Chapter 174: Establishing Hierarchy (1)

Wooo—

Above the Academy Territory.

A massive Liner entered the Terminal with a deafening roar.

The Terminal was packed with a Crowd waiting for that Liner, leaving no room to step.

This Phenomenon was not simply because today was the day The Black Saint was returning.

— "It's here! That's the ship, right!"

— "Liner No. 147...... That's right. It's the ship The Saint of Radiance is on."

— "What is someone who supposedly never takes a single step outside the Holy City doing here?"

As they say, Words travel fast.

It was the Fault of the News that The Saint of Radiance had made a Transfer to the Academy already spreading throughout the Academy Territory.

[Flight 147 has just arrived. For those here to meet passengers, please wait in front of the Arrival Hall.]

As the Terminal's announcement echoed, people flocked to the Arrival Hall.

Soon, as the awaited people revealed themselves, the Terminal was covered in enthusiastic cheers.

— "Waaaaah!"

— "Do not reach out! Step behind the Fence!"

— "Is that him?"

The first to reveal himself was Lauren.

Amidst the pouring hospitality.

He slightly raised his hand toward the Citizens.

With just that, the shrill screams of the Citizens echoed through the Terminal.

'As expected.'

At that enthusiastic cheer, Lauren inwardly felt a small sense of relief.

'Because I am a Saint, after all.'

In the Holy City, he had faced a painful truth.

The fact that in front of a true Saint who received a Revelation from The gods, he was merely a lucky Healer with a bit more Divine Power.

After realizing this, his self-esteem had also dropped quite a bit.

However,

That did not mean The Saint of Radiance had become a nobody.

'Right. Come to think of it, I am not someone who would fall behind no matter where I go either.'

The cheers filling this Terminal were the Evidence of that.

He was still The Saint of Radiance, and still one of the few beings who could wield Regeneration.

Just as a star does not lose its meaning because the sun exists,

Lauren was also just less special than Yulian, but he could receive this level of treatment no matter where he went.

Lauren comforted himself like that.

It felt as if the Shrapnel of his Pride that had crumbled in the Holy City was slowly being pieced back together amidst these cheers.

As he had such thoughts, a sense of anticipation naturally arose as well.

'Right. If it's just the Department of Healing Arts, it shouldn't be difficult to become something like a Phoenix there.'

Lauren's gaze headed toward the Students who had come out to meet him wearing the Academy's School uniform.

They were going to be his green Peers.

Lauren gauged their Level of Mastery.

Then, a faint smile spread across his lips.

'Their level isn't quite as high as I thought it would be.'

This was a place where Students harboring countless possibilities gathered.

Naturally, one couldn't use a Chicken as a Metaphor for the Students' level either.

Starting from at least a Swan, there would be Students like an Eagle as well.

In such a place, Lauren was Worried whether he could do well.

However, actually coming here, that was a Groundless fear.

Because if they were an Eagle here, Lauren would be at the level of a Phoenix.

In Reality, it wasn't a wrong thought.

Because the Title of Saint was at least not a Title on the level of competing with Students.

'Top of the Class shouldn't be difficult.'

He had at least that much confidence.

In the Holy City, he was pushed back by the brilliance of The Black Saint.

It was the Fault of his opponent being far too massive.

But here is different.

If it was here, he could certainly stand out as much as he wanted.

Perhaps Yulian would also give Acknowledgement to such a Lauren, and,

'He might even take me as his Disciple.'

There are many people who received a Special Lecture from Yulian.

The Healers who had Technique and knowledge passed down from him could be counted on one hand.

However, there was still only one person in the world who had become the 'Disciple' of The Black Saint.

If it was him, wouldn't he be able to claim the second spot?

'Right. Should I aim for Top of the Class for now..'

Harboring his swelling expectations, Lauren exited the Terminal.

***

The next Morning.

Yulian, who had returned to the Academy, casually proceeded with Going to work at the Infirmary.

"......Have you already come out, Lord Saint?"

