Chapter 75: Good Healer (3) |
*
The next day.
I put on the Crow Mask for the first time in a while and visited the Trading Company Dormitory alone.
The Upper District of Civitas Square.
It was a high-end dormitory provided by the Merkur Trading Company for its Chief Researchers and their families.
It was currently being used as a Temporary Residence for the Scholarship Students.
I entered the four-story stone building.
High ceilings, wide windows, a well-managed interior.
It wasn't on the level of the Mansion on Sanctum Hill, but it was an environment incomparable to the Clinic in Limbus Pit.
I had told Freya to come separately this afternoon.
─ "Aren't you going, Older Brother?"
─ "I'll go first in the morning as Director Schun. You can go in the afternoon as Yulian's younger sister, Freya."
─ "Alright, Older Brother."
Director Schun and Yulian Nihilrit had to be different people.
So I decided to avoid situations where we moved together as much as possible.
'Now that I've decided to separate my Social status, I can't be careless.'
I walked down the corridor and arrived in front of the designated Room.
I knocked on the door.
Knock, knock.
"This is Director Schun."
I heard the sound of footsteps from inside.
It felt too hurried to be Valeria's footsteps.
It was probably the Mother.
'Come to think of it, is this my first time meeting the mother in person?'
As I was thinking that, the door opened.
I saw a woman in Black Priest's Robes, neat but looking weary somehow.
The moment my eyes met hers from under the shadow of my Fedora, my body froze.
'...It's that person, isn't it?'
She was the Priest who had assisted me on the day I treated Freya's Demon Disease.
I had forgotten all about it after hearing that Father had taken measures to ensure silence about that day.
I never dreamed that the Connection would continue like this.
'It's a small world.'
To think that the Priest I had met that day turned out to be the Parent of a Scholarship Student.
It seemed I wasn't the only one who was surprised.
She was staring intently at my face, which was hidden in the shadow of my Fedora.
"D-Director Schun. Please come in."
"Excuse me, Ma'am."
A hint of fear towards me was evident in her voice.
I understood.
I didn't know about other professions, but among Healers, Director Schun's Status was by no means low.
Moreover, I was the Scholarship Officer for her two daughters, so it was only natural for her to be this tense.
"As I mentioned beforehand, I came for a Sick Visit. Would it be possible to speak with Valeria now?"
"Yes, it is, Director."
The stiffly frozen Mother looked at me and asked.
"P-Perhaps, have we met before?"
For a moment, my heart sank.
But I feigned composure and answered naturally.
"What a coincidence. Perhaps because I've heard so much about you from Valeria and Ayla, I feel like this isn't our first time meeting. Have the two children perhaps talked about me to you a lot?"
"Hmm... Is that so?"
'As I thought, Perception Disruption can't do anything about Déjà vu.'
Perception Disruption is a magic that prevents one from clearly perceiving the target's Facial features.
It's best understood as magic that hinders connecting a voice, physique, or manner of speech to someone.
In this case, the magic only prevents one from reaching the certainty that 'Yulian = Director Schun'; it doesn't completely block the Déjà vu.
That's because it's in the realm of Intuition, rather than perception.
It was a part that even magic still had difficulty with.
'Well, it won't matter as long as I don't take off my hat right in front of her.'
But that Déjà vu ultimately cannot lead to certainty.
Not unless I reveal my identity right in front of her or get exposed by some definite Clue.
So there was no need for me to get anxious and reinforce her suspicion.
"Since it's right after a major incident, I'm worried about Miss Valeria's condition. Before I meet her, may I ask about her condition?"
"Thank you for your concern, D-Director Schun."
Fortunately, the Mother's suspicion did not deepen.
Her worry for her daughter had quickly overshadowed her suspicion.
"V-Valeria is fine. She's a little tired, but she doesn't seem any different from usual."
"Is she perhaps spacing out alone, or not sleeping well?"
"Not at all. On the contrary, she says she has to study harder while school is out, and she won't close her books even when I tell her to stop. I'm worried, so could you please have a word with her, Director?"
"I understand."
Following the Priestess's guidance, I entered Valeria's room.
Inside the room with the curtains half-drawn, Valeria was sitting at a desk next to her bed with a Textbook open.
She was studying, just as her mother had said.
When I entered, she closed the book and straightened her posture.
"Director. Good day."
"How are you feeling, Student Valeria?"
"I'm fine. I wasn't particularly hurt."
Valeria answered, neatly tying up her disheveled hair.
"I'd like to check your condition for a moment, if that's alright."
"Yes, that's fine."
I checked Valeria's pulse and asked various other questions.
