Academy’s PTSD Chaplain

43 – 43. Beasts (8)

The dormitory for the clergy was silent.

No one was walking in the hallway, and it seemed to exude a gloomy atmosphere.

It is true that no one is usually here at this time, but….

“I feel a little uneasy….”

“Yes, indeed.”

It may be because we found out about the truth of the two priests. We quickly headed to the 7th floor where they were staying.

“Father-in-charge, if Father Peter was possessed, wouldn’t it be dangerous for us to go in?”

“The likelihood of a demon who hasn’t fully possessed a medium causing harm to others is very low.”

Right. If he hasn’t fully possessed the medium, that is.

The consultation with Father Camilla had taken place this morning. It was hard to believe that within that short amount of time, Father Peter’s body had been possessed.

Moreover, it was very burdensome for a demon possessing a medium to transfer to another person.

“As it is written in the Bible, the Lord has already conquered the world.”

“That is fortunate…. We just need to quickly retrieve the relics that will help with the exorcism.”

“Yes. However, there is one thing that worries me….”

– Caw. Caw. Caw.

As soon as we set foot on the hallway of the 7th floor, the sound of a crow’s cry echoed three times from somewhere. I instinctively turned to look in the direction where the sound was coming from.

– Caw. Caw. Caww.

On the other side of the hallway on the 7th floor, a pitch-black crow was standing still. I stared at it intently.

A crow with three legs, and a sinister intention hidden in its shining crimson eyes. As it continued to stare at me, I felt my soul being slowly stripped away by them.

The black crow that had been glaring at us for a moment suddenly spread its black wings and flew out of the window in the hallway.

Its black feathers settled on the corridor.

As expected, a family of unpleasant creatures no matter when you face them. They are more than deserving of being called wicked beasts.

“You’re getting defensive.”

“Huh?”

Sophia Busje, who was also watching the crow along with me, asked. She had somehow hidden herself behind me.

Towards her, I delivered the unpleasant news.

“It’s not bowing down to its arrogant pride. To put it simply, it’s a warning to us.”

“W-What kind of warning…?”

“Leave us be.”

Just go away. If you don’t want to get hurt, ignore us. Close your eyes if you see us, cover your ears if you hear us, and bite your tongue if you have to speak.

It’s a method commonly used by exposed demons. They are desperately trying to find the cracks within our hearts.

The most effective way for exposed demons to hinder Guma priests is to make them give up and retreat.

And, that they are trying to hinder us even slightly.

“They have noticed our existence.”

They, noticed our existence.

In other words, they have noticed that we are trying to hinder them.

* * * * *

We stood in front of the entrance door of the dormitory room where Father Bedro stays.

“…The holy lips, the holy words.”

I murmured quietly and slowly brought my ear closer to the entrance door.

“…….”

“W-what’s wrong?”

“It seems like there’s no one inside.”

Even though I listened as carefully as possible, I couldn’t hear any sound coming from inside the room. Instead of feeling relieved, it made me more anxious.

If Father Bedro’s whereabouts were mysterious, it was a problem in itself. I took my head off the entrance door.

“Sophia Busje. The key…”

“Oh, right. Here you go.”

After explaining the situation to the dorm supervisor, I easily received the key to the dorm in my hand. I slowly inserted the key into the keyhole.

– Click.

The lock connected to the key granted us access with a lively sound. Before opening the door, I looked down at Sofia’s subordinate, who was standing right next to me.

Sofia’s subordinate had tension building up on her face. I slowly turned my body and faced her directly.

“Sofia’s subordinate.”

“Yes.”

Sofia’s subordinate looked at me with a tense expression. I placed the edge of the badge hanging from my neck on Sofia’s subordinate’s head and gently covered it with my hand before solemnly opening my mouth.

“Sofia’s subordinate.”

Only then did Sofia’s subordinate seem to understand my intention, and she hastily checked her body. She tidied up her slightly messy hair, straightened her disheveled clothes neatly, and then…

“I, Sofia, the humble servant of the Lord, am here.”

Sofia’s subordinate closed her eyes and bowed her head silently. I slowly drew a cross over her head.

“You may face evil and adversity. However, do not fear even if you confront them. You are a blessed individual.”

“I already know that.”

“If that’s the case, then no matter what, do not be afraid when facing them. Trust in the Lord. Come, O Lord.”

Sofia’s subordinate softly opened her eyes. Her eyes no longer wavered, and a strong foundation made of faith firmly took hold.

Confirming this, I slowly nodded my head and grasped the front door once again.

“…Then, let’s go in.”

Creak…

Contrary to the smoothly rotating latch, the front door slowly opened with a creaking noise.

“Cough! Cough! Ah, what is this…?”

The first thing that greeted us upon opening the door was a stench so sour that it couldn’t be compared to the smell of vinegar. The piercing smell that tickled the nose was the same as what I frequently encountered on the battlefield.

“The smell of rotting corpses.”

“Is this also the influence of demons? Cough! Cough!”

