45 – Merhen Orphanage
“Merhen Orphanage.”
Upon arriving at the entrance of the orphanage with the worn sign, Director Alphonso Merhen and several childcare teachers welcomed us!
“James, welcome..!”
“Ha-ha, have you been well?”
“Oh, I’ve been doing fine.”
Seems like there’s a friendly relationship between James and them.
Passing by the two sharing pleasantries, we handed over the groceries we brought to the childcare teachers.
“Hmm, everyone seems quite thin.”
From Director Alphonso to the childcare teachers, everyone looked quite gaunt.
Seems like things are really tough.
The childcare teachers who received the groceries from us had faces of relief!
And one interesting point was that a few of the childcare teachers were animal people.
The three childcare teachers, who should have ears on the sides of their faces, had them on top of their heads.
Two with rabbit ears, one with cat ears.
“Those people are graduates of this orphanage. After graduating, they work here as childcare teachers.”
Miss Catherine explained.
Upon listening, Miss Catherine had volunteered at the Merhen Orphanage several times.
“Merhen is an old orphanage.”
“Hmm.”
After discreetly scanning the surroundings, I whispered to Miss Catherine.
“But Miss, the orphanage situation doesn’t look good, does it?”
There’s no need to make a big deal out of it for no reason!
I quietly spoke while glancing at the childcare teachers.
“Oh, the orphanage situation? Probably most orphanages on the Arcadia Continent are like this? I don’t know how it was in Kim Chul-soo’s hometown, but orphanages on the Arcadia Continent lack money. There’s no one providing financial support. The childcare teachers at the orphanage have to earn money on their own. Taking care of the kids and earning money isn’t easy.”
“Gasp.”
In Korea, childcare teachers only work at childcare centers.
Here, childcare teachers have to work outside as well.
To cover the operating costs of the orphanage.
Although Miss Catherine spoke as if it were nothing, the heart of Kim Chul-soo, a medical professional, felt like it was being torn apart!
How can it be so inadequate!
“I feel like donating.”
“Donating is fine. If you’re interested, ask Director Alphonso when the volunteer work ends.”
“I will do that!”
I still have money left from the funds received from the Pride Duke.
Oh, and there’s the money for curing the lead poisoning of Irene Yeong-ae at the therapist’s luncheon.
It seems like a good idea to donate that to the Merhen Orphanage.
But isn’t Miss Catherine holding my hand to warn me?
“Are you going to leave the wedding expenses…?”
Catherine, speaking with a hint of unease, fidgeting her body as if trying to convey something!
I almost burst out laughing in that moment.
In fact, Catherine and I have a promise of marriage, but hearing it directly from Catherine’s mouth feels quite different.
It’s coming from Catherine, who is only 19 years old.
“Well, of course. I will manage it well.”
“Ahem, then it’s settled.”
Catherine, avoiding eye contact while discussing money, seemed to understand reluctantly!
Following Director Alfonso’s guidance, we soon found ourselves touring the orphanage.
The orphanage had a worn-out wooden structure, but it seemed clean, as if they were diligently maintaining it.
Children’s bedrooms, dining hall, prayer room, staff offices, and more.
Children scattered around, either noticing us and running away as if scared, or bowing deeply.
“Hello.”
“Ah, hello.”
Children greeting us in a timid manner!
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“Oh, they’re so cute.”
Just looking at them, the children were adorable!
There were many rabbit-like caregivers, who greeted us with their ears perked up, giving a fresh feeling.
“Come, the caregivers will guide the volunteers. Brother Kim Cheol-soo? Brother Kim Cheol-soo, you will be examining the children.”
Director Alfonso gave instructions to the caregivers, then personally guided me.
“Brother Kim Cheol-soo, I have heard about the rumors surrounding the Empire Lasa you’ve shaken. Thank you very much for coming to our Merhen Orphanage.”
Director Alfonso bowed to me in the hallway of the orphanage!
“Oh, please, feel free to speak. Director! I am just a humble therapist.”
“No, you are not. Brother Kim Cheol-soo, you are known as a very fine adult who generously shared the recipe for Kim Cheol-soo’s special ointment.”
“Ahem! It’s true that I shared the ointment recipe, but…”
“It must have been a difficult decision, and I truly admire it.”
Indeed, one should live kindly.
Director Alfonso treated me with utmost respect!
Well, I could have made a fortune with Kim Cheol-soo’s special ointment, but I chose to share it freely.
For the greater good.
“If there is anything uncomfortable, please let us know.”
Once again, Director Alfonso bowed.
…Honestly, it was uncomfortable how the middle-aged Director Alfonso treated me, a 30-year-old, with such respect.
“Oh, please don’t worry. I came here for volunteer work, not for leisure!”
“Thank you for saying that…”
Director Alfonso straightened his back and let out a faint sigh.
