PTSD Military Chaplain of the Academy

Laura von Adelheit opened her notebook.

The pages of the notebook, turning with a soft rustle, were densely filled with notes summarizing the last class. If someone were to see it, they would surely be amazed.

Of course, it was only natural for Laura, who was one of the top students at the Caldera Imperial Academy. The corners of her mouth twitched.

‘…Did you see that?’

It was because Professor Antorelli’s gaze had briefly passed by. Laura subtly adjusted the angle of her notebook so that he could see it well.

However, Professor Antorelli’s attention was already directed elsewhere. Laura made a slightly frustrated expression.

“Tch…”

In a moment, Laura clicked her tongue unconsciously and then realized it, covering her mouth with her hand. It was a rude behavior. It was hard to understand why she was acting this way.

No, in fact, she knew better than anyone. Laura recalled the past.

– I dare say, among the assignments we reviewed today, the one submitted by student Adelheit… is by far, the best.

‘Ugh…’

That blunt voice that had come with a faint smile. Even though it had already been a month since that moment, recalling it still made Laura’s body tremble.

The thrill of being recognized by the one who had shattered the walls of learning—neither a magical mentor, nor her parents or anyone else—was indeed something hard to put into words.

Thus, she wanted to be recognized by Professor Antorelli once again. Even if just in a small way, she wanted to feel that exhilarating experience again.

Yes, she was thirsty for Professor Antorelli’s praise.

But unfairly, Professor Antorelli was not looking in the direction where Laura was sitting. Frustrated, Laura changed the angle of her notebook so that Professor Antorelli would absolutely not be able to see its contents.

“Hmph… I won’t show it to you either.”

Despite Laura’s antics, Professor Antorelli began to speak.

“We covered demonology in the last session.”

The official start of the class. Laura’s previously sulky expression changed instantly. The same was true for the other students.

The students’ gazes focused in one direction. Unsurprisingly, at the end of that focus stood Professor Antorelli.

“Now, I believe you have an understanding of what a demon is…”

The students nodded. Some even exclaimed, “Yes—.” Professor Antorelli continued.

“By now, you should have the minimum requirements needed to study spiritual theology. I judge so.”

Spiritual theology. The students recalled the first time they began the demonology class.

– Spiritual theology. I originally thought of lecturing on it… but unfortunately, it seems that there are no students who properly understand spirituality.

Yes. Professor Antorelli had certainly said that. There were even students who felt indignant upon hearing that statement. Most of them were students from the Department of Theology.

“From today, we will take a step forward into the study of spiritual theology.”

Professor Antorelli’s words were another small acknowledgment, akin to when they had interpreted the first assignment he had presented. The students nodded satisfactorily.

“In fact, the word spirituality itself can hold infinite meanings. As I mentioned when I first referred to spiritual theology, this spirituality extends across all aspects of daily life.”

Professor Antorelli gave several examples. The totality of an individual’s beliefs, or the beliefs held by a community, the wisdom bestowed by the Lord, or good character, as well as ethical and value perspectives based on the Bible and faith in the Lord.

“Indeed, there are many. Isn’t that so?”

The students barely nodded their heads. Already, their heads were starting to ache.

“It’s too difficult. It might be a bit much to understand that content. However, that’s before learning demonology.”

Learning demonology changed the narrative. How so?

The students were left wondering. Their expressions turned puzzling.

“For instance, if there is a student who has either witnessed the existence of a demon or has come into contact with one indirectly, please raise your hand.”

Of course, no one raised their hand. It was not so easy to witness a demon, and unless one were insane, it was unlikely for any student to have come into contact with a demon.

“No one? The reason you all recognize the existence of demons is that not long ago, I personally conducted a class on demonology. Of course, there are surely still students who do not believe.”

Some students twitched or even nodded their heads.

Most of them were students belonging to the Department of Magic. Given that the study of magic deals with reason and rationality, it was not surprising that they found it hard to believe in the uncertain existence of demons.

“I understand. Whether you believe in the existence of demons or not, it’s not that important right now. However…”

The sub-priest Sofia, who had been below the platform, soon rose onto the platform holding something placed on the floor. The students’ gazes concentrated there.

It was a cube-shaped wooden box, roughly the size of a person’s face. The lid of the box had a circular hole, suggesting that one could easily reach inside it.

Briefly receiving the box from Sofia, Professor Antorelli pointed to it and said.

“Would you take a look at this box?”

The students’ attention was already focused. Professor Antorelli continued.

“This box contains a demon.”

“…….”

Silence enveloped the classroom. The students did not move their lips. They simply stared blankly at Professor Antorelli, who was holding the box.

Eventually, as his words registered in their minds, the students began to doubt whether they had misheard, fidgeting with their ears and frowning.

“…Hey. Did I hear that wrong?”

“That it contains a demon… I heard that, right?”

“What is this? April Fool’s was ages ago.”

A murmur from a corner quickly filled the entire classroom. The students were looking at the box in Professor Antorelli’s hand with eyes filled with disbelief and fear.

“I don’t understand why you’re all reacting like this.”

However, Professor Antorelli, who had caused this sea of confusion, shrugged his shoulders.

In the students’ eyes, Professor Antorelli’s demeanor appeared remarkably calm. It was his nonchalant attitude that further exacerbated the students’ turmoil.

