It happens sometimes.
In crowded places, where people throng so thickly that there’s barely room to step, certain individuals, whose minds are already twisted, suddenly entertain dark and wicked thoughts.
The phrase “twisted mind” implies that these individuals struggle with socialization and simultaneously lack empathy and social intelligence, leading them to develop impulses centered around “hatred” or “vengeance” following a particular event.
Of course, even without a desire for revenge, a person who harbored such thoughts might, upon receiving encouragement from someone, find themselves drawn into a scheme.
For instance, the hostile forces against the Empire.
They uniformly reject the peace of the Imperial family and the Empire. They desire the downfall of the royal family, which has long united humans. They long for a system of governance, like a republic, that has not yet matured, or they wish for the absurdity of the lower classes ruling the state and chase the spark of revolution.
If not that, they harbor mere animosity toward the Empire.
If we assume they participated in the last great war, just like Cesar Li, who detonated a bomb right in the midst of a city, they may reveal their demands for just compensation for their sacrifices against the Empire.
Moreover, it is only natural to seek out forces or individuals that could provide assistance.
While there are indeed pro-Empire factions, hostile forces can be found with just a glance. The Elves and Dwarves, who share a direct border.
If they are instigated by those forces and infiltrate a scene crowded with people, they could use the masses as cover to express their rage.
They might assassinate a target, recklessly open fire on the crowd, commit indiscriminate murder with bladed weapons, or prepare and detonate a bomb, like Cesar Li.
…Returning to the starting point.
Shall we take the example of the Caldera Imperial Academy’s Fall Festival?
There are so many people that one might wonder, “Is there even more than the grains of sand on a beach?” Watching the bustling crowd of people hurriedly passing by, individuals of the types listed before would gaze quietly….
Thoughts, countless thoughts begin to invade the mind.
What would happen if a gun were fired here?
What would happen if a blade were wielded here?
If a bomb solely aimed at killing were detonated in such a place, how would the scene change?
Blood would splatter, flesh would scatter, people would scream, and if a bomb were detonated, the sound would be bone-jarring, with the explosion’s impact sweeping all around….
Such stimuli accumulate and, finally, if a series of processes trigger neurons in the body of a madman, the twisted pleasure would take control of the brain.
And then, action.
This series of steps must be prevented before it translates into action.
That is the task of the Imperial Knight Order, responsible for maintaining order at the Academy’s Fall Festival.
“This way, Sir Jericho.”
“Hmm.”
Brendal Warren Jericho and Nina arrived at a quiet location under the guidance of an Imperial Knight. Here, human presence was exceedingly rare, and even that was obstructed by the Imperial Knights.
This was a temporary branch of the Imperial Knight Order within the Academy. After all, even a quasi-military organization requires a place to control its armed forces.
The branch, established under Sir Jericho’s command, was, to be precise, a place closer to a command center and appeared to be an old storage shed that had been long unused by the Academy.
– Creak.
The shed’s door creaked open. Inside the dim storage area, Sir Jericho discovered three men bound and kneeling on the floor.
Nearby stood an Imperial Knight removing gauntlets with spikes. Upon seeing Sir Jericho, he saluted with precision.
The spikes on the gauntlets glistened with sticky blood. Sir Jericho stared at it for a moment before questioning the Imperial Knight.
“Explain.”
“Yes, Sir Jericho. Thirty minutes ago, three unidentified assailants were captured in the Main Building Courtyard. Upon searching their bodies, we recovered one submachine gun, two rifles, and two revolver-type handguns.”
“In the Main Building Courtyard?”
“Yes, this is speculation, but I suspect they intended to open fire coinciding with the start of the fireworks. If they shot amid the fireworks, people nearby might not notice, mistaking the gunfire for the sound of fireworks.”
“Have you informed the Academy?”
“We chose not to, fearing it would cause chaos at the festival site.”
“Ensure tighter information control. It’s better to handle this on our end. This involves national security.”
“Yes, understood.”
