## Chapter 23. Training in the Healing Power of God (3)
“It’s unexpectedly clean inside… whoa, almost got cursed.”
Without realizing it, I almost began chanting a monster-summoning spell, but managed to barely stop myself.
Setting aside the brief moment of terror, the interior was surprisingly more quaint than what one might expect from a mercenaries’ guild.
The first floor, featuring a spacious hall, and a probable captain’s office on the second floor were connected to a side building through a short corridor which led to the dining area and dormitories of the members.
Given the rowdy and often brawling nature of mercenaries, I had imagined finding broken or missing interior parts. Instead, it looked as though the building was well-maintained to the point of nearly being brand new.
“The place is surprisingly clean for a place housing mercenaries.”
“Right? Our captain – I mean, our leader – believes that where people live should be clean, so everyone is required to clean weekly. If someone causes a ruckus and breaks something, they’re beaten like dust on a rainy day, hahaha!”
Indeed. Despite appearances, they seem to place a high value on cleanliness.
The esteem I held for Captain Kratos rose further. Such attention to detail suggests that this person likely shows excellent competence in managing subordinates and finances as well.
“I’ve taken a brief look around the place, now, it would be great if you could point me towards the infirmary.”
“Oh, I’ll lead you. This way please!”
Following the member’s guidance, I entered through a door to find a small room, about the size of a studio apartment.
The humble facility included only a small bed, a desk, and some medical supplies carelessly stacked up.
“Uh, it looks a little… well, meager, doesn’t it? The fact is, we rarely get hurt because we’re confident in our skills, and we believe that one shouldn’t rely on treatment anyway but should recover through grit.”
Are they insane?
Even if they are muscle-brained, they still won’t heal without treatment!
What will they do if there’s a bone fracture, organ damage, or internal bleeding?
The hospital isn’t a respawn point!
“Despite this, I’ve heard there were many injured this time?”
“Yes, it’s because we were ordered to exterminate a beast that was too high-level for us. And we didn’t prepare thoroughly.”
Saying this makes it sound like it’s my fault for the increased number of wounded. I don’t particularly care since they’re just strangers, and no one’s dead anyway.
Sorry, but Cecilia means more to me than anyone else.
Moreover, if Cecilia doesn’t grow stronger, the world might end.
“She said she’s the most important… hehe.”
But I can’t have Ria use her divine power in this space as it is.
Even though this mercenary group is headed by Bell’s family, once rumors start spreading, they’re hard to contain.
Mercenaries, who meet so many different kinds of people as part of their job, could easily leak information about Ria’s divine power.
I must prevent her secret from getting out as much as possible… getting out…?
Ah!
“Do you happen to have a tent and blindfolds?”
“A tent and blindfolds? Well, if I search the warehouse, there might be some…”
After asking for a tent and blindfolds, the mercenary went off to the warehouse, returning with the items despite looking rather confused.
Apparently, someone lent one of their blindfolds, which has probably been shared among the guys, but since neither I nor Ria will be using it, I don’t really care.
Additionally, I secured the tent around the bed with some nails to act as curtains, akin to those in a large hospital’s patient rooms.
This way, I should be able to block the light beams that come out when divine powers are used. If I also use the blindfolds to cover the patients’ eyes, I can hide the fact that she’s using divine power.
The mercenaries, who lack medical knowledge, will find it difficult to detect anything just from the crude medical tools I brought in.
“Please call the patients in one by one to avoid confusion. Line them up or call them by name, one at a time.”
“Understood!”
The member saluted enthusiastically and left the room.
During this time, I turned my body to give some advice to Ria.
Despite her confident words, Ria was clearly nervous—fidgeting with her hands and taking deep breaths.
“Ria.”
“Yes, yes!”
“Are you very nervous?”
“Ah, no! Not at all! Or…”
Though there’s only so much I can do, I hope to lend her some strength, however small.
I enveloped her small hand with mine and held it warmly for a moment.
—
”Master’s hand is so warm…”
The warmth from Master’s hand holding mine spreads across my hand.
It’s amazing.
A moment ago, my heart was pounding, and my hands were trembling, but now, just because Master held my hands, peace has returned to my heart.
“Are you feeling better?”
“…Yes, thank you always.”
“It’s nothing.”
Master responded to my gratitude with a smile, as if it were the most obvious thing.
