Chapter 74: Good Healer (2) |
*
Immediately after our conversation, my Teacher's reaction was a bit strange.
He seemed subtly wary of me.
“Hmm… Do you plan on disclosing that Academic Paper to the public?”
“Of course not. I plan to get a First-Class Judgment first.”
It's easy to overlook, but magic encompasses everything from the nature of pure science to that of a military weapon.
There's no way such magic would be indiscriminately disclosed to the public.
That's why a system exists where all magic theses voluntarily undergo a rank evaluation by the Ethics Committee before submission.
“I intend to aim for a high Security Rank. The potential for Misuse is just too great.”
And while I'm at it, it will also explain what treatments are needed to prevent this.
However, the potential for Misuse by Black Sorcerers was substantial, so I needed to be careful about the Security Rank.
“I see. If it’s you… I'm sure you'll handle it well.”
My Teacher agreed, though somewhat reluctantly.
His inexplicable, subtle wariness towards me was an added bonus.
“So when do you think the Academic Paper will be finished? I suppose it'll be difficult to have it ready for this Olympiad?”
“There isn't even a month left. Even for me, that's impossible.”
Even a paper-producing factory couldn't churn out a paper in a month.
Besides, the scope of my paper is planned to be throughout the empire.
Even mobilizing the trading company's power, it would likely take a good two years.
“There's no need to rush. It will take a long time for His Highness Edmund to create the Department.”
“Indeed. That Greenhorn has more than a few mountains to climb. I'll persuade the Magic Academia, but he'll have to handle the House of Nobles and the Order.”
My Teacher rubbed his Jaw and nodded.
“Good. Then in the meantime, I'll have a talk with your Senior Brothers and Sisters. There are some among them who shudder at the mere mention of black magic.”
“Thank you, Teacher.”
With that, my business for the day was finished.
Afterward, my Teacher and I exchanged Recent News, and after a few trivial Q&As.
I rose from my seat and grabbed my Overcoat.
“Hah… You've grown quite tall. It feels like just yesterday you only came up to my Solar Plexus.”
“I'm 18 years old now.”
“Right. You're an adult now. Have I lived too long? Sometimes even a 20-year-old looks like a baby to me.”
By my Teacher's standards, I suppose that could be true.
“Speaking of which, how much have you prepared for the Donation to this year's Olympiad?”
Ever since I first started making Donations to the Academic Conference in my Teacher's name.
Ever since, our trading company has been consistently donating to the Academic Society every year.
My Teacher was pleased, saying his Research had become more prosperous.
“Ah, this year's amount has increased a little compared to usual.”
“Because of that medicine?”
“Yes. It’s thanks to that medicine.”
The Miraculous Blue Potion.
Thanks to that medicine, the Merkur Trading Company is experiencing an unprecedented Great Boom.
Accordingly, the various Donations and Welfare programs under the company's name were scheduled to increase.
“This year's Donation is… this much.”
I happened to have the Donation Certificate Document, so I held it out to my Teacher.
My Teacher stared at the paper for a while, speechless.
“…I think there’s an extra zero here? Is this a mistake?”
“Didn't I tell you? It's a Heart Medicine I made to earn money. Of course, I didn't know it would turn out this way.”
“…”
For a long while, my Teacher couldn't take his eyes off that Document.
*
After finishing my conversation with my Teacher, I returned to the Mansion.
As I entered the Entrance, the Head Butler was waiting.
“Young Master. You've returned.”
“Yes. Please inform the Kitchen that I'll be a bit late for Dinner today.”
“Understood. And Young Master, a Letter arrived while you were out.”
The Head Butler presented a Silver tray.
A single Letter lay on the Tray.
'A Scholarship Student.'
I wonder who.
It wouldn't be Kal, Eli, or Valeria, since I'm scheduled to meet them tomorrow.
The other Scholarship Students sent letters with their Regards just the other day.
It seemed to have been sent by one of them.
I took the Letter from the Tray and headed to my room.
As I untied the shabby string, a single Dried Flower fell from the Envelope.
The moment I saw it, I knew who had sent it.
'Ayla, I see.'
Ayla.
Valeria's Younger Sister.
A Scholarship Student currently enrolled in the Seminary's High School Division, who dreams of becoming a Healing priest out of Admiration for her mother.
For reference, she's a Same-age peer as Freya.
'Looks like she made a Sunflower bloom again this year.'
Ayla always sent this flower along with her letters.
I told her I was grateful, and she kept sending them.
Thanks to her, a pile of Sunflowers sent by this child was stacked in a corner of my Desk.
I added one more Sunflower to the pile and unfolded the Letter.
Round, bubbly handwriting. It was unmistakably Ayla's.
— Director, hello! It's me, Ayla.
— First, I wanted to say thank you so, so much for saving my sister.
— To be honest, I was so scared when I heard the News, but I can't tell you how relieved I was to hear that you, Director, had safely rescued my sister from the evil Black Sorcerers.
— I'm so sorry that the only gift I can give you right now is this Sunflower, grown and dried in the Trading Company's greenhouse.
It seems she sent the letter because of Valeria's issue.
'We're going to meet tomorrow anyway.'
The Scholarship Students are currently recuperating in the Safe House provided by the trading company.
Not only the Scholarship Students but also their families have moved their residence there.
Ayla, too, would be with her sister Valeria by now.
I already sent a Notification that I would be making a Sick Visit starting tomorrow, so she wouldn't be unaware of that fact.
