"Open your mouth, ah... good. Hold that."
Fog Street Clinic.
Haida was lying on a medical recliner in the surgery room, keeping her mouth open, allowing Fran to insert a dental probe and her fingers deep under her tongue, meticulously examining her molars and alveolar bone.
"Beautiful morphology. No cavities, no inflammation or scars, gum color is healthy too. But there are some injuries..."
"Moderate enamel wear, slight periodontal membrane tearing, causing some tooth loosening. Fortunately, your jawbone is hard, showing no signs of injury."
"Although bones and teeth are both composed of calcium, the calcification methods for the two organs are different. However, the [Bone Strengthening Organ] can still promote their self-healing... Probably no need for additional 'remineralization therapy.'"
After the examination, Fran took off her medical gloves, then took out her own handkerchief to wipe the residual saliva from the corner of Haida's mouth.
"Why did you think of using your teeth to bite a saw cleaver? Too reckless."
"It was the fastest way to win the fight."
….
Haida responded succinctly and calmly.
Even without using this move, Haida was confident she could win in a continued fight... But an opportunity for a single decisive strike was right before her; she absolutely couldn't choose to give up without even trying.
"The person using that saw cleaver was very strong. If an ordinary person tried to bite his weapon, probably half their head would be chopped right off."
Fran rummaged through the medical kit, adding another reminder.
Of course, Fran was well aware that Haida had rich combat experience. After all, this sister had fought against demigods in the Lands Between... But as a doctor, she still hoped Haida would cherish life and use safer methods to win.
"These are just minor injuries; they'll heal on their own in a few days. I'll add some ceramic compounds to your regular medication to speed up the process."
As she spoke, she picked up a cotton ball with tweezers, dipped it in alcohol, and gently dabbed it on both corners of Haida's mouth.
The corners of Haida's mouth had been cut by the saw teeth on Butler's blade. For hygiene's sake, another disinfection was needed.
"Thank you."
"No need to thank me? In our agreement, medical services for the Head Nurse are free."
Fran waved her hand, indicating she needn't be so polite.
For Haida's current physique, injuries of this degree... it was fortunate treatment was early, otherwise in a day or two they'd probably have healed on their own...
Haida quickly got up from the medical recliner and left the surgery room with Fran. Passing through the corridor, the two arrived at the clinic's main hall.
"Sister Haida, which secret art are you currently studying?"
Since she had given Haida the ash creed book 'Aphoristic Silence,' Fran was quite concerned about her reading progress.
"The second-category, upper-tier [Mechanized Spirit]. I've basically grasped the theoretical level. Lately, I've been trying to construct the secret art model. Probably about a year away from being able to cast it."
Haida answered quite honestly.
"Already at this stage... That's quite fast."
Fran rubbed her chin, nodding slightly to show she understood.
The acquisition of knowledge was always lengthy and complex. It was like the relationship between the mass-energy equivalence equation and nuclear weapons. From understanding to application on paper, to finally putting it into practice... Each step was a chasm-like gap.
Truly a difficult year-end... Child has his teaching assistant assessment, Haida has her Burial Court supervisor promotion trial, and in another month and a half, I have this year's final quarterly cross-dimensional house call.
Leaning back on the plush sofa, Fran stretched her body somewhat lazily, then began pondering an unavoidable ultimate question.
What's for dinner tonight?
As the last and most important meal of the day, dinner undoubtedly deserved attention. But currently, the ingredients at Fog Street Clinic were already depleted, forcing her to go out shopping again.
Speaking of which, the original intention of hiring a maid was to have someone do the grocery shopping for me... Thinking of this, Fran glanced inconspicuously at Sigrid, who was cleaning nearby. But the Sun-Forgers' manhunt was long-term; the pursuit intensity likely wouldn't lessen for at least half a year.
Out of consideration for the maid's safety, the task of procuring supplies ultimately fell to her.
...
[Dear Dr. Fran, the November monthly house call has been triggered. The patient is 'Rosalia Nolaria', the envoy of the 'Moon's Favored'. The target is suffering continuous burns from silver barbed arrows and is expected to fall into shock in 1 hour and 15 minutes.]
Just as she was troubled by the thought of shopping for cooking ingredients, the monthly house call prompt rather inappropriately sounded in her ear.
"Work always comes right at meal time, doesn't it?"
