Haida had to admit that most of the secret arts she had seen lacked such flashy visual effects. Yvonne casting her spell just now truly gave her the feeling of a "magician" from ancient texts.
"Just a basic spell, and I only know this one or two..." Yvonne said somewhat sheepishly.
"But your casting speed is a bit slow. Can you make it faster?" Haida began offering practical suggestions.
There were far too many openings when Yvonne was casting earlier. Haida had no less than ten methods to interrupt the spell from over five meters away.
Including but not limited to throwing a knife, kicking sand, or firing a gun... Before Yvonne could summon that comet with its less-than-impressive projectile speed, Haida could have emptied two magazines.
Yvonne thought for a moment and replied, "It should be possible, but I need to be sufficiently focused..."
Fran approached Yvonne, took the Astrologer's staff from her hand, spun it deftly between her fingers, and then pointed it at the wall.
A brilliant azure academy sigil flashed into existence, and a glintstone pebble shot forth like an arrow from a bow, instantly piercing the thick stone wall and leaving a hole through which light passed.
She elegantly blew a puff of air at the glintstone atop the staff, dispersing non-existent gunsmoke.
"As for spellcasting, I can teach you a thing or two."
….
Simple yet fulfilling training life lasted for a week.
Yvonne's complexion visibly began to improve, mainly thanks to Fran's precise adjustments to her nutritional intake... and her impeccable cooking skills.
Cooking wasn't really Fran's hobby, just one of the many skills she had mastered.
If possible, she wouldn't mind having clothes handed to her and meals served, making life easier... But currently, it concerned the patient's health, so she had no choice but to take on the responsibility herself, acting as both cook and nutritionist.
After all, the only difference between Yvonne and an ape when it came to handling food was that she could start a fire.
And Haida was someone who carried field rations and had undergone proper survival training... She could accept most "high-quality protein" that would make ordinary people nauseous at a glance.
"Yvonne, remember what day of training this is today?"
Fran approached Yvonne. Instead of starting the usual lesson on faster mental focus and magic guidance, she first asked about the time.
"Today is the seventh day, Dr. Fran."
Yvonne tapped her lips, thought for a moment, and then answered. Since her diet and routine had become regular, her thinking and sense of time had also started to clear up, no longer as muddled as before.
"Today, we'll review the phased results of this period... In simple terms, I'll give you a little pop quiz."
"Mhm, okay. But... what exactly is the content?"
Yvonne readily agreed to Fran's request. These days, she had been almost entirely under the other's care, which made her feel a bit embarrassed... So she could only work harder on honing her body and studying Glintstone sorcery.
"It's very simple. There's a 'neighbor' near the church, riding a horse in golden armor... You've probably seen him, right?"
"...You mean, that knight with the tree engraved on his armor?"
"That's the one. This knight has lost his mind. He only follows an age-old instinct to block every Tarnished who intends to go to the capital city..."
"Go and end his mission."
Fran clasped her hands lightly, her eyes holding a kind, smiling expression.
You've basically mastered using weapons and can cast simple Glintstone magic. Now go challenge the Tree Sentinel...
"But, isn't this a bit too soon?"
Even Haida felt somewhat surprised by the task Fran had set.
In her eyes, the combat proficiency Yvonne had shown earlier was no different from an ordinary citizen's. Even if she was a Tarnished, born with a warrior's innate talent... seven days was still too short.
A Secrets-Hunter needed at least two years of training to officially take up their post, including several impromptu practical assessments. Until their life-and-death combat reactions were etched into their bones.
"It is indeed a bit rushed. If we want Yvonne to have a theoretical chance of winning... she'd need at least a month."
Fran admitted this quite frankly, but she didn't intend to change her plan.
"Therefore, I permit you to 'fail.' Try to experience death... After that, I'll bring you back."
Fran's breath was like orchid fragrance as she quietly gazed at Yvonne. Her amber-deep golden eyes were gentle and calm, seeming to smile... yet carried a hint of undeniable meaning.
"Of course, I respect your choice. If you think this is impossible... then our agreement ends here."
"No, please don't! But... I still..."
Yvonne could genuinely feel real affection from Fran and Haida. These few short days of interaction had already created the illusion of being back in her hometown.