"Isn't it the very next day after you returned from Training. You could rest for about a day......"

The people of the Infirmary freaked out and tried to stop him.

Worrying that The Black Saint might perhaps be overworking himself.

But Yulian put on his Mask and Gown as if it was no big deal.

"I took a good rest inside the Airship, so it is fine."

To Yulian, it was a completely natural occurrence.

Because even in his Previous life, Going to work at Dawn the very next day after attending an Academic Society or Training to take the Leading Surgery on backlogged surgeries and do Ward Rounds was a Surgeon's routine.

"Still, how about taking some rest......"

"The Patient doesn't wait for us. And rather, if you make a habit out of resting, it is natural to want to rest later on while making up all sorts of excuses."

"Hmm-hmm. Certainly, in order to maintain beautiful muscles, one must do Honing every single day without fail."

A certain Muscle Holy Knight agreed, but the Healers let those Words go in one ear and out the other.

"Then shall we first check the Routine Surgery Schedule that has been delayed for two weeks."

At that sight of him, the other Healers clicked their tongues in awe.

"Phew. I wouldn't be able to be a Saint even if I was born with Divine Power."

"If you have to do all that to become a Saint, I wouldn't do it either."

And that News naturally flowed into the ears of one Saint as well.

None other than The Saint of Radiance, Lauren, who was about to sleep in lazily in a Luxury Housing at the Academy.

"Wake up, Lauren. You need to be Going to work at the Infirmary."

"What do those Words mean, Nanny?"

"I heard The Black Saint has done his Going to work today, so what are you going to do? You asked me to wake you up when he does his Going to work last night."

"......Haa."

Lauren let out a Sigh and got out of bed.

Last night, he told his Nanny this.

That he wanted to watch his Great Performance by Yulian's side and learn every single one of those Techniques without missing a single one.

"It couldn't be helped."

Receiving his Nanny's Seeing off, Lauren slipped out of bed.

If it were up to him, he wanted to sleep all day today.

Because the journey from the Holy City to here was long, and his first night in a strange place was a continuous string of tossing and turning.

However, he could not do that.

Wasn't the person who would become his Teacher already out and working.

The person who would become his Disciple couldn't just be lazily sleeping in.

"Do well out there~."

"Yeah......"

Besides, there was even someone who was anticipating his Great Performance.

Lauren dragged his tired body and headed to the Infirmary.

His footsteps heading to the Infirmary were heavy at first.

But before he knew it, a subtle Sense of Awe began to seep out.

Even though he had the Social status of a Student, he had learned the Highest grade Magic that couldn't be learned at the level of Students.

Namely, Regeneration.

It was an ultra-high tier Magic of the Healing System that surpassed Greater Heal.

'Although I can't bring out my full power since it's the Academy Territory where sunlight is scarce......'

His sun was not here.

He wouldn't be able to spam Regeneration several times a day like in the Holy City.

But it is fine.

Regeneration is a Magic that even a High-rank Healer finds difficult to easily wield.

To use such a Magic with the Social status of a Student?

'Hehehe......'

A picture was already being drawn in his head.

The Saint of Radiance, who had done a Transfer in the 2nd semester and was hopelessly lacking in medical knowledge compared to his other Peers.

His Peers subtly ignore him, and he gradually loses his Standing.

Then one day, a desperately critical Patient is brought in.

The moment when everyone gives up and stamps their feet in a panic because of that Patient!

Ta-da!

Pushing through the crowd and confidently stepping forward, The Saint of Radiance appears!

Showcasing the Miracle called Regeneration to present Proof of himself to everyone!

— "Oh! O Lauren! Please forgive me who dared to doubt you!"

The Peers and Professors who subtly ignored him would look up to him with eyes full of Awe, right.

Wouldn't Yulian perhaps look back at him again as well.

"Hehehe......"

Drenched in sweet imagination, Lauren let out a low laugh.

It was an imagination exceedingly fitting for someone his age.

'If so, my first Impression would be important for now.'

Before long, he arrived at the Infirmary.

