Princess Canaby (3)
Ever since Princess Canaby’s subjugation force had “bombed” the temple with patients, other teams had begun trickling out of the Labyrinth as well. Like hers, they brought back large numbers of the wounded, and the temple was thrown into chaos for a time. Days blurred together in a haze of nonstop work.
“At least Priest Arthur has been keeping things organized, but the priests’ exhaustion is severe. We can’t go on like this. We need to request help!”
“Yes, it seems we’ll have to ask for additional personnel.”
Priests Chillan and Ando, having now tasted the Labyrinth Temple’s intensity firsthand, were both firmly in favor of increasing staff.
“Even if we request more people, will the Holy Empire actually send them?”
“True. They said all the skilled priests have already been assigned to subjugation forces. Other temples are short-staffed too, so they might not be able to spare anyone else.”
Chillan voiced his concern, but Ando dismissed it.
“The Holy Empire would never neglect managing this place. Given the offerings flowing in, they’ll approve reinforcements without question.”
“Are the offerings really that substantial?” Chillan asked, eyes sparkling. He hadn’t touched the finances, so he didn’t know the exact figures.
“Honestly, I can’t deny it. Once we stabilize further, we might even rank among the top temples.”
That was precisely why no bishop had been appointed yet—this place was too lucrative.
“How many should we request?”
“We need at least twenty more.”
“Twenty?”
“I was planning to ask for ten additional reserves on top of that. Are you surprised by such a number?”
“Isn’t forty too many? Thirty should suffice.”
“What can thirty accomplish? We’ll have to train them all from scratch.”
“We must consider practical limits. Housing thirty would already strain our facilities. We can’t accept more than we can handle.”
“Can’t you see the situation? The Labyrinth will only grow! More patients will come. We need to prepare for expansion now!”
The debate raged between those who wanted maximum growth and those who favored sustainable numbers. Risk and rapid expansion versus cautious, steady development.
Both sides have a point.
In the end, the decision was mine. I was the one sitting in the acting director’s seat, temporary though it was.
“I think we should accept a large number. However, among them, we should request ten as nursing priests. Given how chaotic our lobby becomes with so many patients arriving at once, having veteran nursing priests to manage the flow would be invaluable.”
Nursing priests—essential for any proper clinic. With experienced ones, the healers wouldn’t have been pushed to their limits. They didn’t just assist with treatment; they kept the entire operation running smoothly.
“That sounds like a good idea.”
“If the Holy Empire sends them, we can trust their quality.”
Fortunately, neither man objected. Of course, the temple already had some nursing priests, but most lacked experience. Coordinating with them often proved frustrating, and occasionally they caused incidents that only added to everyone’s fatigue.
“Can we manage that many?”
“I believe this is the minimum required to keep the temple running. The good news is that the building was designed with future expansion in mind. I’ll speak to Sir Lapel about the construction.”
“With that many, they might even send a chief healer…”
“That would be welcome. A skilled one would ease the burden on our priests.”
“…Hrm, true enough.”
Both men suddenly gave me odd looks. I knew exactly why.
“Since it’s just us, I’ll speak plainly,” Ando began.
“Please do.”
“If another chief healer arrives, they’ll aim for your position.”
Chillan immediately chimed in. “Exactly! That’s what I wanted to say. We can’t have some newcomer who’s done nothing for the Labyrinth Temple swoop in and steal the seat!”
“??”
The sheer absurdity made me laugh. Hadn’t these two done the very same thing before? So it was infidelity when others did it, but romance when it was them?
“Of course, the position was formally appointed, so they can’t act recklessly. We won’t stand by either.”
“Still, it’ll become troublesome. You should be prepared for that.”
What they feared was that one of the new arrivals might be a chief healer eyeing the director’s seat. I agreed—it was obvious some would come with that ambition.
“Wouldn’t it be better to simply hand over the position rather than cause conflict?”
I asked innocently, though I knew exactly how they’d react. Both men nearly jumped out of their seats.
“No, no!! Absolutely not. The temple has stabilized thanks to you! This is the result of your efforts. How could you just give it up? Out of the question.”
They hadn’t lifted a finger themselves, yet they were foaming at the mouth. I blinked innocently.
“I don’t believe I’m suited for this role. If someone more capable appears, it’s only right to step aside. That’s why I acted that way when you two arrived as well.”
“Ahem! Back then, we didn’t yet know Priest Arthur’s true abilities.”
“Precisely. Priest Arthur is more than capable of running the Labyrinth Temple.”
They were desperate to keep me in place. Surely the Holy Empire had plenty of talented priests—there had to be at least one better than me. Using my supposed excellence as an excuse was rather flattering.
“I didn’t recommend you for nothing. Few at your age possess such skill.”
“I’m quite strict when judging people, yet Priest Arthur falls short in nothing.”
Even knowing their motives, the praise made my face burn.
“And so many priests already follow you…”
“If someone else came and dismantled everything you’ve built, the chaos would be immense…”
Watching them ramble on, I almost wondered if they were best friends. They had clashed and schemed against each other so often, yet now they were perfectly in sync.
“Enough, please! My face is going to wear out at this rate.”
Realizing they’d overdone the flattery, they finally fell silent.
“Thank you for thinking so highly of me. It’s more than I deserve. Still, there’s no need to worry about something that hasn’t happened yet. We don’t even know if the newcomers will want my position.”
“Haa… It would be best if none came, but if they do, they’ll definitely target you.”
“How about this instead? We request more regular healers rather than a chief healer. The subjugation forces have likely depleted the pool of available chief healers anyway.”
Ando nodded at Chillan’s suggestion. “Not a bad idea.”
