The Giant Prison (1)
Through Eleonora's teleportation magic, Seong Hyun-jin arrived in the Holy Nation alongside Pope Jerónimo VIII and Yeonhui. Their destination was none other than the Holy Palace within the Holy Capital—a site revered as a sanctuary by the faithful.
Just like at Celestial Academy, countless pristine spires pierced the heavens here. Seong Hyun-jin marveled at the sight of the Holy Palace grounds before a sudden thought struck him, prompting him to turn to Jerónimo.
"Weren't we supposed to head straight to that prison? Nastrod, right?"
"Indeed, we shall. But we can't simply waltz into Nastrod. Its labyrinthine structure would consume ages just finding our way from the entrance."
"Then how do we get there?"
Jerónimo gave a simple answer to the curious Seong Hyun-jin. "You'll see soon enough. Follow me."
Seong Hyun-jin and Yeonhui trailed behind as Jerónimo entered the Holy Palace. The pair felt a twinge of puzzlement along the way. Despite the Pope's return, the holy knights and priests they passed offered no grand salutes or deep bows. Some merely nodded lightly; others ignored him entirely.
Seong Hyun-jin tilted his head in bewilderment at the oddity.
"……?"
"What's amiss?"
"It's just... no one's greeting Your Holiness. Is there a reason for that?"
"I forbade it."
"Pardon?"
It wasn't the sort of remark one expected from such an exalted figure, so Seong Hyun-jin eyed Jerónimo with surprise. The Pope spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"They all have their duties and are quite busy. Why halt their vital work for mere formalities? As long as they heed the words of their shepherd and live faithfully thereby, such pleasantries are naught but distractions."
Normally, offering greetings and showing respect to one's superior was a given—expected by both giver and receiver alike, never seen as an interruption.
He's quite the interesting fellow.
This moment etched Jerónimo VIII indelibly into Seong Hyun-jin's mind.
How much time passed as they moved with surprising stealth through the Holy Palace—hardly announcing the Pope's return? At last, deep within, Jerónimo explained why they had come here instead of straight to Nastrod.
"I receive direct reports on all incidents and accidents in Nastrod and handle them personally. Thus, I require a swift means to travel between Nastrod and the Holy Palace daily."
"Is there a teleportation magic circle installed here?"
"Teleportation magic, you say? Something akin to that. But to be precise, it's not magic—it's a holy art."
Jerónimo led them down a straight corridor plunging deep into the Holy Palace, ending in a lone, peculiar room. Holy knights clad head to toe in silver-white armor stood guard before its door. The rank insignias on their pauldrons marked them as first-class holy knights—the elite of the elite.
If the Empire boasted knight commanders as its pinnacle, the Holy Nation had these first-class holy knights filling that role.
Seong Hyun-jin, unaware of holy knight rankings, didn't grasp the insignias' meaning but instantly recognized their prowess.
...I want to spar with them sometime.
His competitive fire flared as always, but even he knew this wasn't the moment.
"Is the way to Nastrod in that room?"
"Quite so."
Nastrod was a prison, after all. And prisons demanded ironclad security above all. Hiding the access point and stationing first-class holy knights here ensured no unauthorized entry.
"Your Holiness."
"You've done well, Sir Ailred."
Only upon Jerónimo's approach did the knight remove his visor and offer a proper salute. Whatever insistence the Pope had shown against formalities, it seemed everyone followed suit.
Sir Ailred, so named, turned and spotted Seong Hyun-jin and Yeonhui, bowing first to her. "Lady Saintess, you've come as well. I trust you've been well?"
"Yes, it's been a while."
Watching this, Seong Hyun-jin glimpsed the esteem Yeonhui commanded in the Holy Nation.
She's really treated like a saintess.
As Seong Hyun-jin pondered this curiously, Ailred pointed at him. "And the young man beside you is the Saintess's guest?"
Jerónimo explained to the puzzled Ailred, who wondered why an academy student was here. "Friends who'll aid in resolving this incident."
"Ah, understood."
"We must head to Nastrod at once—open the door."
"As you command, Your Holiness."
Ailred produced a key and unlocked the door. The sight that greeted them made Seong Hyun-jin flinch in shock.
"This is…."
He'd heard it wasn't magic, but he never imagined this.
