episode_0059
by fnovelpiaThe weekend went by quickly.
Students would often use the training grounds until late at night to hone their skills, which made for a nice spectacle from my dorm room.
It was quite unexpected to see Chloe, Elin, and even Laura.
Laura never seemed too nervous during the grade-level sparring, but for some reason she showed up at the training grounds this weekend.
Since the grade-level sparring will begin next Monday, Laura must have come to practice to keep her skills sharp.
Other than that, it was a normal weekend, nothing particularly special.
Of course, I still had nightmares. Mr. Moritz advised me not to give meaning to every little thing… .
I don’t know. I tend to attach meaning to trivial things.
“Hoo… .”
After finishing all my work, I sat on the bed in my cozy dorm room and blankly stared out the window.
The sun was setting. It was burning between the buildings of the system, visible beyond the grounds of the great academy. The sun was going down like that.
Given that the sun is up for a long time in the summer, I could tell that it was about eight o’clock in the evening.
I had to be busy even on the weekends. After finishing my treatment with Dr. Moritz, I stopped by the parish and spent Saturday cleaning the chapel with Deacon Sophia. On Sunday, I held the Sunday service as usual and gave blessings to the parishioners who visited the Academy parish as usual.
This whole process made me feel once again that I am living in a peaceful era… .
“… I’m tired.”
Ironically, the chaotic and turbulent times I lived through just a few years ago feel like a lie.
Was I dreaming? In fact, weren’t all the people I met on the battlefield… characters in my dreams?
This time has come again. It’s the time when I become extremely emotional and my depression increases. I shook my head in frustration.
The sunset that dyes my face and eyes red is dreamy. I am completely absorbed in it, and my thoughts become long.
I took a cigarette out of my pocket. I was busy all day today, so I didn’t have time to smoke. I put the cigarette in my mouth.
“… … .”
I just sat there blankly, with the words still in my mouth. That was it.
Clearly, the great war is over. The scene of slaughter and killing has already become a thing of the past.
Yes. Nevertheless, I lost my leisure in life. Although I clearly felt that I was living in a peaceful era, I had a hard time finding peace of mind.
So, I… .
Perhaps, it is because I miss the war. Perhaps, even though I had longed for peace so much, I am now tired of enjoying peace.
“… You’re funny.”
I snorted. There was no other way to feel better. I lit a cigarette.
Just like the sky that was burning in the distance, my cigarette also started to burn. As I was about to smoke it, something suddenly occurred to me and I got up from the bed.
– Really, it’s not a raccoon’s den… Please make sure to ventilate it from now on.
I opened the glass door of the balcony. The cigarette smoke that was trying to surround the room was blown away far away by the wind circulating outside. I looked at the scene and stepped out onto the balcony.
I stared blankly outside and exhaled cigarette smoke. The cool scent of mint filled my lungs.
And then, a thought suddenly occurred to me.
The reason I am wary of becoming swayed by peace, the reason I feel bored with this life is.
Maybe it’s because I’m living in a world without you.
That was a really boring thought.
* * * * *
After a particularly long weekend, Monday morning dawned. I went to work with a slightly different mindset than usual.
“Ah! Your Majesty! Good morning!”
“Good morning.”
Deacon Sophia, who had arrived at the professor’s office before me, gave me a strong greeting. I gave her a light greeting and placed my bag on the desk.
Meanwhile, Deacon Sophia, who was smiling and organizing a pile of documents, looked somewhat excited. It was understandable, because today was the day she was leaving for the port city of Brittany for the grade-by-grade training.
Port city, Brittany.
I heard that there is a branch of the Chaldea Imperial Academy in Brittany. The place where we hold our grade-wise training is also the training hall of the branch school located in Brittany.
In terms of distance alone, it is not a relatively far place, but it is by no means a city located in close proximity.
All students from the first to third grades will attend the annual training session, and the remaining professors will leave the academy, except for some who will remain at the academy and take on duty.
To get this many people to Brittany, taking the train is essential.
“Substitute Sophia. When is the departure time?”
“I heard it’s ten in the morning!”
Well then, maybe I’ll eat lunch on the train.
I heard that it would take a whole day to get to Brittany, but that was inevitable, as the empire’s territory was so vast.
I sat down on the chair in front of my desk. My reasonably light suitcase was placed on the floor.
As for the things I packed, they were just toiletries, pajamas, a Bible, a rosary, a priest’s vestment, and a short-sleeved shirt. Other than these, I couldn’t find anything worth packing.
“Huh. Heh heh heh~.”
Deacon Sophia was humming along while doing her job, to the point where I was worried she might make a mistake.
I slowly closed my eyes. I was quite tired, perhaps because I had a hard time sleeping last night.
As soon as my eyes close, my consciousness slowly sinks in. My body loses strength, and a feeling of drowsiness envelops my entire body… .
“… My lord… . My lord… !”
So, just as I was about to fall asleep, the whispering voice of Deacon Sophia woke me up. I opened my eyes, rubbing my tickling ears.