He put on his best pose and entered the Infirmary.

"Hmm? Who are you? Judging by your attire, you seem to be a Healer."

The Entrance of the Infirmary.

The Holy Knight who was guarding that place discovered Lauren and approached.

Lauren briefly introduced himself to that Holy Knight.

"I am The Saint of Radiance."

"Ah, you are Lord Lauren. I have heard the Words from Lord Saint and Cardinal Wendras. That you plan to work at our Infirmary. Then are you doing your Going to work starting today?"

"Uh? Uh...... Yes......"

The Holy Knight responded calmly.

Lauren, who had expected a Reaction on the level of yesterday's Terminal, was flustered.

'What. Why is he so nonchalant?'

It couldn't be helped.

The people working at this Infirmary were in a state of being far too accustomed to the Miracles caused by The Black Saint.

It meant their threshold had risen so much that they wouldn't be surprised by just any Miracle.

It was the same for this Holy Knight.

'If it's The Saint of Radiance...... I was told to give Guidance to the Emergency Ward where The Saintess of the Lamp is, right? The Form of Address gets confusing, so calling him Lord Lauren should be fine.'

The Holy Knight didn't look down on Lauren.

But that didn't mean he treated him like a being before whom he couldn't even raise his head.

Because here, a Saint and Saintess were merely Healers who were ever so slightly more outstanding than a High-rank Healer, nothing more and nothing less.

"If you wait here, Lord Saint Yulian will come to pick you up."

"U-Uh...... Th-Thank you."

"Then, excuse me."

Having finished his Guidance, the Holy Knight returned to his post again.

Lauren, who had shrunk back for a moment, quickly snapped out of it.

— "Uuaaah......"

— "Grab the Patient's arm!"

— "M-My stomach hurts......"

— "We align it on the count of three. One!"

— "Kuaaaack!!!!!"

The Emergency Ward of the Meyer Infirmary was chaotic.

A Student with a twisted ankle.

A laborer who injured his head at a construction site.

A Patient clutching their stomach while breaking out in a cold sweat.

Was it because it was the best Infirmary currently existing in the world.

It seemed even busier than the Infirmaries in the Holy City.

It was when Lauren was losing himself in that place.

"Saintess! Here is Lord Saint's Patient!"

"I'm coming!"

Lauren's head naturally turned in that direction.

In that direction, a girl wearing a Veil was hurriedly running.

The girl immediately approached the Patient, cast only a Minor Heal on them, and then headed to another location.

And she only repeated casting Refresh and Minor Heal on the other Patient she went back to.

Soon, only after one Rush Hour had ended, was the girl silently organizing the Patients' Bandages in a corner.

'Who is that Child?'

Lauren grabbed a passing person and asked a Question.

"Excuse me, who is that girl?"

"Ah, are you a Newbie? She is The Saintess of the Lamp."

"Aha."

That girl was The Saintess of the Lamp, a girl wearing a thin Veil that half-covered her face.

Although in the Infirmary, she was more famous as 'Ayla', known as the sole Disciple of The Black Saint.

'That person is......'

Lauren's eyes narrowed slightly.

Because she was the being he had to surpass right away.

He carefully approached her.

"So you are The Saintess of the Lamp, Miss Ayla. I am Lauren, known as The Saint of Radiance."

"Ah...... Yes. It is a pleasure to meet you. Lord Saint of Radiance. May I perhaps call you Lord Lauren?"

"That would be fine."

Ayla quietly bowed her head in greeting.

How gentle and full of Humility that Voice was.

But despite that Voice, Lauren's subtle sense of rivalry did not die down.

Rather, he was even slightly disappointed.

Seeing her use only Minor Heal just a moment ago, he felt that he was well worth coveting her position.

'Since she was nominally the Disciple of The Black Saint, I wondered what kind of amazing Child she was, but......'

He, who was called a Saint, could even wield Regeneration.

Still, thinking that perhaps his thought was at Fault,

Lauren asked subtly.

"If it isn't an intrusion, may I ask up to which Rank of Heal you can wield?"

