Academy’s PTSD Chaplain

23 – 23. Blessed and Blessed (6)

“Ha….”

Laura, who had finished bathing, got out of the bathtub. When she came out of the bathroom, her whole body started to show sweat.

Swoosh—.

The wind came in through the open window, brushing past Laura’s damp body. Her body shivered in the cold air.

“Ugh, it’s cold….”

Hastily, Laura put on a robe and closed the window. Because it would get chilly in the evening, if she didn’t hurry and dry herself, she was likely to catch a cold.

Swooosh—.

Drying her hair like that.

“……”

Changing into her pajamas.

“Huuhmm….”

Until she lay on the bed.

In Laura’s mind, only one thing came up.

‘He smiled. Not anyone else, only to me….’

Professor Antonelli’s face, with a faint smile. It was a subtle smile that didn’t show much, but for some reason, that image lingered in her mind all day.

– Allow me to say. Among the assignments I reviewed today, the one submitted by Adelheid student….

“Uh-huh…. Huhuhu….”

– Undoubtedly, it’s outstanding.

“Eukkiyaaaak—!”

Thud! Thud!

Laura began to mercilessly pound the unfortunate pillow. She felt her face burning hot.

Rising abruptly from the bed, Laura desperately fanned herself. Despite closing the window, the heat didn’t subside.

To be acknowledged by that man alone brought her so much joy. It was truly an inexplicable event.

He was always calm, composed, with no change in expression. On the first day of class, he had been cold, deducting 10 points for her lack of manners. Until yesterday, Laura thought he was someone stingy with praise.

But he wasn’t.

‘The best….’

You are the best.

As a mage with considerable talent, Laura had heard those words many times. However, when the person saying them changed to Professor Antonelli, it became more than a simple compliment.

It was him acknowledging Laura, Laura von Adelheid herself.

Elevating Laura one step further and acknowledging her skill itself.

For Laura, who had been stuck at the wall of growth for the past three years, it was the most urgent type of praise.

“Sigh…. I should sleep now….”

Laura, lying back on the bed, closed her eyes.

Tomorrow is the weekend. Since many people use the training ground on weekends, she needs to wake up early to secure a spot. As eager as she is to continue her magical research after breaking the wall today, there’s also the preparation for the grade-level duels in the summer.

But…

“Ugh…!”

The smile that emerged in her mind was unforgettable. Laura lifted her upper body again.

It was a truly feeble smile. At a glance, it might seem expressionless, a really small smile. It might not have appeared as a smiling face to other students.

However, that’s how Laura saw Professor Antonelli, directly facing him. It was visible only to her.

Messy hair, an impression of indifference. The glasses perched on her nose gave an intellectual touch, but that was all.

Yeah. It should have been just that.

“If I dress up a bit, it might be okay.”

The original version wasn’t bad, so if she just spruced it up a bit, it might be fine…

“…I must be crazy.”

Laura muttered absentmindedly. Just with a small smile, her evaluation of a person could change so drastically. It was hard to believe.

It was only a slight upturn of the corners of her mouth, but it was a magic that made a person look different. It was magic.

“Oh, really…!”

Suddenly, Laura looked at the desk clock. The clock hands were approaching twelve, and impatience crept in.

“I have to get up by seven…”

To get some sleep, she closed her eyes again. And began to breathe evenly.

“…”

By the time Laura finally fell asleep, it was three in the morning.

* * * * *

Friday’s class concluded successfully. Not just successful, one could cautiously say it was a great success.

The students had grown one step further. The protagonist, of course, and Laura von Adelheid, the prodigy with exceptional talent in magic, seemed to have gained a significant realization. I couldn’t be happier about this fact.

My students had grown, and the class unfolded as I intended. Could any educator not be pleased with such a fact?

But what truly made me happy was different.

“Laura von Adelheid…”

The assignment Laura wrote. The unexpected answers it contained.

It was undoubtedly content not included in the lessons I taught. Laura had learned something she wasn’t taught.

It wasn’t just one step of growth; it surpassed two steps of growth.

“It is impossible for everyone to use divine power. Is it…?”

It was a satisfying conclusion. I didn’t need time to understand and accept that sentence. It was something already deeply ingrained in me, exactly what Laura spoke of.

Everyone seeks salvation. I did too, and in the battlefield, it became even more pronounced.

However, there was no such thing as salvation. Salvation was a futile hope. The salvation I desired at that time was just a simple wish for the war to end right away.

