After the class ended, I immediately left the classroom. Sofia Sub-priest followed closely beside me.
“Head Priest. I think I need to stop by the professor’s office before heading to the cafeteria.”
“Is there something urgent?”
“Daniel submitted a budget plan for purchasing supplies. Today is the deadline, right before lunchtime. I reviewed it beforehand, and there wasn’t anything strange regarding the supplies. I’ve also fixed any calculation errors.”
“Understood. Is there anything else…”
With the Fall Festival fast approaching, I too had many tasks at hand. Since it was a large event held at the Empire’s prestigious Academy, many outsiders would certainly come.
“Next, there’s the general meeting of the Academy professors scheduled. It seems they plan to give students a self-study time in the afternoon.”
“A meeting…. Is it hosted by the chancellor?”
“No. It seems to be organized by the head professor of each year and the acting chancellor. I heard Chancellor Damian has gone on an urgent business trip.”
“…Is that so? Then, who is the acting chancellor now….”
I trailed off. The question I was about to ask was resolved right before my eyes.
“The festival booths will be set up in the Annex Courtyard, and fireworks will be prepared in the Main Building Courtyard.”
“If that’s the case, won’t it be hard for outsiders to come to the festival booths?”
“We plan to set up signposts and guides along the path from the main gate to the Annex Courtyard. You don’t need to worry.”
“Indeed, that sounds good. Then let’s proceed with that.”
“Hehe…. Yes, let’s do that.”
“Certainly, it seems you were the right choice for the acting chancellor.”
“No. Professor Armstrong is also excellent.”
With a few aides walking down the hallway, Professor Underwood was accompanied by the muscular Professor Armstrong.
The moment I saw them, I couldn’t help but doubt my own eyes.
“Uh…? Head Priest, is my vision flawed?”
“…I think mine is as well.”
Professor Underwood and Professor Armstrong. The two were walking down the hallway side by side, blushing slightly, as if on the verge of holding hands….
“Wow….”
“…….”
There was no denying the pink atmosphere between the two as they walked discussing the festival. From what I overheard, it seemed that Professor Underwood was the one taking on the acting chancellor role.
At that moment, Professor Underwood’s gaze turned this way. When our eyes met, Professor Underwood gave a soft, winking smile.
Then, she mouthed something towards me.
‘Thank you.’
Though I couldn’t hear the sound, the meaning was clearly conveyed through her lips. I gazed blankly at Professor Underwood and Professor Armstrong, who were fading into the distance down the hallway.
“Um, it seems Professor Underwood’s issue has been well resolved….”
“…It appears so.”
It seemed Sofia Sub-priest and I had greatly contributed to resolving the conflict between the two, which had persisted for a long time.
In a way, it was a good outcome. The conflicts between the professors had been intense, caused by the discord between those two.
Ultimately, the resolution of their conflict was a problem that needed to be tackled sooner or later.
‘I never expected the issue to flow into this direction….’
The unexpected act of compromise from Professor Armstrong, along with the strange relationship I had just witnessed between the two, had truly caught me off guard.
As I pondered about Professor Underwood and Professor Armstrong, who had disappeared around the corner, I suddenly felt a strong gaze from beside me.
“…Sofia Sub-priest, why do you look at me like that?”
“…Oh, it’s nothing.”
Sofia Sub-priest, who briefly showed a dissatisfied expression, couldn’t give me a proper response and hurriedly turned her head away.
“Anyway, let’s head to the professor’s office!”
She began walking ahead briskly, and I soon followed suit.
Due to the significant difference in our strides, I quickly caught up with Sofia Sub-priest.
“…Sofia Sub-priest, is everything truly okay?”
“Oh, there’s really nothing…. More importantly, let’s hurry!”
I thought back to whether I had upset her in some way. Reflecting on Sofia Sub-priest’s somewhat unclear response, I pondered deeply.
‘I don’t know.’
Nothing specific came to mind. If anything, I could only recall hints of Helena’s presence in Sofia Sub-priest, but I questioned whether she had realized that.
‘…Could it be?’
However, there is always a possibility. While I hoped that Sofia Sub-priest remained unaware of it, I couldn’t help but wonder what to do if she did find out.
‘What should I do?’
Indeed, the traces of Helena were difficult to erase.
That was likely because that small trace had dyed everything about me.
My life and my entire future ahead.
But….
‘…I shouldn’t let that happen.’
I hoped that Sofia Sub-priest wouldn’t be stained by that color.
The last memory I had of the meeting room was a small one where I had met with first-year theology professors, including Professor Marcello.
Since today’s meeting was for all first-year professors, the meeting room was about the same size as the third meeting room previously used for the Grade-by-Grade Duel meeting.
I sat in the middle row of the meeting room with Professor Esther and Sofia Sub-priest. It had become almost our designated seating.
“Was it a meeting about the festival…?”
Professor Esther scratched her cheek and asked. I nodded lightly while checking the professors entering the meeting room.
“I heard so.”
“Indeed, I’ve heard that the Fall Festival of the Caldera Imperial Academy gets a lot of buzz. They say it’s on a grand scale.”
“Is it really that big?”
“Yes. The reason it’s such a grand event is that it’s the only annual event that permits outsiders. I think many guests will visit the festival booths.”
‘Oh dear.’
Disliking crowds was a constant, regardless of how much time passed.
