Your Majesty, Dinner Is Ready. – Chapter 69 – C-Rank Labyrinth – Sanctuary of Restful Purification (2)

Author: Cireng

Chapter 69: C-Rank Labyrinth – Sanctuary of Restful Purification (2)

“They’ve already received all the critical treatment they need, but none of them are showing any signs of improving, so please be extremely careful.”

As Priest Elion looked over the patients lying in their beds, he deliberately avoided meeting our eyes.

“I’m sorry, but there is no distinction between day and night here. I’d appreciate it if you could take all your meals, breaks, and sleep inside this treatment ward.”

“We have to sleep here too…?”

The working conditions were so harsh that even Pendrick, the incarnation of positivity, looked taken aback.

The middle-aged priest continued avoiding our gaze as he nodded.

“We’re desperately short on personnel, so please bear with us. After you’ve volunteered for five days, another volunteer team will arrive to relieve you.”

Elion bowed deeply.

“My sincerest apologies, but until then, please continue working inside this ward.”

“…Well, then it can’t be helped. It’ll be exhausting, but I’m sure it’ll be rewarding!”

“Once you’ve completed your volunteer service, we’ll bestow a small blessing upon you.”

The labyrinth completion reward.

It wasn’t merely the humble wording characteristic of clergy; it really was just a ‘small’ blessing that improved one’s health.

To make matters worse, it was temporary.

It lasted only a week before disappearing.

“So the completion condition is just working for five days? Compared to all that effort, the reward is kind of…”

“You can’t expect a huge reward for volunteer work, can you?”

Despite not even worshipping Artein, Pendrick diligently defended the Church of Protection’s rather underwhelming compensation.

Even so, Astrimiria quietly voiced her doubts.

“Sir Karr, isn’t this reward completely different from what you told us before entering the labyrinth? What’s going on?”

“I never lie when it comes to exploration.”

“’…I see. I think I understand what you mean.”

“As expected of Lady Astrimiria.”

I gave her a thumbs-up.

A weary mental chuckle came back in response.

“As I mentioned earlier, this will be an incredibly grueling task. But if you enjoy yourself while working, even hardship eventually becomes just another cherished memory.”

Quoting something that sounded straight out of a self-help book, I turned toward Bartimir.

“Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Yeah! Our road of hardship is wide open! I never imagined there’d be a place with this many mental and physical calamities…!”

To us…

This wasn’t a hospital ward.

It was paradise.

“A labyrinth is supposed to be full of suffering and hardships. What’s the point of a safe, boring expedition?”

“That’s exactly the right mindset.”

“I may lack common sense, but I’ve steadily learned everything an explorer should know.”

“Excellent. Shall I pat your head?”

“I’ll pass.”

After he firmly refused, I dramatically turned away to show I was sulking.

At that moment, Elion returned after briefly disappearing.

He carried an enormous stack of documents, placed them on the desk near the entrance, then pressed a hand against his chest with a subdued expression.

“These contain every patient’s illness and the precautions associated with them. You must memorize them. This month alone, more than ten people have died after becoming caught up in the conditions of patients whose illnesses they hadn’t fully learned.”

“…More than ten?”

“To be precise, twelve. The previous volunteer team… and the team before them… met tragic ends.”

That was the decisive reason the Sanctuary of Restful Purification had been classified as a C-Rank labyrinth.

If you failed to respond correctly whenever the critically ill patients’ various mental and physical calamities triggered abnormal phenomena…

You could die.

After confirming everyone’s gloomy expressions, Elion clasped his hands together in prayer.

“May Artein illuminate your lives…”

It was an awfully solemn prayer for people simply about to begin nursing patients.

“Then I’ll be going. Please do your best.”

The middle-aged priest left with worry and guilt plainly written across his face.

Afterward…

Valentin stepped forward, his own expression equally serious.

“You all heard the priest. Twelve people died this month alone. They were all followers of the Church of Harmony who entered here to volunteer. If we let our guard down, we may end up the same way.”

Sanctuary of Restful Purification.

The time period was the height of the Great Holy War, when massive campaigns were being carried out against the churches of the evil gods, demons, and monster armies.

The setting was a facility established by a selfless Saint to heal every patient who came from across the continent.

“I’ll emphasize it once more. This labyrinth probably contains more situations where you’ll face death than any other C-Rank labyrinth you’ve ever experienced.”

“……”

The members’ faces filled with tension and fear.

