episode_0019
by fnovelpiaWhat is that guy talking about?
Laura von Adelheid clutched her confused head. She could not understand what the man in front of her, Professor Lucio Antonelli, was saying.
So, now.
Chloe is neither a priest nor a theology student, but just a student of the Faculty of Magic.
“Ah, haha… .”
You’re saying it allows you to use divine powers?
When I came to my senses, Laura had already jumped up from her seat. But she had no confidence in sitting still. The other students were no different.
“Ma, that’s ridiculous.”
“Is that… possible?”
“Today too, I’m in great shape… .”
A look of bewilderment spreads through those eyes, and an uncontrollable desire to explore hidden within them slowly reveals itself. All the students’ eyes burn brightly.
“Ah, ahh…! The Lord’s blessings are widely spread! How righteous this is…!”
“If that really happens, it is truly the grace of the Lord…!”
The theology students were almost in tears. They held each other’s hands and looked at Professor Antonelli with earnest and sincere eyes.
It wasn’t just the students of the theology department. Everyone stood up, staring at the podium with their eyes wide open and their mouths hanging open in a daze. No one was spared.
Now, Professor Antonelli is directly challenging common sense. It is no different from declaring war on everyone in this classroom.
I will shatter your common sense. I will test the limits of your intellect, the walls you cannot overcome.
Theology classes had long since been put on the back burner. This class was going crazy.
And then, Laura suddenly remembered.
– Please submit a ten-page summary of the reasons why everyone cannot use divine powers and a solution to the problem.
Professor Antonelli’s task. The reason why those other than priests cannot use divine power. And, the method by which such people can use divine power.
Professor Antonelli was now about to show us everything about the task. This was like giving us a spear that could pierce through everything, the unbreakable shield he had presented.
If you just stare blankly at this, there is nothing more foolish than that. Laura von Adelheid quickly grabbed her pen and opened her notebook.
From now on, from this moment on, write down everything you see, hear, and feel. Don’t miss a single moment.
As Laura opened her notebook with her eyes burning brightly, all the students in the classroom prepared to take notes.
“Me, me too… !”
“Oh my…! Just tear me up one page of the notebook! No, five!”
“Does anyone have a spare pen?! A pen that draws ink well!”
The classroom became noisy. Students, each in his own way, tried to find the best spot on the podium.
Even in the aisle running through the middle of the classroom, students who had thrown away their pride and pretense were sitting there. The classroom that had been so noisy.
Swish.
Professor Antonelli raised his hand and the silence was quickly restored. The students looked at him with stern expressions.
“Everyone. It’s class time now. Don’t make any noise.”
With that one word, the students quickly regain order. A student who runs out of space to write naturally asks for paper from his friends, and a student who runs out of ink borrows an extra pen.
The sight of such orderly behavior was truly astonishing to Laura. Professor Antonelli was now in control of all the students in the classroom.
In just one word, he would make Chloe use her divine powers.
As the classroom became somewhat quiet, Professor Antonelli began to move.
“The manifestation of divine power. It has long been claimed that this power is only permitted to baptized priests.”
The students listened to him quietly. Professor Antonelli continued.
“The grace of the Lord that only priests can use. The miracle of God. It is a truly old prejudice. There were times when it was abused in the past.”
The expressions of the students in the theology department were a little stiff. It was understandable, since it was a dark history for them.
“As I said earlier, Saint Peter uses divine powers with the help of the Lord to defeat the demons. But, isn’t that strange?”
The question raised by Professor Antonelli: Why do people say that it is only allowed for priests?
“Saint Peter, the eighth apostle of the Lord, had not yet been baptized at that time.”
“… … !”
The entire classroom was abuzz. The students’ shoulders shook and waves of excitement swelled.
I quickly opened the Bible. The students were quickly turning the pages of the Bible.
Looking at those students, Professor Antonelli said with an indifferent expression.
