No Supervising Teacher?
“No supervising teacher?”
“Yeah. It was called a class, but it was basically just life guidance……”
“Good grief, this is ridiculous. Calling students because of that? What do they even know?”
The meeting hadn't even started yet, but the conference room was already buzzing with chatter. Watching the teachers babble among themselves, So Do-jin narrowed his eyes and spoke up.
“You guys sure talk a lot. Those bastards who were just sleeping in the staff room—”
“Tsk! Watch your mouth.”
Ha Ye-jin, sitting beside him, shot So Do-jin a warning glance. He let out a hollow chuckle, as if it was absurd.
“I'm not wrong, am I?”
“Say the right thing, and you won't last long.”
So Do-jin looked a bit displeased but nodded and shut his mouth. Kim Bok-dong nodded along in silent agreement with Ha Ye-jin.
Bang.
The door flew open, and the vice principal entered. The noisy room fell silent in an instant. It was because of the white-haired old man following behind him.
Gabriel, one of the three elders of Florence Academy's Elder Council, baptized with the name given by the Pope himself. Alongside the chairman, he was one of the real power holders at Florence.
“Elder Gabriel will lead today's meeting,” the vice principal announced.
Gabriel raised a hand in greeting, and the teachers solemnly bowed their heads in respect. A long moment of silence followed before Gabriel swept back his white hair and spoke.
“Quickly, let's proceed. The ‘Tower of Corpses’ investigation and the students' rescue—the three professors who handled that, where are they?”
Kim Bok-dong, Ha Ye-jin, and So Do-jin raised their hands one after another. Gabriel's eyes flicked sharply over their faces. His speech and movements were slow, but only his gaze moved with lightning speed.
“Around the tower, black magic circles were set up?”
Gabriel always split his sentences in two. It was either a habit, age catching up with his breath, or both.
“Yes, that's correct.”
Kim Bok-dong answered.
“The materials for the black magic circles—have you identified them?”
“Out of the six black magic circles, we've roughly identified two: ‘Beastification’ and ‘Contract.’”
“The remaining, four?”
“The ‘Contract’ black magic is still active, so we can't approach it. We're having trouble identifying the rest.”
Those hit by the ‘Contract’ black magic turned into humanoid beasts or demons. Aside from certain bloodlines with special traits, no one could even get close to that circle. Kim Bok-dong continued immediately.
“For now, we've requested cooperation from Cardinal Seong Yu-da—former heretic inquisitor.”
“Did he say, he'd come?”
“No response.”
“That guy's always, slow to reply.”
Gabriel muttered with a furrowed brow as he rifled through the documents. Then, as if spotting something intriguing, he raised an eyebrow.
“Out of 22 beasts, seven died from lightning strikes?”
“Yes.”
“Was the lightning, ‘natural’ lightning?”
“I didn't quite catch that—could you repeat?”
“I'm asking if there's no chance it was lightning from a Satanist devil.”
Kim Bok-dong swallowed hard. A Satanist devil. He was asking if the Voodoo cult's prophet hadn't used a Loa devil to wield the power of lightning.
During the Holy War seven years ago, the Voodoo prophet had unleashed lightning that struck terror into countless clerics. Even now, many still hadn't recovered from the trauma—panic attacks at the sight of thunder, fainting spells. Kim Bok-dong pondered briefly before shaking his head.
“The possibility is low.”
“May I ask, why?”
“Compared to back then, the scale is far too small.”
Kim Bok-dong recalled that day unbidden. The night of the new moon. Thick clouds had rolled in, blotting out even the starlight, leaving nothing but endless darkness. The prophet had summoned lightning that split the heavens. No—split didn't do it justice. It had filled the sky with blinding flashes. Like the end of the world, heavens crumbling, apocalypse descending.
If that lightning was a tiger, today's was just a puppy. No way it came from the Voodoo prophet.
“Besides, the Voodoo cult leader has no reason to save Florence students.”
“That's true, as well.”