I wondered…

What expression was I wearing?

A spirit of challenge and anticipation?

Or excitement and enthusiasm?

Whichever it was…

The mindset I needed to have had already been decided.

“Since Sir Karr is leading today’s volunteer work… Would you mind saying a few words before we begin?”

Without declining, I immediately spoke.

“You must not let your guard down for even a moment. This treatment facility is filled with horrifying, contagious calamities… deadly plagues, spreading curses, sentient poisons, and madness that infects people merely by looking at its bearer.”

Death itself didn’t frighten me very much.

But… I had no desire to die meaninglessly, in some utterly unstimulating fashion.

This labyrinth was the perfect place for exactly that sort of death.

Which was why… A faint smile spread across my face.

“If anyone no longer wishes to volunteer, please tell me now. Priest Elion will escort you outside the temple. You only need to remain outside until the labyrinth’s completion condition has been fulfilled.”

Naturally…

Not a single member expressed any desire to withdraw.

I nodded firmly as I looked around the ward.

“Then let’s start by ventilating the room and cleaning the floors.”

***

Nursing patients is exhausting work.

You must care for people incapable of managing their daily lives, tending to them day and night.

It wasn’t something an ordinary state of mind could endure.

Burning love, an unwavering professional spirit, or perhaps dedication born from respect or faith.

Whatever the source…

Without at least one emotional pillar to lighten the burden on your body and mind, it became difficult to prevent the emotional disaster of eventually resenting your patients.

“Everyone, move quickly!”

For explorers who had almost certainly never dreamed of becoming caregivers…

Sanctuary of Restful Purification, where all they did was tend to the sick, had to be the worst labyrinth imaginable.

“Brother Lucius! Patient Number Fifty-Three is in distress!”

“I’m coming…!”

Priest Lucius hurried to the patient Valentin indicated and slowly rang a black-and-white bell entwined with olive branches.

‘Ding.’

A refreshing bell rang out.

“O Artein, Protector of all innocents. May Your shield uphold this fragile wildflower, trembling beneath impure violence.”

‘Saaaa…’

As white light spread outward from the bell…

The patient, who had been writhing violently while groaning in agony, gradually regained a peaceful complexion.

“…Please rest comfortably, if only for a little while.”

“Brother Lucius! Number One Hundred Ninety-Nine!”

“Understood!”

Priest Lucius’s role: To soothe and protect the minds and bodies of patients suffering from every imaginable illness.

‘Ding.’

“O Artein!”

Each time the bell rang…

Another patient regained stability.

Even though his holy power was being steadily consumed…

Lucius merely looked sleepy the entire time.

“Ilia! Patient Number Three Hundred Ninety-Three!”

“Understood.”

Holy Knight Ilia infused holy power into a round sacred instrument.

‘As Artein watches over us, let all fear depart!’

The clear hymn echoed throughout the treatment ward, where screams and the pounding of hospital beds filled the air.

Its effects weren’t limited to sound alone.

Gentle white waves, the very presence of Artein, flowed through the air.

[The rate at which the patients’ minds and bodies deteriorate has slowed dramatically. Though revolting to hear, even the Wise One admits it’s remarkably effective!]

A remarkable hymn…

Powerful enough to catch even an evil god’s attention.

Ilia’s role was to continuously use sacred musical instruments to slow the worsening of the patients’ conditions.

[The more I think about it, the more I believe nursing is harmful to the patient. Rather than forcing them to prolong their lives while writhing in unbearable agony, wouldn’t eternal rest be preferable?]

From the perspective of an evil god…

It was admittedly a logical opinion.

Closing the windows we’d opened for ventilation, I shook my head.

“If they can just endure long enough… The Saint, a high-ranking priest, can completely heal them with a high-tier Mystery. She also has to constantly spend holy power maintaining the temple’s defenses, though. At most, she can only treat twenty patients a month.”

And this ward alone housed one thousand patients.

Every other ward was equally packed.

The burden placed upon each volunteer only continued to grow heavier.

“Sir Pendrick, Patient Two Hundred Twenty!”

“Sir Bartimir, Four Hundred Sixty-One!”

“Sir Karr, please check Number Thirty-Three!”

“Understood!”

Following Valentin’s instructions, Pendrick and Bartimir hurried off.

I also dashed over to examine my assigned patient.

“Number Five Hundred Fifty-Five!”

“Three Hundred Two!”

“Seventeen!”