“But, listen. You, Peter, have come all the way to Samadhan in one go, wanting to be baptized by me as an apostle, but it is still too early for me to wash away your sins and command you to repent.”
“… 1 Peter, Chapter 1, Verse 8… .”
A student from the theology department muttered absentmindedly. And then the students realized.
“When Saint Peter defeated Satan and evil spirits with divine power, Saint Peter was not yet baptized.”
Professor Antonelli drove the wedge in. The students’ common sense, which had been gradually cracking and splitting, began to shatter like a broken glass window.
Saint Peter in the Bible used divine powers without being baptized.
So when was St. Peter baptized?
As if to clear up such doubts, Professor Antonelli’s words followed immediately.
“Only after Saint Peter defeats the demons does the Lord allow him to be baptized.”
Professor Antonelli opened the Bible. The rustling pages of the book stopped, and soon a solemn voice filled the lecture room.
“Peter fell down before the glass palace and wept, saying, “Now I understand the grace of my blessed Lord.” Then the Lord showed his light and pointed to the waters of the river Samadan and said, ”
If you ask for it, you will receive, because your faith has reached me.
You, Peter, now is the time to repent.
“1 Peter, Chapter 12, Verse 27.”
A shiver ran through the bodies of the students who were reading the Bible following Professor Antonelli.
The students of the theology department were already kneeling on the floor. The students of the theology department, making the sign of the cross and kissing the rosary beads, had come to an unexpected realization.
“That’s it, that’s what it was… !”
“Ah, Lord! Today, I am overwhelmed by Your grace! The Father’s kingdom has come!”
A brilliant realization from the students of the theology department. Professor Antonelli, the source of it all, opened his mouth while scanning the classroom.
“The introduction was long, but I think some students have already half-understood what I was trying to say.”
Most of the theology students nodded. They were all shedding tears, sniffling, and looking overwhelmed with emotion.
“That’s a very fortunate thing, but I don’t think you fully realize it yet… . I’ll show you now.”
Professor Antonelli turned to look at Chloe. The students’ upper bodies were stretched out over the desks.
“Now, from now on… .”
“You’re crazy. You’re really crazy… !”
Each student was holding a pen and notebook. The enlightenment that would be given to them would be a huge obstacle that they would be able to overcome. The students were concentrating with all their might in anticipation of it.
Someone will paint the picture of what will happen next. It will be mainly students, especially those in the art department.
Someone will describe the scene, analyze it, and find answers. It will be the students of the Divinity and Magic departments who will take on the task.
And, as luck would have it, Laura von Adelheid is sitting in the front row of this lecture hall right now.
The hand holding the notebook began to tremble slightly. Laura swallowed her dry saliva with difficulty.
Gulp—.
Professor Antonelli met Chloe’s eyes. Through Chloe’s pink hair, her pink eyes sparkled with awe.
“Chloe Student.”
“Yes, yes!”
“Close your eyes.”
Chloe closed her eyes. The indifferent face of Professor Antonelli that had filled her vision disappeared, and a dark darkness filled its place.
In the darkness, Professor Antonelli’s gruff, low voice could be heard.
“First, think about what Chloe loves most.”
Chloe thought of her parents in the darkness. Her mother, who was warm and affectionate, and her father, who was blunt but secretly cared for her, came to mind vaguely.
“Did you think of it?”
“Yes… .”
“Then, this time, think of the things you cherish the most. Think of something different from the ones you thought of before.”
Chloe thought of many things. The cute cat she raised at home, the many friends she had met so far, and her best friend Elin.
Chloe had her eyes closed, but now there was no longer only darkness before her eyes. The countless people she cared about came to mind, vividly.
“Are you done?”
“Um… . Yes.”
“Okay, then. This is the last one.”
Gulp. Chloe swallowed.
The last step forward. My heart thumped as I thought that I would be able to use divine powers if I just took one more step.
Professor Antonelli spoke softly to her.
“Now, think of the thing you fear the most.”
The most feared thing…?
