"The road ahead… you will likely have to walk alone. Haida and I need to attend to some matters… When you face a Demigod bearing a Great Rune, call for us then."
As she spoke, she handed Yvonne a small box containing ointment. It was "Furlcalling Finger Remedy," which could summon an invited guest to the side of the user.
"…So soon?"
Yvonne also knew they couldn't stay by her side forever.
Everyone had their own mission; parting ways was always inevitable. It's just… she hadn't expected it to be now, catching her somewhat off guard.
"Is it because of that silvery construct back in the Eternal City?"
"Hmm… you're not wrong."
Fran was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly, acknowledging it.
She hadn't originally minded accompanying this Tarnished lady all the way to witness the god within the Erdtree fall. But now… she had encountered a clue to Yvonne's 'illness.' Even if it was the slimmest of possibilities, she had to confirm it.
"Please go ahead. I won't hold you back, Dr. Fran. The Tarnished's path is inherently a lonely one… Having you and Sister Haida's care along the way has been very fortunate. I hope you take care on your journey, and I hope… we meet again."
Yvonne lowered her eyes, giving a slight bow.
Although Dr. Fran had appeared calm and composed when facing that silvery construct with her own likeness… since then, she had often seemed distracted.
Her heart probably wasn't as tranquil as she appeared.
"Parting words in a FromSoftware world shouldn't be so formal; it might just curse me to death, you know?"
Fran stepped forward, ruffled Yvonne's hair with a teasing remark, then waved her hand and turned to leave. Haida followed closely behind.
"..."
Yvonne watched the two figures gradually fade into the distant gray haze, silent for a long time, before finally entering Ranni's Rise alone.
---
"Dr. Fran, where do we go next?"
On the Tree Sentinel's warhorse, Haida held the reins, asking Fran seated in front of her about their next destination.
Though she knew Yvonne's process of becoming Lord involved collecting enough Great Rune shards, repairing the Elden Ring, and then ascending the throne… she was completely in the dark about Fran's intentions.
This doctor was always unpredictable; no one knew what she would do next, so nothing she did seemed strange.
"To the Royal Capital, Leyndell, to find a sage called Goldmask. I need to verify a conjecture there. If I'm not mistaken, I have forgotten some things…"
Fran seemed listless, apparently uncomfortable from the long ride.
Then she suddenly leaned back, closer to Haida behind her, and asked with a hint of slyness, "By the way, Haida, do you want to know what I whispered to that silvery construct in the Eternal City, Nokron?"
"…Is it alright to tell me? Meaning, it's only Yvonne who mustn't be told?"
A flicker passed through Haida's eyes; she didn't deny her curiosity.
But sometimes, merely "knowing" could interfere with certain plans, so when necessary… she would cautiously restrain her curiosity.
"Yes. Your fate and mine do not belong to the Lands Between. Knowing these secrets is harmless… But for Yvonne, knowing too much might hinder her choices. If I could speak, who would want to be a cryptic riddler? Do I look like that kind of person?"
Fran blinked, about to speak, when Haida placed a hand over her lips, swiftly interrupting her.
"There's no need, Dr. Fran. These secrets… I'll listen to them together with Yvonne when the time comes."
"Oh? Hmm… alright. I respect your decision."
Fran raised an eyebrow nimbly, seeming somewhat surprised. She glanced back at Haida and noticed a faint, subtle smile on the other's usually resolute face.
Sometimes, being unable to learn a secret can be frustrating. But listening and telling are two sides of the same coin; interrupting someone about to tell you a secret… the other person suffers from holding it back just as much. This is the duality of sharing gossip.
"That's fine too. Saving everything for the end… gives the feeling of a grand reveal."
Fran wasn't displeased at having her story interrupted; on the contrary, she found it rather novel.
After all, not everyone could maintain such restraint in the face of curiosity… And showing some emotion occasionally was good for Haida; keeping her spirit tense for too long could cause problems.
---
The Altus Plateau, where Leyndell, Royal Capital stands.
Drawing on some of her memories, Fran found the emaciated, statue-like Goldmask.
He stood by a broken bridge like a scarecrow, posture peculiar, gazing directly at the Erdtree that veiled the sky.
Goldmask was a sage capable of manifesting a Great Rune through thought. And that Rune representing Order was the key to achieving the "Age of Perfect Order" ending.
Fran leaned against Haida, who helped her softly dismount. Though she was somewhat proficient in riding, the long journey on horseback had left her quite uncomfortable. Thankfully, Haida was behind her to serve as a cushion.
Just as she was about to approach Goldmask to communicate via special means, the other turned his face, which had been fixed on the Erdtree, toward her with extreme slowness.
This was also a scene deviating from the original course, but it didn't take Fran by surprise.
Her expression unchanged, she offered a brief greeting.
