episode_0061
by fnovelpiaThe train is running.
Even in the desert where the hot sun scorches, in the fields where green grasslands spread out, and in the rugged mountain ranges.
The train that crosses the vast territory of the empire runs without stopping, overcoming numerous environments.
Night fell on that trans-imperial train.
On a dark night, the train ran along the railroad illuminated by the bright moonlight. Inside, there were many young talents who would take responsibility for the future of the empire.
“Woong… .”
Chloe, one of the passengers who had been given that honorable title, woke up mumbling something unintelligible.
Chloe sat up in her soft bed. The bedroom had two bunk beds, and the moonlight streaming in through the window was delicate.
As the Imperial Trans-Empire train ran endlessly along the long railroad that ran through the empire, it also had bedrooms for its passengers, and the quality of these was comparable to that of the dormitories of the Chaldea Imperial Academy.
Chloe, who had been enjoying the excellent quality of her sleep, tilted her head as she realized that she had woken up at dawn.
“What time is it…?”
She picked up the wristwatch that had been sitting on her nightstand. The hands showed that it was two o’clock in the morning.
Chloe buried her face in the soft pillow. She was so sleepy that she felt like she would fall asleep at any moment.
Until, suddenly, a scary thought occurred to Chloe. Chloe glanced outside the bedroom window.
The rapidly changing scenery outside the window is creepy. As I look at it, the scary story Daniel told me comes to mind.
– A passenger was riding a train, and when he heard someone knocking on the window, he looked out the window. And there was a woman running at full speed, catching up with the train. And the train was moving at full speed… .
“Aww… .”
Chloe glanced under the bed. She caught a glimpse of Elin’s arm sleeping on the lower bunk.
In the next bed, Deacon Vivian and Sophia were sleeping, but it was hard to see their faces because they were both sleeping with their backs turned.
I thought it would be okay if I just saw someone else’s face, but this made me even more anxious.
Chloe tucked her feet, which were sticking out from under the blankets, into the blankets, and as if that wasn’t enough, wrapped the blankets tightly around her body.
Perhaps because it was a midsummer night, the heat quickly rose, but Chloe endured it because being under the blankets gave her a greater sense of security.
The cause of my trouble was that I was so absorbed in listening to Daniel and Vivian’s scary stories. Even when I closed my eyes and tried to sleep, the ghosts described in the scary stories Daniel and Vivian told me appeared in my imagination.
Where the eyes should be, pitch-black darkness filled the space, and a woman with disheveled hair and dripping crimson blood… .
“Ugh… !”
Chloe suddenly felt an unbearable urge to urinate and got up from the bed. Her body, which had been sweating from the heat of the blanket, trembled as it met the cold air outside.
“Wow, bathroom… .”
Chloe, who had been biting her lips and hesitating, slowly climbed down the ladder to the bed. She thought about waking Elin up and going, but seeing her sleeping so soundly made that thought disappear.
Eventually, Chloe had no choice but to head to the bathroom alone. A fern-like hand grabbed the doorknob and slowly pushed it to the side.
Knock knock—.
Beyond the softly opened door, a hallway shrouded in cold darkness appeared. The ceiling of the hallway was lit up here and there by lights, but the sight of them rather created a cold atmosphere.
‘scared…!’
Chloe swallowed dryly. She took a trembling step toward the hallway, where the air was cold yet warm.
‘Let’s just go to the bathroom quickly. Let’s just go to the bathroom quickly!’
So, Chloe slowly walked towards the bathroom. She thought that if she went to the bathroom quickly, she would be able to sleep comfortably again.
Knock knock!
“… … .”
If the door hadn’t opened suddenly next to her, Chloe would have been so shocked that she couldn’t even scream and just froze.
The door was clearly the door of the bedroom next to the one where Chloe slept. Inside the bedroom, which was locked in darkness, something large and black slowly approached.
“… Hehe!”
Chloe’s eyes filled with tears and she hiccuped without realizing it. She was out of breath.
And then,
“… Chloe student. What are you doing at this time?”
From inside the open bedroom door, a soft, familiar voice could be heard. Chloe opened her tightly shut eyes slightly.
The one who opened the bedroom door and appeared was Professor Antonelli, the professor who guided the Occult Research Club students, including Chloe.
Chloe, seeing his face, which looked as reserved as usual, let out a sigh of relief without realizing it.
“Ah, Professor Antonelli… .”
Of course, it was a secret that it almost leaked out.
* * * * *
Why am I here? What am I doing, standing in front of the women’s bathroom?
If you ask me that, I can answer confidently.
‘I don’t know either.’
“Oh, Professor Antonelli. Are you still outside?”
“… Yes, it still exists.”
Chloe’s trembling voice echoed through the bathroom. I answered her from outside the women’s room, sighing softly.
I slept better than usual tonight, but it was still difficult to overcome nightmares just by talking to Professor Armstrong.
I woke up from a bad dream as usual and was about to leave the bedroom, thinking I might have a cigarette.
