Previously: Zenos was assigned to investigate a missing person case at the Royal Healing Institute as a special trainee.
The next day, at noon.
Zenos was sitting across from Umin in the Royal Healing Institute’s cafeteria.
“So, Zenos… I mean, Zeno-san. How was the orientation?”
Umin corrected herself and glanced around.
Zenos’s current status was that of a special trainee named Zeno.
The special trainee program was a system separate from the regular route, allowing individuals to rotate through various departments of the Royal Healing Institute by recommendation.
It was primarily a program that provided a temporary experience at the Royal Healing Institute for outstanding students from the Healer Training School, exchange students from allied countries, or others deemed to have promising futures.
Zenos had received an explanation of the training program in the morning.
“It seems like I’ll be rotating through various places, but before that, I don’t even know how the system for regular healers works.”
“Ah, that’s right. Let’s see…”
Umin took a sip of her soup and began to explain.
Those who wanted to become healers first apply to a Healer Training School in their district.
Those who pass the aptitude test are allowed to enroll and receive six years of education. Then, if they pass the healer qualification exam, they can finally obtain a healer’s license.
“Six years? That’s quite a long time.”
“Well, there is a system for skipping grades, but most people take six years. The Magic Academy and the Martial Arts School are basically four years, so it’s long if you compare it.”
After becoming a healer, there are several more options.
The most common is to get a job at a branch clinic of the Royal Healing Institute. After gaining a certain amount of experience there, they can also open their own practice after undergoing an examination.
Also, some who want to go outside take the adventurer’s qualification and go on adventures. Others become personal healers for royalty or high-ranking nobles, and some healers join the military.
“And the Royal Healing Institute is the one that oversees all of these?”
“That’s right. People who come here are those who want to do research or education, those who want to learn advanced treatment. And those who want to be involved in system design and management.”
“Just listening to it makes my head hurt…”
It felt like he had somehow ended up in a terrible place. However, Zenos’s role here was solely to gather information on the missing person.
“For now, tell me more about the missing person.”
“Yes. His name is Alfred, and he’s my senior.”
Umin explained that he was the vice-chief of the research lab and also a senior healer.
“He was very talented, kind, and looked after people. When the medicine for Red Lung was created, Alfred insisted that it be delivered free of charge to the slums.”
“Oh? There are healers like that?”
“Yes. There was strong opposition, but he said that if the disease wasn’t completely eradicated, it would spread again, so everyone should be given it. Professor Becker also supported that.”
“…I see. Honestly, I felt like running away during the orientation, but if he’s that kind of guy, he’s worth looking for seriously.”
At that time, Zenos was in the slums and saw many people being saved by the Red Lung medicine. As someone involved with the slums, he should offer at least a word of thanks for that time.
“But, it’s good to gather information, but doing it haphazardly is inefficient. Are there any clues?”
“There are, but…”
Just as Umin was about to speak, the entrance to the cafeteria became noisy. A group of several dozen people entered as if they owned the place. At the front was a middle-aged man with a mustache.
“That’s…?”
“That’s Professor Goldrun. He’s a Special Class Healer, and there are rumors that he’ll be the next director of the Royal Healing Institute.”
“Wow, he has a lot of followers. He must be quite something.”
“Well…”
Umin was slightly ambiguous.
“Is there a problem?”
“Actually… there are rumors that Professor Goldrun is better at politics than at being a healer, and that he was able to become a Special Class Healer because he skillfully secured the backing of a high-ranking noble.”
“…There’s a lot going on.”
It seemed best not to get involved with him for now. However, Umin said with a slightly apologetic expression:
“The thing is, Zeno-san, you need to get involved with Professor Goldrun.”
“Eh?”
“Actually, there’s a possibility that Professor Goldrun is involved in Alfred’s disappearance. Professor Goldrun, who is very power-oriented, wants to gather talented subordinates into his faction. So he set his sights on the talented Alfred and summoned him to his laboratory in the form of a secondment.”
“Becker allowed that?”
“It seems he made a debt when delivering the Red Lung medicine to the slums, so he couldn’t be too forceful. Besides, Alfred himself said it wouldn’t be bad to broaden his horizons…”
However, a month after the secondment, Alfred suddenly disappeared. They inquired with Professor Goldrun, but he insisted that he didn’t know, and in fact, was inconvenienced by it, and it was getting them nowhere.
“But, we think something might have happened. So we’d like Zeno-san to get close to Professor Goldrun and gather information… if you would.”
Umin made a gesture as if praying.
“…Listen. I understand what you want to say, but how am I supposed to get close to him? I don’t think he’ll tell me anything if I just go up to him.”
“That’s okay. If you produce results in the program, he’ll come into contact with you whether you like it or not.”
“No, no, that’s even more impossible. I want to help find this Alfred guy, but there’s no way someone like me can produce results at the Royal Healing Institute.”
“Eh…? Does Zeno-san not realize his own level?”
“Eh?”
“Hey, Umin. What are you doing all the way over here?”
A man with a tray came up to Zenos and Umin. The tips of his hair were curled, and he had a somewhat unpleasant expression.
“It’s none of your business where I eat, Cresson.”
“Hey, hey, don’t get angry. I came to praise you for knowing your place. Thanks for moving to the edge for us, the Goldrun faction.”
Apparently, he was one of Professor Goldrun’s followers. His eyes suddenly turned to Zenos. He stared at the trainee ID hanging around his neck.
“Hmm, a special trainee, huh?”
“Yeah, nice to meet you.”
“Well, do your best not to tarnish the reputation of your recommender.”
The man called Cresson left with a sneer.
“What was that about?”
“Don’t worry about it. He’s a classmate, but he’s been getting carried away since he joined Professor Goldrun’s lab.”
Looking at the clock, it was almost one o’clock in the afternoon. The first program was about to begin. Zenos slightly shifted his mask and put the leftovers in his mouth, and stood up with a slight feeling of unease.
“Well, I’ll be going then.”
“Yes. Don’t worry. Zeno-san, you’ll be fine if you just do what you normally do.”
After leaving the cafeteria, Umin said that and waved her hand with a smile.