episode_0013
by fnovelpiaLinger… .
“Hoo… .”
I held my cramping right arm tightly.
Even as I was heading to the main hall of the Academy, my right hand began to move on its own, against my will. When I desperately grabbed it with my left hand, it seemed to calm down a little.
“Keep going… !”
I clenched my teeth. The pain was so dizzying.
Since I stopped taking that drug, I’ve been experiencing unbearable pain from time to time. But it doesn’t have to be now.
“Ugh… .”
It was the price I paid for using divine power with my wounded body. This was the reason I didn’t feel like using divine power.
After injuring my shoulder, whenever I use my divine powers, I become a body that inevitably experiences this kind of pain. In the past, I was prescribed strong painkillers, so I was able to endure it to some extent… .
There is no medicine right now. It is at a level where ordinary painkillers are not even close to effective.
It was better than nothing, so he secretly put his trembling hands into the bosom of his priest’s robe and took out the bottle of medicine.
As I, who was walking ahead, stopped and grabbed someone’s arm, the students following me and Professor Esther looked at me with worried eyes. I hid the medicine bottle in my sleeve.
“Are you okay, Professor Lucio? ”
“Does something hurt?”
“Keep… . Phew… ! It’s okay… . Let’s go.”
“But… .”
“I’m fine, so move quickly!”
When I screamed, the students flinched and started walking again. I bit my lips hard. I felt a warm, sour liquid running down my chin.
“Chief Priest… ?”
“… It’s okay… Hmph… ! It’s okay… So don’t worry about me and move.”
“… … .”
Deacon Sophia walked alongside me for a while, looking at me without saying anything, and then she gently grabbed my right hand, which was inside her sleeve.
An ugly right hand that was constantly twitching and a bottle of medicine hidden inside it was revealed. I shut my eyes tightly and turned my head away.
‘…what would Deacon Sophia think?’
You’d probably find it disgusting, like everyone else.
I roughly shook off Deacon Sophia’s hand. Her hand, lost in its path, cut through the air.
“… Priest, what is that medicine?”
“Deacon Sophia. Didn’t you say it was okay? Hurry up.”
“What is that medicine?”
“A simple… pain reliever.”
“… … .”
Deacon Sophia, who was walking next to me, glanced behind me. There were students talking to each other with nervous expressions, and Professor Esther was looking around cautiously.
“Deacon Sophia. It’s really nothing.”
“Okay, I’ll believe you. Right now… .”
“… Thank you.”
I quickly opened the bottle and threw the painkiller into my mouth. It was hard to swallow because there was no water, but I somehow managed to get it down the back of my throat.
Let’s walk like that for about five minutes.
“Hoo… .”
The painkiller began to take effect. Feeling a little more relaxed, I slowly started to wiggle my right hand.
“Chief Priest.”
Deacon Sophia called to me. I turned my head toward her.
“When this is over, please let me know.”
“Substitute Sophia.”
“Where, why does it hurt? Everything. I have to understand this as a subtitle and move on.”
“… Later. I’ll tell you later.”
I couldn’t bear to look at Deacon Sophia’s face. I tried to turn my head away and pretend not to care.
I had expected that someday, Deacon Sophia would find out too. But I didn’t want to be caught like this.
I bit my lip and continued walking. I felt good as I bit my already bloody, numb lip, and the intense pain that had been centered in my right arm and shoulder began to gradually lessen.
“Hey! We’re almost there!”
I looked to the left, following the direction Professor Esther had pointed out. Beyond the windows of the annex hallway, the majestic main hall of the academy came into view.
“When this is over… .”
I need to get some rest over the weekend.
I thought so.
* * * * *
As I am the parish priest, I am also in charge of the parish’s management. That means that the key to the parish, which is tightly locked, is also in my hands.
Clink!
As I took hold of the key and turned it, the lock clicked open with a pleasant click. We cautiously pushed open the cathedral door.
Professor Esther’s magic had long since worn off. However, since I had already explored all the lecture rooms in the annex on my way here, I could say that it had done its job.
“Let’s look behind the cross.”
“Oh, yes.”
We quickly entered the chapel.
The chapel was quiet. Only the candles that were still burning on the candlesticks and the moonlight that was disappearing beyond the mountain ridge came in faintly through the windows, creating a pious atmosphere. Even this quiet chapel would be filled with faithful believers when the sun rose.
“Cross… Is that it?”
“I think that’s right.”
“Wait a minute… .”
He stopped the students who were carelessly putting their hands on the cross and cautiously approached the cross.
“… Lord. I repent for my sins today. Please forgive me for this rudeness.”
Deacon Sophia naturally stood on the opposite side of the cross. I nodded and slowly placed the cross in my hand.
“… I will take it off.”
“This, this… . Can I put it back on?”
“Don’t worry. Okay, let’s go. One, two… .”
“Seseet… !”
As the heavy weight of the large cross was transmitted, there was a feeling of something engaging and the cross was slowly lifted off. Deacon Sophia and I carefully placed the lifted cross against the wall.
“Oh, oh… !”
“Really, there is some space!”
