episode_0050
by fnovelpiaI blankly looked up at the clear blue sky.
The sun that was high in the sky had slightly tilted. The clouds that had been floating alone had long since disappeared.
“How much did Father Giovanni give?”
Father Matthew didn’t answer right away. He just looked up at the sky with me.
“… I gave it all to you.”
Like that, I let it flow away like a whine.
“To protect the students… . You mean?”
“That’s right.”
“What happened after that?”
“Brother John eventually gave his body to the devil. However, he did not lose his heart for the students. He welcomed the students who came to the church warmly as usual and tried not to listen to the devil’s whispers.”
Father Giovanni was not an irresponsible man. He was not a worthless human being, and he certainly was not a group of devil-worshipping heretics.
“Brother John held out for nearly a month. He stubbornly resisted the whispers of the demons until the exorcist arrived.”
He was just a responsible adult.
“However, it is still difficult to escape from the devil in the body of a human son. The devils have almost completely taken over Brother John’s body.”
“So, what happened?”
“… Fortunately, before things got any worse, a group of exorcists dispatched by the Vatican arrived at the Academy.”
Although Father Giovanni performed a miracle by holding out for a month, the demons’ power grew stronger with each passing day.
If things continue like this, it’s only a matter of time before his body is completely taken over.
It was then that the priests of the Academy dispatched by the Vatican arrived.
“The exorcist priests were about to perform the exorcism right away. They quickly completed the preparations, and now all that was left was to perform the exorcism.”
However, there was a problem.
It was already too late to exorcise the demons possessing Father Giovanni’s body.
“Brother John was too old to be separated from his soul. Also, his strength was weakened by the demons.”
The exorcists from the Vatican were faced with a choice.
Would you risk your life as collateral to exorcise the demons, Father Giovanni?
Or, find another way.
The very reality of having to choose this option was vicious, as it meant that while the exorcists looked for other ways, Father Giovanni would be forced to continue to suffer.
Moreover, the fame of the priest Giovanni was high even in the Holy Land. It would be difficult to keep the fact that the priest Giovanni was the son-in-law of a prince strictly secret, but what if he died at the same time?
“Seongguk will be very sad.”
“Yes, that’s right. Among the exorcist priests, there were some who had received help from Brother John, so it was even more so.”
And the one who pushed these exorcist priests’ backs was none other than the head priest, Father Giovanni.
“He said this:”
– If only my worthless life could save you all… Isn’t that the path to salvation that the Lord has given?
He said that he was fine, so he asked that the exorcism be performed.
“… There was only one conclusion.”
In a solemn atmosphere, the exorcism ceremony for Father Giovanni was held.
And of course, the exorcism failed miserably.
“The demons were so attached to his soul that Brother John was completely consumed by the demons and tried to escape from the place where the exorcism was being performed.”
One of the exorcist priests who tried to stop this used one of the holy relics he had brought with him for the exorcism.
“The Sword of Grand Prince Michael. The Sword of Punishment.”
“The Sword of Punishment… .”
The legendary weapon used by Michael, the Archangel of Heaven. It was surprising that it actually existed, but it was even more surprising that he brought this precious relic.
They were sincere in their desire to save Father Giovanni. I could sense their desperation.
But suddenly a question arose.
The Black of Punishment is a holy relic in the shape of a long sword, as its name suggests. The fact that it was ‘used’ on the head priest Giovanni, who tried to escape the exorcism ceremony… .
– That day, the students saw the horrifying sight of the head priest, Giovanni, standing there covered in blood, his eyes gouged out, a long sword stuck in his chest.
Suddenly, I remembered the horror story Daniel had told me. He said there was a longsword stuck in his chest.
“… No way.”
Father Matthew nodded with a sad expression. His lips began to tremble involuntarily.
“It is to stab the sword into Brother John’s heart.”
“Did you really have to go that far?”
“Since he had been completely consumed by demons, there was no way to save Brother John’s life.”
I was speechless. I just stared blankly at Father Matthew and listened to the story that followed.
“Nevertheless, the demons desperately tried to escape. Since the possessed person had taken his life, it would be right for the demons remaining in his body to escape as well.”
However, the demons did not do so. Why is that?
“Brother John was still alive.”
He desperately held on to his life, briefly pushing away the demons and running with all his might into the main hall of the academy.
Because he knew what the demons wanted.
“What did they want?”
“… Brother John received much praise and even showed moves to be revered as a saint.”
“Yes. But, that’s… .”
“The demons wanted to prove. By corrupting an upright soul who had strong faith in the Lord and had proven faith through goodness… . That faith in the Lord can be tarnished at any time.”
I clenched my fists so hard that it felt like my nails were digging into my palms.
“For just that reason… .”
By corrupting a good soul, he proves that even the strongest of faith can be corrupted.
Because they want to frustrate the Lord by dragging the good ones whom the Lord has placed in His hands to hell.
Father Giovanni was sacrificed.
My lips were tightly clenched. I had thought that the total amount of anger I could display for others would be extremely small, except for the matter of Helena.
It was a misjudgment. I was now so angry that it was noticeable to others.
Looking at me like that, Father Matthew smiled bitterly.
“Brother John wanted to protect the academy until the very end. Upon arriving at the parish, Brother John immediately put his earnest wish into action.”
When Father Giovanni arrived at the parish, he had guessed it himself.
He obviously accepted the possession of demons himself, which is a mortal sin regardless of causality.
So, if things continue like this, we are destined to fall into the devil’s trap and fall into hell.
What the devils want is the corruption of good souls who are led astray by their tricks. This proves the wrong confusion of faith.
And the best faith he could show to others was corrupted.
Father Giovanni continued his brief reflection. And then, finally.