Fran straightened the lapels of her white coat and sighed somewhat irritably.
"1 hour and 15 minutes? I must say, truly worthy of being a Moon's Favored, such tenacious vitality..."
With Sister Haida's physical constitution, the description when she was critically injured before was also "will die within 10 minutes." But Rosalia, under the damage of silver weapons, could actually hold on for over an hour, and even then would only be in shock...
"Ready for a house call?" Haida very clearly noticed the change in Fran's demeanor and tone.
From seeming like she might fall asleep lying down at any moment at first, to now being ready to go... The two completely different states seemed to change in an instant.
"Miss Rosalia is in trouble. Having an envoy of the Moon's Favored die in Norlington would have a bad influence, after all."
She covered a yawn with a hand covered in suture lines.
"Dr. Fran knows Miss Rosalia?"
Haida was slightly surprised by this. Fran had been very busy lately, and she wasn't present during the last purge directive execution... Could it be she was actually there but didn't show herself to avoid Ahern?
Fran nodded, then gave a simple explanation.
"I pay special attention to vampires entering Norlington; specimens from these special races are rare. But Rosalia's situation is different. If it weren't for Child's introduction, I might not have noticed her."
"It was a few days ago, I was working part-time as a diviner at the Mirror of Enlightenment Club... But that's beside the point. If Sister Haida wants to hear, I can tell you in detail later."
Fran picked up the medical kit, then took out the brass pocket watch to check the time.
Although Rosalia's vital signs could last quite a while, she might suffer secondary injuries during that time. Just in case, it was better to arrive early.
Pushing open the door and stepping into the mist, Fran glanced back at Sigrid, who was quite obediently minding the shop.
She actually really wanted to take Sigrid on the house call. But considering Miss Artificer and Rosalia clearly had a bit of biological incompatibility... It was better to forget it this time.
If it affected the patient's injury, that would be putting the cart before the horse.
Pale mist, drifting and wandering.
The figures of Fran and Haida soon vanished into the evening dusk and starlight.
—
Norlington City Outskirts, North District Boundary.
Rosalia curled up, carefully hiding in the shadows of an alleyway. Due to prolonged running, her heartbeat and breathing had become unavoidably irregular and short.
That guy is still nearby, definitely still here.
Rosalia bit her lip tightly, trying hard to calm her trembling body. At the same time, the intense burning pain from her abdomen was constantly eroding her rationality, and the weakness after exhaustion was slowly seeping into her limbs.
She had one hand pressed over her abdomen; the shaft of a silver barbed arrow could be seen between her fingers.
Crimson blood flowed continuously from it, soaking her dark gray reporter's coat and shirt, seemingly impossible to stop.
Rosalia had planned to leave Norlington today and return to Gormouth to report to the Elder Council.
But just as she reached the city boundary, she was attacked. The two Error-Purgers performing escort duty were killed on the spot, and she only managed to escape with injuries thanks to her vampire constitution.
The attacker seemed well-prepared; the barbed arrows he used were actually silver-plated. Moreover, the arrowheads had barbs; once embedded in flesh, they couldn't be pulled out.
Who was it? An assassin from the Meredith family? No... The pressure of facing the Secrets-Hunters alone was already suffocating them; how would they dare to so openly antagonize the White Cup cult at this time?
And the Meredith people didn't know her identity as a Moon's Favored. Even if they hated the news reports on Carney, they wouldn't use such means against a reporter.
Who could it be? Who... is... Huh, stay focused, Rosalia.
For a moment, she felt the drowsiness from massive blood loss overwhelm her control over her body, as if she might just fall deeply asleep regardless.
...No matter what, she had to find a way to leave here and seek help from any cult.
Leaning against the alley wall, Rosalia slowly stood up.
Fortunately, this was the North District boundary.
The environment of the vagrant settlements was intricate; it was hard for the other party to locate her. Although the wound was still bleeding, she had been very careful not to leave a blood trail while moving.
Should have just waited a few more days and left by train... No, that guy could also act on the train... Up until now, she was still somewhat confused.
Who wanted to kill her? What was the other party's motive? She was just an envoy; what was there to covet?
"Cough..." Rosalia coughed up a mouthful of blood and slowly approached the exit of the alley.
Although the city boundary was somewhat chaotic, the land was cheap... So many companies set up sites nearby. There was a carriage rental company nearby; if she could reach it, she might find a way to shake off the pursuit.