“Ah… the children’s health is not in good condition. If the treatment requires a lot of effort, there’s no need for Kim Cheol-su and his brother to push themselves.”
“Should we go see them first?”
Director Alfonso led me to the recovery room with a troubled expression on his face.
Cough, cough! The sound of coughing filled the room, and a masked daycare teacher was taking care of nine sick children.
“Most of them have a cold.”
More than half of the nine children were suffering from a cold.
It’s a curable illness as long as it’s managed well, but the temperature in the recovery room was not warm enough.
The children’s faces were pale, indicating malnutrition.
I asked Director Alfonso for a favor.
“Director Alfonso, if you’re not too busy, could you feed the children? We can cook using the grains we brought. It would be great if you could provide some firewood to keep them warm.”
“…We have a shortage of firewood, so the temperature may not be sufficient. Is that okay?”
It’s really inadequate.
Tears filled my eyes!
“Well, please do what you can for now.”
“Yes, understood.”
He said to let him know if there’s anything we need, so this should be possible, right?
Director Alfonso nodded and went to fulfill my request.
In the recovery room, there were nine sick children, a daycare teacher with rabbit ears, Catherine, and me.
“Catherine, should we start by identifying the children with the flu?”
“Sure.”
We were familiar with managing flu patients from our fight with the Western Hospital Association!
Catherine and I used our divine powers to treat the children, especially those with severe symptoms.
The color of the child who was coughing in bed improved.
The daycare teacher, who had been observing the children, showed interest by perking up her rabbit ears!
“Thank you for treating the children.”
“You’re welcome. Um… daycare teacher?”
“I’m Lina, a rabbit-human hybrid. Please feel free to call me.”
“Yes, Lina. It’s not over yet. There are urgent complaints.”
As I looked at the children in the recovery room, it was clear that it wasn’t just a simple cold.
Three of the children had swollen tonsils, indicating tonsillitis!
There were large swollen masses in the children’s mouths, which were tonsillitis.
Tonsillitis occurs when bacteria enter the tonsils and cause inflammation.
Children like those at the Merhen Orphanage, who couldn’t eat and were extremely thin, have weakened immune systems and are prone to such diseases.
Fortunately, two of the children showed improvement in tonsillitis with only divine power treatment.
But one child did not show any improvement and had difficulty breathing!
“This, this child is Erzabeth. Even if we try to feed her, she can’t swallow and continues to lie in bed…”
Lina called the child Erzabeth, who had black skin and had unfocused eyes with shallow breathing.
Erzabeth’s tonsillitis was blocking her airway, making it difficult for her to breathe.
Ziiing.
Mild tonsillitis usually improves with antibiotic treatment. I tried to eliminate the bacteria causing tonsillitis by pouring sacred power into it, but…
There was no effect!
There was no sign of Erzebet’s tonsillitis decreasing.
“Phew, should we remove the tonsils?”
“Remove the tonsils?”
“Yes. Do you see that large lump in the child’s mouth? It’s an inflammation, currently obstructing the child’s breathing. If not handled properly, it could cause serious damage to Erzebet’s heart and lungs.”
Breathing is essential for all living beings!
If a problem arises here, it leads to serious complications.
The face of the nursery teacher, Lina, turned pale blue.
“I-Is it serious? If Erzebet messes up, she might… unknowingly.”
“Tonsillectomy is a relatively simple surgery. You just need to remove the swollen tonsils. The problem lies in anesthesia…”
“Anesthesia…anesthesia.”
At that moment, Erzebet with dark skin seemed to speak to me.
A child with pointed ears, dark skin.
More like a fantasy dark elf than an African American, Erzebet’s appearance was striking.
Trembling, Erzebet nodded.
This child lying weak on the bed was said to be fine even without anesthesia for the surgery!
“Your name is Erzebet? Erzebet, if you have surgery without anesthesia, it will really hurt. It’s like tearing your life apart.”
“Anesthesia…”
Erzebet nodded again.
Even so, surgery without anesthesia!
It’s tough even for adults.
I asked Lina.
“No anesthesia? Even something like magic!”
“…I’m sorry.”
As expected, none.
Nothing to be done. I took out birch bark from Kim Chul-soo’s special medical bag.
I brought it just in case.
Normally, for a tonsillectomy, general anesthesia is used.
But that’s currently impossible given the circumstances.
Boiling birch bark and feeding it has an analgesic effect.
At least Erzebet should take painkillers before starting.
“Miss Catherine, could you boil the birch bark in water?”
As Catherine had volunteered at the Merhen orphanage last time, she would know the kitchen’s location.
“Got it!”
Catherine went to boil the birch bark in water.
“First, the painkillers are ready.”
I looked down at Erzebet.
“Kelock… K… H…”
Erzebert seemed to be in great pain while breathing.
“I’ll fix it!”
Just hold on a little longer!