EP.223 The Nightmare Has Returned (2)
Holy Grail, a vessel that holds stars.
On my way back from Arcadia, I got a more detailed explanation about the Holy Grail from Cardi.
“The ‘trial’ conducted through the Holy Grail is basically similar to the trial of the stars. You enter an artificially created Otherworld and achieve conditions to proceed with the trial.”
Since I knew a bit about the trial of the stars, it wasn’t hard for me to understand Cardi’s words.
“But the forms of the trials are completely different.”
However, I widened my eyes when he continued explaining. It wasn’t that I couldn’t understand the meaning; I was just puzzled about how that was possible.
“No way, can that actually happen?”
After hearing his entire explanation, I asked him again, and Cardi just shrugged with a truly annoying expression.
“It does happen.”
Bam!
Hearing something I used to say all the time come out of someone else’s mouth wasn’t exactly a delightful experience. Remembering what happened a few days ago, I mumbled with a sigh.
“I really want to smack you…”
“Glad to know you realized that now.”
“You want to get hit?”
When I raised the hand holding the Holy Grail, Kalt flinched, hunching his shoulders. He opened his mouth cautiously while glancing at me.
“So, how exactly does this ‘trial’ proceed? Since it made senpai curious… it must be quite unique.”
“It’s a bit different from the trial of the stars. Similar but not the same.”
I threw a question at Kalt.
“How much do you know about the trial of the stars?”
“…I’ve heard a bit from the Hero Galahal. It’s about breaking through endless swarming beasts to ‘search for’ someone.”
“That’s Galahal for you.”
I nodded absentmindedly. Considering the role he played in the operation I was part of with him, it truly suited him.
“In Kyle’s case, the trial involved cutting down everything that obstructs the path and reaching a certain point.”
“…I see. Perhaps his personality and the goals he possesses are related to the trial of the stars.”
“Right, the trial of the stars provides a certain ‘environment’ for you to achieve the conditions.”
But then, I interjected.
“The trial of the Holy Grail is not about the environment.”
I tilted the Grail.
The platinum liquid sloshed around.
“What the Grail summons is a human.”
Not an environment, but a human.
“What appears in the Otherworld created by the trial of the Holy Grail is a wall, molded into the shape of a human.”
Cardi clearly stated that the Grail does not summon an environment; it summons a human.
“I haven’t reached the miracle of creating ‘nothing’ like the stars. What I can do is ‘reproduce’ using the user’s memories.”
Creation, not reproduction.
“After struggling to reach the wall, when faced with the overwhelming powerhouse… the soul of someone who has felt the wall would inherently carve out the form of the ‘powerhouse’ in their mind.”
The ideal they envision in their minds.
The ultimate destination they wish to reach.
Cardi said that these influenced the form of the wall.
“The Grail materializes that.”
“The starlight contains a faint record of all living beings that have inhabited this world. It materializes that faint record through the memories of the user of the Grail.”
‘Frankly, it sounds impossible.’
Even recalling the explanation now makes me chuckle in disbelief.
‘It’s an impossible realm.’
I have no idea what process or harmony made such a thing possible; it’s something only Cardi could do, made possible because the First Saint existed before.
“In that isolated space, it temporarily summons the person that has been materialized. Facing that person and achieving conditions that satisfy oneself is the trial of the Holy Grail.”
That was the extent of Cardi’s explanation. I managed to convey what I understood to Kalt. With the sensation of my tongue getting tangled in the process, it seemed there were several hidden pieces of information.
“Anyway.”
I shook the Grail and concluded my statement.
“What’s certain is that the Grail brings forth the person closest to the goal you aim for.”
“…Hmm.”
Kalt, who had been listening to the explanation, fell silent for a moment.
After a brief silence, he smiled knowingly. After thinking deeply, it seems one name only came to mind.
“In that case, I suppose only one person will be summoned.”
The figure Kalt admired.
The one he longed for and wanted to emulate.
I knew the name of that person too.
“The Sword Master Kuntel.”
To me, he was more familiar as Uncle Kuntel.
“That sounds tough.”
“It does.”
Kalt sighed.
“The last time, I had to risk my life facing him when he was weakened in the city of night. And if I were to summon him at the last moment I remember….”
Kalt recalled.
The last appearance of Uncle Kuntel that I knew.
“So—”
Kalt said.
“If he appears just as he did when he faced Death’s Blade… I can guarantee my head will be flying with just one swing. Seriously.”
I agreed with that.
At the last moment, Uncle Kuntel I saw while fleeing was on par with Death’s Blade. The level he reached after dedicating his life to the sword was surely something that could contend with a disaster.
‘Kalt would withstand against Uncle Kuntel from that time?’
It seemed outright impossible.
It would be a miracle if he managed to stay alive even for a moment, let alone meeting the conditions.
“Then you know what.”
So I said.
“Let’s just go and try dying once.”
“…Huh?”
Kalt’s eyes widened.
“When you said it was time to go, you really meant to the underworld? Senpai, your foreshadowing skills are something else….”
“No, just hear me out.”
Thud!
I smacked Kalt on the head again with the Grail.
“In the trial of the Holy Grail, you won’t die. You can keep challenging until your soul grows weary. They say you can attempt it about three times if you endure well enough.”
