02 — An HQ Healer’s Duties

02 — An HQ Healer’s Duties

We passed through a long hallway, into a new building, and up a flight of stairs before finally stopping in front of a room.

“This is Lady Lumina’s chambers. If you will excuse me.”

“Thank you for showing me the way.”

I looked at the door before me and took a deep breath. Could you really blame me for being nervous? Context, shmontext, going into a girl’s room was a scary thing, no matter where you were.

Once I’d sufficiently calmed myself, I knocked. “Miss Lumina, it’s Luciel. You wanted to see me?”

“You may enter,” I heard from the other side.

I opened the door and was met with an exceptionally plain sight. The bareness of her room shocked me for a moment, but I knew now that the torture-slash-interrogation chamber was just a fun little pastime of Granhart’s rather than his private quarters, which was a relief. Although if that had been his room...well.

“Is something the matter?” Lumina asked with a puzzled expression.

“Oh, I was just a bit shocked by the gap between your quarters and Granhart’s,” I laughed, shrugging.

“I see,” she giggled. “I suppose anyone would be taken aback by the comparison.”

“Do you...know why I’m here at Church HQ?”

“Indeed, to some extent. I hope I helped in keeping Granhart’s tirade brief.”

“You did, actually. And you helped me back in Merratoni too.”

“I have had my fill of your gratitude. And I’m not one for stiff formalities, so please, be at ease.”

I think you’re the one being formal here... That was a captain of a paladin regiment for you. “If you insist. By the way—”

Lumina interrupted me with a raised hand. “First, tea. Have a seat over there.”

“Oh, okay. Thank you.”

Her room was an impressive size, like a particularly spacious studio apartment, although painfully dull, to be honest.

“Drab, isn’t it?” Lumina commented, almost as if having read my thoughts. She had returned with the tea faster than I’d expected.

“Oh, no, I don’t think...”

“You won’t offend me. The only use I find for this space is a desk for paperwork and a bed for rest. I have little affection for it,” she confessed, a hint of strain in her tone.

“It took me a whole week to learn Heal after you guided me to the guild. I wanted to thank you for everything, but I’d heard that you’d gone back to headquarters by then.”

“I find myself traveling often due to my work. Pardon the change of subject, but was it Granhart himself who invited you here? Or was it a simple guild transfer?”

“I actually got a letter from the pope ordering my relocation.”

“From Pope Fluna? You must be exceptionally talented.”

“I’m not so sure that’s it. You see...” I gave her a rundown of what had happened in Merratoni, then recounted my conversation with Granhart.

“These are interesting circumstances you’ve found yourself in.” She regarded me for a moment. “Are you aware of the details of your post yet?”

“Um, well, the truth is, I don’t have a clue what I’m doing here.”

“Did Granhart not explain?”

“No. I’m completely in the dark.”

“In that case... Luciel, your duty may be a dangerous one.”

“Seriously?”

“Indeed. You might one day escape it, but until then, you may be at risk.”

“You know, I just got this urge to do some traveling, sharpen my magic skills a little. Do you know anywhere that could use some holy magic? Preferably somewhere without the whole danger thing.”

“I’m afraid you can not escape it, Luciel. Do you know the Purification spell?”

“Yes, I can use it just fine.”

“That is good to hear. If you move up a few levels, you may be able to rise to the rank of priest.”

“As long as I’m not getting slashed, stabbed, or thrown constantly and at random, I think I’ll manage.”

“I struggle to imagine a worse hell, but at any rate, there is something you would do well to know. Beneath an old annex of this church, there is a tomb wherein Saint Shurule’s founders are enshrined. And some decades ago, it became a labyrinth.”

“A labyrinth?”

“Indeed. A maze of—”

“A maze of monsters and treasures, born out of the accumulation of hatred and desire in magically sensitive areas. An adventurer’s dream come true.”

“I’m surprised. I thought you were an ignoramus.”

“Two years is a lot of time for things to change. I did my studying. Do you know that all villages actually have names?” I thought of Nanaella and the others and felt gratitude towards them.

Lumina cackled. “I’d nearly forgotten about that. Returning to the topic at hand, the Church has taken measures to prevent monsters from emerging by sending sentries to thin their numbers. I believe that will be your new post.”

“Out of curiosity, uh, what kinds of monsters are we talking about?”

“Skeletons, zombies, ghosts, and the like. I hear only the undead appear there.”

“Undead? Do I even stand a chance against them?” I wasn’t feeling terribly confident.

“Rumors say that Purification magic can exterminate them instantly. And you will find a use for the magical stones they leave behind. It is not an entirely fruitless job, but few have the desire to take it.”

If it was such easy and profitable work, why did they need to call me out here? I had to assume there was a reason no one else wanted to do it. It was clearly a dangerous task. “I’m not so sure about this.”

“Do not worry. Most healers lack the training that you possess, and the majority of those employed here, as much as it frustrates me to admit, achieved their positions through wealth rather than skill. I would doubt their chances at success, but I hear you have a good deal of combat experience, Luciel.”

People had heard about me here? I trusted Lumina, so I took her word for it.

“You mentioned earlier that this job wasn’t fruitless. What exactly are the benefits?”

