"Mmm, as it should be. Then…"
Ranni slowly turned her gaze toward Yvonne, who was still a bit unclear about the situation, and issued her request.
"Tarnished, go and uncover the secret treasure of the 'Eternal City,' Nokron. The half-wolf warrior named Blaidd will assist you."
Yvonne looked into Ranni's moon-deep eyes, was momentarily dazed, then realized her own discourtesy and accepted.
"…Alright."
"Go then, Tarnished. I shall now fall into a deep slumber… I hope you bring good tidings upon my next awakening."
As she spoke, Ranni tilted her head slightly, the white brim of her Snow Witch hat lowering once more, covering her face.
"Let's go."
Fran's purpose for this visit was achieved. She then led Haida and Yvonne out of Ranni's study.
"Any questions, we'll discuss them outside."
---
"Dr. Fran, your pocket watch."
Haida returned the "Swaying Heart-Clock" Fran had given her earlier.
"Were you able to sense her emotions?"
Fran deftly took the brass pocket watch and casually placed it back into the pocket of her white coat. Then she asked Haida expectantly about the results of her observation.
The reason Haida remained utterly silent and minimized her presence throughout was to observe Ranni from the side. She inherently possessed the talent to construct psychological models of others in her mind, and now she had Fran's assistance… Only then did she have the qualification to peek at an Empyrean.
Success wasn't guaranteed, but this was merely passive perception, difficult to detect, so the risk wasn't great. Trying wouldn't cost her anything…
"Her thoughts are lofty and detached, difficult to interpret. It's as if… she views everything from a higher 'superego' perspective. And her body is nearly doll-like, with no extraneous movements."
"But for a single instant, her eyes betrayed a trace of discernible emotion."
Haida described the situation, then closed her eyes.
When she opened them again, her gaze carried a touch of ethereal loneliness, and even her exhaled breath held a hint of coldness. Like a solitary cold moon suspended in boundless darkness, emitting a clear, lonely, yet bright light.
Haida's moist lips parted slightly. She extended a hand toward the empty space before her, uttering words that left Fran momentarily stunned.
"Come, let us go… my eternal consort…"
Almost the instant she finished speaking, Haida withdrew from the state of personality simulation via profiling. Judging by her heavy breathing and the undeniable fatigue in her brow, her mental expenditure was severe.
"Dr. Fran, what does that phrase mean?"
Yvonne looked at Fran somewhat puzzled.
Hearing Yvonne's question, Fran gradually snapped back to reality, her expression a mix of confusion and excitement.
She genuinely relished this feeling of events deviating from their set course or exceeding her grasp… After all, the vividness of life lies in change and the unexpected.
"Dear Yvonne, forgive me for being unable to answer your question for now. At this moment, I need to savor this pleasure alone… but you will eventually know the answer."
Fran maintained an apologetic smile, not answering Yvonne. Instead, she went to support Haida, who was exhausted from the personality simulation, and with some difficulty, helped her lean on her shoulder.
"Well then… I hope it won't be too long."
Yvonne pursed her lips slightly, not displeased, just somewhat regretful she couldn't hear Fran's explanation.
…
Evening. Haida gradually awoke from the daze of mental exhaustion and saw Fran and Yvonne by the campfire… and a tall half-wolf knight.
"How long was I asleep?"
She gently touched her forehead. Surprisingly, she didn't feel much headache; her thoughts were actually clearer… Probably Dr. Fran had used some medication on her.
"Seven or eight hours. I used a relatively gentle drug this time; it requires absorption through natural sleep. But due to your excellent physical constitution, a drug that should have taken a full day to absorb only took a few hours."
Fran glanced at her pocket watch, then smiled at Haida.
"We are currently at Redmane Castle. In a while, a festival will be held here. To send off the 'mightiest Demigod' who has gone mad."
"'Starscourge' Radahn…" Haida murmured, the muscles in her arms trembling slightly, uncontrollably.
Not from fear, but excitement.
During this time, she had often heard Fran mention this Demigod's deeds. The Demigod who shattered and anchored the stars in the sky had now fallen into hysterical madness… Being able to attend the funeral for that majestic Red Lion truly stirred her heart.
"And Yvonne?" She realized she hadn't seen the Tarnished girl when she woke.
"Studying gravity sorcery. She's been too engrossed in playing with her greatsword lately, becoming somewhat lax in her magical studies… So I advised her."
"Hmm… How exactly did you persuade her, Dr. Fran?"
Haida narrowed her eyes, curious about the content of this scholarly persuasion.
