Chapter 266

“People are, essentially, vessels.”

Large, rough hands interlocked carefully, forming a single cupped shape. The gaze of the students, who had been writing quietly, naturally concentrated on that.

“What I mean is not that the shape itself signifies anything. While there may be some who are somewhat lacking, fundamentally, we are born with a pair of arms, a pair of legs, a head on top, with facial features above that. Therefore, what I wish to say is….”

For a moment, lost in thought, the cupped hand that resembled a vessel quickly moved to grasp the chalk. The white chalk left its clear trace as it wore away smoothly.

“Let’s change the topic a bit. Naturally, there is something hidden within people. What do you all think that is?”

As Professor Antorelli’s question flew out, sources of confidence shot up towards the ceiling from various corners of the room. Without hesitation, Professor Antorelli selected one.

“It’s Georges Manet from the second-year Department of Arts.”

“Manet, you may answer.”

“Yes, Professor. Within a person’s inner self lies the mana circle of a mage or the aura of a knight.”

It was close to the correct answer. However, Professor Antorelli nodded with a somewhat dissatisfied expression.

“That could be an answer, but Manet, grasp the essence of what I’m saying and think again.”

“Uh, um… that is….”

Georges Manet, who had just recently moved up to class A from the previous year’s class B, inadvertently let out a faltering sound as he struggled for words. The other existing class A students glanced at him with astonished expressions.

‘He’s in big trouble. The professor is definitely going to point that out.’

‘True, Professor Antorelli hates that. He can’t even provide a proper answer and is just fumbling around.’

‘Poor thing. If he doesn’t answer quickly, the professor might give him demerits for disrupting the class.’

Only two or three students moved up to class A from the previous year’s class B. A significant number had been moved down to class B; however, considering the number of students who moved up, it wasn’t that many.

The existing class A students looked at Manet with somewhat pitying eyes.

What wrongdoing could there possibly be to the poor art student who was sweating profusely? He simply achieved excellent grades and was recognized for his academic achievements to move up to class A.

However, he had not prepared properly for Professor Antorelli’s class. If one had to pinpoint his mistake, that was it.

Other classes would have proceeded in a similar atmosphere to those in class B; thus, he likely thought that Professor Antorelli’s theology class would be no different.

After agonizing for a considerable time while sweating, Manet finally lifted his head and shouted loudly.

“Ah!! Human emotions!”

“Oh dear….”

A student let out a very small sigh. Though answering energetically could certainly be seen as commendable, at least in Professor Antorelli’s theology class, it was not. He disliked extraordinarily loud noises.

As the students expected, after hearing Manet’s resounding answer that echoed throughout the classroom, Professor Antorelli’s expression turned sour to the point where it seemed to decay. Several theology students quietly closed their notebooks and reverently closed their eyes.

Lord, please take care of this poor little lamb today.

However, contrary to the students’ expectations,

“You may sit. Well done.”

Upon hearing his words, Manet let out a small sigh of relief and sat down. The reaction of Professor Antorelli, which was different from what they had anticipated, caused the students who had prepared themselves to look at him in surprise.

‘Why, why are they looking at me? Was my answer that awful?’

Manet felt like he was shrinking under the searing gaze of the existing class A students focusing on him. The answer he had barely managed to come up with by recalling moments when he painted was so dissatisfactory?

Despite Manet’s body being rigid and tense, the existing class A students each showed signs of shock. Their gaze first shifted toward the innocent art student Georges Manet before eventually settling on Professor Antorelli.

“As Manet said, there are emotions within a person. The emotions of sentient beings are special. The reason we compared our bodies to vessels….”

He continued explaining casually. Drawing a smoothly flowing picture, to the point where one might suspect he was a professor from the Department of Arts, and alongside it, writing in a neat script that resembled printed text from a book.

“Here, it would be prudent for us to refer to the theological book written by Professor Sonesetti from the Seminary. Please open to page 72 of ‘Rationality, Ethics, and the Standardization of Theology.'”

Professor Antorelli placed the chalk down and approached the podium, beginning to open the thick theological book. The students, who had been staring blankly at him, flinched under the cold, indifferent gaze aimed towards them.

