episode_0082
by fnovelpiaThe four-day long grade-level competition has ended.
The students of the main campus of Chaldea Imperial Academy, under the guidance of their faculty, quickly boarded the train as soon as Saturday morning came.
When we were having our grade-level sparring sessions, everyone was full of enthusiasm, but after playing around a lot, we all got tired all at once.
The train back to the island was much quieter than before, and there were few students who were excitedly chatting away. Most of the students were sleeping in their compartments or quietly looking out the windows.
And it was the same for Chloe. Chloe sat in her room, blankly staring out the window at the scenery moving.
Thanks to the train running at a speed that allowed her to catch a glimpse of the scenery outside the window, Chloe was able to look outside with peace of mind.
Green grass in full bloom, trees full of freshness, and wild flowers in full bloom across the fields.
And, as the time passed by that scenery, the salty smell of the sea gradually faded away. Chloe looked at it and became lost in thought.
‘It’s a little… disappointing.’
It was only a four-day trip, excluding the travel time between the islands and Brittany, but I still made many unforgettable memories.
I really wanted to see the ocean, but I didn’t get to see much of it. That was a real shame.
‘…still.’
Chloe recalled her walk along the beach with Professor Antonelli. She had seen the peaceful night sea with the moon shining on it, so she had to be content with that for now.
“Cool… . Cool… .”
Just like when they set off for the Brittany branch, the cabin Chloe was in was still cabin A-3 of car number 5. Chloe turned her gaze from outside the window to inside the cabin.
“Phew… .”
The Occult Research Club students were sleeping, their bodies stretched out in fatigue, leaning back on the soft seats of the room. Elin had a frown on her face as if she was having a bad dream, Daniel leaned against the window, and Vivian leaned her head on Daniel’s shoulder, reminiscent of dominoes.
‘Everyone is sleeping… .’
Chloe smiled faintly as she looked at the sleeping members of the Occult Research Club.
The night before returning to the system, it was fortunate that Daniel had been stopped from going out to find ghost stories at the Brittany branch before returning to the main campus. If he had not been stopped, Daniel might have overslept and missed the train.
“Um… .”
A mumbling sound came from next to Chloe. Chloe turned her head towards the sound.
“I am the head priest… . Hehe… .”
Deacon Sophia was snoring, her mouth still open. Chloe, who was looking at Deacon Sophia, naturally looked up.
There, Professor Antonelli, who doesn’t even make a shallow breath, is there.
“… … .”
He was sleeping soundly in a comfortable position with his eyes closed. Chloe stared intently at Professor Antonelli’s face.
‘… Professor Antonelli.’
This was probably the person who had the hardest time in this year’s annual duel. Chloe was genuinely thinking so.
During the four-day school-level training period, countless students were injured. It was only natural that he and Deacon Sophia were exhausted as they were the only ones taking care of them.
Come to think of it, Professor Antonelli seemed particularly tired throughout the entire grade-level training. He couldn’t sleep, and I only saw him twice in the early morning with my eyes wide open.
Is there any reason why she can’t sleep? Chloe unconsciously grabbed Professor Antonelli’s hand.
“Ugh… .”
Then, Professor Antonelli reacted like a ghost and pulled his hand away. He frowned for a moment, looked uncomfortable, and then started muttering something.
‘What are you saying?’
Chloe leaned toward Professor Antonelli. She knew it was rude to do so, but her curiosity toward Professor Antonelli, who never talked about anything related to her, grew even stronger.
“… If you go, don’t… . My, feet… .”
I couldn’t hear every detail of what Professor Antonelli was saying, but he had a really pained expression on his face.
Chloe looked at Professor Antonelli’s face with a strange expression. What on earth was he dreaming about?
“Oh, no… .”
What kind of dream could she be having that makes her look so desperate? Chloe approached Professor Antonelli with a puzzled expression.
And then I saw.
Professor Antonelli, who usually has a blunt expression. Even among the first-year students, Professor Antonelli is known for being stiff and cold.
‘Oh, you’re crying…?’
In the corner of his eye, a single drop of clear tears had formed.
Chloe now knows that people can shed tears while sleeping. Her expression becomes blank.
Suddenly, she remembered the time when she had sneaked into the Academy with the members of the Occult Research Club. Chloe still remembered it.
Professor Antonelli, who had protected his students with all his might, fainted with his face as pale as snow and his whole body shaking like an aspen tree.
Come to think of it, Professor Antonelli had an unusually long sick leave and missed class. Chloe, who had been organizing all of that in her head, naturally came up with this thought.
‘Professor, maybe… . you are not feeling well?’
Whether it be internally or externally, isn’t it true that Professor Antonelli suffered a great wound in the past and is still living in pain?
Could it be that because of that unknown past, his personality has become cold and indifferent?
When I think about it, it was strange. Considering the warm aspects that Professor Antonelli had shown, he didn’t seem like a bad person at all.
Rather, he prioritized the students he taught, and he was always there to help or offer warm advice to students who were struggling or in difficult situations.
Just like the warm cocoa I got on the train last time.
And, as if comforting each other while walking along the beach.
So, could it be that Professor Antonelli’s personality is a defense mechanism stemming from past wounds?
‘Maybe, I don’t want to get attached to something useless…’
Chloe’s expression turned gloomy. It could be my own delusion, but there was definitely something wrong with Professor Antonelli.
She studied Professor Antonelli’s face carefully. His brows were still furrowed, as if in pain, and it was heartbreaking. Chloe saw his pitiful expression and unconsciously whispered to him.
