Chapter 68: C-Rank Labyrinth – Sanctuary of Restful Purification (1)
Chapter 68: C-Rank Labyrinth – Sanctuary of Restful Purification (1)
I stood in the central hall of a temple overflowing with refined dignity.
A majestic space filled entirely with immaculate white.
It was so solemn and sacred that even making a sound or breathing felt improper.
《C-Rank Labyrinth – Sanctuary of Restful Purification》
《A treatment facility built during the era when the disgusting orders of the righteous gods were committing a horrific massacre under the pretext of the “Great Holy War.” It is an unpleasant place overflowing everywhere with Arteine’s aura, so proceed with the strategy quickly!》
“Mom, what era is this place from?”
Bartimir, who had entered with us and was looking around the temple, asked.
“…Mom?”
Priest Lucius, who had entered before us, flinched and turned toward me.
“Ah, I suppose I didn’t mention it. I am actually the mother of five children. I gave birth to them in my heart. I’m eighty-two this year, and since I’m an inferior half-elf, death is slowly approaching. Before I pass away, I wanted to create peaceful memories, so I adopted children from an orphanage.”
“……”
Priest Lucius simply moved his lips without speaking.
He seemed to have many things he wanted to say but couldn’t bring himself to say anything that might disrupt harmony.
“Ah! So that’s your story!”
Thanks to my high Charm stat, the improvised background I had invented on the spot worked perfectly on Valentin.
《Earnest Request: The Wise One desires believers to practice their faith by teasing people around them with magic. Mere trivial jokes will not satisfy them!》
The reactions were very satisfying, and I was tempted to continue.
But now was the time to focus on exploration.
I lightly jabbed Bartimir’s side while he was staring blankly around the temple.
Though innocent in spirit, the demon quickly understood the cue and explained.
“Ah, not literally my mother. It’s more like a nickname. She looks after even the smallest details people might overlook, so I started calling her that.”
“Captain keeps exceeding my expectations every day….”
Pendrick glanced between Bartimir and me before chuckling.
Astrimia had long since been sighing mentally.
I wrapped Radiant Faith, which would normally be considered blasphemous for a cultist to wear, around my neck like a scarf and answered the earlier question.
“The temporal setting of this labyrinth is the Great Holy War period. It was the sacred era when the orders of the righteous gods carried out large-scale extermination campaigns against demons, black mages, cultists, and monsters.”
《The Wise One gasps and tightly shuts their eyes!》
Zzzzzzt!
Tremble…!
The Evil Gods simultaneously began suffering severe PTSD.
Naturally, all three had seen their influence decline dramatically during the era represented by this labyrinth.
In particular, Leria had fallen from the chief deity of the Evil God faction to a barely surviving minor deity.
It was only natural for that period to trigger deep psychological trauma.
“And the spatial setting is the temple of the Guardian Church, the predecessor of the Harmony Church—this place known as the Sanctuary of Restful Purification.”
“As expected of you, Sir Kar. A perfectly clear explanation without my needing to add anything.”
Valentin nodded repeatedly.
“To elaborate, the Sanctuary of Restful Purification was a treatment center where the sick gathered from across the entire continent. The saint of that era wished for no payment, so all treatment here was provided free of charge.”
A Saint.
A priest personally chosen by Arteine to act as her representative.
At that time, the one who protected all people selected only young human women as her representatives.
However, after the order rebranded itself as the Harmony Church during the era of war, the criteria expanded beyond age, race, and gender.
In the present day, a Holy Man now served in that role.
“Oh? If this is the Sanctuary of Restful Purification, does that mean the Last Saint of the Guardian Church appears here?”
Pendrick, still holding the sheath in his arms, asked carefully.
“That’s correct. The very Saint Seraphina, famous for her noble character.”
“Wow!”
The genius swordsman’s eyes sparkled.
“It’s a real honor! When I was young, I read children’s stories and biographies about her until the pages practically fell apart!”
“Is that so? As expected of Sir Kar’s companion—very admirable.”
Slither.
The snake tattoo creeping up the back of my left hand suddenly shook its head vigorously in distress.
Perhaps because of the holy power possessed by the saint somewhere in the facility, it whined that we should leave immediately.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t leave until the strategy conditions were fulfilled.
“Saint Seraphina never abandoned the critically ill patients who came from all three continents with their final hope. She cared for them until the very end.”
The bright-toothed holy knight looked around the temple with a flushed expression.
“That is why the Harmony Church periodically dispatches volunteers into this labyrinth to honor the noble Saint’s will. In fact, the service itself is related to the strategy conditions.”
While listening to Valentin, I observed Bartimir’s reaction.
The demon who collected calamities had eyes brighter than ever.
“Such a wonderful place… I mean, such an admirable saint!”
“It seems our demon explorer also possesses a very virtuous heart!”
The aspect Bartimir appreciated was clearly different from Valentin’s perspective.
《This labyrinth is full of curses and diseases, so it’s certainly a place that lunatic demon—whose sanity is about seventy percent gone—would like…》
That wasn’t the only reason.
Curses and diseases were simply easier to control.
Bartimir didn’t reject other negative status effects either.
I should carefully select a few for him.
Too much of anything was bad.
The wisdom of the ancients was always correct.
“Greetings.”
At that moment, a priest of the Guardian Church wearing white ceremonial robes approached with his hands clasped.
“Greetings. I am the humble shield of Arteine, Healing Priest Elion.”
