episode_0018
by fnovelpiaChloe blinked her sleepy eyes. She covered her mouth with her hand and yawned lazily for countless times.
“Ugh… . I’m sleepy… .”
She somehow managed to sit down on the chair with her sagging body, but it was difficult to handle the approaching water. Chloe looked back at Elin, who was sitting next to her.
“Haaaam…. Elin. Aren’t you sleepy?”
“Drrrrung—.”
“… … .”
Elin was on the verge of fainting. She wasn’t the only one who couldn’t sleep. It was just Chloe’s sabotage that kept her awake.
There were two reasons why Chloe couldn’t sleep. One was the assignment for the theology course that was running out, and the other was the ghost of the first parish priest, Giovanni.
The assignment that Professor Antonelli had given was extremely difficult. No matter how much I searched through theological books, I couldn’t get a feel for it. However, the assignment was due in just three days.
This alone would have made a good night’s sleep a distant dream, but as if that weren’t enough, the second reason was no easy feat either.
The reason was that after experiencing the ghost incident, he naturally became aware of the existence of ghosts. He started to act compulsively, such as wrapping his entire body in the blanket so that his toes wouldn’t go outside the blanket, or putting the chair back in before going to bed if he had pulled it out.
It was a pathological level. At the time, it wasn’t that scary thanks to Father Antonelli’s prayer, but after the effect of the prayer wore off, that face kept coming to mind.
So, talking to Elin all night was the cause of the trouble, even though Elin was extremely annoyed.
Suddenly, I looked at my watch. The small hour hand was pointing to the number 9. There were still 30 minutes left before class started.
Chloe sat down close to the desk. Placing two large lumps of flesh on the desk made her hunched shoulders feel a little more relieved.
Lying down, she found a stable position. Chloe closed her eyes in satisfaction.
‘Professor Antonelli, are you okay?’
I went to visit Professor Esther over the weekend, but since I didn’t get any response, I went back to the dormitory. The last thing I remember was Professor Antonelli being carried away, unconscious, so it was natural that I was worried.
‘Professor, you were so supportive.’
That day, I felt the presence of a ghost with my whole body.
Chloe was able to catch a glimpse of why Professor Antonelli was a professor at the Chaldea Imperial Academy. His divine power was so brilliant and strong. That was enough to make Chloe deeply impressed by Professor Antonelli.
It was very reassuring. After reciting the prayer with Deacon Sophia, the golden wall appeared. Professor Antonelli’s back standing in front of it was very reassuring and reassuring… .
“Ugh… !”
I was looking forward to Professor Antonelli’s class. It wasn’t just because of what happened on the first day of class. I was just curious about Professor Antonelli’s condition.
Chloe looked up. Time had passed quickly, and the clock was already pointing to 9:29. Chloe stared at the second hand.
“57 seconds. 58 seconds. 59 seconds… .”
And finally, when the second hand points to 12.
Knock knock!
‘…come!’
Chloe suddenly sat up, her upper body half-lying. Elin, who had been lying face down next to her, was now looking at the stage, complete with writing utensils.
Step, step.
The sound of sharp footsteps echoed. It was the appearance of Professor Lucio Antonelli, a professor of theology for Class 1-A.
‘You look okay. That’s a relief… .’
Chloe smiled faintly. Today, I will definitely find the key to the assignment.
Professor Antonelli, who had been looking around the classroom for a while, nodded slightly as if he was satisfied with the quiet and calm atmosphere of the classroom and headed to the podium at the very front of the classroom.
Meanwhile, the classroom remains silent. No sound is heard. Not a single student takes his eyes off him.
This is Professor Antonelli’s theology class. You shouldn’t miss a single moment of it.
The assignment that Professor Antonelli gave on the first day of class. Now, with only three days left until the deadline, everyone was desperately clinging to it.
In addition, apart from the assignments, there were many students who were strongly attracted to Professor Antonelli’s class itself. Most of them were from the Faculty of Magic and the Faculty of Theology, and all of them wanted to witness the enlightenment or the thrilling proof of faith from their first class once again.
Such students regarded Professor Antonelli’s theology class as a kind of ‘wall to break down a wall’, and they greedily coveted the theological knowledge gained by taking notes in each class in order to regain the pure essence itself created by that sparkling intellect and faith.
“Hello, everyone.”
Professor Antonelli grabbed the podium and opened his mouth. Chloe came to her senses.
“Another week has passed, and here we are again… . I want to tell you that this week will be a little different.”
Professor Antonelli, wearing his glasses as usual, scanned the classroom with tired, sharp eyes. He continued, standing with his backpack on.
“Three days later. That is, because this Friday is the deadline for the assignment I gave you.”
At Professor Antonelli’s words, who raised three fingers, each student swallowed. What kind of future would unfold if they couldn’t submit their assignments? The students didn’t want to think about that.
“I hope you spent the past two weekends without any regrets.”
After saying those chilling words, Professor Antonelli silently opened the Bible and theology books. The students’ hands became busy turning the pages along with him.
“Then, let’s start the theology class for Class 1A.”
And so, a strange class began, with every student’s eyes sparkling with their own desires.
* * * * *
The class proceeded quietly and smoothly as usual. I continued the class with a feeling of satisfaction inside.
