Since these materials came from Fran herself, Haida no longer dwelled on the point and nodded in understanding.
Although Fran's research would undoubtedly be considered taboo in the outside world, as long as it didn't truly harm the innocent, it wouldn't cross her bottom line.
And coincidentally, this doctor was exceptionally familiar with the rules and regulations of the Secrets-Hunters. Even though she often operated in grey areas, she almost never truly crossed the line.
Fran looked at the nun before her, the amusement in her eyes seeming somewhat meaningful.
"But now I've encountered some technical difficulties. Luyala can't adapt to these Prayer Hands. Also, after being reshaped, these materials developed various issues..."
"Haida, I need to borrow your innate ability of Spiritual Empathy."
A flicker of cunning flashed in her gaze, identical to her expression yesterday in the White Cup restroom when she said, "I need a little help."
"Alright."
For some reason, Haida felt a peculiar, slight tingling softness on her neck beneath the scarf.
After clearing her throat lightly to steady herself, she offered her hand, opened her spiritual awareness, and prepared for the synesthetic link.
Psychological profiling was just one manifestation of the innate ability Spiritual Empathy; in essence, it was a special bodily attraction to "spirit." Fortunately, she was born in Norlington. If she were in a place like the 40K universe, overrun with monsters and demons... the most likely outcome would be being taken as a psyker to fuel the Astronomican.
Fran then placed her other hand on Sigrid beside her.
As a pure alchemical lifeform, the maid had slightly higher alchemical precision and control than herself, which might help with the formula's operation.
As the empathic link deepened further, Haida felt a strand of gentle spiritual essence enter her mind, creating layers of pure white ripples... It was Luyala.
"Good, inspiration is flowing in. This time it should work..."
The alchemical formula Remelting and Reshaping on Fran's arm began operating again, molding the materials on the experiment table according to Luyala's spiritual essence traits. Sigrid helped her maintain the entire formula's stability.
During this process, Haida's role was similar to a server... used to connect and integrate different spirits and consciousnesses.
Flesh, bone, blood... The scattered Prayer Hand materials within the alchemical formula re-aggregated after a state of dissolution, eventually becoming whole.
The expected collapse didn't occur. This time... it should be a success.
"Whew, finished."
Fran lightly wiped her forehead, removing sweat that wasn't actually there.
Within the alchemical formula array lay a young girl who was half-human, half-deer. She was unclothed, revealing smooth skin and glazed-colored fur.
She seemed not yet fully awake, curled up somewhat dazedly.
"Na?"
Luyala looked left and right, then somewhat clumsily propped herself up, before approaching Fran with a hint of affection, licking her cheek.
Although her upper body was humanoid, her movement patterns were still no different from a fawn's.
Fran pinched Luyala's cheek, then took off her own white lab coat and draped it over her.
"Luyala, your most suitable material vessel is actually a half-human, half-deer form? Oh, why not a pure deer form..."
She felt an inexplicable twinge of regret, but soon began appreciating Luyala's current body.
"A human upper body and a deer lower body... meaning two sets of spines and ribs. So, are there also two sets of internal organs and mammary systems? How do they operate? How is stability and coordination maintained?"
"From the original quadruped to six limbs, how is balance maintained? How should motor nerves be distributed? If your body weren't still under observation, I'd really like to take it apart and look..."
Seeing the doctor's burning and highly interested gaze, Luyala tilted her head, then hid behind Haida.
But after a moment, she peeked out her head, shyly and with a touch of curiosity, glancing at Fran before her.
---
Luyala, coiled in her deer form, lay on the velvet sofa in Fog Street Clinic's main hall, somewhat curiously examining the material world she had never seen before.
She opened the window, slightly opened her mouth, quietly waiting for fluffy snow to fall into her mouth.
In the dream dimension, although there were also scenes of various seasons, most were just fleeting fantasies and coarse. Only in reality could one experience everything represented by "winter" so clearly and stably.
The chilling wind, the snow that melts upon touch, and the faintly drifting osmanthus fragrance in the clinic's air... They wouldn't fade or dissipate, completely different from the illusory, elusive sensations in dreams.
