Slime Reincarnation

Chapter 97: Let’s Hear Sister Henri’s Story

In this world, the holy magic known as Healing Heal and Perfect Healing Perfect Heal can heal the wound itself, but Healing Heal cannot treat broken bones — it requires Greater Healing High Heal for that. Even Perfect Heal cannot remove foreign objects inside the body; it has to remove them first before healing the wound.

However, Wintia explained that Life Force Recovery Healing does not forcibly heal with divine power, but assists in returning the body’s own life force to its proper state.

My interpretation: it works by taking the gene information in the cells and guiding the injured part back to its original, correct state. Therefore, if there is a foreign object present, it will first push out and expel the object from the body, then close the wound. It’s incredibly convenient.

However, since it restores the body to its "proper" state, if an arm or leg is missing, it cannot regenerate them. The proper cells are simply not there. It cannot, for example, activate surrounding cells to close a wound.

In such cases, the highest-level holy magic Perfect Heal can apparently restore even missing parts. As expected of the top-tier magic. Though there aren’t many users.

Oops, wrong time for a lecture on recovery magic.

I took the now-healthy Maring-chan for a walk.

Of course, the destination was the "Church in the south district."

Back in my company days, there was a saying: "The problem is to gather everything together and settle it at once."

That’s what I’m aiming for now — to read the chain of problems, connect them, and handle everything in one go.

That’s why, while holding Maring-chan’s hand, I’m heading to the same south-district church to talk to Sister Henri.

If the church has connections or networks for orphanages and such, Maring-chan might be able to stay there temporarily.

"But I can’t do garbage collection without earning money..."

Maring-chan looked down sadly. Apparently she’s convinced that as soon as her foot heals, she must get back to garbage collection immediately.

"So, how exactly do you get paid for garbage collection?"

"I take the collected trash to a scrap dealer, weigh it, and they pay me based on the weight."

I see. So collecting more trash means more money.

"I see. But today is a rest day. I’ll introduce a reliable helper who can collect garbage in Maring-chan’s place instead."

I extended my palm and made a slime tentacle. I shaped it into a sphere and molded it.

"Waaah! What is that?"

" — activate!"

I poured swirling energy into the tentacle and released it.

I already had a map of the south district in my head, compiled from Chick Captain’s and . I mentally commanded the Slime Sweeper to run through the entire town collecting trash.

"Collect all the garbage and store it in the designated sub-space compression folder."

The sub-space compression storage can now separate items like folders in my mind. I created a dedicated folder for garbage.

My image for the is, of course, a rubber duck.

"Go!"

"Qyuup!"

Huh? It made a squeaking noise. I didn’t have that image.

The hummed and moved through the streets, sucking up trash with a satisfying shugogogogo.

It’ll bring back a lot.

"Now then, let’s go have Maring-chan’s garbage collection handled by that helper while I take a walk."

Maring-chan’s eyes were spinning.

"Hello~"

I opened the church door and peeked inside.

"Yes, who is it?"

The woman who came out was an incredibly young and beautiful sister.

Is this girl Sister Henri?

I had imagined a mature woman would come out. Turns out it’s a young sister.

"I’m sorry to ask this out of the blue since I just arrived in the capital. Does this church also handle orphanages or similar roles?"

I asked straight to the sister.

"Yes, that’s correct. This church also runs an orphanage. Currently there are eight orphans living here..."

"I see. Actually, this girl Maring-chan is living on the street like an orphan. Could you possibly let her stay here to stay dry and protected from the rain?"

"That’s wonderful... We would be happy to accept her. However, the royal cathedral headquarters has recently sent us a notice to cut off support..."

Her expression darkened as she spoke.

"Excuse me, sister. May I ask your name?"

"Ah, my name is Henri."

So this young sister is Henri-san.

That means the church’s movements look suspicious.

