episode_0062

Squeak—!

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The train stopped with a ripping noise. I slowly got up from my seat.

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– This stop is, Brutney Station. This is Brutney Station. Passengers, please check once again that you have not left any belongings behind before getting off.

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The train that ran for a whole day safely brought the students of Chaldea Imperial Academy to Brittany. I got off the train with the students of the Occult Research Club that I was in charge of.

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“Oh… Is this the port city of Brittany?”

“It smells like the sea. It’s been a long time since I smelled it.”

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Chloe and Elin looked around with sparkling eyes. The wind blowing from beyond the station was salty.

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“It’s been a while since I’ve been to the Brittany branch.”

“That’s right. Didn’t you say that there was going to be a student exchange program for excellent students? That was last year, right?”

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Vivian and Daniel, who looked around the station with peaceful expressions, seemed to have already visited the branch school in Brittany once.

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By the way, a social gathering for excellent students? I knew it was something I didn’t know. I thought he was just spreading strange rumors around the school, but I wonder if he was ever selected as an excellent student.

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“Have you ever been to the sea, priest?”

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At that moment, Deacon Sophia, who had been unable to hide her excitement next to me, looked at me with sparkling eyes and asked.

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The sea. The sea… It was a very ambiguous question to answer.

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Of course, I had been there before I was possessed, but I had never been there after I was possessed. However, if I had to be specific, I guess the correct answer would be that I had been there.

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“Yes, I have been there.”

“Oh…! When did you go there?”

“… I went there a long time ago. So long ago that I don’t even remember.”

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I kept my mouth shut. It was clear that even if I continued talking, nothing proper would come out. Deacon Sophia also seemed to notice something strange in my answer, and kept her mouth shut.

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At that moment, I felt someone tapping my back. I looked back.

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“Professor Lucio!”

“Professor Esther.”

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It was Professor Esther. Behind her stood the students she was guiding, some of whom were familiar faces.

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‘Laura von Adelheid. She went to Professor Esther’s side.’

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Laura was looking around with her usual dignified expression, but she was also glancing at Chloe, who was standing behind me. I slightly blocked Chloe’s path and spoke to Professor Esther.

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“There seem to be a lot of students.”

“Well, that’s right. The students of Chaldea Imperial Academy are all moving at once. By the way, Professor Lucio, what club are you in charge of?”

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I glanced back at Daniel. There was something suspicious about the way he avoided eye contact as soon as I made eye contact.

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“I am in charge of the Occult Research Department.”

“Aha… . Now that I think about it, they’re those kids from back then. Daniel and… Vivian? Is that right?”

“Yeah. Right.”

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Vivian still used informal language. It was strange how it didn’t feel particularly rude.

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Professor Esther nodded and smiled brightly at Vivian, then introduced the students behind her. There were no male students in sight, only female students.

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“I’m in charge of the Magic Theory Research Department. I’m the advisory professor here.”

“Is that so?”

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Listening to Professor Esther, something feels strange. Looking around, I see that the other professors are also guiding students from their respective clubs.

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Professor Esther opened her mouth to me.

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“By the way, that’s unexpected. I thought Professor Lucio would be in charge of a theology club. Is it because of the finger-related incident that happened last time?”

“… What do you mean?”

“Yes?”

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Professor Esther’s words suddenly came to me with a sense of uneasiness. I swallowed my saliva without realizing it.

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“Uh… . Wasn’t that why you were appointed as an advisory professor for the Occult Research Club?”

“I haven’t joined a club as an advisor yet.”

“Huh…? That’s weird…? This time, the standard for the students being guided is that each club is guided by an advisory professor, right?”

“… … .”

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I made a dumbfounded expression without realizing it. I slowly turned my head to look at Damien, and Damien smiled awkwardly.

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“That, that… . The senior professor asked for the name of the advisory professor, so without knowing it… .”

“… … .”

“Uh… . Oh, it’s okay! Professor! The documents haven’t been registered yet, right? … Maybe?”

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Three months after I was appointed to the academy, I had become the advisory professor for a club I never imagined possible.

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That too, without me knowing.

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* * * * *

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The Brittany Branch. To be exact, the Brittany Branch of the Chaldean Imperial Academy.

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As we left the station and started walking, we arrived there before we knew it.

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The first thing that came into view was a dazzling white sand beach. The coastline stretched out so long that it seemed as if it had no end.

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In front of this beautiful beach, the Brittany branch school was located. I looked around the schoolyard of the Brittany branch school that was right in front of me.

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The overall building style was similar to that of the Chaldea Imperial Academy, so it was clear that it was a branch school that had branched off from the same roots.

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If I had to point out something different from the main building, it would be the exterior walls of the building, which were painted pure white. It was a style commonly seen in buildings built on the coast.

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“It’s beautiful.”

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As I was standing quietly watching the demonstration, Professor Esther came up to me. She smiled at me and continued speaking.

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“The sandy beach is pure white, and the buildings are pure white… It feels like you’re on vacation at a resort. Doesn’t it?”

“That’s true.”

“It seems like it’s been a long time since I’ve been to the ocean. Can you see it? The water is incredibly clear. Should I have brought a swimsuit? ”

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As she said, the sea crashing into the sand and turning white was incredibly beautiful. It was just as I remembered the sea.

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No, maybe it’s even more beautiful than the sea I remember.

