episode_0055

“Ah, Antonel, Lee… Father. Please, I have something to ask you.”

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hmm.

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I’m cold. I’m hungry. I feel uncomfortable.

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“Here, this… . To my mother… .”

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A torn piece of paper. A letter. A blood-stained, yellowed letter.

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So, there’s a lump of lead there. A torn, perforated, bleeding piece of flesh. Right?

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“The address is written at the very bottom… . So, ”

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Dirt. Muddy dirt. Nameless bugs jumping around on the mud, crawling on your skin.

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“Instead, please tell me… .”

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And, and….

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Wind. The wind is blowing. Whoosh.

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It was the wind blowing from the edge of the cliff. It was the wind that made my eyes shake and the rats’ banquet hall gradually lose its warmth.

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The wind blows. Carrying the scent of iron, from this side to that side. From that side to this side.

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The wind blows. This time, with a yellowed piece of paper, from this side to that side. From that side to a farther place.

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Suddenly, my body starts to vibrate. I tremble. The wind blows again. And then, I sink.

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“… … .”

“Ah… ?”

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Hatred is a chain reaction. The person someone killed was precious to someone else. This abnormal shackle is clearly wrong.

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So I’m sick of this. I want to break this chain.

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The vision turned red, then blue, and finally gray. I had to watch this.

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Adding a golden hue to the reddish ash. It was a hue that came from my hands. Naturally, it was a futile effort.

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“… I.”

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Beep———.

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I have a ringing in my ears. No, it’s not tinnitus.

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“… Aaaah—!!”

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It was my scream.

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And then the wind blows again. A rough, bitter, lukewarm wind… .

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“… … .”

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When I opened my eyes, my whole body was already drenched in cold sweat. I quietly got up.

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The air in the room was hot. I glanced at the side of the bed and saw that the window was open.

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The warm midsummer night breeze was coming in through the crack of the open window, along with the faint light. It was only five o’clock in the morning.

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It was because summer nights were short.

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“… Ugh!”

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Suddenly, I felt like I was going to throw up.

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“Hoo… .”

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The nausea subsided quickly.

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There was still some time left before I had to go to work at the academy. I lay down on the bed to get some sleep again.

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I closed my eyes, but sleep did not come. My tired body screamed.

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Cold sweat soaking the bed, the discomfort brought on by tropical nights, a complicated mind. The causes were scattered, but… .

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“…Fuck.”

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After all, it was because summer nights were short.

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* * * * *

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Today is Friday, the first-year class of Class A has a theology class. I stared blankly at the clock on the wall.

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The clock was pointing to 9:00 a.m. It wasn’t long before classes started.

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“Your Excellency, you look a little tired today.”

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Deacon Sophia looked at me with a worried expression. I just rested my chin on my hand and stared blankly into space.

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It wasn’t that I didn’t want to talk to her or that I had any complaints or anything. Right now, I just felt like spacing out.

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Once I get lost in my own world, I feel like I’m isolated and alone in that world, and I get so caught up in that atmosphere that I don’t want to do anything.

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As we live, there are times like that. For me, it’s like that right now.

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“Chief Priest?”

“… … .”

“Huh…?”

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Deacon Sophia tilted her head and approached me, waving her hand and scratching her cheek to examine my complexion. I did not respond.

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The content of the dream I had last night is vague. When I try to recall its content, I feel somehow uncomfortable.

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It had been like this for the past few years, but when combined with the dreary atmosphere typical of early summer, an unbearable feeling of weariness washed over me.

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Perhaps it is because Dr. Moritz’s appointment is coming up soon. Realizing in detail that my body is almost half-crippled is bound to make me feel uncomfortable and empty in many ways.

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I regained focus from my blurry eyes. Then, the face of Deacon Sophia, who had come close to my nose, filled my field of vision.

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“Chief Priest~! Chief Priest!!”

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Deacon Sophia had her hands on her hips and her mouth pursed shut, showing with her whole body that she was angry. I leaned back in my chair weakly and answered.

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“I’m listening.”

“… You’re finally answering.”

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It’s sad to see the corners of his eyes drooping as if he’s just calmed down. I’m not the only one who feels the terrible boredom that comes with the sweltering summer.

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“So, why did you call me?”

“The results of the last meeting. Before we start class today, I think I need to give the students an announcement.”

“Um… .”

“I think it’ll take a minute. Maybe a minute?”

“Okay.”

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I nodded toward Deacon Sophia and thought back to the meeting we had two days ago.

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The emergency meeting held under the leadership of President Damien ended up being more bland than expected.

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This morning, we received word that the location for the grade-level competition to be held in a week was the result of discussions between President Damien and several senior professors who had held their own internal meeting.

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I glanced at the photo in my hand. It was a picture of a city with beautiful blue sea and white buildings lined up beautifully.

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It was a photo of a place called Brittany, a representative port city of the empire. It was also the place selected as the final location for this year’s school-level training.

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Looking at the blue sea beyond the photo, I realized that it had been quite a while since I had been to the sea.

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‘When was the last time you went?’

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I couldn’t even remember. What was certain was that I had never been to the sea since I became a thief.

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“Oh… Is this it? The location for the grade-by-grade sparring is… .”

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Deacon Sophia looked at the photograph in my hand with admiration. I nodded and handed it to her.

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“Yes. It’s called Brittany. It doesn’t seem too far away.”

“Wow… .”

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Deacon Sophia’s eyes sparkle. Just like the sea in the photo, her eyes are filled with blue.

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“I’ve never been to the ocean!”

“Is that so?”

“Yes! Hehe… . I’m looking forward to it a little!”

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– I’ve never been to the sea.