Whether she was sleeping well, whether she kept remembering what happened that day.
After checking several things, Valeria seemed to have no particular problems.
"I've been a little tired since that day."
"That is a normal reaction that appears right after coming out of a state of extreme tension. If you rest well and sleep well here, you'll get better soon."
"Thank you, Director. For saving me that day, and for providing a place like this."
"However."
I pointed to the book Valeria had closed.
"May I ask why you are studying so hard?"
Valeria hesitated for a moment, then opened her mouth again.
"Actually, that day... when you saved me, Director, I realized. That if I don't achieve success, I won't be able to protect myself, nor Ayla and Mother."
"So that's why you were studying this."
The book she was reading was a Hero Department first-year Major—a Magical Beast Studies Textbook.
As I recalled, Valeria was scheduled to attend up to the High School Division and then work as an Accountant at our trading company.
Was it because of the Historical setting?
The accountant course was learned during the High School Division, and the transition to Practical Affairs was faster than I thought.
But she had changed her path because of this incident.
'It's certainly easier to achieve Success in the Hero Department.'
Other departments had a strong character of inheriting the family business.
The fastest way for a commoner with nothing to advance to the nobility was to apply to be a Hero and accumulate Military exploits.
Many New Noble Families were born that way.
It seemed Erika was aiming for this as well.
"The Hero Department. I never imagined Student Valeria would do this."
"I'm sorry, Director. Of course, I haven't forgotten my promise to the trading company. I'll naturally work as an Accountant at the company. But I'll attend school during the day, and at the company at night..."
"There's no need for that."
"Pardon?"
"I will arrange that part, so please focus only on your Studies, Student Valeria."
Doing both would mean succeeding at neither.
When one studies, one must focus solely on studying.
It was the same when I was in Medical school.
Medical school Tuition was just so expensive.
Private university tuition was expensive enough to break a family's back.
So a few of my friends diligently balanced Part-time jobs with their studies to cover their Tuition.
It was so heartbreaking to see them.
That's why one of the items on my Bucket list was to make a Donation for Scholarships so that friends like them could study without worry.
Though I died from overwork before I could start making real money.
"I would like to see Student Valeria shine as a Hero as well. Since you're good at Calculation, you could also become a great Mage."
Valeria stared at me blankly.
Valeria stared at me blankly for a while, then finally, cautiously, spoke.
"...Director, why are you being so good to us?"
"It's an adult's responsibility."
"Responsibility?"
"I believe that once you start showing Goodwill, you shouldn't take the responsibility that arises from that goodwill lightly."
Giving the Scholarship was my choice.
I had been lighthearted about it at the time.
But because of that choice, the children came under Director Schun's name.
But as a result, the children were exposed to danger.
That's why I want to take responsibility.
Now that I know the Board of Inspection won't protect their secret.
I wanted to help the students navigate this harsh world on their own.
'To back out now saying I don't know... is just too uncool.'
A Protagonist shouldn't be ashamed in front of anyone.
It's a Conviction I've established since my Possession of the protagonist.
— "If they are so precious to you, you must at least raise them until they can protect themselves."
This must have been what my Teacher meant when he said that.
"So, Student Valeria, don't worry and focus on your Studies. Instead."
"..."
"You must take care of your health. You have to study when it's actually going into your head. Now is the time to rest."
"...Thank you."
"Then I'll talk about the rest with your mother, so you should rest, Student Valeria."
Valeria bowed her head deeply.
I nodded in satisfaction and stood up from my seat.
"Ah, I told Young Lady Freya about this place. She will come in the afternoon."
"The Head of the Disciplinary Committee? Do you two perhaps know each other?"
"The Nihilrit Family are grateful people who invested in the trading company even before I made Quinine. They are now a Major shareholder of our company, and that Connection continues to this day."
"Ah... No wonder the Head of the Disciplinary Committee has such generous Spending habits..."
"Then please rest until the Young Lady arrives."
Leaving the convinced Valeria behind, I left the room.
***
When I came out to the Living room,
the Priestess had prepared tea on the Dining table.
Ayla was sitting next to the Priestess.
Ayla smiled brightly at me like a Sunflower.
"Director! Did you see my Letter?"
"I saw it, Student Ayla. Thank you always for the Sunflower."
"Hehe. I'll grow an even prettier one for you next time!"
I felt a sense of Healing just by seeing her smile.
Is this how men who get smitten by a Romance Fantasy Female Lead feel?
Perhaps because it's a harsh world.
Such a pure smile was particularly charming.
Of course, I mean charming from a Faith in Humanity perspective, not as a member of the opposite sex.