Brilliant radiance spilled from the widening gap as the door swung open. What he'd assumed was an ordinary room revealed a vast glass dome for a ceiling, mimicking the open sky. And within stood a heavenly steed with immense wings spread wide, whinnying in wait.
It was the legendary creature from Seong Hyun-jin's past life—known as Pegasus.
"...A divine beast?"
Seong Hyun-jin blurted in awe, and Jerónimo replied, "Not the real thing, of course. Merely a holy art taking its form."
"Ah."
Seong Hyun-jin nodded faintly, though his stunned expression drew a hearty chuckle from Jerónimo. "Come now. Time presses."
Jerónimo mounted the heavenly steed with familiarity, Yeonhui following without hesitation. Seong Hyun-jin climbed up after them, and the steed flapped its wings powerfully, soaring upward. The dome ceiling parted, allowing the beast—bearing the three—to fly toward Nastrod. A holy art enveloped them, shielding against the wind to ensure their safety in flight.
"...This really isn't a true divine beast?"
"As I said, it merely mimics the form via holy art. It's solely a means to Nastrod—no other destinations. A genuine divine beast could fly anywhere, no?"
Seong Hyun-jin understood, yet the wonder lingered. Holy arts stemmed from spirit power, after all—this was just spirit power in disguise.
Has His Holiness contracted a divine spirit like Senior Yeonhui?
Such a bond could explain these marvels. Soon after, the steed began descending. Peering out, Seong Hyun-jin spotted a small island—its entirety encased in towering steel walls, like a single massive facility.
"This is the prison?" he asked in surprise.
"Indeed," Jerónimo affirmed. "This is Nastrod, the Holy Nation's grandest prison—and the entire island itself."
Dragon Star Ahajaka Eldark stood in the dim prison depths, his face etched with profound annoyance. No one had imprisoned him, of course; he was at the scene where Abraham—the man he'd testified against and helped incarcerate—had met his end.
"……Tch."
The warden and Nastrod's key officers hovered anxiously as the Dragon Emperor surveyed the site. Normally, they'd wait for the Pope, but Ahajaka had arrived first. Who were mere jailers to deny the Dragon Emperor's demand to inspect immediately?
They trailed him to prevent any accidental tampering, just in case.
"Do you know when His Holiness will arrive?"
"...He just departed."
The warden eyed Ahajaka, who stared at the scene with irritation, hoping the Pope's arrival would ease tensions. "Has the Dragon Star discerned anything?"
"...You said the remnants on the Wise Star's body were the work of an evil spirit?"
"Yes, that's our assessment."
"And those traces led nowhere."
"Correct. Everything as reported."
"Yet no outsiders can enter here."
Ahajaka whipped his head around, glaring coldly at the warden and all the guards. "Doesn't that mean the culprit is among you?"
"...All personnel here have undergone thorough investigation. Only those cleared of suspicion remain."
"And why should I trust that?"
"Pardon?"
Ahajaka stepped forward thuddingly. The burly warden paled; size meant nothing before the apex dragon. Towering and massive, Ahajaka loomed over him.
"Apologies, but I hold human capabilities in low regard. I acknowledge a few standouts, yet on average, they're woefully inadequate. You think an internal probe by yourselves could uncover the one who slew the Wise Star without him lifting a finger?"
"Th-that's sophistry! We can at least identify contracted spirits."
"Not ordinary spirits—evil spirits. If you could distinguish them clearly, why hasn't the culprit been found?"
"……."
Silencing the warden, Ahajaka commanded, "Summon everyone before me again. I'll investigate personally."
"Pardon? How do you intend—"
"Force their spirits to manifest before me for inspection. Even if an evil spirit masquerades as ordinary, I can tell them apart."
Ahajaka's pupils slit vertically like a dragon's, the predatory pressure buckling the warden, who averted his gaze instinctively. Then came the Dragon Emperor's flat, emotionless words.
"Drive them to death's door, and the spirit will reveal itself to protect its contractor."
"……!"
As the warden gaped at this merciless proposal, a voice interjected.
"Isn't that a bit too violent? Serena would surely object if she heard."
"……?"
A man approached casually, invoking the name of Ahajaka's beloved daughter without hesitation. Ahajaka's face soured upon spotting him, while the man grinned slyly.
"Father-in-law, long time no see."
"Who the hell is your father-in-law!?"