Chapter 108

Friday.

The end of the week. To be precise, the conclusion of an earnest week for the common people.

And for the first-year students of Class A at Caldera Imperial Academy, it is also the day to attend Theology class.

“Are you coming today?”

“Yeah. Sofia Sub-priest said so too.”

“Wow…. It’s been a while.”

The lecture hall in the Main Building, which had been empty for about two weeks, was now filled with first-year students of Class A who pushed away the emptiness. Thanks to the near-complete recovery from the damage caused by the explosion in the Main Building.

The students entering the classroom busily took their seats. Chloe and Elin, who were among the group, did the same.

“Is he completely recovered now?”

“I guess so.”

It was exciting. To attend Professor Antorelli’s class. To meet Professor Antorelli, who had hopefully returned to his former self.

Chloe was not merely eager for the teachings he would impart, but she wanted to witness with her own eyes that Professor Antorelli had safely overcome his illness.

From the finger incident that had occurred at the beginning of the semester, through the consecutive classes, manifestations of divine power, assignments, and the Grade-by-Grade Duel.

So many events interwove with each other. Perhaps the only professor at this Academy with whom Chloe had the most connections would be Professor Antorelli. With a nostalgic expression, Chloe glanced around the classroom and turned her eyes to the front row.

Laura von Adelheit. The seat where she always sat. Just like in other classes, that seat was empty today as well.

No one dared to sit there, as if it was her reserved seat. The reason Laura was particularly stubborn about sitting in the front row during Theology class was precisely that.

“When will Lady Adelheit come back?”

“I don’t know…. I heard she went back to her family home, and she seems to be quite sick.”

“Hmm….”

“By the way, why are you still using honorifics? We’re in the same first year.”

Elin questioned as if demanding an explanation. Chloe gazed into the past with a wistful expression and murmured.

“When I can approach her without reserve, that’s when I’ll stop.”

Chloe and Laura were first-year students. They still had two more chances, in the second and third years.

If she could surpass Laura, it would begin then.

“29 minutes!”

With the shout of an unnamed male student announcing the time like a cuckoo, all the students, including Chloe, who had been gazing blankly at Laura’s seat, turned their eyes toward the clock.

Could there be any class more eagerly awaited than the ticking of the clock?

‘58 seconds, 59 seconds, and…. half-past nine.’

– Clunk—!

The front door of the classroom opened. The students’ attention was concentrated there.

– Pat, pat.

Professor Antorelli. He who was responsible for the Theology subject of the first-year students of Class A and who always captivated students with his surprising and enlightening classes.

He entered the classroom. He stood in front of the lectern. As usual, he took out theology books from his bag while scanning the lecture hall.

And, as usual, he would greet them with a simple phrase. “Nice to meet you.”

“…….”

He did not say it. He merely gazed blankly around the classroom. The students’ eyes flickered with unease.

“…What’s going on? This is a bit strange, isn’t it?”

“Isn’t he a little…. different than usual?”

“Should we say it’s the atmosphere? In any case.”

Whispers and murmurs filled the room. Compared to other classes, the hushed sounds were exceedingly quiet.

However, this was Professor Antorelli’s class. It was unacceptable to engage in idle chatter during the Theology class he presided over.

The students were aware of it. If they engaged in unauthorized chitchat during his class time, they would soon receive Professor Antorelli’s sharp reprimand.

“…Huh?”

And, Professor Antorelli thoroughly shattered that notion. He was taking no action at all.

He was merely observing, slowly surveying every corner of the classroom. His demeanor was reminiscent of an art gallery visitor admiring an exhibition.

Unease began to ooze out from students who had been reprimanded several times before. Although the students no longer chatted, they silently exchanged glances, beginning to deduce the meaning behind Professor Antorelli’s actions.

‘What does this mean? Is this related to the class?’

‘He seems strange today. Is this still part of the class?’

The silence, the occasional whispers, and the students’ expressions mixed with confusion and anticipation were shattered by a voice.

“…Ah. Nice to meet you.”

As if waking from a dream, Professor Antorelli slightly shook his head and shifted his gaze. The students felt relief that he was about to start the class, but they were also filled with surprise at the fact that he had been in a daze just moments ago.

Despite the students’ murmuring, Professor Antorelli didn’t bat an eye. He spoke.

“It’s been a while since I last saw you. Isn’t that right?”

In any case, the class proceeds. Although the students wore uneasy expressions, they nodded their heads in response to Professor Antorelli’s words.

“Two weeks…. Yes. It has been about two weeks. I hope you haven’t neglected your studies of theology during that time.”

Professor Antorelli held up the Bible. Without a word of explanation about the two-week gap, he immediately aimed to continue from the last class. The students quietly opened their Bibles in response.

The pages of the Bible fluttered. The students’ eyes sparkled as they observed it.

One page, another page. As they slowly turned the pages, their pace gradually quickened. Confusion welled up in the students’ eyes once more.

– Flap—.

Eventually, Professor Antorelli flipped to the last page of the Bible. He closed the book.

Then, he shut his eyes. The students could not fathom the hidden meaning behind that action.

Chloe felt the same way, watching Professor Antorelli with a baffled expression, unable to understand the purpose of his behavior.

After a long period of uncomfortable silence filled the lecture hall.

“Students.”

Professor Antorelli spoke.

“The Bible is a book written by faith.”

His face bore no expression. Even as he spoke, nothing reflected in his eyes, and his gestures were devoid of any emotion.

“If faith were to be expressed in writing, it might look something like this. If you were to ask how the Bible came to be, it would be because it was written by saints who experienced the culmination of faith.”

Unexpectedly, a lengthy explanation emerged. Was he trying to interpret the meaning of the Bible? While the students didn’t quite understand, they each took out their notebooks and prepared to take notes.

