Currently, Fran was wearing a Lamp Moth gauze robe. Beneath the velvet gown embroidered with lamp light and scaled moths, one could vaguely see the white doctor's coat.
"So, how does the new eye feel? Any discomfort? For example, burning, itching, or the eyeball moving erratically, crawling out of the socket in a spider-like state... things like that."
"No." Dorothy pursed her lips.
Although Fran had assured that this eyeball posed no safety risk, it ultimately came from a Red Cup Acolyte, which inevitably caused some concern.
Moreover, the examples this doctor mentioned somehow felt rather unsettling...
"This eye has slightly better vision than my original one, and it's more sensitive in the spiritual vision state."
"That's good."
Fran nodded, seemingly quite satisfied with this outcome.
"This indicates its flesh-and-blood consciousness has been completely purged, and it can be safely used as an implant organ... If any other issues arise later, you can contact me through Sister Haida. I will provide follow-up medical support services."
The organs of Red Cup believers are generally overflowing with Cup-phase spirituality, which allows flesh and blood to merge spontaneously and function harmoniously.
Therefore, as long as the issues of residual consciousness and rejection are resolved, the simplest and most straightforward method of allogeneic transplantation can be used...
Under normal circumstances, eyeball transplant surgery is highly complex because it requires matching the eye-brain nerves. Even with Fran as the lead surgeon, it would take some time.
But Cup-phase spirituality simplifies these complicated steps entirely. All you need to do is "take out the eyeball and insert it into the socket."
What excellent medical material... Unfortunately, there probably aren't many Red Cup believers left in Norlington. I should have collected more for backup earlier...
Confirming the patient's condition was normal, Fran checked a box in the "Post-treatment Follow-up" booklet.
Just then, Dawn approached carrying two porcelain teacups, placing them deftly and skillfully on the table.
"'Calling Summer' from the northern country of Loredon. Much more affordable than 'Winter Bud,' but very suitable for drinking in winter."
She looked at Fran, blinked gently, her expression warm and friendly.
"Thank you very much, Miss Dawn."
Fran picked up the teacup and took a small sip. The flavors of brown sugar and ginger rice immediately transformed into a warm current, seeming to dispel some of the winter chill.
Dorothy took out two sugar cubes, placed them in her teacup, and stirred gently with a silver spoon. Her faint green gaze flickered slightly with the rising wisps of hot steam, deep in thought.
After a long while, she finally spoke.
"Ms. Fran, I'd like to know... what did you encounter in the Children of Whiskered Tree's library?"
Even though the White Cup cult kept the entire relic exploration completely confidential, she could still sense danger from certain surface signs.
The Secret-Hunters dispatched purge troops to Dorelton Town during the exploration, and the White Cup also deployed heavy firepower there. With such a configuration, she thought a calamity was about to happen.
Moreover, originally two Children of the Whiskered Tree came to Norlington, but now only one remains. And this sole survivor has lost an arm...
The situation inside the library ruins was probably far more dangerous than imagined.
"A minor incident."
Fran finished the slightly hot ginger tea in her cup, her gaze lazy and seemingly unconcerned.
"A mythical creature that feeds on the Ancient Banyan attempted a mass revival through the first-category ritual [Retrogression], but it wasn't successful."
"'Feeds on the Ancient Banyan'..."
Dorothy's eyes grew slightly more serious.
She certainly knew what Fran meant by "Ancient Banyan" - it referred to the old deity worshiped by the Children of the Whiskered Tree. What kind of mythical creature could possibly feed on Him?
Dorothy recalled a scene from a recent dream divination.
A sky-obscuring giant tree collapsed and crumbled, and endless swarms of insects poured out from its cracks. Only when everything in sight had been devoured did she wake from the dream.
Could that situation really be considered a "minor incident"...
Perhaps sensing the other person's unease, adhering to her professional ethics as a psychiatrist, Fran spoke softly to reassure her.
"No need to be nervous, Ms. Dorothy. That library has now been rendered harmless."
"Now, as long as the treatment for the Children of the Whiskered Tree is completed, the cleanup work will be considered finished."
"Mmm."
Hearing this, Dorothy's slightly tense nerves relaxed a bit.
