Ch. 73 - Prejudice?

With Cameron guiding us, we entered the building and walked down a corridor. It seemed to be a two-story building, and we were now moving along the east side of the first floor. Aside from the gray stone floor, the walls and ceiling were all pure white. There was no furniture or people in sight.

"Is it class time now? I don't see anyone around," I asked.

Cameron turned around with a friendly smile. "Healing magic requires something essential for practice. What do you think it is?"

Like a teacher, he asked the question as if he were teaching students.

"Is it a subject for healing magic?" Eliza, who was right behind me, answered.

Cameron nodded, pleased. "Exactly. This is the most populous city in the Maple Leaf Holy Empire. Therefore, there are many injured knights, mercenaries, and adventurers. They enter through the west entrance of the academy and wait in line in a large treatment room. The students are busy attending to them, so they can't move much in the morning."

I nodded in understanding at Cameron's explanation, then voiced a question that crossed my mind. "So, are treatments for injuries free of charge in this city?"

Cameron smiled wryly. "No, no, we can't go that far. However, we do provide treatment to Maple Leaf Holy Church followers for a minimal donation. Many people decide to become followers because of this, and I think it's a good system for both the academy and the users."

He answered somewhat proudly. It was indeed a good system economically and religiously, but could it really be said those who became followers did so willingly?

"I understand why there are no students practicing healing magic, but I don't see students who specialize in other magic. Are there overwhelmingly more students studying healing magic?" I asked further.

Cameron nodded as if he had remembered something and smiled warmly. "Ah, the other students? Many students who specialize in other magic help with the treatments in the morning. Most of the academy's teachers also assist with the treatments, so there are fewer lectures, but they do receive a small wage. It's a situation where everyone helps each other."

I felt there was a big difference in the way of thinking and management of this academy compared to Fiddiq Academy. But when I thought about it, there weren't many students at Fiddiq Academy practicing healing magic.

Maybe every situation created its own optimal system.

"Well, we've arrived. This is the special room for treating serious injuries."

While I was lost in thought, we reached our destination. Cameron turned to face us in front of a large double door.

"The special room… Are there different types of rooms?" Strass asked.

"Yes. At our academy, we judge the rank of a healing magician based on the level of injuries they can treat. Even if they can't use the highest-level magic, they can be registered as advanced magicians if they can quickly treat serious injuries. This level is defined by being able to heal fractures or deep cuts within one minute," Cameron answered with a deep smile.

Strass, Eliza, and Cote all expressed their admiration.

"To think students can provide such treatments… I see. So the most skilled students perform treatments in this special room," Strass muttered, reflecting on Cameron's words.

Cameron nodded emphatically and placed his hand on the door handle. "That's right. Since you're visiting from Fiddiq Academy, I thought I'd show you the skills of our academy. Haha, I might have gotten a bit carried away."

Cameron smiled sheepishly as he opened the door to the special room.

Suddenly, screams and muffled groans, which had been unheard before, spilled into the corridor.

"… Eh?"

Shenley, Ayle, and the others gasped, caught off guard. I wasn't particularly surprised, having expected this after hearing about the seriously injured patients. Strass, Eliza, and Cote likely felt the same. Alabarta, who had remained silent until now, might have been to the special room before, judging by his grim expression.

With resolve, we walked past Cameron, who stood by the open door. Inside was a large hall divided by white curtains. It seemed to be about ten meters by twenty meters.

Since we couldn't see beyond the curtains, we couldn't be sure of the exact size, but at least ten people could be treated simultaneously in the spaces divided by the curtains. At the front were boxes filled with tools and equipment for magic and treatment, with a few people doing some kind of work with them.

They appeared to be students who couldn't use healing magic, as they took tools and cloth and ran into the curtained areas.

Then voices of patients and what seemed to be students providing treatment continuously emerged from behind the curtains.

Looking around the tense atmosphere of the room, Cameron said with a smile, "Here, the students are learning the world's most advanced magic. In the process of treating injuries, they gain in-depth knowledge of the human body."

Cameron waited for our reactions. While there was nothing wrong with what he said, Shenley and Ayle were visibly scared by the screams and groans from behind him.

However, I couldn't just dismiss Cameron's words. "Indeed, learning about the human body through actual practice is extremely important. But after hearing what you said, I'm very interested in how much knowledge the Maple Leaf Holy Empire has accumulated about the human body."

One of Cameron's eyebrows raised slightly.

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