Professor Esther and Winter Break
For Professor Esther, winter break is something she has welcomed several times at the academy where she used to teach students. However, this year’s winter break held a slightly different meaning for her.
It marks her first winter break at the Caldera Imperial Academy. Just thinking about it is somewhat special, but with the addition of sharing it with Professor Antorelli, it becomes something truly extraordinary.
It is indeed the icing on the cake—a perfect winter break plan. Unlike before, where she merely lounged around in front of a heater munching on tangerines like a human butcher, this time presents a golden opportunity to make significant progress.
Carrying such expectations, Professor Esther has been preparing various things since early November.
For instance, similar to the previous outings with Professor Antorelli, she plans to go out several times during the break.
Doing so would normalize the experience of going out together for Professor Antorelli, making it a natural part of their routine.
Bridging the distance starts with penetrating the everyday life. To narrow the internal distance with Professor Antorelli, whom she feels has remained a bit formal, Professor Esther has been waiting for the chance to ask him about his winter break plans.
Of course, if she were to receive a critique for planning her winter break without consulting Professor Antorelli’s opinions, she wouldn’t have much to say…
However, Professor Esther shifted her thinking.
It seemed Professor Antorelli did not have anyone he would call a friend. Therefore, it is safe to assume that he wouldn’t be meeting anyone over the weekend. Would winter break be any different?
Perhaps he would hole up in the dormitory, reading the Bible or theology books all day long?
Or he might be preparing materials for the second-year theology class for the current first-year students he would teach next year. Professor Antorelli was indeed quite a diligent person.
And Professor Esther had no intention of letting such a rare holiday slip away.
After all, working during winter break when no classes are scheduled or wasting precious time with yawning behavior is something she simply cannot comprehend.
While she couldn’t ignore the duty of being on call, there are plenty of professors at the academy serving on call. If she calculated the last time they worked, it wouldn’t be surprising if their turns were delayed quite a bit.
When her thoughts reached that point, Professor Esther pondered.
‘To spend a cozy winter break with Professor Antorelli…’
Indeed, she had to assert her plans for winter break somehow to Professor Antorelli. Professor Esther became determined.
And for that, it’s essential that Professor Antorelli immediately finds her plans reasonable upon hearing them.
However, this line of thought was not limited to Professor Esther alone.
‘During winter break, I want to show the professor the fruits of my efforts!’
Chloe had increased her practice of magic and study time significantly.
‘I don’t want to go back to the mansion this winter break… It’s uncomfortable to face Father.’
And Laura von Adelheit, due to her still strained relationship with her father, didn’t particularly want to return to the Adelheid Duke Mansion.
The essence of the three was to ‘spend winter break with Professor Antorelli,’ yet their desires were different. It would be more accurate to call it a case of dreaming different dreams.
Thus, when the three of them were each harboring their resolutions and roughly charting the direction of their winter break plans with Professor Antorelli, it was almost December—the month when winter break was right around the corner.
Naturally, the three of them felt there was no problem. After all, Professor Antorelli had not brought up winter break yet, and as long as there was a natural opportunity to initiate the conversation, they thought they could express their plans without any issue.
However, there was one crucial fact that the three aspiring to spend a cozy winter break with Professor Antorelli had overlooked.
That was, Professor Antorelli had already made arrangements.
The incident began a few days before winter break started, during a conversation around lunchtime.
– “Professor Antorelli, do you have any plans for winter break?”
– “Ah, yes. I do.”
– “…Huh?”
While having lunch seated with Professor Antorelli as usual, Professor Esther thought that the probability of receiving a ‘yes’ in response to such a casually posed question was close to zero. Hence, the question was asked rather casually, allowing her to enjoy her meal while doing so.
– “I’m traveling to the Holy Empire with Sub-priest Sofia.”
Before Professor Antorelli offered an answer that was akin to a bolt from the blue.
– “…So, just the two of you?”
– “Yes. For now, it’s just me and Sub-priest Sofia.”
Just the two of them. Only the two of them. Moreover, it was with the Sub-priest Sofia, who always lingered around Professor Antorelli like a ghost.
They were going on a trip. To the Holy Empire known for its grand decorations during Christmas—famous as a tourist spot and a date location—of all times, coinciding with Christmas.
This news wasn’t only heard by Professor Esther; it was also shared with Chloe and Laura, who were subtly seated near Professor Antorelli during lunch.
Thus, it meant that the carefully crafted plans of the three individuals had shattered into pieces.
‘Now that I think about it, Sub-priest Sofia was involved too…?’
Why hadn’t she realized that beforehand? Why hadn’t she even suspected it once?
While it may have been safe for Professor Esther, Chloe and Laura at least had feelings of wariness or jealousy towards each other, never imagining that Sub-priest Sofia would steal the show with such bold plans.
– “Well, Professor Lucio already has prior commitments. It’s unfortunate.”
– “…Yes, well.”
