Building a Port (3)

After leaving Master Ganze, I walked through the construction area. A large wooden building came into view ahead.

Although the port was still under construction, homes were being built at the same time. Besides the mansion where I worked, simple lodgings for the workers and a cafeteria had already been built. There were also warehouses and barracks for the soldiers stationed here. Since we were recruiting settlers as well, construction of private homes was proceeding in parallel.

I entered the wooden building. The interior was spacious, with beds arranged in two rows. People with bandages wrapped around their bodies lay on clean sheets.

This was a hospital. Although the port was being built at breakneck speed, injuries were inevitable if we pushed ourselves too hard. Soldiers had also been stationed here to provide security. They trained between guard shifts, and injuries among them were constant as well. That was why we had prioritized building a hospital.

I walked around the hospital to check on the injured. Then I spotted a woman in a black habit busily moving between the beds. When she noticed me, she hurried over.

"Romelia-sama, what brings you here today? Could it be that someone is injured?"

"No, I just came to make my rounds."

I returned the woman's smile. The busy woman was Mia-san, a nun from Karesa Monastery. She was also a 'Healer'—someone with the power to heal injuries and illnesses.

"Mia-san, are there any problems?"

"There have been no major accidents today, only a few people with minor injuries."

Mia-san answered crisply. Her thick eyebrows and large eyes were remarkably endearing.

"By the way, Romelia-sama, you're wearing something different from usual today. It looks very beautiful on you."

"Really?"

After Zeze and the others, Mia-san was the next to compliment my clothes. But I still found it difficult to believe.

"Bright colors suit you, Romelia-sama. I'm jealous. Bright clothes don't suit me at all."

"That's not true. I'm sure they would suit you too, Mia-san. I'll lend you some clothes sometime."

"Oh no, I couldn't possibly."

Mia-san shook her head in embarrassment, but she was one of the few women among my acquaintances. It might be nice to enjoy dressing up together.

"By the way, are there any patients with illnesses?"

As I looked around the hospital ward, I asked about the real reason I had come. What concerned me most was the possibility of an epidemic. This inlet had only just been cleared, and no one had lived here before. There could be some unknown endemic disease, so we needed to remain vigilant.

"No problems on that front either, Romelia-sama. No one is suffering from any illness."

I nodded at Mia-san's answer. Even so, there was no telling when an epidemic might break out. If one did, I wanted to respond quickly, so I should make a point of visiting the hospital regularly. As I thought about that, someone called out from behind me.

"Huh, Romelia-sama?"

I turned around to find a soldier in armor standing there. He had long blond hair and sharply defined features, and I knew him. He was Mitya of the Romelia Squad.

"Mitya, what brings you here?"

Mitya was supposed to be training the newly recruited soldiers today. Yet for some reason, he was carrying a bucket filled with water.

"Some soldiers suffered minor injuries during training, so I'm accompanying them."

As he answered, Mitya held the bucket out to Mia-san.

"Oh, Mia-san. I went and fetched some water for you."

"Mitya-san, you didn't need to go to all that trouble."

Mitya held out the bucket with a smile, and Mia-san accepted it with an embarrassed frown.

"Not at all. I couldn't possibly make you fetch water, Mia-san. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

Mitya showed his white teeth and flashed a bright smile. His intentions were rather obvious, and Mia-san looked somewhat flustered.

Several days ago, Mitya had suffered grave injuries from a monster lurking in Girie Valley. There had been no resident Healer at the time, so his wounds had been slow to heal. Mia-san had been the first person dispatched from Karesa Monastery.

Mia-san was highly skilled, and Mitya had recovered completely in only a few days. From Mitya's perspective, the woman who had healed his wounds must have looked like a goddess.

Mitya's eyes shone with love. Meanwhile, Mia-san wore a troubled expression and sent me a pleading glance. I ignored her silent appeal.

Mia-san's eyes widened in surprise, but I had no desire to be so tactless as to meddle in someone else's romance. There was, however, something I needed to tell Mitya.

"Helping her is fine, but is your training proceeding properly?"

I glared at Mitya. I had no objection to him being lovestruck, but it would be a problem if his work suffered because of it. In particular, inadequate training could result in soldiers dying in actual combat.

"Of course, Romelia-sama."

Mitya's expression turned serious as he answered.

"Most training injuries are caused by a lack of concentration. We have the soldiers approach training with all the intensity they can muster so that no one gets hurt. We will showcase the soldiers we've trained twenty days from now, and I am confident that you will be fully satisfied with them."

Mitya puffed out his chest. If he was that confident, I would look forward to seeing them in twenty days.

"Then that's fine. I authorize you to help Mia-san only during your off-duty hours."

"Understood!"

Mitya straightened his back and saluted, touching a hand to his golden forelock.

"Then, Mia-san, please take care of him."

When I smiled, Mia-san's mouth opened and closed in flustered silence. It was quite a sight. I had gained another reason to visit the hospital, so I headed for the exit with a light step.