《Elion (Human, 59), priest of the Guardian Church, predecessor of the Harmony Church. One of the fools who follows the idiotic saint who treats even non-believers of Arteine free of charge. If he had served in an ordinary temple, he might have become a bishop, but instead he threw away that fortune and suffers in a place like this.》
In summary, he was a very devout and virtuous man.
If I had to choose a teacher to educate the sibling wards under my care, I would select this priest without hesitation.
“May Arteine protect our journey. Greetings, Brother Elion.”
Would any cleric dislike someone who openly displayed sincere faith?
Valentin’s greeting, clearly chosen with care, pleased him.
Priest Elion bowed with a gentle smile.
“Greetings.”
He even greeted Bartimir and me politely.
Despite the fact that cultists and black mages had been enemies during the Great Holy War.
This strange behavior was due to what gamers would call a labyrinth mechanic.
“Dear brothers and sisters. Thank you sincerely for volunteering for this service.”
Explorers entering the Sanctuary of Restful Purification acted as lay followers of Arteine who had come to assist the saint in caring for patients.
Even I—a heretic.
Even Bartimir—a double heretic.
Inside this labyrinth, we were honorable believers of the righteous gods.
《:(》
“Arteine will engrave your devotion upon the heavenly walls. The one who protects all people wishes that every wounded soul suffering innocently—regardless of race, status, age, or class—be comforted.”
《Hypocrisy! Hypocrisy! Hypocrisy!》
My Eye That Perceives Truth nearly convulsed.
But it wasn’t entirely false.
Even during the Great Holy War, the Guardian Church had never carried out blind judgment.
Instead, they focused on protecting those who were unjustly persecuted.
It was said that nearly one hundred thousand demons had historically come to worship Arteine after receiving help and surviving because of it.
There’s a reason she became the chief deity of the righteous gods.
Zzzzt!
The Exalted One showed strong rejection again.
“…Brother.”
Perhaps realizing I was a multi-cultist, Priest Elion gently held my hand with pity.
Fanatics were an artificially created constitution of evil that first appeared during the Great Holy War.
In his mind, I had probably become a pitiful half-elf carrying all the misfortunes of the world.
That might be why he spoke in an even softer voice.
“The journey here must have been difficult, so you must all be tired. But beginning today, you must immediately begin nursing the patients.”
Elion led us into a small room used as both a priest rest area and volunteer waiting room.
We were there to change clothes.
It was so narrow we could practically feel each other’s breath.
“…My apologies.”
The middle-aged priest smiled awkwardly and touched the owl-shaped necklace symbolizing Arteine’s all-seeing vision.
“The number of patients continues to increase without ever decreasing. Space is becoming more and more limited.”
Even priests and holy knights had no proper living quarters anymore and were sleeping in tents outside the facility.
“Even the Saint’s room is now used as a ward. This room used to be a storage room.”
“Does that mean we’ll be sleeping outside as well?”
“Not exactly. Though I’m afraid we can’t provide comfortable beds….”
Elion couldn’t even meet our eyes now.
Bartimir glanced at the priest.
“…The conditions are really poor. Everyone must be working hard.”
Surprisingly, he spoke with consideration.
It showed he lacked education, not manners.
“Have you finished changing?”
We changed into lightweight ceremonial robes suitable for work.
We also wore masks covering our noses and mouths to prevent infection.
As expected of the Pure White Arteine slogan promoted by the Guardian Church at the time, everything was completely white.
“…Sister?”
Elion addressed Bartimir cautiously.
“I’m sorry, but please remove those bandages. They may make the patients uncomfortable.”
“I wear them because of an illness.”
“Oh dear! I will heal you immediately.”
“Noooo!”
Bartimir shook his head violently.
“No! Don’t! It’s my illness!”
“…?”
It was a completely unprecedented refusal of treatment.
Even Elion—who had served Arteine his entire life—had never seen anyone reject free healing.
Before he misunderstood, I quickly intervened.
“Brother. This child was abused by a cruel mage because he is a demon. That left a deep scar in his heart. Please show him the same warm generosity that Arteine would.”
“…I see.”
With moist eyes, Elion looked at Bartimir sympathetically.
Then he brought a pure white veil and placed it over Bartimir’s head.
Though the cloth was thin and translucent, it became completely opaque when it touched him and covered his face entirely.
《Premium Item – Preparation for Reception》
《A useless item that merely covers the face. It slightly clarifies Arteine’s voice, but that effect is meaningless for a demon black mage…》
“It is a gift. Please accept it.”
“Oh, thanks.”
“No, please. May Arteine comfort your heart….”
After even placing a hand on Bartimir’s shoulder to pray for his future happiness, the priest hurried onward and led us into a large ward.
“This is the Third Critical Care Ward.”
Pendrick looked around with wide eyes.
“…It’s bigger than I expected!”
He was right.
The Third Critical Care Ward was enormous.
Even a festival involving every guild in Pletika could be held here.
Rows upon rows of hospital beds filled the massive chamber.
“Now I will explain the tasks you must perform.”
Labyrinths ranked C-class or higher were incomparably more difficult than lower ranks.
Just think how long and complicated the process of clearing Nightmare World had been.
The Sanctuary of Restful Purification was also extremely difficult to clear.
Not through combat.
But through exhausting labor.
“For the next five days, you must nurse the patients here who require care.”
The strategy condition of the Sanctuary of Restful Purification:
Care for nearly one thousand critically ill patients continuously for five days.