CIJRMD l CH 92

Chapter 92

“No, does this even make sense? It’s the Academy. How is that possible?”

What kind of place was the Academy?

It was a space meant for education, a place to learn the rules, norms, and morals of society.

And now, someone so inhumane was coming there as a temporary professor?

“I can’t believe Professor Bob would recommend someone like that.”

There’s a saying that people of the same kind stick together, but the Bob I saw at the exhibition didn’t seem like that kind of person.

He might bow to those with artistic talent or power, but he wasn’t the type to vent his anger or issue strange punishments.

“Better to ignore it than anything else,”

I thought, recalling the subtle attitude he had shown me.

I let out a nervous, disbelieving laugh.

“It’s a problem that it’s even possible. He’s completely insane.”

Fiona shrugged, as if she didn’t understand it either.

“Alright. I don’t really understand it either, but let’s say—just for argument’s sake—that Professor Bob recommended someone like that, and that person gives punishments to students.”

“I said it’s not ‘let’s say,’ it’s true.”

“Then why does it have to be the cemetery?”

Cemetery. What a chilling word.

Just imagining it made my spine tingle and sweat break out on my back.

Besides, it’s the backdrop for countless horror stories—reapers, ghosts, Frankenstein’s monsters, zombies.

Well, of course, the cemetery here was next to the temple, and all the beings were imaginary, so it wasn’t really scary…!

“Also… in the past, people actually dug up graves to study anatomy. And it’s said accidents happen often in such remote places.”

Reality often scares more than imagined horror.

And to send children, students, alone to such a place!

What if an accident happened?!

The temporary professor must be insane.

“And… in this world, cemeteries are incredibly dangerous places…!”

The place where Vasago is summoned in “Raise Your Daughter”.

It’s a cemetery!

“Ho—hopefully Estelle won’t get punished and have to go there…”

My anxiety surged.

Just imagining Estelle going to the cemetery…

“‘You’ll come find me first.’”

The last words he had said to me came to mind.

I bit my lip, unable to contain my unease.

“Don’t worry. I haven’t even heard that Estelle got punished yet, and there’s no way she would. She’s such a capable child.”

“Right…?”

Ha. My heart felt heavy.

Fiona patted my shoulder at my sigh, but even with her comfort, I couldn’t shake off the unease gnawing at me.

Arriving at the cemetery next to the temple, Estelle thought,

‘This is supposed to be scary?’

She had heard that the students who went there were all terrified.

Professor Fessy enjoyed watching them like that.

When she first heard the rumors, she didn’t understand why it was scary.

A cemetery was just a wide area with tombstones and crosses. She thought it was simply a place where few people went.

And even now, arriving at the cemetery, that thought hadn’t changed.

“Just go in, leave the flowers, and come back out.”

Holding a small bouquet in her hands, Estelle muttered to herself.

Perhaps because Professor Fessy sent students to the cemetery so often, the entire school now knew exactly what to do without being told—just place flowers on any tombstone.

Since Estelle knew that, she stopped by a flower shop on her way and bought a small bouquet.

What amazed her was just how many punishments Professor Fessy had given.

The florist, seeing Estelle’s school uniform, wordlessly handed over a small bouquet with a look that said they understood everything.

Estelle chuckled at the memory of receiving the bouquet.

“Hm. I thought I’d go back to the Academy to paint more after the punishment, but I’ll have to go straight home.”

Looking up at the sky, the sun hung low.

It was still bright, but it looked like it would set soon.

‘If I’m too late, Reina will worry.’

She was an Academy student too.

Reina would assume something had happened if she was even slightly late.

“Worrying too much, as usual.”

Of course, it was a good thing.

Thinking of Reina, Estelle smiled gently.

“I should get going before it gets any later.”

She stepped into the cemetery, imagining sitting across from Reina and eating the warm dinner she had prepared.

A short while later, after placing the flowers, Estelle hurried her steps.

“I’m later than I thought.”

She wanted to get home before Reina started worrying, but it looked like she’d be a little late.

‘Of all things, I had to go to the farthest grave from the entrance…’

Entering the cemetery, Estelle had planned to place her bouquet on the closest tombstone and leave immediately.

But contrary to her plan, she had to go deeper into the cemetery.

All the tombstones near the entrance already had flowers on them.

Judging by how fresh they were, they must have been left by students punished before her.

They had been so scared that they left flowers near the entrance and quickly ran off.

‘I can’t even imagine how much they must have wandered, looking for a grave without flowers…’

Turning this corner, maybe the next row…

She must have thought that countless times.

Finally, at the very last row, she found a grave with no name and no flowers.

“If I had known, I would have gone to the deepest part from the start.”

She had wasted time trying to find a nearby spot.

Looking at the sky turning from orange to violet, Estelle muttered,

“Still, once I pass the plaza, it’s a straight path home.”

She just needed to hurry a little.

Increasing her pace, she entered the plaza.

The sun was setting so quickly.

As she reached the center of the plaza, the violet sky darkened.

At that moment,

Dong—dong—dong.

The bell at the center of the plaza rang three times loudly, and a strong gust of wind blew.

“Ugh…!”

The sudden wind hit Estelle.

It whipped her skirt roughly and shoved her shoulder as if trying to knock her over.

It felt alive.

As if it knew exactly how to disorient her and push her off balance, it relentlessly pressed against her.

When the gust didn’t stop even when it should have, Estelle raised her arms to shield her face.

She crouched to maintain her balance and twisted to let the wind pass behind her.

Then the wind gradually weakened, as if a bored child had lost interest.

Finally, it swirled her pink hair and disappeared.

“What… what was that?”

Estelle was bewildered.

The day had been peaceful with no wind.

Yet suddenly, in the middle of an open plaza with nothing around, this gust had come—just at her.

“That’s strange.”

Estelle looked around, wondering if anyone else had experienced the gust.

But strangely, everyone else seemed peaceful. The strange, mysterious wind seemed to have only touched her, making her feel like she was in another world.

No, as if trapped alone behind an invisible, transparent barrier.

“What could it be…?”

Estelle frowned.

Dong—dong—dong.

At that moment, the clocktower in the center rang loudly again.

“I need to focus. This isn’t the time to be distracted.”

Startled out of her thoughts by the deafening bell, Estelle quickly collected herself.

She brushed her hair back and straightened her clothes.

If she returned in a messy state, Reina would surely worry.

Once her clothes were smoothed and her hair tidied, Estelle checked her condition quickly.

Satisfied, she nodded and hurried on her way.