“That’s okay… . Cheer up, Professor… .”
“My, foot… .”
“It’s okay. It’s okay… . It’s okay now, so sleep well… .”
Chloe’s soft whisper seemed to have an effect, and his previously frowned eyebrows twitched.
Professor Antonelli’s face had a slightly relaxed expression. Seeing that, Chloe let out a faint sigh without realizing it.
“Whew… . Ugh?!”
And then, it was a moment.
“Musa, sea… . Musa… .”
Professor Antonelli hugged Chloe tightly as she leaned towards him.
Chloe’s eyes grew as big as lanterns. She couldn’t keep up with the situation right now.
“, ah… . uh… ?”
All she could do was hold tightly in Professor Antonelli’s arms and make stupid noises. Chloe’s eyes, which were gradually beginning to grasp the situation, soon began to tremble violently.
“Professor, professor…?”
“… … .”
“Professor… !”
Chloe, her face as red as a beet, whispered desperately, but Professor Antonelli showed no response. He seemed to have no intention of releasing the arms that were tightly holding Chloe’s body.
Chloe struggled for a moment, then gave up. The more she struggled, the tighter Professor Antonelli’s arms tightened around Chloe’s body.
It was as if he was holding on to something he absolutely did not want to lose.
“Ugh… .”
In that desperate sight, Chloe accepted it without resistance. One reason was that she didn’t hate it so much.
‘This sound….’
– Thump. Thump.
A loud heartbeat is heard. Chloe is confused as to whether the sound is Professor Antonelli’s or her own heartbeat.
“… … .”
Chloe slowly closed her eyes as she watched Professor Antonelli’s expression relax as he took a deep breath.
In Professor Antonelli’s arms, there was a refreshing scent of mint.
* * * * *
It’s already been three days since we returned to the system after the grade-by-grade competition ended.
Since the train carrying us arrived in the islands on Saturday evening, President Damien designated Monday as a private holiday.
Thanks to that, it was a good holiday to relieve the accumulated toxins from the grade-level training. Even I, who had been having trouble sleeping recently, was able to have a very comfortable sleep for some reason.
I wondered if there was anything positive that I couldn’t remember, but nothing really stood out. Since it was a good thing for me, I just let it go.
After relieving the accumulated fatigue, another day passed and it became Tuesday.
Tuesday is one of only two school days a week where theology classes are taught to first-year Class A students.
Deacon Sophia and I were conducting a class in the classroom as usual.
“… Here, we are left with one question. Why did the son of lies betray, and what was his end?”
After all, is youth the best? The eyes of the students who must have accumulated the most fatigue during the grade-by-grade competition are sparkling.
“This is often interpreted in completely different ways among theologians. Some scholars argue that the reason for betrayal is jealousy and envy, while others argue that it is simply greed.”
I looked with satisfaction at the students who were diligently taking notes with shining eyes, and then continued with the class.
“There are various claims about his final moments. Some say he was cursed and died from an illness, while others say he committed a grave sin by hanging himself.”
I paused for a moment and picked up the Bible that was on the podium. The students followed me and naturally turned the pages of the Bible.
“Let’s look at Genesis 8:12.”
Joseph said to the Lord, “My brothers are traitors to their nation.
To cause discord and confusion among people is tantamount to betraying one’s nation.
By doing this, they have blasphemed the name of the Lord, which is unbecoming for a Son of Man to do.
“Then the Lord said, “Even though they are brothers, their love for each other is divided, as if they were at a crossroads, because he is a son of lies.””
I closed the Bible with a loud noise. The students who were absorbed in their Bibles turned their attention to me.
– Ding— Ding—.
It was then that the bell rang, signaling the end of class. I put the books on the desk into my bag.
“That’s all for today’s class. Summer vacation is coming up soon, so I hope everyone will diligently plan their vacation under the grace of the Lord.”
After seeing the students nodding, I turned around and left the classroom.
As I came out into the hallway, I saw students from other classes already running out of the classroom and straight to the cafeteria.
“Do not run in the hallways.”
“Yes! Sorry! ”
Saying sorry, why don’t you stop running?
I let out a faint sigh and walked away. Deacon Sophia followed me out of the classroom.
“You worked hard today too… .”
“Deacon Sophia, thank you for your hard work.”
Deacon Sophia wiped her sweat with a handkerchief and looked exhausted. After experiencing the cool sea breeze of Brittany, the heat of the islands seemed to be felt even more keenly.
Deacon Sophia, who had been walking with an expression on her face that looked like she might melt at any moment, suddenly shouted as if she remembered something.
“Oh, right! Your Majesty, I got a note?”
“… Is that a note?”
Deacon Sophia rummaged through her pockets and handed me a neatly folded piece of paper. I took the piece of paper and looked at it carefully.
A very well sealed note. Perhaps worried that someone might open it, the note was sealed with adhesive to prevent it from being tampered with, and my name was even written on the outside of the note.
“… Who sent this note?”
“I don’t know either. I checked this morning and it was stuck in the crack of the professor’s office door.”
“… … .”
So, that means it contains content that only I want to read.
Since it might contain quite personal or sensitive information, I couldn’t read the note in front of Deacon Sophia. I put the suspicious note in my pocket and continued walking.
“Ugh…! It’s so hot…!”
I don’t know what the note was, but it was time to save Deacon Sophia, who was on the verge of turning into a mollusc.
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