“Sit here, Father Arthur. You’re early.”
As I sat across from the bishop and looked at him quietly, he greeted me with his characteristic gentle smile.
It seemed that he hadn’t called me here to scold me after all.
“I was surprised to hear you were looking for me this morning, Bishop. It made me wonder if I’d done something wrong and was going to get scolded, like when I was young.”
“Oh dear, it sounds like there’s something on your conscience. What trouble are you planning to give this old man this time?”
“I haven’t done anything wrong, really. I’m telling the truth this time.”
“Alright, alright. I’ll go make the tea that you like. Just wait here.”
After receiving education and holy power at the central church, I was assigned to this Palmore church to continue my training.
When I first arrived, the bishop took me around, allowing me to see and learn various things. Of course, the rigorous training he put me through still makes me grit my teeth in memory, but thanks to him, I became a healer, so I couldn’t resent him completely.
Without the bishop’s guidance, I wouldn’t have become the Youngest Chief Healer. And at this age, I wouldn’t have had a chance at the position either.
“The tea you brew is as exceptional as always, Bishop.”
“It’s my one pride.”
“Just one? That’s absurd.”
Though he now oversees the small-town Palmore church, he was notorious in his youth as an inquisitor. Even with that soft chuckle, I never knew when his face might change to reveal the inquisitor within.
The Inquisition was reserved only for the elite talents of the church. For someone with such a past, to claim his only pride is his tea-making skills—well, it’s obviously just an exaggeration.
As we chatted over tea, quite a bit of time passed.
“Isn’t it about time you told me? The longer you stay silent, the more nervous I get.”
Isn’t he drawing it out because he has something difficult to say? At this point, it seemed better to take the hit head-on.
“Haha, you caught on?”
“What is it, then?”
“Well… actually, this came as an official document from above.”
“Can I read it?”
“Go ahead.”
The bishop handed me a piece of paper, which I carefully read.
“…Priest Assignment?”
The largest words on the paper filled me with foreboding.
“Do you remember the recent commotion in the Holy Kingdom?”
“Yes, there was a revelation.”
It was something every cleric would know.
“They said a labyrinth would open. You must remember from your studies the dangers of a labyrinth opening again after 300 years.”
“Please, tell me I don’t have to go there.”
Why did my unease always turn out to be correct?
I knew that speaking against it would invite scolding, but I couldn’t hold back my refusal.
“Ah-“
And, as expected, the bishop’s expression hardened, showing a glimpse of his old personality.
“I’m willing to take on any other difficult tasks, but I can’t agree to go to the labyrinth.”
“I have no intention of forcing you. I just thought it could be a good opportunity for you. There hasn’t been an official mandate yet, but there’s talk of making the priests’ training include activities in the labyrinth going forward.”
“……”
What the bishop was saying now was essentially this:
“Do you want to be dragged there, or will you go willingly?”
“You said you wouldn’t force me.”
“Of course not. But if you end up going later, it won’t be by my force, will it?”
“If I go voluntarily, will there be any benefits?”
“They say they’ll count the training period as double.”
The reason priests undergo training isn’t just to cultivate holy power but also to fulfill annual training points. If someone has no intention of advancing their rank, they can skip filling the points, but for those who aim for promotion, it’s best to accumulate well above the minimum.
“Double the training points for activity in the labyrinth?! In that case, quite a few healers will volunteer.”
“Well, no one knows how strong the monsters in the labyrinth have grown over 300 years, so I wonder if any priests would readily step forward. Not many healers can overcome their fear.”
The Labyrinth.
In this world, there exists an inaccessible labyrinth. For the record, the reason it’s inaccessible is that it was intentionally sealed 300 years ago. Back then, adventurers who are now heroes in history worked hard to close its entrance. After much hardship, they succeeded in sealing the labyrinth, and peace was restored.
‘Rather than closing it, sealing it would be a more fitting description.’
The history books explained the labyrinth in detail. It was written that if the labyrinth was not conquered, its door would randomly open, allowing monsters to emerge and cause harm, so it had to be closed.
‘The labyrinth is full of monsters that drive humans to despair, along with countless traps. And if one overcomes these adversities, it is said that they would receive immense rewards.’
A revelation had come down saying that such a labyrinth was about to open again after 300 years. The Holy Kingdom was in an uproar, trying to figure out why the sealed labyrinth was reopening. After scouring ancient texts, they finally found the cause.