"I said that although Radahn wields dual greatswords and wears heavy armor, strictly speaking, he is a sorcerer. And probably the most formidable sorcerer in the Lands Between… You should advance your magic studies a bit more, otherwise Teacher Sellen might be displeased."
"Hahaha…"
Before Haida could respond, Blaidd, who had been listening by the campfire, laughed first. His voice was steady yet carried a hint of hearty amusement.
"I wasn't telling a joke, you know? Mr. Blaidd." Fran smiled lightly at Blaidd, blinking her eyes as if slightly dissatisfied.
"Apologies, Doctor. But your phrasing is quite interesting."
Blaidd cleared his throat, regaining his composure.
He wasn't entirely clear about this Dr. Fran's background, but since Ranni said she could be trusted… then she likely wasn't a bad person. Getting along with her in practice was indeed quite pleasant, though it felt a bit strange when she gave him a physical exam.
"Well then… For now, all we can do is wait for the festival."
Fran nimbly walked behind Blaidd and began subtly stroking the dark gray wolf fur on the side of his face. The outer layer was tough, but the inner down was surprisingly soft.
"Doctor, is this really a method for treating mental ailments in your world? Why not take medicine like Sister Haida?"
Blaidd tilted his head back slightly, clearly somewhat unable to withstand Fran's extremely skilled technique.
"Physical therapy is also part of the treatment regimen; one shouldn't avoid it. As for medicine… no need to rush, there will be plenty for you to take, you know?"
She paid no heed to Blaidd's mild protest, merely speeding up her fur-smoothing motions. Simultaneously thinking to herself, Good thing Blaidd is sitting; if he stood up, I really couldn't reach…
---
The Festival was held as scheduled.
Renowned warriors and champions gathered; the lineup could not be said to be unimpressive, even including Finger Maidens and Pots…
Haida and Yvonne naturally couldn't miss this opportunity to face a Demigod and joined the festival as participants.
But Fran still merely watched the battle from afar, quietly waiting. As a doctor, she generally avoided participating in such high-intensity frontal combat.
However, after staying for a while, she noticed a bald man with a shield and spear had somehow appeared beside her.
"Oh, Mr. Patches, good day." She greeted him.
"Hey… The honor is mine, Doctor."
Patches showed no awkwardness at being caught trying to sneak away; instead, he quite tacitly observed the battle alongside her.
The earth of the Aeonian Swamp was a deep, sinister crimson hue. Was it saturated by the blood shed by countless warriors before death, or did it stem from the erosion of the Scarlet Rot?
The sky was as deep red and gloomy as the earth, like the twilight after the setting sun, with bloody clouds staining everything they illuminated.
"Hss…"
Radahn notched the massive greatbow, akin to a siege ballista, aiming at the figures surging toward him.
Even though he had lost all his former intellect, roaming the battlefield like a frenzied beast, not hesitating to feed on the corpses of his former comrades… he had not forgotten this martial art and skill, etched into his very bones.
An arrow imbued with deep gravity magic struck Haida directly. Caught off guard, she could only swing her greatsword to block, and was blasted back nearly ten meters.
"What a heavy arrow. Even mad, he still possesses such accuracy…"
The muscles in her arms trembled uncontrollably. The part of the greatsword that blocked the arrow emitted faint red-hot wisps of smoke from the intense heat. If not for her bone-strengthening modifications, simply blocking this arrow would likely have resulted in fractures.
Arrows fell like rain, the wind howled.
While everyone struggled to deal with the falling projectiles, Radahn had already drawn the pitch-black greatswords inscribed with gravity patterns from his back. Mounted on his loyal, diminutive steed, he charged toward all the warriors who dared challenge him.
Yvonne gripped the Grafted Blade Greatsword with both hands, her Astrologer's staff at her waist for quick switching. Then, without avoiding or retreating, she advanced to meet him.
The familiar pressure, the familiar palpable aura of death, the familiar heavily armored rider… She once again smelled the scent of death.
But this time, she wanted to know… Was she still as weak and powerless as before, able only to delay death even with her utmost effort? Did she truly possess the qualifications to become Elden Lord?
Such questions, Haida could not answer, nor would Fran.
Only sword and blood could give her the answer.
---
The affliction of rot, the fate of the stars, the warrior's blades… The body of "Starscourge" Radahn, which had borne too many burdens, finally collapsed with a thunderous crash, toppling like a mountain, raising a heavy, earth-shaking roar.
Yvonne was now drenched in blood; beneath the congealed, thick gore, her skin was scarcely visible. Even with all her strength, she could only barely support herself, leaning on the Grafted Blade Greatsword.
"This is… the feeling of being alive."
In her hand, a Great Rune emitting a crimson glow shone brightly.
