaped. Its security was that ironclad. There were even cases where escape attempts failed due to the prison’s labyrinthine structure, leading inmates to get lost and starve to death days later before being found.
“Thus, Abraham couldn’t have died unless he actively tried to kill himself.”
“So he took his own life.”
“No, not that either. He cooperated with the investigation, and we saw no signs of suicidal tendencies.”
“He could have been acting normally. After losing his daughter and living with near-obsessive determination to revive her... now that it was all for naught, he must have felt profound loss.”
Jerónimo VIII nodded at Serena’s opinion but firmly stated it was incorrect.
“True, that’s a valid point. So when his body was discovered, we investigated immediately. But it was definitely not suicide.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“There weren’t many ways for Abraham, locked in Nastrod, to end his own life. At best, hanging himself from the ceiling with his clothes. No blades anywhere nearby, and spirit power was, of course, sealed.”
The four listening grew even more puzzled. If not suicide, then murder—but why call it mysterious?
“Then why did Abraham die? If it’s murder, calling it mysterious means you haven’t identified the culprit?”
As Karin eyed him with utter bewilderment, Jerónimo VIII sighed deeply, as if just thinking about it exhausted him.
“It wasn’t a person’s doing.”
“......What?”
“It was clearly a spirit’s work. Traces of spirit power on the corpse were far too vivid.”
Hearing this, Siela tilted her head curiously.
“Then you must know which spirit it was. Are you saying you couldn’t catch the culprit?”
If spirit traces were found, identifying the spirit would lead to its contractor. In the impenetrable Nastrod, investigating staff should suffice. The Holy Nation couldn’t have overlooked that.
As Siela and the others thought this, Jerónimo VIII clarified.
“That’s why we need Karin’s disciple for this matter.”
“What do you mean?”
“...Our investigation of the spirit traces revealed the source spirit’s power. But we couldn’t locate the spirit itself—or its contractor.”
Jerónimo VIII said gravely,
“It was the trace of an evil spirit.”
“Seong Hyun-jin! Seong Hyun-jin!”
Seong Hyun-jin, deep in study in his room, tilted his head at the maid knocking and calling his name.
“...What’s this?”
Puzzled, he stepped out, and the maid bowed politely.
“Sorry to disturb your studies. I have a message for you.”
“What is it?”
“The headmaster has urgently summoned you. You should go.”
“The headmaster?”
Unsure what it was about, Seong Hyun-jin nodded anyway.
“Go with the person in the lobby.”
“Who?”
The maid answered simply.
“Yeonhui from third-year Theology. She was summoned with you.”
The familiar name brought a spark of joy. He hadn’t seen Yeonhui since returning from Celestial Academy. Normally, he’d visit her chapel, but time hadn’t allowed. He’d been busy with the Elf Forest and finals prep... and she seemed occupied too, absent lately. It relieved him that she hadn’t noticed his odd state, but he’d missed her.
This was a welcome chance.
“I’ll get ready and head out.”
“Understood.”
Seong Hyun-jin packed his books, changed, and went downstairs. In the lobby stood the familiar figure the maid mentioned.
“Senior Yeonhui.”
“Ah, Junior!”
It was Yeonhui. She beamed brightly upon seeing him.
“It’s been a while.”
“Yeah! But...”
Yeonhui looked him up and down, marveling.
“I heard the rumors, but you’ve really changed. Especially your height—it’s incredible.”
“Yeah, this is your first time seeing it.”
Seong Hyun-jin noted their stark height difference now.
“You’ll have to look up at me now, Senior. Might be uncomfortable?”
“...Not at all.”
She shook her head at his teasing, smiling sweetly.
“I like it this way.”
“...What?”
“This is the form you wanted so badly. So I like it too.”
Seong Hyun-jin blinked blankly before grinning.
“Really? Glad to hear it.”
He added,
“You’ve changed too, Senior. New uniform?”
“Ah, yes! You noticed?”