A small space, about the size of a jewel box, was dug out like a hole behind the cross. Daniel and Vivian looked at it with sparkling eyes.
“Then… .”
“… Let’s take out our fingers.”
While everyone was tense, I carefully made the sign of the cross and put my hand into the hole.
The hand that was slowly, very slowly entering the hole soon reached the depth of the wrist before hitting the hard wall. And there, there was a bloody finger… .
“… Hmm?”
Gropingly.
I continued to feel through the darkness with my hands, but all I could feel was a cold, hard wall.
“Professor?”
“Surely not… . Isn’t there one?”
“Please wait a moment.”
No matter how much I looked around, I couldn’t find anything. After rummaging around in the dust for a while, I pulled my hand away with a look of emptiness on my face.
“… … .”
“Uh… No, then what is this hole? Isn’t there another one here?”
“Surely, it’s really hidden behind the lights in the annex… .”
“Is it true?”
“Isn’t it stupid to go through all of that?”
“That’s strange… . This place looks certain.”
Certainly, it would not have been possible for a hole to have been drilled into the back of the cross without a reason. And it would have been a neatly cubic hole, as if cut with a saw.
And then,
thud-!
We hurriedly looked back at where the sound came from. What caught our eyes was this.
“… What is it?”
Boom! Boom!
The old wooden door of the main hall was shaking violently.
And we could feel it instinctively.
“Ugh… .”
“Joe, Father Giovanni… .”
The fact that the ghost of Father Giovanni followed us.
I bit my lip. Then I glanced down at my right hand.
The frequent convulsions have stopped, but my right hand still trembles intermittently. If I use more divine power with this body… .
“Fuck… .”
It was impossible to use divine power any longer. Why at a time like this?
Things were going from bad to worse.
The only fortunate thing is that the effect of the prayers I endured through the pain was still there, so no students panicked yet.
“What should I do? Should I fight back?!”
“Ghosts don’t have a physical body, so how can we fight them?!”
“Wouldn’t it be effective if you attacked with magic?”
Yes. Not yet. But there won’t be time.
Because I had already toured the entire annex with Professor Esther’s magic, some time had passed.
Gurrr… .
Suddenly, something pitch-black rose from the center of the door that had been shaking. The main door of the church began to be consumed by that ominous aura, as if it was rotting away.
Deacon Sophia cried out in horror.
“Oh, oh! The door! Your High Priest! I sense an evil aura coming from the door!”
“I know that too!”
I hurried to the door and took out my Bible. I kissed the rosary I was holding in my left hand and quickly turned the pages. The Bible was turning pages without a care, making a rattling sound.
If I use any more divine power than this, it will be a strain on my body, but I don’t have time to think about it right now.
“Deacon Sophia! The Walls of Terea! Do you know!”
Deacon Sophia, who had come running to my side, answered, clutching her rosary.
“Oh, I know!”
“From chapter 4, verse 13! Let’s get started!”
“But, I still…!”
“I’ll fill the divine power! Hurry up!”
I checked the opened passage, put the Bible on the floor, quickly made the sign of the cross, wrapped my hands around the band around my neck, and leaned against the door that was turning pitch black.
Chewy—!
Along with the sound of something burning, I felt a familiar atmosphere. I was startled.
“Devil… ?”
This corruption must be the power of the devil. Even as I was surprised, the door slowly began to rot away, so I hastily recited a Bible verse.
“But look, you children of Terea. I have already made their grain abundant and their land fertile, yet you have made your walls dangerous, because they have fallen for the whisperings of evil beasts.”
“I have already made a covenant with you, and they shall not pass over the walls of this Terea.”
“Also, listen! Because of this, I will throw their leader into the fire of hell, because this is the holiness of the Lord!”
“Then the people of Terea were moved and said, “Even if those who deviate from the commandments try to cross this place in pursuit of their greed, the walls of Terea will be strong—!”
Jiiing—!
At the end of Deacon Sophia’s shout, a brilliant golden color swept through the chapel like a wave. The door that had been pitch-black and decaying was instantly dyed golden, and it became a wall.
But that was only for a moment. A sigh escaped my lips as I saw the door starting to turn pitch black again from the center.
Linger…!
My right arm began to shake violently, and a pain so great that my mind went blank came over me. I clenched my teeth and held on, but eventually I collapsed on the floor.
“Ugh… ! Gasp… !”
“Your Majesty, Your Highness!”
Deacon Sophia, her face pale, hurriedly approached. This prayer was too burdensome for her. However, this prayer could not be helped because it required multiple priests to be effective.
I felt sorry for Deacon Sophia. Most of the divine power was mine, but it must have been a great burden to her.
I said, ruffling Sophia’s wet hair.
“Deacon Sophia… . I can hold out for now, but I won’t be able to hold out for long… !”
“Yes, yes?!”
“You didn’t infuse enough divine power. The prayer isn’t complete!”
“Uh, what should I do…! What should I do…?!”
The effect of the prayer will soon wear off. We must either find the finger before then, or repel the priest Giovanni outside the door.
“Repel… .”
Suddenly, something flashed through my mind.
I quickly looked at my watch.
The current time is 6:10 AM. In just 20 minutes or so, the sun will begin to rise. I shouted at Daniel with all my might.