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Suddenly, a gust of wind blew from somewhere. I turned my head without realizing it.

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The window in the professor’s office was slightly open. Since the air conditioner was on, I went to the window to close it.

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A crack in the window. The wind that came in through that tiny gap was hot and… .

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– So… When the war is over, I want to see it with my own eyes. A place called the sea.

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“… … .”

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It seemed to carry a faint saltiness, like a wind blowing from the seaside.

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* * * * *

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Elin stroked the hair of her friend who was lying down next to her. The soft pink hair was gently combed under her hands.

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“Chloe. Are you sleepy?”

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Of course, the owner of the hair was Chloe. Chloe answered Elin’s question in a mumbled voice, her face buried in the desk.

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“Ugh… A little?”

“Isn’t that a little bit? Weren’t you up late last night?”

“Hwaaam… . Reviewing last week’s class content… .”

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Chloe, who had been studying the theory until dawn, soon yawned and blinked her sleepy eyes.

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These days, Chloe’s attention is entirely focused on the grade-level competitions.

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It wasn’t just a desire to show off her abilities. It wasn’t like there was anyone she wanted to look good at.

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The reason Chloe was interested in the grade-level competition was none other than the scholarship.

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First-year students do not take exams in the first semester. This was true, but it was a different story for students receiving scholarships.

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In order to receive a scholarship from Chaldea Imperial Academy, one had to be considered an excellent student, and the criteria for evaluating excellent students included the grades of the annual duel.

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Not only that, the excellent students who were selected in this way could receive a letter of recommendation from the professor of their choice. This was a huge benefit.

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This was the reason why other first-year students were so eager to practice their sparring, even though the sparring was not included in the test scores. The students in Class A, which she belonged to, were even more so.

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Some students simply wanted a scholarship, others wanted a letter of recommendation from a professor, and many wanted to do well in their grade-level competitions.

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Chloe was one of those who hoped for a scholarship. Unlike other students from noble families, Chloe, whose family was not wealthy, had to somehow produce good results in order to maintain her scholarship.

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‘If I don’t make it to the top…’

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If that happens, she will have to balance her studies and work.

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If you try to balance school and work, your academic achievements will naturally decline, and it will be difficult to expect good grades in the grade-level competition next year.

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“Ugh… Is Elin doing well?”

“Well… I don’t know either.”

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Elin was silently looking at the magic book. Chloe was secretly envious of Elin.

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Unlike Elin, who had a specialty in spirit magic, Chloe had not yet found any subjects that she was particularly interested in. Although she had a vague talent for magic, her specific talent had not yet blossomed.

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Naturally, she had not yet decided which department she would be divided into in her second year.

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First-year students learn the basic knowledge of all magical departments, so they are collectively called the Faculty of Magic. However, if they advance to the second year, Chloe will also have to make a choice.

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“27 minutes!”

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At that moment, a student’s voice echoed throughout the classroom. The students of Class A, who had been a little noisy, turned around like machines.

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Students who were sleeping got up, and students who were reviewing their books for other subjects quickly put their books away. This was because Professor Antonelli did not like studying other subjects during his class time.

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Chloe’s eyes widened and turned to the clock hanging on one wall of the classroom.

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Even though I was tired from preparing for the annual duel, it was Professor Antonelli’s theology class that was only held twice a week. It was impossible for me to fall asleep.

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‘What kind of class will you teach today…?’

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Chloe’s mouth became dry as she grew anxious. It was the same for the other students.

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So, the minute hand on the clock points to 28 minutes. And then it points to 29 minutes… .

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Knock knock!

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The students who were looking at their watches froze. It was because a sound that they should not have heard was heard right now.

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Step, step.

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On the platform, Professor Antonelli, with his usual blunt appearance, was walking. Perhaps because it was summer, he looked different in a short-sleeved shirt rather than his usual stuffy priestly attire.

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“Hello everyone. ”

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Professor Antonelli’s voice echoed through the lecture hall. Then, Deacon Sophia followed him and hurried up to the podium.

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“I have something to announce today, so I came a little early before class starts.”

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A look of relief appeared on the faces of the students who had been looking at him with expressions like, ‘What did that guy eat wrong?’

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This was the first time Professor Antonelli had come in at a time other than 9:30 when class started, so that was the reaction.

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“Deacon Sophia will make an announcement. Deacon Sophia.”

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As Professor Antonelli took a step back from the podium, Deacon Sophia walked confidently toward the podium. Soon, a lively voice burst out of her mouth.

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“The location for this year’s Chaldea Imperial Academy’s annual duels has finally been decided!”

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Behind Deacon Sophia who was speaking like that, Professor Antonelli started writing something on the blackboard. The eyes of the students who were looking at it gradually grew wide.

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“…Britney?”

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Because it was written in large letters on the blackboard, it was a name the students could not have imagined.

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“This year’s grade-level sparring will be held at the branch school in Brittany, not the Academy! The reason is… . You all know, right? Hehe… .”

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Deacon Sophia smiled brightly. The students, who had no doubt that the event would take place in the Academy’s training hall, simply looked at her with dumbfounded expressions.

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Meanwhile, Deacon Sophia walked away from the podium and Professor Antonelli approached.

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“I think everyone is familiar with the notice. If you have any questions, please refer to the Academy bulletin board.”

“… … .”

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Exactly!

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Suddenly, Professor Antonelli snapped his fingers. The students’ attention, which had been focused elsewhere, turned to Professor Antonelli.

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“It’s time, so let’s start class now.”

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The students’ eyes turned to the clock.

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To my surprise, the clock was pointing to exactly 9:30.

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It was the beginning of a theology class like any other.

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