episode_0031
by fnovelpiaMerchants who want to sell for the highest possible price raise their voices to bargain the price.
Children running around with bright smiles, people simply out to shop, or tourists visiting from far away were looking around with curious eyes.
“There are so many people!”
“… That’s what I mean.”
The weekend was crowded with people who had come out for an outing after a long time. The downtown area of the island was usually like this.
As I walked with Deacon Sophia, I frowned at the hustle and bustle I heard here and there. As expected, noisy places didn’t suit me at all.
On the other hand, Deacon Sophia was looking around here and there, smiling brightly, as if she was so excited about something. She seemed to be quite fascinated by the sight of the downtown area.
“Isn’t it amazing?”
“What do you mean?”
Deacon Sophia looked up at me.
“There are a lot of people!”
“… Is that strange?”
“You couldn’t see this kind of thing in the Holy Land.”
By the way, wasn’t Deacon Sophia from the Holy Land?
Since the people of the Holy Land all like to be humble, it was unlikely that such a chaotic scene would occur.
“By the way, where should we go from here?”
“I don’t know.”
“Um… .”
Deacon Sophia stared intently at my head. I was conscious of her gaze for no reason, and without realizing it, I turned my head away.
“First, let’s go and get our heads together!”
“Yeah, what… .”
I followed Deacon Sophia. Her steps were so light, and her bouncy figure seemed as if she would fly away somewhere.
My steps were extremely heavy and stiff. I stared blankly at the sight.
Then, all of a sudden, I tried to take steps out of sync with the steps I usually take regularly. It wasn’t a mistake, it was something I did on purpose.
I don’t know why. I couldn’t figure out why. Was it a light mood change? I felt strange.
I simply stepped out of step. What is this indescribable sense of liberation?
This time, I tried moving my right foot a beat slower. The irregular steps became a little more natural.
I tried walking again the way I used to walk.
“… … .”
My usual gait was like watching soldiers march, stiff and angular.
So, I didn’t like seeing it. And that was pretty bad.
But I felt a sense of comfort and stability, and my heart started to flutter. I took my eyes off my footsteps.
“Chief Priest! Over here!”
Deacon Sophia, who was walking ahead, gestured. Her lively smile was truly bright.
When I approached Deacon Sophia, I might have walked a little differently than usual.
* * * * *
Deacon Sophia was in a state of excitement. It had been a while since she had been out.
If things were as usual, he would probably be reading a book in the faculty dormitory, or reading the Bible, or cleaning the main hall of the academy.
But today, she couldn’t dare to waste the weekend like that. Yesterday, Father Antonelli, who had come back from the hospital, had quietly asked her a favor.
– Tomorrow, can you make me human?
Priest Antonelli was usually a stuffy and gloomy beggar. Deacon Sophia was also secretly concerned about his appearance.
Previously, it was an outing for the Sunday service, but when I heard that there was an important engagement, I couldn’t bear it even more.
“The head is like this… . Lift this up a little bit… .”
“How, like this?”
“Yes! Wouldn’t this be better?”
“Oh my. That’s right. The character really comes to life.”
The barber exclaimed as he cut her hair. Deacon Sophia nodded vigorously.
“Miss. Do you want to work at our barbershop? You have a sense.”
“Hmm… . I would be grateful if you could just say something!”
The barber licked his lips with a regretful expression. In the meantime, the messy hair of the head priest Antonelli was being neatly arranged.
“People look different… . Chief Priest.”
“Is that so?”
“Can you see the head priest too? How much has changed.”
“I don’t know.”
“Oh my, is it your highness? I see you call me the head priest.”
“… I’m not that kind of person.”
Deacon Sophia was extremely passionate about Father Antonelli. Has there ever been a time when he was more passionate since becoming Deacon?
So, after about thirty minutes.
With the dedication and passion of Deacon Sophia, and the craftsmanship of the barber who was also motivated, the result finally appeared before the mirror.
“Customer, you’re a good hairdo. I think you’re the best customer I’ve ever had.”
“Wow, wow… . Chief Priest… ?”
The expression on the face of Father Antonelli as he looks into the mirror.
It wasn’t that bad.
* * * * *
“Hmm… . Something feels off.”
Deacon Sophia looked me up and down, her lips licking her lips. I fiddled with my poor hair and asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Clothes. It would be better if you wore something other than priest’s clothes.”
“… Still, I think the priest’s cassock would be better.”
For me, attending the veterans’ meeting in my priest’s cassock meant more than just showing up.
The priest’s robe I always wore on the front lines. It was a sign that I had participated in the Great War, and it was a symbol representing me at that time.
It was impossible for me to meet my old comrades wearing anything other than priestly attire.
Although Deacon Sophia looked at me with eyes dripping with regret, she had no intention of giving in on this matter.
