episode_0024
by fnovelpiaFather Peter looked at the man before him.
The eyes were hollow and the pupils were like those of a dead fish. The skin was so pale that it was almost white. The black hair was a little messy. The glasses were roughly placed on the nose.
A tall, muscular man with no visible fat was standing there, wearing a priest’s robe. The black robe, which should normally be neat and solemn, looked gloomy for some reason.
As I watched the deputy with the golden, bobbed hair standing next to him, chatter brightly the whole time, the difference between the two seemed even more evident.
In a word, this man is so gloomy. Father Peter almost frowned without thinking.
‘Is this person… the head priest of the Academy’s main church?’
It seemed that way, given the circumstances. When I contacted the Academy, I received a reply that the head priest of the Academy’s main church would come out to greet me in person.
Father Peter walked slowly towards him.
The negative reaction was also felt by Priest Camilla. Likewise, she approached the man and whispered to Priest Peter.
“Father Peter. Is that the parish priest of the Academy?”
“… I think so.”
“Oh my… Is this the end of the Chaldea Imperial Academy?”
“Don’t judge a person by their appearance. Priest Camilla.”
“No, that’s a bit much. At least save some face.”
Priest Camilla was right. For a priest from the Holy Land to be welcoming a visiting delegation, he looked quite unsightly. At least, he should have at least fixed up his messy hair.
While they were thinking like that, the distance between them almost narrowed. Father Peter, who had come close enough to have a conversation, spoke first.
“May the grace of the Lord be with you. I am Peter, a humble servant of the Lord, a junior priest, belonging to the Blue Rose Society of the Holy Land. This is Camilla, a junior priest.”
“Senior Priest, Lucio Antonelli. In addition to being the parish priest of the Academy, he also holds the position of professor of theology. This is Deacon Sophia.”
“May the grace of the Lord be with you… .”
Deacon Sophia, seeing Priest Peter, shrank and lowered her head. Her appearance was like looking at a small animal.
At Deacon Sophia’s reaction, Father Peter tilted his head.
‘… Have we met somewhere?’
Her face seemed somewhat familiar. He had seen her a few times on the road, but soon Father Peter began to ignore her.
‘I guess you were a student at the Clergy Academy.’
I had been the dormitory superintendent there, so if there was anywhere I could see it, it had to be there. Father Peter smiled kindly.
“Excuse me, but did you by any chance graduate from the Clergy Academy in the Holy Land?”
“… Hehe.”
“Huh?”
Father Peter expressed his doubts at the sight of Deacon Sophia suddenly starting to hiccup. Father Antonelli took a step forward and said,
“Sub-title Sophia is a bit shy.”
“I don’t even know that. Sorry.”
“Okay, it’s okay… .”
Deacon Sophia was hiding behind the parish priest Antonelli, with only her head sticking out. Father Peter looked embarrassed.
‘This thing is completely covered in ugly hairs.’
When he was in charge of the dormitory, he was quite strict and rigid. But that is now a thing of the past. Father Peter did not want to cause any friction.
Father Peter, who still had not lost his smile, spoke to Father Antonelli.
“Haha… . Since it is a matter of urgent time, I would like to visit the main academy hall right now… .”
“Of course. Come this way.”
Father Peter followed Father Antonelli, who started walking ahead.
‘This time, I definitely… .’
Reminding myself again of the purpose of coming here.
* * * * *
The main hall of the academy was deserted. There were no students attending classes or professors of theology here, and only a few caretakers were seen to manage the place.
It had been a long time since I had entered the parish office. Come to think of it, it was understandable, since I had been busy with assignments recently.
The parson’s office also had a soft sofa and a tea table, which were intended for guests like today. Without hesitation, I sat down on the sofa located at the head of the table.
It was natural, since I was of a higher rank than these two.
Father Camilla and Father Peter took their seats on opposite sofas. They had not spoken a word to each other on the way here, so it seemed obvious that they were not on good terms.
At that moment, Deacon Sophia approached cautiously.
“Excuse me, Your Majesty. Shall I bring you some black tea?”
“I’ll have the black tea I always drink. You two here… . Is black tea okay?”
To my question, Father Peter smiled warmly.
“I’m fine with anything, but if you treat me, I’ll drink it with gratitude.”
“I like it too.”
Deacon Sophia was busy making tea.
“… Hmm.”
I glanced at Father Camilla. She was looking around the parsonage with sharp eyes.
Unlike Father Peter, who now appears to be in his middle years, Father Camilla did not appear to be in her mid-twenties at first glance. She had risen through the ranks very quickly.
Of course, I, who was just about to turn thirty, also felt that it was too early for me to become a senior priest. In my case, my achievements in the Great War played a big role.
So then, why did Father Camilla attain the rank of intermediate priest so quickly?