“It would have been nice to know this earlier. Why didn’t we realize that the seal on the labyrinth would last exactly 300 years?”
Had we known, we would have trained warriors to conquer it, wouldn’t we?
The bishop only smiled in response, not answering my question. In truth, I wasn’t really expecting an answer, since I already knew it. How could they have told the people, who were cheering and relieved that they had survived, that this seal was only temporary and would last 300 years? They would have tried to keep it under wraps, only for it to be forgotten over time.
‘…Should I go?’
The bishop continued to sip his tea leisurely, still wearing that kind smile. It seemed he was giving me time to think, knowing I was deeply contemplating all sorts of things.
If he had just ordered me to go to the labyrinth, I might have grudgingly complied. But the bishop, of course, didn’t push me at all.
“Ah~ Can’t you just threaten me to go? That way, it would feel less unfair.”
“Oh dear, a person should make their own decisions when it comes to training.”
“……”
“You have time to think it over until we send the official reply, so there’s no need to decide immediately.”
“Understood. I’ll think about it until tomorrow.”
“Very well.”
I left the room only after carefully finishing all the refreshments the bishop had offered.
Though I had work to do today, it seemed unlikely I’d be able to focus on it.
“Father, is something troubling you? You seem to be making more mistakes than usual today; I was worried you might be unwell.”
The nurse priest’s words snapped me back to attention.
“I apologize. I was preoccupied with something I needed to think over, so I couldn’t fully focus on my work.”
“I’m glad to hear you’re alright physically. But something to think about?”
“Yes.”
Since the nurse priest had no intentions of further promotions, she didn’t need to concern herself with training-related matters. So, even if she heard about the labyrinth, she wouldn’t consider it a major issue.
“I’ll focus on work now.”
Though Palmore isn’t a major city, the hospital receives many patients. Not only do the residents of this small town visit frequently, but people even come from distant rural areas to seek treatment here.
After a day of tending to patients, I felt utterly drained, and by nightfall, my head was pounding as I still needed to decide by tomorrow whether or not I’d go for the labyrinth training.
‘I should drink some holy water.’
Holy water isn’t as grand as depicted in novels. It’s usually used in exorcisms or when baptizing followers.
So, why am I thinking of drinking holy water now?
‘Consuming holy water has an awakening effect that helps clear the mind.’
For someone like me, who can’t think straight right now, it could be effective.
“Do you happen to have any spare holy water?”
“Yes. Would you like some?”
“Yes, I think that would be best.”
I took the small vial of holy water, about the size of a finger, and drank it. As the cool liquid went down my throat, the throbbing pain in my head eased.
“This was made by the bishop, wasn’t it?”
“Oh my, how did you know?”
“The taste of the bishop’s holy water is a bit different from the others.”
“Surely not! I bet Father Arthur is the only one who can tell who made the holy water just by its taste!”
Since it’s water imbued with holy power, it usually just tastes like water. The reason I can distinguish it is because I can sense the unique holy power within it.
“The bishop’s holy water really clears my mind. Thank you.”
Although any holy water would have sufficed, the nurse priest had brought the bishop’s holy water for me. If I didn’t express my gratitude for that kind gesture, I’d be less human and more beast.
“I’m just happy if Father Arthur stays healthy.”
“Honestly, our dear nurse priest is one of the kindest people around.”
As I basked in her warm kindness, the unpleasant thoughts of what lay ahead began to resurface.
‘So, I have to leave this place and train in the labyrinth?’
Should I just give up on the promotion? But that would mean all my efforts until now would go to waste. The title of youngest chief healer is such an honorable one!
‘Ending my life as a chief healer? Did I endure all those hardships in my youth to become a healer only to stop here?’
Considering the challenges of my childhood, maybe going to the labyrinth wouldn’t be so bad.
‘I really don’t have enough information about the labyrinth.’
If I was going to decide whether to go or not, I needed to know what kind of place it really was.
“Do you know what time the library closes?”
“It’s open until around 9, I believe. Are you going to the library?”
“Yes. I thought I’d try to gather some information.”
“I don’t know what’s troubling you, but I hope everything works out. I’ll pray for you tonight, Father Arthur.”
“Thank you, Sister.”
Since it’s a small library, I wasn’t sure if they’d have any information on the labyrinth. But doing something was better than nothing, so I decided to head there right after work to search for any relevant books.
It looked like tonight was going to be a very long night.
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