He intended to gauge the extent of her Bowl, to see just how good this Child who was the Disciple of The Black Saint was.

At that, Ayla answered while slightly lowering her gaze as if embarrassed.

"I am still a First year, so I have many shortcomings. For Heal, I still cannot wield anything other than Minor Heal."

"......Minor Heal?"

Lauren's eyes widened.

To think it was Minor Heal.

Wasn't it the most basic Healing Magic that only closed torn wounds and barely regenerated living tissue.

Let alone Regeneration, it was a level that fell far short of even Greater Heal.

'......This is, the Disciple of The Black Saint?'

Lauren cheered inwardly.

Of course, he outwardly tried to manage his Facial expression, but the corners of his mouth creeping up couldn't be helped.

He had heard she was the Top of the Class for this First year cohort.

But if this was the level, snatching not only the Top of the Class spot but even Yulian's 'Protégé' Title in one fell swoop would surely be only a matter of Time.

Filled with confidence, Lauren's Shoulders naturally rose.

It was the moment he was about to offer Words of advice to Ayla like a benevolent Senior.

Slam—!!

The Front door of the Infirmary burst open roughly as if it would break, and an urgent Voice echoed out.

"It's an Emergency Patient! Clear the way!"

What was supposed to come had finally arrived!

'It is Time to show the difference in our class!'

Cheering inwardly, Lauren took a step forward, thinking it was his turn to step up.

However, upon seeing the group that barged into the Infirmary, Lauren had no choice but to freeze in place.

They were not ordinary ambulance operatives or Priests.

He could tell right away the moment he saw them bringing the Patient stuffed in a sack like baggage instead of on a stretcher.

"Wh......What is it, who are those thugs......?"

"Ah, those are the Valkyries Seniors."

"Valky......ries?"

What kind of name is that?

Is it something like a Gang name?

......Wait. Senior?

Ayla explained to the confused Lauren.

"It's a Hero Party made by a Senior from the Hero Department, and they're famous for being the best at Subjugation of Black Sorcerers within the Academy."

At that explanation, Lauren looked back at the Entrance.

At the front was a red-haired girl— Erika.

Dragging a limp man with one hand.

The condition of that man was extraordinary.

His limbs were bent at angles they shouldn't be bent at, and his ankles were dangling as if they would fall off at any moment.

"Teacher! I'm here!"

Erika slammed the bloodied Black Sorcerer onto the floor and shouted in a very calm and clear Voice.

"I picked up a useful Teaching Material again today!"

"......Te-Teaching Material?"

Lauren couldn't hide his shock at the dreadful choice of Words calling a Patient a Teaching Material.

Was that woman some kind of Human Butcher?

At that Time, the silver-haired girl who seemed to be the de facto Leader of the Party stopped Erika.

"Unnie! I told you not to speak like that outside, please!"

"Ah, why. It's a good Teaching Material, isn't it. When else would the Healers get to Practice such a difficult Case without worrying about Covering Costs."

"But there are other good words, you know. It's not like we're some Human Trafficking Ring."

Overhearing the conversation between the two girls, Lauren's pupils rolled around.

At that sight of Lauren, Ayla nonchalantly explained.

"Ah, do not Worry too much. It's an ordinary Black Sorcerer Patient. It seems he put up heavy Resistance during the arrest."

The Saintess speaking gently from behind her Veil.

Lauren was confused.

Ordinary?

Am I at Fault regarding the standards of ordinary?

Before that, a Black Sorcerer?

Hunting Black Sorcerers?

This, he could understand.

Because that was the duty of a Hero Party in the first place.

However,

'Then why bring them to the Infirmary instead of killing them?'

He was confused.

By this whole situation.

Regardless, The Saintess of the Lamp approached the Hero Party as if she was used to it.

And to the woman wearing Priest's Robes at The Rear of the Party, she spoke.

"Senior Jenny. I'll ask for the Handover."

