The Academy’s Fall Festival was in full swing.
Sofia Sub-priest and I quickly left the dormitory and headed towards the Academy’s Annex Building Courtyard, where the main event of the festival was taking place. However, for the various visitors entering from outside, the journey was not as swift.
The distance from the main gate to the annex was quite considerable. Since it was concluded that the concluding fireworks display—essentially the highlight of the festival—would be held in the Main Building Courtyard, outsiders had to walk a decent distance to enter the annex in order to enjoy the festival.
On the pathway from the main gate to the annex, pamphlets about the festival were being handed out, and decorations creating a more autumn festival ambiance were the clever ideas of Professor Underwood.
As Sofia Sub-priest and I strolled through the courtyard, we could overhear various conversations from the Academy visitors passing by.
“Oh… what’s this? Self-made fortune-telling? They’re offering investment consultations at this price?”
“They’re just students. Don’t get your hopes up. It’s probably the same as just hearing fortunes.”
“Even so, there seem to be a lot of people queuing over there…”
“Let’s go eat the food from that side. I heard the Food Club made it, and it’s delicious.”
“By the way, this year’s Fall Festival seems bigger than last year’s, doesn’t it? It’s definitely worth watching.”
The majority of the feedback from the visitors, mostly comprised of locals residing in the city, was generally positive. Knowing how much effort the students put into today, I found this response quite pleasing.
“How’s the haunted house doing?”
“Actually, I was just thinking of checking it out.”
However, the most important attraction was undoubtedly the haunted house operated by the Occult Research Club.
When Sofia Sub-priest and I experienced it, its quality was exceptional, making it a great way to stir interest in a genre like the occult, which naturally piques people’s curiosity.
And my expectations were pleasantly confirmed.
“Yes! You can come this way!”
Upon arriving at the haunted house, I spotted Nina, who always followed Lord Jericho around, directing people at the exit. In the distance, there was a line of people waiting to enter the haunted house.
Given that the turnover rate wasn’t particularly fast, the long line was to be expected. Moreover, unlike usual haunted houses, only one group could enter at a time, which only exacerbated the situation.
‘It can’t be helped.’
Unfortunately, there seemed to be no solution to improve the turnover rate. The key feature of this haunted house was Lord Jericho’s appearance in monster makeup. This was also the reason why multiple groups couldn’t enter at once.
“Wow…. It’s of higher quality than I expected! I was underestimating it and almost ended up in trouble.”
“Right? I talked to the child who’s the head of the Occult Research Club, and they were well-versed in the subject.”
“For me, the monster that was following closely behind was the scariest. It truly felt like a bloodless, merciless serial killer.”
“That gaze; it’s a definite killer’s gaze.”
Listening to the experiences of those exiting the haunted house, it was clear that most were positively impressed. Even the few remaining were only frightened like Sofia Sub-priest and offered no negative feedback.
“Nina.”
“Ah, Professor! Good to see you~!”
Nina greeted me with a bright and cheerful demeanor. Her ponytail swayed as she moved.
“Did you come to check how the haunted house is going?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Well… As you can see, it’s going very well!”
Nina exclaimed with exaggerated motions as if she were about to reveal something. Every time I saw her, I thought her bright demeanor had a positive effect on Lord Jericho.
However, I wondered if my thoughts were influenced by the memory of Sofia Sub-priest.
“…Why are you looking at me like that, Head Priest?”
“It’s nothing.”
It seemed like she didn’t have any specific thoughts, but I could sense the tension.
After expressing my gratitude for the support given to the Occult Research Club, Sofia Sub-priest and I parted ways with Nina. We were headed to meet Daniel and Vivian, who were at the entrance welcoming guests to the haunted house.
“Oh no! The flashlight is broken!”
“Yeah… That’s a big problem.”
“Ah, there’s no helping it. Just go in without a flashlight. It can’t be helped.”
As we walked toward the haunted house entrance, we witnessed Daniel and Vivian giving their all to entertain the visitors.
Being two individuals who poured their passion into everything related to the occult, they provided a level of realism that left me mesmerized.
By instilling even a hint of tension from the entrance of the haunted house, it was only natural that those who entered would have an even more thrilling experience.
This had likely been their plan all along. I approached Daniel and Vivian, who had just started letting guests in.
“Daniel. Vivian.”
“Ah, Professor!”
“Professor, welcome!”
Daniel greeted me with a wide smile, looking genuinely delighted. It was the face of someone who was finally engaging in something they wanted to do.
“The response has been quite favorable! It seems that people do recognize quality!”
“…What do you mean?”
“Hehe… Of course, it’s about the mystery and the occult that Vivi and I have poured our sweat and souls into… It’s that simple.”
Daniel rubbed his hands together with a gloomy smile. His usual appearance already had a slightly eerie atmosphere, so it wouldn’t take much to make him pass as a ghost in the haunted house.
Just then, Vivian, who had been standing quietly, spoke up.
“Professor, if you want, I can let you be the first to go in.”
“Even I have to follow the order, don’t you think?”
“No, if it means I can see that amusing reaction of the Sub-priest again… Yeah. I can withstand some criticism from the public.”
