Reunion in Praine (1)
"Director Hope Harvey of the Nodun Kingdom Rehab Medical Center, Hero Sion Laurel—your transfer is complete."
This overseas business trip as a specialist in rehabilitation medicine was facilitated by the Magic Tower's space teleportation magic.
"Thank you so much, mages. You've all worked hard."
No sooner had we arrived in Praine than Sion cheerfully greeted the Magic Tower mages who had cast the teleportation spell for us.
"Not at all. Hearing such words from the hero herself is just embarrassing."
"You know how tough it is for mages working in Praine."
"Haha…"
The mages could only laugh awkwardly at Sion's words.
As in any fantasy tale, the church and the Magic Tower weren't on the best of terms. The Magic Tower in Praine's capital had been built out of necessity during the long war, when mutual support between Praine and the tower was unavoidable. Now that the war was over, it stood like an isolated fortress in enemy territory—right in the heart of the holy nation. Sion was spot on; the mages' hardships were no small matter.
Following the mages' guidance, we stepped out through the Magic Tower's doors. At the entrance waited a white carriage adorned with red cloth.
"Huh? That carriage…"
"Carriage? Do you recognize it, Sion?"
"It's definitely the Pope's…"
"Pardon?"
Before Sion could finish, the carriage door swung open. A burly middle-aged man with short blonde hair, clad in papal robes and hat, stepped down and greeted us.
"Welcome to Praine of the Holy Nation, Hero Sion Laurel, Rehabilitation Specialist Hope Harvey. I am Pope Silane IV."
The Pope himself coming to the Magic Tower entrance! His dignified presence exuded a deep, resonant voice. He bowed his head slightly in respect, so I hurriedly bent at the waist in return.
"Thank you for the warm welcome, Your Holiness. I'm Rehabilitation Specialist Hope Harvey."
"Of course I should come out personally to meet the world's great heroes! I meant to thank you first, but you beat me to it."
"Thank me? I'm not sure what you mean."
"Come on, no need to play coy. I could thank you a thousand times and it still wouldn't be enough."
The Pope approached me as I kept my head bowed and placed his right hand firmly on my shoulder with a thud.
"Lift your head."
With his permission, I raised my gaze to meet the Pope's face. Standing around 190 cm tall, he had sharp, handsome features and stylish blonde hair. Without the robes and hat, he hardly looked the part of a pope—more like a dashing, boisterous figure, which matched his hearty tone and manner.
"Thank you for opening new horizons in healing, recovery, and service. I've learned so much from you."
"You're too kind."
"No, no—it's not flattery at all. Excessive humility isn't becoming. You're far greater than you give yourself credit for. Hahaha!"
The Pope laughed heartily, his shoulders shaking. Seemingly done with me, he turned to Sion in her wheelchair.
"A face I longed to see, followed by another welcome one! Even God's messenger graces us here."
"I hope you've been well?"
"All thanks to you. The world gives me nothing but reasons to be grateful. Will you accept my thanks once more?"
"It's embarrassing, but if that's what you wish, Your Holiness, by all means."
"Good, good. Thank you for saving the world. I heard about your rehabilitation—I'll pray for a swift recovery."
"With your prayers, I'm sure I'll heal in no time."
Unlike me, tense as could be, Sion chatted easily with the Pope. Heroes will be heroes, I suppose. It was another stark reminder of Sion's stature in this world.
After the lively exchange with the Pope concluded, it was time to board his prepared carriage and head to the papal palace. The Pope had already climbed in and was waiting for us.
"Hero, allow us to assist you into the carriage."
"No, um…"
Sion, gazing up at the carriage from her wheelchair, waved off the nuns accompanying the Pope and looked straight at me instead.
"Could you carry me, Teacher?"
She extended her hands like a child asking to be picked up. Clearly, she didn't want to be handled by strangers.
"Of course."
I leaned down so her hands could drape over my shoulders, then supported her under the arms, creating space beneath her legs before sliding one hand there and lifting her up. Grasping the carriage handle with my other hand, I stepped onto the footboard, boarded first, sat down, and gently shifted Sion from my lap to the seat beside me.
"Like a knight and his princess!"
"Hahaha. Both the knight and princess are Sion, aren't they?"
"Is that so? You strike me as quite the knight yourself."
Sion ducked her head shyly at the Pope's jest. True to form for a papal carriage, it glided smoothly over the road without a single jolt, carrying us comfortably toward the palace.
"Hope Harvey."
"Yes, Your Holiness."
"Truth be told, when I first heard about you… I was astonished, but just as angry."
"Angry? Have I done something wrong?"
"No, it was anger at myself, naturally. I am the Pope, after all. I don't hold grudges against others."
'I am the Pope' as justification? Is there any more trustworthy phrase in this world? It was a masterful use of rhetoric.
"I always thought our Holy Nation was supreme in treating the sick and saving the broken."
"I agree."
"Haha, don't tease me. If you knew what we did for the flood of patients after the war, you'd be shocked."
"Shocked? What on earth did you do?"
The Pope slumped as if drained of strength, letting out a hollow laugh before answering.
"We prayed."
"……."
It was an answer that left me speechless. Given that this was Praine, prayer wasn't entirely unexpected, but…
"Our proud holy magic repels demons and heals humans, but it's imperfect. It can knit split flesh, yet scars remain. Scars on the surface mean damage lingers inside the muscles. We can reattach a severed arm only immediately after the cut, and even then, it won't move perfectly. We can't fully erase burns or frostbite scars, nor the agonizing pain that drives people mad. God made the lame walk and the blind see, but we can't. There is no holy magic in this world that cures disabilities. Sadly."
The Pope stared out the window with a desolate expression, propping his elbow on the sill and resting his forehead in his hand with a sigh before continuing.
"Countless adventurers returned from the endless war, trembling with repeated injuries and healings, crippled. We thought we couldn't fix them, so we hoped God would. Pathetic, isn't it?"
"Not at all."
"Don't mince words. I'm the Pope—I won't get mad if you're honest."
Silence filled the carriage. Unable to respond, I watched as the Pope smiled bitterly, as if he'd expected it, then spoke again.
"Naturally, no one leaped up cured from our prayers. That's when word of rehabilitation medicine began to spread… Haha, listen, Hope."
"Yes, Your Holiness."
"Do you know why we can wield God's power?"
"Because… God permits it?"
"Close enough, but not quite. Strictly speaking, it's because we were made in God's image."
The Pope held up his palm, gathering holy power to create a sparkling golden light.
"We're all imitations of God. So the 'divine power' we use is really our own. We don't borrow it—we draw it from within. That's why holy magic is called 'magic.' It uses mana, just like other spells."
Is this really coming from the Pope's mouth? Acknowledging holy magic as part of regular magic?
"Ah, don't repeat this anywhere. And don't say I told you."
"Of course… naturally."
His words shouldn't contradict doctrine, but to hear such a taboo view from the church so casually…
"And rehabilitation medicine is ultimately us healing ourselves with our own power. You taught us how. I've gained so much insight."
"I'm deeply grateful for such high praise."
This world's church was far more open-minded and rational than I'd imagined. Shocking, but the Pope's mindset was clearly progressive.
"Ah, you'll stop by the palace first, then inspect the rehab center?"
"As you said. I'm here to check on Praine's Rehabilitation Center and offer assistance."
"With the hero too?"
"Yes."
At my answer about traveling with Sion, the Pope flashed a cryptic smile.
"Then you'll have a joyful reunion. Someone's been waiting eagerly for you."
"Waiting? Who…"
"No spoilers. You'll see when you get there."
Someone else waiting for us? And a joyful reunion? Who could it be…