Gabriel nodded. The Third Voodoo Cult Leader. Heir to the second leader's blood and the prophet's powers. Vicious, cunning as the devil himself—or worse. Rumors swirled that he was plotting the downfall of Romanica Church. At least, that's how the world saw him.
No reason for someone like that to rescue Florence kids.
“But calling it naturally occurring lightning……”
Gabriel muttered, puzzled. If it wasn't Satanist sorcery—not Loa powers—then it meant natural lightning had taken out seven beasts. Possible, but the odds were astronomically low.
“Doesn't seem natural. We're guessing it might be a miracle recreation.”
Ha Ye-jin spoke up this time. A few staff members tilted their heads.
“Weren't those first-years on Eden Hill? A miracle recreation, though?”
“Kim Jin-seo was there at the scene.”
The name dropped, and the teachers nodded in ready agreement. Kim Jin-seo had recreated a miracle before, so it made sense it'd be her again.
“Of course, it's just a guess for now. We need to hear from the kids directly to judge.”
But it was just a possibility. High chance it was Kim Jin-seo, but no proof yet. Too many uncertainties in this incident. They'd piece it together from the four summoned students' accounts.
“The kids you called—when will they arrive?”
Gabriel scratched his eyebrow with his pinky.
Ha Ye-jin checked her watch.
“Soon.”
*
Four students summoned: Gu Jun-hyeok, Yeo Min-seo, Do Seon-woo, Kim Jin-seo. Scheduled for 3:00, 3:30, 4:00, and 4:30 respectively.
Gu Jun-hyeok arrived first—at 3:15. A full fifteen minutes late.
“Sorry I'm late~ My bad~”
He breezed in with a half-hearted wave. A few teachers clicked their tongues in disapproval.
“Gu Jun-hyeok. I said 3:00.”
“Haha…… I set an alarm and everything, but it didn't go off? Maybe time for a new phone.”
“Just sit down already.”
Ha Ye-jin said curtly. Gu Jun-hyeok scratched his nape with an awkward grin and took a seat. His shoulders were stiff. The room's tense atmosphere had him on edge without realizing it.
Gu Jun-hyeok glanced around before speaking.
“This like an interrogation or something? I didn't do anything wrong, right?”
“No~ Nothing wrong. Just two questions, then you're free.”
Ha Ye-jin beamed. Gu Jun-hyeok finally relaxed, sighing deeply.
Ha Ye-jin shuffled pointless through her question sheet before asking.
“You were surrounded by nine beasts during the incident, right?”
“Yeah. Thought I was done for.”
“Seven died from lightning strikes. Any guesses on that?”
“Guesses? What am I supposed to guess?”
Gu Jun-hyeok blinked back with an innocently dumb look. The intent was to probe the lightning's source, but he seemed oblivious.
“We're asking if someone didn't recreate a miracle to summon that lightning.”
“Oh~ Ohhh. Got it. Hmm…… Ah!”
Gu Jun-hyeok slapped his knee triumphantly, face lighting up like he knew something. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
“No clue! Haha, sorry.”
But his answer was worthless. He laughed sheepishly.
“Ah, okay.”
Ha Ye-jin sighed, a touch disappointed, and moved on. She placed a small mystery device on the table—the one extracted from the taxidermied beast's head.
“What do you think this is?”
Gu Jun-hyeok squinted at it long and hard. No idea, apparently—he tilted his head.
“Uh. A camera?”
“Good job~ You're done. Go ahead.”
“Huh? Already?”
“Yeah. Thanks for answering honestly~”
Gu Jun-hyeok scratched his nape again, puzzled, and left the room.
At 3:30 sharp, Yeo Min-seo burst through the door like she'd been waiting.
“Yeah? You needed to ask something?”
She plopped into an empty seat and spoke curtly. Ha Ye-jin's brow furrowed slightly. But frowning openly at a student wouldn't do, so she forced a smile.
“During the incident, you were—”
The questions were the same as for Gu Jun-hyeok. First: cause of the beasts' deaths. Second: the device from the beast's head. Do Seon-woo and Kim Jin-seo would get the same soon.