Yeonhui had traded Celestial Academy’s white uniform for Terastial Academy’s black one, veil and all. The look clearly marked her as Terastial now. The black veil gave her a different aura—less pure and innocent, more worldly. Black nun habits existed, but contrasted with her former white, it stood out. Perhaps the imagery of white versus black.
Or maybe...
“Junior?”
“...Ah, sorry. Was I staring?”
“It’s fine. I was staring too. And you looking... I always welcome it.”
Yeonhui openly showed her affection.
“You zoned out, so I wondered if you liked it.”
Seong Hyun-jin pondered, then nodded honestly.
“Yeah, it has a different charm.”
“Really? I’m happy.”
She grinned widely at his praise. As they left the dorm together, she warned,
“Junior, be careful with your words and actions when we go.”
“Why?”
“His Holiness the Pope is in the headmaster’s office right now.”
“......?”
Seong Hyun-jin looked puzzled.
“The Pope—the Holy Nation’s leader?”
“Yes.”
“Why would he...?”
“I don’t know the exact reason, but it seems they need you. And maybe he came to see me too.”
Seong Hyun-jin easily accepted the Pope visiting Yeonhui but puzzled over needing him. Why would the Pope seek a stranger?
The mystery deepened upon arriving at the headmaster’s office and seeing Serena, Siela—and his master Karin already there. Even more baffled, he asked first,
“Why is everyone gathered?”
“You’re here.”
Rather than explain, Karin cut to the chase.
“Disciple, you must go to the Holy Nation briefly.”
“What? Finals are soon.”
“We’ll handle your exams separately, Seong Hyun-jin. Please go.”
Eleonora’s words made Seong Hyun-jin sense the gravity. He asked seriously,
“What’s going on?”
“...Abraham died suddenly. Last night.”
“...Pardon?”
Stunned, he repeated. Karin explained coolly in her characteristic icy tone.
“It’s confirmed an evil spirit is involved in his death, and conventional methods can’t identify who wielded it.”
“So the culprit’s still at large?”
“Yes. To find them, we believe only you—a fellow evil spirit contractor—can investigate and uncover clues.”
Seong Hyun-jin finally understood the summons.
“Go with the Pope to the Holy Nation. Uncover whose evil spirit killed the Wise Star.”
“We’ll make it worth your while, Seong Hyun-jin. No skimping on treatment.”
“Uh... Your Holiness knows I’m an evil spirit contractor and still permits me to enter the Holy Nation?”
“I heard it’s well-controlled. Isn’t it?”
“It listens somewhat, but it’s willful too...”
“Besides, only your spirit holds the key to solving this.”
Jerónimo VIII smiled lightly, extending his hand.
“Poison can be medicine. Your evil spirit can be our cure this time. Help us, and I’ll reward you generously.”
“...Understood.”
“Yeonhui, you come too.”
Yeonhui blinked in slight surprise but nodded, unwilling to refuse the Pope.
“Yes, understood.”
“Then let’s depart at once. The sooner you return, the sooner you can take your exams, Seong Hyun-jin.”
Finals prep was disrupted, but Seong Hyun-jin didn’t mind. Beyond the trip itself, solving this would boost his fame—and Karin’s as his master. Above all, Abraham—who seemed to finally let go of his obsession—dying so pointlessly left Seong Hyun-jin with inexpressible frustration and complexity. Resolving it himself might ease that.
“Seong Hyun-jin.”
Serena approached.
“You might run into Father.”
“...Ah, right.”
Ahajaka Eldark had helped detain Abraham publicly via testimony; he couldn’t ignore this.
“Don’t mention Siela-senior then. I’ve forgiven her, but Father won’t.”
“Ah.”
Imagining Ahajaka’s reaction if caught, Seong Hyun-jin broke into cold sweat.
“I’ll explain slowly later, so don’t let it slip.”
He nodded at her plea.
“...Yeah, I won’t.”
“Travel safely.”
“Got it. With His Holiness and your father there, nothing bad should happen, right?”
“Probably. Still, take care.”
“Hyun-jin, be careful.”
“Yes, sis.”
As Serena and Siela saw him off, someone watched with an odd glint.
‘Sis...?’
It was Yeonhui.