Divining the Fallen Morning Star

"Good evening, Father."

"Good evening, Miss Hazel."

Abner entered Harvest Church and saw the Half-giant bishop standing near the pulpit with Miss Hazel. He greeted them first.

"Good evening, Detective Braine... But in church, you should call me Pastor Macht," Miss Hazel corrected him after returning his greeting.

After the pleasantries, Bishop Utravsky looked at Abner kindly and asked in a gentle voice:

"Child, what brings you to Harvest Church?"

Huh? Why didn't he say "I know why you've come" like he usually does? Did the Earth Mother Goddess not consider "1-025" important? Or has she finally remembered more pressing matters and stopped paying attention to a little Transmigrator like me?

His thoughts raced, but Abner smiled and said, "There is something I'd like to ask you."

"What is it? Go ahead," Bishop Utravsky said with a smile.

Abner glanced at Hazel without thinking. She understood at once and pressed her lips together, looking a little displeased. Still, she tactfully said:

"Father, I'll go copy the Mother Goddess's teachings."

"All right, child." Bishop Utravsky smiled and nodded. Once Hazel had gone some distance away, he sealed off their surroundings with a Spiritual Lock and said to Abner, "You can speak now."

"Do you know about the abandoned castle in the center of Dreller Forest?" Abner asked tentatively after a moment's thought.

Bishop Utravsky nodded, then shook his head. His expression turned solemn. "I've read some records concerning that castle... But within the Church, I'm among those who aren't permitted to learn too much about it.

"The information I saw said little more than that the castle was built in the Fourth Epoch. During the reign of the Tudor-Trunsoest United Empire, an elite squad of knights was stationed there to guard something... Unfortunately, the castle was abandoned after the War of