Ah… his lips in my vision…
I can see nothing, hear nothing.
All I can see are those lips—full and tempting—that dominate my sight.
Against my will, my body moves instinctively closer to him.
“Ria?”
Just as my face naturally moves closer to his, nearly about to touch—
“Hello! I’m Shelta, the adorable youngest of the Red Scorpion Mercenary Group!”
The sudden entrance of the patient made me quickly release Master’s hand and put some distance between us, pretending nothing happened.
Ugh… just a little more… we could have kissed…
Sniff.
Of course, without romantic feelings for me, Master would have rejected it anyway, but still!
ZING!
Shelta… I will remember you.
There’s no mal-intent, but… I’ll remember you.
—
“Where exactly are you hurt?”
“It seems like there’s a crack near my right wrist!”
The mercenary called Shelta looks way too cheerful for someone who’s supposedly injured.
Are all mercenaries this insensitive to pain, or is this guy just unique?
If all mercenaries were this way, there’d be hardly any left alive by now.
“Lie down on the bed, put on the blindfold, and relax.”
“Uh, do I really need a blindfold?”
“Yes. This treatment is part of an experimental procedure we’ve developed. It’s still in the clinical trial stage, but if the method is exposed, it could cause problems, so no complaints.”
“Ah-ha! Got it!”
After putting on the blindfold, he obediently lay down.
I handed Ria a piece of paper with pre-prepared lines for each scenario, and Ria quietly read them out.
“Please hand me the healing cream.”
“P-Please hand me the healing cream…”
“Here it is.”
Of course, my hand held nothing. And nothing was handed over.
WAHHH!
Instead of a cream, Ria’s divine power enveloped Shelta’s injured area.
The faint green light emanating from Ria’s hands seeped into the skin on Shelta’s supposedly injured right wrist.
“Wow! This warm yet refreshing sensation! Did you make this cream yourself?”
“Yes…”
“Amazing! The pain is already disappearing! With this cream, I won’t have to worry even if I keep getting hurt!”
No, you madman…
By fixing your injury, I thought you’d avoid getting hurt more often—what nonsense is this?
“All done. You can remove the blindfold now.”
After removing the blindfold and rising from the bed, the member flexed his arm in various ways, his eyes glowing with excitement over the vanished pain.
“It doesn’t hurt! At all! It was so painful just a moment ago!”
“Fine, call the next person.”
“Yes! Thank you so much!”
With a deep bow—leaning forward 90 degrees—he left the room, carrying the same cheerful smile.
“Already exhausted… How do you feel?”
“Yes, I’m fine. I’ve healed one person.”
Though Ria says this, her face still betrays a lingering tension, along with a hint of pride for having healed someone.
—
After an hour,
“Ria, that should be enough. You should probably rest—”
“It’s just the last person. I want to see it through with my own strength.”
There were a total of twenty injured.
Most had fractures, cuts, or lacerations, likely caused by attacks from the monsters’ body parts or their claws.
Although the method of healing via divine power isn’t difficult, the problem is that divine power isn’t infinite.
Even though divine power shows miraculous healing capabilities, this is only within the limits of Ria’s physical and mental stamina. After an hour of hard work, Ria was already sweating profusely, and her breathing was heavy.
Though I understand her determination, it’s only her first conscious attempt to use divine power, and healing so many people in a single day is bound to drain her quickly.
“Alright…”
The last patient entered.
He had suffered from a hydra’s surprise attack, resulting in broken arms and legs.
I can’t decide whether I should be grateful or criticize his stubbornness for enduring this condition to come for healing.
Once Ria confirmed that the patient had covered his eyes, she began channeling divine power.
WHOOSH—
The light was significantly dimmer compared to earlier.
Although increasingly exhausted, the brightness in Ria’s eyes was stronger than ever.
I placed my hand gently on her shoulder to encourage her rather than stop her.
Wincing at the sensation of my hand, Ria paused for a moment but soon regained her courage, drawing the last bit of energy to finish treating the patient.
As soon as the final patient left the room after being healed, Ria collapsed into my arms.
“Master… ah, ah… How was I?”
How was she…
This young girl…
This timid and weak girl…
Who has shown such passionate eyes for the first time for someone else…
Do you know how her determined look has been imprinted in my mind and will never fade?
“You were incredibly amazing… truly.”
“Hehe…”
I embraced her tightly for a while as she feebly smiled.
