第１３２３堀：命の価値 (Part1)
Chapter 1323: The Value of a Life
Side: Yuki
A corridor lined with white walls.
The distinct, sharp scent of disinfectant.
Doctors and nurses clad in white coats that evoke a sense of clinical purity.
Yes, this is a hospital.
For those in good health, it isn't exactly a place one has much business visiting.
Perhaps only for a routine check-up.
"I suppose I haven't had much use for hospitals myself," I mutter.
The words seem to echo in the quiet hallway, prompting Rurua, who is walking beside me, to respond...
"That is the best possible thing, Yuki-sama. It is proof of your good health."
"True. Still, it’s better to have a hospital than not. Anyone can catch a cold or suffer an injury when they least expect it. A hospital capable of providing the proper treatment for such things is essential."
"What you say is perfectly logical. But there are so many places where the infrastructure just can't keep up. I wonder why that is?"
Comet tilts her head, voicing her curiosity.
It is Agil who answers her question.
"Well, it comes down to how much time it takes to train a single doctor, and whether or not you can even secure the equipment to reach this level. Even if you scale it down, you still need a bare minimum of tools, so it’s not exactly realistic. That said, even in the Holy Kingdom of Enaria, they’ve actually begun moving toward building churches dedicated to medical treatment."
"I have heard the same of the Zilba Empire. They have significantly increased their budget to establish hospitals. They are currently waiting with bated breath for the return of the medical trainees studying abroad in Weed."
Ah, the If Continent has been engaging in exchanges for a long time, so they’ve been moving on this for a while.
The King of Zilba seems to grasp the necessity of doctors; he was the first to send students abroad and is now counting the days until their return.
Actually, it seems they’ve been returning periodically to provide instruction, creating a functional rotation.
As for the results, they are glaringly obvious: the thorough implementation of hygiene management has led to a rise in infant survival rates and a decline in cases of tetanus.
Spurred by this, the establishment of hospitals and clinics across the If Continent has followed one after another.
While the public reason is for the sake of the citizens, the underlying motive is the increase in national power that comes with a higher survival rate.
An increase in the population means more mouths to feed, but with the peace treaty established by the Intercontinental Alliance, the development of farmland is now possible.
Of course, Weed has provided the technology for that development as well, so production has risen to the point where they aren't just self-sufficient—they have a surplus to export.
Well, it’s certainly contributing to the acquisition of foreign currency for those nations.
But I’m getting sidetracked.
The topic was why hospitals aren't increasing.
"As Agil said, it’s a matter of money. Most of the equipment in our hospitals is purchased with DP, and much of it is impossible to produce here. If we were to sell it, the price would be astronomical. We can't exactly sell it cheaply, either."
"Yeah, that makes sense. Plus, Earth's equipment basically runs on electricity, so you'd need the infrastructure for that, too. Wow, when you really think about it, it costs an insane amount of money."
"Exactly. Though, Zargis and Narjia-san are currently researching whether those tools can be produced as magic items that run on mana, and some are already in production."
"Eh? Isn't that amazing?"
"It is. By the way, weren't you involved in the development?"
"Hmm. I feel like I was shown some documents, or maybe I wasn't..."
"You were. Comet and I aren't just giving opinions; we're involved in the manufacturing. Though, Comet doesn't have much interest in that side of things."
"Ahaha!"
I want to tell her not to laugh it off, but the ability to handle such tasks on the side is the mark of a genius.
I truly envy that.
While we were talking, we stopped in front of a specific hospital room.
The nameplate on the door read "Lushi."
Until recently, this was a place I visited every single day.
"..."
We all fall silent.
It’s not that we’re doing anything wrong, but perhaps a certain tension is palpable.
Still, we can't just stand here forever, so I decide to move.
"Alright, as planned, Ria and I will go in first."
"Yes. Let's go."
Fiora, Orelia, and the others looked like they wanted to say something, but we had already agreed that a large group might be too stimulating for Lushi.
Of course, we have support via surveillance cameras, so they are ready to rush in if anything happens.
But we won't barge in unannounced.
Lushi’s room is a private one.
Since I am neither a doctor nor a nurse, I knock and wait for a response.
She might be sleeping, after all.
Then...
"Yes. It's open."
The reply comes back. It seems she is awake.
When I enter the room, Lushi is standing there, seemingly in the middle of choosing a book.
Though she is wearing a hospital gown, her complexion is good—clearly better than before.
Her hair is blue, tied back into a ponytail.
She has a fairly large bust; is she like Rurua?
No, there’s something about her that feels more active than Rurua.
Sporty, perhaps?
When I first treated her, her hair hadn't been tied back at all; it was just a tangled mess.
But more importantly, I need to greet her.
"Sorry to intrude. You look well."
I greet her as normally as possible, raising one hand in a casual gesture...
"..."
For some reason, Lushi just freezes and stares at me.
She doesn't reply.
"Oh? Did you not hear me? Sorry to intrude. I'm glad to see you're doing well."
When I greet her again, she says:
"Ah, yes! Thank you very much!"
Lushi bows her head repeatedly in a flustered manner.
"Oh, you really do look well."
"Thank you so much for saving me back then!"
"I've received your gratitude, so for now... let's decide whether you'd like to lie back on the bed or sit on that sofa."
I make the suggestion to stop Lushi, who is shaking her head with all her might.
If I keep this up, I’m going to start feeling ill myself.
"Th-then, the sofa, please."
And so, we sit on the sofa to talk, but...
"Ah, would you like a drink..."
She starts to prepare tea, but Ria moves instantly.
"It's quite alright. Please, stay as you are. Here, these are some sweets I brought for your recovery."
"Ah, thank you very much."
As she spreads out the sweets and begins preparing the tea, Lushi remains seated on the sofa.
Yes, she’s getting used to those kinds of movements, isn't she?