Once most of the gathered mourners who came for the festival had departed, Fran stepped forward.
She gently stroked Yvonne's hair, not minding the blood on the other staining her hand. Everyone was in a state of grievous battle damage; Sister Haida's robes were even torn to the point of scarcely covering her legs… Being so clean herself felt almost like letting everyone down.
"Sigh… If we're going for the noble ending, there's inevitably more hardship. And we have to ensure there won't be another 'Shattering' war afterward."
She soon walked over to Radahn's massive body and plunged a tube of clear quartz reagent into his bluish-black skin. The latter's eyes snapped open in response, within the deranged, unfocused gaze lay a sliver of clarity on the verge of collapse.
"The Scarlet Rot could consume your mind again at any moment, and your soul is already fused with the corruption. If you agree to a complete stripping surgery, blink twice. This emergency dose I just gave you will only last 15 seconds."
Then, Fran leaned close to his Red Lion-like head and stated the price of her medical plan.
"As for the fee… I want the curse upon you, and your divinity."
….
"In other worlds, something as nebulous as divinity, without the corresponding stature and means, would be impossible to even think about separating. But in the Lands Between, there is no rejection phenomenon. Curses, blessings, rules, laws… everything is manifested concretely…"
"As long as it has a tangible entity, then everything is manageable."
Fran looked with satisfaction at the tall, red-haired young man wrapped in a cloak before her, meticulously explaining her surgical procedure to this new client. He was tall, but merely taller than average, a far cry from the giant-like Demigod he once was.
He… was Radahn, post-surgery.
"Not just rejection at the cellular level, it seems even reproductive isolation between species doesn't exist here. No wonder there are half-dragons or humanoid dragonkin… After all, who doesn't like dragon girls?"
Radahn paid no mind to Fran's teasing. He simply stared silently at his own hands, no longer giant-like, feeling somewhat unaccustomed.
She had truly managed to strip the giant's curse and Demigod's blood from his nearly lifeless body. To extract things that had been inseparably fused with him since birth. She had even expelled the Scarlet Rot originating from an outer god…
What exactly was she? Those avian-feather-like ear tufts in her hair, was she some kind of Rare One? And behind her, did there exist an unknown god?
Regardless, the answers to these questions no longer concerned him.
"Doctor, you have received the payment you desired. It is time for me to depart as well. No longer a Demigod, nor the Red Lion General… I need to contemplate what identity I shall retain in this world."
"Please, by all means. I do not restrict patients' personal freedom."
Fran did not stop him from leaving, merely watched as he gradually walked away. The transaction between them was complete; with payment and service rendered, delaying the patient's time would be poor practice.
"Does not restrict patients' personal freedom… huh?"
Yvonne's expression beside her was somewhat subtle.
After treating Godrick, Fran performed countless surgeries and experiments on him.
If she had the corresponding special equipment on hand, she would have even tried to see if the humans of the Lands Between were suitable for the 19 modification procedures… Of course, anything she installed on Godrick would be removed afterward. To maintain the purity of the specimen state.
"Of course. As for those little experiments on Godrick… that was the 'payment' he gave me. Strictly speaking, we had a contract."
Fran noticed the hint of teasing in Yvonne's gaze. She naturally wasn't angry, patiently explaining the logic instead.
Generally, she wouldn't restrict a patient's freedom. But if a patient offered their freedom as payment for medical services… she would gladly accept.
When a relatively unimportant moral principle conflicts with consultation fees, the latter's priority is undoubtedly higher.
"Radahn, having completely transformed into a mortal, can no longer maintain the seal upon the firmament. The fate of the stars has begun flowing once more. The path to the 'Eternal City,' Nokron, will open accordingly…"
Fran contemplated the next steps. Though smiling, her eyes held a trace of perplexity. She couldn't quite see through Ranni's true intentions.
Although she had Haida use the pocket watch to secretly probe via profiling Ranni's emotions, it was only a tiny glimpse. The known phrase "my eternal consort" was something Ranni would say to the Tarnished upon achieving the final Age of Stars ending.
Meaning this "Lunar Princess" already knew the future at this point. But… what was the reason? Such a thing wouldn't happen without cause, and it was highly likely related to Yvonne's illness.
Clues, I need more clues…
+++
T/N: Hey readers~! New Translator here! Before I say anything, I'd first like to thank the original author for creating this wonderful story. Without them, I wouldn't have the chance to share this adventure with you. I hope my translation does justice to their work, and that together, we can enjoy this story.
With that said, I'm happy to let you know I'll be uploading daily chapters. And for those who wish to support my work and gain early access, I've set up a Patreon where advanced chapters will be available.
[email protected]/PeakTL