The Labyrinth Has Opened (3)
"I'll raise the matter of labyrinth entry with the higher-ups. It doesn't seem like something I can decide on my own."
I wondered whether the higher-ups would view it with the same gravity as the risk I sensed. After all, they hadn't set foot in the labyrinth themselves. On top of that, this was a difficult issue to coordinate. If we blocked entry and attempted to impose control, plenty of countries would push back. All I could do was hope the higher-ups would recognize the importance and step forward actively.
"Thank you."
"It's not something I can brush off, especially when it's a request from Priest Arthur of all people. I know the temple has been running smoothly despite the chaos, thanks to you."
Lord Raffel was putting far too much pressure on me. I was starting to doubt whether I'd even be able to leave once I'd fulfilled all my service points.
"I'd also like to ask you about the bishop position."
In the end, I asked him once more. It was the kind of matter that could never be mentioned too many times.
"Of course."
Still, the only comfort was the news that many healers would be among the next arrivals. The working environment should improve from what we had now.
If the bishop arrives, I'll keep my head down and stay quiet until it's time to leave.
Thoughts of the priests who would remain here kept unsettling me. Holding a position of responsibility really did bring one surprising encounter after another. It wasn't just one or two people who had approached me with bribes, asking for special treatment. If I had accepted every offer, I would have ended up with several times the money I'd saved so far.
They know I'm only a temporary administrator, yet they still tried to hand over that much.
It struck me anew how frightening the situation was. I could easily imagine how much money was riding on this position.
That's probably why the bishop selection is being delayed. It's a seat where staggering sums of money will change hands.
In that sense, I was not the right person to handle this role.
If I'm not careful, I could get dragged into a power struggle and ruin my career path.
It wasn't as if I was struggling to survive. Ever since becoming a healer, I'd earned enough to live comfortably. That was why I chose to protect myself and live as quietly as possible rather than chase excessive wealth. I had no desire to overstep my bounds and get swept away.
I should hope that among the next wave of support staff, there's someone with more seniority than me.
Once that person arrived, I would immediately hand over the administrative duties. That would grant me relative freedom. With any luck, I might also avoid becoming a casualty in the higher-ups' power struggles. I had no interest in being the shrimp crushed between fighting whales.
"Priest!! You're here!"
Joyful news arrived first thing in the morning. The message I'd been waiting for had finally come. I had been treating a patient whose leg was slashed clean from thigh to ankle, and I nearly stopped the healing and shot to my feet.
"Let me finish this treatment first."
"Ah! Sorry for interrupting."
When I suppressed my excitement and answered, the priest quickly apologized and hurried out. I focused on the patient's leg.
"Will my leg be all right? They said it might need to be cut off."
The patient couldn't hide his anxiety throughout the treatment. The situation was serious enough that amputation might be necessary. Every time I saw a patient drowning in despair, a heavy sense of responsibility tightened around my heart.
"You should thank your colleagues. The fact that you're still alive is thanks to them binding your leg and rushing you here as fast as they could. If they'd been even a little slower, the poison would have reached your heart."
This wasn't an injury where losing the leg was the main concern. It was one where simply surviving was something to be grateful for. Divine power was not omnipotent. Once poison spread through the entire body, saving the patient became extremely difficult. Even if they survived by squeezing out every ounce of strength, the worst aftereffects would follow—full-body paralysis or a vegetative state, for example. And because this was no ordinary toxin but the potent venom of a monster, the danger was even greater.
"If I survive, I'll be sure to thank them properly."
"I'll begin the full treatment now. I'll do everything I can."
It wasn't certain whether the leg could be saved. That was why I hadn't told the patient there was a chance. Giving false hope could only lead to greater despair later. For now, I would simply do everything within my power.
"I'll thank you too, Priest."
The patient's voice was gradually weakening. Even though I was preventing the poison from spreading further, his stamina was draining away. I channeled divine power to bolster his strength so he could endure, then slowly purified the toxin that had spread through his body from the outside in.
"I've lived a pretty rough life. That's why I've received treatment from other priests many times. But your divine power feels different. It's warm... and strangely refreshing."
"It's not uncomfortable?"
"No. This is the first time I've ever felt this at peace."
Most people accepted divine power without resistance. This patient, however, seemed to harmonize with it exceptionally well. If so, that was excellent news. The better his body accepted the power, the stronger the healing effect would be.
