Jericho and Nina strode boldly across the courtyard of Caldera Imperial Academy, their black coats billowing as members of the Imperial Knight Order.
“Hey, hey. Look over there.”
“What? The coat? In this weather…?”
“It’s not even fully autumn yet… They’re some unusual people.”
Passing students whispered and glanced at the two, but Jericho and Nina paid little attention. It wasn’t worth being overly concerned; it wasn’t anything special.
“So, this is what the Academy is like… Wow. Just look at those fresh youths enjoying their youth. Isn’t it fascinating?”
“…Yeah.”
“Ah—. In truth, I also wanted to experience Academy life. But I quit because I hated the idea of having to study…”
“That’s why your skills don’t improve, Nina.”
“Are you going to say that again? Aren’t you tired of it?”
“There’s no end to learning. Remember that.”
“Come on… Is there a student who comes to the Academy just to study? They all have dreams of enjoying their school days like that, don’t you think?”
“Cut down on the chatter. You’re too talkative.”
“Ugh…”
While accepting Nina’s teasing, Jericho scanned the surroundings carefully.
‘There are a lot of trees. The trunks aren’t very thick, but they’re enough for Nina to hide behind. If I draw attention first and Nina uses the trees to sneak up…’
It wasn’t merely to admire the Academy’s courtyard he was observing. It was a habit to instinctively explore advantageous terrain for evacuating students and confronting intruders in case of emergencies.
Always keeping an eye on safety and securing an escape route in case of an emergency was an ingrained habit. Jericho didn’t consider this to be an overreaction.
As he surveyed the area with eyes sharp as a tiger, the whispering students shrank back and hurried past him. Seeing this, Nina smirked and spoke.
“Senpai, please don’t make such a scary face. You’re scaring the students.”
“I don’t care. It’s just their misunderstanding.”
“It’s one thing to misunderstand, but… Should I hold up a mirror? That expression was intimidating enough to deter the elderly or pregnant women.”
“Nina. Be quiet.”
“Yes.”
Jericho glanced at Nina, who had momentarily closed her mouth, and continued to walk, staring straight ahead. Even though it was his first visit to Caldera Imperial Academy, he walked without hesitation, matching his pace with Nina’s.
It wasn’t because he knew the way. He simply wanted to avoid giving the enemy a chance to attack by constantly moving.
‘…It’s too spacious.’
After wandering for a while, Jericho finally stopped alongside the now quiet Nina. They had successfully arrived in front of the building labeled ‘Main Building,’ but the size of the Main Building was enormous enough to leave Jericho speechless.
“Senpai? Do you know where that professor is?”
“I don’t.”
“Wow… Do we have to roam around in here? My calves might burst from exhaustion.”
“…”
Jericho was at a loss for words. Nina’s prattling was quite irritating, but she wasn’t wrong.
He hadn’t preemptively sent a message in preparation for the possibility that Professor Antorelli, noticing Jericho’s visit, might flee. Jericho began to slightly regret that choice.
“Can’t we just stop any passing student and ask them?”
“We didn’t come here for something that can be casually discussed like that…”
“Can’t we just ask where the professor is? Who would think it’s suspicious?”
“…”
Still saying that, Nina was barely holding back a smile, as if she found something amusing. The corners of her mouth twitched playfully.
“Haah…”
As Jericho let out a sigh, he slowly turned his head and looked around. The overwhelming size of his form allowed him to spot a pair of male and female students exiting through the main door of the chapel. Jericho immediately approached them.
– Slosh. Slosh.
“Excuse me.”
“So, in this festival, we’re having a haunted house… Huh?”
“…Who?”
As he got closer, he realized it was a very unusual pairing. The male student wore thick glasses, and his pale complexion raised questions about whether he was getting enough sleep, while the female student next to him was dressed in Victorian-style clothing with a long sword at her waist, which was quite striking.
Jericho instinctively glanced at the unusual weapon of the female student before shifting his gaze to the male student and speaking.
“Excuse me, I’d like to ask for directions.”
“Um… Who are you? A professor?”
“I’m seeing someone for the first time. Who?”
“I’m an outsider visiting the Academy for business, and I’m urgently looking for someone. I was wondering if you could share their whereabouts.”
As Jericho, the mysterious giant of a man, addressed them, the male and female students adopted different attitudes.
The male student wore a blank expression without any particular thought, while the female student scanned Jericho from head to toe with a sharp gaze typical of a swordswoman.
“…You’re really tall.”
“Indeed… Your build is quite impressive.”
The male student’s eyes began to sparkle as he looked at Jericho. By the time Jericho sensed something was off, it was already too late.
“Hmm… With a build like yours… Hey, would you like to scare students in the haunted house? You’d fit the role of Frankenstein perfectly!”
“…What?”
“Yeah. I think so too. Let’s chat for a moment. If you love the occult, it could be a great suggestion for you.”
“Ah, no.”
It was a disorienting whirlwind of conversation that Jericho could hardly keep up with. As he momentarily lost focus, Nina, who was standing next to him, cheerfully intervened in the discussion.
“Hey, guys. We’re a bit in a hurry, you see. If it’s not too much trouble, could we get to the point?”
“Hmm… If you’re busy, then I guess we can’t help it. But what was your point again?”
“We’re looking for someone. A Professor of Theology named Lucio Antorelli. Could you tell us where he is?”
“Um… Professor Antorelli?”
As soon as Nina mentioned the name, the male student reacted immediately. Nina flashed a friendly smile and took a step closer to the male student.
