Chapter 212

The Academy’s Fall Festival came to a successful conclusion.

No unexpected incidents occurred. The festival site was perfectly controlled under the meticulous cooperation of the academy officials and the Imperial Knight Order.

There may have been entities slipping in through the cracks, but at least to my knowledge, including that of other academy officials, there were none.

However, it would be a lie to say that I wasn’t troubled by Sir Jericho’s impactful words before he departed.

– “Professor Antorelli. Be cautious. I’ll contact the nearby Knight Order branch and include the academy in their patrol routes.”

– “…Excuse me?”

– “Don’t think too deeply about it, just know this. You’re a professor, so there’s nothing to worry about. We’ll take our leave now.”

Suddenly being told to be cautious, what could that mean? I pondered over his words for quite some time even after he had exited the gates, but nothing concrete came to mind.

In the end, all I could do was accept it, as is often the case. It seemed convenient to think that his warning was merely a formal greeting.

Sir Jericho left just like that, immediately after the festival, leading his imperial knights. It was all too swift.

Next to leave the festival site was the Adelhaid Ducal House. After the fireworks ended, I encountered them while taking a stroll near the academy gate.

Walking energetically with a tired yet smiling expression, flanked by the Adelhaid Duke and Duchess, Riina looked… happy.

What I desired was Riina’s happiness. I hoped she would feel joy, even if just for a single day, before it was too late. And that wish of mine was completely realized. To my own surprise.

Without any shortcomings, everyone was able to enjoy that precious day fully, experiencing happiness. The scenes of Duchess Adelhaid and Riina leaving while constantly expressing their gratitude were the only reward I could hope for.

The Adelhaid Duke was no different; he continually expressed his thanks towards me with remarkable sincerity. It was needless to say about Laura, who stood beside him.

Though Riina wore a puzzled expression at the evident sincerity of the two, it was clear that my involvement with the Adelhaid Ducal House had come to an end.

Riina would return to lying in bed, but there was a whisper from Professor Moritz that her condition was gradually improving. Surely, she would safely enroll in the academy next year.

The last to leave the festival site was Priest Luciana.

She gazed at me for a while. To avoid obstructing the flow of people, she approached me. After staring into my eyes for a while, she said,

“We’ll meet again next time,” before taking her leave in a vehicle heading toward the Adelheid Duke Mansion. I couldn’t even respond to Priest Luciana.

Furthermore, truly countless citizens of the city left, all smiling. Watching their faces wearing smiles inevitably led to unnecessary thoughts.

‘…Should I have sent invitations?’

The invitations for the Academy’s Fall Festival. They would still be cooling down in the professor’s office. In the end, I was unable to send invitations to anyone.

I thought about sending one to the fellow comrades I had met at the veterans’ meeting before, but they were all preoccupied with their own lives. I had no intention of disrupting the time of my former comrades for my own selfish desires.

In retrospect, Dennis, who had attended the veterans’ meeting, also showed up in dust-covered work clothes on the day of the meeting.

Thinking of them toiling away, sweating profusely in their respective jobs and not even enjoying the festival, did trouble me.

They do not seek pity. They simply work diligently at the tasks given to them.

Yes, they are the ones who survived fiercely in that hellish life. As far as I know, those I met at the veterans’ meeting are stronger than anyone else.

However, Meijhem…

‘The invitation…’

Was it truly a good choice not to give Meijhem an invitation? I still cannot say for certain.

Academy outsiders passed by me, exiting through the gates, as I stood there.

Those who have lived their lives in the city or those who moved here from other regions, or tourists traveling here and there…

They all left with smiles, seemingly filled with bright expectations for next year’s festival.

…If Meijhem had received my invitation and come here.

If he had enjoyed the Fall Festival with his beloved wife and two children. If he had experienced the haunted house that the occult research club and I worked hard to prepare, or visited other club booths…

Would things have been a bit different?

In the past, Meijhem felt easy to talk to. At that time, there weren’t any former comrades I kept in touch with, and right now, there’s no one with whom I maintain contact.

One thing that has changed significantly is…

‘It must be me…’

I felt inexplicably melancholic. The autumn night sky was a deep black, but I wondered if its darkness was deeper than the clouds hanging over my heart.