“Student Daniel! According to the ghost story, the ghost of the head priest Giovanni disappears at dawn! Is that true?”
“Oh, that’s… !”
“Is it true! Or is it not!”
“Ma, that’s right! It’s true! It was written like that in the notebook! But, when dawn breaks… !”
The fingers will disappear too. You never know when you’ll get another chance to deal with that mean being.
I had hopeful thoughts that it would not harm the students. But it did not.
Look at the way he is still pounding hard on the door. His bright red eyes are gleaming through the crack in the door. I wondered why he was having such a fit.
“… Finger.”
I quickly looked at the hole behind the cross. However, there was nothing there. But… .
“Somewhere here, there’s a finger…!”
“Chief Priest! What should I do?! What should I do…!”
Deacon Sophia shook my shoulder violently, tears welling up in her eyes. I appreciate your concern, but right now, I have to take care of my finger first.
“Deacon Sophia! Find the finger with your students!”
“Ha, but the fingers….”
“Come on!”
thud-!
Meanwhile, cracks began to appear in the gold wall covering the door. Then, out of nowhere, Daniel stepped forward.
“I’ll strengthen the door with magic!”
Daniel stepped forward, pulling something out of his bosom. He then placed something on the floor.
“… Wooden statue?”
It was a strangely patterned statue that looked like a human face, but also had something like the face of an animal carved into it. It was clearly a magical catalyst frequently used by the nomads of the East and their descendants.
“Everyone, step back!”
At Daniel’s shout, the students hurriedly distanced themselves from him. Then Daniel took out an ink bottle from his bosom and dipped his finger in the red liquid it contained.
“Chicken’s blood group.”
The chicken’s blood seeped into the doll, and soon the doll began to float up. Then, it quickly began to inflate in size.
In an instant, the wooden statue swelled to the size of a cathedral door and slowly embraced the door. As if absorbed by the door, the wooden statue was instantly attached to the main church door.
“This should have saved me some time!”
“Good job, Daniel!”
It was good to gain time. However, the problem is… .
Damn it!
“Huh, huh… ?”
The fact that the statue was torn apart in an instant. The statue was essentially disposable. Only the barrier made of prayers remained.
“Find the finger! Hurry up!”
“Yes, yes! I understand!”
Daniel went to look for the finger. Laura, who was also looking for the finger, was busy walking around the chapel, biting her fingernails.
“Where the hell are your fingers…!”
I also tried to find my fingers, forcing myself to stand up with strength on my weak legs. My right arm almost fell off.
“Ugh… .”
I looked at my watch. It was now 6:25. I really didn’t have time.
The sky beyond the main church window was already beginning to show glimpses of blue, as if the sunrise was about to begin.
“Professor Lucio! No matter how much I look for it, it’s not there!”
“Professor! It’s not here either!”
Professor Esther and Laura approach with dejected expressions.
“Damn it… Where the hell is it…!”
Let’s think. Let’s think… .
In the shadow of the brightest place. Shadows can only be seen when there is light.
I looked at the hole where the cross had been. The hole was still filled with darkness.
“Brightest… .”
Wasn’t the brightest thing the cross? When my head was filled with confusion.
A thin sliver of sunlight shone through the high windows of the chapel.
And then I saw.
“… … !”
That tiny, thin ray of light, illuminating exactly the inside of the hole.
When that ray of light shines, a glimpse of the finger is seen in that fleeting moment.
“… The brightest place. The brightest light is all heavenly grace.”
The sun is the grace of heaven. It makes crops grow and gives light to life.
The identity of the brightest light has been revealed.
“Lord, Lord Priest?!”
I staggered toward the hole, dragging my body. Then I checked my watch.
It’s 6:30 a.m. It’s the break of dawn.
“What…!”
“Over there! Finger!”
“Oh my god…!”
which.
Is it magic? Or is it a miracle of God?
In a split second, a ray of early morning sunlight shines through the hole as day breaks.
A twisted, blackened finger appeared, covered in dried blood. I immediately grabbed it.
“Got them all… !”
And at the same time.
Kuung—!
After one last loud vibration, the knocking on the door died down. The slowly rotting door also stopped decaying.
I walked slowly, step by step, toward the door. When I finally opened the main door, what I saw was this.
“… disappeared.”
In the distance, all that was there was the rising sun, coloring the sky in colorful colors.
I fell to my knees. Deacon Sophia ran up to me, grabbed my left arm, shook it, and cried.
“Chief Priest! We did it! We defeated that demon…!”
“Thank you for your hard work, Deacon Sophia.”
“Lord, Lord Priest! More than that! Body! Are you okay?!”
“… Substitute Sophia.”
Deacon Sophia looked at me with a worried face. I smiled weakly.
“Please, help me.”
“… Yes?”
With the expression of Deacon Sophia’s incomprehensible English, my body slowly leaned towards Deacon Sophia.
The last thing I saw before my vision went black.
“Professor! Professor… !”
“Professor Lucio—!”
Professor Esther and her students rushing towards me.
And, it was the clear and transparent tears of Deacon Sophia.
0 Comments