Bread and wine. They have been with humanity for a very long time and are two foods that never miss a festival.
Bread is the body of the Lord, and wine is the blood of the Lord.
‘That’s true….’
In a way, it’s really accurate, isn’t it?
A piece of bread fattens a person, and a glass of wine makes the heart pound and helps the blood circulate.
– In a moment, the fireworks will begin. Visitors and academy students wishing to watch the fireworks should proceed to the main building courtyard….
I glanced out the slightly visible window. The sky was dark, seemingly devoid of light, but upon closer inspection, clusters of stars twinkled faintly, playfully revealing themselves.
Thanks to the streetlights illuminating the academy courtyard and the tree-lined roads, one can’t catch the starlight unless one looks closely.
Isn’t it amusing? Even though they exist high in the sky, they are blocked by the moonlight that brightens the night and the streetlights illuminating the ground below.
And that goes for the yellow star resembling your hair color, too.
It’s now autumn. If I were to venture down to that distant countryside, I could see the vast fields of wheat filled with golden waves. A rich aroma would ride the wind, already tickling my nose.
Thinking of that hair that undulates like a wave of gold, changing colors chaotically under the light, casting distinct shadows that dazzle my eyes.
And looking up at the yellow star that matches the color of that hair… for some reason, my heart felt heavy.
Now, oddly enough, I find comfort in the fact that if I don’t concentrate, I can’t see it.
“Ah… it’s done.”
At the sound of a gentle voice nearby, I stopped looking out the window and turned my head. I caught sight of Sofia Sub-priest holding an alcohol swab to sanitize the spot where the needle had been withdrawn.
“Um… Head Priest, could you press down until the bleeding stops?”
“Understood.”
It was not a difficult request. Following Sofia Sub-priest’s words, I took the alcohol swab in my hand, pressed gently against my right shoulder, and blocked the place where the needle had entered. A faintly reddish alcohol swab emitted a slightly pungent smell—the smell of antiseptic.
‘A smell I’ve encountered many times….’
I had indeed encountered the smell of antiseptic far too often. It wasn’t as if I sought it out, but having lived in the infirmary as if it were my home, it was unrealistic for me to walk around pinching my nose.
“Hmm….”
Sofia Sub-priest let out a sigh that barely escaped her lips, carefully removing the medical gloves she was wearing. The turned-out pair of gloves, along with the syringe that had pierced my arm, returned to the original case.
“Thank you for your hard work, Head Priest.”
“No, it is you, Sofia Sub-priest, who has worked hard. You had to come all the way to the main chapel.”
Finding a place where people are rare in the surrounding area is, quite literally, something hard to bear unless one crawls into a rat hole. Even though people are crowding into the main building courtyard, it’s ridiculous to have to find a place with so few people when there are so many around.
In the end, I had no choice but to enter the main chapel to receive painkillers. The reason why Sofia Sub-priest and I were holed up in the Head Priest’s office is precisely this.
Upon hearing my words, Sofia Sub-priest scratched her cheek and smiled awkwardly. A shy smile. That smile was directed at me.
“No. You’ve had a much harder time, Professor. After all….”
“…….”
Sofia Sub-priest’s words didn’t continue, but if I were to guess what she was about to say, it might be something like ‘since the Head Priest has suffered physically.’
It was somewhat accurate, so I smiled slightly in agreement with her words. The moment I did, Sofia Sub-priest’s face flushed slightly.
“Ugh…! You, Head Priest, really….”
Could it be that she was angry? Or perhaps, a bit embarrassed?
It must be anger. I’m only showing this miserable appearance of receiving goodwill without being able to return anything.
Though I should apologize, I recalled the promise to refrain from apologizing further. It felt unfair that such thoughts only popped into my head at times like this.
– Ah—. Once again, I will repeat the announcement. In a moment, the fireworks will begin. Visitors and academy students wishing to watch the fireworks…
The announcement rang out again. It felt like I had heard it five times already, but even from this distance, away from the main building courtyard, I could still hear the footsteps of a multitude of people.
The sound of footsteps shod in shoes. I neither liked nor disliked that sound.
