"...What was that? A secret art of the stellar lineage, or... real 'magic'?"
Silver Wing Locust watched the divine servant Yates burn to ashes and the gradually fading profound starlight, the muscles at the corner of her eye twitching uncontrollably.
Although the Divine Servants summoned by first-category rituals were highly threatening, they hadn't transcended human essence.
Even mortals with only meager esoteric power, if sufficiently skilled and employing clever enough methods... could find ways to kill them.
….
But someone who could utterly annihilate it in a single strike, like wiping away a fly, no matter how you looked at it, had absolutely transcended the human category. Was it an "Apostle" carrying out a deity's will? Or something... deeper?
Unnoticed, the sky-wide blood-rain had gradually ceased.
Dense, almost viscous pale fog shrouded the wide street, visibility so low you couldn't even see the person beside you clearly.
"Dr. Fran, Sister Haida, it's wonderful to see you both again. Is this your world? The operation of the Laws is so harmonious, so peaceful and beautiful..."
Yvonne took off her white wolf helmet, smiling as she approached the two and gave them a hug.
Hmm... You were the one who just personally dealt with that divine servant about to turn into a flesh-and-blood Sacred Tree. So, how exactly did you arrive at the conclusion "peaceful and beautiful"?
Faced with this familiar yet strange lady, Haida remained reservedly silent. But her body didn't feel resistance to this seemingly overly intimate hug...
"That divine servant has perished, so I should go now. Both teachers, I look forward to meeting again next time... This was a bit rushed; I'll bring gifts next time."
As she spoke, Yvonne's body gradually turned into brilliant golden light points like fallen leaves and dissipated.
"...Who is she?"
Haida looked questioningly at Fran, who smiled and gently stroked her own sutured hands.
"Oh, that would be troublesome to explain. Why not come to Fog Street Clinic, and I'll help speed up your memory recovery? And do a simple check-up while we're at it..."
"...I'll come after I finish the cleanup work with the Secrets-Hunters cult."
After a moment of silence, she ultimately agreed to Fran's suggestion.
—
Fog Street Clinic.
After a series of inquiries, health checks, and mental assessments, Haida was once again semi-forced into taking half a month of leave.
Following the guidance of the pale mist in the door, she slowly entered the washroom in her room... and then stepped into the Fog Street Clinic illuminated by clear yellow light.
"Welcome, Sister Haida."
Fran sat leisurely on the sofa, her expression relaxed, her amber gaze like a gentle torch flame.
Her current posture wasn't exactly dignified; her long legs clad in black knee-high cotton socks were carelessly propped on the coffee table, and she was even wearing large fluffy slippers.
Two cups of coffee were on the table. Judging by the shrinking state of the milk foam art and the faintly drifting steam... they had probably just been made.
Fran subtly lowered her legs from the table, then pushed a cup of coffee towards Haida, gesturing for her to sit opposite.
"Not using the 'Swaying Heart-Clock'?"
Seeing Fran hadn't brought out the signature bronze pocket watch, Haida reminded her.
"The brain is the most mysterious organ in the human body, and therefore, I generally maintain a cautious attitude during mental therapy. Over-reliance on such resonance-enhancing relics can cause one's original skills to become rusty."
Fran lightly tapped the edge of the table, rhythmically, like the rapid ticking of a clock's second hand.
"Do you remember that rule? 'Cannot take anything from the crossover zone until the diagnosis is complete'? That's actually a conceptualization of the transdimensional effect. Even though the rule itself has been lifted, the transdimensional effect still persists."
Her thumb gently rested on her middle finger, snapping several times, but without any sound.
Snap.
Only when the crisp sound of the snap truly reached Haida's ears did she feel the speed of her memory returning intensify instantly. The years spent in the Lands Between gradually became clear.
"Fragmented memories should mostly be restored within three days. It's best to rest quietly during this period and avoid strong emotional fluctuations... Of course, emotional stability has always been your strength."
Fran lifted her coffee, took a sip, then deftly licked the delicate milk foam from her upper lip.
"Cough! Cough!..."
She seemed to have choked, suddenly covering her mouth and coughing lightly a few times.
However, Haida focused slightly and keenly noticed a trace of blood seeping from between Fran's fingers.
"Dr. Fran, are you unwell? Hmm... What can I do?"
Haida stepped forward to support Fran, whose stance seemed somewhat unsteady.
Through skin contact, she could feel Fran's body temperature was somewhat higher than normal, like a fever. But she wasn't very confident in her own overly simplistic diagnosis, after all... it was really hard to imagine this doctor getting sick.
"Just inflammation from a burn infection, not very serious."
