12. The Finger (6)
Kyaaah—!
A scream shattered the midnight silence of the academy.
While everyone froze like statues, I kicked open the door and charged into the hallway.
"...Damn it."
But it was already gone. The moment I'd spotted it, I'd rushed out—yet the blood-soaked ghost had vanished like an illusion.
Was that truly the lingering spirit of Giovanni Priest, the academy's first chief priest?
I scanned the hallway frantically, and at the far end, a flash of white clerical collar slipped around the corner. Without a second thought, I gave chase.
Spirit or whatever it was, one thing was clear: it existed. If I didn't end this now, who knew when we'd cross paths again.
"Huff...! Hah...!"
I poured every ounce of strength into my legs, lungs burning. The corner loomed ahead in no time.
Just before turning, I gripped the cross-shaped rosary at my neck. Devil or abomination, I'd exorcise the bastard right here.
"Found y—!"
But beyond the corner lay only an empty hallway.
"Hah... hah... Goddamn it...."
A curse slipped out. Wasting time on dead ends was grinding my nerves. What the hell was it? A demon? Really Giovanni's ghost?
The robes it wore matched the liturgical vestments priests donned for rituals—save for the bloodstains everywhere.
No longsword pierced its chest, as the stories claimed, but Daniel's tale was starting to ring true.
Clench—!
I balled my fist. In a voice thick with fury, I muttered,
"You son of a bitch...!"
It felt like it was toying with me. Ghostly or not, I'd hunt it down tonight. No way I'd let something harmful to the academy roam free.
I steadied my ragged breath first. By then, Sophia the deaconess caught up, panting heavily.
"Hah...! Haah... Ch-Chief Priest...!"
"Hoo.... Lost it, Deaconess Sophia."
"Y-You did...? But you bolted right after spotting it in the classroom, didn't you?"
I nodded weakly, and her face darkened.
"Anyway, how are the other students?"
"Total chaos...! We were swapping ghost stories, then boom—the thing itself shows up! And you just dash off...!"
"Hoo.... Sorry. Let's head back. Oh, and...."
"Yes?"
I met Sophia's eyes and slowly drew my stole from my robes, draping it on. Her eyes widened at the deliberate motion.
"Looks like we might need to use our power."
"...A demon?"
"Not a demon. No demon's that skittish. Still, stay vigilant."
"G-Got it."
The surest fact so far: it wasn't luring us anywhere or lunging to possess. It just fled from us.
Like it was determined never to get caught.
"Professor Antonelli. What's with the getup?"
Laura stared at me, baffled. I shrugged nonchalantly.
"A priest's stole amplifies Divine Power slightly. Same for the Bible and rosary. Think of it like a mage's staff."
"I know that, but...."
"So, we prepare too."
I wasn't thrilled about channeling Divine Power, but....
I opened my Bible and recited a passage to steel our nerves. We couldn't let fear grip everyone each time it appeared.
"...Fear nothing, O heirs of Peter. Be bold as lions, steadfast as the walls of Theresa. For I am with you."
A resonant hum filled the air as golden power flowed from my body, gently enveloping everyone in the classroom.
"Ooh...."
"Y-Yeah."
"I feel courage surging!"
"Incredible, Professor Lucio!"
The Occult Research Club quartet and Professor Esther buzzed with excitement, while Laura fidgeted awkwardly.
"Tch. What does that make me...."
"Pardon? Miss Adelaide."
"...Nothing."
Seemed she'd recalled her words from our first lesson.
"...Way more effective than when I do it. Not even comparable."
As spirits soared, Sophia approached with a pout. True, my blessing dwarfed hers on Laura.
I ruffled her hair messily.
"Eek...! Wh-What're you doing?!"
"Nothing much. Means train harder."
"I know that!"
Then Damian barreled over, hyped. Punching the air, he boasted nothing scared him now.
"Professor Antonelli! Let's hunt that finger! Feeling like I could take it down now!"
"Damian. No hitting it."
"Oh, right. Sorry.... Vivian."
Everyone brimmed with zeal, a stark contrast to Vivian's calm. I asked Damian,
"The finger?"
Daniel nodded like it was obvious.
"Giovanni's ghost wants that bloody finger, right? Find it first, and it'll come running."
"...Logical. Let's do it."
We left the classroom, seeking Giovanni the first chief priest's bloody finger.
We hurried out and headed to the Occult Research Club room per Daniel's idea. The hallway remained shrouded in darkness.
