Fingers (3)
We hurried back to the faculty office. Sophia the deaconess and Laura stuck close to my side the whole way, refusing to let go.
I settled the two, now somewhat calmed, on the comfortable sofa and headed to the pantry in the corner of the office to fetch them some warm drinks.
“What do kids even like these days?”
Among the countless coffees and teas stocked in the pantry, my eye caught a tin of cocoa powder tucked away in an obscure corner. I picked it up.
“Hot chocolate.”
Sweet and rich in flavor—perfect for kids' tastes. I scooped in three or four spoonfuls of the powder, added sugar, and poured in hot water.
In my early twenties. A young, vibrant man. A deacon in a rural village.
Back then, I had a sweet tooth. That's why I never much cared for bitter drinks like tea…
Tastes change. Now I couldn't stand sweets.
The spoon stirred smoothly, creating a small whirlpool in the mug of hot chocolate. Warmth seeped into my hand gripping the mug. I stared blankly at the glossy liquid.
“……”
Clang—!
I gripped my trembling right hand tightly. The spoon slipped, splashing a bit of hot chocolate.
“…Damn it.”
I tossed the dropped spoon into the sink and grabbed a new one. Splattered hot chocolate dotted my hand. Without thinking, I brought it to my lips.
The hot chocolate was so sweet it stung my tongue.
And suddenly, I felt utterly pathetic. A hollow laugh escaped me.
“Ha, what a joke…”
Even I had to admit it—I looked ridiculous.
“Haaah… So warm…”
“Not bad, actually…”
The hot chocolate seemed to soothe them as it went down their throats. I'd even prepared a cup for Professor Esther. I took my own black tea and sat quietly on the opposite sofa.
Now that they were somewhat settled, it was time to hear the full story. I carefully asked Laura,
“So, Laura von Adelaide. What were you doing in the annex until this hour?”
Laura looked at me with fear still lingering in her eyes. Color had returned somewhat to her previously pale lips.
“I-I was… doing homework in the library.”
“The library closes ten minutes before curfew. Didn't the library staff tell you that?”
“Some senior guy did say that. That it was closing time… and if I wanted to study at night, I could do it under the supervision of the duty professor here in the faculty office… So I left the library. But…”
I listened intently to Laura's account. Professor Esther, sitting beside me, was equally focused.
Laura swallowed hard and continued.
“O-On my way to the faculty office. But as I walked, I noticed a classroom door slightly ajar. And from the gap… this really bright red light was leaking out.”
“Red light…”
I murmured, stroking my chin, and Laura nodded vigorously.
“Yes, yes! A really vivid red light. It felt so ominous… I was about to run straight here, but then…”
“Then?”
“I-I ran into it. Those eyes. Those bright red eyes…!”
“Tell us in more detail.”
“The eyes were bright red. The skin was like it was painted in b-blood… Dripping red liquid…”
“Red liquid, you say?”
“Red liquid… No, it was definitely blood. I'm sure of it. Blood for certain.”
Laura rubbed her arms as if chills were running through her just from the memory. Her tiny hand clutched the blanket draped over her shoulders. I waited silently for her to continue.
“…Anyway, after that, I don't remember much. When I came to, I was running frantically. And then… I got here.”
“And ran into me.”
Sophia the deaconess, unusually serious, picked up the story.
“No, Deaconess Sophia—what were you doing there?”
“I-I was just going to the bathroom! But I saw someone running desperately from the annex side from afar. So I tried to bring her straight here! But I saw it too…!”
To sum up: Laura spotted some bizarre entity, fled in panic, Sophia spotted her and tried to escort her back, but they ran into the thing again on the way.
“So that's why you were hiding in that dust pit?”
“D-Dust pit…? If you mean under the stairs, yes.”
I casually brushed the dust from Sophia's hair. She blinked in surprise for a moment, then cleared her throat awkwardly.
“Anyway, Father Lucio. What was that thing?”
“Hmm…”
Bright red eyes and skin soaked in blood.
Too little information to speculate on its identity. I gripped my Bible and stood from the sofa.
“Alright. Let's go check it out.”
“…Pardon?”
“W-What did you say…?”
Sophia and Laura stared up at me as if they'd misheard.
“Um, Professor Lucio? You're joking, right…?”
Even Professor Esther gazed at me pleadingly, as if begging me not to lie. But I ignored them.
“There might still be students left in the annex. We need to check on the library staff too.”
