Academy’s PTSD Chaplain

42 – 42. Beasts (7)

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied.

“Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”

Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

– Genesis 2:7 ~ Genesis 2:12

* * * * *

“Yes, then…. Understood. I’m counting on you.”

Principal Damian hung up the communication. I anxiously waited for him to speak.

“I’ll be sending you the permission letter from Guma soon.”

Since the Bishop’s Cathedral was not far away, if it was sent now, it would arrive at the academy within two days.

“That’s…!”

Unintentionally, I clenched my fist. I felt relieved that things were resolving more easily than I had expected. The unexpected friendship between Principal Damian and the Diocesan Bishop was a significant factor.

However, Principal Damian’s expression wasn’t very pleasant.

“Why do things like this only happen when I’m the principal…. I need to leave this position as soon as possible, this won’t do.”

“Thank you for your hard work, Principal.”

Principal Damian rubbed his temples and sank into the sofa. He had only exchanged a few minutes of conversation with the Diocesan Bishop, but his face looked unusually wrinkled.

“Gosh…. By the way, there’s a demon at the academy…. That’s a troubling piece of news. Why did the priests from the Holy Kingdom, of all people, get possessed by a ghost? It’s unbelievable…”

“Don’t think like that. They are the ones who have been exposed to that finger the longest.”

“Well, that’s true…. Huh?”

Principal Damian blinked his large eyes. I nodded silently.

“I heard it from Priest Peter.”

“…I shouldn’t have kept this a secret. I should have told you from the beginning.”

“Guma records are meant to be kept strictly confidential. I understand.”

“Mm…. How much do you know?”

I glanced at Sophia before shrugging my shoulders towards Principal Damian.

“I don’t know about Sophia. Just give me a brief explanation.”

“Alright. Um….”

Principal Damian began his explanation. As his explanation continued, Sophia’s eyes gradually widened.

“So, the story of Reverend Giovanni…. It wasn’t just a rumor?!”

“Haha…. Well, at the time, there were so many witnesses. We couldn’t prevent the rumor from spreading.”

“I see….”

“However, the important thing is…. Rumors are just rumors. The most important thing is still there.”

Right. The most important thing is that Reverend Giovanni was possessed by a demon….

“Reverend Giovanni willingly accepted the demon.”

“…What?”

The gaze of Chief Damian and Deputy Sofia turned towards me. I looked at Chief Damian with a puzzled expression.

“That… What on earth are you talking about?”

“Hmm? Haven’t you already heard it from Father Pedro?”

I couldn’t prevent my face from contorting strangely. I recalled the conversation with Father Pedro.

– Father Giovanni, the head priest, was possessed by a demon. He requested support from the Holy See to confront the demon within and, secretly, the Kumasa Order was urgently dispatched from the Vatican.

Was that story false?

As I inquired about it, this time Chief Damian raised an eyebrow, expressing doubt.

“Well… I know it a bit differently. Father Giovanni, the invited head priest from the Chaldean Royal Academy, willingly embraced the demon within himself…”

“….”

“Professor Antonelli? Are you okay?”

A cold sweat ran down my face. Wait, if that’s the case…

Who is telling the truth?

It was certain that the Vatican had dispatched the Kumasa Order. This was a consistent story that almost confirmed its authenticity.

The only problem was the detailed records related to Father Giovanni’s possession.

The Academy claimed that Father Giovanni willingly became a demon, but there was no mention of that in the Vatican’s information provided by Father Pedro.

As I mentioned this fact, Chief Damian narrowed his eyes.

“Perhaps Father Pedro intentionally left that out. A priest willingly embracing a demon would be a dishonorable record, you see.”

“That’s…”

It made sense. Therefore, suspicions grew even more.

The issue related to demons was a serious matter. It was not information to be shared with a head priest with whom we should collaborate. During the Kumaya ceremony, it might become crucial information.

However, Chief Damian lying didn’t make sense. There was no need for him to lie to us, and it contradicted his belief in protecting the Academy.

There were two possibilities. Either Chief Damian’s information was incorrect, or Father Pedro deliberately omitted some details.

And I, I was leaning towards the latter.

“…Father Pedro.”

The whole story surrounding Father Giovanni.

What is it that you are hiding by keeping this information from us?

“First, I understand. Thank you for the valuable information.”

“Don’t mention it. More importantly, please protect our academy. That’s all I ask.”

Chief Damian tightly grasped my hand. In the tone filled with determination, I couldn’t help but nod my head.

“Please trust me.”

* * * * *

“Master Priest, what should we do first?”

Sophia, the assistant, asked innocently. I answered her as I walked towards the dormitory.

“Sophia, before that, I have a question to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“Sophia, have you ever witnessed or participated in a solemn ceremony?”

“Um… No. They didn’t go into much detail at the academy either.”