“Nine Hundred Twenty!”

The moment I dealt with one patient’s emergency…

Another immediately developed strange symptoms.

Without pause, I rushed to the next.

This had already been repeating for three straight hours.

“Phew… I’m getting a little tired.”

“A little? You look completely exhausted!’”

“Lady Astrimiria, instead of saying that, please cheer me on.”

“That’s right!”

Me. Pendrick. Bartimir.

The role assigned to the three of us…

Was responding appropriately whenever patients displayed abnormal symptoms.

In some ways…

It was the most important responsibility of all.

If we failed to respond in time…

Not only would the illness spread to other patients whose immune systems were already critically weakened…

We ourselves would also be endangered.

‘…I’m already getting tired.’

A task exhausting both body and mind.

Far more draining than I’d expected.

But… Also more rewarding than any good deed I could imagine.

Honestly…

I was incredibly satisfied.

‘This is it. My calling.’

I felt as though I’d finally found the profession I was born for.

***

The nursing continued.

“Sir Karr! Patient Eight Hundred Eighty-Eight!”

The moment I calmed the seizure of a patient suffering from a parasitic curse created through the Mystery of a now-extinct evil god…

Another emergency immediately arose.

This time…

A spirit lingering with regret over never reaching mastery as a swordsman had possessed a patient’s body.

Fortunately, applause and praise alone were enough to calm him.

“Well done–”

“Patient Two Hundred Twenty-One is critical!”

The instant one situation ended…

Another appeared.

“I’ll go!”

Bartimir ran to a patient whose skin was rotting away while still alive.

He lightly waved the [Devotee] wrapped around his hand.

The disease-bearing mist, capable of infecting anyone who merely touched it, was instantly absorbed into the bandages and vanished.

“How’d I do?”

“You handled it well.”

“But this place is seriously dangerous!”

Bartimir clicked his tongue.

Although he was steadily completing the Calamity Collector build…

He wasn’t some demon who went crazy the instant he saw a disease or curse.

“Captain.”

As I happily immersed myself in the exhausting nursing work, Pendrick, who still seemed relatively energetic, called out to me.

“Have you ever worked at a hospital before? You’re practically doing the work of a hundred people.”

“Would any hospital ever hire a cultist?”

“Oh… right. Then how are you so good at this?”

“I simply know a great deal.”

One thousand patients.

One thousand different conditions.

In the game…

Sanctuary of Restful Purification was an infamously exhausting labyrinth that threw one hundred consecutive multiple-choice questions at players about the patients’ various mental and physical calamities.

Get even one answer wrong… And you’d have to start all over again.

It was such a troublesome labyrinth that everyone hated it.

And the very first player to compile the complete answer guide…

Had been me.

[Someday, I should remove all that excessive knowledge from your head. Then you’d have no choice but to rely on me!]

“That’s cruel.”

Living while depending on [Eyes That Perceive the Truth ] honestly wouldn’t be a bad decision.

The most attractive part…

Was that if I relied on it blindly and let my own thinking grow lazy, my judgment and analytical skills would eventually rust away.

Then, one day…

I’d end up suffering for it.

“Sir Karr! Number Four Hundred Forty-Seven!”

While I was briefly lost in thought…

Another emergency occurred.

For a patient whose fingers had become covered in grotesque eyeballs…

I carefully made eye contact with everyone.

Afterward, my own eyes ached as though they were about to pop out from the side effects.

Rubbing them briefly, I leaned against the wall.

“Are you alright?”

Priest Lucius, who was ringing his bell nearby, quietly asked.

“Of course I’m alright. You seem to be having a wonderful time.”

“It’s honestly a little embarrassing. The first time I came here to volunteer, I thought I was going to die from exhaustion. All I could think about was coming up with excuses so I could take a break. It’s not as though I’m happy all the time, either. If I make even one small mistake, it’ll become a major disaster.”

If even one of us responded incorrectly…

Everyone would be placed in danger.

Especially the patients… Their immune systems are already weakened to the extreme.

They’d immediately lose their lives after being caught up in various mental and physical calamities.

It felt like walking a tightrope.

Which was precisely why… I found it satisfying.

“It’s exhausting. And that’s exactly why I like it.”

Only when both my body and mind were violently shaken until I was utterly battered…

Did I truly feel alive.

Abnormal. Eccentric. Freak.

I didn’t care what others thought of me…

Or what words they used to describe me.