Chapter 254

“Here you go.”

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

“No, it’s a gift from the Head Priest. I should be the one enjoying it.”

I swallowed my anxious feelings and accepted the paper cup that Sofia Sub-priest handed me.

The warm heat coming from the coffee inside the cup was unavoidable, running through my fingers. Personally, I preferred black tea over coffee, but it wasn’t the time to be picky.

Damian Chancellor, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time, unexpectedly pressed a burdensome request upon me. If it were a matter I could simply refuse, it would be different, but to be asked out of the blue to take on the role of Chief Professor was quite a heavy burden.

“Damn it.”

There were many capable figures who could occupy the Chief Professor’s position. If the piety of a theology professor was needed, it would be better to appoint Professor Marcello; why me?

I had asked myself these questions, yet Damian Chancellor simply parroted that it had to be me because “Professor Helena personally wrote a letter of recommendation.” There was nothing I could do about it.

Having just returned to the Academy Chancellor position after several months, he was imploring me with such a sincere expression that it was impossible for my heart not to sway.

In the end, I reluctantly accepted Damian Chancellor’s first request. The duties of the Chief Professor could be summarized by reviewing the handover documents that Professor Madison had prepared, and although Damian Chancellor readily promised to prioritize “the duties of the Head Priest of the main chapel,” I still felt the overwhelming burden remaining.

But, what can I say.

“If I can’t avoid it, I must accept it.”

Having already accepted, it would be hard to backtrack now. I was initially filled with negativity, but now I had come to a stage of acceptance.

“Chief Professor…”

As I repeated the significant role that I had just taken on, I took a sip of my richly flavored coffee. Chief Professor, Chief Professor…

The title has a nice ring to it, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was like a pearl necklace on a pig’s neck. What relevance did Helena’s letter of recommendation even have?

Feeling as though I was being used by Helena, I initially harbored some displeasure, but now my head was just filled with thoughts of bewilderment. No matter how I thought about it, wasn’t it an odd situation to bring up Helena’s name?

Was it related to Helena in any way?

I felt that this was something I needed to investigate a bit.

It would become quite a personal task, but since there was still a little over a month until the opening ceremony, I decided to finish my assigned duties as quickly as possible and figure out the more accurate reason.

In any case, I had now become the Chief Professor overseeing the class schedules and exam schedules of the students who would be entering their second year this year.

According to Damian Chancellor, he seemed to be planning to announce it within a week…

“If there are issues, there are probably two problems.”

Professor Esther, who was also blowing on her cup of coffee like me, spoke up. Both Sofia Sub-priest and I turned our attention to her.

“The first issue is, of course, Professor Antorelli’s experience. He doesn’t have enough.”

“Um…”

“In the education field, especially in a high-level academy like Caldera Imperial Academy, experience becomes more weighty the more it accumulates. While society isn’t as closed-minded as before, there remains an underlying hierarchy based on seniority among professors. Moreover, since Caldera Imperial Academy has a long tradition…”

“While it might be worse, it isn’t any better either.”

“Exactly. So, the first problem is that the first-year professors from last year may feel uncomfortable with him. You need to keep that in mind.”

That was an anticipated issue. At the same time, it was something I could overcome one way or another. As long as I acted so as not to get on the bad side of venerable professors—especially the seniority-rich last-year first-year professors, including Professor Marcello—that could be a viable solution.

However, a question arose from this situation.

“…Isn’t my role just that of a stand-in? Even so, I’m only in this position until Professor Madison returns.”

“Even if that’s the case, to those who were eyeing the Chief Professor position, it might appear differently. If it’s someone who has had many years of experience as a rigid senior professor, even more so.”

For instance, one could point to Professor Marcello from the Department of Theology and Professor Ivan Peterloff, a more senior colleague from the Destruction Magic Department.

“Professor Ivan Peterloff, who’s the oldest among the first-year faculty from last year, isn’t nearly as rigid as you’d think. That’s a bit of good luck.”

“Have you met him?” Professor Esther asked, but to me, he was just someone I passed by in the hallway and exchanged brief greetings with—more accurately, we only knew each other’s names and faces vaguely.

“I haven’t had a proper meeting.”

“That’s a bit… no, quite fortunate. Professor Peterloff tends to be a bit introverted… no, introverted? Hmm…”

“…Professor Esther?”

“I really don’t know how to explain this. Anyway, unless it’s related to Destruction Magic, he doesn’t really think too seriously or show much interest. There are rumors that if you get close to him, he sometimes makes strange jokes…”

“Strange jokes?”

“Anyway, that’s not what’s important. The more significant point is that Professor Peterloff absolutely hates conflict. In that sense, it’s a bit contradictory that he teaches Destruction Magic.”

If the oldest professor of my grade had that kind of personality, it seemed unlikely that someone would easily challenge me unless there was a reason to boast.

In any case, it seemed I would only be able to explore solutions to this issue about a week later. Professor Esther also agreed on this point.