"I’m an uneducated person from the countryside. I don’t really understand the church’s operations or system. I had the impression that the church protects the powerless, but cutting off support... what is the reason for that?"

"You are not uneducated at all just because you called yourself that. The church’s main income comes from the rewards from the Holy Knight Order and donations. They also hold small bazaars with donated items, but those are minor. Church branches are required to remit half of all donations to the headquarters every month."

"Half? That’s a terrible cut."

I gave a wry smile, but Henri-san smiled back.

"But the collected funds are distributed to churches and orphanages that are struggling, or to poor villages that can’t get donations easily. It does help with relief."

"I see. It’s a system that takes from one place and gives to another. It looks well-made on the surface."

"However, the church in the south district has suddenly had its support cut off, and the orphanage is being disbanded and has to find new guardians for the children..."

Henri-san’s expression grew even darker.

"Cutting off support and disbanding the orphanage... What a harsh judgment from the royal cathedral. By the way, what will happen to this church?"

"This church was built with the land my grandmother bought long ago. I currently hold the ownership documents."

Ah, I see. So Henri-san is the owner of the land and building.

"Even now the cathedral bishop has sent a letter saying two girls in the orphanage will be taken in, but..."

Even with adoption in sight, her face remains gloomy.

"Are those two girls cute?"

"...Yes."

Henri-san answered clearly. It must be painful.

The person who wants the land. The person who wants cute girls among the orphans. And the person who wants Henri-san herself.

Ah, a classic no-win situation.

"I see. The cathedral is probably going to cut off support, disband the orphanage, adopt the cute girl, and then force the sale of this land and building. They’ll try to pressure you. If you sign any documents, you’ll be bought cheaply and driven out of the building. Then, with a triumphant expression, a low-ranking noble will come and offer help, claiming it’s because they want you as their wife."

"N-No..."

Henri-san’s face turned pale.

"For donations, the church requires half to be remitted to headquarters. Then, if it’s your personal assets, what would you do?"

"Personal assets... You mean, if I don’t donate, it’s fine?"

"Yes. In that case, I’ll give you ten gold coins personally."

"Eh!? Ten gold coins!?"

"Ten gold coins is not nearly enough to support all the orphans. But we can’t predict what the cathedral headquarters will do. So I’m giving you that amount as a safety net."

"U-Um, ten gold coins is the amount you’re saying I can afford to lose...?"

"Correct. You can use the personal deposit cards issued by the commercial guild. That way, if it’s necessary, you can withdraw money yourself from the guild. It might be stolen if you leave it at the church."

"I- I see... So it’s the deposit cards issued by the commercial guild. I thought I’d never touch such a system in my life."

Henri-san covered her mouth with both hands and smiled.

"Then send a notice of severance to the cathedral and declare that future support is no longer needed and that we will operate as an independent personal church. Since the support is being cut anyway, that’s perfect, isn’t it?"

"But... that would mean I would lose my position as a sister..."

"H Henri-san. What is important to you? Is it your position as a sister in the cathedral? Is it the land and building? Or the children who might be taken away or left to wander the streets?"

"Of course the children! "

Henri-san answered with a loud voice immediately to my blunt question.

"The cathedral is doing something terrible to take away the girl and the land. Are you still attached to that organization? Henri-san, can you use holy magic?"

"Yes, I can... but..."

"Even if you lose your position as sister and are cut off from the cathedral organization, what changes? Will holy magic no longer work? Will the orphans see you as something other than a sister? That’s not true, right? Your heart won’t change."

Henri-san was shocked.

"Nothing will change... Yes, even if I’m cut off from the cathedral’s organization, nothing will change. Since the support will be cut anyway, we should simply cut ties and figure out how to survive on our own!"

A little light returned to Henri-san’s face.

"That’s right. We need to break away from this evil wall and create an environment where the children can live safely and happily together!"

"Yes!"

"Me too, I’ll support you. Can you also take care of Maring-chan and the other orphans here together?"