Compared to their footsteps, the sound of military boots was incredibly foreign. It had a dull yet somehow crisp sound, like bricks hitting the stone floor. A clear yet heavy sound.
Such sounds could only be heard on well-maintained asphalt or on stone pavement; at the front lines, it was fortunate to have even a flat, well-packed dirt ground.
…I made a mistake. I almost fell into a completely unrelated train of thought again. I immediately focused my attention back on Sofia Sub-priest.
“Sofia Sub-priest.”
“Yes?”
As she was organizing the first aid kit she had rummaged through in the Head Priest’s office, Sofia Sub-priest looked up at me with her clear eyes.
“…Never mind.”
“…What’s with that awkward reaction….”
Sofia Sub-priest pouted her cheeks, frowning in complaint, but it was ridiculous to just call her name without any purpose and say, ‘I just called.’ As I watched her start organizing the first aid kit again, I glanced out the window once more.
The tree-lined road running in front of the main chapel. If you follow that big road straight down, it leads directly to the courtyard of the main building. A grand path that connects the main building and the annex. The academy chapel was situated in between.
Thanks to that, from the Head Priest’s office, I could overlook the people passing in front of the chapel. They wouldn’t be able to see me, but from my vantage point, it was easy to observe.
“Ugh…! Hah!”
I turned my gaze to where the strange sound came from. Sofia Sub-priest, on tiptoes, was struggling and finally succeeded in returning the first aid kit to its original place on the high shelf. Her triumphantly proud face was quite cute.
“Phew… Why is it up so high…?”
“Couldn’t it just have been placed in the lower compartment?”
“But that place is its original spot. I’m sure the Head Priest has a reason for placing it there.”
“I didn’t put it there; it was always in that place.”
“…….”
Sofia Sub-priest shot me a piercing look. A look that seemed to ask, ‘Why did you only say that now?’
I pretended not to notice and turned my gaze back to the window. The throng of people that had seemed endless was beginning to dwindle. The decrease was noticeable enough to feel a significant difference.
And among the slightly more relaxed crowd… a familiar face caught my eye.
‘Occult Research Club….’
Daniel, Vivian, Chloe, and Elin from the Occult Research Club. The four students walked down the tree-lined road in front of the chapel, cheerfully chatting and laughing with one another.
It seemed they had completely finished the haunted house. Additionally, Professor Esther, passing by with other members of a different club, approached Daniel and bowed her head. Daniel awkwardly smiled and waved his hands in a gesture of refusal…
Perhaps, with the help of Jericho and Nina, Daniel and Vivian finished dismantling their club booth sooner than expected and assisted with the dismantling of nearby booths as well. Professor Esther’s Magical Theory Research Club probably received that help too.
Students tend to have a pure side.
They haven’t yet experienced slaughter and haven’t seen anyone die. If there were students like that, it would indeed be strange.
The current scene, which I long for so desperately. And there, I am… intently watching those four students and Professor Esther. I no longer noticed anyone else.
“Head Priest, is black tea alright?”
“Please.”
“Just a moment. I’ll serve it right away.”
Even as Sofia Sub-priest said she would brew black tea, I couldn’t take my eyes off the Occult Research Club students and Professor Esther.
Daniel and Vivian began their usual playful banter. Professor Esther and Chloe awkwardly laughed while trying to stop Daniel and Vivian, and Elin sighed with a look that expressed her defeat, shaking her head.
Then, following Vivian, who pointed out something with sparkling eyes, everyone turned their gaze.
Vivian’s pointing finger. The tip of her finger was clearly visible, and at its end… oh.
“……!”
I quickly hid my body and pulled the curtain of the window as far as it would go. A faint, ominous sound was heard, but I didn’t care about that.
Did they see me? Did they see me… this pathetic, hideous me? Did they?
They must have seen me. But the wish for them not to see me was inescapable. I cautiously peeked through the curtain to look outside.
If there was any relief, it was that they were going on their way again. With calm yet unhesitant steps, they headed toward the main building courtyard where the fireworks were to be held.
‘…It’s cold.’
