“It’s something you should try, in the battlefield.”
Two weeks had passed since the new medical camp, which was necessary due to the expansion of the territory, had been set up.
It had been exactly one month since the training for the versatile Dark Healers had started.
The same daily routine continued, with wounded soldiers pouring in… and the growth of the nine remaining candidates up to this point was remarkable.
…Unexpected growth, huh?
Looking at the candidates who were still treating patients right in front of me, I thought this to myself.
Although the “Book of Dark Healing” that I distributed was placed beside them, the number of times it was used had visibly decreased. Their personal Dark Heal skills were improving.
At this point, a question arose.
…In the Kingdom, the Bible had been a factor that caused priests’ personal skills to stagnate. But, is that happening in the Demon Kingdom?
It might be a difference in culture.
In the Demon Kingdom, magical tomes are merely references and are not treated as convenient tools. Perhaps because of this cultural difference, the candidates were able to adopt an attitude of not relying entirely on the Book of Dark Healing… That seems to be the most natural explanation.
Well, in any case, it’s wonderful that they are able to grow by using their own minds and bodies.
“It’s an unexpected result. But, it’s the unpredictability of what happens in practice that makes it truly enjoyable.”
“Excuse me, Doctor?”
“Hmm?”
Before I knew it, a candidate with wings, dressed in a white coat—Swan Veister, a harpy—was standing in front of me.
“Is something wrong?”
“No, it’s just that it’s almost time for the shift change, and I wanted to inform you.”
“Oh, is it already that time?”
Looking at the clock, it was indeed almost time for the other Goliath candidates to arrive from the nap tents. Swan and I, among others, needed to rest.
“By the way, Swan, how are you doing with your mana deficiency lately?”
“…! No, thanks to you, I don’t have any problems anymore!”
Swan replied briskly and with strong emphasis.
Hmm… “Thanks to you,” huh?
If that’s meant sarcastically, perhaps she’s a little upset.
…I had been making her use the Book of Dark Healing every day, pushing her mana to the limit in an attempt to expand her mana capacity through painful experiences. But maybe she realized what I was doing.
I also understand, having grown up in a rural forest orphanage, where I used to capture monsters and push myself to the limit with magic operations like Dark Heal, causing myself to fall into mana deficiency. It’s pretty tough.
However, there are some benefits. The more you use your mana to its limit, the more your mana capacity increases.
…So, the goal of this training from the beginning was for them to focus on expanding their mana capacity for two months without rest, so that when they start using the Book of Dark Healing regularly, they wouldn’t run into mana deficiency issues.
“Well, let’s call it a success.”
“Huh?”
Swan tilted her head in confusion, but I didn’t mind. It’s still a blessing that they are growing as Dark Healers in a proper way.
Soon enough, the moment will come when we’ll need more “excellent” Dark Healers. It’s probably just around the corner.
＊ ＊ ＊
In the corner of the nap tent, I picked up a quill.
“Kiwi-sama, wouldn’t it be better if you rested?”
Sheth, who always guards me, sat down next to me with a worried expression.
“You haven’t been sleeping much lately. If you keep this up, you’ll damage your health.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
“I understand you’re absorbed in your research, but…”
Sheth glanced at the parchment in my hand, which was filled with tightly written text, and said,
“Is that… the elf’s…”
“Yes. These are her last words. ‘Take the staff. All of my knowledge is there,’ she said. And I have no choice but to inherit it. The wisdom she packed into that staff.”
“…Why did she entrust her research to the enemy?”
“In the pursuit of knowledge, there are no enemies or allies. And it is something that must never be allowed to fade.”
I could understand that deeply.
The terror of seeing the crystallized wisdom accumulated over centuries being lost to nothingness.
That is something to fear far more than death.
“I see… I can’t say I understand, though.”
“That’s how it is. I’ve thought about it myself. If I were to die now, all the knowledge and skills I’ve acquired would be lost.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t let that happen. I will protect you, Kiwi-sama, even if it costs me my life.”
“That’s reassuring.”
Still, there’s always the possibility of something unexpected happening. So, perhaps I should leave something behind as well.
The Book of Dark Healing might prove useful for that, but it won’t be enough on its own.
…Just as the elf entrusted her wisdom to me, knowledge should be preserved in someone’s memory.
“I think I’ll establish a Dark Healer Association.”
“An association…?”
“Yes. It will be an institution where all knowledge related to Dark Heal will be gathered. In other words, a place where anyone can gather and study. There’s a similar institution in the Kingdom… I used to use it often when I was young.”
I remember how stimulating it was to present my own research and listen to others’ at the Kingdom Healers Association. It was a great source of growth. I also remember the excitement of touching the wisdom of past great individuals, rummaging through old documents with my own hands.
“However, in this Demon Kingdom, there is nothing like that. It can’t be helped. After all, each race only has its own specialized Dark Healers, and there was no point in gathering knowledge of Dark Heal from different races.”
“I see. But now, with your versatile Dark Heal…!”
“Exactly. If we can show our achievements in training versatile Dark Healers, many talented Dark Healers will likely gather seeking that knowledge.”
By doing so, not only can I leave my knowledge behind as part of the association’s wisdom, but knowledge of Dark Heal for races I don’t yet know will also gather. It’s truly killing two birds with one stone.
“Heh heh… I can’t wait. New knowledge is right before us…”
“Indeed, Kiwi-sama would never let such a chance slip away.”
“…?”
“Kiwi-sama?”
“…zzz”
“To do what you want and sleep afterward… I can understand Lady Milphobia’s struggle.”
Sheth carried Kiwi, who had fallen asleep, and took him to his sleeping bag.