I nearly swallowed down the fact that there really wasn’t any public criticism to fear.
“My… reaction? What do you mean by that?”
Sofia Sub-priest spoke up with a tense expression, looking at Vivian. It appeared that the haunted house had become a restricted area for her.
“I won’t say too much.”
“Vivian!”
“Anyway, so… Are you going in, Professor?”
Vivian hastily redirected the conversation towards me while Sofia Sub-priest shot me a desperate look. Her expression begged me not to go in.
“No. We’ll wander around a bit more.”
“…What a shame, but it can’t be helped.”
“Have a good time, Professor! We’ll do our best!”
Daniel’s response felt more reassuring than anything I had heard so far. Since he was always sincere when it came to the occult, I knew not to worry too much in my absence. Lord Jericho would still be around.
Most importantly, considering how much Sofia Sub-priest despised it, I had no desire to drag her inside against her will. There was also no reason to experience something I had already gone through.
“Well then, we’ll be on our way.”
“Yeah. Have a good one, Professor. And… Sub-priest, make sure to come visit later.”
“Oh, I won’t!”
“Come back again! Professor!”
Leaving behind the smiling faces of Daniel and Vivian, Sofia Sub-priest and I turned to leave. She visibly relaxed and tightly grasped my hand.
“Phew…. I was really worried, thinking I’d have to go in there again…”
“I told you. I would walk around the festival with Sofia Sub-priest.”
Sofia Sub-priest looked up at me. I smiled gently at her.
“For the duration of this festival, I will move as Sofia Sub-priest wishes.”
“…Th-that’s against the rules…”
“Pardon?”
Sofia Sub-priest lowered her head and muttered in a voice barely audible.
“That’s unfair… I shouldn’t have….”
“Sofia Sub-priest, I can’t hear you.”
“Ugh…! I deliberately spoke quietly so you wouldn’t hear me!”
“…….”
Despite appearing to be angry on the surface, the distance between Sofia Sub-priest and me had gotten slightly closer. I followed her lead as she continued on.
“Oh…. Head Priest, look at that.”
“Those are the choir students from the Department of Theology. I heard they were preparing hard for Sunday service, and it seems they practiced the songs for the festival.”
“Wow…! Let’s go over there next, Head Priest!”
“Sofia Sub-priest, wait a moment…”
Although she momentarily drooped, Sofia Sub-priest quickly revitalized and began leading me around excitedly. The various club booths lined up at the festival buzzed past my sight.
“Ah! That’s…. the restaurant exploration club’s carefully selected list of local eateries! We have to buy that!”
“Sofia Sub-priest, calm down a little…”
“Uh, huh?”
As we wandered around, I noticed that Sofia Sub-priest had come to a sudden stop. I turned to see what she was looking at.
“…Huh?”
In the distance, I saw familiar white hair, which was unusual and distinctive. Two individuals with this particular hair color were facing each other with tension in the air.
As far as I knew… there were exactly two people with white hair.
“…Adelhaid Duke?”
“And next to him… Wait? Isn’t that Laura?”
As Sofia Sub-priest mentioned, those two were indeed the Adelhaid Duke and Laura.
The estranged father and daughter stood there, facing one another.
*
Maximilian looked at the sulky Laura and struggled to suppress his disappointment.
“L-Laura. You know that Riina is unwell…”
“Still, you know how much Riina wanted to come here…”
“…That is…”
Laura’s expression twisted. She recalled how her younger sister had brightened up at the news of her enrolling at the Caldera Imperial Academy, how she had talked eagerly about the festival since the beginning of the semester.
Now disappointed by their father, Laura could only direct her affectionate gaze towards her mother and younger sister. Yet…
‘…Did he lie again?’
Her younger sister, whose health had always been frail; bringing her to a bustling festival was likely too much to ask. But…
“You promised…. Father.”
“Laura…”
“You promised to show Riina the fireworks and you even described how beautiful the Academy’s Fall Festival fireworks are, filling her with dreams…!”
Maximilian found himself at a loss for words.
Indeed, it was true; his second daughter, who usually showed no particular interest in anything, had exhibited excitement lately.
In his delight at her newfound interest, he had recounted stories from his time at the academy and had said, “Let’s go see them together when the festival comes.”
“…I will do whatever it takes for Riina. Laura.”
“…No. I’m sorry. I’ve been so frustrated… that I pushed too hard.”
Although reluctant to admit it, it was clear that given Riina’s current health condition, it would be too taxing. Laura painstakingly swallowed her frustration and nodded her head.
“Priest Luciana, is there no way to bring Riina out?”
“…I’m sorry.”
Priest Luciana shook her head with a stern expression. It seemed that the conversation between Maximilian and Laura had come to an abrupt end.
“…Adelhaid Duke.”
“Hmm…?”
“Oh, hello!”
To them, he was the man who always presented them with solutions. Though their relationship had hit rock bottom, he was still the one who had allowed them to open their hearts to each other again.
“Professor Antorelli?”
“Professor Antorelli?”
As Professor Antorelli appeared before them, the tension in the air shifted.