"If I lose the use of one leg, I don't know how I'll make a living. My family depends entirely on what I earn."
"Whatever work you choose, you'll adapt. What couldn't you do? You're still young, and you've already endured far worse."
Fighting monsters inside the labyrinth was no ordinary job. From what I'd heard, it sounded like he'd ventured quite deep. That meant his skills were far from mediocre.
"You think so? Ever since I was a kid, I've been confident in my strength. I've always earned my keep with my body."
While giving appropriate responses to the patient's delirious rambling, I kept my focus on the treatment.
"Without a leg, earning money with my body will be impossible..."
I couldn't tell him to stop talking. I knew his constant muttering was his way of trying to come to terms with the possibility of losing the limb.
"Still, having your life is what matters, right? Yeah. Living is better than dying."
"......"
"Priest, you didn't just save me. You saved the lives of my entire family who have no one else to rely on."
The treatment was reaching its final stage.
"Do you attend prayer meetings often?"
"Ah... not every time. I have to leave if there's work. But when I have time off, I try to attend without fail."
In truth, if this man's leg had been amputated today, there wouldn't have been many jobs available to someone with one leg. For a man who had always earned his living through physical labor, it would have been devastating. A head of household unable to provide was a fatal blow in this world.
"You did well. Your usual devotion seems to have helped the treatment greatly."
"Ah! Is it time to cut the leg now? I heard it has to be sawed off, but I'm not mentally prepared yet, Priest. Could you give me just a little more time?"
"There's no need to cut it."
"Pardon?"
"I've purified all the poison in your body. Every last trace in your leg as well."
"??"
The patient stared in confusion for a moment before his voice trembled with belated understanding.
"Th-then... I don't need to have my leg amputated?"
"Correct. You can walk out of here on your own."
"!!!"
Apparently unable to believe it, the patient remained speechless for a long while. Then the tears came pouring out.
Even in such a short time, with people depending on him, the mental anguish must have been unbearable.
"Thank you. Sob... thank you so much, Priest!"
"I only did what any healer should."
I accepted his gratitude with a smile, paused for a moment, then spoke again.
"However, for your family's sake, perhaps you should consider a slightly safer line of work?"
"Pardon?"
He looked startled, as if he hadn't expected me to say such a thing. I knew it was meddling, but these were the worries that had been weighing on me most lately, so the words flowed out naturally.
"Lately, far too many people have been coming in injured after entering the labyrinth. Treating them, I can't help but worry. If they at least kept returning, it might be different, but from some point onward, they simply stop coming..."
What other reason could there be for not returning for treatment? It would be nice if they had simply given up on the money to be made in the labyrinth, but the truth was most of them had likely died inside.
"......"
The patient's face darkened rapidly. He wasn't a fool; he must have realized the reason they never returned was because they were dead.
"I'll think about it carefully."
"I'm sorry for upsetting you."
"Not at all. I know you said it out of genuine concern. I'll consider it seriously—what would be best for my family."
In truth, I hadn't said it to tell him never to enter the labyrinth again. I simply hoped that if he did go back in, he would be more cautious about his safety.
After finishing the patient's treatment, I headed to the temple lobby and found it bustling with people.
"I'm sorry for not coming to greet you immediately. I am Arthur, Chief Healer."
As I approached, a plump, kindly-looking priest stepped forward with a bright smile.
"Oh! Brother. We've been waiting. Haha, I heard you were busy, but there really are a lot of patients."
It seemed he'd been looking around the temple as soon as he arrived.
"It hasn't been long since the labyrinth opened, yet there are already so many injured. I'm afraid the number of patients will only increase from here."
"You've worked hard. Now that I'm here, you can stop worrying."
The friendly, plump man was Chief Healer Priest Chillan. He wasn't the bishop I'd hoped for, but having a senior chief priest with more experience than me was still welcome news. The moment he arrived, he began requesting information about the temple as though becoming its administrator was the most natural thing in the world.
If I'd had any attachment to the position, I might have felt offended. But since I desperately wanted someone to take it off my hands, I answered his questions gladly. I also asked what I wanted to know.
"How many priests came as support today in total?"
"Five apprentice healers, ten regular healers, and the two chief healers—myself and Priest Ando."
