第１５５３堀：ヴィノシア教会の内情 (Part1)
Chapter 1553: The Inner Workings of the Vinosia Church
Side: Enola
Sister Kunoshia is exactly the kind of person Lilishe-sama would raise; she has nerves of steel, and judging by her stance, she seems to be the type who favors her fists over weapons in a fight.
I think we’ll get along quite well.
Setting aside my personal impressions of Kunoshia, once the introductions were finished, we stepped inside the Ritea Church of Vinosia.
True to its grand exterior, the interior was opulent—a clear sign of how Vinosia had been groveling for support from Ritea.
Rurua, naturally, frowned at the sight.
The salvation Vinosia sought was, in theory, for the sake of the nation. There is no doubt that rebuilding a country leads to the salvation of its people.
But in the end, Vinosia never achieved that.
Seeing it laid bare like this—that the church was used as a tool to beg for money from Ritea—it’s enough to make anyone wince.
A large church with high-quality chairs and desks isn't inherently a bad thing, but it depends on the time and place. Vinosia chose the absolute worst time and place for such extravagance.
Rurua is likely thinking that even a fraction of these renovation funds could have been used to help the people or rebuild the country.
Perhaps Kunoshia sensed this...
"Because they built it so large, this place became a sanctuary for the people when the civil unrest intensified. It was a true lifesaver."
She offered this as a follow-up.
Well, it’s not a lie. The Ritea Church is an inviolable space even for Vinosia. If it were discovered that they had trespassed carelessly, it would have provided a pretext for Ritea to intervene. So, the size of the church truly did serve a purpose.
However, that answer left me with a question.
"Come to think of it, the chapel is empty. Are there no patients admitted right now?"
Indeed, there wasn't a soul in the chapel.
It was already past noon. In this old royal capital, which still held a fair number of people, it was impossible that no one would visit at this hour.
Well, half of the remaining population are members of the dark guild, so I suppose one could argue they’d avoid it, but I couldn't help but ask.
After all, the other half are innocent people. If they are seeking help, then regardless of which goddess we worship, our duty remains the same: to do everything in our power to help them without cutting corners.
That is why we have joined hands instead of fighting.
Well, having a good husband like Yuki helps, too.
As for the answer...
"For the past two weeks, since Lulua-sama and Lilishe-onesama and the others have been performing treatments in the royal capital of Hinsua, those who were mobile headed there. Thanks to that, most of those here now are the ones lying in the treatment rooms in the back. Anyone with minor injuries usually comes in the morning and is finished by now."
Kunoshia told me this with a smile, saying it had been a real help.
Ah, so that was what had been assisting our side.
"Those who had acquaintances capable of transporting critical patients went there, so the treatment rooms in the back are actually quite empty now."
Empty, she says. But I saw them.
There were people there who looked like they shouldn't have even survived the journey.
Some hadn't made it; some had already passed away.
I knew they had sought help, but I never thought Kunoshia and her sisters had abandoned them.
Those patients bore the marks of every possible treatment, and one look at the sisters made it clear just how much they had exhausted themselves.
They kept themselves tidy, yes, but their clothes were patched, their faces were masked with smiles, yet there were dark circles under their eyes, and their bodies were thin—no, gaunt.
It was almost certain that the sisters who remained in a church like this were operating on a premise of self-sacrificial salvation.
"Well then, let’s go see those patients immediately. And then, we eat."
"Eh? Lilishe-onesama, treatment aside, it’s already past noon, you know?"
Kunoshia looked bewildered by Lilishe-sama’s words, but even from my perspective, it was obvious they were literally working themselves to the bone. There was no way Lilishe-sama wouldn't notice.
That was precisely why she said "after the treatment."
Kunoshia surely understood that, but perhaps she had underestimated Lilishe-sama after being apart for so long.
As proof, the moment Kunoshia voiced her confusion, Lilishe-sama flicked her on the forehead.
"Ouch!? Onesama, what was that for!?"
"You idiot. You, and the sisters behind you as well. Did you really think I wouldn't notice you were overdoing it? Finish the treatments, eat a proper meal, and get some sleep."
She dropped her languid tone and spoke sharply. She must have realized their exhaustion was taking its toll. I felt the same.
She would have liked to say "right now," but she was being considerate of their sense of duty.
"...Understood. This way."
She looked dissatisfied, but perhaps she couldn't defy Lilishe-sama, so she led us toward the treatment room.
Before that, Lilishe-sama turned back.
"Alright, Yuki-san. Please handle the meal preparations. Oh, do you need the kitchen or anything?"
"No, I should probably learn the layout eventually, but not now. I’d appreciate it if you could tell me where a good place to eat would be."
"Ah, I suppose we can't eat in the chapel. So, where should we eat?"
"Eh? But the meal preparations are our..."
"What’s the point of cracking the whip on you lot when you’re exhausted and low on supplies? We’ll handle that much. Besides, we brought supplies with us. Please show us where those go, too. So, I’ve already moved things along, is that alright?"
"Ah, well, there’s not much we can do even if we look at the patients."
Yuki said that, but in truth, he is better at healing and recovery magic than any of us.
Well, it’s just that his foundational knowledge is on a different level.
But if I said that now, it would only confuse the sisters, and it’s better to move separately for the sake of efficiency.
"...Understood. In that case, Sister Magnolia, could you please assist?"
"Eh? Ah, yes. Please, this way."
The one chosen by Kunoshia was a woman with long, straight hair—silver? Or perhaps closer to white—who looked somewhat like Ria. She seemed surprised by the sudden selection, but she recovered quickly; perhaps she had dealt with nobles before?
Well, she’s with Yuki, so as long as she doesn't try to take his life, she’ll be fine.
Judging that, I parted ways with Yuki and the others, following Kunoshia toward the treatment room.