Regardless of what level of calamity it was, it has been completely eradicated.
It's just... one wonders what role this mysterious doctor played in that process?
---
[Dear Dr. Fran, this month's monthly house call has been triggered. The appointment target is the Child of Whiskered Tree Albert Schneider. Please select a suitable arm for him based on the patient's specific condition.]
Arriving at the Calcite Room, Fran removed the velvet gauze robe draped over her and hung it on the coat rack by the door.
She lightly patted her doctor's coat, then straightened the collar of the suit vest underneath, officially beginning Albert's monthly house call.
"Pleased to see you again, Mr. Albert."
A standard professional smile hung on Fran's lips, her amber eyes gleaming under the dim lamplight.
She waved quite amiably, the brass pocket watch fastened beneath her sleeve cuff swaying slightly.
If someone familiar with Fran were present, they might sense something was off. Generally, if this brass pocket watch appeared in one's line of sight, it meant the hypnotic mental disturbance had already begun...
"As am I."
Albert returned the greeting courteously, his expression somewhat complex.
"It's just... I'm not sure how to address you. Ms. Flamel... or Dr. Fran?"
From the identification card Fran had provided earlier, he had learned of her identity within the Secret-Hunters cult. Fran, an external "Medical Examiner" for the Burial Court.
"A name is merely a form of address. I suggest you use the one you're most familiar with. Calling me Flamel is fine."
Fran waved her hand lightly, brushing past the topic with ease.
"Let me take a look at your arm."
"Alright."
Upon hearing this, Albert lifted his empty sleeve, revealing where his arm had been severed by the Decapitation Throne.
His entire forearm, including the elbow, had been completely amputated, leaving only a short section of the upper arm.
A thin layer of gray shadow could be seen covering the cross-section of the wound, preventing blood loss and infection while also inhibiting the generation and healing of granulation tissue.
"So it seems, even without decapitation, the Decapitation Throne possesses some ability to hinder flesh regeneration. It's just that the effect isn't absolute and can be dispelled..."
Fran carefully examined the exposed cross-section of the wound, her eyes showing a flicker of excitement.
She snapped her fingers, and the clear light of [Drive Away Dust and Filth] immediately enveloped the entire Calcite Room. Although she didn't plan to follow a professional surgical procedure, treatment was still more suitable in a sterile environment.
"I wonder, Mr. Albert, if you have any requirements for the arm?"
Before officially beginning the treatment, Fran, following her habit, inquired about the patient's needs.
But in reality, most of her treatment plans were already predetermined. Regardless of the other party's opinion, the final outcome wouldn't change...
"Ms. Flamel, you are the doctor. Please choose the plan you deem most suitable."
Regarding the loss of his arm, Albert's attitude was quite calm.
"However, I hope it won't be too strange. Its appearance shouldn't differ too much from my original arm..."
He felt somewhat apprehensive as he said the latter part. After all, this doctor before him, no matter how one looked, hardly seemed associated with "normal." Moreover, on the Secret-Hunters' official identification, Fran's position was "Medical Examiner"...
For some reason, the meaningfully ambiguous smile Professor Terence had when recommending her to treat his arm flashed through his mind.
"Oh, no need to worry. Adjusting the appearance is also part of my medical services."
Fran's lips curved slightly, her amber eyes sparkling with excitement.
To her, Albert's statement, "Please choose the plan you deem most suitable," was completely equivalent to "Feel free to do as you wish."
Such a cooperative patient, and a rare specimen tainted with Whiskered Tree spirituality at that... truly inspiring.
"Albert, could you lend me The Mystery of Time for now? I will return it in its original state after the treatment is over."
... Is Ms. Flamel interested in the Whiskered Tree scripture?
"Of course. If not for you, I wouldn't have been able to obtain this scripture. Or rather... I probably wouldn't even be alive to stand here."
After a moment's consideration, Albert retrieved the heavy, thick scripture from the chest area of his shirt and handed it to Fran.
If she wanted to seize The Mystery of Time, she wouldn't need to do it now. The deepest part of the library ruins would have been the best opportunity. That place was almost completely isolated from the outside world; even his death could have been attributed to an accident.