“Anything is fine. A person, an object, an animal, even an intangible entity. Think of what Chloe is most afraid of and feels most terrified of.”
Chloe unconsciously closed her eyes tightly. The precious people she had previously thought of disappeared like fog, and pitch-black darkness returned.
‘…Father Giovanni?’
And what appeared out of the darkness was the bloody ghost I had seen before. It was the ghost of the first parish priest, Giovanni.
Chloe’s hands began to sweat. In the darkness, Chloe’s vision was obscured by blood dripping from her entire body, and her eyes were red and bloodshot from the gouged out eyeballs that had been put back in.
The sight of it was so frightening that it had even kept Chloe awake lately. The image of Father Giovanni came to her mind completely.
“Ugh… .”
Chloe was so nervous that she unconsciously clenched the hand she was holding.
“Chloe Student.”
“Yes, yes.”
“The fearful thing you just thought of. And everyone else you thought of before. What is the difference between the two?”
Difference. If I had to name a difference… .
“… The people who came to mind before… . They are people I love and cherish. The ones who came to mind now… . That’s not it.”
“That’s it.”
Chloe didn’t understand what he meant. She raised her head with her eyes closed as Professor Antonelli continued.
“All of these objects are the grace of the Lord.”
“… Yes?”
“Chloe student. The precious relationships you’ve met. The odds of being born into this world to meet them are a whopping 1 in 300 million.”
You were born against the worst odds, blessed by everyone.
Chloe’s body froze. No words came out of her mouth, which was open like an idiot.
“She was born into this world with the love of the Lord, and she met people she loved with the grace of the Lord, and thanks to that, Chloe has so many precious people around her.”
A word from Professor Antonelli. It tickled Chloe’s heart.
“Chloe student. Think again about those you love, those you cherish most.”
Loved ones. Precious ones. Family. Friends. Even kind neighbors.
Before I knew it, the ghost of Father Giovanni had long since disappeared. In its place, precious people who had risen up bigger and clearer than before took their place.
“Keep those who come to mind deep in your heart. They are the ones you never want to lose, and you will treat them with unchanging love and faith. Make a promise deep in your heart. And, from now on, follow what I say”
“Yes.”
“And the Lord said, Let there be light: and there the primordial divine sprang forth.”
“… And the Lord, the Lord said, Let there be light: and there the primordial divinity blossomed forth.”
Hwaaak—.
Suddenly, a light appeared in the darkness. Chloe stared blankly at the light.
Clearly, my eyes were closed. But then, light appeared.
It may be faint and small, and at first glance it may seem unappealing. But its light is warm. It is affectionate. It is enough to brighten up this darkness.
Chloe suddenly felt very comfortable. Her heart felt warm.
“Chloe Student.”
A soft and pleasant low tone rang in Chloe’s ears as she felt comfortable and relaxed throughout her body.
“Now, open your eyes.”
Chloe opened her eyes and stared blankly at Father Antonelli.
Father Antonelli said with a slight smile.
“Chloe Student. See below.”
“… in?”
It is… . It is. Yeah, it is… .
It is light.
The most beautifully shaped gold in the world. It is the most quiet, the smallest, and the warmest light.
The beginning of faith, the beginning of all things. The primordial law, the principle of all things, and the sum of all rules and laws.
The most basic miracle created by divine power. A very small golden sphere.
It was perched on Chloe’s hand.
She stared blankly at it. And it wasn’t just her.
Already, numerous students had gathered in front of the stage, kicking their seats. To see this absurd situation from a little closer. To imprint in their eyes that something truly miraculous had occurred here.
A scene where a very small amount of divine power was manifested, faintly illuminating the stage. However, it was not insignificant.
This is the place of enlightenment. A situation that transcends limits. An unbelievable result.
Because everything came together to create a miracle.
Professor Antonelli, who was looking at the students who had gathered like clouds, muttered quietly but softly enough for everyone to hear.
“Blessed, blessed.”
How blessed is the love of the Lord.
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