episode_0038
by fnovelpiaSatan. Ghost. Evil spirit. Devil.
Or, the devil.
“Throughout human history, they have been called by countless names.”
Professor Antonelli’s body slowly crosses the stage. Deacon Sophia, holding a glowing orb, follows him. Thanks to this, the students are able to keep an eye on Professor Antonelli.
Step, step.
Was it because the classroom was dark? To the students’ ears, his footsteps sounded heavier than usual.
“In fact, Satan is the name for the leader of the evil spirits of hell… . In any case, this evil being has many names. So, here we cannot help but ask one question.”
Why do you have so many names?
Why? This question was the key to solving Professor Antonelli’s previous assignment, so the students were able to raise the question first. Naturally, the students began to think deeply.
Towards those students, Professor Antonelli said:
“Since the Lord created the world, all things in this world have been called by numerous names.”
Since the birth of the first light, countless plants and animals have appeared and disappeared. They have been called by different names, and they will continue to do so in the future.
“The existence of the devil has also been with humanity for a long time. Here, we must ask another question.”
Those things that have already disappeared into the past have disappeared despite being called by many names.
“Then, what does it mean that so many names by which demons were called in the past still remain?”
The students opened their mouths and sighed. The answer to that question was the worst answer anyone could think of.
“The demons haven’t disappeared yet… .”
“Correct answer.”
There was silence among the students. Most of them had never thought deeply about the devil before, but they also had a rough idea of what the devil was like.
“They have been rooted in this land for so long, and still, they live in the dark, hot, brimstone fire of hell below.”
The demons still exist. In their own land of original sin, called Hell.
Gulp—.
Dry saliva ran down the students’ throats. Their wickedness was so unimaginable that even breathing was difficult. Professor Antonelli continued.
“Fortunately, the demons are now unable to come up to the surface and reveal themselves.”
Students tilt their heads. Demons can’t appear on the ground? Then how did they come to be depicted in the picture?
As if to clear up such doubts, Professor Antonelli’s words follow immediately.
“However, the story is different for the summoners who directly summoned them or the saints recorded in the Bible.”
Demon Summoners. The students naturally thought of the demon worshippers who existed on this land a very long time ago.
Witches, heretics, etc. There have been countless devil worshippers throughout human history.
“Those who summon demons. They are not limited to just devil worshippers.
The students’ expressions became mysterious. If they weren’t devil worshippers, then there were crazy authors who could summon those demons?
Professor Antonelli continued.
“A person who has long dreamed of revenge. A person who has an impossible love. A person who is greedy for money… . This is what I whisper to the ears of all the earnest people in this world.”
Call out to me. Call my name.
If you want to sin, just close your eyes, plug your ears, and shut your mouth.
Then, I will grant your wish.
“… … .”
The students were silent. Some of the theology students held rosaries in their hands.
“Their schemes are truly sophisticated and bold. They are the most arrogant beings in the world, who love to live off the desperate hearts of humans and pretend to be saviors who can help them.”
The name Savior has meaning only under the Lord’s will.
But that is why demons dare to call themselves saviors, tempting humans and testing their faith.
“Abandoned by heaven, pursued by angels who were once long-time friends and family, and abandoned descendants who are not even loved by the Lord. That is the true nature of demons.”
A few students shrugged their shoulders. The mere fact that such terribly evil demons exist would surely keep many students up at night for some time.
As if trying to appease the students, Father Antonelli opened his mouth again.
“Except in extremely rare circumstances, such as when someone summons them to further their own interests, demons will no longer be able to come above ground and reveal their true nature.”
In that case, another question inevitably arose from the students’ perspective.
If the demons cannot come up to the surface, shouldn’t this land already be free from their clutches?
In the first place, why can’t demons come up to the surface?
Father Antonelli, who read the students’ doubts, said:
“To be precise, it would be correct to say that they no longer come up to the surface. It means that they do not want to show their ugly true colors to the humans on the surface.”
The students’ eyes are drawn to the picture. A cow’s head, a chicken’s body, a snake’s head, a lion’s head, a dog’s body… An ugly mixture of all kinds of animals.
The students wondered, Are they unable to come up because of their ugly appearance?
However, it seemed unlikely that those wicked demons would hesitate to appear before people simply because they were ugly.
Professor Antonelli opened his mouth.
“As I mentioned in the last class, there is a passage in the Bible where St. Peter uses divine power to cast out demons into hell. Do you remember?”
The students nodded their heads in agreement. It was a passage that said that even before being baptized, St. Peter used his divine powers to defeat demons.