Up to the annex's second floor, a sign reading "Occult Research Club" jutted out.
"Hmm.... Hang on.... Vivian! Where's that notebook?"
"Box in the left corner, probably."
"Left? Right?"
"Dunno. Let's check both. I'll help."
"Thanks!"
As Vivian and Daniel rummaged through shelves, I checked my watch impatiently.
3:30 a.m. Per Daniel, the ghost vanished with sunrise—around 6:30 this season. Three hours left, but we'd started searching near midnight....
"Hurry, Mr. Daniel."
"Yes. Uh... around here...."
Time was short. Miss this, and who knows when next. Worst case: brief the professor on duty tomorrow. Not ideal.
So tonight. Uncover the truth.
"Professor Lucio. How can I help?"
Professor Esther gripped her staff. I pondered locating the finger.
"You're an illusion magic specialist, right?"
Illusion magic had broad uses beyond hallucinations—many visual, perfect for us. Like peering through walls.
"Er.... Yeah?"
She nodded sheepishly. Expert, so useful.
"Any spells for finding objects? Like x-ray vision...."
"Heehee.... Leave it to me. Now?"
"Yes. Something reliable."
Esther smirked seductively, twirling her staff. Mana gathered at the tip, purple trails following her gestures.
Dots formed lines, lines faces, faces a 3D shape.
"The circle is a dragon."
"Lines are paths. Triangles are eyes. Within lies truth."
⟨ Uroboros (ουροβóρος) ⟩
A hum built—
"Thus, bite your tail."
The completed magic circle hovered: a purple dragon devouring its tail, enclosing a spinning octahedron too fast to track.
Whoosh—!
The annex hallway rippled; vision expanded. Walls turned transparent, revealing ~5 meters ahead like blueprints.
Chloe and Laura gaped in awe.
"N-No way.... A 5th Circle spell, just like that...."
"Amazing, Professor!"
"Caldea Imperial Academy faculty aren't lottery wins, huh?"
Esther snorted proudly. Thanks to her spell, Daniel yelled,
"F-Found it—!"
He brandished a dusty red notebook. Dust flew onto his hair, but his joy was pure as he dashed out.
"Professor Esther's magic is incredible! Found it instantly!"
"Heehee. Worth the strain."
"Mr. Daniel. What's this notebook?"
I flipped the red-covered tome he'd handed me.
"Our club's research log, passed down. Finding the bloody finger's our lifelong quest. Should be around here.... Ah! Here!"
"This letter started from the Holy Nation...."
"Wrong spot. Here!"
Pages flew; dense text appeared. I followed his finger.
The place where the ancient grudge appears is Caldea Imperial Academy. There, in the shadow of the brightest light....
I stared blankly at Daniel; he scratched his head sheepishly.
"Mr. Daniel. Explain."
"Our seniors... got really into the occult.... Haha...."
He pondered, chin in hand. I lowered the notebook for all to see.
"Hmm.... 'Ancient grudge' probably means the bloody finger. 'Shadow of the brightest light'...."
"...Brightest light's shadow?"
"Where's that?"
"That's our job to figure."
At Vivian's flat words, heads scratched over the riddle.
"Brightest place...? The rooftop?"
"No real shadows up there."
"Then where...."
"Just the lights?"
"Know how many in the annex?"
"Uh, tons...."
Suddenly, Chloe shot up her hand.
"P-Professor! I got it! The academy's brightest spot!"
"Where?"
Chloe hesitated, then blurted,
"Um.... Behind the cross in the Academy Cathedral... maybe?"
"Pardon? Why there...?"
"W-Well, they say the brightest light casts the deepest shadow, right? Symbolically, the cross is the brightest. So its shadow's behind it?"
"Kinda sudden for the cathedral, no? Ghost's only haunting the annex."
Eirin raised a fair point. Chloe tilted her head.
"Huh...? If the finger's hidden here, someone hid it, yeah?"
"Sure. So?"
"If I hid it, I'd pick somewhere no one'd ever look. Tell 'em annex, hide elsewhere—they'd never find it?"
"...!"
Chloe's sharp insight hit like a hammer. Logical. Why hadn't I seen it?
"...Let's go. Now."
We headed to the Academy Cathedral, scanning rooms with Esther's x-ray en route.
"The Academy Cathedral...."
The brightest shadow meaning the cross. Unimaginable.
The protagonist's different, indeed.