As for the contract with the White Cup... that had already been actively torn up by Neville. Professor Terence's choice to entrust the scripture to him then wasn't due to contractual restrictions, but out of respect for a promise.
Fran took The Mystery of Time. It felt heavy and thick to the touch, with a strange hint of softness.
The cover and pages seemed to be made of some kind of tanned leather, but it was clearly different from ordinary leather products...
Smooth.
Both sides possessed an indescribable smoothness and flexibility.
Excellent... The Whiskered Tree scripture was indeed made from Time-Aphid skin. This way, I don't need to make an extra trip back to the clinic to fetch materials.
She opened the book, her eyes quickly scanning the inscribed contents on the pages.
Aside from ancient epics praising the Ancient Banyan, most were prayers, secret arts, some ritual array construction methods, and corresponding spiritual materials. About ten minutes later, Fran put down the Whiskered Tree scripture in her hand.
She had already imprinted this literature in her mind, planning to peruse it carefully after returning to Fog Street Clinic. Right now, she was still in the middle of treatment; keeping the patient waiting while she slowly read through it would be somewhat impolite.
"Thank you for your trust, Mr. Albert... Now, it's time for me to 'return' it to you."
The obscure glow of an alchemical formula lit up on the back of Fran's hand. That faint radiance originated from bone and flesh, shining through the skin and the black sutures covering it, giving it a somewhat bloody crimson hue.
It was the alchemical formula [Dissolve and Reconstruct Bone and Blood] that she had previously asked Sigrid to inscribe inside her arm.
Under the catalysis of the alchemical formula, The Mystery of Time began to twist and transform.
The Time-Aphid skin, which had long lost its vitality after soaking and tanning, now seemed to be granted life again, wriggling and wrapping around the severed end of Albert's arm.
Meanwhile, the shadow covering the cross-section of his amputated limb had already melted away under the light of [Drive Away Dust and Filth].
"This is..."
In the moment of Albert's astonishment, the pages of The Mystery of Time had transformed into the shape of muscle fibers, connecting to his upper arm.
Fran then took a quartz material jar from her medicine case, extracting two sections of grayish-white bone material and placing them between the newly grown muscles.
Aeldari "Wraithbone."
As a crystallization of the Immaterium unaffected by linear time, it had very high compatibility with Time-Aphid material and could serve as the bone for this arm.
An alchemical formula? Does she intend to use the Whiskered Tree scripture as the material for the arm?
"Hiss—"
As nerves and capillaries connected, intense pain accompanied by a deep, bone-itching sensation disrupted Albert's thoughts. Fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead, and he couldn't help but clench his teeth tightly.
Albert felt his body go weak, as if his spine had been removed, nearly uncontrollably causing him to bend forward and lean over the divination table.
"It seems the connection process causes pain above level III. Mitigation measures are still needed..."
Fran opened the brass pocket watch, rhythmically tapping the watch cover with her knuckle. Clear, rhythmic clicking sounds immediately followed.
"Pain is a complex perception originating from the brain's self-defense mechanisms. To a certain extent, it is also a functional 'illusion' of the body."
"And illusions do not truly exist in the material world; they are merely figments of the spiritual level."
"... Therefore, pain does not exist."
Albert was in intense agony, his mental state weak and easily influenced. Hypnosis was achieved effortlessly.
"Pain... does not exist?"
He looked up in confusion, his tightly furrowed brow relaxing slightly.
As he spoke, the discomfort from the connection site had been blocked, almost completely disappearing... as if it had never existed.
In fact, the main reason Fran hadn't used anesthesia or other pain relief measures from the start was to test what level of pain [Dissolve and Reconstruct Bone and Blood] would cause.
For this purpose, she had beforehand connected their senses using the Swaying Heart-Clock to personally experience it.
Shortly after, Albert's arm was fully constructed.
The skin tone was fair, with faintly visible bluish-green veins. Superficially, it looked no different from a normal person's arm. But as soon as spirituality permeated it, prayers and ritual arrays would appear, lined up like rows of ants.
"Try out your new arm. I will conduct a follow-up visit afterwards, so no need to worry about any subsequent maintenance issues."
+++
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