Some time had passed since that first day—and Glenn’s guest room was now crowded with residents of the Underworld.
“What…is this?”
After hearing a load of complaints from Elle, Molly had regained her composure and come to visit Glenn’s room. Caught off-guard, she nearly dropped her own head—still tucked under her arm—and had to regain her grip on it. She watched Glenn.
“Right, a flesh wound. I will reinforce it with this bandage,” she heard Glenn say.
She stayed there, watching.
“No, no, I don’t need anything in return. Please take care,” he said from the center of the room.
Residents of the Underworld included zombies, skeletons, ghosts, and various other forms taken by the souls of the dead. Beings that had only recently passed away, meanwhile, maintained the forms they had had in life. All of these were lined up in front of Glenn, waiting to be examined and treated.
“Everyone, wait your turn! Do not get impatient. The doctor will see everyone!” Cottingley yelled at those waiting in line.
He (she?) was busy helping in his (her?) own way, including keeping the line in order and helping Glenn with the exams. They had everything they needed—bandages, medication, instruments—but procured from where?
Whoa…
The souls in the Underworld did not have solid forms. However, they could take any form they wished, depending on how much of their self remained—in other words, they took the form of what they perceived themselves to be. As time passed, they would finally lose their grip on their soul and disappear. Such was the undeniable truth of death in this world. Those vanished souls were eventually reborn as new souls, as part of the cycle.
He’s doctoring. Unbelievable, Molly thought to herself. Glenn was treating the souls. Considering their lack of corporeal from, the treatment he was giving them was really only psychological in nature, meant to ease their minds.
However…a soul who was a soldier in life was complaining of pain where his arm had been cut off. A small girl who’d died of illness was crying about pain in her chest. Glenn listened to each and every one of them, and then treated them just as he would in life. He was treating them all fairly, regardless of if they were human or monster. He was treating them exactly the same as he had when he was alive.
I just can’t believe this kid.
She smiled.
Molly Vanitas was a pseudonym. She’d had a more unique name when she was alive, but discarded it when she was revived as a skeleton.
Molly had been the name of a devout nun. A hundred years ago, before the war between humans and monsters, a scant few humans had lived in the monster realm. Molly, a human woman who was a nun, had been one of them. She’d lived far, far away from the Eastern Capital, where a unique culture and religion were prospering.
Unselfish service was required by the doctrine that Molly subscribed to. Therefore, she served anyone and everyone. She gave charity to those without money, gave food to children who were starving, and listened to many people with troubles. She never made a distinction between humans and monsters. This resulted in her being a poor, shabbily dressed woman who was always on the edge of starvation, but that didn’t bother Molly at all. She just wanted to live according to her own beliefs.
Witch hunts were popular in the monster realm at that time. Human women were easy targets, but it wasn’t long before both human men and women were being hunted. This would go on to be one of the reasons humans disappeared from the monster realm.
She’d gotten caught up in the witch trials by accident. It started with slanderous rumors, like, “That woman always looks so beautiful, even though she’s so poor. She must be a witch.” Before she knew it, she was being executed as one. Despite being a nun, she was decapitated and her head was put on display. She wasn’t even buried in the church cemetery.
Ahhh…
Every time Molly saw someone being kind to others, she thought the same thing. It was completely pointless. They would all die anyway, and you might never be repaid for your good deeds. Doing this much for other people was pointless. And treating souls? It was comical. The treatment would provide nothing except perhaps some consolation. Souls lost their original forms quickly and then dispersed.
And yet, the scene before her also made Molly, the former nun, happy.
Seeing this…just makes me want to help him out.
Kindness was not always repaid. Fate was not always retribution. All Molly cared about was that everything she witnessed was properly rewarded or punished. That was why she continued her selfless service, even in death.
Everyone is just hopeless…
Molly stroked her neck. This was the form she’d wound up in after becoming a reaper, due to the vivid memory of her beheading. She didn’t mind it or make a big deal out of it.
Because I just love doing things for others.
Molly smiled, still holding onto her head.
“Heeey, all of you. You shouldn’t be gathering here like this, ’kay? What would you do if Queen Elle showed up here in a temper?!” she yelled, holding out her shovel-shaped weapon.
Everyone stared at her.
“Oppressionnn,” they yelled.
Molly was steaming mad. “Okay, okay. That’s enough. If anyone has concerns, I’d hear you out later. For now, leave the doctor be. He’s been summoned by Queen Elle!”
She swung her weapon, and the dead dispersed, slipping out through the walls and floors. No one ever went against Queen Elle in the Underworld.
“Wow…you know, I’ve never heard of doctoring in the Underworld,” Molly said to Glenn.
Glenn scratched his head at her words. “I’m sorry, it’s just my nature…”
Molly opened her eyes slightly. “Well, it’s because it’s your nature that it was worth bringing you here.”
“Is it Queen Elle?”
“Yes! I’ve finally convinced her. Let’s go see the Queen,” Molly said.
Maybe this doctor could be different. She’d become a fairy and continued working in order to continue her selfless service. But who could she serve? That was something she wasn’t ready to tell Glenn yet.
“Prepare yourself,” she said sternly to Glenn, without her usual lighthearted banter. “I am sure that Queen Elle’s ailment is neither injury nor disease. Despite that, if you still want to alleviate her suffering, as a doctor…then prepare yourself to challenge a Goddess.”
Glenn took a deep breath. Cottingley was looking up at him with concern. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, but then gathered his physician’s resolve and gave an exaggerated nod.