For some reason, I felt a chill. It wasn’t just because I’m someone who gets cold easily… no, it wasn’t. The air during an autumn evening, especially as it approaches night, is quite chilly.
“Phew… Head Priest, here.”
“…Thank you.”
Just then, Sofia Sub-priest handed me the black tea with the tea bag inside. I simply expressed my thanks to her before grabbing the warm cup that radiated heat.
Though I felt the warmth, there was no kindness… such a cup.
Even if it was warmth that had been made, I felt that without it, I might freeze. Without realizing it, I gripped the cup tightly, as if embracing it, carefully wrapping my palm around it. The scent of cheap black tea crept up, tickling my nose.
“Ugh….”
Sofia Sub-priest, who had approached me unnoticed, settled next to me in front of the window. The space beside me, previously unoccupied, was now taken by Sofia Sub-priest.
She wore a smile that appeared genuinely happy. Could it be that she was eagerly awaiting the fireworks?
“The fireworks… will start soon.”
Sofia Sub-priest, sitting right next to me, said while sipping her black tea. Just as she said, it seemed people heading toward the main building had decided to sit on the benches placed along the tree-lined road instead of in the bustling main building courtyard to watch the fireworks.
The autumn festival fireworks, which had been drilled into my ears, seemed to be about to commence any moment now.
– After the war ends, let’s go watch the autumn festival together. The fireworks are really beautiful.
– Didn’t you say that yesterday?
– That’s because I miss Priest Lucio so much.
I glanced at Sofia Sub-priest sitting next to me. At some point, she was looking at me, too. Our gazes met naturally.
“…It would be better to go to the main building courtyard now.”
“No. I think the Head Priest might be tired. Let’s just watch it here.”
“But, Sofia Sub-priest….”
“I’m fine. Or is it that you, Professor, really want to go out and see it?”
“…That’s not it. It’s just that, Sofia Sub-priest….”
“Then, that’s settled.”
Sofia Sub-priest turned her head toward the outside. As if to indicate that she had no more interest in debating this issue.
“…Yes. Understood.”
We gazed out the window in silence. Not overlooking the tree-lined road below, but rather looking up at the sky.
Looking forward to the countless remnants of light that would soon adorn the pitch-black night sky, the fragments of those lights.
“…Head Priest.”
“I’m listening.”
“Perhaps, Head Priest….”
I felt Sofia Sub-priest’s gaze upon me. I didn’t turn my head.
“…When you look at me, Head Priest….”
“…….”
“Hel….”
– Bang—!
Sofia Sub-priest’s words were cut off. No, they were drowned out.
Because a firework exploded so intensely that it illuminated the darkened Head Priest’s office, which looked out over the academy.
Yellow, green, and then red. Following that, numerous fireworks colored the night sky with their own colors. It was like dropping paint into clear water.
Sofia Sub-priest stopped her sentence, staring at that dreamlike spectacle. Her eyes didn’t stray from the fireworks outside.
“…These fireworks are much larger and more beautiful than the ones we saw in summer.”
“Indeed… they are.”
“Far more vibrant than back then.”
“That’s correct.”
“And they feel much more… lonely than before.”
“…That’s true.”
Sofia Sub-priest leaned a little closer to me. It felt like she was seeking warmth, and without realizing it, I drew closer as well.
Only when our shoulders brushed did I feel warmth from Sofia Sub-priest. She spoke in a slightly trembling voice.
“Head Priest, the things I was about to say just now….”
“Yes.”
“…It’s nothing. Please forget it.”
“…Understood.”
Our conversation stopped there. Sofia Sub-priest and I watched the fireworks for quite some time.
“Sofia Sub-priest.”
“Yes, Head Priest.”
“Thank you, always.”
“…Me too.”
Autumn night. In the Head Priest’s office, where the chilled air hung, warmth was still hard to find.
At least, next to me… I felt warmth that was more precious than anything else.
That warm feeling seemed to fulfill something I desperately craved.
Literally, something that became my blood and flesh… my bread and wine.
“It’s beautiful….”
“…….”
Perhaps, I might have shed a few tears.
‘…How childish.’
The autumn night, though not unbearably lonely, deepened just like that.
