Academy’s PTSD Chaplain

9 – 9. Fingers (3)

We quickly returned to the administration office. Subsister Sophia and Laura clung to my side, unwilling to let go even as we walked back.

After seating the now somewhat composed duo on a comfortable sofa, I headed to the restroom in the corner of the administration office to fetch some warm drinks.

“What do kids like these days.”

Among the numerous coffees and teas in the restroom, I noticed cocoa powder placed conspicuously in a corner. I picked it up.

“Hot chocolate.”

“It’s sweet and full of flavor, perfect for kids’ taste buds. I immediately added about three spoons of hot cocoa powder, sugar, and hot water.

In my early twenties, a young and energetic youth. The subtitle of a rural village.

Until then, I had always liked sweet things. So, I wasn’t particularly fond of bitter drinks like tea…

Tastes change. Now, I dislike sweet things.

Following the gently swirling spoon, hot cocoa within a mug creates a small whirlpool. The warmth from the mug transfers to the hand gripping it. I stared blankly at the glossy hot cocoa, its sheen flowing gracefully.

“….”

– Where on earth did you get this?

Using precious sugar from the battlefield, I haphazardly made hot cocoa with cocoa powder sourced from somewhere.

I tightly closed my eyes. Afraid that the face smiling faintly might fade away even just a bit. Because I didn’t want to miss it.

With a fair complexion and shimmering blonde hair, oblivious to the stains of gunpowder and dust. So foolishly… smiling innocently.

– Eat this and gain strength.

Plunging my trembling right hand into a fist. Some hot cocoa sprayed due to the abrupt movement, caused by the falling spoon.

“…Dammit.”

I placed the fallen spoon on the counter and took out a new spoon. A bit of the splattered hot cocoa entered my eyes. Unconsciously, I licked it off my lips.

The hot cocoa was overwhelmingly sweet, causing a slight tingling sensation on my tongue.

And suddenly, my own appearance felt so pitiful. A burst of dry laughter escaped me.

“Ha, ridiculous….”

Even in my own thoughts, I was truly laughable.

* * * * *

“Ahh… It’s warm….”

“Well, that’s good….”

As the warm hot cocoa flowed down her throat, she seemed to calm down slightly. I, who had taken care of Esther’s share as well, quietly sat on the opposite side of the sofa with my share of tea.

Now that she had somewhat calmed down, I thought it was time to ask the full story of the incident. I cautiously asked Laura.

“So, Laura von Adelheid. What were you doing in the annex until this hour?”

Laura looked at me with a still-fearful expression. Her lips, which had been pale blue, showed a slight return of color.

“I… I was… doing my assignment in the library.”

“I believe the library closes ten minutes before curfew. Didn’t the library staff who were there tell you?”

“It’s just that… a certain senior male student said that it was time to close…. If I wanted to study at night, I could do so under the supervision of a duty professor in the administration office… so I left the library. But…”

I listened attentively to Laura’s story. Esther, who was sitting next to me, was also fully focused on Laura’s words.

Laura, who swallowed nervously, spoke.

“I was on my way to the administration office. But, as I walked, I noticed a classroom door slightly ajar. And through that gap, there was a really bright red light pouring out.”

“Bright red light….”

As I mumbled, touching my chin, Laura vigorously nodded her head.

“Yes, yes. It was truly a bright red light. So, because the light was so ominous…. I was about to sprint straight to the administration office, but then….”

“But then?”

“I, I encountered it. Those eyes. Those bright red eyes!”

“Please tell me more in detail.”

“The eyes, the eyes were bright red. The skin, as if covered in blood, dripping red liquid….”

“Red liquid… do you mean blood?”

“Should I call it red liquid…. No. It was definitely blood. I’m sure it was blood.”

As if shivering at the mere thought, Laura started to wipe her arms continuously. Her only remaining hand tightly clenched the blanket covering her shoulders. I patiently waited for her to continue.

“… Anyway, I don’t remember much after that. I snapped out of it and found myself running without thinking. And then, here….”

“You encountered me.”

Sophia responded with a more serious expression than expected.

“No, why were you there, Sophia?”

“I, I just wanted to go to the bathroom! But then, I saw someone sprinting frantically from the annex in the distance. So, I was going to take them to the administration office! But then, I saw it too…!”

In summary, after Laura witnessed something strange, while running in a panic, Sophia spotted her, and on their way to the administration office, they encountered the entity once again.

“So, were you hiding in that dust pit?”

“W-Well, if you mean under the stairs, then yes.”

I casually brushed off the dust stuck to Sophia’s hair. After making a pouty face for a moment, she coughed and continued speaking.

“Anyway, Head Priest. What on earth was that?”

“Umm….”

Bright red eyes, and skin soaked in blood.

With such simple information, it was a bit challenging to deduce its identity. I grabbed the Bible and stood up from the sofa.

“Alright. Let’s investigate.”

“…Huh?”

“W-What are you saying…?”

Sophia and Laura looked at me with expressions suggesting they had misunderstood.

“Um, Professor Lucio? You’re joking, right…?”