Dr. Fran was always smiling, sometimes seeming profound and inscrutable, but overall still a very gentle person. Sister Haida, though unsmiling, could actually notice every subtle detail of those around her...
Their help towards her was definitely not false. As a Tarnished bearing the destiny to become Lord, she should have mustered her courage.
But as long as the images of corpses' ferociously mutilated faces and spreading death surfaced in her mind... fear uncontrollably multiplied in her heart.
"Stimulating the patient is not my intention. But... I need you to have a deeper understanding of reality."
Fran became serious, a rare occurrence. Though her moist lips still held a smile, her eyes were calm to the point of being cold.
"What lies before the throne is not a splendid staircase; it's schemes and death, corpses and bloodshed. If you cannot resolve to climb amidst jagged white bones, then it's better not to covet the throne... This is advice from a doctor."
Yvonne bit her lip tightly, instinctively wanting to step back, but ultimately didn't.
After a long moment of contemplation, she said to Fran, "I understand... I'll go."
Then, Yvonne fell silent and walked straight out of the Church of Elleh, beginning her search for the heavily armored Tree Sentinel.
...
Seeing Yvonne leave, Fran's serious expression relaxed and dissipated.
If possible, she herself didn't want to face a patient with this attitude. But Yvonne's personality was somewhat soft; she needed a firm push at the appropriate time.
"Ah... another day with no leads. Miss Yvonne is so healthy it's worrying."
Fran rolled over on the cotton cushion laid out inside the Church of Elleh, her eyelids drooping, complaining to herself. Even the ear feathers in her hair drooped limply.
Haida naturally knew what this doctor was troubled about... Because this wasn't the first time she had fallen into this state of deep contemplation with no results these past days. She just never showed it in front of Yvonne.
"Still can't find the 'illness' on her?"
"Not a trace, whether psychological or physiological."
Fran hugged the cushion, her pale white lashes fluttering slightly together as if she was a bit drowsy.
"Perhaps we're targeting the wrong thing? Or maybe she really isn't ill... or has already recovered?"
Haida began guessing other possibilities.
"Impossible. The target isn't wrong, and I can feel she definitely has some kind of illness. I just don't know what it is yet."
Fran resolutely denied Haida's guesses, appearing extremely confident.
But she really didn't know where to start with this patient. Could only observe for now... At worst, while treating the illness, help a new Lord ascend the throne.
---
The Tree Sentinel stood guard and patrolled quietly. He wore full-body golden heavy cavalry armor, holding a halberd in one hand and a shield in the other.
These massive, heavy metal weapons would be hard for an ordinary person to wield even with both hands, yet he held them with ease, as if long accustomed. Even his warhorse wore exquisite golden barding.
An air of solemn, heavy majesty surrounded him, like some ancient palace sculpture... or a deadly war machine.
But this knight was mad.
Ever since the Elden Ring was shattered, reason had drained from his mind day by day. Now, only the instinct to follow his duty remained. He would attack at all costs any who dared try to pass through this place, but if you sneakily detoured... he would selectively ignore you.
A slender azure glintstone pebble trailing a long tail accurately struck the Tree Sentinel's helmet, then shattered into stardust. The armor on the back of his head gained a noticeable dent in response.
He whipped his head around, tightening his grip on his weapon and shield, entering combat posture.
Another "Glintstone Pebble" shot from the shadows to one side. But he had already sensed he was under attack and immediately raised his greatshield.
A brilliant golden circular sigil flashed, almost perfectly blocking the spell, then transforming it into a golden arrow shot back towards the caster's direction.
"Ugh..."
Yvonne scrambled away from the grass where she was hiding. The next moment, it turned into scorched, flat ground.
"Calm down, calm down, don't be afraid... Yvonne."
Yvonne suppressed her uncontrollably trembling hands and legs, waved her slender Astrologer's staff, and cast "Glintstone Arc."
An azure wave of energy spread towards the Tree Sentinel, but he made no move to dodge. Holding his shield horizontally before him with one hand, he raised his great halberd high with the other and charged.
Relying on the properties of magic, part of the arc-like azure wave penetrated the armor, but the rest was easily smashed to pieces upon impact. After all, this was just a basic Glintstone spell...
And this was the real world now; there was no so-called game "mechanic." The Tree Sentinel could very well keep his shield raised until the distance closed enough... then skewer the annoying caster with one thrust.
