"Then, Touri, I will guide you to the medical headquarters."
"Understood."
After receiving orders from Major Renvel to oversee the medical headquarters, I was taken by Second Lieutenant Aria to the spacious auditorium next door.
"As Major Renvel said, they are merely civilian collaborators. They probably won't comply easily even if it's an order, and they have no obligation to do so."
"I see."
"And they're also people who have agreed to remain in such a dangerous place. They are not easy to deal with, and each one has their own quirks. Don't get swallowed up by them."
Lieutenant Aria advised me before entering the auditorium.
It seems like there are a lot of people with strong personalities.
"Excuse me."
"…What is it this time, soldier?"
The Lieutenant took a deep breath and opened the door to the auditorium.
A man standing near the entrance greeted me with a puzzled look on his face.
"A child…?"
"I'm sorry, but I want everyone to stop what they're doing and listen up for a moment."
As expected, the establishment of the medical headquarters was already complete. The auditorium was equipped with almost all the facilities of a hospital.
Several sheets were already laid on the floor, and blank medical charts were lined up, creating makeshift beds.
The chairs were being used as storage racks, with several strings tied around them to hang clean clothes that had been sterilized with boiling water.
At the window, a young nurse was cutting clean cloth into strips to make bandages.
Although small in size, the medical headquarters certainly had the makings of a field hospital.
"I have been temporarily in charge of the medical headquarters until now, but I will now introduce the new official staff member that has arrived.
"The new head?"
The medical staff here all seemed to be older than me.
From what I could see, people in their 20s to 40s were working in various capacities.
Most of them were staring at me with puzzled expressions, standing behind Lieutenant Aria.
"Hey, is that girl behind you really the one who's in charge?"
"Yes. Medic First Class Touri, greet them."
Major Renvel referred to them as civilian collaborators.
This means that they were medical professionals working at the hospital in Marshdale and had much more experience than I did.
They probably felt dissatisfied being directed by someone like me, a young girl with little experience who had been placed in charge just because I'm in the military.
Let's try not to be overbearing and respect them so we can work together without issues.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Medic First Class Touri Noel. Although this is temporary, I intend to do my best to be of assistance to everyone who has cooperated with us during these difficult times."
First impressions are important.
I looked them straight in the eye and bowed politely.
Stay as humble and polite as possible.
In this emergency situation, I must avoid creating any issues in relationships.
"How old are you, girl?"
"…I turned 15 this year."
"What?"
The person who spoke to me was a well-built middle-aged man who had first greeted us.
He is a portly man with a bear-like beard.
"You're saying you're putting a 15-year-old girl in charge? What are you thinking, soldier?"
"We have no other personnel. She is the only medic who managed to reach Marshdale."
"Hey, hey, this isn't funny!"
As expected, doctors who have been practicing medicine with pride for many years are displeased with being overseen by a child like me.
He approached Lieutenant Aria with a very disgruntled expression.
"Do you really think a kid can run a hospital?"
"It's a decision that has already been made."
"I'm telling you to revoke it."
"There is no one else suitable for the position."
Well then, what should I do? Given the situation, it seems that few will be willing to follow my orders.
Is it also part of my job to appease their dissatisfaction and get them to understand?
"Please calm down. I don't intend to boss anyone around. Just think of me as a messenger from the military."
"Even if you say that…"
The bear-like man looked at me with a troubled expression.
As a younger person, maybe I can be considerate and somehow help ease their dissatisfaction?
"It's kind of cruel to put such a little kid in charge, soldier."
"You should let this girl go first. You shouldn't keep a child in such a dangerous place."
"Hey kid, do you want some candy?"
As I was thinking this, an old man nearby handed me some candy.
When I accepted it gratefully, the old man looked incredibly pleased and smiled broadly.
"What will you do if the enemy invades this place?"
"…She's a soldier. She's prepared to die."
"How awful! She's only 15!"
"As Lieutenant Aria said, there's no need for concern. I volunteered to join the military, and I am prepared to die."
"…You're brave. Here, have another candy."
Now I have two candies.
"Your surname is Noel? Are you from that village?"
"…Yes."
"Oh, you poor thing. Why must even children be dragged into this war?"
As I struggled with how to respond, a plump woman lifted me up.
I let her do as she pleased, as she rubbed her cheek against mine and pressed me into her soft embrace.
"What about your parents? They didn't object to their daughter being sent to the front lines?"
"No, um, I grew up in an orphanage."