“That's true, but…”
“Professor Esther. The students could be in danger.”
At my firm words, Professor Esther nodded with a hardened expression.
“…You're right.”
“You should bring your staff too.”
Professor Esther nodded, fetched her robe from the chair, and slipped it on. I looked at Laura and Sophia, still sitting dumbfounded on the sofa. Laura was still trembling slightly.
I sighed. Gone was her usual haughty, prickly demeanor—now she was just a fragile girl, shaking like a child who'd seen something terrifying.
“Deaconess Sophia. Do you know how to use miracles?”
“Y-Yes. Simple ones…”
“The Prayer of Valor. If you would.”
Sophia clasped her hands and began reciting the prayer. A faint golden light flowed from her, seeping into Laura's body.
Soon, her trembling subsided. I let out a soft sigh and called to her.
“Miss Adelaide. We're going to patrol again. Can you stay here alone?”
She startled and grabbed my hand tightly. She yanked so hard I nearly stumbled.
“P-Professor. Don't leave me alone. Please?”
Sophia's prayer had helped, but she was still scared. I brushed back Laura's sweat-dampened white hair to calm her.
“Laura von Adelaide. Look me in the eye.”
“Y-Yes.”
“I'll ask again. Can you stay here alone?”
Laura shook her head vigorously. That settled it.
“Then come with us.”
“…Huh?”
“We need to find where you encountered it anyway. Guide us there, Miss Adelaide.”
Leaving her alone with just Sophia felt off. She'd admitted earlier she couldn't even fight back and just ran.
Better to bring her along.
Laura hesitated briefly, then nodded heavily, somewhat calmed.
“Alright, then…”
Patrol time, once more.
Truth be told, I hadn't fully bought Sophia and Laura's story at first.
Logically, with Chloe—the protagonist of this world—absent, it didn't feel like the plot would progress. And hallucinations weren't out of the question.
But what if we sprinkled in a classic academy novel cliché?
The protagonist, or students with her, spots something threatening in the academy and warns the professors.
But the professors dismiss it as nonsense and do nothing. The students struggle to handle it themselves.
And inevitably, disaster strikes despite their efforts. Only then do the professors scramble to respond.
What idiots. Instead of blindly ignoring students' reports, if there's real danger, you investigate seriously.
And I'm no idiot. I don't gloss over obvious clichés like this.
We walked slowly down the annex corridor. Sophia and Laura flanked me, while Professor Esther took point slightly ahead.
How long had we walked?
“I-It was around here…”
Laura, clutching my sleeve, said in a trembling voice. She'd been clinging to my arm earlier, but seemed calmer now.
The corridor was still dark. I glanced at Professor Esther's pocket watch.
1:40 a.m. The deepest hour of night. Cold night air seeped into my skin.
We hadn't encountered the bizarre entity they'd described on the way here. No blood drops marred the floor, belying the “blood paint” claim.
“Ah, that…!”
Laura pointed to a spot. Heading there, we found a bag sprawled on the floor.
Laura lit up and grabbed it. She struggled to lift it, so I naturally snatched it up for her.
“…Hm.”
Damn, it's heavy. What the hell does she have in here?
As I started to peek inside, Laura panicked and stopped me.
“D-Don't look.”
“…Got it.”
“And… th-thanks for carrying it.”
I nodded lightly and quickened my pace. Soon, the classroom Laura mentioned came into view.
“That one?”
“Yes…”
Laura was shivering again. Seeing her cling to my arm once more, I sighed quietly.
Sure enough, a faint red glow leaked from the classroom. Straining my ears, I could hear muffled voices conversing inside.
“D-Don't go…”
“We have to check, Miss Adelaide.”
“……”
Laura's lips quivered as she released my arm. I approached the classroom slowly—very slowly.
The voices grew clearer as we neared. Professor Esther, Laura, and Sophia—who'd been sticking close behind me—all widened their eyes in unison. We'd reached the open door.
Rattle—!
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Yeah! Just like that… Huh?”
A male student, beaming and pointing at me. The four or five others seated around him froze, staring.
A beat of silence…
“Waaah—!”
“Ghoooost!!!”
“Haa…”
A wave of profound anticlimax washed over me, and I sighed. Amid the screaming students, I spotted Chloe's all-too-familiar face. Professor Esther peeked out from behind me.
“…A guts test?”
Occult Research Club
Guts Test
The blackboard boldly proclaimed: Occult Research Club Guts Test.