"Good day, Mr. Goldmask… I know you can hear. Communicate with me in your way; I can hear it too."
Upon hearing Fran's greeting, he extended a hand toward his face at an agonizingly slow pace.
It seemed that exhaustive contemplation had caused his physical body to atrophy to the brink, making his movements frustratingly sluggish. Finally… he removed the massive, sunflower-like golden mask covering his face.
Beneath the mask was a golden Rune emanating clear, radiant light, occupying almost the entire space where his head and brain should be…
Order, rules, connections, essence, the flow of thought about all things in the world circulated within it. He reached into his face, took out this Rune, and presented it on his palm.
Fran narrowed her eyes, stepped forward, and reached out to take it.
The next moment, Goldmask gently clenched his hand. The Rune of Order in his palm shattered violently into countless glowing golden motes of dust. He then slumped powerlessly.
"Thus… have you understood, upon which thread you truly stand?"
His lips and Adam's apple showed no movement, yet the voice still entered Fran's mind.
She watched the sky-scattering golden light, her gaze momentarily blank. Astonishment flashed for an instant, then transformed into understanding and a smile. She laughed, clutching her stomach somewhat carelessly.
"Heh… I see. I understand now."
Haida didn't understand what this scene represented, but seeing Dr. Fran regain her bright, lively spirit, she could guess her mood was probably very good now… perhaps she had solved the puzzle.
It took Fran a moment to contain her laughter, then she said to Haida, "Sister Haida, all that's left for us to do now is wait. Let us await the conclusion…"
Haida nodded slightly.
They had been in the Lands Between for over two years now.
For a single house call, this was indeed far too long. Although she could use this seemingly extra time to hone herself to the utmost, it was… indeed time to plan their return to Norlington.
"Hmm…" Fran keenly sensed Haida's mood. She then scratched her cheek somewhat sheepishly.
"Though I say that, our 'waiting' will likely also last quite a while. I hope Yvonne can grow strong enough to collect the necessary Great Runes within five years… Most importantly, besides collecting those fragments, she needs to become strong enough to face head-on those monsters worthy of being called gods."
"I know. Don't worry, Dr. Fran… Patience is the most important trait for a Secrets-Hunter."
Haida wasn't actually impatient. No matter how much time passed in the Lands Between, only an instant would have passed in Norlington, which removed her worries on that front.
On that basis, waiting within ten years was completely acceptable to her. Moreover, this was an era where gods still walked the earth; countless ancient divine wonders could be witnessed in their most direct form.
For a Secrets-Hunter… this was no different from paradise.
---
[Rhine Lab Experimental Manual. (From the Structural Department, STRU)]
[Quality: Fine]
[Effect: Documents the specific parameters of various special experiments conducted by 'Rhine Lab Co., Ltd.' Records include clinical reactions of test subjects, various physical indicators, and adaptability to Originium. Increases Parsing Rate for the relevant system by 3% upon use.]
[Note: "Your medical techniques are modern, yet your medical concepts are quite ancient. Just who are you?"]
During the waiting period, they naturally couldn't truly do nothing and enter a complete vacation mode. While exploring the Lands Between with Haida, Fran incidentally appraised the payment she had received from June's monthly house call.
"Hmm, this experimental manual is quite interesting. Creating biological weapons through massive injections of certain agents, installing chips into brains to partially replace brain functions…"
She flipped through the pages with keen interest, scanning line by line the characteristics and specific parameters of the test subjects.
"Rhine Lab installs hardware into human brains to achieve mechanical thinking, while the tech-priests of the Mechanicus install wetware into machinery to gain human neural reflexes. Truly, times are different, and so are the pursuits…"
Since the corresponding technology wasn't particularly difficult for Fran, she quickly finished reading the entire manual. The Parsing Rate for [Terra Medicine] increased accordingly.
After reviewing it several times, she placed the experimental manual into the small medical kit she carried with her.
—— ——
Time flowed like sand, slipping away in an instant. Another year passed.
As Yvonne continuously acquired new Great Runes, her rate of improvement became like an avalanche. What began as the fall of a single snowflake eventually evolved into an unstoppable collapse and a howling storm.
With no one's help, relying solely on herself, she ventured deep underground and slew "Mohg, Lord of Blood," obtaining the crimson, blood-like Great Rune from the Demigod's corpse.
Only after he had completely fallen did she suddenly smack her forehead, remembering Dr. Fran's instruction to summon her when encountering a Demigod.
But the earlier encounter had been too engrossing; she hadn't remembered at all… And there had been no opening during the fight to use the Furlcalling Finger Remedy.