“Yeah! We need to see him for a moment. It’s a very important and personal matter, so I’m sorry I can’t share it with you…but if it’s not too much trouble, could you tell me where he is?”
“…Hey, stop getting closer.”
As Nina approached the male student, the Gothic-style dressed female student shot a sharp glare at her. Nina’s eyes darted between the two students.
“Hmph… I see. That’s what it is.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Nothing at all. By the way, I apologize if I made you uncomfortable. But I’m not so trashy as to steal from others. I’m really not into kids.”
“…”
“In any case, we’re looking for Professor Antorelli. Could you tell us where he is?”
The two students exchanged blank stares for a moment before responding in unison.
“He’s probably in the main chapel.”
“Yeah. You should check the main chapel.”
“Got it! By the way… where is the main chapel?”
“If you go along the tree-lined path beside the main building, you’ll find the main chapel. Just stick to the main road.”
“Hmm… All right! I understand!”
With that, Nina quickly stepped away from the students. Her swift movement left both the male and female students blinking in surprise.
To those students, Nina brightly smiled and waved her hand.
“Thank you! Let’s meet again later, guys!”
“I’ll consider it if the guy over there takes the role of Frankenstein.”
“Vivian…! Ah, anyway! Goodbye!”
After a rather challenging conversation whirled by, the somewhat dazed Jericho was reluctantly pushed forward by Nina.
“Senpai, were you surprised by the lively students? That expression you’re making is hilarious.”
“Don’t joke around, Nina.”
“Eek… Well, in a sense, it’s thanks to me that we found the way. So don’t be too stiff.”
Jericho was left speechless. He found it all too unfamiliar, along with the lively chatter of students he had just been engaged in.
“Wow… Nowadays, students are very bold. They aren’t afraid of looking at your face.”
“What do they think I am?”
“Are you not Frankenstein? Your build is just right for that role… Haha! I think it suits you perfectly.”
“…”
“Um…? Senpai? Senpai?!”
Jericho’s expression froze. The strides he had been matching with Nina now began to move briskly ahead, as if he had discarded consideration.
“Just keep up.”
“Don’t leave me behind! I’m sorry! Senpai!”
Caldera Imperial Academy. This place…
“…Tch.”
Was truly, in many ways, unsatisfactory.
*
Sunlight filtering through the stained glass transformed into a rainbow hue, cutting through the darkness of the chapel.
In accordance with the high ceiling, the thick candles mounted on the walls cast a soft glow that seemed long untouched. Jericho walked quietly through the inside of the chapel.
“Wow… It’s really big.”
“Be quiet, Nina.”
“Yes…”
Though Nina wiggled her legs and made a fuss, Jericho, overwhelmed by the chapel’s atmosphere, did not indulge her antics and wore a solemn expression.
Seeing this, Nina also fell into a serious mood as well.
‘A church…’
Thinking back, it had been a while since he visited a church. Jericho stopped and sank into deep thought.
‘…It must have been over eight years.’
Before the war broke out, he had faith enough to never miss Sunday services, but immediately after getting caught up in the war, there was hardly any time to visit a church.
On the battlefield, where blood spilled and bullets flew, it was a miracle if the military chaplains could even lend a hand in prayer, let alone a church. Jericho recalled many of the priests he had met on the battlefield.
‘They were precious people.’
Jericho respected them, and his feelings had not changed.
They were noble beings, striving to save countless lives in the most deadly place in the world, fulfilling their duties with utmost effort.
They were the evangelists who spread the gospel to the war-weary, the healers who mended the bodies and minds of fallen soldiers, and the saints who prayed for those drowning in loss.
Thus, Jericho had sworn on the battlefield: if the war ended, he would attend the church more faithfully.
But that determination was…
– Fight on for what you want to protect…
“…”
Jericho scratched his beard out of frustration. The moment he had stopped moving began again.
– Thud. Thud.
The echoing footsteps in the serene chapel were heavy. Upon hearing that heavy sound, the person at the front of the chapel turned their head.
Jericho’s steps were headed directly towards that man. His beast-like eyes scrutinized the man standing at the chapel’s front.
‘A priest, huh.’
Dressed in long priest robes suitable for autumn weather, the priest had a gloomy and melancholy expression formed with slightly tousled hair, and his glasses gave him an oddly somber aura.
“Wow…. That guy is extremely good-looking, isn’t he? I think he’s the most handsome priest I’ve ever seen.”
“Be quiet.”
Ignoring Nina’s light comment, Jericho’s footsteps halted in front of the priest. The priest, having already noticed Jericho’s presence, silently gazed at him.
“Excuse me. I’m looking for someone.”
“…Who are you looking for?”
His low yet heavy voice, somehow subdued, reached Jericho’s ears, and he felt a strange affinity in the priest’s tone.
“I’m looking for Professor Lucio Antorelli. I heard he is here, and that’s why I came.”
“…”
The priest before Jericho’s eyes showed a slight change in his gaze. Jericho didn’t miss it.
The man scanned Jericho thoroughly and replied in a flat tone without any change in expression.
“I am Lucio Antorelli.”
“Ah.”
“Did you come from the Imperial Knight Order?”
Jericho’s lips sealed shut. The golden glint in his eyes glimmered more intensely.
The City bombing incident. And a man presumed to be linked to it, Professor Lucio Antorelli.
‘I found you.’
It was time to fulfill the ‘task’ at hand.