“Only three opportunities?”
“Even if you fail, it seems you can attempt it again, with about a year in between.”
A weary soul can always try again.
Cardi measured that period to roughly a year.
“So, do you want to give it a try?”
I shook the Grail in front of Kalt.
“I also want to see how it works. Should we do it right away?”
“…Now? Here?”
“Why not? Shall we go outside?”
“No, wait a moment. I need to prepare my mind.”
Kalt groaned.
“Let’s attempt it in three days.”
It wasn’t a hard request, so I nodded. I had things to do as well, so waiting three days would be fine.
“Then, three days later?”
“Yes, three days later…”
Just as I was about to leave Kalt’s office.
“By the way, senpai.”
Kalt called me back.
I turned around, tilting my head.
“You seem to be in a good mood today?”
“…Really?”
I thought about it; since I actually felt good, it made sense I could appear that way. I shrugged in response.
“It’s the day I’m returning from vacation.”
“…Why would you be in a good mood on returning from vacation?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
I smiled brightly.
“I couldn’t sleep a wink last night, thinking about meeting the students again. I spent the whole night making this.”
It had been a long time since I pulled an all-nighter.
But I wasn’t tired. Just imagining the students’ reactions when they received this was enough to wake me up completely.
“Ah, I understand…”
Kalt looked at me with a peculiar gaze as I hummed a tune, leaving his office.
2.
“Peace has come to Apuria.”
Students often express the past month like that. In retrospect, it truly was a peaceful time.
‘No more sleepless nights!’
There were no nightmares visiting every night.
I didn’t have to suffer through excessive assignments, nor did I need to bleed from my nose staying up until sunrise. I could sleep as soon as the sun set and wake up with it—enjoying a healthy routine.
Other professors assigned plenty of homework.
There were a lot, but they didn’t pose any issue to students who were sick of nightmares.
It was just one professor who took a vacation, and suddenly, life felt comfortable for students. They began praising the professor who had driven away their nightmares, shedding tears at that revelation.
“Professor Lrutia is the best professor.”
The professor who replaced Apuria’s nightmares.
Not only was the quality of her classes perfect, but her personality was also nearly flawless. The amount of homework was minimal, and the few tasks could usually be completed during class time.
No homework,
easy-to-understand classes,
and even if you lost track, you could catch up by the essential sentences jotted on the board.
Every class offered enlightenment, a truly perfect learning experience. So students ended up enjoying a dream-like month.
“…This is the last part I wanted to convey.”
And now it was time to wake from that dream.
On the final day of the promised month, Professor Lrutia knocked on the blackboard twice from the podium.
“I hope my lectures helped you throughout this month. It was rather enjoyable to teach someone after so long. I wish for it to remain a fond memory for you.”
Students nodded their heads in agreement.
Some applauded, while others pressed handkerchiefs to their eyes, swallowing tears.
Ding, dang!
The bell rang to announce the end of the class… and Professor Lrutia let out a short breath. Then, students began gathering around the podium one by one.
“Uh, Professor Lrutia.”
“We have a gift we prepared…”
“And we organized a farewell party…”
Looking at the makeshift gift prepared by the students, Professor Lrutia smiled faintly. Since he normally kept his emotional expressions to a minimum, his smile carried far more significance to the students.
“Thank you. I shall cherish it.”
The student who gave the gift looked as if he might even cry.
Amidst everyone’s applause, just as Professor Lrutia was preparing to step down from the podium…
Creak, bang!
The door to the classroom swung open.
Both the gathered students and Professor Lrutia froze and stared at the unexpectedly open door. Someone was standing in the doorway.
Rustle!
The ashen-haired woman’s hair fluttered in the breeze.
‘Rania van Trias.’
The one known as Apuria’s nightmare stepped forward, brushing aside her flowing hair.
“Thank you all for your hard work this month, Professor Lrutia.”
With a soft voice, she turned her gaze towards the students gathered around Lrutia.
“And, nice to see you all. It has been a while.”
As expected, her voice remained smooth.
Yet, beneath that softness lay a chilling undertone that sent shivers through several students. Sitting in the front, Lac started to hiccup, and next to him, Belnoa wiped a hand across his eyes.
“Truly, it has been a while.”
There was a hint of unexplainable sadness in her voice.
But it didn’t show on her face. Perhaps enjoying her vacation, her face appeared even smoother than before, the nightmare of Apuria was smiling brightly.
“I plan to begin classes tomorrow, so please check the academic bulletin today.”
…The academic bulletin?
Leaving a heavy sense of unease among the students, she gave a slight nod.
“Well then, I shall see you tomorrow. I hope you all enjoy the farewell party.”
I wonder where she heard the news about the farewell party; Rania emphasized the word ‘farewell’ as she took a step back.
Tap, tap.
And then she simply walked down the hallway and disappeared.
It wasn’t until the echo of her heels faded that one student murmured. His voice resonated low within the classroom.
“…She’s back.”
What indeed has returned?
“The nightmare has returned.”
A single line prompted an echo in the students’ minds.
There was no need to ask who the nightmare referred to.
It was the moment the curtain descended on their beautiful youth.
Author’s Note
To regret and to obsess, but let the despair be the students’ share.