"The Patient has an Amputation of the Right Achilles Tendon, and a Patella Rupture. We currently suspect Hemoperitoneum (Hemoperitoneum. Intra-abdominal Bleeding.), so we performed simple First Aid."

The Valkyries' Guideline is simple.

Freya locates a hidden Black Sorcerer and advises them to surrender.

Erika excitedly beats up the Black Sorcerer who refuses to be arrested.

If they don't die during the arrest Process, Jenny performs First Aid.

And they are treated at the Meyer Infirmary.

It was the Result of compromising the Conviction of each member of the Hero Party.

Surprisingly, regarding this policy, Yulian showed quite a positive Reaction.

— "Thanks to that, we are indeed able to secure several unique Cases."

A Black Sorcerer is quite an excellent Teaching Material.

Even if you fold their spine or snap their neck, they tenaciously survive.

Cases where they come bearing unique Germs or diseases as a Side Effect of being a Black magic Sacrifice are also seen quite often.

Above all, when making a mistake, one is free from responsibilities regarding Morality.

In Yulian's eyes, there was no target as appropriate as this for Practicing the 'complex Cases' that Healers found tricky.

And perhaps it was the Fault of being influenced by such a Yulian.

It seemed the Healers of this Infirmary were already accustomed to this sort of distribution structure (?).

"Youngest Child. Isn't it about Time you try your first Leading Surgery on Liver Trauma? It looks like a Liver Rupture, do you want to take the Leading Surgery on it?"

"May I really do it?"

"I will offer my Words to Lord Saint and cover for you. Give it a try."

"Thank you, Department Head."

The Healers holding a Surgical Assessment with Crossed arms.

"There won't be any Reconstructive surgery today."

"Seeing how the injured Parts are like that, it couldn't be helped."

"If it was cut just a little bit deeper, I think there would have been a Reconstructive surgery."

The Healers smacking their lips in regret, showing their Appetite.

And,

"Unnie! Do you know what our external image is right now?"

"What is it?"

"It's slaughterers! Because you choose your Words like that every Time!"

"Well, it's the truth, isn't it. I'm from Slaughterhouse Street in the first place anyway."

"Haa...... The adventure I had expected...... The chivalry......"

The culprit of this whole situation who was picking her ear and letting the Nagging flow out the other, and,

The Silver Hair girl sitting on the floor seeking the Romance of an adventure.

In the dead center of that chaos, Lauren thought.

'Did I...... live only in the Holy City for too long so I don't know the way the world works?'

Wondering if he had just lived far too much inside a well.

***

Lauren's confusion was brief.

Having quickly snapped out of it, he approached the Black Sorcerer as if competing with Ayla.

'I don't know what the situation is, but I should save this person first, right?'

It was when he was blindly about to cast Greater Heal on the Black Sorcerer whose entire body had turned into Minced Meat.

"What on earth are you doing right now, Lord Lauren? Why are you preparing Greater Heal?"

"Wh-What Words are you trying to say?"

A lot of dead tissue is seen.

To the point that it can't be saved with Minor Heal.

That is why he had prepared Greater Heal, but......

Then Ayla spoke as if slightly coaxing him.

"Even for a trauma patient, you should start with Refresh. What will you do if Demon Disease is lying dormant."

"Ah."

Coming to his senses at Ayla's pointed remark, Lauren cast Refresh.

Like that, the two of them and the other Healers cast Refresh on the Parts they were each in charge of.

Afterward, the Treatment Team performed Hemostasis on major Bleeding with Bandages, and cast Minor Heal.

During that Process, Lauren was able to catch a Glimpse of Ayla's Skill.

'......Her Minor Heal is like Art.'

He couldn't help but feel Admiration as soon as he got a peek at the Runic formula.

Ayla was fine-tuning the Runic formula of Minor Heal for each body Part.

The most Admirable thing in that Process was the fact that her Minor Heal had a clear purpose.

'She is Regenerating only the necessary tissue.'

Lauren's Minor Heal initially treated every Part that looked bad.

In that Process, the waste was also on the severe side, and the Parts that should have been given up on ended up wasting his Divine Power as well.