“Ah, you’re awake.”
The innocent face of Deacon Sophia filled my vision. I nodded with effort, moving my stiff neck.
“Yes. It happened. What happened?”
“I think you should get up soon. It’s almost time to leave… .”
As Deacon Sophia had said, the clock hands were pointing to 9:45 am.
It was 7:30 a.m. when I entered the professor’s office. Has time passed so quickly?
It seemed like I just blinked once, but in the blink of an eye, more than two hours had passed.
“Are you very tired?”
Deacon Sophia looked at me with a worried expression. I waved my hands and slowly got up.
“It’s okay.”
“Still… . You look very tired.”
“It’s really okay.”
If it were up to me, I could just sleep on the train. I stretched to relieve the stiffness in my shoulders.
“Ugh… .”
My right shoulder was tingling. This was painful enough, but I was so tired that I couldn’t even sleep properly, so it was killing me.
Let’s loosen up slowly, but I still felt somewhat energized. I picked up my suitcase and left the professor’s office with Deacon Sophia.
* * * * *
“It’s five minutes before departure! Passengers who haven’t boarded yet, please board quickly!”
Chloe hurriedly boarded the train. She was so blinded by the aroma of the bakery inside the station that she almost got on the train late.
If Professor Antonelli hadn’t told me to get on the train, I probably would have stayed in the bakery.
“Whoa… ! Thank goodness. That was so close… .”
“That’s right, I told you to stop eating.”
“Elin, I hope you enjoyed your meal too… .”
“… Ahem.”
Chloe moved to find her seat on the ticket, along with Elin, who was coughing. The room where the students were already in was noisy.
“Car A-3… . Car A-3… .”
After passing the cars a couple of times, car number 5 finally appeared in front of us. Chloe slowly opened the door.
The corridor of car number 5 was quiet as if no one had boarded it yet. Chloe and Elin, who had become quiet along with it, slowly walked forward.
“Room A-3… . Oh, is this it?”
It was a passenger cabin marked A-3. Chloe took a quick look inside the cabin.
She could sense someone was inside, but the window was blurry so she couldn’t see who was inside. Chloe hesitated to open the door, scratching her cheek.
“What are you doing? Don’t open it quickly.”
“Ugh, yeah. Let’s go in.”
At Elin’s urging, Chloe’s hand opened the guest room door.
Knock knock—.
“… Huh?”
There, sitting there, were familiar figures.
* * * * *
“Chief Priest… Shouldn’t we hurry?”
“Let me look back one more time.”
I looked around the station while comforting the fidgety Deaconess Sophia. I was checking to see if there were any students who had not yet boarded the train.
When students go on school trips or field trips, there are always things that happen. They get left behind at the station or can’t get on the departing bus or train.
I never dreamed that I would be in a position to search for those students.
“Hoo… .”
After looking around the station once more, I was able to breathe a sigh of relief. Aside from Chloe and Elin, who had been rolling their eyes at the smell of bread, I didn’t see any students who had fallen behind.
I turned my steps in the direction of the train. Looking at my watch, I saw that there were only about two minutes left until the train departed.
“Deacon Sophia. I have to jump a little bit.”
“Yes!”
As we speed up a bit, the train appears in no time. We can see the train crew hurriedly helping the passengers board.
“1 minute left until departure! Get on board!”
Thanks to running early, we were able to board the train with just one minute left until departure. If we had just walked, we probably would have been left behind.
“Heck… ! Heek… !”
“Thank you for your hard work, Deacon Sophia.”
“Mu, some water… .”
I took a water jug out of my bag and handed it to her. Deacon Sophia gasped for breath and drank half of the water in the jug in an instant.
“Whew…! I feel like I can finally live… .”
“… Let’s go to the room.”
We headed to our rooms. As we did so, we felt the floor move slightly. Perhaps the train had departed.
“Chief Priest, what is our room number?”
“This is cabin A-3 of car number 5.”
Luckily, the train we had jumped on so frantically seemed to be car number 4. We were able to quickly reach car number 5.
“A-3… Isn’t this it?”
Deacon Sophia pointed to a room. Above the door was the inscription A-3.
I nodded and placed my hand on the cabin door. There seemed to be passengers already inside the cabin, and I could hear them talking murmurs.
“You should be quiet.”
As I was quite tired at the moment, I really wanted to sleep quietly. I opened the door with a heavy heart.
Knock knock!
“So… . Huh?”
“What… .”
A silence fell over the room. The faces staring at me seemed familiar.
Chloe, Elin, and even Daniel and Vivian, whom we had seen before. The members of the Occult Research Club were all gathered in one place.
“Aren’t you Professor Antonelli?”
“Wow! Professor Antonelli! Just like us…!”
Knock knock! Knock!
I quickly closed the door. I couldn’t help but wash my face dry.
“… Ah.”
My plan to relax comfortably was off to a bad start.
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