Another Glintstone Pebble blasted against his helmet, briefly revealing the withered face hidden in the shadows. But the charging cavalryman didn't care about these minor wounds like fly bites.
"Hsss!" The warhorse let out a deep, gloomy neigh. He began a nearly frenzied charge.
Accelerated by the galloping hooves, the distance between the knight and the girl shrank to its shortest in an instant, mere feet apart!
Being hit head-on by a train at full speed... was probably this kind of feeling.
The towering knight could envelop Yvonne with his shadow alone. Her ears were already filled with the roaring rush of wind. Mass carrying unstoppable momentum seemed like it would crush her into paste the next moment.
She would die. No doubt about it. What was the world after death like? Reincarnation? Or empty silence? A flashback even began playing in Yvonne's mind.
The Tree Sentinel didn't directly trample her with his horse but thrust out that axe-like great halberd with the momentum of his charge. Straight at Yvonne's chest.
"It's almost over."
Fran on the side picked up her medical kit, ready for emergency treatment, her expression normal, not showing much surprise.
Fran didn't care about the outcome of Yvonne's challenge, only that she showed resolve. After all, helping a Tarnished become Lord would consume a lot of time and energy, while also bearing many unnecessary risks...
To receive her wager, one had to show some qualities worth betting on.
"If Yvonne can remember what I taught her, she might hold on a little longer."
Haida aimed her firearm at the Tree Sentinel.
Although she had limited ammunition on hand, and wasn't sure if pistol-caliber bullets could penetrate that armor... she could still draw his attention with gunfire at a critical moment.
At the moment of life and death, everything slowed down like a high-frame-rate shot.
Yvonne didn't channel her Astrologer's staff again; her only two spells couldn't solve anything. And there wasn't enough time...
She turned and drew the Lordsworn's Straight Sword she had looted earlier from the scabbard at her side, swinging it with both hands to meet the great halberd from the side. At this moment, the grip of a sword blade indeed felt more real than a slender staff.
The explosive clang of metal striking metal erupted suddenly, and their figures crossed.
The result of the clash was... Yvonne was sent flying, sword and all. Her hands were a bloody mess, and the straight sword shattered into countless fragments under the pressure of that halberd strike.
She crashed heavily to the ground, every bone in her body creaking and groaning as if under unbearable strain.
"Huff..."
She breathed with all her might, tears uncontrollably falling from her eyes, mixing with the blood continuously overflowing from her nose and mouth.
Was it fear before death? No, it was relief at survival.
The fact that she could survive that strike was incredible... making every breath and heartbeat afterward feel like a blessing.
Was this the feeling of being alive? Even if so brief, even if it might end the next second...
The Tree Sentinel gazed at this Astrologer who had swung a sword at him, pondered for a moment, then raised his great halberd high, intending to pin her dead to the ground.
"Let's call it a draw here, handsome-armored Sir Sentinel."
Somehow, Fran had already arrived before the Tree Sentinel.
She raised her wrist, and the black tendrils of [Far Caress] shot forth, yanking the golden halberd about to pierce Yvonne off course. She then performed a rather ceremonious bow.
Haida chose that moment to pull the trigger.
Though her marksmanship hit several key joints with weaker armor coverage, the armor on this fellow was akin to solid steel plate; the pistol's caliber was somewhat inadequate.
"Hss..." The Tree Sentinel let out a meaningless roar, violently pulling back his great halberd.
This forced Fran to retract the tendrils of [Far Caress]. She didn't want to compete in arm strength with such a behemoth; it would be a hassle to reattach her hand if it got pulled off.
"Don't be angry now, keep calm."
Fran tilted her head, maintaining a relaxed smile. Her pale, frost-like ear feathers perked up slightly, as if indicating her good mood.
She nimbly picked up the Astrologer's staff that Yvonne had discarded in the critical moment. She removed the azure Glintstone from it and installed another kind of crystal, black and clear... It seemed to be a highly purified Originium chunk.
"Mr. Tree Sentinel, you see, you happen to have a not-so-well-functioning brain."
"And I, I happen to possess an ancient art for people whose brains aren't working well... What a coincidence in the world?"
She let out a soft chant, employing the ancient talent of the Liberi, and began singing the [Shepherd's Song].
+++
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