She raised her head slightly and then smiled brightly.

As if she should have known, the details of the solemn ceremony were not meant to be shared with just anyone. Performing the majestic ceremony was not something anyone could handle.

If one were to perform the ceremony with half-hearted knowledge, it would be nothing short of a disaster. I also wanted to teach my students only the most basic common sense.

I looked at Sophia quietly. Although her bright smile lifted the somewhat gloomy atmosphere and made it lively, it was not suitable for a priest about to participate in the solemn ceremony.

I sighed lightly and spoke.

“The solemn ceremony, or more precisely, the Majestic Solemn Ceremony, is about exorcising the demons that have taken hold of the Bodies of Buma-ja.”

“I know that much.”

“Sophia, the solemn ceremony is not simply about rebuking the suffering demons.”

Sophia’s smile faded slightly. I continued speaking without hesitation.

“Indeed, it is an incredibly arduous task. These demons that reside within the Bodies of Buma-ja find ways to disturb us, to get under our skin, to even evoke sympathy and persuade us to give up. Sometimes, they can even see through the sins committed by the Buma-ja or the priests who perform the solemn ceremony.”

“Is that… really true?”

“Yes. It is.”

Sophia’s expression suddenly turned sour. It’s not that being innocent is bad, but being excessively tense isn’t good either…

After a moment of hesitation, Sophia finally closed her eyes tightly and shouted.

“I, I want to confess my sins!”

“…What? Out of nowhere.”

“Actually… When I served you tea, I took a sip out of boredom… It was so bitter that I spit it out directly into your cup…! I’m sorry!”

I looked at Sophia with a bewildered expression. What kind of confession is this?

“…I am alright, Sophia.”

“Are you really…?”

“Yes. I am.”

Sophia sighed with relief. I found it even more bewildering, but her expression, genuinely letting out a sigh of relief, seemed sincere.

“Anyway, if I continue to explain… we must face a relentless and endless battle with a creature of unparalleled malevolence.”

The solemn Kumaye ceremony could take hours, and in more extensive cases, it might span over years. Of course, the latter scenario was reserved for exceedingly grave circumstances.

In this case, the participants in the Kumaye ceremony, both being priests, suggested that it wouldn’t take too long.

“Nevertheless, there are things we need.”

“What are they?”

“Holy water, holy oil, consecrated incense, and salt.”

“Salt?”

Sophia’s sub-title displayed a slightly skeptical expression. Suddenly, mentioning salt raised questions, as it rightly should.

“Salt has been used as a means to ward off evil since ancient times, and demons are no exception. It helps drive away demons and contributes to the well-being of both body and soul. During the Kumaye ceremony, it is used to protect the sub-title.”

“I see. But where do we get it?”

“Sophia sub-title, salt is readily available in the Academy’s cafeteria.”

Salt was one of the easy-to-obtain items. However, there was a separate issue.

“And where do we get holy water, holy oil, and consecrated incense?”

“That… will be sent by the dean.”

When Dean Damian spoke with the dean, there were several things I specifically requested. Holy water, holy oil, and consecrated incense were among them.

“Well… without complicating things, can’t we just sprinkle holy water and make it run away?”

Sophia’s question was a severely misguided thought. I immediately corrected her.

“Sophia sub-title, holy water is nothing more or less than water consecrated by a priest.”

There is a common misconception widely spread that treats holy water almost like an elixir from a fantasy world.

Those who receive the sacrament from a priest and consecrate water, as well as salt consecrated in the same way, simply call it holy water. Therefore, it’s just saltwater dedicated to the Lord through the genuine prayer of a priest.

It has absolutely no ability to defeat or purify demons on its own. It only gains its utility when invoking the grace of the Lord through sincere prayers toward the Lord, and only then does its purpose come to fruition.

“So, can the chief priest also make holy water?”

“That also requires permission… but, well, yes, it’s possible.”

Sophia sub-title’s eyes began to sparkle. I cleared my throat, avoiding her gaze discreetly.

“Then, the chief priest can make holy water!”

“… That may be possible, but the dean will probably send separately made holy water drawn from the Samadan River.”

St. Peter received baptism in the river of Samadan, so it would be fitting for him to use the name of “Father Peter.” Sofia the Subdeacon nodded as she listened to my words.

“I see…. Oh, oh! Your theological knowledge has increased…! I hope the bishop sends us quickly!”

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“Yes. In the meantime, we have something we need to prepare in our own way.”

As we walked and talked, we found ourselves in front of the dormitory for the clergy. I looked up at the dormitory and murmured.

“Relics….”

Father Peter had clearly said that he came to the academy with Father Camilla to subdue the demons that exist there.

If that’s the case, he must also have relics that will help with the exorcism.

Heading towards the solemn atmosphere of the dormitory, we continued our steps.

The sky was filled with dark clouds, as if it would rain.