Academy’s PTSD Chaplain

18 – 18. Blessed and Blessed (1)

Cloé blinked her sleepy eyes. Covering her mouth with her hand, she yawned repeatedly to the point of losing count.

“Ugh… so sleepy….”

She managed to sit her slumping body on the chair somehow, but it was difficult to withstand the approaching drowsiness. Cloé turned to look at Elin sitting next to her.

“Hmm… Elin, aren’t you sleepy?”

“Drooon—.”

“……”

Elin was at the level of being unconscious. She hadn’t been disturbed by sleep. It was purely due to Cloé’s interference tactics.

There were two reasons why Cloé couldn’t sleep. One was because of the imminent assignment in the theology class, and the other was the ghost of Father Giovanni, the guest priest.

Professor Antonelli’s assignment was incredibly challenging. No matter how much she searched through theological texts, she couldn’t grasp the essence. And the deadline for submission was only three days away.

If that wasn’t enough for a comfortable night’s sleep, it was like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. The second reason was equally formidable.

After the ghost incident, she became consciously aware of the existence of ghosts. She would compulsively wrap her entire body in a blanket to ensure her toes didn’t go outside, or she would put the chair back in place if it was moved, among other obsessive behaviors.

It was at a pathological level. At the time, it wasn’t as frightening thanks to Father Antonelli’s prayer, but once the effect of the prayer wore off, his face kept coming to mind.

So, talking with Elin all night became the solution. Elin was very annoyed by it.

Suddenly, she looked at the clock. The slender hour hand pointed at the number 9. There were still 30 minutes before the class was supposed to start.

Cloé pulled her chair closer to the desk. Placing her two large chunks of flesh on the desk, her hunched shoulders felt a bit more comfortable.

Lying down like that, it became a stable posture. Cloé closed her eyes satisfactorily.

‘Is Professor Antonelli okay?’

Although she had gone for a visit with Professor Esther on the weekend, there was no response, so she returned to the dormitory. The last memory was seeing Professor Antonelli fainting and being carried away, so it was natural for her to feel more worried.

“Professor, he seemed so robust.”

The day she felt the presence of a ghost throughout her entire body.

Antonelli, the professor of the Chaldea Imperial Academy, and the reason why Chloe could catch a glimpse, albeit small, of it was his divine aura, so radiant and firm. It was enough to leave a deep impression on Chloe.

It was incredibly reassuring. The golden walls that appeared after reciting the prayer with Sophie B. were solid. Professor Antonelli standing in front of them was incredibly reliable, bringing a sense of relief.

“Uh…!”

Chloe looked forward to Professor Antonelli’s class. It wasn’t just because of what happened on the first day of class; she was simply curious about his state.

Chloe raised her head. Time had passed quickly, and the clock now pointed to 9:29. Chloe stared intently at the second hand.

“57 seconds. 58 seconds. 59 seconds….”

And finally, when the second hand pointed to 12.

Tick-tock!

“He’s here!”

Chloe quickly sat up. Elin, who had been lying next to her, was now looking at the lectern, fully equipped with writing tools.

Step. Step.

Elegant footsteps echoed. It was the entrance of Professor Lucio Antonelli, the professor of theology for Class A, first-year theology students.

“He looks fine. Thank goodness….”

Chloe smiled subtly. Today, she would definitely find the key related to the assignment.

Professor Antonelli, momentarily observing the classroom, nodded satisfactorily, as if pleased with the quiet and calm atmosphere. He then headed to the lectern at the front of the classroom.

Meanwhile, the silence inside the classroom persisted. Not a sound could be heard. No student was staring at him with anticipation.

This was Professor Antonelli’s theology class. Not a single moment could be missed.

The assignment Professor Antonelli had given on the first day of class. Now, with only three days left until the deadline, everyone was desperately hanging onto it.

Apart from the assignment, some students found a strong charm in Professor Antonelli’s class itself. Most of them were students from the Magic Department and Theology Department, all wanting to relive the enlightenment or the thrill of belief that flowed during their first class.

These students considered Professor Antonelli’s theology class as a kind of “wall to break down,” eagerly seeking knowledge about theology through diligent note-taking in every class, hoping to rediscover the pure essence created by that momentary insight and faith.

“Welcome, everyone.”

Professor Antonelli grabbed the lectern and began to speak. Chloe snapped to attention.

“Another week has passed, and I am back again…. However, I would like to tell you that this week will be a little different.”

Professor Antonelli, as usual, with glasses on, scanned the classroom with tired yet sharp eyes. Standing confidently, he began to speak.

“In three days. That is, this Friday, is the deadline for the assignment I presented to you.”

At Professor Antonelli’s gesture of raising three fingers, each student swallowed nervously. What kind of future would unfold if they couldn’t submit the assignment? Students did not want to think about it.

“I hope you spent the past weekend without any regrets.”

With that ominous statement, Professor Antonelli silently opened the Bible and theological books. Simultaneously, the hands of students flipping through the pages became busy.

“Then, let’s start the first-year Class A theology class.”

And so, a peculiar class began, where the eyes of all the students fluttered with their own desires.

* * * * *

The class proceeded as usual, quiet and smooth. I continued the class with a proud heart.

