"Then we can begin preparing the spiritual materials for the final construction. Hmm... if I remember correctly, the Secrets-Hunters can reimburse materials for studying secret arts, right?"
"They can, but..."
After a moment of thought, Haida's expression turned somewhat subtle.
"But 'Mechanized Spirit' is a lost Second-Category, Upper-Tier secret art. It's currently not on the General Affairs Division's reimbursement list."
This was a rather serious issue.
The essence of a secret art is to use thought and spiritual perception to communicate with a higher dimension, drawing from it the power to influence reality. It might be dreams, the Astral Plane, or perhaps the Abyss or Void...
When completely finalizing the secret art model in one's mind, special materials and rituals are generally also needed to solidify it, preventing flaws that could lead to mental collapse.
After all, not all mystics have Fran's level of medical security...
If a major error occurs during the "final construction" of a secret art, the outcome could very well be the complete loss of "self," turning into a vegetable... or even transformation into an Evil Spawn.
Fran pinched her chin, seeming to consider.
"No need to worry. Leave the spiritual materials to me."
"This..." Adhering to the basic principle of not accepting unearned rewards, Haida instinctively wanted to decline.
Fran lightly placed the tip of her index finger near the sister's lips, stopping her from continuing.
"Consider it payment for Sister Haida acting as my assistant during the ritual that time. Please don't refuse."
"...Alright."
Fran's reason was quite sufficient, so Haida stopped declining and compliantly agreed.
Often, the sister felt as if this doctor had completely seen through her thoughts.
She would always follow the rules and habits of a Secrets-Hunter, making her accept her viewpoint in a way that was reasonable yet with a hint of slyness.
Fran tapped her head, beginning to recall the spiritual materials needed for the Mechanized Spirit secret art.
"Fifty percent Grey Matter, thirty percent Biomass, ten percent Mineral Matter, and ten percent miscellaneous items."
"The Grey Matter requires ash from a 'Siren's' long hair and ash from an 'Abyssal Descendant's' conical teeth. The other materials mostly serve auxiliary functions and don't greatly impact the final construction."
As she spoke, she took out a small notebook and a quill, briefly writing a list of materials.
"While it's possible to attempt the final construction directly without spiritual materials, given Haida's foundational knowledge of the esoteric, no major problems should arise. But it might affect the strength of the secret art..."
"According to the Fog Street Clinic's employee benefits, let's go with the highest specifications."
Fran tore off the material list, folded it slightly, and placed it in her lab coat pocket.
Then she took a tissue, wiped the remaining ink from the white quill, and handed it to Haida.
"This is?"
Haida looked at the pristine white quill in her hand, momentarily puzzled.
"Made from a shed ear feather. I gave one to Sigrid... please accept the other one, Sister Haida."
As she spoke, Fran raised a finger and brushed the two snow-white, frost-like down feathers nestled in her hair.
"Thank you, Dr. Fran." Without hesitation, Haida accepted the exquisite quill.
When faced with gifts of substantial practical value, Sister Haida would give them more consideration, like that power sword seemingly tailor-made for her. But for commemorative gifts symbolizing friendship like this... she could accept them without any psychological burden.
In truth, Haida wasn't reclusive, just quiet by nature. This could be glimpsed from her interactions with Vivian.
The main reason she remained a loner was that most Secrets-Hunters her age kept a respectful distance due to the fearsome reputation of the Burial Primus, and she herself had long grown accustomed to solitude.
However... seeing Fran act so generously and self-assured, Haida couldn't help but feel curious.
"Did Dr. Fran already have a collection of such spiritual materials before?"
"Not at all."
Fran decisively waggled her index finger.
"And since I don't even practice the Secrets-Hunter system's secret arts, why would I specifically collect such materials?"
So confident, so justified... Haida couldn't help but narrow her gray-chestnut eyes skeptically.
"Dr. Fran, actually, the foundational concept of the 'Mechanized Spirit' secret art isn't lost. The main reason it's classified as a lost secret art is the extinction of its spiritual materials..."
"There hasn't been a sighting of a Siren or an active 'Abyssal Descendant' in Gormouth for decades."
Although Fran most likely already knew this, Haida couldn't help but repeat it... and wanted to know where exactly the doctor's confidence came from.
"Extinction doesn't mean they're completely gone. How will we know unless we go look?"
Fran tilted her head slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.
Hmm... she wouldn't simply be looking for an excuse to go on vacation, would she?
If it were anyone else, Haida would think the fleeting thought that just crossed her mind was absurd, even somewhat rude.
But if the subject was Dr. Fran, this was very likely the truth... suddenly making such a strange and seemingly baseless decision fit her habits perfectly.
The two stared at each other for a few seconds before Haida finally looked away as if conceding defeat.
"...Then I'll arrange my recent task schedule."
After becoming the director of the Burial Court, she finally had more freedom to manage her own time and didn't have to wait on constant summons from the General Affairs Division.
"Good, it's decided then."
Fran quickly finalized the subsequent itinerary. Judging by her expression, she seemed to have already planned this.
Haida put the Ash Creed back into the storage pouch of her nun's habit. After a moment of contemplation, she spoke again.
"Dr. Fran, don't you want to know about my origins?"
"Most Secrets-Hunters know Ahern is my blood relative, but in reality... our only common point might just be these gray-chestnut eyes."
"I am indeed a bit curious about that point."
Hearing Haida bring this up, a flicker of interest appeared in Fran's amber eyes.
It wasn't until seeing that memory from the Royce estate that she learned Haida was actually Ahern's adopted daughter. After all, the two were quite similar in both aura and personality; it would be hard to tell without a genetic test.