Esther Professor looked at me with a pleading expression, urging me not to lie. But I paid no attention. “There might still be students left in the annex. We should check with the library students as well.” “That may be true, but…” “Professor Esther, the students could be in danger.” As I spoke firmly, Professor Esther nodded with a determined expression. “…You’re right.” “It would be wise to grab your cane as well.” With a nod, Professor Esther went to put on the robe that was hanging over the chair in the office. I looked at Laura and Sophia, who were sitting on the couch. Laura was still trembling slightly, her shoulders twitching. I sighed softly. The usually haughty and nervous girl was nowhere to be found. Now, there was only a fragile girl, trembling in fear like a frightened child who had witnessed something terrifying. “Sophia, do you know how to use miracles?” “Oh, yes. If it’s something simple…” “The Prayer of Valor. Please recite it.” Sophia clasped her hands together and began reciting the prayer. Then a faint golden light emanated from her and seeped into Laura’s body. Soon after, her trembling subsided. I let out a shallow sigh and called her. “Student Adelheid, we will patrol once again. Can you stay alone in the office?” She grabbed my hand tightly, startled. She pulled so strongly that my body wavered. “P-Professor, please don’t leave me alone. Okay?” Although Sophia helped, she still seemed scared. I handed Laura’s sweaty white hair back and calmed her down. “Laura von Adelheid, look into my eyes.” “Y-Yes.” “I’ll ask again. Can you stay alone?” Laura hesitated, but it was as good as settled. “Then let’s go together.” “…Huh?” “Since we’ll eventually have to face it, guide us on the way. Student Adelheid.” Leaving Sophia alone with them was out of the question. Just a moment ago, didn’t I say that I couldn’t even use my hands and ran away? So, it’s better to take them along. Laura, who had been hesitating for a moment, nodded heavily as if she had calmed down a bit. “Alright. Then…” Once again, it’s time for patrol.

Actually, at first, it was difficult to fully believe the words of Laura and Sofia’s subplot.

Logically, it didn’t seem likely that the story would progress without Cloe, the protagonist of this world. Moreover, there was the possibility of having seen something false, which couldn’t be ruled out.

However, what if we sprinkle a spoonful of academy novel clichés here?

The protagonist, or the academy students accompanying the protagonist, discovers something threatening to the academy and warns the professors. Yet, the professors, all alike, dismiss it as nonsense and handle it casually. The students, including the protagonist, make every effort to solve the problem themselves.

And in the end, despite their efforts, the incident erupts. Only then do the professors of the academy hastily try to deal with it.

There are no fools here. Instead of blindly ignoring the students’ stories, if there is a genuinely dangerous element, it should be seriously considered.

And I am not a fool. I won’t casually overlook such a blatant cliché and let it pass.

We walked slowly through the corridors of the academy annex. Sofia and Laura stood on either side of me, and Professor Esther was slightly ahead of me.

How long did we walk like this?

“It, it should be around here….”

Laura, gripping the hem of my sleeve, spoke with a trembling voice. Until a while ago, she had been clinging to my arm, but now she seemed to have calmed down to some extent.

The corridor was still dark. I glanced at Professor Esther’s pocket watch.

The current time was 1:40 AM. The deepest part of the night. The cold night air settled in, permeating through the skin.

During our journey here, we didn’t encounter the strange presence that Laura and Sofia mentioned. Despite the claim of bloodstains on the walls, there wasn’t a drop of blood in the corridor.

“Oh, there it is!”

Laura pointed to a certain place. As we approached, a bag scattered on the floor appeared before us.

Laura picked up the bag with a delighted expression. As she struggled to lift it, I naturally reached out and took the bag for her.

“…Hmm.”

It’s really heavy. What could be inside that makes it so heavy?

As I tried to open the bag to check, Laura, surprised, stopped me.

“Don’t, don’t look.”

“…Alright.”

“And… thank you for carrying it.”

I nodded lightly and urged our footsteps forward. As we walked, the lecture room that Laura had mentioned finally came into view.

“Is that it?”

“Yes….”

Laura was trembling all over. Looking at Laura, who once again tightly hugged my arm, I quietly sighed.

Certainly, in the lecture room, a faint red light was emanating, and if I listened closely, I could hear what seemed like hushed conversations.

“Don’t go…”

“Student Adelaide, I need to confirm.”

“……”

Laura, whose lips were trembling, released her grip on my arm. I slowly, very slowly, approached the classroom.

– …Meanwhile, the students were gathered in the classroom, sitting together…

As I got closer, the voices of the conversation began to sound clearer. Professor Esther, Laura, and Sophia, with their eyes shaking as one, followed closely behind me. Before we knew it, we had reached the open door of the classroom.

– And then, at that moment… The man suddenly opened the classroom door and entered…!

Creak—!

“What on earth are you all doing?”

“Yeah! Just like that… Huh?”

A male student, pointing at me with a pale face. The several students sitting around him froze and stared at me. After a brief moment of silence…

“Ah—!”

“It’s a ghost!”

“Haah….”

I felt a sudden rush of emptiness and let out a sigh. It was because I could see the all too familiar face of Chloe among the students screaming.

Professor Esther, who was following me, slyly extended her head.

“…A courage test?”

On the blackboard in the classroom, the words “Occult Club Courage Test” were written prominently.