Ch.342Hall of Mercy. Isabella Hospital (2)

Exploring the interior of the hospital was an extremely difficult task.

The reason why simply looking around was difficult was due to the special nature of this region. Since it was operated by volunteers and machines, one couldn’t even dream of having a welcoming committee, and the place was filled with dangerous chemicals and sensitive medical supplies that couldn’t be touched carelessly.

Moreover, it was hard to even place one’s feet amid the gaps between the machines rushing to wipe away bodily fluids and discharge from the horrific-looking living corpses who were groaning from all directions.

-Visitors, please follow the designated path.-

“Is there a designated path?”

-Please follow the corridor painted with gold paint. All other routes are restricted to authorized personnel only.-

“I see. Everyone, follow the gold paint.”

However, since it had been designated as a landmark, pilgrims were bound to come. The hospital machines had already sought a solution.

The Iron Walker Party began to explore various parts of the hospital following the golden corridor, and everywhere they went, there was a coexistence of the distinctive sour smell of medicine and the stench of rotting flesh.

-Please stop where you are for a moment.-

“Why?”

-From this area onward is the intensive care unit. Although it is mechanically isolated, we cannot ignore the risk of infection, so we will implement a disinfection procedure. Please raise your hands above your heads.-

“Ah…”

They had previous experience with disinfection procedures at the baby factory in Scofield Plains.

However, while the procedure there had been quite simple since they were dealing with healthy people, albeit babies, this time the disinfection was much more thorough as they were surrounded by dying people lying in beds performing what seemed like a talent show.

It was almost like taking a shower while fully clothed. While Simon, Victor, and the dwarves, being men, didn’t mind, Raisha, being a woman, couldn’t help but feel embarrassed showing her armpits and private areas to strange machines(?), her face flushing red.

-Disinfection procedure complete. When entering the intensive care unit, please do not touch anything. Also, if any patient’s saliva, blood, discharge, or bodily fluids get on your body, please notify us immediately.-

“Are there infectious disease patients as well?”

-Yes. Also, in the case of chemical injuries, discharge mixed with certain substances is sufficient to cause skin peeling.-

“I see… Can we know where all these patients come from?”

-They come from all over the Terius continent. 63% of patients die during transport, and another 13% do not survive the treatment process. However, the remaining 24% of patients can be discharged with fully recovered bodies.-

“Which year’s statistics are those?”

-Last year’s statistics. This year’s statistics have not yet been calculated.-

“What about the statistics from when this hospital was first established?”

-The oldest statistics in our database record that 98% of patients died, with only 2% surviving.-

“2%…”

At that rate, it was essentially not a hospital but a cemetery. It was no different from torture disguised as hope… Even he couldn’t begin to fathom how many good people had sacrificed themselves to save that 2%.

“It must have been difficult.”

-Machines have no emotions. However, if we look at the records left by humans from that time, then yes, we can say it was difficult.-

“It seems like we could save more people if we could somehow improve the transport process…”

-Affirmative. The biggest reason why Isabella Hospital cannot save more people is the excessively delayed patient transport time. On average, it takes about 12 days, but Isabella Hospital is located in the northwest of the Terius continent. From the farthest southeastern coast, transport takes as long as 3 months, and in such cases, there was an 84% probability that patients could not be saved.-

The machine explained with emotionless mechanical beeps.

For some reason, Victor found the sight unsettling, as if he were watching severe PTSD patients trying to speak calmly without crying despite having witnessed unspeakable horrors.

This was because when he was a kitchen hand at Parcival’s, he had heard drunk sailors and adventurers spitting out the horrors of war in dying voices, as if gurgling phlegm.

“Then why not improve it? With Isabella Hospital’s influence, it seems entirely possible to clear a path…”

-We have attempted it multiple times, but all attempts failed. When roads were laid, occupying forces appeared, monsters tore up the paths, and there were even countries that bombed convoys of patients moving along the routes. Over the past 1000 years, all 1143 attempts to establish a road network have failed.-

“…”

At those words, the Iron Walker Party couldn’t open their mouths.