I am not the type to hold back my curiosity, but there are steps that must be taken in human conversation. I leaned back on the sofa and looked back at Father Peter.
“Did you experience any inconvenience on your way here?”
“Yes. I rode the Imperial Crossing Train, which I had only heard rumors about, and the Empire was indeed a large and advanced country. The ride was very comfortable.”
“That’s fortunate.”
Father Camilla was silent. He just sat quietly and listened to our conversation.
Seeing that Father Peter was speaking to me as a representative, it seemed that Father Peter was a bit more senior. Even though they were mid-level priests, priests do not only consider their rank.
“As I’ve heard, the main hall of the Chaldea Imperial Academy is magnificent. Compared to the cathedrals I’ve seen in the Holy Land, it’s not far behind.”
“Thank you.”
After Deacon Sophia brought out the tea, we continued our conversation while enjoying the tea leisurely.
How long had it been since we had such a formal conversation?
“Over there… . Priest Antonelli.”
Father Peter lowered his voice a little. I had a strong feeling that what was coming had come.
“Yes, Father Peter.”
“The purpose of our visit here is…. Don’t you already know?”
“You came all the way here to dispose of your fingers, didn’t you?”
When the story about fingers came up, Deacon Sophia, who was standing behind me, flinched. Father Peter glanced at her and nodded heavily.
“That’s right. His Holiness is very wary of the finger that still remains in the Chaldean Imperial Academy.”
“Hmm… .”
“If it is okay with Father Antonelli, I would like to check that finger as soon as possible… .”
Father Peter looked quite impatient. Of course, I too was secretly concerned about keeping that ominous finger in my possession.
“Okay.”
I nodded coolly. I quickly got up from the sofa and walked towards the desk by the window.
When I opened the drawer, a luxurious box that had been prepared in advance appeared. I carefully picked up the box with both hands.
He returned to his seat and placed the box on the table, not thinking of leaving the gaze of Father Peter and Father Camilla.
“is inside.”
“This, inside this… . That finger… .”
Gulp.
Father Peter swallowed dry saliva and slowly reached out his hand toward the box. He looked quite nervous, and so did Father Camilla, who was watching him.
I watched the two of them silently.
‘I guess that ghost story is true.’
If two priests from the Holy Land reacted like this, I couldn’t help but believe the horror stories about the first parish priest, Giovanni.
If so, then the finger inside is really that of Father Giovanni. I got goosebumps all over again.
Dull.
By the hand of the priest Peter, the lid covering the box was pushed aside. Inside was an oblong object wrapped in a sash.
“Did you wrap the… . around the yeongdae?”
“Yes. Just in case.”
“I see. Certainly… .”
The priest Peter’s hands carefully removed the cassock, revealing dark, gnarled fingers.
“Is there an evil spirit sleeping in here?”
When I asked, Father Peter shrugged his shoulders slightly.
“Well… I don’t know yet. But it doesn’t seem like a good idea to keep it in an academy where students come and go.”
“I think so too.”
He was a man of sound mind. In my mind, my opinion of Father Peter went up a little.
Father Peter fiddled with his fingers for a moment, then put it back into the box. The lid of the box was carefully closed.
“Hehehe… . We will definitely take care of this finger. Don’t worry too much. ”
“I trust you and leave it to you.”
“Hmm… . But… .”
Father Peter, holding the box in his arms, stroked his beard and looked at me blankly. I asked him, not understanding the intention behind his actions.
“Why are you like that?”
“I’m sorry to ask, but have you ever fought in the Great War?”
“… Why are you asking that?”
An aggressive tone came out of my mouth without me knowing. Father Peter looked a little embarrassed.
“That’s… . I know it’s presumptuous of me to say this, but you seem quite young for your rank. I thought it was because you majored in it.”
“… I won’t answer that question.”
Their eyes widened slightly. I ignored them and continued speaking.
“This is purely my personal opinion, so I hope there is no misunderstanding. I apologize.”
“Oh, no. I think I asked a very personal question.”
I looked at Father Peter, who had a puzzled expression, with slightly cold eyes.
I had no desire to tell the people of the Holy Land about my participation in the war. In my experience, I was not impressed by the people of the Holy Land, and they did not trust me.
That was also the reason why I never told Deacon Sophia. It was really unpleasant to tell someone from the Holy Land that I had been in the war.
“So, where will you two be staying for the next few days… .”
Yes, that’s right, I was trying to change the subject.
“… Hey, Father Antonelli?”
Father Camilla, who had been keeping his mouth shut, opened his mouth to me.
I heard her husky voice and turned my head. Her sharp eyes were looking at me.
Priest Camilla’s mouth opens again.
“Do you know a priest named Helena?”
Just one word she uttered. Just that one word… .
“… … .”
My world, which I had been holding on to with such difficulty, simply came crashing down.
So, so miserably.
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