Do you know when people become the most despicable?

It’s not when they desire wealth, indulge in gluttony, or succumb to lust.

It’s when humans are faced with the danger of death.

When their dwindling humanity reaches its limit, and they reach out their hands, crying out for futile and empty miracles and salvation.

That’s when people become the most despicable.

And I experienced firsthand the time when humans become the most despicable. I wished for the impossible, which made me gradually drift away from reality and ultimately led to catastrophic consequences.

After the war. In other words, when the young people and future seeds of this country are being ruthlessly sacrificed, and the despicable old people who sat safely, doing nothing but signing a few pieces of paper.

I realized something.

Not everyone can become good. Such a paradise does not exist in the earthly world where these insignificant humans live, at least.

It was a belated realization, but also an early experience. After all, I was only in my twenties.

Where there is light, there will always be shadows. The two are inseparable.

I couldn’t dare to teach this fact in class. I thought I would conduct the lesson in the next semester.

However, Laura found the answer by herself. Without my teaching, she conducted her own research and gained enlightenment.

It was something I truly didn’t expect. And after reading Laura’s assignment, I thought to myself.

How much effort did she put into this? How desperately did she search for the answer?

Her hard work was right in front of my eyes. How could I not praise her for it?

That’s why I said it.

That she is the best, a praise that could easily be overlooked for Laura.

“Head Priest!”

I snapped out of my reverie. Sophia, my subordinate, was standing in front of me.

“What are you thinking?”

“I was reminiscing about the class we had on Friday.”

“Oh… that class?”

Sophia nodded, then raised her thumb.

“That class was truly the best. We’ve never had such a class at our Priest Academy.”

“Don’t you just have boring theoretical classes there?”

“I didn’t expect you to say that, Head Priest. Don’t you consider theory the most important?”

I raised my head slowly and spoke to Sophia in front of me.

“Theory is important too. But it is even more important to have the ability to interpret that theory.”

“Ah, I see. I understand now. That makes sense…”

“By the way, what was the reaction to last week’s Sunday service?”

“Well….”

Last Sunday. So, I think yesterday’s Sunday service ended quite successfully. For some reason, there were more students than usual, gathered and talking.

Most of them were from Class A of the first grade, so I think it might have been because of my class.

Sophia ponders for a moment, then snaps her fingers and says.

“Everyone said it was fine… but oh! Many people expressed the opinion that the supervising priest should be a bit more presentable.”

“……”

“The supervising priest?”

“It’s nothing, really.”

But I did try my best. It seems that it wasn’t seen by the people who attended the service. I nodded my head heavily.

“I see. A bit more presentable… what do you think, Sophia?”

“Me? Are you asking my opinion?”

“Yes. You can be honest.”

“Well…. Um….”

Sophia, who had been gazing at me with her bright eyes, smiled and said.

“It seems like some organization is needed!”

“…I should probably get a haircut this weekend.”

“Shall I accompany you?”

Sophia sparkled her eyes and approached me. I looked at her with a slightly subtle expression.

“Are you okay? You should rest on the weekend…”

“Oh, come on…! You should attend the Sunday service looking cool! I’ll help you!”

“…Then, I’ll be in your debt.”

Sophia nodded her head happily, wondering what is so good. I took out my wristwatch.

The current time is 9:10 a.m. I had been waiting at the front gate of the academy, and about thirty minutes had already passed.

“Well, we should be arriving soon.”

“Yes… My legs are starting to hurt…”

Despite the weekend being over and it being Monday, we weren’t here at this place instead of the professor’s office to procrastinate.

Sophia and I are currently standing at the front gate of the academy, waiting for someone.

“The chapel has been cleaned up nicely, hasn’t it?”

“Yes. We cleaned it all day yesterday, didn’t we?”

“But… I’m not so sure…”

It might be a little tense. I absolutely detest receiving guests like this.

“Aren’t those the ones?”

At that moment, Sophia pointed somewhere with her hand. I turned my gaze in that direction.

A middle-aged man dressed in priestly attire and a young woman with a somewhat sharp impression were walking towards us. I stared intently at their faces.

“Sophia, is that the priest Peter?”

“Uh… yes. That terrifying priest Peter indeed. Sigh… I guess I have to hide behind the authority of the head priest.”

“….”

The two priests who had walked all the way to the front gate were slowly approaching us.

It was a tense first meeting.