Sir Jericho’s eyes closed tightly. When they opened again, his gaze had sharpened, as if he could pierce even the tiniest dust.
“So, have they spoken?”
“Not yet.”
“Any signs of them opening up?”
“…I apologize.”
The Imperial Knight lowered his head deeply. Yet, it was not a cowardly gesture, but a dignified one. Nina, standing beside Sir Jericho, spoke in a tone colder than usual.
“How pathetic… Get out. I’ll handle this.”
“B-but, Senior Baldec…”
“Leave.”
“…”
“…Stay.”
“Then, I’ll go out.”
Nina’s expression was exceedingly cold. As she nodded stiffly, the Imperial Knight, who had been standing rigidly, quickly saluted and exited the shed.
Inside the shed, only Sir Jericho and Nina remained. Nina’s expression quickly softened.
“Um… Senior, what should we do? These guys clearly seem to have been instigated.”
“…Nina, what do you think? Do you think we need to cooperate with the intelligence department?”
“…I can’t concede any merit to those raccoon-like fellows.”
“Then, it’s decided.”
Sir Jericho fetched a chair. It was an old chair that had been left by itself next to the shed door.
Standing before one of the three men with their heads bowed, Sir Jericho placed the chair down and sat the man, whose hat was pulled low, into it. The man, with a bruised face dripping blood, sank weakly into the chair under Sir Jericho’s rough grip.
“Nina.”
“Is it my turn now?”
“Yes.”
“Heh… Should I use a sword?”
“Do not use the sword. A knight’s sword is bestowed by the sovereign.”
Nina rummaged through her clothing and pulled out a small hatchet.
“Well then… I’m fine with this.”
“Don’t kill them all; leave at least two alive.”
“Of course.”
Sir Jericho headed for the corner of the shed. There were many chairs. He chose one that appeared to be in decent condition and sat a large man on it.
“Hello there, everyone.”
“……”
“You don’t want to talk, huh? Good. I’m not much of a talker either.”
– Crack!
“Grrrraaaah—!”
“Quiet.”
“Y-you… my finger! My hand…!”
– Crack!
“I said to be quiet. Seriously…”
“Ggrraah…! Hhh…!”
“Since you wouldn’t talk from the beginning, I’ll choose not to speak either.”
“Grrr…! Ggghh…!”
“Mm… Now then, shall we try cutting off five pieces, just simply?”
Sir Jericho silently rummaged through his coat. In his hand, he held a small Bible.
It was a Bible he personally acquired after confessing to Professor Antorelli.
“Ah, no. No, no…! No…!”
“Oh, quiet down… Hey. Can’t you see that the senior is reading? I think we should cut off your mouth first.”
“Mmm! Mmm!”
“Yeah. Now it’s a bit better.”
– Crack!
“Mmm! Mmm!! Mmm—!”
“Alright, that’s two. You shouldn’t faint so soon.”
“Mmm—!”
“Here comes three. Three~.”
– Crack!
Whether or not the sound of flesh being severed could be heard, Sir Jericho quietly continued to read the Bible.
‘Perhaps I should attend Sunday worship with Nina this Sunday, as I have no plans.’
“Mmm! Mmm—!”
“Now that’s four! Four! Hey? Open your eyes! Eye! Not opening? One more is about to fly off?”
“Mmm…! Mmm…!”
“Alright… let’s go for one more~!”
“Mmm—!!”
The seed of faith was sprouting, thriving on the screams that served as fertilizer.
*
Laura held me tightly, not moving for a while.
“Professor… Professor Antorelli…”
“……”
“Ugh…! I’m sorry…”
Her arms began to tighten around my chest just below the sternum. The strength wasn’t so great, but it was enough to be noticeable. If this continued, I might not be able to breathe.
I gently moved Laura’s white hair aside and looked down at her red eyes that came into view. Since Laura was also looking up at me intently, we could meet each other’s gaze.
Time flowed between us, enveloped in that mysterious atmosphere.
“…Head Priest?”