It was a shame no rival chief healer would come to take my place, but since I still had work left here, avoiding unnecessary conflict seemed wiser.
“Don’t worry, Priest Arthur. I’ll handle everything.”
And so the request to the Holy Empire was swiftly drafted. The two of them hammered it out without needing my input.
Did I bite off more than I can chew?
After sending the request, a twinge of regret hit me. Managing forty additional people sounded dizzying. Yet looking at the patient numbers, this scale of action had been necessary.
It was the right call.
I had to trust my decision. Thankfully, Sir Lapel had readily begun the expansion work. He seemed to have anticipated my request and prioritized it despite the looming subjugation force issues. I couldn’t be more grateful.
“What brings you here?”
Sir Lapel had come to the temple. I assumed it was about the expansion, but his words caught me off guard.
“It seems we’ll be entering the Labyrinth soon.”
“!!”
Other nations had already been exploring the Labyrinth, so the Holy Empire’s delay had been conspicuous. If anything, they were late. But now, at last, their turn had come.
I was wondering when they’d go in.
I hadn’t expected Sir Lapel himself to join the expedition.
“I didn’t realize you would be entering, Sir Lapel. Who will handle things here in your absence?”
“My adjutant will take over. If the temple needs anything, seek him out. I’ve already instructed him—he’ll accommodate any request from you.”
His reassurance helped, but I couldn’t hide my disappointment. He had been so reliable until now.
“Ah—by the way, I requested additional personnel from the Holy Empire. Will that be affected?”
“It won’t be entirely unaffected, but it should still be prioritized. Your request will likely be granted as is.”
Realizing how much I’d relied on him without giving anything in return, guilt crept in.
“Please take care of yourself. I’ll pray for your safety every day.”
“Haha, thank you. The reason I came today is that an official notice arrived requesting a list of any volunteers for the Labyrinth expedition.”
“Ah…!”
“I was wondering whether to pass it along, given your recent request for more staff.”
Requesting reinforcements while simultaneously losing people would complicate things.
“Is the subjugation force short on personnel?”
“No, we have enough, but more is always better. Besides, some priests here may be interested in the Labyrinth, so we’re accepting anyone who volunteers.”
I had only considered gaining staff, never losing them. This changed everything.
“You can ignore it if you wish.”
“No, that won’t do. Some of your priests might want the opportunity.”
Everyone else had been given a chance. I couldn’t deny ours. Though the priests here had seen so many patients that they likely understood the Labyrinth’s dangers, I couldn’t assume their choices for them.
“I’ll do my best to secure as many spots as possible.”
“Thank you.”
Without Sir Lapel, we would have been in trouble. All our earlier bickering over numbers had been pointless.
I got ahead of myself.
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
“Whoa~ Look at all those priests.”
“I’ve only ever seen this many gathered during thanksgiving festivals, right?”
“Damn, they’re gorgeous. Nobility just drips off their faces.”
The Holy Empire’s subjugation force had arrived in the Labyrinth City in grand, resplendent formation. Onlookers couldn’t stop marveling at their imposing presence.
“The Holy Empire was so quiet, it felt strange.”
Other nations viewed the Holy Empire with mixed feelings. To foreign nobles, they were extortionists; to common citizens, they were figures of respect and aspiration. The wealth squeezed from other countries through political pressure was redistributed as welfare back home. Though some funds were siphoned by those at the top, the empire’s riches meant they never needed to touch the people’s share.
Now, with a divine oracle emphasizing the Labyrinth’s importance, the Holy Empire’s hesitation to send forces inside had drawn criticism. When their subjugation team finally appeared, the excitement was inevitable.
“Some countries have already sent teams twice. The Holy Empire’s passivity looked bad.”
“Who knows? That grand temple they built makes me wonder if they were ever interested in conquering the Labyrinth at all. Running the Labyrinth Temple alone would rake in money hand over fist—why bother with dangerous work?”
“You’re so naive. The Holy Empire is obsessed with money. Do you really think they’d ignore the Labyrinth? No matter how many priests they run ragged healing people, it won’t match the profit from slaying a single high-grade monster.”
The blunt remarks came freely—perhaps because the speakers were hardened adventurers themselves.
“How irreverent.”
A bishop among the subjugation force, overhearing the chatter despite the noise, frowned in displeasure. The chief healer, familiar with his superior’s distaste for vulgarity, tried to soothe him.
“They’re mostly mercenaries. Ignorant and rude.”
“I’ve heard talk of imposing entry conditions on the Labyrinth. I support it. It’s distasteful to see these ingrates profiting from the Labyrinth while showing no gratitude for His grace.”
“I agree. People these days seem to have forgotten His blessings.”
While the two conversed, the procession halted before the Holy Empire’s Labyrinth Temple. Patients were directed left toward the clinic, while ordinary worshippers entered the grand temple building on the right for prayer services.
“Why is the clinic so large?”
The bishop, stepping down from his carriage, was more surprised by the clinic’s scale than the temple itself. The two structures were nearly equal in size. He hadn’t expected such an expansive facility.
“They’ve had to keep expanding due to the sheer number of patients.”
“So the rumors about their offerings already ranking high were true.”
It was hard to believe these buildings were so new.
“Sir Lapel, the one in charge, is quite capable.”
“Which faction does he belong to?”
“Unfortunately, another power got to him before we could.”
“Tsk!”
“Since we’re entering the Labyrinth, building good relations wouldn’t hurt. There won’t be time for infighting inside anyway.”
The Holy Empire’s subjugation force, surprisingly well-informed about the Labyrinth’s nature, had no intention of engaging in power struggles within. This team had been prepared with exceptional care. Success was mandatory, and results were expected. Their delayed entry was due to the critical nature of their mission—failure was not an option.