Fran had Haida help her lie face down on the sofa, then asked her to begin unbuttoning her white coat and the well-tailored, close-fitting suit jacket underneath, exposing the smooth, delicate skin of her back.
"Normally, for this kind of condition, cleaning the wound and some antibiotics would suffice... but my case is special. Since I finally have someone else at the clinic, can you help apply the topical medication?"
As she spoke, she took a translucent quartz applicator tube from a small medicine box and handed it to Haida. Inside was a liquid-like medicine.
"Let me do it. And... this should also be within the duties of 'Head Nurse' Zero."
Haida agreed readily; she had specifically studied battlefield first aid. She knew how to handle injuries like sharp-force trauma and burns, but she still couldn't help narrowing her eyes when she saw the marks on Fran's back.
There was no external wound on the skin; it was smooth and delicate like finely glazed porcelain. But within the skin, a terrifying heat faintly emanated. A chaotic, frenzied fire was smoldering brilliantly within her body.
"A side effect of becoming the Lord of Frenzied Flame?"
Haida had already recovered most of her memories of the Lands Between, only some minor details remained fuzzy.
"Correct, this is the Frenzied Flame's mark. Under the Needle's suppression, the external wound treatment is complete, but it's still burning my spirit inside. It would probably take months to heal naturally... but with medication, just one course is enough."
Under Fran's guidance, Haida evenly spread the medicine on her palms, then began gently applying it to the burn area on Fran's back.
As the cool, slick medicine permeated the skin tissue, the unsettling chaotic fire gradually subsided, turning into scorching vapor that rose.
Fran's expression wasn't pained, but neither did it hold her usual customer-service smile; it was merely an unrippled calm.
"The discomfort and rejection are both quite strong; the Lord of Frenzied Flame ritual can be categorized as 'high risk'. But this isn't a genetic agent; putting it into production would likely be difficult..."
She put on her undergarments, then re-fastened the buttons on her suit jacket collar, her breathing gradually steadying.
"How is Sister Haida's schedule looking these days? Busy?"
"Quite leisurely. After confirming the divine servant Yates was dead, the cult entered the post-operation process. Most combat personnel are already in a recovery phase. I have half a month of leave."
Although Haida wasn't sure why she was asking, she still gave a structured answer.
Fran pinched her chin, seemingly thinking about how to arrange the time in July.
"Would you be interested in staying at Fog Street Clinic during this period? In the meantime, I can impart some 'common knowledge' that a 'Head Nurse' needs to grasp..."
"...Dr. Fran, I recall our employment relationship was temporary."
Haida's expression was rather subtle, contemplating whether to accept if Fran formally offered her a position.
"Hmm~ Although the diagnosis is complete, I personally was quite satisfied with Sister Haida's performance during the trial period. It's not easy to find a Head Nurse nowadays who is proficient with both cold and hot weapons and secret arts, and has such exceptional battlefield mobility..."
"Of course, dear Sister Haida, I have no intention of poaching from the Secrets-Hunters cult. However... I would like our employment contract to be extended."
"I won't interfere with your freedom, but I will extend invitations for certain house calls. How about that?"
"...Alright."
Haida contemplated for a moment, and after a quick internal struggle, agreed.
"That's wonderful."
Fran deftly pulled out a sheet of paper with pre-written terms and a quill pen from under the coffee table cabinet, eagerly handing them to Haida.
"The simplest format of a labor service contract. If you're unsure, you can prepare your own paper and pen to copy it, but let me state upfront... As a doctor, I myself disdain using the underhanded tactics of Abyssal devils who hide clauses in contracts."
Even so, Haida carefully read the contract, confirming it was correct before signing her name. Reasonable caution was proper etiquette.
"Done. So... what exactly is the 'common knowledge' a Head Nurse should master?"
Putting down the pen and paper, Haida looked seriously at Fran.
The doctor was currently suppressing a smile, her pale, frost-like eyelashes blinking slightly, wearing the expression of someone whose scheme had succeeded.
"Let's start with the 'Transdimensional Effect'. Let me recommend one of my collection, Through the Gates of the Silver Key... After reading it, I'll explain the specific principles of dimensional crossing to you."
In front of the huge wooden bookshelf, she enthusiastically introduced her collection of books, sharing the pure joy of discussing reading material with someone else.
"Also, I have the original copies of the Red Cup's four Skin Creed texts here. They are Crimson Visage, Mortal-Breaking White Bones, Sated Flesh of Desire, and Ascension Heart's Blood. After reading them, you'll understand why you were able to harm that divine servant back then..."
Haida pursed her lips, sincerely feeling excitement... and nervousness.
Although she had always achieved nearly flawless grades in all subjects since childhood, the "common knowledge" this doctor was about to teach her would probably be the most severe challenge in her academic career.
