Otherworld Church (2)

"So Liliath has become infected too huh?" Noel spoke in a faraway voice—

"Infected?"

"Nope, but you're eventually going to have an all-out word war with my father if this continues on."

"Word war?"

"War of retorts."

War of retorts.. so wars do still exist in the world, just a different variant…

"You had your heart ripped out? How are you still alive?!" Dylan spoke in a voice not too loud to avoid the others from hearing, he, however, was clearly on the verge of shouting.

"You should not be easily swayed by my lies," I laughed.

A truth within a lie, the incident where my heart was ripped out— it didn't happen, but I've experienced something similar. I nearly lost my life.. one of the worst pains I've felt to date.. I wonder why.. Why did I recall it?

"For a second there I thought you were a demon lord," Dylan-sama laughed.

I sent him a bitter smile. Dylan-sama knows too much..

Noel sent a questioning gaze.

Right.. I have yet to discuss the matter regarding my identity as a demon lord.

Odd. It seems Noel and I could understand each other at a tacit level with but a simple glance.

Thinking such, Trisha came out of the room, and called out.

"Let's go," Dylan-sama seemed to have recovered from the shock.

"Hey, um, Liliath. You haven't told my sister or my mom about it yet, right?" Noel came to me and whispered.

Gazing down at my two feet, I shook my head. Not yet.

With Trisha leading, we went onwards to the next location.

"You're not human are you?" Trisha asked.

I paused.

"That was a joke," Trisha followed up. I heaved a sigh.. "I saw from the notes that you're a human from another world, it wouldn't be weird if you're not a 'normal' human.. so I thought to ask," she mulled.

"Trisha-sama, what kind of TALENT do you possess?" I changed the conversation, hoping that the direction of the conversation would go elsewhere.

"Me? I wouldn't say it's a good TALENT.. it's something like being able to control my body a little bit better than normal people."

I didn't understand.

"Take for example this," she balanced the small file she had on her pinky as we continued walking— the file was being balanced at one corner, vertically.

"That's quite incredible."

"It makes some things easier sometimes. Like during wound repair or taking blood."

I nodded to reaffirm her words. Just as Noel described, not all TALENTS were the same.

We turned past a corner and the sound of a siren could be heard echoing softly.

"In the hospital, it's important that there are those who can heal wounds, lighten objects with a touch, and a TALENT that allows the suppression of another individual's TALENT," Trisha explained.

Suppression of TALENT? Were there such things as TALENTS that brought about death?

"There are some people who lose control of their TALENTS at times, so it's a requirement in all major healthcare facilities. Though, most of the time, it's usually because the patient goes wild due to mental issues. It can cause injury to the staff here if not properly taken care of."

I nodded somewhat understanding the plight of those who had to tend to these kinds of people.

After the blood test was a urine test? I was given a small bottle and was told to fill it with my bodily fluid. This.. wasn't it dirty? Why would this be a requirement?

I didn't question the purpose since I doubt that I would understand the complexities behind anything that works in this world. And since Noel was showing me an expression as if this was a normal outcome and the annoying Dylan-sama who directed me a thumbs up, I judged this test absent of any form of danger.

Having to do it in the bathroom, though embarrassing, I learnt that water magic was all the more useful in this world. I couldn't imagine how other women would go about filling the bottle without the aid of magic..

After that was brought to a different room for an 'X-ray' test? I was told to lie down on a machine— it apparently did something to me as I could feel an extremely faint shock run through my body, though it would usually go unnoticed.

"To check for your bones," was the explanation I received when asked about the purpose of the test. And there I thought they were going to pull my bone away one by one to determine the health of my skeleton.. why was it necessary to determine the health of my skeleton?

There were a few other odd tests such as hammering my knee to see a reaction of my leg, which was a surprise because I never thought it was possible. Such was an automatic response of my body I suppose?

We were told to return after an hour. Trisha would compile the reports and tests before giving me a final assessment— hopefully, I didn't fail, or should I hope to fail? The tests were odd..

The churches in my world, from what I heard, would conduct examinations to find and recruit potential healers. Was this a similar thing?

"Noel, what are the medical tests for? I don't intend to become a priest?" I asked in worry. It was true, I don't intend to work as a 'doctor' just yet.

"What?" Noel turned to me with an incredulous expression.

Did I say something wrong?

"What did you just say? A priest? What? Why a priest?"

"Are these tests not supposed to determine a potential healer candidate?"

Noel opened his mouth, waiting to speak but no words could be formed… had I said something wrong? Again?

"Liliath, could it be that you're thinking this hospital is a church?" Dylan-sama spoke up.

"Is it not?" I replied.

Was this not an extension of a church?

A dumb smile surfaced on Dylan-sama's face, he looked as if he was seeing a slime in the meadows.. I'm not..

"Dylan? Noel?" I called out.

"Let's go, you must be hungry since you haven't eaten breakfast.. yeah, father, let's go have lunch."

"Oh, yeah, g-good idea, come on Liliath."

I tilted my head at their sympathetic smile..

I wonder why..

Though, I was slightly hungry. It was still a mystery why it was important not to eat food before undergoing the medical check-up. Though, I was glad to have finally eaten something after a long morning.

We were at a place inside the building that served food for visitors.

I opted for tea and found myself taking interest in a chicken pie.

Noel went with spaghetti while Dylan-sama ate a 'burger'.

"Liliath, just so you know.. this is a hospital. Unlike where you came from, a church and hospital are two separate things in our world," Noel explained.

I nodded to his words.

"Simply speaking, the healing services of a church were separated into another association called a hospital?"

"Father.. help," Noel pleaded in a desperate voice?

I feel apologetic because of my lack of common sense..

"There's no magic in this world right?" Dylan spoke while attending to his meal— wasn't that impolite? "The church can't heal people, its purpose is to act mainly as a congregation site for believers. The hospital is where injured or sick people are brought to get treatment, of course, since we don't have magic here, treating a patient is a difficult thing, and that is why there is a hospital. I'm not sure if my explanation got you anywhere though.. it's just somehow 'like that' because of the difference in world history and the absence of magic."

"Then treatment is done through science?"

"Something like that," Dylan-sama said and then took another bite of his burger.

I sought after Noel and he gave me a wryly smile.

Our lunch ended in peace, the chicken pie tasted amazing— which reminded me. There was a quest in regards to my favourite food. I think this chicken pie would be a candidate, I should notify Noel. That way the quest would be deemed complete.

"Noel."

"Yes?"

"I have a feeling chicken pie can be considered my favourite food."

"..."

Noel's silence pervaded the surroundings, a weird feeling swept over me.

"D-did I do something wrong?"

Noel brought his hand up to his face, muttering the word 'why' in repetition under his breath.

"What happened?" Dylan asked, noticing the change around Noel's air.

"I deleted it.."

"Deleted it?"

"That quest.. just when I thought it was impossible.."

Huh?