Fran sat nearby, holding a quill for sketching, deeply observing her bodily structure.
"Two sets of spine and ribs, two sets of heart and lungs, separately supplying blood circulation for the human and deer parts. But there's only one reproductive system and digestive system, placed within the deer body."
"Simultaneously, the whole body shares one set of nervous system. Overall, similar to a centaur..."
Although the body Luyala currently used was hand-crafted by Fran, it was more a product of some burst of inspiration. And since Luyala herself was involved in the entire process, Fran didn't fully understand its internal composition.
Like a freshly written piece of code; no one knows exactly what makes it run...
The pure white snow fluff melted completely on Luyala's tongue, letting her taste the flavor of "winter."
Though appearing as soft as feathery willow catkins, it carried an indescribably piercingly cold and bleakness, as if all things in the world were about to fall into final silence.
That was the spiritual essence representing "Winter."
"Na."
Feeling an inexplicable chill, Luyala shrunk her neck, her nose slightly red, then sneezed.
She somewhat warily closed the window, then approached Fran, who was organizing her sketches, nuzzling her head against her with a hint of affection.
The little deer often felt fear towards this doctor, but more often couldn't help but feel close to her. These two emotions coexisted, not contradictory.
Looking at Luyala's that fluffy, gently swaying white tail, Fran couldn't help but narrow her eyes slightly, as if thinking of something important.
"Oh... I need to tailor a new employee uniform these few days, preferably one that covers the rear half of the deer body. Otherwise, just the fur probably won't cover things properly; the privacy issue is somewhat concerning..."
As she spoke, she took a measuring tape from her portable small medicine kit and meticulously measured the circumference measurements of Luyala's body.
Given Fran's proficiency as a tailor, for an ordinary person, a brief glance would reveal their specific dimensions. But even for her, designing clothing for a half-human, half-deer mythical creature was a first... So going through the procedure rigorously was better.
Soon, Fran obtained the desired data. And Luyala also rubbed her eyes, seeming to feel somewhat sleepy.
"Na..."
With a soft murmur, she leaned against Fran's chest and closed her eyes. Her long, fine eyelashes slightly converged; she had already fallen into deep sleep.
That's just like a child; falling asleep as soon as they lie down, such good sleep quality...
Haida, who had been reading a newspaper nearby, supported Luyala, somewhat curiously asking Fran. This was her first time seeing a truly mythical creature in reality, so she felt some interest in its biological habits.
"She fell asleep?"
Fran wagged her index finger, correcting the inappropriate part of the nun's statement.
"Hmm... For Luyala, the sleeping state is actually 'awake.'"
"The way she enters reality isn't through ritual manifestation but by 'falling asleep' in the dream dimension. For her, reality is the dream."
Fran quite patiently explained Luyala's specific situation.
When they first met, she had also tried using hypnosis or anesthesia to alleviate the pain Luyala experienced from surgery. The result was that this little deer couldn't fall asleep in any form... Even the mental disturbance of the Swaying Heart-Clock was powerless.
Unless... there was a vessel allowing her to step into reality.
Sigrid, standing by, took Luyala from Haida's hands. Although half-deer, she was relatively slender and not heavy to hold.
But to effortlessly carry a half-human, half-deer individual still required some physical strength. Coincidentally, both Haida and Sigrid had good physique...
"Dr. Fran, how should we accommodate her?"
"This body is made by biological alchemy and doesn't require much maintenance. I prepared a bedroom for her in the clinic. Just change her into pajamas, cover her with a blanket, and put her on the bed."
After receiving her instructions, Sigrid then took her to the designated room.
Watching their figures gradually disappear into the corridor's shadows, Haida lowered her head and continued reading the newspaper.
During leisure time without missions or training, she basically always came to Fog Street Clinic.
Besides preferring the tranquil atmosphere, it was also because the books and documents here were exceptionally abundant; the collection on the main hall's bookshelves alone surpassed that of the Secrets-Hunter archive.
Another point: Fog Street Clinic's transportation was very convenient... Just find a door, then take out the membership card Dr. Fran issued to enter through the Mist Within the Door.