If it were the Academy’s club festival booth, I would be responsible for managing it, but hearing that it would be crowded with outsiders, who were anything but familiar faces, made me frown without realizing it.
Seeing the darkening expression that momentarily crossed my face, Professor Esther also put on an awkward smile, looking troubled.
“Ahaha…. It’s a bit of a headache, isn’t it? It feels like just yesterday we completed the mid-term evaluations, and now we have so many things to be mindful of….”
“Professor Esther, aren’t you also supposed to prepare for the semester-end evaluations?”
“Haah…. You’re right…. Maybe that’s why I’m busy day and night these days. Really…. I wish someone like Professor Lucio would handle a unified exam for our Illusion Magic Department as well…”
I could only look at the plight of Professor Esther, who sighed deeply. It was a relief that the exam was only conducted once per semester.
I didn’t need to prepare for the semester-end evaluations. The last unified exam had taken everything out of me to prepare, and thinking I would have to go through that once more… was simply no.
While looking at the dejected Professor Esther, Sofia Sub-priest, who was sitting opposite me, began poking my arm.
“Head Priest, how is our budget for the festival booth coming along?”
“Professor Charlotte, the head of the administrative department, has given her permission. The budget will be allocated soon.”
“I see…. Hehe, aren’t you excited? Daniel has put his all into making a haunted house.”
“…Yes, I’m looking forward to it.”
To say I wasn’t looking forward to it would be a lie. I knew better than anyone Daniel’s obsession with the occult.
However, my worry was….
‘Hopefully, this time, it proceeds smoothly without any accidents.’
But, who wouldn’t expect trouble? Whenever Daniel and Vivian interacted, something was bound to happen. This wasn’t a prejudice, but rather a mindset to prepare for what would inevitably occur.
As we talked about the festival booth with Sofia Sub-priest and the club’s occult research department, and discussed the magic experience booth that Professor Esther’s magic theory research department would operate, I lost track of time.
– Drip.
The front door of the meeting room opened, and familiar faces entered.
“Everyone, it’s nice to see you.”
“Be quiet. We will be starting the meeting soon.”
Professor Underwood, greeting the room in a notably more affable manner than before, walked in closely followed by Professor Armstrong. The second-year head professor, Andres, entered right behind them.
When the second-year head professor and third-year head professor joined with the acting chancellor entered the meeting room, the professors, who had been quietly conversing, fell silent.
All eyes eventually turned to Professor Underwood, standing at the podium in the meeting room.
“Then, shall we begin the meeting?”
The meeting commenced.
When all the professors of the Caldera Imperial Academy gathered, as is customary in large gatherings, there were bound to be some distractions. It had been the same during the recently held Grade-by-Grade Duel meeting.
But now, with Professor Underwood and Professor Armstrong having seemingly resolved their misunderstandings and become cooperative….
“Ugh….”
“…Sofia Sub-priest, please wake up.”
“Hmm…. Ugh….”
“Sigh….”
Indeed, what was there to say for long?
‘Boring.’
Previously, there had always been some big issue at hand, but now that Professor Underwood and Professor Armstrong had reconciled, the meeting dragged on tediously. It was difficult even for me to endure.
Of course, there were still disputes. The lengthiness of the meeting was originally due to the sudden heated debates among the professors.
However, none of the professors sitting in that room had the same level of composure as Professor Underwood and Professor Armstrong, and the level of disagreement among the others hardly reached the same volume as their previous confrontations.
“But if we cut 5% from the club booth’s budget, the quality of the booths will decline.”
“I did mention that the cut in budget would be allocated to maintain security. Something frightening occurred in the city recently, and our Academy has also become a target. Since it’s an on-campus event with many outsiders participating, stricter security is necessary.”
“Wasn’t that settled with the security department?”
“I don’t know what happened, but I received a cooperation notice from the Imperial Knight Order, not the security department. They’ve offered to send some knights to assist with security….”
“Then, doesn’t that make the budget cuts moot? After all, it’s the Imperial Knight Order that’s lending a hand.”
“No matter what, how can a few knights manage this vast Academy grounds….”
And repeat.
The arguments were mainly between the professors belonging to the Academy’s administrative department and the head professors including Professor Underwood. The gap in opinion between these two already often conflicting forces seemed far from narrowing.
Suddenly, a face of a head professor who wasn’t present began lingering in my mind.
‘…Professor Madison.’
Professor Alan Madison, the head professor of the first year. If he were here, he would surely be able to quickly bring resolution to this tedious time.
Unfortunately, head professor Madison had temporarily left to handle duties related to Chancellor Damian’s business trip. I heard that the workload was so great that it might last the whole day….
– Drip—
Just then, the sound of the meeting room’s door opening unexpectedly echoed.
The meeting room was suddenly enveloped in silence. All the faculty attending the meeting turned their sharp gazes toward the front door, wondering which outsider unknowingly walked in.
And there stood….
A heavy, dark, cave-like voice, accompanied by a gloomy expression. Towering height. A gaunt and lean body.
“…Well, is it still not over?”
The person who entered the meeting room was none other than head professor Madison.
– Thud. Thud.
With quick steps, Professor Madison ascended the podium, taking the microphone from Professor Underwood, who wore a dazed expression.
“Ah. Everyone, I’m sure you all know who I am, so I’ll skip the introduction. So….”
The gazes of the professors looking at him shifted, as if they were gazing at a savior….
“Let’s finish this quickly.”
It didn’t take long for that shift to happen.
