Evil Spirit (1)
With Ciela Teraport's help, Seong Hyun-jin had uncovered the movements of Willis Graham and Clarice Levatein. He decided to wait until the next day. He'd already warned her to be careful, so if they still crossed paths, it meant Clarice had no choice but to go there. Telling her beforehand wouldn't change much, he figured. That was why he'd waited until the time foretold by the Shamash Prophecy.
The next day, Seong Hyun-jin headed to Academy City early and staked out near the "Midsummer Dream" restaurant. Their meeting was definitely happening here, so sticking around would reveal what was up.
Everything was going fine. Everything was good... except for one baffling thing.
Seong Hyun-jin glanced sideways. He wasn't alone anymore. He'd planned to come solo, but...
"...So why is everyone here?"
Ciela, Yeonhui, and even Serena were right beside him.
"Just bored? I won't get in the way."
"Something might happen to another underclassman. I can't let you handle it alone, Seong Hyun-jin. It's my duty as a senior to help."
"...I just got dragged along."
Ciela seemed genuinely bored, Yeonhui worried about him, and Serena—who'd stormed off mad yesterday—was still grumbling but not complaining much about being there.
"Will we cause a scene?"
"It's fine if you're here, but..."
He worried they'd draw eyes. Each was famous in the academy; three together would pull stares.
But the prophecy probably accounted for this.
Seong Hyun-jin asked casually, "Ciela-senpai, the prophecy hasn't changed, right?"
"Nope."
If it hadn't shifted even with them here, the two would meet no matter what.
Suddenly, Ciela spoke up. "You can call me Ciela-noona, y'know? 'Senpai' feels too stiff."
She meant it was too formal. Seong Hyun-jin didn't mind, but since his senior suggested it...
"Then I'll just say 'senpai.' You call me by name or 'hoobae' too."
"Sure~."
"Me too—drop the 'senpai' and just say 'senpai' for me."
Yeonhui chimed in from the side. She'd been acting bolder lately, which puzzled him, but he went along.
"Got it. You call me casually too, Yeonhui-senpai."
"...Is that okay?"
"It'd be weird if only I was formal."
"Alright, Hyun-jin hoobae."
Serena, watching Yeonhui drop the honorific and use his name, cut in.
"...You're getting chummy only with the girl seniors, Seong Hyun-jin."
"Yeah, it just happened that way."
He agreed matter-of-factly, but Serena pouted a bit.
Something... feels off.
She didn't know why, but she hated seeing close people around him. Not that she wanted him isolated like her.
Unable to sort her feelings, she let it slip. "...Looks fun."
"Huh?"
"Must be nice. Getting friendly with pretty seniors."
Serena turned away sharply. Seong Hyun-jin found it odd but knew she didn't like him bonding with Yeonhui and Ciela.
Does she feel like I'm stealing her friends?
He chuckled. Thinking it was because Serena had no other friends, he dismissed it as cute.
"Why wait so early? Shamash said five PM."
"Just in case. It's almost time anyway."
"Hard to guess what Professor Willis plans for Clarice-hoobae."
Seong Hyun-jin agreed with Yeonhui's puzzlement. "No idea what he'll do. Not even sure he'll do anything..."
Still, yesterday's bloody scent wasn't normal. Thick, from someone who'd killed many.
"That blood smell from him yesterday was unsettling."
"Haha, you sound like a puppy!"
"Not that good, but sensitive, yeah."
He said proudly. "My master acknowledges it."
"...Really?"
"Yep."
Casual reply, but shocking to hear. Acknowledged by the Sword Star? Beyond exceptional.
"The more I see, Hyun-jin hoobae... the more fascinating you are."
"Not 'weird,' right?"
"Not like that, hehe."
Yeonhui laughed lightly.
...She smiles as pretty as Master.
He thought her smile was her best feature. Chest small, though. She'd scold him as irreverent if she knew, but thankfully, no mind-reading.
"Everyone, heads up—Clarice is coming."
Serena, who'd turned away sulking, spotted her.
"She's here."
With Superior Dorm maid Angela, she entered the restaurant. Seong Hyun-jin was surprised.
Brought her maid? Makes it hard for Willis to pull anything...
Just coincidence? As that naive thought crept in...
"Professor Willis is here too."
Willis Graham entered his view. Ciela, Yeonhui, and Serena ducked under the table to hide—sloppily. Faces visible, super suspicious. Better to act normal.
"Just sit naturally. He doesn't know what we're doing."
"...Better?"
"...We overdid it."
"...Ahem."
They sat up casually. Ciela said, "Better order something. Gotta look like we're eating."
"Already did."
"Huh?"
"When?"
"Timed it before we came in. We need to seem like regular diners. People come to restaurants to eat, not for other stuff."
Ciela and Yeonhui seemed impressed. "Surprisingly..."
"Prepared, huh?"
More thorough than expected. Serena added, "He's sneakily smart."
"Sneakily? Sounds like you think I'm not usually."
"You often don't think and pull all-nighters helping..."
"......"
No retort there.
"Did that? Surprising."
"Hyun-jin hoobae, can't say no to requests? Kinda cu—er, nice."
Ignoring their teasing, Seong Hyun-jin watched Willis and Clarice chat naturally, like they'd planned.
Told her not to meet him, but...
Willis must've made it unavoidable. She brought Angela thanks to his warning. Harder to act with company.
"Smart, but..."
No dismay on Willis's face. Maid not enough? Or no scheme at all?
Hoping the latter, he observed quietly. Willis took Clarice and Angela inside to a private room, out of sight.
"They're in. Now what, hoobae?"
"Wait."
"What if they sneak out?"
"Only back exit's through the kitchen. No other way from the room."
Ciela noted his prep. "Seriously thorough."
"What'd you think I was?"
Then, Angela burst from the private room, pale-faced, yelling to everyone.
"R-Run...! Get out, everyone! It's dangerous here!!"
"...Huh?"
Brief confusion, then everyone sensed it. Intense, scorching...
"Spirit...?"
Seong Hyun-jin voiced it—spot on.
KABOOOOOM!!!
Flames erupted from the room. The blast confirmed Angela's warning; diners realized and fled.
Ciela startled: "Wh-What exploded!?"
"...Spirit power."
"Back off—it's dangerous!"
Serena summoned her spirit power, flames blocking the heat. Remaining guests and staff escaped.
"Angela! You too, hurry!"
"B-But the young miss is...!"
"We'll get Clarice!"
Angela fled. Serena held the spirit power perfectly with her flames.
Ciela relaxed. "Fire beats fire, as expected."
"...Not flames."
"Huh?"
Not ordinary fire. The spirit power burned hot like flames but flowed like liquid, melting table legs but not metal utensils fully.
"Lava."
Yeonhui identified it; Seong Hyun-jin confirmed. Lava here? Spirit attribute.
"......"
He looked past Serena. Weak footsteps approached—unwilling, powerless gait.
Serena, blocking the rampaging power, heard and spotted the culprit.
"...Clarice Levatein?"
"No."
Seong Hyun-jin denied it, seeing it wasn't truly Clarice emerging.
"She's possessed."