“Professor Antorelli has caused quite a stir again!”
This was the topic that had the Caldera Imperial Academy buzzing. Originally, it had been a rumor circulating only among the first-year students regarding Antorelli’s exam, but as his comments in the dining hall reached the ears of other students, the ripple effect grew larger.
And that meant students had more gossip to share. Those who heard the rumors about Professor Antorelli’s Theology exam began to express their opinions.
For example, the students in Class A of the first year reacted negatively upon hearing the news of Antorelli’s “unified exam for the Theology Department.”
“He’s going to unify the first-year Theology exam? And with Professor Antorelli overseeing it? This is insane; it’s not like he’s doing us any favors.”
“Even so, this is going a bit too far… I worked hard to get into Class A, and as a result, I’m taking Professor Antorelli’s classes. The sudden expansion to include students from other classes is a bit unsettling…”
Most Class A students were worried about the future when Antorelli’s exam would apply to all first-year students.
There was a hint of resentment that they, having entered Class A after much effort, would now face the same exam, whose excellence was already proven, alongside all first-year students. This exhibited a sort of compensatory psychology at play.
However, there was a bigger problem at hand.
“I don’t know about this unified exam… Other class students should take exams from their original professors.”
“Exactly. Even if it doesn’t impact our promotion to the second year, it will ultimately affect the class allocation reviews for our new divisions in the second year.”
“This could be…”
The anxiety that other class students might threaten their positions based on Antorelli’s exam.
In fact, the solution to this anxiety was simple. If they maintained a high level of academic achievement normally, they wouldn’t have to worry about such matters.
However, it is inherently easier to undermine the efforts of others than to focus on one’s own. Class A students agree to give other class students the opportunity to rise to Class A but do not consent to provide favorable conditions under the pretense of “fair conditions.”
Of course, there were no students among the ordinary Class A members who had the courage to confront Professor Antorelli directly about this.
“Regardless of anything else, an open-book exam for the Theology exam? Shouldn’t there at least be some restrictions on the materials?”
“I’m with you on that… While I can’t say how it has been in past classes, it seems like you’re pushing the limits a bit this time…”
Ultimately, Class A students were concerned about the “restrictions on materials.” Even if it’s an open-book exam, if there are no restrictions on the materials, it would give students from other classes ample opportunity to excel.
“What do you all think? Do you think this is right?”
“…….”
However, not all Class A students shared the general sentiment. Among those maintaining top or upper-tier grades in Class A, there was a lukewarm response, and the Theology Department students remained silent on the matter.
It was surprising that the Theology Department students, who would be greatly affected by the Theology exam, were so quiet compared to others.
“Hey, doesn’t this seem a bit off?”
“…The professor must have his reasons. The Lord’s flock would not go against the good shepherd’s will.”
“No….”
There was only one response returned to persistently questioning students.
“The professor must have thought it through, which is why he wouldn’t do such a thing. Don’t make a fuss and just stay quiet.”
While this might be valid, the fact that they did not understand what that thought was left them feeling anxious.
Unlike the accumulating complaints of Class A students, the reactions of students from other classes were relatively mild.
“Did Professor Antorelli really say that?”
“Yeah. I heard so yesterday in the dining hall.”
“Class A students have been boasting about Professor Antorelli’s class for a while; is it finally our chance too?”
Or rather, it would be more accurate to say that they welcomed Antorelli’s exam. The class that had monopolized Professor Antorelli’s classes was now going to provide even a small glimpse of that experience to those wishing to climb up to Class A.
Those who wanted to rise and those who wanted to maintain their position.
Naturally, this was a weighty topic.
[All first-year Theology classes scheduled for today are canceled.]
Canceling all Theology classes for first-year students and holding a self-conducted meeting was significant enough.
A chilly air filled the meeting room.
Some read the Bible, some quietly clasped rosaries with closed eyes in prayer, and others calmly engaged in conversation…
In the midst of it all, Professor Marcello surveyed the assembled faces in the meeting room. They all wore pious expressions and were faithful devotees, professors teaching first-year students in the Theology Department at the Caldera Imperial Academy.
“Hmm…”
Although he didn’t show it outwardly, Professor Marcello was not keen on the situation. It wasn’t simply because they had canceled the class to attend a meeting.
But if we were to scrutinize the reason, yes.
“Professor Antorelli. Do you really have no intention of reconsidering?”
“I do not.”
“Ah…”
It was because of Professor Antorelli, who sat right next to the now vacant seat of the top professor of all first-year classes.
The shockingly bold assertion that he would independently conduct the unified Theology exam for all first-year students, made in front of numerous students.
“A unified exam for all first-year students out of the blue; this is something unprecedented…”
In fact, if we trace back through the history of the academy even before it became the Caldera Imperial Academy, there were precedents for unified exams across entire grades.
In the nearly 90-year history of the Caldera Imperial Academy, such precedents could be found sometimes, and even the Caldera Private Academy, the predecessor of the current Caldera Imperial Academy, had held such exams occasionally.
What was truly problematic was that, even in the long-established history of the Caldera Imperial Academy, the Theology Department had never administered a unified exam.