“And so, Peter said to his disciples, ‘Blessed, oh how blessed. I rebuked the devil and evil spirits yesterday, and the heavens opened, and judgment from the Lord came down upon them, banishing them to hell. The path to heaven is so beautiful.'”

Today, since the assignment deadline was approaching, we were discussing topics related to the assignment. I glanced at the students diligently taking notes and continued speaking.

“This passage follows the previous one, where the demons tempt Saint Peter. Saint Peter, who did not give in to their wicked tricks, rebuked them immediately and with the grace of the Lord, he used his divine power to drive out the demons. At that moment, he said these words.”

Blessed, oh how blessed. Truly a blessed event.

I took a moment to observe the students’ reactions. The Bible verse that had just been mentioned was the key phrase that ran through this assignment.

However, everyone bowed their heads and focused on taking notes, and there wasn’t a single student trying to interpret the text in their own way.

I let out a faint sigh. It was good that everyone was focused on the class, but mindlessly transcribing without engaging in critical thinking was foolish.

I looked at the students whose eyes met mine. They may each have different thoughts, but there was something common in their expressions. I could only blame myself.

“…The class seems too theoretical.”

Reflected in their mechanical eyes, my classes were excessively theoretical. It was a class that stopped students’ thinking.

In that case, there must be a solution.

“Now then, let’s do a simple experiment.”

The students’ eyes already changed. Eyes filled with anticipation and excitement sparkled everywhere.

“Um… there. Chloe, right?”

“U-uh, yes?”

I pointed at Chloe among them. Startled, she hesitantly looked at me.

“Come forward.”

“T-that… alright…”

Chloe came forward, blushing. She stood next to me before she even realized it. I whispered to her.

“Don’t be too nervous. It’s just a simple experiment.”

“Uh… yes.”

The students’ gaze was unusual. Even the usually distant Sophia seemed to be emitting a beam of interest.

“As we saw earlier, Saint Peter left the words ‘Blessed, oh how blessed.’ Is that correct?”

Students nodded all around. I stroked my chin and continued speaking.

“Aren’t you curious about that? Why did Saint Peter consider the act of driving out the demons using his divine power as a blessed event?”

The classroom grew quiet in a different sense. Among the students, who were exchanging glances, not a single one raised their hand, contrary to expectations.

“As I was about to open my mouth, a slender arm rose from the front row.

‘Laura von Adelheid, student,’ she said. It was Laura. With her usual haughty expression, Laura elegantly stood up and spoke. ‘Demons are the root of all evil, and by sending them back to hell with the help of the Lord, we have ensured the safety of the disciples. It is a blessed and truly blessed act,’ she said. ‘…It may not be the answer I had in mind, but it was a good response,’ Laura said, her eyebrows twitching, before quietly sitting back down. As Laura failed, the classroom became even quieter. ‘Is there anyone else?’ I hesitated. I was afraid that if I revealed the answer myself, the students would submit their assignments without any realization. I wanted to teach them how to catch fish, not just give them the fish. ‘Well then, let me show you the answer.’ I made up my mind to show them. I tightly grasped Cloe’s hand. Cloe trembled as if she had been electrocuted, then opened her eyes wide and alternated between looking at me and my hand. ‘Oh, I’m sorry. Is it okay if I hold your hand for a moment?’ ‘Uh, well…’ Cloe, whose face had turned as red as a beet, finally nodded with her face buried. ‘Thank you, student Cloe.’ I raised our joined hands so that everyone in the classroom could see. ‘I understand that Cloe is a student of the Magic Department. Is that correct?’ ‘Yes, yes… that’s right.’ ‘Then, Cloe, have you ever used divine power before?’ Cloe tilted her head with a puzzled expression. ‘No…? I’ve never used it before.’ ‘In that case, here’s the question. Why haven’t you used it before? If it sounds like a foolish question, it’s because it is. However, Cloe couldn’t give any answer. She was speechless. Cloe, a first-year student in Class A of the Magic Department, cannot use divine power. So, why? This question not only defies common sense but also holds the key to solving the assignment I presented in the first class. After all, progress in knowledge comes from questions that shatter common sense. Cloe, along with all the students in the classroom, looked puzzled. They scratched their heads, tapped their pens, and stroked their chins.”

Like students boasting about their own habits, Cloe’s response, after careful consideration of various thoughts, was:

“Perhaps it’s because I have a body that cannot use sacred power…?”

As expected, it was the anticipated answer, and it seemed that the students shared the same thought. More and more students nodded in agreement with Cloe’s response. Laura von Adelheid was no exception.

“Do you all agree?”

There were no students who didn’t nod. Everyone was thinking the same thing.

If that’s the case, I will break that prejudice right here.

“I will tell you right now.”

I turn to the faces of the students looking at me. And with one sentence.

“Until the end of today’s class, I will make it possible for Cloe to use sacred power in this place.”

“….”

Just like Cloe, whose mouth hung open, all the students in the classroom wore astonished expressions.

As if they didn’t understand what I said, how long has this somewhat long silence been flowing?

Kudungtang—!

It was a moment. Led by Laura in the front row, all the students in the classroom stood up from their seats.

And until a huge wave of blue rose in the classroom.

It didn’t take long.