Fran gently stroked the soft down on Luyala's neck to provide some comfort. Although her movements were tender and delicate, the other still showed an expression of pain.
"...There are things moving inside the skin, and quite a number of them. Probably beneath the loose dermal tissue, attached to the fascia."
She detected something abnormal from the palpation, her gaze growing serious. But along with that, an intense, fervent excitement also arose...
Fran had always felt a bit regretful that she hadn't researched Luyala's body structure more thoroughly before... After all, mythical creatures still active in the material world these days were truly rare.
"Hmm... Based on last time's experience, I should currently be in a dream."
Fran looked around the main hall and found Haida and Sigrid had already disappeared. The entire Fog Street Clinic was quiet and desolate, leaving only one person and one deer.
"Just as I thought."
She was very interested in this dream-inducing ability that gave no warning.
This little deer almost completely bypassed mental resistance, pulling her into a dream in an imperceptible instant. This had left the realm of a mythical creature's conventional abilities...
"Let's start treatment first. Your condition isn't optimistic... If it were another doctor, they'd be preparing a critical condition notice by now."
Luyala's body was covered with ferocious wounds, like corrosion, or like bite marks. Black, viscous blood had stained her originally smooth and glossy fur, leaving many scar-like, torn clumps.
Fran carried her into the operating room, clapped her hands, and the faint, clear light of [Drive Away Dust and Filth] immediately spread out.
"The difficulty of this surgery is similar to removing Scarlet Rot from the Demigods in the Lands Between, but back then I could use Runes for auxiliary treatment... However, I have home-field advantage now."
The mirror-like blade of the scalpel cut open Luyala's skin without obstruction. What spilled out wasn't blood or purulent tissue fluid... but rapidly squirming, living pollution.
In an instant, it climbed onto Fran's hand like an affixed bone ulcer.
"To think I'd be attacked by the same pollution twice... and during the treatment of the same patient. Oh, should be patient-deer."
The pitch-black pollution nearly instantly bit through the skin on Fran's hand, quickly seeped in, then scurried through the muscles... It was densely packed swarms of ants.
"...Rushing into someone else's body like this isn't a good habit, you know? You need to be patient, take it step by step..."
Fran's expression remained normal. Even feeling heart-piercing, bone-gouging pain surging from her fingertips to her brain, the faint smile at the corner of her lips didn't waver.
Glorious, chaotic madness-fire emerged from her blood and meridians, instantly swallowing the ant swarms formed by the pollution. Explosive combustion ensued and spread; pure Frenzied Flame followed the pollution all the way into Luyala's body.
Fran also took this opportunity to further proceed with the separation surgery on the pollution, incidentally treating the new burns on her body...
The last squirming black ant was crushed to death by her fingertip. The strange scent of ant acid fluid then spread.
Fran let out a slight sigh of relief, declaring the surgery successful once again. However, Luyala was currently very weak, unable to leave directly like last time.
This was probably due to the Frenzied Flame burns... But judging from her condition, surviving itself was a medical miracle. There was also nothing further to demand.
Luyala breathed in small gasps. Beside her glazed eyes were a few strands of already dried tear tracks. Since she couldn't be hypnotized or anesthetized, she could only stay conscious as Fran opened and sewed her up...
"Nay?" she softly called out.
"So you do know a deer's call..."
Leaning against the operating table, Fran stroked the little fawn's face. The latter then extended her tongue to lightly lick Fran's palm.
Luyala slowly and exhaustedly closed her eyes. The surrounding scene then blurred and disintegrated... A strong sensation of falling once again.
...
Amber-like deep golden eyes snapped open. Fran found Haida and Sigrid looking at her with concern and confusion.
Seeing Fran awake, Sigrid immediately breathed a sigh of relief. She took Fran's injury-covered hand, seemingly wanting to treat it with bandages... but suddenly remembered she knew nothing about this.
"Dr. Fran! What happened? I thought you were resting on the sofa, but black pollution and fire suddenly surged from your hands..."
Haida naturally knew conventional medical treatment would be useless, so she chose to observe first, not rashly waking Fran.
"Was it the Frenzied Flame mark losing control?"
"Actually not. The specific situation is a bit complex. How should I explain it..."
Fran blinked, seemingly also unsure where to start.
"Just now, in a dream, I helped a very adorable patient, but her condition was a bit serious... This caused some phenomena from the dream to manifest in reality."
Fran's hands, already covered in suture lines, were now even more scarred and injured.
Frenzied Flame burn marks mixed with living pollution bites had left the skin and flesh on her metacarpal bones nearly hollowed out; exposed pale tendons hung scattered. It was almost to the point where one glance would give nightmares.