I sat down opposite Ayla and the Priestess.
I took the Teacup, had a sip, and brought up today's Main Point.
"Ma'am, I would like to make you a Proposal."
"...Yes. What proposal might that be, Director?"
"I heard that Student Ayla has had an Awakening of Divine Power."
"..."
"So I would like to take this student as my Disciple."
Today's visit was for a Sick Visit, but also to officially take Ayla as my Disciple.
The Priestess's eyes widened.
Her Pupils trembled as if an earthquake had struck.
Then, the Priestess suddenly bowed her head deeply.
She stared at her teacup in silence for a while.
Finally, she opened her mouth.
"To be frank... I want to refuse. My Eldest daughter was already attacked just for being a Scholarship Student. If she becomes a Disciple... won't she be in even more danger?"
I didn't argue.
This woman's fear was natural.
Becoming the Target of a Black Sorcerer was a heavy Burden even for a noble.
Let alone for an Ordinary citizen like the Priestess.
"Director. I was just an ordinary mother who wanted her daughters to live quietly and safely. But big secrets keep popping up around us. Honestly, I don't want to handle what would happen if I accept that Proposal."
The Priestess's hand gripping the teacup tightened.
"However."
The Priestess took a breath.
"I've seen how you've treated Valeria and Ayla until now."
The Priestess looked at me.
"You wish for these children to be able to protect themselves, don't you?"
"Yes, that's right."
"In that case..."
The Priestess looked at Ayla.
"I will leave it to Ayla's choice."
"..."
"As a mother, I don't want to block my child's dream."
The Priestess squeezed her Younger daughter's hand.
"Ayla. What do you want to do?"
"Mom..."
"Don't think about Mom."
The Priestess forced a smile.
"It's okay. Mom is a proper Intermediate Priest now, you know. I really want Ayla to do what she wants."
Ayla bowed her head for a moment and thought.
It was not a short silence.
And when she raised her head, the little girl spoke with a bold voice.
"Mom."
"Yes."
"I still want to be a Healer like you and Director Schun."
It was a statement with many meanings.
Seventeen years old.
The weight of the words from a child who now knew a bit about the world was by no means light.
"I want to become an Excellent Healer, so I can treat my older sister, and Mom... and sick people myself."
The Priestess closed her eyes.
Perhaps, as a mother, she knew better than anyone that she couldn't confine her daughter's Talent to the life of an Ordinary citizen.
No.
As a Priest, she would have also known the meaning behind making a Sunflower bloom.
It was just that she had been quietly putting it aside before meeting me, blocked by the realistic walls of Tuition and finding a Teacher.
"...Alright."
The Priestess opened her eyes and looked at her daughter.
Then she turned her gaze to me and said.
"I entrust my younger child to you."
"Yes. I will definitely make Student Ayla a Healer who will surpass me."
The Mother gave a Bitter smile upon hearing those words.
It seems she doesn't believe me.
But I wasn't just saying it.
'In the end, this child will surpass me someday.'
Many professors were like that.
Just as a Martial Arts World's Sect Leader wants their disciple to surpass them and bring Honor to the Sect,
Just as a Prestigious Family's nobles want their children to inherit their Arcane Magic and bring glory to the family,
The Final goal of such people is always for their Disciple to stand on their shoulders.
I am no Exception.
Just dreaming of a Future where my Disciple inherits my Teachings and advances Medicine is exciting.
"I promise you, Mother. Student Ayla will definitely surpass me."
I don't have Divine Power.
Ayla has Divine Power.
Modern Medicine cannot make a severed arm grow back.
Divine Magic has the Technique to sever and fix an arm.
The High point is incomparable.
"So please believe in Ayla, Ma'am."
At those words, the Priestess also nodded with a resolute expression.
*
After the Parent-teacher conference was over, and Ayla returned to her sister's room.
Only the Priestess and I were left at the Dining table.
The Priestess replaced the cold tea with fresh tea and carefully opened her mouth.
"Director. May I ask just one more thing?"
"Yes, please do."
"...May I ask... why we must hide Young Master Yulian's secret?"
It was a bit surprising.
I didn't expect that question to come up.
Even less that she would ask it so directly.
Of course, I was surprised in a good way.
I felt like I knew from whom Valeria and Ayla had learned their Uprightness and Honesty.
'Now that we're in the same boat, there's no reason I can't tell her.'
Knowing the reason would probably provide Motivation as well.
I chose my words for a moment, then opened my mouth.
"The Young Master's Treatment Method for the Demon Disease is still incomplete. If it's carelessly disclosed in this state, the confusion will grow."
"Pardon?"