I hadn’t even spoken to Meijhem. We haven’t met, and even the letters we used to exchange frequently have completely stopped.

I feel pathetic. Having become awkward in conversation with Meijhem, I didn’t seek him out first, nor did he seek me. Naturally, our communication ceased.

Even as I have these thoughts, Meijhem is probably busy preparing for his soon-to-be-born third child. Perhaps even if I had sent an invitation, he might not have been able to attend the festival.

– “If it’s a high priest, can they conduct a baptism?”

– “Yes.”

– “That’s good. When the third one is born, let’s have you administer the baptism. It would be nice if you could bless them too…”

Speaking of which, when the third child is born… I think I promised to conduct the baptism.

Though that too has now become an uncertain future.

“Haah…”

It’s cold. Though my breath doesn’t form a white mist, it’s a chilly night that wouldn’t be strange if I did. Sophia, who stood next to me, gently took hold of my empty hand.

I locked eyes with Sophia. Her gaze trembled slightly as she looked at me.

“I… I thought you looked cold…”

“……”

“If you’re uncomfortable, I can let go…”

“No, it’s really cold.”

“Ah…”

I didn’t let go of Sophia’s little hand, which was trying to slip away from my grasp. Her hand, which had been stiff, relaxed, and returned to rest comfortably within mine.

“Well, if that’s the case… I’m glad…”

“Sophia.”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

I smiled at Sophia.

…It’s amazing.

For the first time in 8 years, I smiled through my own will, not just a natural smile that came out unconsciously.

It was indeed a unique experience.

A smile brought about by the waves of the subconscious might feel natural but struggles to convey my feelings fully to the other person.

That’s why people intentionally smile. It’s different from forcing a smile when feeling unwilling.

I want to show the other person that I’m smiling. Rather than stemming from a desire to hide my struggles, it is about genuinely wanting to express my feelings.

I was smiling at Sophia like that.

I am right now… This is… in other words, I am now…

‘Happy, am I?’

Because I’m happy.

Because I thought I was happy, I attempted to smile.

With exaggeratedly raised corners of my mouth, my eyes slightly curved without any awkwardness.

I, I…

Felt happiness.

Even if just for a moment, I experienced that feeling of happiness.

Sophia, initially taken aback, soon responded with an even brighter and bolder smile than mine.

“Thank you too.”

As I looked at that smile, I stealthily turned my gaze elsewhere.

The warmth on my face didn’t easily dissipate.

That’s truly a remarkable thing.

***

As the Fall Festival passed, the second exam at Caldera Imperial Academy came racing toward us.

During summer vacation, most first-year students, having sweated profusely while studying hard, struggled to overcome the significant mountain of mid-term assessments.

They reveled in the relaxed atmosphere brought by the Fall Festival, and now the time has come for them to tackle an even higher mountain.

‘Final academic assessment.’

Unlike the mid-term assessments nestled in the middle of a semester, this is a testing ground that evaluates all academic achievements learned during the past year or semester, along with the current semester.

While it may not be as tough for second and third-year students, it will undoubtedly be quite challenging for first-year students facing their second exam at the academy.

The reason I say it will be “quite tough” is that it is completely unrelated to me.

Fundamentally, the Theology course is a common subject that all students must complete.

Moreover, common subjects only have one exam per semester. Since I have already taken the exam during the mid-term assessments, it means I can sit out the final academic assessment.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I have nothing to do.

Since professors at Caldera Imperial Academy teach the same students until their graduation, one must plan lessons considering the class changes for the following year.

Moreover, given that the final academic assessment is now behind us, we are on the verge of winter break.

While I had no intention of assigning homework to the students, I also couldn’t neglect my lessons.

Before winter break arrives, I plan to do my best in my classes.

“Phew…”

As I blew on the steaming black tea, I pushed the documents, which were more or less organized, to one side of the desk. Sophia had fallen asleep in the warm air from the heater.

Turning my head toward the window, I could see the breath of winter blowing across the courtyard where snow had yet to fall. The bare trees stood silently in their places.

As I gazed at that scene for a moment, I turned over the front page of the desk calendar resting on the side of my desk.

Like the bare trees, the calendar now held only one page left.

“Winter…”

December 1st.

The start of winter.