“…Ah, yes. Sofia Sub-priest.”
Thanks to the grip of Sofia Sub-priest, who called my name and pulled my arm, I was finally able to escape that atmosphere.
It seemed she grabbed my arm with a little more force than intended to bring me back to my senses… but anyway.
‘The students…’
I glanced back toward the haunted house. Daniel, Vivian, Chloe, and Elin still seemed to be preoccupied with dismantling the haunted house. I lowered my gaze to Laura’s tear-filled eyes that were fixed on me.
“Laura.”
“Yes, Professor…”
“I’m sorry.”
“…It’s not something for you to apologize for, is it…?”
“I deceived you, Laura and Riina.”
“…”
Laura’s lips pressed tightly shut. It seemed she had words she wished to say but struggled to form them, parting her lips several times.
“…It’s not deceiving; it’s that you didn’t say anything, Professor…”
“That is the same thing, Laura.”
“No… it’s absolutely not the same. Not at all…”
Laura buried her face back into my chest. Her muffled voice seeped out.
“You helped us… even sacrificing yourself for us… for Riina…”
“……”
“Then why… why do you feel so guilty over this? How much more do you intend to make me wretched…?”
I felt the priest’s robe soaking. It truly seemed like it would never dry. As I thought this, I gently held Laura’s shoulders and carefully pulled her face away.
“Laura.”
“…Sniff.”
Her face, soaked with tears, still glistened with her clear crimson eyes.
“I’m fine.”
“…Liar.”
“It’s not a lie. I’m truly… really fine.”
“……”
Laura likely knew as well. If I were truly suffering, it wouldn’t be odd to collapse right now.
But here I stood, unscathed.
“Besides, by now, Riina must be looking for you too.”
“About that…”
“Laura, it’s good that you worry about me. But before that… please take care of the happiness of those closest to you first.”
“……”
“Otherwise…”
Should I say it? Should I keep it to myself? In that brief moment, countless conflicts brewed within me, and my mouth couldn’t suppress the impulse.
“Otherwise, you might regret it for a lifetime.”
“……”
“You may not be able to return the happiness that has been postponed until now and spend your whole life…”
Thus, you would be submerged in regrets.
I don’t want that to become Laura’s reality.
“So please, go back. Return and enjoy the festival with Riina until the very end.”
“……”
“I’ll be satisfied with that.”
“…Really, that’s all you want?”
“Yes, that’s enough.”
“…Alright.”
Laura wiped her eyes and pulled away from me. Her voice had regained some of its usual strength.
“All I have to do is create the best day for Riina.”
“That’s the spirit, Laura.”
“But before that…”
For a moment, rummaging through her clothing, Laura presented me with a small case containing a syringe.
“This… Moritz asked me to give it to you.”
“…Thank you.”
“Professor Antorelli.”
“Yes.”
“Could you close your eyes for a moment…?”
I obediently closed my eyes. At that moment, I heard the sound of something rustling.
– Snap.
“……”
“Head Priest…!”
A moist sensation on my cheek snapped my eyes open in a hurry.
Before me stood Laura.
With the brightest and most radiant smile I had ever seen on her face, Laura von Adelheit.
“Thank you for making unforgettable day for Riina…”
With those words, she turned swiftly and began to walk away quickly. I gazed blankly at Laura’s retreating figure.
“Ghh…! This is unfair…!”
“……”
Laura still couldn’t comprehend the actions I took. She couldn’t possibly make sense of it. In the end, I had deceived both Laura and Riina, and given that fact, Laura must have come to me, unable to grasp my actions.
Yet, all I did was accept it.
Because I must live on like this… Laura knows that too.
She knows well what it means to carry the burden of guilt.
That is…
‘…Hah.’
‘Life.’
– My test is not over yet.
‘…Full marks.’
Her silhouette, passing the unseen test with flying colors, appeared as composed and dignified as when we first met, perhaps even arrogant.
At the very least, her life did not become unhappy.
That was enough.