"Religious Circles and the nobles won't stand by either. But I'm personally concerned that Black Magicians will Misuse it."
The Research presentation itself can be disclosed.
I can disclose it as Director Schun, not Yulian.
Director Schun can now somehow withstand that level of attention.
But this research has a high potential for Misuse.
"If Incomplete information gets out, people who use it to deceive others under the guise of treating the Demon Disease may appear. They could sell Fake cures, or gather people in the name of treatment and use them as Sacrifices for black magic."
That's why I'm asking for secrecy.
If it were to be revealed rashly, it's obvious all sorts of Pseudo-religions would run rampant.
Rather than creating numerous misfortunes with incomplete research, I thought it was better to be certain and then announce it.
"It is for the Young Master's Safety/Well-being, but this is something that you, I, and the world need to keep well. The Arrows of Criticism could be directed at us."
The Priestess's complexion became noticeably pale.
The surface of the tea in her cup trembled as if in an earthquake.
Finally, she managed to speak.
"...Director."
"Yes."
"Actually, my stomach has been hurting a bit lately..."
She added a few more symptoms.
"...Could it be a serious illness?"
"Do you have Acid reflux?"
"Yes..."
"Does it get worse at night?"
"Yes."
"It's Stress-induced gastritis."
Oh, dear.
It seems adding another secret on top of a secret has made it worse.
Even I would probably react like that if the President of the United States suddenly slid into my DMs with the nuclear launch codes.
"I will send you some food that is good for the stomach."
"Thank you, Director."
Somehow, the protagonist of this Misunderstanding Genre is me.
But it seemed the Mother had taken the entire Ordinary citizen Persona.
I felt sorry and thought I needed to take better care of her.
***
A few days later.
"I'm off!"
The day of her appointment with Director Schun had arrived.
With a fluttering heart, Ayla boarded the Cable Car from Civitas Square to Limbus Pit.
A new scenery unfolded as she descended.
The very bottom of the city, surrounded by a high Brass Wall.
The place where the Magi Smog settled most thickly.
A place her mother and other adults had warned her not to even go near.
But to the girl who saw the world without prejudice, even this Gutter appeared to be a wondrous and beautiful place.
'Woaaah...'
On the way down from Civitas Square to Limbus Pit.
There was a signboard that particularly caught her eye.
<Civitas 3-Sector — Merkur Cooperative Clinic>
<Civitas 7-Sector — Merkur Cooperative Clinic>
<Limbus Pit E-Sector — Merkur Cooperative Clinic>
Starting from Civitas down to Limbus Pit.
Clinics like these were lined up all over the Capital.
They were all operated by the Merkur Trading Company.
They conduct Clinical trials for the New Medicines developed by the trading company here, and provide medicine at a fraction of the price of a General Infirmary.
She heard they even gave out medicine for free to those without money.
'Director Schun made all of this.'
That one person's Influence could be this great.
Each and every clinic was established in Director Schun's name.
The Vaccine, Quinine, and Viagra. All the medicines he made were on the shelves of these clinics.
As Ayla walked, she thought of her friends from the Seminary.
'Serin and Lena also said they wanted to get a job at the trading company later.'
Among the Theology Students who had their Awakening of Divine Power early at the Seminary, the position of Exclusive Healer at the Merkur Trading Company was a very popular career path.
Originally, there was a Limit to the amount of Divine Power a Healing priest could use in a day.
Whether it was Refresh or Heal, once they used up their allotment, they couldn't do anything else that day.
But if they belonged to the trading company, the story was different.
They could treat people with Divine Power, and when their Divine Power was depleted, they could treat people by handling the trading company's New Medicines.
Naturally, their income was incomparable to that of Priests who only used Divine Power.
That's why the Exclusive Healer position at the trading company was bound to be popular among young healers who had just graduated from the Department of Healing.
Of course, Ayla, who saw the world as nothing but beautiful, interpreted the reason for that Popularity differently.
'My friends must want to help people that much too. I have to learn from the Director and work hard so I don't fall behind.'
"Young Lady, that's the D-Sector entrance."
Just then, a man walking ahead of her interrupted her thoughts.
He was a Hyena Beastkin with a rough appearance.
He had long gray hair pushed back, a square face with a stubble beard, and one of his ears was half-torn off.
At first glance, he looked like someone with a Bounty on his head from the Adventurer's Guild.
But Ayla knew what a kind person he was.
From the time she left home until now.
This Beastkin Mister had kindly answered every single one of Ayla's questions.
─ "Mister, do all those Merkur Clinic signboards belong to the Director?"
─ "No, Young Lady. The trading company built them. Of course, it is our Director's Accomplishment."