“Whatever you find in the dungeon is your own and the magical stones can be traded in. You are free to take what you please. No one will confiscate them.”

“It’s starting to sound like a convenient place to get stronger.” If undead could be wiped out by a single cast of Purification, I might actually be able to level up. My motivation was returning.

“With some luck, you may even discover treasure down there. And you can use the magical stones to purchase advanced grimoires that are exclusive to Guild Headquarters.”

“Quick question,” I interjected, “will I turn into a zombie if one bites me?”

“Where did you hear such nonsense? They may be venomous, but I’ve yet to hear of someone suddenly becoming a monster.”

“That’s a huge relief.”

“On the other hand, the labyrinth is horribly rancid. Utterly foul. Prepare for others to avoid you if the stench seeps into your clothing.”

“Oh, is that all? That shouldn’t be a problem.” It was nothing I hadn’t regularly experienced with Substance X. Brod would always gag during our training sessions before vanishing and smacking me across the room. Oops, my pesky eyes were leaking again...

“Luciel, are you all right?”

“Yes, I’m fine.” This could actually turn out to be the chance of a lifetime for me.

“In any case, it will ultimately be for Granhart to decide.”

“Right.”

“Oh, I’ve lost track of the time. My apologies, but I ought to see you off.”

“It’s okay, I’ve bothered you long enough.”

“You did no such thing. Is someone there?” she called towards the door.

A few seconds later, a reply came. “How can I be of assistance?”

“See Luciel to Granhart, if you please.”

“Understood. This way, please.”

“Thank you for the tea.” I stood up. “Oh, there was one thing I wanted to ask.”

“I will answer if I am able to.”

“I heard you’re the captain of a paladin regiment. Is that true?”

“It seems I’ve been exposed.”

“I think it sounds cool.”

“I suppose it does,” she chuckled.

“I’ll visit again when I have a chance.”

“Please do.”

And with that, our reunion came to an end.

Before we had gone more than a few steps, the attendant stopped and turned to me. “Who are you, exactly?” she asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Lady Lumina never laughs like that. She never spends that long chatting with anyone.”

“She doesn’t? Well, I guess you could say I’m something of a lost puppy she’s picked up.”

“A what?”

“Two years ago, I became a healer and left my hometown without any identification whatsoever. I came to Merratoni, but they wouldn’t let me in, and that’s when Miss Lumina found me and took me to the Healer’s Guild.”

“A lost puppy... You’re seventeen, correct?”

“That’s right. Still a rookie. That’s why she invited me over. I’ve only just been transferred here.”

“I see now. I’m Lucy, by the way. You could say that I’m an attendant of Lady Lumina’s.”

“Luciel. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Feel free to let me know if you need anything.”

“Thank you; I appreciate it.”

“So, what brings you to headquarters?”

We discussed my transfer—at least, what I felt I could say about it—on our way to Granhart’s room. Just as she was complimenting me on my Holy Magic skill level, we arrived.

“These are Granhart’s quarters. I’ll leave you to it.”

“Thanks again, Lucy.”

“No problem. Let’s chat sometime soon,” she replied, then headed back to Lumina’s room.

I knocked on the door. “It’s Luciel.”

“Oh, yes, enter.”

“Oh, yes”? Did he already forget about me?

“Excuse me.” The door creaked open when I pushed on it, and inside sat Granhart, pale and nearly hidden behind stacks of paperwork. “Thank you for giving me the time to meet with Miss Lumina. We’ve just finished.”

“Good. These are your orders. Read them and I will have you escorted to your own quarters.”

By order of the Church,

The healer known as Luciel is to be assigned to the Exorcist Combat Unit of the Church of Saint Shurule Healer’s Guild Headquarters. In consideration of his standing as an A-rank healer, he is to be accorded the titles of both “exorcist” and “deacon,” as well as their respective rights and privileges.

“What does this mean?” I asked.

“Starting tomorrow, you will be tasked with the exorcism of the undead. You will be compensated with twenty gold pieces per month.”

“Twenty gold?!” In yen, that was about twenty million! Did I die and go to heaven? Wait, but if I was being salaried, I had to be allowed to use that money somewhere, meaning they might let me leave.

“Correct. Rest well tonight. Tomorrow, your predecessor passes the torch to you. Ah, and I will have you shown to the dining hall as well.”

“I’d appreciate that. If I have time outside of work, are there any training facilities I can use?”

“I will have someone see you to the dining hall and your room. Nothing more.” He looked disgruntled by my request.

Still, there was more freedom here than I’d expected. What if this job wasn’t going to be all that bad? Or...what if they wanted me to get comfy?

I went back and forth in my head as Granhart’s attendant showed me where the dining hall and my own quarters were. The room was essentially a carbon copy of Granhart’s and Lumina’s chambers.

I got to work unpacking my belongings, then passed the time for a while by working out until I got hungry enough to swing by the dining hall. The waiters seemed more than a little shocked by the hearty appetite that Gulgar had forced me to grow accustomed to.

Good thing the food here’s free too, I thought to myself with a wry smile.

Afterwards, I returned to my room and took out my barrel of Substance X along with the special mug that Gulgar had given me, quickly downing my dose for the night. Then I practiced Magic Control and Magic Handling for a bit before hitting the hay.