“What I want to say is…. that. Interpreting the meanings written in the Bible. That is a fundamental academic activity that forms the foundation of theology, so we shall build upon that foundation….”

Upon that foundation…. upon that foundation….

Professor Antorelli’s words continued to echo endlessly. It was as if he had run out of things to say, wanting to continue but unable to find a topic to follow up on.

It was entirely natural for the students, jotting down his words, to gradually place their pens down.

“So, what I mean to say is…. that….”

By this point, not a single student held onto their pens anymore. Doubts glimmered in the students’ eyes.

‘Is something wrong with him today—?’

Receiving the gaze of so many students, Professor Antorelli opened his mouth, a word escaping him as he fidgeted with meaningless gestures, clenched and unclenched his fists, while his trembling eyes darted from side to side.

“…Today’s theology class will end here.”

Ultimately, he raised the white flag. Sofia Sub-priest, standing beneath the platform, widened her eyes. Her gaze was fixed on Professor Antorelli.

It seemed that Professor Antorelli truly intended to finish the class, as he swept the meaningless books he had laid out on the lectern into his bag.

‘Could it really end like this?’

Many students thought so. They hadn’t waited for two weeks just to see this conclusion.

As if to fulfill the expectations of those students, Professor Antorelli’s words did not stop.

“Instead, I will give you a simple problem.”

Professor Antorelli turned his body. The students looked a bit surprised at his motion toward the blackboard.

For the first time, Professor Antorelli, who had never used the blackboard, was now, uncommonly, going to use it. His hand, grasping the chalk, began to move.

A smooth, white line emerged, curving beautifully, as if he were an artist well-versed in art.

Finally, his hand stopped. Professor Antorelli, ensuring that the students could see the blackboard clearly, stepped aside slightly.

“That is….”

“What is that…?”

What appeared on the blackboard, an incomprehensible shape, was.

“A railroad?”

It resembled the drawing of a railroad where trains travel. Moreover, it was a railroad diverging into two paths.

But it was not an ordinary railroad. On one track, five people were tied together, while on the opposite track, one person was bound.

There was something strange about the track with just one person tied up; a switch, shaped like something to pull, was placed right next to him.

And a tunnel. At the beginning of the track, there was a tunnel, and a train appeared to be peeking out as if it had just passed through the tunnel.

An incomprehensible drawing. The students observed it with puzzled expressions, sending glances toward Professor Antorelli, seeking answers.

“There exists a railroad where the direction of progress will change depending on how you operate the switch.”

His finger pointed to one spot. The track with one person tied up.

“There is one person tied here. Moreover, the switch is placed right next to this person, close enough to pull it without much effort.”

This time, his finger moved toward the other track. The one where five people were tied together.

“There are five people tied here. However, unlike the opposite track, this track does not have a switch nearby.”

The students fell silent. Professor Antorelli’s words continued.

“A train is coming. If you pull the switch, the lone person will die. On the other hand, if you do not pull the switch, the five people will be saved.”

It was not difficult for intelligent minds to predict the professor’s question.

“If you were in this situation, would you pull the switch?”

However, there was something strange.

“Professor, I have a question.”

One student raised their hand. Professor Antorelli’s gaze turned toward them.

“Please state your name and department.”

“I am Angela from the Department of Theology.”

“Very well, Angela. Please, go ahead.”

“In order for a discussion about whether to pull the switch to be fair, the switch must be in someone else’s hands.”

“Angela, I believe you misunderstood my statement.”

“…What?”

Angela’s eyes widened. Other students looked on with similar expressions.

Towards those students, Professor Antorelli said.

“In this situation, your role is not that of a bystander standing far away and operating the switch.”

His finger moved. It pointed to a spot. At the end of that finger….

“You are the one tied on the track alone.”

Right beside you is the switch.

In other words, you have become the party in danger. The students stared blankly at the track indicated by his finger.

The track with only one person tied up. The sight of that lone individual appeared lonely, likely because five people were clustered together right below.

And the switch placed next to that person. Its somewhat strange shape did not resemble a common switch, making the students squint and take a closer look.

“What’s…. with its shape?”

“…It looks like a trigger.”

Yes, it resembled a trigger. Did that have any significance? The students had no way of knowing its meaning.

Toward those students, Professor Antorelli opened his mouth.

“To add, the five people lying on the lower track consist of three individuals whom you utterly despise, one innocent person with no ties to you, and one person you have been close with.”

“…….”

“If you choose to sacrifice yourself to save these five lives…. the remaining five individuals will remember your sacrifice, living out their painful lives in misery.”

However, they would ultimately survive.

Realizing that, the students began to grasp the meaning of the problem being presented by Professor Antorelli.

“You are the one lying alone next to the switch.”

This was not merely a matter of whether to save five people or survive alone. In his problem, from the very beginning, sacrificing oneself was excluded from the outcomes.

At the cost of the innocent lives of two people, will you succeed in ultimately killing the three despicable individuals?

Or, even if you don’t bring about their death, will you let the two innocent people live, allowing the remaining three to lead painful lives?

In other words, the issue at hand was how much suffering to inflict upon those three individuals. That was the crux of this problem.

The students hesitated to make a choice. Both options appeared equally awful.

And that is why, a dilemma was established within this problem.

“If you were faced with this situation, would you pull the switch?”

The expression on Professor Antorelli’s face as he asked was….

“…….”

For some reason, it appeared incredibly earnest.

* * * * *

I will prove it.

“If you were faced with this situation, would you pull the switch?”

I will demonstrate that I am right. That your choice was wrong.

How unjust your decision has been.

Cesar. Cesar Li.

I will unmask the hypocrisy lurking within you.

If I don’t do this, I will….

I will completely crumble.