─ "Mister, you're a Beastkin, right? Where are you from?"
─ "I'm a D-Sector native. Thanks to the Director, my hometown has become such a good place to live. I can't thank him enough."
─ "Could you perhaps show me around D-Sector later?"
─ "Of course. I know that place inside and out, so if you come to visit, Young Lady, I will guide you safely anytime."
He looked intimidating at first.
But from the way he talked to his mannerisms.
He was every bit a friendly neighborhood mister.
'He even said he was close with Erika Unnie.'
Then he must be a good person.
He must just have a lot of scars for some reason.
Of course.
There's no one but good people around Director Schun.
— "Shush. Hey, get lost. What are you talking about protection money for? Can't you see I'm guiding someone? So tactless."
Seeing the shop owners talk to this mister whenever he passed by, he must be a good person who's popular in this neighborhood.
Ayla was convinced of it.
"This is the D-1 Clinic, Young Lady."
The Beastkin Mister stopped walking.
Ayla raised her head and looked up at the building.
The glass windows of the two-story stone building sparkled like new.
Above the entrance was the Crest of the Merkur Trading Company.
The Beastkin Mister looked up at the building with a deeply moved expression.
"This building used to be a shabby Boarding House, but it was recently splendidly rebuilt."
Ayla's eyes sparkled as she entered the building.
The inside was wider than it looked from the outside.
There was a Waiting Room, a Consultation Room, a Dispensary, and at the end of the hall, a door labeled Operating Room.
A few patients were sitting in the Waiting Room, and people who appeared to be Healers belonging to this clinic were bustling about.
'So this is where the Director works.'
Her heart pounded.
Starting today, I'll be learning here too.
It was then.
A person wearing a Crow Mask strode out from the end of the hall.
It was Director Schun.
Dressed in a Dress shirt, he was washing his hands in Limewater at the entrance.
Ayla was about to wave happily upon spotting him.
But Director Schun spoke first.
"Student Ayla. You're here. I'm sorry I couldn't guide you. I had an Emergency patient this morning."
"No, it's alright, Director!"
"Ah, do you by any chance know Minor Heal?"
It was a random question.
Ayla blinked her eyes.
"Ah, no. I just had my Awakening of Divine Power yesterday... I can only use Refresh for now."
Director Schun nodded.
"That's enough."
"Pardon?"
"I was just about to perform a Craniotomy (*a surgery to open the skull) on a Fall patient. I think Refresh could be used for Hemostasis?"
Director Schun pointed to the entrance of the Operating Room with his Beak and said.
"If you want to observe—"
A voice came from the Operating room, cutting him off.
— "Teacher Schun! Cocaine Anesthesia is complete!"
"I'm coming."
Director Schun said, raising his Limewater-soaked arms to his chest.
"If you want to observe, come in."
Director Schun's back disappeared into the Operating Room.
Ayla stood at the entrance and hesitated.
Craniotomy
She was still a Theology Student who knew nothing about the Healing Arts, so she didn't know exactly what kind of surgery it was.
But thanks to the Ancient Imperial Language she learned at the Seminary, she could roughly deduce the origin of the word.
Cranio—
A word from the Ancient Imperial Language meaning head.
'A surgery on the head?'
In Divine Magic, where Excision and Heal were the basics of surgery, the head was a part that was difficult to dare touch.
That's because the head was a part that would go to the side of the Main God before it could be regenerated if it was severed.
Director Schun had just said he would operate on such a part.
Suddenly, she remembered what her older sister had told her.
─ "They said Director Schun put his hand directly into Kal's chest and performed a Treatment on his Lungs. Without any Divine Magic."
When her thoughts reached that point, only one thought dominated Ayla's mind.
'...I want to see.'
It was a very, very sorry thing to say to the patient.
But to Ayla, it felt like an opportunity that had descended from the heavens.
"Yes! I will observe!"
Ayla ran toward the entrance of the Operating Room.
A Bodyguard waiting at the entrance—Otto grabbed Ayla.
"Wait, wait. Wash your hands first before you go in, student."
"Pardon?"
"It's the Director's order. Under your Fingernails, too. Meticulously."
"Yes!"
Following Otto's instructions, Ayla scurried to the entrance and washed her hands in the Limewater.
The Hyena Beastkin—Wangcho, who was watching her from behind, shook his head.
"Ugh... How are healers so fearless?"
Wangcho turned his body.
"They say there are no ordinary people among those who study Magic. I wouldn't do it even if you paid me."
Leaving a mumble behind, the Hyena Beastkin's back disappeared out of the clinic.