But Ayla was different.

Her treatment had clear purpose and Dosage Instructions.

To stop the Bleeding, Heal for large Blood Vessels, and Refresh for small Blood Vessels.

Adding delicate measures in between to prevent a Blood Clot from mixing in was a bonus.

Just when he was in Admiration of Ayla's Technique, the Left Leg that Lauren was in charge of suddenly began to flop around.

"Uh...... Uh?"

"It's Heterotopic Ossification. It seems you didn't consider that, Lord Lauren."

"Heterotopic...... Ossification? Is it perhaps something like Ghoulification?"

At that Question, Ayla stared intently at Lauren.

Her Facial expression couldn't be seen because of the Veil.

But he could guess from the atmosphere.

She probably seemed puzzled as to why he didn't know this.

"It's when a Bone fragment left inside the Muscle tissue grows and tears the flesh. That's why you have to be careful when casting Minor Heal."

"......"

It was a Part that Lauren, who had gone around spamming Greater Heal and Regeneration in the Holy City, did not know well.

Because usually, when casting these Magics, there are many Cases where they cut that Part cleanly and Regenerate it.

As she said that, Ayla gave a Report of that fact to the Healer.

"Judging by the state of Hypertonia in the Right Femoral Muscle, it seems Heterotopic Ossification has progressed from that side."

"Understood, Saintess. It seems a Surgery will be added."

At that sight, Lauren felt slightly intimidated.

Wondering if things had become complicated because of him.

He was afraid of the scolding and reprimands that would fly his way next.

However, that was just Lauren's own delusion.

"It's fine, Lord Lauren. The people here have all made that kind of mistake once or twice."

"......What do those Words mean?"

"Both myself and that Healer over there have had many Cases where we made a Fault in casting Heal by mistake. Each Time, my Teacher fixed it for us. The people here have probably all made such a mistake at least once as well."

Her telling him not to care about a mistake of this level.

The more surprising point was that, true to her Words, no one in that place seemed to care about it either.

"In an emergency situation, anyone can make this kind of mistake. In the first place, Heterotopic Ossification during an emergency situation isn't an Accident that can be prevented just by trying to prevent it, so do not Worry too much."

As she said that, Ayla had already finished the Patient's First Aid.

"It was smooth thanks to Senior Jenny performing First Aid well on the serious Parts."

"Are you not completely treating them?"

"Ah, it seems you are not used to the structure of our Infirmary. That sort of thing is done through Surgery, and the Emergency Ward is literally a place that only puts them in a state where they can undergo Surgery. It's also the reason why I was assigned here."

Hearing her Words, Lauren looked around again.

Then, he was able to notice a fact he hadn't realized until just a moment ago.

It wasn't only Ayla who used Minor Heal in the Emergency Ward.

Even the Healers who appeared skilled at first glance were wielding only Minor Heal in the Emergency Ward.

It wasn't that they lacked the ability.

Their role in the Emergency Ward was simply just that.

Realizing this, Lauren had no choice but to shut his mouth.

He had been looking down on Ayla for the fact that she could only wield Minor Heal.

But actually seeing the Patient, he felt like he knew the reason why The Black Saint had assigned her here.

'Was it just that our roles were different.'

He felt apologetic toward Ayla.

At the same Time, his Awe toward The Black Saint grew.

In this massive Infirmary where everything flowed according to his Design, Minor Heal held a value no less than Regeneration.

"My Teacher said that the Emergency Ward is exactly the place where one can see many diseases as broadly as possible. I hope Lord Lauren gets to see many things here as well."

"......I will make sure to learn as much as possible."

Before long, he put away the thought of becoming the Protagonist.

It was the Fault of not wanting to create noise in this massive System.

And that day, Lauren was able to send a total of 30 people from the Emergency Ward to the Operating Room using Minor Heal.

At the same Time, he learned one lesson.

'The grade of Heal isn't everything......'

What's important is accuracy, not output.

It was also the day a Frog in a well came to know the world.