Whether hiding in the premises or forcing a carriage to drive away, it was better than waiting here to die.
Crawling through the shadows all the way, she finally reached the closed iron gate of the carriage rental company.
It was already after business hours, but the light in the guard room was still on.
Rosalia pushed open the slightly ajar door. The moment she saw the scene inside, her crimson eyes instantly contracted like needles.
In the seat where the guard should have been sat a tall, pale man.
He wore a double-breasted autumn coat, appearing proper and meticulous. Although the temperature hadn't completely dropped yet, he already wore black leather gloves.
He watched Rosalia with interest, like appreciating a struggling, dying prey.
"Hello, Miss Rosalia. Do you like the surprise I prepared for you?"
"You... how did you find me?"
The severe weakness from prolonged contact with silver made even speaking difficult for Rosalia.
"You jest. Such a strong, sweet scent of blood, how could I not find it?"
As he spoke, the man came before Rosalia, dipped his finger in the blood plasma from her abdominal wound, put it in his mouth, and showed an intoxicated expression.
"So delicious, so rich. Blood untainted by time... Dear child, I can't wait to drain you dry."
He grinned savagely and delightedly, revealing pale, sharp fangs.
"You are... a lost vampire?" Rosalia gritted her teeth, taking a step back.
Like Byers, some vampires did not receive the Molting Moon's grace, and at the same time, due to the Budding Moon's Apostasy, were not accepted by the Red Cup either... ultimately becoming lost faithless ones.
And Rosalia herself wasn't even thirty yet. Facing a centuries-old kin empty-handed offered almost no chance of resistance.
"Oh, what gives you that impression?"
As he spoke, he opened the collar of his autumn coat, revealing the Molting Moon holy emblem engraved on the skin over his collarbone.
"Of course I am also a favored of the Moon God. But I am different from you... You insects who made a covenant with livestock, how are you fit to be my peers?"
"Lloyd Murdoch. In your final moments, remember this name..."
Lloyd admired Rosalia's sorry state.
Changes in emotion also affected the taste of blood. The huge contrast between having hope and plunging into utter despair would make the 'psyche' contained within become more intense and rich.
Even facing his own kin, he consistently followed his "brewing" process.
"The Murdoch family... May I ask, do you know Regis Murdoch?"
A woman's voice tinged with curiosity sounded.
"He was my eldest brother. Had some reputation once, later vanished without a trace."
Lloyd, immersed in his own emotions, answered the question without thinking. But soon, he caught on... That questioning voice didn't seem to come from Rosalia.
Lloyd whirled around and saw a young woman in a white doctor's coat who had somehow appeared behind the door.
She had her hands behind her back, her amber eyes curved in a smiling arc.
"Indeed a family trait, even the probability of Blood Plague individuals appearing is this high. Good, finally meeting the second case of a Blood Plague patient entering Norlington."
Swirling, murky mist quietly spread, and Haida, clad in a black sister's robe, revealed her form. Without saying much, she drew the power sword 'Nirvana'. With the metallic hum, the misty clouds dispersed.
"Regis had many titles back then. 'Phantom of Sunderland Street', 'The Ripper', 'Wraith of Moonbourne'. Each title corresponded to a murder in a certain district."
Fran gently rubbed her hand covered in suture lines, approaching Lloyd calmly and slowly.
"...Why don't you guess why he finally vanished without a trace?"
As she spoke, she curved her moist lips, revealing beautiful, small conical teeth.
—
—
Moonlight filtered through the window ledge like threads, clear and cold.
Watching Fran approach leisurely, Lloyd instinctively took a step back.
No signs of secret art casting, no psychic aura. He clearly didn't sense any danger or anomaly from this doctor before him, but his heart tightened inexplicably.
"You killed him?"
He cautiously probed, wanting to see more of Fran's speech and reactions.
"Not at all. Although dangerous specimens that have lost research value are usually routinely disposed of, I did not execute Regis."
"I'm not opposed to vampires feeding appropriately on humans. As long as it's controlled within 200cc per instance and some compensation is provided. But he clearly exceeded that limit... Not only draining the victims but also dismembering and torturing them."
"How could such a fellow be worthy of bearing the noble name 'Regis'?"
Fran's account was calm and logical, like talking about a little cat or dog at home.
+++
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