“Well, if the head priest is okay with it, then that’s fine!”
Deacon Sophia smiled brightly and nodded. She seemed to have a bright energy flowing out of her, and her steps seemed to become lighter on their own.
Breaking the mood, I opened my mouth.
“Let’s go back to the dorm.”
“Ah… .”
Deacon Sophia’s expression seemed somewhat regretful. It was a face that seemed to have some regret about going back now. I looked at my wristwatch.
The clock was pointing to around 7 p.m. I must have left the dormitory with Deacon Sophia around lunchtime, but it was strange how quickly time had passed.
I, too, was quite satisfied with today. I couldn’t even remember when I had laughed this much in my life. But now, I had reached my limit.
There were just too many people. I tried not to notice it, but it seemed that human perception tends to be exaggerated when you try to intentionally ignore it.
I felt sorry for Deacon Sophia, who still looked regretful, but I was starting to want to go back to the dormitory.
Perhaps because my expression was visible to her, Deacon Sophia nodded and smiled.
“… Yes. As the head priest said, let’s go back now. That would be good.”
I sighed in relief and nodded contentedly. I was grateful for her concession.
“Yes. Then, straight to the dormitory… .”
But, I.
Why didn’t I notice it sooner?
– Bam! Bam! Bam!!
That I don’t deserve this happiness.
I’ve always been unlucky.
* * * * *
“Gasp… ! Huh… !”
I just ran. I ran like crazy.
I was running through the middle of a battlefield. The worst kind of slaughter, with dirt, dust, gun smoke, and the smell of blood.
Why am I here? Why?
My brain was experiencing cognitive dissonance. I felt like my thoughts were being blocked by an invisible wall. I clenched my teeth.
Helena’s body, which I held in my arms, shook incessantly. I held her tighter and muttered.
“Please… . Please be safe… . Please… .”
This time, I will definitely protect you. I will not let you die.
The loud noise I heard a moment ago was definitely the sound of a howitzer firing. I knew it. I didn’t make any mistakes.
An outing with Deacon Sophia? The veterans’ reunion you were supposed to attend on Sunday, looking squeaky clean?
It was all a dream. It was a dream. It couldn’t have happened otherwise. It was an illusion, and maybe I was going crazy.
I just ran. My heart felt like it was going to burst, and I was running so fast that I felt dizzy.
“… Sir! … God, please… !”
Helena, who was in my arms, shouted something. I wiped my blurry eyes with my sleeve and shouted desperately.
“Are you okay? Huh?! Are you okay?! Please! Please tell me you’re okay! Helena!”
This time, I will protect you. I will do whatever it takes to protect you. Even if God takes her away, I will stop it without hesitation.
No one will harm you. No one.
“I, you…!”
I don’t want to lose you again.
I hugged Helena even tighter. She struggled even harder, but I found myself resenting her for it.
Clearly, you are trying to save the wounded and isolated friendly soldiers by running into the dangerous battlefield. I will not tolerate such behavior any longer.
I’ve had enough of risking my life. So, now…
“Helena! Hold on! We’re almost there!”
It’s time to think about me when I lost you.
“Ugh… . Ugh… !”
How long did I run like that? Before I knew it, the familiar sight of the friendly forces’ camp came into view. I rushed inside without thinking.
It was a familiar trench passage. I ran without stopping. The feeling of stepping on the smooth floor was transmitted through the soles of my shoes.
Yes. The inside of the trench was clean, without any dirt. Even the lights were on cleanly. There was no dirty mud, no stagnant puddles, no rotting corpses.
I continued to run down the trench. Stairs appeared in front of me. Stairs? Were there stairs inside the trench?
I don’t know. I don’t have time to worry about that. I hugged Helena and climbed the stairs carefully, one step at a time. If I fell, Helena might get hurt.
Over there, I can see the medical unit. The medical unit’s camp looked simple and shabby, but it had changed a lot more than I thought.
It looks like an academy dormitory… .
… … .
…ah.
“Ugh… . Gasp… .”
I am.
Me, now.
Where is this?
In a trench? In the middle of a battlefield? Or… .
“Chief Priest… .”
Chaldea Imperial Academy, dormitory for faculty and staff.
I looked down at Helena, who I was holding tightly in my arms. Her golden hair and emerald eyes. It was indeed Helena.
However, Helena did not have short hair. Also, Helena was not a deacon.
“So, Pia Subtitle… .”
She was Deaconess Sophia.
My vision became blurry. I started hearing ringing in my ears.
Beep———.
Deacon Sophia gaped. She heard nothing.
“… Ah.”
I always.
Why is it like this?
Memories of the battlefield, unfortunate memories, the damn aftereffects. Even the feeling of missing you without any reason.
I thought it was changing little by little.
I, haven’t changed at all.
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