“From that incident, the passage says that the disciples who followed St. Peter began to believe in the Lord with a true heart.”
Professor Antonelli turned the pages of the Bible again. His low voice filled the lecture room.
“Peter’s disciples fell down and prayed, “Surely the vile Satan and the demons have revealed themselves, as the Lord said. Why should we doubt the Lord any longer? For the Lord has triumphed over the world.””
“… No way.”
A student of theology quivered his lips. He immediately closed his eyes tightly, clutched his rosary, and clasped his hands together in front of his chest.
“When he revealed himself before St. Peter and his disciples, the demons noticed.”
Father Antonelli put down the covered Bible with a thud and spoke softly.
“When they reveal themselves, humans will come to believe in the existence of the Lord.”
It was something that gave the students goosebumps all over their bodies.
It was an evil realization. It was precisely because humans believed in the existence of the Lord without any doubt that they, a collection of evil beings, did not reveal their true form on earth.
“Therefore, demons cannot come up to the ground directly.”
The intentions of the demons were full of sincere malice. Several theology students who noticed the intention trembled their lips. Professor Antonelli continued his explanation.
“Then how do demons exert their influence on the earth? In a world where those who worship demons have already disappeared and the method of summoning demons has been completely forgotten, how can their evil hands defile the world?”
Finding the answer to Professor Antonelli’s question was now a sacred duty given to the students in this classroom.
“We will hear your opinions for about five minutes. Please raise your hand and speak freely. Oh, I will exclude theology students. Only students other than theology students, please raise your hand.”
After Professor Antonelli gave permission, several students raised their hands. Professor Antonelli pointed to them one by one.
“Elin student.”
“Yes. So, um… . Somewhere in the world, there are still devil worshippers?”
“No. Next student.”
“Somewhere in the system there is a passage leading to hell… .”
“Next.”
“Because the demons have the ability to teleport… .”
“… … .”
“… Sorry!”
Except for Elin, the opinions were all of a low standard. Instead of scolding the students, Professor Antonelli simply looked at them silently.
As the students who had raised their hands proudly fell down, the rest of the students began to hesitate to answer. Professor Antonelli, who saw this, let out a sigh without realizing it.
“Can I tell you something?”
Laura von Adelheid was a female student with a confident attitude and speech.
Laura raised her hand and looked at Father Antonelli with a proud expression, then quickly received his permission and began to speak.
“If the demons can’t appear in person, why don’t they exert their influence by taking on human form?”
The theology students gasped. What Laura was saying was….
“… Prince.”
What is a demon? It is an evil being, a demon, who is obsessed with malice and enters a human body to carry out his will.
Professor Antonelli’s expression brightened slightly.
“Correct answer. To be exact, they exist in the form of parasites in the human body. In theological terms, they are called possessed spirits, and this is what is usually said among the general public when they are possessed by an evil spirit or possessed by a ghost.”
“Professor. What harm do demons cause by hiding in human bodies?”
A student raised his hand and asked a question. It was unusual for students who had previously just taken notes to ask questions so boldly.
“Good question. What effect does the demon that enters the body of the possessed have?”
The students opened their notebooks. They guessed that this part would be the key content. Professor Antonelli continued.
“These are beings that are born negative. Therefore, they can only cause great harm to the human body that the demons parasitize. Both mentally and physically. Also, since their true nature is not revealed when they enter the human body, it is impossible to use divine power to drive them out.”
As befitting a culmination of evil, the possessed will suffer greatly if their parasitism is not stopped.
“Then, what should we do when the demons enter our bodies?”
A timid-looking female student asked a question. Professor Antonelli held up a rosary in the shape of a cross.
“In that case, we perform something called the Grand Exorcism Ceremony, but it is a very difficult concept, so I will explain it in detail later.”
“Yes… .”
Professor Antonelli glanced at the clock on the wall. The hands were running towards 11:30 AM, signaling the end of class.
Professor Antonelli slowly gathered up the items on the desk. Likewise, the expressions of the students looking at their watches were filled with regret.
For young students who had not yet realized the reality of the existence of the devil, it felt like listening to a scary story.
Professor Antonelli opened his mouth to give a weak warning to those students.
“Before we wrap up the lesson, let me define them in one word:”
Professor Antonelli stopped walking. The destination was in front of a picture of a demon on a blackboard.
“An old enemy of mankind.”
And, the students who saw that picture.
Suddenly, I couldn’t help but tremble at the cold fear that licked my entire body and passed over me.
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