"Hmm..."
Haida, holding the newspaper, faintly felt a gaze fixed on her. When she lowered the Norlington Morning Post, Fran's face was indeed right before her eyes.
"Sister Haida, any news worth paying attention to lately?"
"There is indeed one relatively important event."
Haida nodded, then showed the newspaper's content to the doctor before her.
[According to our frontline reporter Rosalia, both Loredon and Attilan have begun deploying troops towards Gormouth, with minor clashes occurring in local areas. Residents remaining in the border regions and outer areas of Gormouth, please pay attention to personal safety.]
"More than twenty years after the Reti Non-Aggression Pact was torn up, the border disputes between Loredon and Attilan have intensified again. Their second truce... is probably ending."
"According to Confidential Division intelligence, the two nations have already begun military engagement. Some Secrets-Hunters in patrol mode have already started going dormant and withdrawing."
Hearing this, Fran's eyes narrowed slightly, her lips curving into an inexplicable smile.
"That probably explains why, after the False Sun Sword forged from a shard of the 'Primal Sun' was lost, the Sun-Forgers Main Temple could remain so calm... Besides the free agent Sun-Corona Rider Solm, they even only sent Byers that unlucky fellow to investigate the situation."
"Because Attilan started preparing for war half a year ago, difficult to spare hands for other matters."
She lightly sat down on the seat next to Haida, then crossed her legs with little regard for decorum, placing them on the coffee table before the sofa.
"And the White Cup's academic symposium. Haida, don't you think the weapon-forged armor showcase was somewhat rushed? The technology hasn't reached mass-production level yet; why reveal it at this time?"
Prompted by Fran's question, the nun also gradually sorted out the connections.
"To benefit the White Cup's future military equipment orders?"
"Correct answer."
Fran's lips quirked up slightly, affirming her answer.
"Showcasing cutting-edge technology others can't match naturally inspires longing and yearning in viewers. Although the Sun-Forgers cult can produce weapon-forging themselves, who would refuse cooperating with such a reliable partner?"
Regarding the renewed war between Attilan and Gormouth, she actually felt unsurprised.
The two nations were originally century-old enemies. Hatred and blood had accumulated over time into deep chasms, difficult to mend.
The mutual non-aggression treaty over twenty years ago maintained peace on paper, but both sides soon tore it up... Facts proved that the legal legitimacy of documents and contracts indeed existed in name only before national interests, could be trampled wantonly.
Fran rested her cheek on one hand, thoughtful and somewhat expectant.
Gormouth was located on the Abyssal frontier, vast in territory. It also lay between Loredon and Attilan, serving as a buffer zone between the "Northern Nation" and the "Sand-Flow Nation." Oh... right, these two generational enemies didn't actually share a border.
Fortunately, most of Gormouth's urban clusters were near the Abyss, while the battlefield between the Reti nations was mainly inland uninhabited areas.
Therefore, even though foreign forces often had firefights within its territory, Gormouth didn't really care.
Even if their decision-makers truly wanted to intervene, they probably lacked the spare capacity. Just containing the chaos caused by secret cults and Evil Spawns within the country already kept the Gormouth royal family overwhelmed.
Fran didn't dislike chaos and variables. This war... might make the stagnant, pond-like Gormouth more interesting.
"Speaking of the White Cup cult, did they give you the payment for the lecture?"
"It's with me."
As she spoke, Haida retrieved a brand new bank draft from one of the nun's habit's storage pockets and handed it to Fran.
She deftly accepted it, then let out an exclamation.
"As expected, the White Cup also doesn't have Abyssal Descendant spirit-infused materials. Still have to find it myself."
"By the way, there's some progress on the secret art tome I promised Vivian earlier. While organizing the collection, Sigrid found a fragmentary chapter recording the second-category, mid-tier secret art [ShadowManipulation]. Please deliver it to her on my behalf."
Haida then took this clearly missing-pages book from Fran.
Its cover was inlaid with six blood-red gems, but one was already lost, its empty socket particularly glaring.
The book title was The Black Feather Secret Continuation.
+++
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