The afternoon after the golem incident.
At the entrance to the slums, there was a group of several people dressed in pure white coats.
On their chest emblems, a design was depicted: two hands embracing the sun as if healing it.
They were a group of healers belonging to the Royal Healing Institute.
“Why did headquarters take so long to dispatch healers?”
One of the girls in the group said, sounding slightly disgruntled.
She wore glasses, and her blue hair swayed at her shoulders.
“If they’re this late, anyone seriously injured would be beyond help by now.”
“It can’t be helped, Umin. After all, it’s the slums.”
“Whether it’s a regular district or the slums, I don’t think there’s any difference when it comes to injured people.”
“Don’t say things like that so loudly. There is a difference. That’s why it’s in the form of volunteer work, not an official dispatch.”
Another healer chided the girl.
The girl, called Umin, let out a small sigh and adjusted her glasses.
“And only five of us showed up…”
“Better than zero, right?”
“I haven’t been told the details of the incident.”
“Me neither. I heard a rumor that some monster appeared in the slums, but I don’t know for sure. Apparently, the Royal Guard has secured a person of interest, but there’s also talk that they’re withholding details to avoid causing panic.”
“It’s all so vague…”
“Our role isn’t to investigate the truth, but to treat the injured. There’s no point in worrying about it too much.”
“That’s true, but…”
The group of healers exchanged such conversations as they stepped into the area.
“Wow…”
A scene beyond their imagination spread out before them.
Most of the surrounding buildings had collapsed, and smoke still smoldered from some of the debris.
“Could a monster really have appeared?”
“I thought it was a tall tale, too. But if there was such a monster, where did it disappear to?”
Voices of bewilderment rose from the group.
In any case, looking at this situation, there must have been a considerable number of casualties.
Umin felt dizzy, thinking they would have to set up a base somewhere and examine people one by one, but there were only a few of them. How many days would it take?
“For now, let’s ask for the residents’ cooperation in gathering the injured in one place.”
Umin and the others split up and started calling out to the residents who were clearing away the debris.
But—
“There are no injured people…?”
“Yeah, none in my area either.”
No matter who they asked, they were told that there were no injured people requiring treatment.
Even when they tried to ask for more details, no one would tell them anything.
“How is that possible with this level of damage? The incident happened in the middle of the night, right? I can’t imagine everyone was able to evacuate immediately.”
Umin said, her head in confusion.
Another healer answered, arms crossed.
“One possibility is…there really are no injured, and this was all staged by the residents to cause confusion in the central district.”
“Why would they do that?”
“Or, there are injured people, but they don’t trust us.”
“…”
“In any case, it’s clear that we have no work here. Damn, what a waste of time.”
The healers left the slums, looking exasperated.
“Is that really the case…?”
Umin, left alone, muttered as she gazed at the town turned to rubble.
First of all, there is no merit in destroying your own home in a staged event. Also, it may be true that healers from the central district aren’t trusted, but it seems likely that at least one person would ask for help if someone close to them was injured.
“Could it be—”
Umin suddenly thought of another possibility.
In other words, there were injured people, but someone else had already finished treating them.
But she immediately shook her head.
“…That’s just not possible.”
To handle the number of victims expected from this scale of damage before Umin and the others arrived, dozens of ordinary healers would be needed.
The Royal Healing Institute has received no information that such a large number of healers had been mobilized.
Naturally, she hadn’t heard any reports of top-class healers or the Saintess being involved.
Umin was about to leave the slums, berating herself for her ridiculous idea, when she stopped.
She had suddenly remembered something.
Some time ago, when she was making a house call to a remote village, she happened to accompany the party called “Iron Phoenix” on a Fire Fox subjugation.
The words the leader had spoken then came to mind.
—Is there anyone who can use top-class healing magic without a healer’s license?
“…”
She had thought it was a strange question at the time, but now she wondered if he had been thinking of someone specific.
The Royal Healing Institute oversees all the healing clinics in the country.
But, of course, unlicensed individuals would fall outside that net.
Somewhere in this country, a top-class healer, unknown to the central authority, is hiding.
And if such a person was involved in the incident, it would explain this incomprehensible situation—
Umin looked back at the town, her voice trembling.
“It’s just not possible, is it…?”
The footsteps of the Royal Healing Institute were slowly approaching the dark healer.
A/N: The Royal Healing Institute is finally starting to move…!?
This episode marks the end of the first arc, serving as a lead-in to the second arc. Thank you to everyone who has read this far.