“Indeed, that’s right. Right now, other than me, you, and at most the head of the administration department, there isn’t anyone else I know, but what’s importantly is how the other professors will react once they realize this fact. They might think positively about it.”

“I haven’t done anything significant, though.”

“How can you say that? Just last year, you showed them a remarkable exam.”

Thinking about it, Professor Marcello, who had taken the exam I had set, still exhibited an unidirectional friendliness towards me, actively approaching me.

Of course, from my side, Professor Marcello’s every action was just burdensome.

“Anyway, with that first issue, we can afford to think about it a bit longer. But, the second issue…”

“Um.”

The second issue related to Damian Chancellor’s second direct request, and it was quite connected to the first.

“Suddenly asking to protect Caldera Imperial Academy, what on earth does that mean? Is there something you’re hinting at?”

“I’m not sure either.”

Damian Chancellor’s second request—asking to protect Caldera Imperial Academy to the very end—was a baffling one.

Moreover, it wasn’t just me and Sofia Sub-priest who heard this request; even Professor Esther, who had rushed in after being called, received such a request, so the issue was no longer confined to just me.

“Sofia Sub-priest, do you sense anything?”

“Uh, well… that’s a difficult question…”

“Just, in case…”

As Professor Esther awkwardly asked, Sofia Sub-priest also had nothing to say. It would indeed be more unusual for her to have knowledge on the matter.

“…Head Priest, it seems like you just had a strange thought.”

“I didn’t think of anything.”

“Ugh…”

While Sofia Sub-priest was busy drinking her coffee in anger, I pondered deeply, sipping the warm coffee. In the distance, I could hear workers clearing snow make noises while drinking the warm beverages I had bought them.

At that moment, Professor Esther, who was also sipping her coffee beside me, spoke up again.

“By the way, Damian Chancellor suddenly went on a business trip around last autumn.”

“Is that a problem?”

“It wouldn’t be if it were just an ordinary business trip.”

“An ordinary business trip… Is that what you mean?”

Professor Esther nodded seriously, her expression unusual for her.

However…

At a position like Chancellor of Caldera Imperial Academy, couldn’t anyone go on a business trip as they saw fit?

Perhaps anticipating my thoughts, Professor Esther let out a soft sigh. A white breath, having held hot coffee moments before, was now exhaled into the air.

“Hoo… Well, it’s not really a problem if the Chancellor goes on a short business trip.”

“Yes. Then…”

“But if he suddenly undertakes a long business trip without saying a word and without it being planned, it signifies that something urgent must have occurred.”

“…That is certainly true.”

“And now, right after returning from the business trip, he specifically calls upon the three of us to ask for protection over the Academy.”

“……”

“That’s obvious. Something must have occurred under the guise of a business trip. Something troubling enough that we need to worry about the Academy’s safety. We received a request to protect the Academy without knowing what it is.”

So, the issue was Damian Chancellor’s intent.

No, before that…

“Are you suggesting we investigate Damian Chancellor’s business trip?”

“Well… if you were to simplify it, yes.”

“Is that even possible?”

“Sofia Sub-priest, we might’ve accidentally gotten involved in something we can’t refuse, completely unaware of it.”

“But it doesn’t seem like the Chancellor would have made such a request carelessly…”

I pondered seriously over Professor Esther’s words. Since nothing was certain yet, it might be an assumption that leaned more towards conspiracy theories…

“…It does seem worthwhile to think about.”

“Right?”

As usual, I prepared for any potential outcomes.

* * * * *

After the three of them left.

Damian Chancellor slowly surveyed the silent Chancellor’s office. The work desk, polished shiny from the passage of countless papers, the large academy emblem hanging behind it, the flower pots neatly arranged in front of the large window…

To him, the landscape of this Chancellor’s office was familiar to the point of being like home. It was a sight he expected to see every day until the day he retired.

“……”

Damian Chancellor stared blankly at the office door before proceeding to survey the room again. It wasn’t surprising that he felt a melancholic sensation at the thought of leaving this familiar place.

“…Now.”

But now, it was time to leave.

It had been close to thirty years spent at Caldera Imperial Academy. He was nearing retirement age, but he still wanted to make the most of the remaining time before departing.

‘…I never expected it would come to this.’

Though he was but a Chancellor of one academy, it was a prestigious academy producing the Empire’s finest talents. While it had a scholarly aspect of nurturing intellectuals, it was hardly incorrect that it produced individuals with military aims, given that there existed a combat department. Yes, that was certainly true…

“Students… If there are no professors…”

Educators and students.

The two should never be parted.

– Damian Chancellor. I will implore you one last time.

Damian Chancellor quietly closed his eyes. The sound of the wall clock ticking clearly resonated.

– At the very least, Caldera Imperial Academy should not resist the proposed conscription law.

Damian Chancellor’s eyes opened wide. He still had things left to do.

He walked directly to his work desk. Just as polished as the desk, the receiver, having been used many times, landed in his hand.

“This is Damian Chancellor. Please connect me to the Diocesan Bishop of the City.”

At the very least, he needed to lay the groundwork for his successor.