"It seems today's cooking plans can only be shelved. What a shame. I bought squab and was planning to roast it fresh..."
"A patient in a dream?"
Sigrid was somewhat astonished by the breadth of Fran's patient acceptance range; house calls could actually be completed while dreaming... Haida, however, looked normal, already accustomed.
Her previous journey in the Lands Between had greatly raised her acceptance threshold.
After witnessing Demigods holding fragments of the Rune of Death, the Lunar Princess heading towards the dark starry abyss, and a deity who reclaimed their humanity from a salvaged fate... healing patients in dreams suddenly became ordinary and reasonable.
"Just some simple external injuries. I can handle it myself. No need to worry."
Before the words even finished, the complex injuries on Fran's hands had already begun to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Muscle fibers clung to the exposed bones, growing and intertwining, like young willow sprouts. Skin and fascia appeared layer by layer, finally covering all missing parts.
"...I hadn't even started bandaging yet."
Fran noticed Haida and Sigrid were looking at her, immediately raising her hands to prove her innocence, showing she hadn't started yet.
"It's a return gift from that 'patient'?"
Haida examined Fran's palms.
Her skin was fair and soft, her ten fingers slender and delicate; apart from a few black suture lines, no other injury traces could be found.
"Correct. Speaking of which, after she recovered her health last time, she did the same thing."
Fran slightly clenched her hand, faintly feeling a bit of stiffness. The newly grown nerves and muscles were still in a recovery period; sensation wasn't very sensitive.
[The 'Glazed Fawn'—'Luyala's body's pollution originating from the 'Mother of Corrosive Infestation' has been purified. This month's routine medical task is completed. Completion: A. Your next monthly house call will be randomly triggered next month.]
[This time's consultation fee: Unknown Biological Ingredient x1 (Ordinary Quality. Unidentified)]
[Your Parsing Rate Change: Xenology (32.5% → 33.5%)]
[Your Special Ability Change: Drive Away Dust and Filth (Proficient Level. Proficiency: 81% → 84%)]
Although Fran's hands showed no injuries on the surface, to prevent the reactivated Frenzied Flame from accidentally leaking out... she still carefully wrapped them in bandages. Undertaking the important task of cooking in this condition was clearly somewhat difficult.
And although Sigrid was the maid of Fog Street Clinic, as an artisan she was practically clueless about such things. Every attempt at cooking under Fran's encouragement turned into charcoal making...
Therefore, Haida ultimately had to take on the heavy burden of cooking dinner.
Fortunately, as one of the Secrets-Hunters' finest Burial attendants, she had some knowledge in many aspects; the food she made wasn't bad.
At least Fran herself was quite nostalgic for this somewhat homestyle flavor...
...
Dusk sank. The hazy gray mist of twilight rose with the faintly glimmering starlight, lingering around the warm, bright-yellow lights on the street corners.
Fog Street was as quiet and still as ever. No one knew from where these streetlights obtained their power supply, nor where those moths gracefully fluttering around the lights came from...
Just like this district that shouldn't exist, everything was a mystery veiled in obscurity.
Haida pulled her black, form-fitting nun's robe tighter. August in Norlington was hot and stifling, but the temperature on this street had always been slightly low. Even at the height of midsummer, not a hint of summer heat could be felt.
She skillfully stepped into the dust and mist at the end of the street corner, letting them envelop and cover her.
Compared to this morning when she came to the clinic, she now carried a thick Ash Creed under her arm—the very "Aphoristic Silence."
Generally, Fran wouldn't lend out her collection of books.
Some knowledge in the lost creeds was indeed too dangerous. If something happened, she'd ultimately have to deal with the aftermath... She didn't dislike trouble and variables but disliked meaningless complications.
"Aphoristic Silence" didn't contain many taboos. And Haida held both a Secrets-Hunter and a nursing supervisor identity... The privilege of borrowing a book was still there.
However, although there were no dangerous and uncontrollable ancient rituals, this book indeed had many interesting aspects.
First, it recorded many practical secret arts that the Secrets-Hunter Cult had already lost. Second... it recorded many secret affairs among deities that could be called black history.
--
Norlington Central Academy, Headmaster Grantham's office.
"Terence, what are your thoughts on the Sun-Forgers Cult branch incident?"
Grantham put down the newspaper, lightly stroking his finely trimmed, pale beard. This guy even had braids in his beard, making his image increasingly resemble a wizard from the medieval era.
Professor Terence sat upright on the sofa, somewhat tiredly rubbing the corner of his eye.
The things that happened recently were a bit much. Just dealing with the aftermath of the "Drinker's" descent had them overwhelmed. How could the Red Cup bypass so many inspections and safety measures to inscribe ritual prayers in the entire city district's sewer pipes?