“The decision was quick.”
He cut off his own fingers and gouged out his own eyes.
By offering it to the Lord, he sacrificed his own body.
Self-harm and human sacrifice are both mortal sins, just like invoking the devil.
He chose to go to hell through his own sins rather than being corrupted by demons and going to hell.
“But at the same time, it was an act that was in line with what the Lord wanted.”
It’s love. And sacrifice.
Father Giovanni, while committing sins, also practiced virtues which the Lord considered to be proper.
“If you have committed a sin, you cannot go to heaven. However, if you have acquired the virtues that the Lord values, you cannot go to hell.”
“… Then, Father Giovanni, who was wandering around the academy.”
“I ended up wandering around the academy with no choice. I locked up the demons in my body, unable to do anything.”
Even after death, he became a prison for demons.
The demons were trapped in the body of the head priest, Giovanni, and were sent to wander the Academy in search of his severed finger.
“To retrieve the finger and destroy the evidence of the human sacrifice that Father Giovanni had performed.”
“To escape from that body… .”
“And, the soul of the head priest Giovanni, who remains on earth and cannot do anything… . is being dragged to hell.”
They recovered the clumsily dug out eye, but they were never able to find the finger.
“Because the exorcist priests hid it. However, if the finger left the sanctuary, the demons could find it, so they hid the finger inside the sanctuary.”
“The demons were wandering around the annex… .”
“Since the exorcist priests found the hidden eyes in the annex, they had no doubt that the fingers would also be in the annex.”
Father Matthew closed his eyes. I waited silently for him to continue speaking.
“The Vatican also tried to resolve this situation, but it was not easy to find Brother John, who had limited conditions for appearing.”
“If you take your finger… .”
“Devils follow the finger. If Brother John, who sacrificed himself for the cause, were to walk the streets with such an ugly appearance to follow the finger, people in the world would probably point fingers at him.”
Eventually, the remains of the head priest Giovanni were confined to the Academy along with his finger.
For a very long time, long enough to be forgotten by people.
“The sword of punishment also returned safely to the hands of the exorcist priests. We must not forget Brother John’s sacrifice.”
“… what the heck.”
“Yes?”
My voice trembled. I cleared my throat and cleared my voice.
“What the hell is the point of it all?”
To my own surprise, my tone was extremely hostile. Father Matthew closed his mouth as I questioned him.
“Even if others were in danger, the exorcist priests would have done something. Maybe no one would have died.”
“… Brother Benedict.”
“Are all people who consider sacrifice a virtue like that? Giving others their blood, their flesh, and ultimately their lives… Do they do it every time, as naturally as breathing?”
Sacrificing for others. I could never understand it. My subconscious was bitterly resenting those people.
Why do those who have no qualms about sacrificing themselves for others never think about the pain of those left behind?
This wasn’t a question of whether they were selfish or not. If I think about it, it was more like throwing a stone at myself who didn’t even have the courage to do so.
Sadness came crashing down on me like a tidal wave. I bit my trembling lips harder.
A noble spirit of sacrifice that involves not hesitating to give up one’s own life for the happiness and well-being of others.
Suddenly, I couldn’t help but think of someone.
I see the eyes of Father Matthew looking at me. His eyes, looking at me with anger, seemed both mischievous and compassionate.
I searched through my bosom with trembling hands. I found a pack of cigarettes with only a few contents left.
“… Excuse me, can I have a cigarette?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
My chest felt so stuffy. I wanted to relieve this stuffiness somehow.
A single, fleeting stick burned away. I tried to concentrate on the taste of the cigarette.
However, I couldn’t. It was as if my tongue had gone numb. I couldn’t even smell the peppermint flavor that I usually enjoyed.
I felt like I was holding a cigarette in my mouth for no reason. Eventually, I nervously flicked the cigarette that was not even halfway burned.
“The world is really tough.”
Father Matthew muttered. It was not a voice he spoke to anyone. It was more like a murmur he muttered to himself.
“Nothing goes as planned, and every time I hope for success, I fail. Why did the Lord give me this trial? Why do I always get tested? As I live, I often have such resentful thoughts.”
“… … .”
“But isn’t that life?”
Life. It is a mischievous thing that comes from the free will of man, the most shining grace given by the Lord, and it can lead to any direction.
He clenched his fist. The pack of cigarettes he was holding in his hand became crumpled and lost its shape.
“Life… is that right?”
“Brother Benedict. We dare not try to understand their noble spirit of sacrifice.”
“Then, what on earth should I do?”
“You have to accept it. That too is another form of life they have chosen.”
Another form of life. I quietly chewed on those words.
Then suddenly, I looked up at the sky.
The sun was setting. The sky was turning brilliant.
I just stared blankly at the sight.
“… life.”
After muttering.
Alone, with his face twitching strangely.
“Father Matthew.”
“Yes, Brother Benedict.”
“… It’s getting late. Do you have a place to sleep?”
“I am used to sleeping out for a day or two.”
“Go to the faculty dormitory. If you walk straight from the main entrance, you will come out. Tell the dormitory director that I asked you to give me the spare room… . If you tell him that, he will give you the room.”
Father Matthew bowed his head in gratitude. I tried to ignore him.
“Aren’t you going together?”
“… Sorry. Normally I would give you directions, but… .”
“No. You can just ask people passing by for directions.”
Smiling kindly, Father Matthew rose from the bench.
His back moves away. I stare blankly at him, then turn my gaze again.
The sunset is setting in. Burning the sky intensely. As if shouting that now is the time when it is burning the most intensely.
I stared at it silently for a long time.
Is my face turning red just because of the sunset?
Or maybe it’s because of something else.
“… life.”
No matter how much I thought about it, I was a useless person.
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