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There were quite a few vacationers enjoying water play on the clear blue sea. When you see them swimming through such clear waters, it is not surprising that ordinary people would want to go in and have a refreshing dip.

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Of course, I wasn’t like that at all.

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“Professor Lucio, do you know how to swim?”

“I can’t.”

“Uh… Really?”

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Professor Esther looked at me in disbelief. I shrugged and muttered.

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“Really. It doesn’t even know how to float on water.”

“Hmm… . That’s a little surprising.”

“Is that so?”

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That being said, it’s not that I don’t know how to swim. It’s just that whenever I see the ocean, bad memories come flooding back.

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– Booow—!

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At that moment, a faint ship horn sound was heard from far out at sea. Professor Esther and I turned our gaze towards it.

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Beyond the horizon, three or four ships were floating bobbing. Professor Esther opened her mouth at the sight.

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“They say it’s a port city, and there are such large ships sailing around. I heard there’s definitely a large port nearby.”

“… … .”

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My mouth was bitter. The sea was not a very welcoming place for me. Why is that?

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Could it be because I remember being stung by a jellyfish as a child before I became a psychic?

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Or maybe because I heard that the dwarves had briefly taken control of the seas?

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Or is it because the supply lines were stretched due to the loss of control of the seas, so they couldn’t receive supplies for a month?

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Because we ran out of ammunition, we couldn’t hold off the combined attack of the elves and dwarves?

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…because you died in that battle?

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I couldn’t figure it out. I couldn’t figure it out, but… .

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At least, it was clear that I didn’t like the sea as much as I used to. But I was still looking at the sea.

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-When the war is over, I want to see the sea with my own eyes.

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“… … .”

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I stared at the sea for a moment. It was certainly a beautiful sea, but for some reason it seemed like a very lonely place.

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“Professor Lucio? I think it’s about time to go back to the dorm.”

“Okay.”

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I turned my back on the sparkling blue sea as I followed Professor Esther who walked ahead.

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In my ears, the sound of a stomach growling lingered for a particularly long time.

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Forever and ever, continuously.

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…suddenly, I felt like grabbing my ears and tearing them off.

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* * * * *

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The Brittany branch had a smaller student population than the main Chaldean Academy campus, but was notable for having an additional large dormitory built for students who frequently visited the main campus.

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It was a good thing for us. If we had tried to book accommodation in the city center, they would have probably tried to rip us off.

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If it were the Chaldea Imperial Academy, they might be able to allocate that much of a budget… Anyway, now wasn’t the time to talk about that.

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What I really want to argue about is… .

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“Oh my gosh…! Priest! Look at that! You can see the ocean at a glance!”

“Wow… !”

“It’s been a while. Ugh… Vivian. I’m going to the bathroom.”

“Yeah.”

“… … .”

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Why did I end up sharing a dorm room with the students of the Occult Research Club?

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In fact, it wasn’t that strange when you think about it. Even if there were separate dormitories for visiting students from the main school, it would obviously be far from enough to accommodate all the students from the main school of Chaldea Imperial Academy.

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In addition, the two bedrooms inside the dormitory are so separate that they almost feel like separate rooms, so sleeping in that bedroom will probably prevent some unpleasant incidents.

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However, what I really wanted to discuss was the ethical issue.

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No matter how divided the rooms were, I never dreamed that the Academy would thoughtlessly assign rooms to each club.

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It was possible that male and female students would end up sharing a dorm room together. The advisors assigned to each club were a bonus.

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I wanted to go straight to President Damien and ask him about it, but it seemed obvious that if I asked him, I would only hear something like, “Professor Antonelli is a priest, right? I believe that nothing unpleasant will happen. Hehe.” Is this how the world in novels is all like?

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In fact, the biggest problem was that the students I was assigned to were the golden ones of the Occult Research Club. When I realized that, I had a strong urge to scream.

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Instead of screaming, I quietly called out to Deacon Sophia, who was clinging to the glass window of the balcony. Deacon Sophia followed me out with a puzzled look on her face.

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I entered the room out of sight of the students and cautiously asked Deacon Sophia.

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“Deacon Sophia. Is it okay for Deacon Sophia to be like this?”

“What are you talking about?”

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Should I explain this with my own mouth? I made a face as if to say, “Are you serious?” but Deacon Sophia still tilted her head with a puzzled expression.

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“That… . The dormitory. Me and Daniel are also male students… . I wonder if the other female students, including Deacon Sophia, will feel uncomfortable.”

“Ah… . That’s okay! Anyway, the bedrooms are completely separate, so what!”

“Oh, no… .”

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Am I too narrow-minded and narrow-minded? It’s been over ten years since I became a Confucian, but is there still a Confucian spirit inside me?

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“… Are you sure it’s okay? If you feel uncomfortable, you can tell me anytime.”

“Ah… . I’m telling you, it’s really okay. If that’s true, should I ask the students?”

“I would appreciate it if you could do that.”

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But shockingly, the students didn’t show any particular resistance. Rather, they just looked at Deacon Sophia strangely for asking such a question.

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As I was blankly staring, Chloe and Elin started to stick to the window again and look out at the sea.

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“Wow… isn’t the sea really pretty?”

“Yeah… . Elin. When you have some free time later, do you want to go to the beach?”

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Just thinking about controlling these golden ones made my eyes dizzy.

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I just desperately wanted the grade-level sparring to end quickly.

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