"I see… No family, so you joined the military."
In other words…
They don't see me as a soldier but are treating me entirely as a child.
Well, I guess am still a child, though.
"We're more than capable of doing the job ourselves. Let this girl go, will you?"
"I've heard that Medic First Class Touri is an excellent healer. With her help, many lives will surely be saved. Isn't that the ultimate duty of a medical professional?"
"Ugh… but still."
"The order has already come down from the Major. Besides, Touri has no right to refuse."
Somehow, the atmosphere here reminds me of the people from the field hospital.
They radiate such kindness, like genuinely good-hearted people.
It may be true what Senior Gray said: "Talent in healing arts is more likely to manifest in people with kind personalities."
Following that logic, it wouldn't be a surprise if Rodri also manifested it.
"Fine, have it your way… But if things get dangerous, make sure she's evacuated first, soldier!"
"It's all right, Touri. If it comes to it, we'll protect you."
"No, um, as a soldier, it's actually my duty to be on the front lines…"
"No way! That's a job for adults, not for someone as young as you!"
Overwhelmed by their unstoppable kindness, I was more or less appointed as the mascot of the medical headquarters.
No, I did help out with transporting supplies and the like, but that's just how I feel about the way I was treated.
I was constantly praised, given candy, and doted on at every opportunity.
Even though I've been working as a medic on the front lines for about half a year now…
Well, I guess I'm no more than a kid compared to their long medical experience.
***
"So, can you actually use healing magic, Touri?"
"Yes, Mr. Kuma. I can use it up to five times in a row."
"Oh, that's impressive for someone your age!"
Incidentally, the man with the large beard was really named Mr. Kuma.
His real name is apparently Takuma, but he is nicknamed Mr. Kumabecause of his appearance.[1]
"Well, I'll ask for your help occasionally. Make sure you don't push yourself too hard."
"Yes, I understand."
"If you're unsure about anything, feel free to ask. It's for the sake of the patients, after all."
…He was essentially the leader of this medical headquarters, and the one who'd led Marshdale's medical care for over 30 years.
A master healer, he held the official "Doctor of Medicine" certification from the state, something every large city seems to have.
The average healer can use healing magic around four to five times.
I recently achieved this number of consecutive uses, which is also a requirement for being appointed as a first class medic.
Most medics take six months to a year to reach the rank of medic first class.
And once you become a first class medic, you're finally considered a full-fledged soldier. It's like your training period is over.
Four consecutive uses is the bare minimum first class medics must be able to use.
While the amount of magic varies greatly between individuals, nearly everyone can manage four uses.
Talent plays a big part in being able to use it more than that.
Some people can only use it four times no matter how hard they try. For those with talent, their number of uses go up the more they use [Heal].
Apparently, high-ranking healers such as Head Medic Gale can use [Heal] more than 10 times.
Mr. Kuma can also use it more than 10 times in a row. He's a veteran among veterans and is probably a medic on the same level as Head Medic Gale.
His specialty is infectious diseases rather than surgery. He has an impressive career history, having earned his medical doctorate through his involvement in the development of antibiotics.
In praise of his skills, medical staff in Marshdale unanimously say, "No healer can save a patient Mr. Kuma can't cure."
Mr. Kuma readily agreed to remain on the dangerous front line and set up a medical headquarters, saying: "If it's for my hometown."
Major Renvel said he never expected him to accept so easily. It was a pleasant surprise for him.
When he announced the establishment of the medical headquarters, many of his followers rushed to the medical headquarters, saying that if Mr. Kuma stayed, they would stay too.
This also shows how popular he is.
Thanks to that, the medical headquarters was almost complete by the time I reached Marshdale.
With just one word from Mr. Kuma, dozens of staff members, including eight healers, decided to remain on the front lines, proving his reputation as Marshdale's top healer is well-deserved.
The plump woman who dotes on me is Mr. Kuma's wife, and the people working diligently at headquarters are his students and supporters.
This medical headquarters truly revolves around him.
"Well, make sure you get plenty of rest tonight. And make sure you get plenty of nutrition."
"Yes…."
"Let's give it our all. The soldiers outside should have peace of mind, knowing we're here to help if they get injured."
Having Mr. Kuma here in Marshdale has been an unexpected stroke of luck for both myself and for Austin.
And so, on the night before the decisive battle, I found myself surrounded by these kind people, enjoying a brief moment of peace.
[1] Kuma means bear in Japanese.