Monsters could be excused as simply being born that way. But what humans had done… it was truly filled with the mentality of exploiting others’ suffering for their own benefit.

While one could understand thieves or deserters arrogantly blocking passages, bombing roads full of injured people was truly an act of inhuman cruelty beyond words.

What did it mean that there had been 1143 attempts over 1000 years, and all had failed?

In the end, it meant that human goodwill had failed to drive out and reform human malice.

“…I’m sorry.”

-I have heard human apologies 243,333,998 times so far. What is the reason for your apology and remorse?-

“Just… feeling sorry as a fellow human.”

-I cannot understand. Although you belong to the human species, in reality, you are separate races consisting of humans, dwarves, and elves. And as long as each individual can act independently, others’ mistakes should be confined to those individuals. It is an unreasonable judgment to transfer one individual’s mistake to an entire community based on a single individual’s assessment.-

The machine spoke like a machine.

It was right. That’s why Victor said nothing more.

-Intensive care unit opening.-

Chiiik…

Soon, the door leading to the intensive care unit opened.

*

Beep… beep…

Shiiik… shiiik…

Pshaat… pshaat…

This place filled with pump sounds and beeping noises was Isabella Hospital’s intensive care unit.

People.

No. Could those figures even be called people? Those exposed to radiation, rotting alive. Those exposed to strong acids, their nerves dissolved. And those who had fallen from heights, their bodies so crushed that the weight of metal pins and sutures exceeded that of their bones?

“Terrible.”

As Victor muttered, the party members nodded with grave expressions.

Why did it feel like torture despite clearly being treatment? Those who couldn’t even breathe on their own, relying on tubes and tentacles of bizarre shapes to prolong their lives, seemed perfectly suited for the word “euthanasia.”

“Is there hope for them?”

-Yes.-

“But they look like they’re in pain.”

-Even if we wanted to inject painkillers, their nerves are damaged, and their livers and kidneys are destroyed. If we were to inject anything other than the medications currently being administered, they would die.-

“…Is there no way to reduce their pain?”

-No.-

It’s a terrible thing. As long as their brains are alive, they must receive “treatment.” Crushed eyes. Melted eardrums. They had to endure the sensation of thick, cold needles inserted into their completely damaged bodies, and overcome the extreme pain caused by the terrible things killing their bodies.

Live or die. These were the only two options available to them, but what was even more unfortunate was that they couldn’t even make that choice themselves.

How could those people with no skin, no muscle, and no bone left possibly recover? Sometimes, the hope of survival was merely a meaningless extension of suffering.

-Skin regeneration. Muscle electrical stimulation. Spinal nerve bypass surgery, and more. There are many options, and we will use everything at our disposal to save patients. That is our motto and our purpose for existence. According to the will of Lady Isabella, who first established the hospital, we will offer new life to the dying and mourning to the dead.-

“What if someone wishes to die?”

Victor asked cautiously.

Why he was being cautious with a mere drone, even he couldn’t understand, but it just felt like the right thing to do.

Hearing his question, the machine briefly turned its body to look at Victor’s eyes with its lens.

-Are you referring to euthanasia?-

“Yes.”

-Such requests will be denied.-

The machine answered without the slightest hesitation.

So cold and uncompromising. It truly felt like the machine before him was made of iron and silicon.

“Why?”

-If there is a possibility of survival, one must live. If they can be saved, they must be saved. Even if there are patients who desperately want to die, if they can be discharged healthy again, their perspective on death will change. This is supported by statistics from the year 1201, which show that the suicide rate among discharged patients is 34.51% lower than the average for the Terius continent.-

The machine turned its body again.

The humans followed the machine, and once more, only those with a chance of survival remained in the intensive care unit with the machines, without a single groan being heard.