The Reluctant Healer (3)
I returned to my room after borrowing a few books from the library. I knew I should get some sleep if I wanted to wake up early the next day, but I opened one of the volumes anyway, reading by the flickering light of a small candle.
“The answer was already set in stone, wasn’t it?”
As expected, the books from the small-town library didn’t offer much useful information. I eventually gave up halfway through and sank into thought.
Even if I refuse now, I’d only get a few months of comfort before I still have to enter the Labyrinth anyway.
How could someone like me, a mere low-ranking priest, possibly rebel against an order from the Holy Empire? When they said jump, I had to ask how high. Once my mind settled on the fact that I would have to go, the next logical step was to prepare in advance. And to do that, I first needed to learn everything I could about the Labyrinth.
“A place built to imprison something.”
It was a prison that sealed it away for eternity. As a side effect, monsters born from its flesh and blood constantly threatened humanity. I let out a low whistle.
“It must be crawling with three-hundred-year-old monsters.”
It would have been better if the Labyrinth had never closed in the first place. At least then people could have steadily hunted the monsters inside.
“Is the reason there are so few monsters outside because of the Labyrinth?”
Monsters weren’t completely nonexistent in the world. Goblins and orcs still roamed certain areas. But it was rare to see them anywhere people actually lived. And they were weak enough that even an average adult man could take one down. As far as I knew, they spent their days fighting each other deep in the densest, uninhabited forests. That was why deaths caused by monster attacks were extremely uncommon.
I’ve never once seriously thought about why there are so few monsters in the world.
Learning about the Labyrinth made the peace of the outside world suddenly make sense.
Among the books I’d borrowed, one contained something truly valuable. Tucked between its pages was a Labyrinth map.
“I can’t believe a book like this was just sitting in a rural library.”
It was less a proper library and more a children’s reading room, honestly. The shelves were packed with fairy tales. Then again, Bishop Saul had built the place with his own money. He’d worked hard to give the local children the joy of learning.
“Hmm.”
The monsters that emerged from the Labyrinth looked absolutely grotesque. I’d heard there were people who made their living hunting and eating them, and I had to admit it was impressive. The problem was that I was apparently about to become one of those impressive people.
“Well, I’m a healer, so I won’t have to fight them myself…”
Even treating regular illnesses left me exhausted. How much worse would it be healing people inside the Labyrinth?
And the personalities of the people I’d be treating probably won’t be easy to deal with either.
The ones actually fighting the monsters would be mercenaries and knights—rough, hardened individuals. Their tempers were bound to be just as rough.
Maybe I should put off going to the Labyrinth for as long as possible.
I stayed up reading until dawn. When I finally turned the last page of the final book, I let out a deep sigh. If the Labyrinth really was everything the books described, then as a healer, I had no choice but to be dragged there. The Holy Empire would obviously dispatch healers to exert influence over the place.
Monsters are both a threat to the world and a source of money.
The money part was the most important. Using the excuse of protecting the world’s safety, all kinds of people would swarm to conquer the Labyrinth. It was a neutral zone that belonged to no nation. Until it closed again, that neutral territory would wield enormous political power.
“They sent an official notice asking for voluntary support, but if there aren’t enough volunteers, they’ll just conscript people.”
Wasn’t it better to go because I volunteered rather than because I was dragged there kicking and screaming? I finally understood why Bishop Saul had given me time to think without saying much.
He knew that once I understood the situation, I’d accept.
There was no need for him to waste breath explaining something that would happen anyway. As always, I couldn’t win against him. Realizing I was still just a kid flailing desperately in the palm of his hand made a dry laugh escape me.
“I’ll go.”
“Just sign here.”
The moment Bishop Saul opened the door, I blurted out my decision. As if he’d been waiting for it, he immediately held out a document for me to sign.
“Am I going alone?”
I wasn’t the only healer affiliated with Palmore Church. I couldn’t understand why I was the only one being sent.
“No one else volunteered.”
“Not a single person?”
Maybe my plan to go ahead and secure a good position had been too hasty after all.
“It’s perfectly fine not to volunteer if you don’t want to. You can still change your mind.”
“…No, I’ve already decided to go. But if I leave, won’t the workload become too much for everyone else?”
“We can’t hold back someone heading off to do something important. Don’t worry about this place. We’ll just bring in more staff. You focus on preparing to leave.”
“The departure date hasn’t been announced yet, right?”
“Correct. Though there isn’t much time left.”