"I've also investigated my own background over the years, but all clues break off at the Meredith family, making further investigation impossible."
"That family... they certainly have the background for that."
Fran wasn't surprised by this.
Although the Secrets-Hunter cult had almost completely suppressed the Merediths in recent years, a year ago Haida was merely an ordinary Burial Attendant, albeit more outstanding than others.
Trying to investigate such a behemoth relying solely on one's own power and coming up empty-handed was completely normal.
What ordinary family would dare engage in dealings with the Red Cup without being turned upside down? Back then, the alchemist Conan of the Royce family dabbled with the Witherer, resulting in the entire estate being almost completely slaughtered by Ahern...
Even the survivors who weren't contaminated and transformed were mostly left with lifelong psychological shadows after witnessing the horrors of that night. Later, even after receiving psychological treatment from the White Cup, there were still cases of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Yet the Merediths merely handed over Carney as a scapegoat, and the Secrets-Hunter cult didn't pursue the matter further... indicating considerable behind-the-scenes maneuvering.
"Dr. Fran is aware of the 'Gray Wolf of the Merediths,' right?"
Finally, Haida reached the core of what she knew. Though phrased as a question, her tone carried certainty.
"I've heard of it. It's said pure-blooded Merediths exhibit special biological traits."
Fran quietly observed Haida's features, her gaze showing understanding.
"Gray-chestnut pupils, a keen sense of smell that can attach to spiritual perception, and conical teeth more suited for tearing flesh..."
"Regarding that last point, I noticed it during your last oral check-up, you know?"
Haida gave a slight nod, unsurprised.
Although Dr. Fran seemed lazy and casual, her observational skills were meticulous to the point of missing nothing; she would never overlook such a detail.
"Then, Dr. Fran should also know why Father, being a member of the 'Merediths,' has the surname 'Moira'?"
"Hey... Haida, clearly you're the one who wants to tell me something, yet I'm the one constantly answering your questions."
Even as she said this, Fran didn't dislike this kind of exchange.
She raised her hand, habitually about to brew a pot of tea, then remembered the black tea she had taken from Ms. Solani's house was completely finished. She had to sit back down and continue with Haida's previous question.
"Because 'Moira' is Viola's surname."
"Since Ahern himself has already abandoned the Meredith identity, naturally he wouldn't force that surname onto you."
Hearing this, Haida felt a momentary pang of emotion.
Although she had only spent a brief moment with Viola's phantom in the medical station's memory, that enthusiastic yet gentle Medicae Primus had indeed left a deep impression on her.
"Then, why was Father able to break away from the family so easily?" Haida asked again.
"Hmm... I'm not clear on that."
Although Fran enjoyed collecting secrets, she wasn't so all-knowing about the private affairs of other families. She wasn't a professional journalist like Rosalia.
Haida didn't keep her in suspense and concisely recounted what she knew.
"The Meredith family held a tribunal to punish Father, and ultimately... they sentenced him to execution for the crime of 'betraying the clan.'"
"And after receiving the sentence, Father proceeded to kill all the decision-makers who participated in the tribunal."
"Sounds like something Ahern would do..."
Fran didn't doubt the event's authenticity.
After all, Haida was definitely not one to boast, and the Meredith family's power did indeed begin to decline precipitously from a certain day.
"But... how does Haida know this?"
"I was by his side that day, standing trial with him as his illegitimate daughter."
Hearing Haida's answer, Fran couldn't help but narrow her eyes skeptically.
So, Ahern, while protecting a little girl, killed all the Meredith family guards and mystics present at the tribunal...
The shadow nature of the Decapitation Throne indeed held overwhelming advantages against humanoid units. But accomplishing the above feat would require more than just that relic...
Even without using that shadow scythe, he was still the "Chief Hunter."
"After that day, he got his wish to forever shed the Meredith surname. Simultaneously, he was labeled the 'Red Wolf' by the family, meaning one stained with the blood of kin."
"I see..."
Fran took her small notebook and began taking notes quite seriously. Such exclusive inside information from a firsthand source certainly had recording value.
"There's one more question... why are you telling me this?"
She was still somewhat puzzled about this.
"Dr. Fran was that Medicae Primus's teacher, so of course you have the right to know these things... consider it my insignificant gesture of gratitude."
A slow, faint smile touched the corners of Haida's lips.
She looked beautiful when she smiled, but it was also as fleeting as a night-blooming flower — gone in an instant, reverting to stillness as if it had never appeared... like an illusion.
Just then, a rhythmic, light knocking sound came from the door.
Knock, knock.
It was Sigrid. She had returned from her shopping trip... carrying this year's new tea from Attilan, along with ingredients for dinner.
Come to think of it, this was her first time going out alone since arriving at the Fog Street Clinic. With careful disguise and Fran's repeated admonitions, no unexpected incidents had occurred in the end...
Fran went to open the door, taking the nearly full woven bag from Sigrid's hands.
"I hope I'm not too late, Dr. Fran..."
Looking at the already set sun outside the window, Sigrid sounded somewhat unsure.
The vendors at the North District market had been overly enthusiastic upon seeing her Burial Attendant uniform, causing her to spend quite some time completing Fran's shopping list.
"Just perfect. Now is the ideal time to start preparing dinner."
Fran picked up the woven bag and nimbly headed into the kitchen to begin meal preparations.
After such a high-difficulty house call, one definitely needs to treat oneself to something good...
The glow of twilight faded, and dusk, along with the golden-red sunset, completely sank into the night.
Fog Street seemed enveloped in gray gauze, with only the clinic's lights emitting a dim, hazy glow within.
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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