Yeo Min-seo tilted her head at the first question, scanning the packed room of teachers. Then she flashed a childlike grin.
“Elder's here?”
“Yeo Min-seo, answer the question first—”
“Ah, sure. But you're beating around the bush. Who caused the lightning—just ask that straight.”
Yeo Min-seo cut in casually. She was sharp. Ha Ye-jin felt a chill amid her irritation. Those flat, empty eyes seemed to dissect her face.
“Anyway…… no clue on the lightning.”
After staring at Ha Ye-jin intently, Yeo Min-seo spoke. Kim Bok-dong tilted his head.
She'd said “on the lightning,” implying she might have guesses about something else.
“Hold on—one more question. Two beasts had penetrating wounds to the heart. Looked like gunshots. Know anything?”
Kim Bok-dong jumped in. Yeo Min-seo pondered the intent, head tilted—then burst into manic laughter. Kim Bok-dong shivered despite himself.
She finally caught her breath. “Sorry. Something funny popped into my head.”
“Answer the question.”
Kim Bok-dong said sternly. Yeo Min-seo wiped the grin away and cleared her throat.
“Short answer: Do Seon-woo did it.”
“What? Explain. What did Do Seon-woo do, how?”
“Can't remember well. Ask him yourself.”
She dodged with vagueness. Acted like she knew everything earlier, now amnesia? She knew something but had zero intention of spilling to teachers.
No point pressing. Ha Ye-jin gave up and moved to the next.
Thud.
She set the device on the table.
“What do you think this is?”
“Looks nasty. Satanist gear?”
Yeo Min-seo answered without hesitation. Ha Ye-jin faltered at the unexpected reply. Kim Bok-dong took over.
“You, what do you mean—”
“Suspecting us as Satanists?”
Yeo Min-seo interrupted. Kim Bok-dong stared blankly. No tension or fear on her face—relaxed, even.
“That device is Satanist-related. Found where we were. So one of us must be a Satanist, right?”
“……”
“Sorry, but Satanists aren't that dumb. Can't catch 'em with old tricks like this.”
Yeo Min-seo stated flatly. The device from the taxidermied beast's head. It seemed to flash intermittently, but actually reacted to a specific ‘signal.’ Satanists watching Eden Hill sent the signal remotely, controlling the beasts.
Thus, the Satanist was among Charity, Patience, or Kindness class students present. Especially the four near the device-bearing beast: Gu Jun-hyeok, Yeo Min-seo, Do Seon-woo, Kim Jin-seo.
Teachers' theory—but Yeo Min-seo saw it differently.
“Teachers probably had no choice but to suspect us. High chance Satanists planted it there on purpose.”
“What're you saying?”
So Do-jin snapped coldly, eyes icy. Yeo Min-seo continued unfazed.
“Satanists' ploy to throw you off.”
From their actions so far, Satanists were clever. Masters of numbers games. No way they'd botch cleanup this badly. They made it look sloppy to mislead teachers.
“Doubt it. You look like a Satanist to me.”
So Do-jin murmured lowly. Yeo Min-seo smiled brightly.
“If I were, would I say this? I'd just play dumb, laugh like an idiot.”
“……Fine, say it's true. Satanists left it deliberately to mislead. What about double bluff?”
“Possible, but low odds. Too risky. And it'd never end.”
“Hm.”
So Do-jin nodded slightly. Logical enough. But he didn't drop his suspicion. She was too calm. No other evidence, but that attitude was fishy. Above all, she was brushing off all evidence as ‘Satanist misdirection.’
Suspicion stayed suspicion. No proof meant no certainty.
“Think I've helped enough. Can I go? I'm busy.”
“Yeah…… go on.”
Yeo Min-seo left with a cheerful wave and bow. Icy silence hung over the room.
“What kind of kid is that?”
So Do-jin muttered.
“Smart, sure. But annoying……”
Ha Ye-jin nodded in agreement.
Knock knock.
Soon after, a knock. Kim Bok-dong checked his phone: 4:02. Do Seon-woo's time.
(To be continued)