– “Ah, how enviable… Some Sub-priest who resides somewhere is really lucky~.”
Professor Esther attempted to subtly assert her opinion, but it was no match for Professor Antorelli, who already had prior engagements.
He seemed to empathize with Professor Esther’s disappointment but had no intention of breaking the commitment he had made first. This was due to the promise made with Sub-priest Sofia.
When she asked Professor Antorelli, “Can I join you on your trip?” it was Sub-priest Sofia who first voiced the idea for the trip. Professor Antorelli, replying to Chloe’s innocent question, dismissed it with, “That’s not something I can decide on my own.”
They say the meek cat climbs onto the boiling pot first? The three of them merely saw it as the friendly sub-priest and the stern priest, making their feelings of confusion even stronger.
‘At this rate…’
‘I’ll lose out…!’
Ultimately, the only thing the three could do was to seek out Sub-priest Sofia.
They wanted to tag along on the trip, or at least ‘accidentally’ join in on the occasion.
Despite such a somewhat forced request, Sub-priest Sofia smiled and graciously accepted their plea.
– “But, shall we make a promise?”
– “What kind of…?”
– “Please don’t roam around alone with the Head Priest. I have my own serious topics to discuss with him, after all.”
Though there was a small price to pay for granting that request, the three had no other choice as they were just fortunate to receive such a fortunate chance.
This indeed was the absurd chain of events leading to Professor Antorelli and the three boarding the train to the Holy Empire and ‘coincidentally’ using the same compartment.
*
“Sub-priest Sofia, have you really packed everything?”
“I have, seriously! Head Priest, you worry too much!”
Sub-priest Sofia proudly puffed her chest out and nodded in response. Her cheeks, reddened by the cold, poked out from beneath her scarf, swaying slightly.
At last, time had passed, and today was the day she would travel to the Holy Empire with Sub-priest Sofia.
To board the train heading to the Holy Empire, I and Sub-priest Sofia had to dart back to the dormitory right after finishing the get-together the previous day, grab the travel bags we had prepared, and rush to the train station.
I observed Sub-priest Sofia, whose chubby cheeks were slightly protruding.
“Umm…”
As I looked at Sub-priest Sofia, an inexplicable sense of unease began to creep in. I patted her travel bag and asked her once more.
“…Are you really sure you packed everything?”
“Ah…! I really packed everything! Don’t treat me like I’m a little kid!”
“Last time during the Grade-by-Grade Duel when we visited Bruytni, you forgot two spare outfits. I remember lending you my priest robe on the last day.”
“W-wait…! Don’t unfairly expose the truth! Change the subject to something more honorable!”
“What do you…”
As I stared at Sub-priest Sofia in disbelief, she, on the other hand, excitedly opened her bag and began to show off various items.
“Look! I packed clothes, towels, necessities, the Bible, and even my rosary…”
“Hm…”
As Sub-priest Sofia said, it indeed looked like she had packed everything. Had I reacted too sensitively?
“And even underwear! Look! I packed all of it, right?”
“Uh…”
Just as I thought I should apologize to her, Sub-priest Sofia unexpectedly pulled out her underwear hidden deep in her bag. I quickly looked away and nodded.
“Ah, yes. I understand. So please, close your bag already.”
“Hmph! When I do something, I do it right!”
As she proudly huffed, Sub-priest Sofia started organizing the inside of her travel bag, pouting her lips and muttering something. Did she not yet realize that she had shown me her underwear?
‘Black…’
While I marveled at the surprisingly bold design, the train station announcement pierced through my ears.
“It seems the train is about to arrive.”
“…It seems so.”
“I’m a little excited! Hehe… You feel the same, right, Head Priest?”
“…….”
“The train’s coming. It will probably come down this long track to here.”
And it will open its doors, allowing people to spill in, and I will once again set foot on the Holy Empire’s land.
– “Murderers! Get back on the train!”
– “Return to the Empire! Get lost!”
“Ugh… Ugh…”
Then, rotten tomatoes and eggs will flow in. Even after winning, I would find myself in a pathetic state, feeling the unpleasant sensations bursting from my back.
And the sharp blades pouring toward me would slice my skin…
“…Head Priest! Head Priest!”
“Ugh—!”
“Are you alright? Should we go back now, after all?”
With a worried expression on her face, Sub-priest Sofia filled my sight. I took a deep breath and managed to face her.
As my blurred vision cleared and my rough breathing slowly settled down.
– “Creak—.”
“Ugh?! Ah, that hurts…!”
I pinched the chubby cheek of Sub-priest Sofia that poked out from under her scarf. The stretchy cheek felt surprisingly bouncy.
“I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
“Y-yes, but…”
“I’m truly fine. Really.”
As I looked at Sub-priest Sofia, who kept patting her swollen cheek, I threw my gaze back towards the train track where the train would soon arrive.
The track was spotless.
As if nothing could be allowed to rest upon it.