—
Taking advantage of the rare leisure time, Vivian came to Norlington's South District.
Although the blood-rain phenomenon and the Red Cup divine servant's descent had occurred in the main city district, everything had returned to peace within that dense fog and the flickering, profound starlight.
Because visibility was so low at the time, the Confidential Division couldn't even obtain any eyewitness material about the person who intervened. This greatly angered Head Silver Wing Locust, to the point her complaints about the Chief Hunter were almost non-stop.
But that single strike was truly too shocking, as if a true deity's wrath. As a result, both the White Cup cult and the Confidential Division had been working frantically overtime these past few days, sparing no effort to dig deeper into the identity of that spellcaster... ultimately finding nothing.
Vivian, however, because she was in the same unit as Haida, both under the Burial Court's command, managed to escape the overtime hell by luck.
She walked into a small but exceptionally clean bookstore, browsing the newly stocked novels.
The bookstore owner, who had been dozing with his eyes closed by the cash register, slowly opened his drooping eyelids at the sound of a customer.
"Little Vivian's here? Things haven't been peaceful these past couple of days. There was a terrorist attack in the main city district this morning, many died... Ah, working for the Secrets-Hunters cult, you must be very careful about safety."
Vivian forced a smile, comforting the worried old man.
"Grandpa Will, don't worry. I'm just an ordinary clerk; my work is all inside the cult, there's no place safer than that."
"That's good, that's good. Look at any books you like... if you want to buy, just put the money on the counter. You know the prices better than I do."
Will seemed not very spirited. Elderly people sleep little and are often in poor spirits.
"By the way, Grandpa Will, has the second part of Late Night Hospital, Me and the Three Nurses been released? I don't see it; it should be a new book..."
Vivian scanned the shelves again, somewhat puzzled as she asked Will.
"Sold out a couple of days ago, maybe it's all gone?"
Will scratched his graying temples, then grinned, pulling out a still-sealed new book from a drawer and handing it to Vivian.
"But since little Vivian bought the first part here from me, I kept one copy..."
"Thank you, Grandpa Will!"
Vivian paid, thanked him, and left Old Will's bookstore with the book, like a child who had received a gift, eager to open it.
The old man shook his head slightly, watching her receding figure, and let out a fond, sighing laugh.
"Vivian is a good kid... If only her taste in books were a bit more normal."
—
Deep in the South District sewers, a humanoid form made of pure blood expressionlessly surveyed the appalling surroundings teeming with rats and mosquitoes, letting out a silent tsk.
He was the "Cup's Servant" Yates, but... the other half.
Why were those Red Cup High Priests so keen on splitting themselves? Clearly, aside from weakening oneself, it didn't offer many benefits... This was the reason. A split sacrifice summons a split emissary.
"That half of 'me' was actually killed by mortals? What a fool... The Chief Hunter Ahern didn't even make a move."
Why did the descent only occur at the Secrets-Hunters headquarters in the main city district, while the Norlington Central Museum remained calm? The answer was obvious... because the other half of him chose to hide and lie low.
He would wait until he was thoroughly familiar with the reality and material world before carrying out the divine decree.
The other half of him being so arrogant and unrestrained wasn't because he was a divine servant, nor because he was a "Drinker" who ascended from a mortal. It was because... the role he needed to play in the plan was exactly that.
He understood profoundly that he was by no means some deity's close attendant, but merely a servant who could become a discarded pawn at any moment.
"I need more flesh and blood rich in spirit to replenish this frail material body. When the Lord's decree arrives, I will offer this city the grandest feast..."
Tap, tap, tap.
Footsteps of hunting boots suddenly echoed faintly from the depths of the sewer tunnel.
"Mortal bloodline descendant, I said not to disturb me. Or perhaps... you've prepared a sacrifice of sufficient quality?"
"Apologies, I'm afraid he cannot answer you."
Yates looked towards the source of the sound. A head with an expression full of disbelief rolled clattering from the shadows to his feet.
"It's you? The Secrets-Hunters' Chief Hunter, Ahern Moira..."
"It's me." An icy voice sounded right next to Yates's ear, close at hand.
Simultaneously closing in on his neck was an ominous sickle blade forged from shadows.
Yates's body instantly liquefied, evading the fatal slash, then coalesced on the other side.
"Mortal, you truly believe you can kill me one-on-one? You truly believe... that relic imbued with death alone can make you surpass a 'Cup's Servant'? Arrogant and foolish creature of the lower realm..."
….
The two engaged in battle once more. For a while, blood splattered and frenzied shadows flickered chaotically.
About several minutes later, Ahern tore off the head constructed of blood and crushed it in his hand.
Yates's form collapsed, divinity dissipated. Everything settled into dust.
+++
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