“It must be a lie. Think about it. There’s no way he actually put a real demon in there?”

“Before that, do demons actually exist? I’m not going to believe it until I see it with my own eyes.”

Some did not believe his words.

“No… Professor Antorelli isn’t the type to lie.”

“Is there really a demon in there…? I’m scared…”

Some believed his words and trembled in fear.

“It looks like it could be fun…?”

“Honestly, I find it impressive that Professor Antorelli is holding that box as if it’s nothing.”

“Surprise worship.”

And others saw it merely as another source of entertainment or found it intriguing.

“There’s a… beast of all evils in there…!”

“Lord… do not lead me into temptation…”

Alternatively, some were relying on their firmly rooted faith built on belief.

Thirty-two students divided into various camps. Professor Antorelli observed them indifferently, and as the classroom began to grow more chaotic, he finally spoke.

“Everyone. Please settle down.”

The noise in the classroom vanished as if swept away by a wave. The students, stiff in their previous postures, only turned their heads to watch Professor Antorelli.

“Isn’t it nothing to be so surprised about? This box contains a demon. Nothing more than that.”

“B-but…!”

A female student unconsciously opened her mouth. She soon wore a regrettable expression, but Professor Antorelli’s gaze was already on her.

“You may speak.”

“Yes…?”

“I said you may speak. Ah, before that… would you please tell me your department and name?”

The female student timidly stood up. She was a girl with round glasses that left quite an impression.

“I-I’m Fletta Banks from the Department of Magic.”

“Hmm… Banks student. You’re from the Department of Magic?”

“Yes…”

“I’d like to hear what you meant by your previous statement.”

Fletta Banks hesitated a moment, then shed her reluctance and replied to his words.

“According to Professor Antorelli, the existence of demons is something we should avoid the most. Yet, it seems that you, Professor Antorelli, brought a demon directly, and it doesn’t seem to bother you…”

“…Huh.”

Upon hearing her response, Professor Antorelli stroked his chin, entering a trance of thought. Fletta Banks stood there, unable to sit down, awkwardly looking at him.

At last, when he finished thinking, Professor Antorelli spoke.

“Isn’t that a bit strange?”

“…Yes?”

“When I mentioned the students who do not believe in demons, you nodded, Fletta student.”

“Y-Yes?”

“Why would you be afraid if you don’t even believe in demons?”

All students sitting in the classroom, including her, had their eyes widen.

It was indeed true. Fletta Banks was certainly doubting the existence of demons. This was true for several other students in the Department of Magic as well.

Yet, at the moment when Professor Antorelli dropped the bombshell.

– This box contains a demon.

The students doubted his words, denying the existence of demons, yet deep down, they felt fear regarding his statement.

“If you truly believe demons do not exist, shouldn’t you feel no fear?”

Fletta lost her words and merely stood frozen. Professor Antorelli gestured for her to take a seat.

“If I hadn’t started the demonology class, perhaps you wouldn’t have trembled in fear upon hearing my words.”

That might have been the case. While it could not be guaranteed, it was a sufficiently plausible idea. The students nodded.

“But now, to deny the very existence of demons, the concept of demons has already settled deep in your subconscious.”

Concepts. It had sprouted and taken root in their minds as seeds.

Even if they denied existence, the thought emerged, the image roughly shaped, and various imaginations sprawled like branches in all directions.

“The appearance of demons, the texture and feel of their skin, the smell they emit, the sounds they make. Though no one can explain it in detail, you can nonetheless vaguely imagine it and tremble in anxiety.”

Thought is like a rebellious frog—a thought you try not to think of will only surface even more vividly. The students’ minds had turned into rebellious frogs.

To those students, Professor Antorelli stated.

“Spirituality is the same.”

He tossed a stone.

Great waves overlapped on the rippling lake. It resembled waves being stirred up, or perhaps it looked like a small rebellion of an insignificant stone.

It was, in some sense, a theologically blasphemous statement to intertwine demons and spirituality. However, the students of the Department of Theology just quietly observed his class.

“Things that cannot be interpreted through the functional actions of humans. To see with one’s eyes, to hear with one’s ears, to taste with one’s mouth, to feel with one’s skin—without experiencing any of those functional actions, yet instinctively recognizing the fact that it exists.”

– To understand spirituality, one must not view it through the human eye. In other words, it means one should not try to interpret it through any of the functional actions that humans perform. Do you understand?

The words Professor Antorelli had first integrated into the lesson on spirituality flickered in the students’ minds.

Yes. The statement that one must not view it through the human eye. The statement that it should not be interpreted functionally.

Why couldn’t they understand it back then? Why couldn’t they recall it at that time?

This feeling now was akin to when Professor Antorelli had enabled Chloe to use divine power.

Something brushed through the students’ minds, playfully teasing them as if it were just within reach. They were like players gripping a mallet in a game of whack-a-mole, straining their eyes to catch it.

“The grand framework of spirituality. This is akin to the laws of the world.”

And then, the words Professor Antorelli added. That one line…

“Things like human free will, love, beauty, hope, faith, belief, evil… and spirituality.”

That one line, like a mole that appeared of its own accord.

“When attempting to define human beings, the elements that are recognized. The creative gifts of the Lord. All of that is spirituality.”

Before the students, it revealed itself.

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