And then, for some reason, I ran into Chloe, who was sobbing and curling up her legs.
I fiddled with the pack of cigarettes in my hand and then put it back in my bosom.
Even though it was called a bathroom, it was only right to stand at the entrance, and it was not right to smoke in the hallway where other people were coming and going. Especially not in front of students.
Instead, I took out my Bible. It was a small Bible, about the size of the palm of my hand, and I could easily carry it in my bosom.
In my life before I became a believer, I didn’t really have any religion, but this is a world where the power of the Lord exists in plain sight. If I don’t have faith, then that is a lie.
Of course, Helena’s influence was also great. I thought about it for a moment, then shook my head, saying that it was a pointless thought.
So, how long did it take for me to read the Bible silently?
Swish—.
Just after I heard the sound of water flushing in the bathroom, I heard the sound of water running in the sink.
And a moment later, I could see Chloe coming out of the bathroom, looking dirty, shaking the water off her hands.
“Have you done everything you wanted to do?”
“That, yeah… .”
“Then, go back and go to sleep. The grade-by-grade competition starts tomorrow, right?”
In order to have the annual sparring, students must be in top condition. This is also why Chaldea Imperial Academy took the initiative to rent a luxury train this time.
After hearing what I said, Chloe hesitated for a moment, looked at me, then grabbed my sleeve tightly and muttered in a crawling voice.
“… If you go… .”
“Please speak a little louder.”
“So…! If you, if you go back together… .”
As I was about to send Chloe back to the bedroom and head to the smoking room, it wasn’t a very pleasant request. However, I had no intention of refusing a request from the student I was in charge of.
I nodded silently and walked ahead towards the bedroom. I felt Chloe slowly following behind me.
We walked down the train corridor without saying a word. I didn’t like the lukewarm night air that hung in the corridor.
“Professor Antonelli… .”
Suddenly, Chloe spoke from behind me. I turned my head towards her.
Chloe flinched when she saw me like that, then continued speaking.
“Did you wake up because you couldn’t sleep?”
“… Chloe, it’s none of your business.”
“Still… .”
Chloe, who had been mumbling for a moment, soon lowered her head with a timid expression. I ignored her appearance and tried to move my feet, but… .
“Hoo… .”
I sighed and stopped walking. Chloe, who was following behind me, got bumped into on the back.
“Ouch… !”
“Chloe Student.”
“Yes, yes.”
I turned around and looked straight at Chloe. Chloe also looked back at me with a tense expression.
“Are you sleepy now?”
“Uh… . No. I’m not that sleepy… .”
“That’s it.”
I could guess roughly why Chloe was shaking with fear.
Perhaps it was because of the medley of scary stories Daniel and Vivian told throughout the train ride. Chloe remembered that during the finger incident last time, she was particularly afraid of things related to ghosts.
And, he also enjoyed the cocoa I gave him so much.
I turned my steps back toward the bedroom and headed toward the bathroom. Chloe, who was following me, looked at me with surprised eyes.
“Professor, do you need to go to the bathroom too?”
“No.”
After passing the bathroom, what we came across was a cozy lounge.
* * * * *
Dalgrak.
◦Please eat %◦.”
Chloe stared blankly at the mug in front of her. The mug, filled with a dark brown liquid, was giving off a sweet smell and steaming hot air.
“, thank you… .”
The warm cocoa went down her throat and permeated her entire body. Chloe trembled without realizing it at the rich sweetness on the tip of her tongue.
Then, strangely enough, her fear-filled heart slowly subsided. Her mind, which had been testing the limits of her imagination as all sorts of ghosts came to mind, felt hazy.
Drinking cocoa on a midsummer night might seem a little out of place, but it was warm enough to drink in an air-conditioned break room.
In the lukewarm summer night air, warm cocoa melted Chloe’s body and mind. Chloe unconsciously let out a relaxed expression.
“Whoa… .”
In front of her, Professor Antonelli was quietly looking out the window, sipping his share of black tea.
Chloe, who was enjoying the rich flavor of cocoa, straightened her relaxed expression upon seeing Professor Antonelli’s face.
‘This person, really… .’
Really, he was a person you knew but didn’t know. Chloe thought so.
Even at the beginning of the semester, he left a scary impression because of his frozen speech and behavior, his rigid way of conducting classes, and his sharp remarks toward Laura von Adelheid.
However, that thought gradually changed as the classes continued. It was the same when I went into hiding in the academy with the Occult Research Club, and when I was given the ability to use divine powers.
And, even after he had defeated the ghost of Father Giovanni, he collapsed.
Chloe, who has been through such things, can’t help but think this when she sees Professor Antonelli, who is still as kind as before.
‘Maybe… you’re just awkward with interpersonal relationships.’
Professor Antonelli is a kind and warm-hearted person.
Because of something that happened in the past, you might be deeply hurt… . You might be a pitiful person.
Chloe thought as she stared blankly at his face, full of pride.
The sight of the moonlight gently shining on his face was truly dreamy.
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