Cesar Li. I know him.
After hearing my answer, Jericho silently looked at me.
There was no hesitation in my response, and there was a faint tremor in Jericho’s gaze as he looked at me; just that one movement.
‘I’ve gained momentum.’
The initiative in the conversation shifted directly to me. I opened my mouth towards Jericho.
“Why have you become silent? Do I need to say it again?”
“…”
“Yes. I know Cesar Li. Is that a problem?”
Jericho glared at me. I met his gaze with an expressionless face.
“…What was your relationship?”
“A friend I had a close bond with in the past…”
“No, don’t lie. You and Professor Cesar Li are nothing short of friends, are you?”
Jericho’s tone was laced with venom. His eyes shone sharply, seeming ready to pounce on me.
“…Yes. That is correct.”
Unfortunately, I was the one holding the reins.
“Cesar Li was a comrade who fought alongside me.”
“…Comrade?”
“Yes. He was a comrade. We served together in the same unit for several years and became very close during that time.”
“Professor Antorelli. Are you…?”
Jericho trailed off. He seemed eager to articulate something, his lips moving, but in the end, he couldn’t find the words, and his brow slightly furrowed in frustration.
“Hmm…”
Finally, after a heavy silence, he let out a sigh that seemed to carry a multitude of worries. I silently watched him.
“…I’ve got you there, Professor.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, indeed. I never thought you would have combat experience.”
Jericho, who had been leaning closer to match my eye level, sank deeply into the sofa, adopting a comfortable posture. The pressure that had felt like a beast’s gaze directed at me vanished.
With a long sigh, Jericho stared blankly at the ceiling and muttered in a defeated tone.
“Now, a priest, and if you have combat experience from the past… were you a military chaplain?”
“Yes.”
“…I see. A military chaplain, then.”
For some reason, the previously stifling atmosphere had lightened. Jericho lifted his head to look at me and continued speaking.
“Which unit were you a part of?”
“I was assigned to the 101st Ground Defense Brigade under the Magical Engineering Infantry Battalion. Considering that I had to be reassigned in the middle, the last place I served was the 858 Magical Engineering Infantry Battalion.”
“The 858 Magical Engineering Infantry Battalion… that was the unit commanded by Colonel Meijhem, the reserve officer.”
“Do you know Colonel Meijhem?”
“I know him. He was a well-regarded officer by Duke Adelhaid, so I made a point to remember him.”
And then, yet again, silence fell. Jericho seemed generally not to be a talkative person, yet he displayed a strange interest when discussing the Great War.
That was likely because Jericho had also participated in the Great War. I did not forget that he was part of the Imperial Knight Order.
“…You must have saved many injured people.”
“I was just doing what needed to be done.”
“What needs to be done…?”
Jericho fell silent for a moment, then began to scratch at his beard in a way that suggested dissatisfaction. Seeing him fidget like that made me hold my tongue.
“Yes, indeed. We are all just doing what must be done.”
“…”
“Both you and I.”
Jericho bent his waist. It was not because he leaned toward me as before, but simply because he lowered his head, bringing our eye levels together once more.
“Professor Antorelli.”
“I’m listening.”
“Do you know what war is?”
Jericho asked. I stared intently into his eyes and replied.
“I know it well.”
“Then tell me.”
“It is something that completely turns life upside down.”
“Professor Antorelli, you do not completely understand my question.”
“…Is that so?”
“Indeed. War is a game of wits where someone must inevitably die.”
I listened to his words calmly. I did not nod or shake my head; I merely listened quietly.
“It turns life completely upside down… In fact, life can change drastically without experiencing war. There are those who return to their previous lives even after going through war.”
“…”
“But, Professor, the reason we are alive and breathing like this is that in the end, someone lost in that game of wits.”
“Do you know who that is?” Jericho pressed at me with critical eyes. I felt a sense of being compelled to answer, but it was not an unwelcome feeling.
“Yes. I do.”
“Then who do you think lost in the game of wits?”
“Fools lost.”
“What?”
Jericho’s expression twisted, for he did not understand my words.
“Did you just say fools lost?”
“Yes. In a game of wits on the battlefield where someone must die, who else but fools would lose?”
“There must be an explanation that I can accept.”
I quietly closed my eyes. The eyes of Jericho, which had glared at me like a beast, disappeared, and a complete darkness gently obscured my vision.
“Fools know nothing but one thing, Jericho.”
“What do you mean?”
“‘How can I lose in this game of wits?’ is their only thought.”
“…Continue.”
“Those fools prioritize others over themselves.”
They do not hesitate to burn their own bodies for the sake of others.
Even if they die, they believe without doubt that their death will bring forth a positive influence.
They would be satisfied to give up their entire lives if it could save the lives of others.
“And those fools plant seeds in the hearts of the survivors before leaving.”
“…What does that mean?”
“The name of that seed is ‘a better future,’ Jericho.”
Jericho fell silent. He seemed to struggle to manage his expression, his facial muscles twitching, but it did not take long for that expression to slowly crumble.