"Hopefully I haven't caused her any trouble…"
Even Yvonne, now capable of hunting Demigods, felt an inexplicable pang of guilt. After all, Dr. Fran had so far always spared the Demigods' lives, calling it the "noble ending"…
Though somewhat uneasy, she still took the ointment-like remedy from the small box, applied it to her index finger, and traced the sigil in the air to call others. She had to let the doctor come, to see if she could make up for it, salvage the situation…
Fran and Haida soon answered the summons, their figures gradually materializing within the golden sigil.
"The Mohgwyn Dynasty? What a familiar place… Just stepping in, I can almost smell the Runes."
Fran looked around lightly and leisurely, letting out a heartfelt sigh.
"Um… Dr. Fran. I entered the temple and ran straight into Mohg, Lord of Blood. The situation was urgent, so I had to go all out and kill him."
During their time apart, Yvonne had gone to Raya Lucaria Academy and obtained the "Great Rune of the Unborn." Counting the Blood Rune she just got from Mohg, she had now collected four Elden Ring shards.
Years of relentless combat had given her even more battle experience than Haida. But before Fran, she still maintained her usual reserve, like a student who performed poorly on an exam.
"You did very well. Being able to kill a Demigod alone means you have graduated perfectly. Sister Haida also often says she has nothing left to teach you… Of course, the same goes for me. In Glintstone sorcery, I'm slightly inferior to the witch Sellen, but if you want to study medicine, that's another matter…"
Fran applauded lightly in encouragement, clearly not minding Mohg's death.
Being unable to hold back was perfectly normal in a life-and-death struggle; hesitation meant defeat.
When a Tarnished first enters a vast, magnificent unfamiliar scene, a majestic symphony suddenly swells, and a boss health bar lights up below… it's already too late to summon help.
She walked slowly to Mohg's tall corpse, which was continuously dissipating, and unceremoniously gave it a kick. But obviously, a body of that scale wasn't something she could topple.
"As expected, I still dislike pedophiles. He's not even a priest; why is he so interested in little boys? Oh… my apologies, Sister Haida."
After saying this, Fran suddenly remembered Haida was clergy. Mentioning this in front of her probably wasn't good… She immediately bowed her head in apology.
Haida's expression turned slightly subtle. She pursed her lips and promptly corrected this stereotype.
"Dr. Fran, you seem to have some misunderstanding about the Secrets-Hunter order. We only have 'Hunters,' not 'Fathers.' That's a rank from other sects; it has nothing to do with us. You really don't need to apologize to me…"
"Ahem. I'll try my best to correct that impression. I hope Sister Haida can forgive me."
Fran walked to the large blood cocoon in the center of the hall, opened her medical kit, took out her beloved circular saw, attached the blade, and started its high-speed rotation, emitting a fine, buzzing hum.
"Mohg is dead, but 'St. Trina' Miquella, soaking in the cocoon, can still barely be saved… He is also my true target for coming here."
Though Yvonne had seen this circular saw many times, seeing it again still surprised her… Was this doctor's medical concepts too advanced, or were her own too outdated? Could something like this really be used to treat and save people…
In fact, when faced with overly resilient flesh, medical equipment was forced to possess performance akin to weapons… otherwise, one couldn't even break the patient's skin.
"As long as we have Miquella, we possess overwhelming bargaining chips for dealing with the 'Valkyrie' Malenia. I'm also very curious about what price this younger sister, with her advanced-stage brother complex, would pay for her brother…"
Fran cut open the blood cocoon, then covered the surrounding dais with sterile cloths, clasped her hands, and activated [Drive Away Dust and Filth].
"A single house call, and I've already performed more than four major surgeries… Such a fate of toil."
Though saying this, she smiled with full pleasure and began this treatment.
Miquella's condition stemmed from the catalyzing effect of "Mohg, Lord of Blood." Restoring him to his pre-catalyzed state was nearly impossible. Cells and flesh in their frantic growth had exhausted their potential and were nearly depleted.
With insufficient medical equipment, even Fran felt a slight headache. With the Parsing Rate for [Anatomy] at 79.5%, her understanding of dismantling flesh had ascended to another dimension, far from limited to corpses.
While keeping a subject alive, Fran could easily strip foreign matter not belonging to him from the patient's body. Whether it was Godrick's extra grafted limbs or the Scarlet Rot within Radahn.
But now, [Anatomy], this extremely practical fundamental discipline, encountered its area of disadvantage where it was completely ineffective…
Miquella's illness was the decay of his flesh, or the alienated exhaustion of life force… It all originated from within himself. This kind of situation couldn't be solved with a scalpel.
"Install some organs that can continuously provide vitality? There's no rejection anyway. No, that won't work… The patient's condition doesn't support surgery. And my understanding of Demigod physiology isn't high enough; operating recklessly could endanger his life. Can only rely on medication."
Fran's brows furrowed slightly. After pondering for a while, she finally determined the treatment plan.
+++
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