“Then Peter said to his disciples, “Blessed, blessed is I! Yesterday, when I was angry and rebuked Satan and the wicked spirits, the heavens opened and the Lord’s judgment came down from the glass palace and drove them into hell. How beautiful is the way to heaven!”
Today, since the deadline for the assignment is approaching, I was covering the content related to the assignment. I continued talking while looking over the students who were diligently writing in their notebooks.
“This passage connects to the previous passage where the devils tempt St. Peter. St. Peter, who did not fall for their wicked tricks, immediately rebukes them, and thanks to the grace of the Lord who responded, he uses divine power to drive out the devils, and at that time he says these words:”
Blessed, blessed! Truly blessed!
I took a moment to observe the students’ reactions. The Bible verse that had just appeared was the central phrase of this assignment.
However, everyone just bowed their heads and focused on writing, and not a single student tried to use their own brain to interpret the text.
I let out a faint sigh. It’s good that everyone is paying attention in class, but it’s foolish to just mechanically follow the class notes.
I looked at the students whose eyes met mine. Each of them had their own thoughts, but there was something they all had in common. I couldn’t help but blame myself.
‘… I guess the class is too theoretical.’
What I could see from those mechanically-taking eyes was my overly theoretical class. It was a class that stopped the students from thinking.
Well then, there is a way.
“Okay. At this point, let’s do a simple experiment.”
The students’ eyes had already changed. Expectant eyes sparkled here and there.
“Um… . There. Chloe student?”
“… Uh, yeah?”
I pointed to Chloe among them. Chloe, who was pointed out with a puzzled expression, soon looked at me with hesitation.
“Come forward.”
“That, that’s… . Yeah… .”
Chloe came down to the front of the classroom, hesitating and looking embarrassed. I whispered to her, who was standing next to me.
“Don’t be too nervous. It’s just a simple experiment.”
“Ugh… . Yes.”
The students’ eyes were unusual. Their eyes were already filled with interest and anticipation, and they seemed to be shooting out rays here and there. Even Deacon Sophia, who was a little far away.
“As we saw earlier, St. Peter said, “Blessed are you.” Is that right?”
Students nodded here and there. I continued speaking, touching my chin.
“Aren’t you curious? Why did they consider it such a blessed thing that St. Peter used his divine power to drive out demons?”
The classroom became quiet in another sense. Among the students who were looking at each other, contrary to expectations, not a single person raised an arm.
Just as I was about to open my mouth, a thin arm rose from the front row.
“Student Laura von Adelheid.”
It was Laura. Laura, who had her usual haughty and arrogant expression on her face, stood up gracefully and opened her mouth when I pointed to her.
“It seems that he said that it was a blessed, blessed thing that the devils were the root of all evil, and that by sending them back to hell with the help of the Lord, he secured the safety of his disciples.”
“… It wasn’t the answer I thought it was, but it was a good answer.”
Laura wiggled her eyebrows, then sat down quietly. As Laura failed, the classroom became even quieter.
“… Is there anyone?”
My mouth is watering. If I tell you the answer myself, I’m afraid that the students will submit their assignments without any understanding.
I want to teach them how to fish, not give them fish.
“Then, I will show you the answer.”
So, I decided to show it.
I grabbed Chloe’s hand tightly. Chloe shivered for a moment as if she had been shocked, then opened her eyes wide and looked back and forth between me and my hand.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Can I hold your hand for a moment?”
“Ah, that, that… .”
Chloe, whose face had turned as red as a carrot, nodded with difficulty, lowering her face.
“Thank you, Chloe.”
I raised my hand, which was holding Chloe’s, so that everyone in the classroom could see it.
“I understand that Chloe is a student of the Faculty of Magic. Is that correct?”
“Yes, yes… . That’s right.”
“Then, Chloe, have you ever used divine powers before?”
Chloe shook her head, her expression blank.
“No…? I’ve never used it before.”
“Then here is the question.”
Why have you never used it?
If it was a stupid question, it was a stupid question. But Chloe couldn’t answer. She was speechless.
Chloe, a student in Class 1-A’s Faculty of Magic, cannot use divine powers.
then.
Why on earth?
This is a question that breaks common sense, but it is also a key to solving the problem I presented in the first class. In any case, the advancement of knowledge comes from questions that break common sense.
All the students in the classroom, including Chloe, tilted their heads. They scratched their heads, tapped their pens, and stroked their chins.
Just like the students who each show off their own unique habits, Chloe’s answer came after much thought.
“Because my body can’t use divine powers… . Isn’t that why… ?”
It was an expected answer, and the students seemed to think so too. More and more students nodded in agreement with Chloe’s answer. Laura von Adelheid was the same.
“Do you agree?”
There wasn’t a single student who didn’t nod. Everyone was thinking the same thing.
Well then, I will break that prejudice.
“I will tell you right here and now.”
I look at the faces of the students looking at me. And, one word.
“Before the end of class today, let’s make Chloe here able to use her divine powers.”
“… … .”
Just like Chloe, whose mouth was wide open, all the students in the classroom looked dumbfounded.
There was a long silence as if he didn’t understand what I was saying.
Kkudangtang—!
It was a moment. All the students in the classroom, including Laura in the front row, jumped up from their seats.
And then, until a huge uproar occurred in the classroom.
It didn’t take long.
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