It was endearing that she sent a letter like this even knowing that.
I continued reading the letter.
— And Director, something incredible happened to me. I—I've awakened my Divine Power!
— While staying at the Safe House the company provided, my sister was struggling with constant Nightmares. So I held her hand all night and prayed… and suddenly, a warm light burst from my hand!
The Writing in the letter was noticeably shaky in the middle.
It seemed her hand was trembling with excitement.
And I, just as excited as the child, almost let out a cry of elation.
'So she's finally awakened her Divine Power.'
There had been an Indication of it from the beginning.
Growing a Sunflower in a place without a speck of Sunlight.
That's not something just anyone can do.
Without even needing to bring up Genre Tropes, this is a Healing Priest Selection Method that has spread by word of mouth in this world.
Being unusually followed by Small Animals, or not getting sick often since childhood.
The more outstanding a Healing priest's Talent, the more likely they are to have one of these small, trivial Peculiarities.
— Now, if I just pass my High School Division Final Exams and graduate, I think I can enter the Department of Healing Arts right away at age 20!
— My mother is making an even bigger fuss than I am. She awakened late, so she matriculated at the Department of Healing late. I heard she had a really hard time because of the Class Year difference among her young Peers, so she says it's a Huge Relief that I awakened early.
Priests can be largely divided into two types.
The Regular Priests we know.
These are ordinary people who purely serve the gods.
It's the path most Theology Students take after graduating from the Seminary.
And then there are Healing priests.
Priests from among the Regular Priests who have awakened Divine Power and wield Divine Magic.
Students on the priestly path who awaken Divine Power can Transfer to this path.
Among them are Older Students, like Ayla's Mother (Formal) mentioned in the letter, who awaken their Divine Power late.
Fortunately, Ayla's awakening wasn't late, so it seemed there was no need to worry about that.
— To be honest, I don't really know why my Divine Power suddenly appeared. Even the professors in the theology department didn't tell us the conditions for awakening Divine Power.
— Director, do you happen to know why?
I don't know that part either.
Not just me, even my Teacher doesn't know.
The conditions for awakening Divine Power are still unknown.
Seeing as most Regular Priests awaken it, you'd think Faith would be the condition,
but then again, there are cases of old people or even babies who've never prayed in their lives awakening it, so that doesn't seem to be it.
If you ask whether Altruistic or Sacrificial people awaken it, the Cross-section of humanity among Healing priests is no different from the general public.
It's already been revealed that it has no connection to Good Deeds or Evil Deeds.
Opinions are still divided in many ways regarding the conditions for awakening Divine Power.
However, that wasn't the important part right now.
— I can help people now!!
— I can only use Refresh for now, but people are really happy when I use it on them when they're tired!
— Just like my mother, just like you, Director, I'll definitely become a Healer who cures sick people!
— Director, thank you so much. If you hadn't saved my sister, I wouldn't have been able to awaken either.
— I'll Refresh you myself when we meet next time! It's a promise!
— Sincerely, Ayla
The important thing right now is that the child I was Buying Low on has awakened her Divine Power.
And what's more important is that she's a child with the potential to become a Saintess.
'If this goes well, we might see another Saintess added to the Current Generation.'
Just as there can be multiple Heroes, there can be multiple Saintesses or Saints in one generation.
Of course, not just anyone can become a Saintess.
One must prove they have the overwhelming Great achievements and Potential to match.
But I wasn't worried about that part.
Ayla had already been showing prominence since her days at the Seminary.
With just a small push from me, she will perform like a Sailing Ship that has caught a fair wind.
In that case, there's only one thing for me to do.
'I'll just put my name next to Ayla's, as usual.'
What's the reason Yulian became famous for black magic and solving Unsolved cases?
It's all thanks to the Title of being Charlotte's Rival.
After my first meeting with Charlotte.
No matter what Incident she solves, she's promoting my name along with hers.
— “This would have been a simpler problem to solve if Young Master Nihilrit had been here.”
— “This is knowledge that Young Master Nihilrit taught me.”
Thanks to that, my Fame has been rising on its own even while I just do Research at home.
Then, if I occasionally follow my father to his workplace and prove myself just once, people automatically treat me as a genius on par with Charlotte.
The fact that no one doubts the News that I played a great part in this Black Sorcerer Kidnapping incident is also thanks to such performances.
So, I was planning to freeload off Ayla in a similar way.
'The Teacher who taught Ayla the Mindset and Fundamentals of a Healer.'
I plan to milk that one fact for all it's worth.
Then, the more Ayla performs, the higher Director Schun's Fame will become.
'Ayla is seventeen years old, isn't she?'
Seventeen years old.
A year late from the period when nobles are actively making a name for themselves following their parents.
Usually, renowned Healing priests make a name for themselves with the help of a Prestigious Family or their parents before this age.
However, Ayla's mother has just been promoted to Intermediate Priest.
It would be difficult for her to arrange a good Stage for Ayla to make a name for herself.
So,
'I'll have to help.'
Just like I did for the other Scholarship Students.
Having her experience it through an Internship concept didn't seem like a bad idea.
It wasn't a difficult task.
In my Previous life, my job was to teach several Resident Doctors while also doing research and performing surgeries.
Turning one person into a proper Doctor… no, a Healer, isn't a difficult task at all.
'When I see Ayla's Mother (Formal) at Valeria's Sick Visit tomorrow, I should talk to her and take Ayla with me.'
Her Mother (Formal) will surely be pleased.