“…They really are fools.”
“They did not lose in the game of wits. They are merely fools who do not know how to lose.”
“Sure, I see….”
I looked down at the photo of Cesar sitting on the table. Then, I handed it back to Jericho.
“Jericho, don’t hate Cesar too much.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“To be precise, I mean don’t hate ‘people like Cesar Li’ too much.”
“…”
“Jericho, sometimes it’s okay to put down the burdens those fools have given you, even if just for a while.”
Jericho silently looked at the photo of Cesar. After a long while of staring, he finally spoke.
“…I will take my leave now.”
Jericho stood up from the couch. As he rose, a dark shadow loomed where his imposing figure blocked the sunlight.
“The investigation into Cesar Li is still ongoing, Professor Antorelli.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. What Cesar Li has done is not merely the crime of fools that we can brush aside. And that means my investigation into you is also not yet complete.”
“…”
“I hope you will cooperate sincerely with the investigation. Professor Antorelli, the tea was nice.”
Jericho strode toward the door. He did not look back at me and muttered quietly.
“…A seed, huh.”
As he reached for the door handle, I gazed quietly at the sunlight pouring in through the window and called out to him.
“Jericho.”
“…I’m listening.”
“Do you know who are the people even more foolish than those fools?”
“Who on earth are they?”
I felt Jericho’s piercing gaze on the back of my head. I watched the dance of tiny dust particles floating in the sunlight and spoke softly.
“They are the ones who cannot even sprout the seeds planted by those fools.”
“…”
“Which side are you, Jericho?”
Jericho did not answer. He stood there staring at me for a moment, then turned back to the door knob.
– Creak.
“…I will come again next time.”
“I will be waiting.”
– Clank.
When the door closed, the small dust that had been dancing in the air swirled wildly in the currents of the wind. Watching that, I faintly recalled the expression on Jericho’s face.
“Someone must inevitably die, a game of wits….”
He was right.
We are infinitely small beings, unable to embrace everyone as we move forward.
*
“So, do you like Professor Antorelli, Sub-priest?”
Sub-priest Sofia stood there, speechless, with wide eyes blinking. Nina’s question was far too bold.
“…Eh, yes?”
“No, why… Your gaze when you look at the professor seems unusual. It’s not just a gaze of a subordinate; it seems a bit distant and warm…”
“Th-That’s enough…! Please stop…”
Sub-priest Sofia waved her hand at Nina. The sudden rush of blood made her head spin. Without even needing to check the mirror, she was sure her face was flushed bright red.
“Why? Don’t you like him?”
“N-No… We are merely in the relationship of head priest and sub-priest…”
“Hmmm… Is that so…”
Nina looked at Sub-priest Sofia as if she had encountered something cute. The corners of her mouth were beginning to rise, reeking of mischief.
“Then, can I seduce the professor?”
“…Huh?”
“No, why? Come on! The professor is very good-looking and has that melancholic aura that really suits my taste.”
“W-Well… No…”
“If only his hair could be styled differently, he’d look really good! But… I think he’s already quite handsome the way he is! He shows off a sort of icy handsome charm, doesn’t he?”
“Ugh….”
“Well, since you’re saying you have an entirely official relationship with the professor, then it wouldn’t matter if I seduced him! Instead, I should go right now and….”
“W-Wait…!”
Nina dashed out of the reception room, making a beeline for the head priest’s office, and Sub-priest Sofia hurriedly grabbed the hem of Nina’s garment, nearly in tears.
“Whoa, why are you doing this? It seems like you aren’t very close to the professor, am I wrong?”
“Ugh, that’s not it…”
“Then what is it?”
“When the head priest looks at me, he seems to think of someone else, so I… just…”
“Oh, ho…”
Is this really what they call a love triangle? Nina’s eyes began to shine with interest, but she felt that it wouldn’t be right to tease Sub-priest Sofia any further.
“I was joking! Joking! Actually, I prefer someone on the bigger side.”
“Someone bigger…?”
“Yes. Someone tall and well-built… With an intimidating look but a warm heart. Maybe?”
– Bang.
The sound of the door swinging open filled the room at that moment. Nina gently released Sub-priest Sofia’s hand, which had a tight grip on her clothing, and smiled brightly.
“I should get going now. I’ll see you later, crybaby Sub-priest!”
“Ugh….”
Leaving behind a teary-eyed Sub-priest Sofia, Nina bounded out of the reception room. Beyond the open door, I caught a glimpse of Nina sticking close to the large form of Jericho.
“Nina. I’m heading back now.”
“Sounds good! Before you go, how about having a meal together?”
“We did not come here for leisure, Nina.”
“Come on… still—”
Sub-priest Sofia stared blankly at the backs of the two of them. Her previous frustration had now completely vanished.
“A big and intimidating person?”
Sub-priest Sofia gazed at the two, so naturally intertwined yet oddly mismatched, and felt a sense of déjà vu.
It felt so familiar.