Two chief healers? That was excellent news. It meant seventeen additional personnel in total. With this many people, our young healers would finally be able to work in shifts.
Shifts mean we'll actually get time to rest!
Two shifts would be good, but three would be ideal. Hope had finally appeared. The gods clearly hadn't abandoned me.
"My mind feels much lighter now. There were far too few priests compared to the number of patients, so everyone had to work until their divine power ran completely dry."
"Tsk tsk, that won't happen anymore. Trust me."
It seemed the higher-ups hadn't sent just anyone. An air of wealth and leisure radiated from Priest Chillan's clothing. Our Palmore Church wasn't rich, but we certainly weren't starving. His attire, however, spoke of both comfort and means.
"Could you show us where the priests will be staying? Everyone must be tired after such a long journey."
"Of course. But where is the other priest?"
"Priest Ando? I wouldn't know. I have no particular interest."
I'd assumed the two chief healers who arrived together would be close, but his words revealed a surprising distance between them.
Could they belong to different factions?
It seemed there was no reason to celebrate the arrival of two chief healers without reservation. Fortunately, Priest Ando soon appeared, having somehow learned of my arrival.
I seated them in the conference room and slowly began the conversation. We needed to discuss their relationship, who would take over management of the temple, and other important matters. A serious talk was necessary.
"Since you've only just arrived and don't know the situation here, I prepared this meeting to share what I know."
"Hmm."
"I was wondering how best to ask, but Priest Arthur, you really do have good sense!"
Priest Ando wasn't the talkative type. His personality seemed rather cold and stiff. In contrast, Priest Chillan appeared to enjoy mingling with people, and his reactions were accordingly dramatic.
Once Priest Chillan's excited fussing died down, I gave them a thorough explanation: the steadily increasing number of patients each day, the types of treatments being performed, remaining supplies, incoming donations—nothing was omitted. Since a poor handover would only make things harder for me later, I had prepared detailed documents and handed them over along with my explanations. Both men seemed extremely pleased. If any questions arose later, they could simply consult the materials.
"I didn't expect the temple to be run this neatly."
Even the usually cold Priest Ando looked surprised by my preparations.
"It's impossible to predict how many more patients will arrive. That's my greatest concern."
"So you're saying we need even more additional personnel."
"Yes. The labyrinth is still causing commotion both inside and outside. It would be best to prepare in advance."
"Haha! Just leave it to me. There won't be any problems."
Priest Chillan laughed heartily and told us to trust him, while Priest Ando shot him a look that clearly said he found the claim ridiculous. Watching the two of them sizing each other up, I took a deep breath. What I was about to say next was truly important.
"Somehow I've been temporarily managing this place, but now that both of you are here, I'd like to hand over my duties and focus on my original responsibilities. Would that be acceptable?"
The eyes of both Priest Ando and Priest Chillan sharpened. Why else would they have come here if not to secure the administrator position at the Labyrinth Temple?
"You've worked hard all this time, Priest Arthur."
Priest Ando readily accepted my offer to step down.
"I think that's too hasty a decision. Priest Arthur has been carrying this burden alone for some time. It wouldn't be right to snatch the position away like this."
Priest Chillan, on the other hand, took my side, insisting that I should be compensated for my hard work. Rather than genuine concern, it felt more like an attempt to win me over.
Not wanting to get caught between their maneuvering, I spoke directly.
"It wouldn't make sense for someone as inexperienced as me to continue holding this position when two far more senior priests have arrived. I believe it's right for me to step down."
My words seemed to earn me favor from both men. Since I showed no attachment to power, offered them proper respect as seniors, and willingly vacated the position without resistance, it would have been strange for them to dislike me.
"Ahem. The problem is we still need to decide who will take charge of the temple. Priest Arthur, who do you think should take the position?"
"How could I presume to evaluate my seniors? It would be best if the two of you discuss it and decide together. I'll trust your judgment and wait. Whoever takes the role, I will do my utmost to fulfill my duties."
Oh please. Trying to drag me into picking sides. I was strictly neutral! Whoever ended up in the position was none of my concern.
"I will take that position."
The moment I hastily declared my neutrality and removed myself from between them, the argument between Priest Ando and Priest Chillan began to escalate.
"Now, now, Priest Ando! This isn't a position one can claim simply by insisting. It requires ability! Therefore, it is only right that someone with more experience like myself should take it."