第１５５３堀：ヴィノシア教会の内情 (Part2)
……Still, we’re doing quite a bit of walking.
I had assumed it was a large church, but the sheer distance we’ve covered just moving within the grounds is staggering. We even stepped outside the sanctuary once, meaning we’re moving between separate buildings, even if they are within the same complex.
"My, what a surprise. To think they’d have a separate infirmary. Well, having a specialized facility isn’t a bad thing, but I’m shocked to find it here in Vinosia."
As Lilishe-sama noted, the extravagance of this place for a rural church is baffling. At best, one would expect a basement or a slightly larger side room; maintaining a facility of this scale is usually impossible.
"It seems this was part of the price paid by the former Kingdom of Vinosia in exchange for Litea’s support. They also seemed to have a particular interest in medical treatment."
"Is that so?"
What a startling revelation. A nation that oppressed its own people had an interest in medicine? What could that possibly mean?
"Well, it wasn't for the sake of the populace, but for themselves. They wanted to ensure they could receive treatment in comfort. Like so."
Kunoshia stopped before a luxurious three-story building. It wasn't just the height; the ornamentation on the second floor and above was gaudily excessive. The first floor, by contrast, was simple.
"Ugh, how blatant. Though, I suppose they did leave the first floor open for the public."
"The priest here insisted on it, fighting tooth and nail to make it happen. Of course, to avoid offending the royals, they had to frame it as a gesture of goodwill toward Litea, and they ensured the routes to the upper floors were completely separate from the first floor..."
I see. They never intended for commoners to use the place at all. Litea would never have stood for that, of course. Still, the priest here must have had a rough time; if they’d caused a rift with the kingdom, the entire infirmary project might have been scrapped.
"This way, please."
As she explained, we naturally entered the first floor.
"The second and third floors are private rooms with excessive decor, so they remain unused. The second floor consists of two-to-four-person rooms, but since the route to the upper levels is so inconvenient, we only use them for patients whose conditions have already stabilized."
In Weed, we’d just use an elevator or a different floor, but here, it’s all stairs. Moving critical patients, along with the necessary equipment and healers, is a nightmare in an emergency, so the first floor is the standard for care. Kings and the like might be different, but given the security concerns, it’s understandable—though, hearing the history of Vinosia, it just feels entirely disproportionate. Honestly, they probably had their own personal healers anyway; I don’t see why they bothered building rooms here.
Then, it hit me.
...Ah, right. The facade.
Damn them.
Nursing that inner irritation, I stepped inside to find a sea of people lying in beds.
"These are the citizens currently undergoing treatment."
Kunoshia spoke without a hint of urgency, but there were nearly a hundred people here. Ninety-three, to be precise. Twelve were nearing recovery, seventy-three were in critical condition, and eight were in immediate danger of death. I know this because of the dungeon-ification Steve and the others performed. It’s a hassle to deal with funerals when people die, after all.
Still, I never imagined such a shitty building existed. ...Though, since it is serving to house the sick, I can’t call it an unmitigated evil.
Even as Kunoshia and the others came to greet us, the sisters were working frantically, darting about while casting glances our way. Like Kunoshia, they didn't look particularly healthy themselves.
"Well then, let’s get started. Lilishe-sama. Rurua-sama, are you ready?"
I had no desire to linger, so I turned to the two superiors present to seek their permission, but—
"Alright! Here I go!"
"Ah."
Hairen-sama had already moved. This was going to affect the entire church.
Well, that’s just like her, but...
Oh boy. How am I going to explain this?
To sacrifice oneself to save others.
That is the way of the people in the lower ranks of the Litea Church.
Most of those at the top are the same, though there are exceptions.
For now, the sisters are, quite literally, working themselves to the bone.