“Everyone.”

Professor Antorelli opened his mouth while looking at the students. It felt like the temperature in the classroom had dropped by two or three degrees, though perhaps that was just a feeling.

“It seems you are unable to concentrate on the class today.”

His words fell like a cold blade. Within the context of his theology classes, Professor Antorelli was almost akin to a grim reaper who made students feel the threat of failing.

Last year, at the very beginning of the first-year students’ youth,

It was almost legendary how Professor Antorelli had given Laura von Adelheit ten demerit points from the very first day due to a disruption in the flow of the class.

Accumulating demerits was a fearful affair for anyone. According to school regulations, simply accumulating 20 points could lead to suspension, and if one amassed more than 35 points, they would be expelled without question.

I have heard that Laura had collected points through community service for a while to erase her ten demerit points from Professor Antorelli, so where could there possibly be students unafraid?

– Tap. Tap.

Professor Antorelli’s long, straight fingers struck the podium menacingly. Although he had no intention of it, to the students, it sounded like demerits were being piled up in real time.

“Has theology become uninteresting to you?”

Several students lost in thought instinctively shook their heads. When Professor Antorelli’s gaze landed on them, they stiffened even more, captivated by fear.

After briefly looking at those students, Professor Antorelli then closed the theological book he had spread across the podium and let out a small sigh. Students who had ever dozed off or distracted themselves during his class were now on the verge of screaming.

Amidst this, an unexpected savior raised their hand brightly.

“No. Not at all.”

A slender white arm shot up from the front row. The students’ eyes widened in surprise, then, after looking down at the owner of that arm, they began to display looks of shock, as if their eyes were about to pop out.

White hair, red eyes, a beautiful appearance combining the two.

Laura von Adelheit raised her arm confidently and began to speak.

And, because she opened her mouth recklessly without permission, she received demerits.

“Then, why is it today that you cannot concentrate on the class?”

“Professor, with all due respect, today is only the second day since the new semester began.”

“What does that matter?”

“It seems that after several months of rest, it is inevitable that students’ concentration will be diminished.”

“I am not your caregiver. You must manage your own condition yourself; it has nothing to do with the class.”

“…….”

There were no words left. It was sound reasoning. The straight, extended white arm slowly lowered as if it had been defeated.

As Laura sank into despair, Professor Antorelli let out a shallow sigh and said,

“Everyone. I merely asked about the reasons why you cannot concentrate on the class. I am not scolding you.”

Yes, he wouldn’t scold you.

Instead, demerits would pour down.

“I do not seek to impose demerits either.”

That was immediately negated. Moreover, by the very person who was giving them.

“But… is that so?”

Having closed off all possibilities, Professor Antorelli nodded to himself as if realizing something and continued to gather the books spread across the podium.

“Certainly, even if we didn’t have classes on the day of the entrance ceremony, expecting maximum concentration from the very next day seems unreasonable.”

The students dropped everything and simply nodded in agreement with his words. Now they felt like they didn’t know what was what anymore.

“I understand. Although it cannot be immediate for the next class, I will soon return with a more interesting topic for class.”

“…Huh?”

“That will conclude today’s lesson.”

As soon as Professor Antorelli finished speaking, the bell signaling the end of class resonated through the classroom. It seemed as if he had predicted this, as he immediately packed the related textbooks into his bag and walked toward the front door.

“…By the way….”

As he opened the front door and was about to step into the corridor, Professor Antorelli rarely paused for a moment.

“Thank you for focusing on my class until now. Have a good day and see you next class.”

Leaving a greeting that was quite different from usual, he gracefully exited the classroom through the front door. Sofia Sub-priest, clutching a heavy bag, hurriedly followed him out.

What remained in the classroom were the existing class A students, unable to comprehend the situation.

“…What is it? Why is everyone reacting this way?”

“Well… I don’t really know….”

The new class A students were still scratching their heads, unable to grasp the situation.

“…Is that person wearing a mask?”

“What? Elin! How could you say something so disrespectful…!”

In many ways, his first class of the second year was shocking.

In a somewhat enigmatic sense.