The calendar pages turning day by day felt fleeting.
Before time, all people in this world are equally powerless, but the particularly clear autumn sky seemed to come closer to me more intensely.
So, it became October. The stifling heat and unpleasant winds had ceased, and the rotating seasons had already fully entered autumn.
At this moment, I was nearing the point of turning thirty. If calculated by the real age recognized in this world, it would be slightly different, but still.
My birthday is April 4th. Growing older was a somewhat sad thing, so I resolved to think of it in terms of my actual age whenever possible.
“Head Priest.”
Once again, it was those emerald green eyes that rescued me from my useless thoughts. I looked at Sofia Sub-priest.
“Sofia Sub-priest.”
“What are you thinking so deeply about?”
“Nothing. Just….”
The courtyard where I walked alongside Sofia Sub-priest was dyed in vibrant autumn colors like a well-dressed outfit. I quietly replied as I felt the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot.
“Time seems to pass so quickly.”
“Ah….”
“It feels just like yesterday that I took my post at the Academy and had my first class….”
“How does it feel to remember the first time you met me?”
“…That feels like it wasn’t too long ago.”
Sofia Sub-priest began to fold her fingers and mutter something. I silently waited for her to continue, watching her uniquely protruding lips as she concentrated.
“Um… probably about half a year?”
“It’s been a little longer. It’s already October.”
“Right. Over half a year….”
Since I met Sofia Sub-priest, seven months had slipped by. We slowed our steps toward the Seminary Main Chapel, taking in the autumn scenery of the Academy.
Even without synchronizing our words, our hearts naturally aligned with each other’s pace. A consideration for one another had somehow ingrained itself in both of us.
“…It’s beautiful.”
“It truly is.”
“Head Priest, there’s something I’ve wanted to ask you for a while now….”
“Please, go ahead.”
“Well, um….”
Sofia Sub-priest hesitated to broach the subject. I patiently waited for her to find her words.
“…If, just hypothetically speaking….”
“I’m listening.”
“Every time you see me, you think of a certain person….”
Sofia Sub-priest’s eyes began to tremble intensely, darting here and there. Her emerald-like eyes oscillated restlessly.
“…What person?”
“Um, the club! The Occult Research Club festival booth! I wanted to talk about that! Ahaha….”
“Hmm….”
Sofia Sub-priest seemed to have more to say, but I pretended not to notice. Delving into something the other didn’t want to speak about is one of the most hurtful actions there is.
“Are you talking about the haunted house?”
“Yes, yes! The haunted house! Daniel visited not long ago, but you were absent at that time. I just remembered that I said I would pass a message to you later! Hehe….”
“I will meet with Daniel separately.”
“Yes. I will tell him when he visits next….”
“…….”
Sofia Sub-priest drooped her head with a downcast expression. Her trudging steps seemed to evoke pity.
“Sofia Sub-priest.”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
“What for?”
“For being by my side, thank you.”
“…….”
Sofia Sub-priest didn’t respond. I also hadn’t really expected a reply, so we walked in silence.
Strolling across the courtyard, we arrived at the Seminary Main Chapel, where the surrounding trees were adorned in colorful autumn foliage.
“Professor Antorelli.”
“…Jericho?”
“Ah! Professor! It’s been a while!”
Jericho and Nina stood before us, both wearing their usual black coats, having not visited for some time.
*
The ticking of the clock hands provided a calming effect on the mind and body.
The scent of black tea that filled the Head Priest’s office had a similar effect, along with the warmth of the autumn sun gently filtering through the window.
Jericho placed his teacup filled with black tea down gently. The scent lingered in his mouth, yet somehow the aftertaste felt more bitter than before.
“Professor Antorelli.”
“Yes. Jericho.”
“I’ve been thinking a lot these past few weeks.”
“Is that so?”
Professor Antorelli responded with composure. His nonchalant demeanor, as if observing from the perspective of a third party, crinkled Jericho’s nose in frustration.
“…Don’t you often hear that you’re rather blunt?”
“Don’t you hear that often as well, Jericho?”
“…It’s mutual then.”
Jericho let out a faint sigh and glanced around the room. Nina and Sofia Sub-priest had been sent to the parlor, just like before.
Jericho turned to look directly at Professor Antorelli and opened his mouth. There was no need for personal talk, nor was there any need to beat around the bush.
“This room has no ears to hear or eyes to see, Professor Antorelli.”
“It seems that way.”
“…You can answer honestly now. That’s what I mean.”
“Well, I wonder about that.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Jericho, you are watching and listening, aren’t you?”
Jericho’s mouth was shut. It wasn’t that he had nothing to say; rather, he was astonished by the calmness with which the Professor answered him, even sitting right in front of him since their last meeting.