Who was that person who obliterated the Drinker with a single strike of an icy, dark star? No, should one even call him a person? Had he left, or was he still hiding in Norlington city?
Amidst this busyness, the Sun-Forgers Cult actually evaporated overnight...
That was a secret cult with deep heritage; even just a branch had operated in Norlington for over sixty years.
Even if that previous "Cup's Servant" who touched divinity were to launch a night assault and massacre, at least a few survivors should have been left. Not utterly wiped out.
"The Confidential Division and Sun-Forgers Cult jointly sealed off the scene and information flow immediately. Although some information was obtained through City Hall, most were speculative guesses based on rumors. What can I say? I'm a history professor, a White Cup Error-Purger, not a spy."
Terence picked up the glass of whiskey with a spherical ice cube on the table, responding somewhat irritably.
As the alcohol went down his throat, his restlessness subsided slightly.
"Based on currently known circumstances, the Sun-Forgers Cult incident is highly likely to be internal in origin. Probably a catastrophe triggered by a dangerous creation going out of control. The Astronomy Department ruled out the possibility of a large-scale 'Category One ritual' occurring recently."
Grantham slightly concentrated, his aged gaze showing a complex expression.
The demise of behemoths usually doesn't come from direct confrontation and external invasion, but more from silent self-disintegration... This was reasonable.
"For a long time, I had a premonition that the split between 'Sun-Forging' and 'Primal Sun' faiths would lead to irreparable, adverse consequences. Didn't expect it to come to pass in this way."
Terence then continued explaining his views, gradually getting to the point from the superficial aspects of the incident.
"According to intelligence obtained from City Hall officials, Haida and Confidential Division Director Silver Wing Locust appeared first at the Sun-Forging Spire, even faster than Corona Rider Solm. The Sun-Forgers Cult permitting them to investigate first probably meant some agreement was reached..."
"Now both cults are searching for a very talented young artisan. Even if she isn't the mastermind, she is deeply connected to this matter."
Grantham rubbed his cane, couldn't help but sigh slightly with a touch of regret.
"I remember that child's name is Sigrid. I saw her a few years ago at an academic exchange. Truly, the ways of the world are unpredictable..."
Terence then picked up the thread.
"We are still unclear how Sister Haida handled this event. But judging by Solm and the Sun-Forgers Cult's attitude, they seem relatively satisfied with the Secrets-Hunters' investigation results."
"Based on her flawless record, she'll probably be promoted to director next year..."
"Besides that, there's another point... Dr. Fran also appeared at the scene. She seems to have been the first witness to the case."
Grantham didn't show a surprised expression, clearly already aware of this.
"Perhaps it's a coincidence, perhaps she truly has some connection to this matter. But this isn't something we should worry about... The only ones who should be anxious, the Sun-Forging Main Temple, are acting very composed. We can just watch and see."
Back when Terence mentioned needing to pay attention to Fran, Grantham launched an investigation into this doctor's information.
But the outcome was naturally fruitless.
She wasn't among Norlington's registered, certified physicians. The name Fran Herschel also found no record in the White Cup intelligence network. Her existence seemed fabricated out of thin air.
If there was Confidential Division cover-up, achieving this extent wasn't impossible. But what kind of person merits this level of confidentiality, and she herself appears completely unconcerned about it?
"If unnecessary, don't proactively provoke her. This doctor, although eccentric in behavior, hasn't displayed any threat."
Grantham set the White Cup Cult's main tone for contact with her.
After all, the other party might be the Secrets-Hunter Cult's current "Medicae Primus." If they actually investigated her and got discovered... that situation would be somewhat awkward.
Terence drained the whiskey in his glass, his gaze inexplicably flickering somewhat.
"To some extent, Dr. Fran is actually even considered 'friendly.' Of course, all this is based on both parties upholding propriety."
Fran seemed to naturally possess a quality that could earn others' respect. She always performed etiquette perfectly, treating people gently and humbly.
Ordinary people either started respecting her upon meeting, or started respecting her when she cut open someone's abdominal cavity, took out their still-twitching organs, and arranged them neatly...
"Sigh... Compared to that doctor, our own troubles are more worth paying attention to."
Grantham sighed lightly, then took a sip of bitter, rich black coffee, hoping to perk up his spirits a bit.
The Research Department's complaint letters these past few days had almost filled his desk. Because of the Sun-Forgers Cult incident, large batches of instrument and precision component orders lost their supplier.
Although the White Cup Cult had self-production capability, this indeed greatly slowed down research and development efficiency. So vexing…
+++
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