Theology, being the sacred study of analyzing the Holy Scriptures containing the words of the Lord and exploring views on the Lord’s realm and faith, could not have its measures of faith based solely on academic inquiry.
Thus, norms typically included question-based exams based on the Scriptures, establishing a framework around which to validate faith.
To deny such forms of examination might be perceived as denying the Scriptures themselves, which serve as the basis of the examination. It was hard to imagine that the conservative religious circles, with their long-standing rigidity, would accept such a notion.
And here and now, that longstanding history faced the threat of being shattered.
“Sofia, Sub-priest. Please amend this section accordingly.”
“Ah… Like this?”
“Yes. That looks much neater.”
With a calm expression, Professor Antorelli was busy reviewing class materials alongside the sub-priest he always brought with him.
In fact, all other Theology professors of the first year looked favorably upon Professor Antorelli.
His Theology classes received high accolades from Class A students, and even those who had caught a glimpse of the class’s contents took a stance that “the words of the Lord spread in the form of proper teachings, which is a blessed thing.”
Moreover, he was the head priest of the Caldera Imperial Academy’s main chapel, having officially been recognized as a high-ranking priest by the Holy Empire.
While the ranks include bishops, priests, and sub-priests, and technically every bishop is a priest and every priest is a sub-priest, the structure does get divided further among priests, from lay priests to higher-ranking priests.
While the primary vocation of the Theology professors is to teach theology to students, they are all priests who have completed their orders. No matter how high their rank, they usually only reach that of a mid-tier priest.
It was for this reason that Antorelli sat right next to the top professor’s position, almost as if it were meant to be.
Thus, they could not outright ignore the opinion of Professor Antorelli, head priest of the academy’s main chapel and a high-ranking priest who might very well rise to the position of bishop in the future. For Professor Marcello, it was maddening.
Thus, while Professor Marcello let out endless sighs, lamenting his situation, it was then that…
“The top professor is coming in.”
The person arguably taking overall responsibility for this matter stepped into the meeting room with heavy footsteps.
“Everyone, please take your seats.”
To the heavy, deep voice, one by one, the Theology professors who had been standing began to sit down.
I glanced sideways at the man sitting right next to me.
He had a thin frame that belied his deep voice and stood at least half a head taller than me. Moreover, like me, he didn’t seem to have the best complexion.
“Then, let’s begin the emergency meeting for the first-year Theology Department.”
He was none other than Professor Alan Madison, the top professor for first-year students at the Caldera Imperial Academy, teaching material manipulation magic to first-year magic students.
I had heard that Professor Madison also participated in the Great War. This explained why he always seemed a bit off whenever I ran into him.
In any case, that wasn’t the important issue right now.
“I’ve made it a point to carve out some of my busy time for this meeting, so I will get straight to the point.”
Professor Madison pressed his brow and spoke as if letting out a sigh.
“I understand that the main agenda for this meeting is to discuss conducting a unified Theology exam for first-year students at Caldera Imperial Academy. Am I correct?”
“That’s right.”
In response to Professor Madison’s inquiry, Professor Marcello answered. I had felt it before, but Professor Marcello was likely representing the other Theology professors.
“Good. After all, the administration of tests for each year falls under the discretion of the top professor, so I will reach a resolution as quickly as I can.”
“U-Um, you don’t need to hear an explanation…”
“I already heard from the associate professor on my way here. Professor Antorelli intends to conduct the Theology exam for Class A students as a fully unrestricted open-book exam; is that not the case, Professor Marcello?”
“Well, it’s not exactly opposition. However, it’s just that in the Theology exam, such forms of examination have no precedent…”
“Since you brought up precedent, let me be honest. It’s a long-established norm for the exams of common subjects in Class A to be at the discretion of the responsible professor. Unless the Principal intervenes with a comment, even I, as the top professor, cannot unilaterally reject an exam planned by the responsible professor.”
“…….”
Professor Marcello fell silent.
By the way, Professor Madison… this person seems to have quite a short temper. Within a minute of entering the meeting room, the discussion is already racing towards a conclusion.
“If Professor Antorelli is planning an unreasonable exam, I can exercise my veto. However, since I have yet to hear the specific exam plan, I cannot unilaterally reject it. Professor Antorelli, do you have a concrete plan for the exam?”
“Yes. I’ll organize it quickly and send it over.”
“Send it promptly. I have no time to waste.”
Professor Madison, who highly values speed, glanced at his wristwatch before continuing.
“After reviewing the specific exam plan, I will make a final approval decision. Any objections?”
“Then, what about the unified exam…?”
“As for the unified exam, I will likewise decide promptly based on the exam plan that Professor Antorelli sends. However, if it is deemed necessary for all students to take Professor Antorelli’s exam, I cannot help but review it positively and quickly.”
“…….”
“I will conclude the meeting here. Thank you for your rapid cooperation. Have a swift day.”
With that, Professor Madison rushed out of the meeting room like the wind, marking the end of the meeting.
“… If that’s the case, wouldn’t it have been unnecessary to cancel the classes…?”
As Professor Marcello muttered in disappointment, this truly was a ‘swift’ meeting.