“I came here to investigate you, didn’t I?”
“Isn’t Nina too?”
“…Nina is still too young. Moreover, she is lacking in many ways.”
“Is she lacking in ability?”
“Her abilities… are exceptional. Coming into the Imperial Knight Order at such a young age; to declare her lacking in any way would offend the Imperial Knight Order itself.”
“Then what is lacking?”
“Nina is not mature enough to interject into this conversation.”
This time, it was Professor Antorelli who kept silent. Jericho couldn’t help but feel a strange satisfaction rising within him.
“Well then, Jericho.”
Before Professor Antorelli finally spoke again.
“Do you consider yourself sufficiently mature?”
“…….”
– It’s not that you’re immature; you’re just remaining a child.
Jericho stayed silent for a long time. The sip of black tea that remained in his cup had completely cooled, and the ticking of the clock had counted past a hundred ticks.
His lips remained sealed as if glued together. His tongue felt stiff as if it had turned into stone. The brain in his head refused to engage in any productive activities.
At the moment Professor Antorelli asked, “Are you mature?” Jericho was supposed to answer. “Yes, I am.” Confidently.
Of course, that didn’t happen. Only meaningless words flowed from Jericho’s mouth.
“Are you saying that I am immature? Was that what you wanted to convey?”
“That’s not the intention. It’s just….”
“Then what do you mean? When you ask if I think I’m mature, what is the hidden intent behind that question? Are you mocking me?”
“Jericho.”
“Since I learned of your existence, I had to harbor suspicions about you. Cesar Li detonated bombs in the City, and each place was an essential institution of the Empire without exception. Even this Academy.”
“Jericho. First, let me finish….”
“If you ask why I had to be suspicious, I will answer without hesitation. It was my responsibility, and it still is. That is the one truth I seek and the only path I will take. I swear to purge every last one of those who disrupt the Empire!”
“…….”
Anger surged within him,
Simultaneously, an inexplicably frustrating and somewhat shameful feeling arose.
Jericho bit his lip hard. Though his teeth did not pierce through his flesh, the very fact that he had thought it might disrupt his duties was more miserable than anything else.
“Professor Antorelli, I… I intend to root out everyone associated with Cesar Li and punish everyone who participated in his anti-government actions without exception. Is that thought wrong? Please answer that first.”
“It’s not wrong. However, Jericho, you are too immersed in it….”
“And that makes me immature?”
“…I never said you are immature, not even once.”
“Don’t play word games. Asking me ‘Do you consider yourself mature?’ is no different from saying outright that ‘You are immature.’”
“…….”
Professor Antorelli fell silent again. But this time, Jericho didn’t feel the familiar satisfaction rising within him. Instead, a strange discomfort began to creep in.
That discomfort stemmed from embarrassment at his own ‘immature’ behavior, as he attached significance to every trivial act and felt satisfied with himself. The moment he realized it, Jericho struggled desperately.
“Then, should I have remained passive in the face of the threats to the Empire and those who might threaten it someday? Where in my actions do I appear immature? Damn it! What more should I do?”
– Crack—.
A sound that shouldn’t come from an ordinary person’s fist echoed from Jericho’s tightly clenched hands. He barely restrained the impulse to slam his fist on the table.
– Tick. Tick.
It had been a feeling for a while now, but Jericho thought the ticking of the clock in the Head Priest’s office sounded unusually loud. He did not know why.
However, what had previously brought him calm seemed now to drive him toward something compulsive.
In short, yes. It was unreasonably instilling a sense of anxiety.
“…I strongly recommend throwing that damned clock away immediately, Professor Antorelli.”
“The clock is not to blame.”
“Right, I must be oversensitive. I acknowledge that. I know, but….”
He was sick of blaming himself. However, the stage of self-pity seemed interminable, so Jericho had long since abandoned it.
Jericho washed his face roughly. Swiping his rough palms across his face multiple times didn’t change anything, yet he couldn’t afford to do nothing.
“…Professor.”
“I’m listening.”
“I apologize for suddenly getting so worked up. I’ve embarrassed myself.”
“I understand.”
“…Even if it’s just empty words, please refrain from claiming you understand. Unless one has gone through similar experiences, they—.”
“I understand, Jericho.”
Jericho raised his eyes and looked at Professor Antorelli in front of him. He seemed extraordinarily composed.
“It’s not empty words. I understand.”
And, he felt a deep darkness.
As if he could faintly see himself reflected in those deep eyes.
Sinking into profound darkness.
That, which he had wanted to deny for a lifetime.
“…How.”
Jericho was gradually consumed by the strong emotions emanating from Professor Antorelli.
That emotion was named ‘affinity.’