Bishop Saul tucked the signed document into his robe. Even though he said that, it would still take quite a while for the paper to reach the Holy Empire and for orders to come back directing me to the Labyrinth. I needed to prepare before then, just like he said…
But what exactly do I need to prepare for the Labyrinth?
I had read books about it, but since I’d never experienced the unknown space myself, I couldn’t think of anything specific even though I knew I should prepare.
Maybe I should take a few bottles of Bishop Saul’s holy water?
There was no telling what might happen inside the Labyrinth. It seemed smart to bring as many useful things as I could. The holy water he made had a long shelf life and worked especially well for exorcism.
If I ask him to make some for the trip, I’m sure he’ll do it.
But my careful preparation plan was completely upended when someone suddenly arrived to take me away. Just as Bishop Saul had warned, the day of departure came much sooner than I expected.
“This servant of the Sun greets you, Bishop.”
“May the Sun God’s blessing be with you. I don’t know what brings you here, but please come inside. You are welcome.”
After greeting Bishop Saul, the people from the Holy Empire stated their purpose.
“The reason we’ve come is to escort Priest Arthur.”
Me?
“To escort Priest Arthur… Does this concern the Labyrinth?”
“Yes, Bishop. We are heading to the Labyrinth.”
Already?
“Priest Arthur probably hasn’t finished preparing yet. That worries me.”
Bishop Saul’s gaze turned toward me. The eyes of the people standing across from him naturally followed, landing on me. They must have figured out who Priest Arthur was by now.
“We have made all the necessary preparations so you will not be inconvenienced during your stay. You only need to bring yourself.”
“It seems the day the Labyrinth opens is closer than we thought.”
“…I’m afraid I cannot disclose the exact date for security reasons. My apologies.”
It was unusual for information to be withheld even from the bishop in charge of the church. It showed just how seriously the Holy Empire was treating the Labyrinth matter.
“What would this old man do with such information anyway?”
“Thank you for your understanding. We are truly grateful that Priest Arthur volunteered. It is a great relief.”
“Our Priest Arthur is quite skilled, after all.”
“His skill is outstanding, but more than that, we were in a difficult situation because so few healers volunteered.”
It seemed recruiting personnel for the Labyrinth expedition had been harder than expected.
What? There were that few volunteer healers?
Did I volunteer for nothing?
The more I listened to Bishop Saul’s conversation with them, the tighter my chest felt.
“Since so little is known about the Labyrinth, many priests chose to be cautious rather than courageous.”
“Yes, it seems most chose prudence over bravery. It was quite unfortunate for us.”
That made sense. If I hadn’t read those books, I wouldn’t have known anything about the Labyrinth either and wouldn’t have been able to decide so quickly.
“It really is a shame. If I were only ten years younger, I would have signed alongside Priest Arthur.”
It seemed the fiery temperament he’d had as an Inquisitor in his prime hadn’t faded.
“Hahaha! That is truly unfortunate for us as well. If you had been there, Bishop, we would have felt so much more secure.”
After exchanging a few more compliments, their gazes finally turned to me.
“Priest Arthur.”
“Yes, Bishop.”
Bishop Saul looked at me—the one about to be dragged off to the Labyrinth—with eyes full of affection. Or… was that affection? It felt a little intense, didn’t it?
“Stay healthy. Take care of yourself.”
The man who had basically pointed me straight toward a battlefield was telling me to take care of myself. It wasn’t comforting at all. I wanted to say so honestly, but I swallowed the words.
“Yes, I will.”
The moment I finished speaking with Bishop Saul, the people from the Holy Empire stared at me with sparkling eyes.
“Priest Arthur, it is truly an honor to meet you. Thank you for volunteering.”
“May the Sun God’s blessing be with you. I am Priest Arthur.”
“I am Holy Knight Laperiut. Please feel free to call me Lapel.”
“Yes, Sir Lapel.”
“Thanks to your volunteering, we were able to accelerate our schedule considerably. We are grateful.”
“I don’t think one person could have made that much of a difference. I’m embarrassed to receive such praise the moment we meet.”
What difference could one extra healer possibly make? I really hoped that was the case. But Sir Lapel mercilessly crushed my hopes.
“Not at all. You have been an enormous help. There are eight healers who volunteered in total, but you, Priest Arthur, are the only senior priest among them.”
“……”
In other words, Sir Lapel was saying that from now on, I would have to lead the healers. Even though I had shed the title of novice healer, in my own eyes I was still just a fledgling.
I’m the most senior one?
It was the kind of moment that made me want to go back in time and slap the me who had decided to volunteer.