“When demons speak, it smells like decaying flesh. It’s called malodor.”

“Malodor… I see. Cough!”

“At least the stench is less now. The longer the time the body occupies, the more the rottenness of the decaying flesh intensifies, damaging both the body and soul.”

I slowly stepped forward towards the living room. Sofia’s subordinate covered her nose and followed behind me.

I carefully scanned the dormitory, but there was no sign of Priest Peter.

The crosses and Bibles placed throughout the room, along with some theological books, caught my eye. All the crosses were upside down.

The symbol of St. Peter is an inverted cross. However, this doesn’t mean that a cross is placed upside down just because we use St. Peter’s name.

“…Are you insulting the name of the Lord.”

Before we entered this place, Father Peter had already visited here before us. We headed straight to the kitchen.

On the dining table in the kitchen, there were books and Bibles related to theology scattered about, mostly torn or haphazardly opened. I briefly checked the open Bible.

In the open Bible, every verse was written in pen, except for one verse that remained intact. I quietly recited that verse.

“They are rebellious children. Return. I am the angel of light, I will mend your rebellion, I will mend your treachery.”

It was a verse that Satan uses to tempt humans. Disguising himself as an angel of light, he tempts humans towards evil.

I slowly closed the Bible. The leather-bound Bible was tightly shut.

“What does it mean?”

“They are mocking us.”

Sophia muttered, trembling. I took her and hurried out of the kitchen towards the bed in the living room.

Where would Father Peter have placed the relics?

It is unlikely that Father Peter, who has fallen victim to possession, would have taken the relics and fled. Their very existence denies them the ability to come close to the relics.

Since it is rare to find a madman stealing relics, it was highly possible that they were stored in an easily accessible place. I cautiously opened the drawer of the bedside table.

Inside were a small cross, extra rosary beads, a Bible, and a few letters. I trembled, surprised by the date stamped at the bottom of the letters.

“The Holy See….”

Letters marked with the seal of the Pope. It was likely letters exchanged with the Holy See.

By now, the Holy See must have heard about what happened to Father Peter and Father Camilla. Hoping they would provide swift action without hesitation, I quietly pushed the drawer back in.

“Sophia, do you have anything over there?”

“No…. cough! There’s nothing here either. By the way, the smell is unbearable….!”

“Hmm….”

I could endure this level of stench, but looking at the tears welling up in Sophia’s eyes, she seemed to have reached her limit.

Even for the sake of Sophia, who was suffering from the stench, we needed to quickly find the necessary items and leave this place.

“Search through the wardrobe. I will search the kitchen once more.”

“Yes…. cough!”

As Sophia arrogantly opened the wardrobe door, I headed back to the kitchen.

I searched through the cupboards, inspected under pots, and even peered into the refrigerator, but I couldn’t find any relics that would be useful for the exorcism ritual, not even a speck.

“Sophia, there is nothing in the kitchen.”

“It seems like there’s nothing here either….!”

“Hmm….”

We gathered in the living room again and pondered deeply.

Father Peter clearly stated that he and Father Camilla were instructed to exorcise the demon remaining at the Academy.

Performing a kuma (exorcism) is not a matter solved simply with the Bible, rosary, and the Holy Eucharist. Various preparations are necessary, and the more preparations there are, the more they contribute to performing the kuma with certainty and speed.

The point is, if Father Peter’s words are true, these two cannot come to the academy empty-handed.

“Where on earth…”

I chewed on my lip as I glanced around the living room, finding it oddly difficult to tear my gaze away from the bed.

A bed with a sagging mattress. A bed that looked soft. A bed suitable for someone to lie down in…

Wait. Bedding?

I immediately flattened myself on the floor. Seeing me like that, Sophia subdeacon called my name with bewilderment.

“Chief… Chief Priest?”

“Sophia subdeacon, have you checked under the bed?”

“No…? I haven’t looked under the bed yet.”

I promptly propped up the bedding. The deep darkness was harbored within.

“Sophia subdeacon, we need light.”

“Oh, yes! Just a moment…”

Let there be light.

With Sophia subdeacon’s prayer and the warmth of light, a sphere of light appeared above her hand. As Sophia subdeacon stretched out her arm beside me, the darkness under the bed began to retreat.

“…!”

At first, something sparkling in the darkness caught my eye. I reached my hand toward it.

Clank.

As I groped through the darkness, I grabbed something with a hard, wooden texture. I immediately pulled it out.

From Noble mtl dot com

“This is…”

It was a small wooden chest engraved with modest decorations. The latch glinted in the light.

Slowly opening the lid, two items wrapped in cloth became neatly visible. I carefully removed the cloth.

Revealed were a bronze incense burner with hanging iron chains and a sharp pair of daggers. Beside me, Sophia subdeacon, who had been watching, took a sharp breath.

“…I found it.”

It resembled two sharply forged daggers that would drive away beasts.

– Caw. Caw. Caw.

The sound of crows cawing faintly echoed.