novelnext Page 234
Page 234
soup!
Chapter 127 Hesitation and Confusion
"Then, Madam Gardener... are there others like me within this flower garden who possess the Karmion legacy?"
Seeing that the gardener was now in a communicable state, Fran asked another question.
She needs to know the Nightmare Guest's current information.
Although Fran hadn't laid an ambush on him at the Sleeping Sand Bell Tower, partly to see what kind of trouble this guy could cause with his limited resources... at the same time, she also had to keep the situation under control.
Of course, even if the Nightmare Guest did indeed achieve his ascension to Apostle status through the Magnificent Banquet Garden, it wouldn't be impossible to deal with. It's just a matter of how much it would cost. However, Fran himself isn't keen on resolving problems through direct violence…
"Oh……"
Upon hearing Fran's question, the gardener's expression hardened slightly, and a look of understanding gradually appeared in his eyes.
"So you came here for him. That guy was a foolish child who blindly craved power, and it was this desire that caused his original personality to be completely destroyed. My 'old self' eroded and took over him."
"Although the principles and methods were somewhat unsavory, 'Carmion' did indeed achieve its goal and was resurrected in that plunderer blinded by ambition."
"So, Jiu, the Gardener's Four... you've seen him here before?"
Fran sat comfortably on a white stone stool, one leg crossed over her shoulder. Her expression was relaxed and natural, as if she were chatting with a long-lost friend.
"of course."
The gardener did not shy away from this point. She simply reached out and gently brushed aside a strand of her loose hair with her fingertips, as if pondering where to begin.
“Not only that, I also gave him the ‘key’ to control this flower garden. Now, he is the actual controller of the secret realm.”
"But that's not entirely true. That guy didn't get the approval of my 'sister,' who's much more rigid than me. Therefore, he couldn't go to the heart of the flower garden to obtain the final legacy sealed there."
Her movements possessed an almost natural feminine grace, radiant and alluring. Unless one admitted it personally, it would be hard for most to imagine… that the person before them was once the notoriously arrogant and wicked monk.
However, none of those present seemed to care.
Sexual characteristics are a later differentiation of life. Before birth, there is no inherent difference between male and female, masculine and feminine. This is especially evident for those who follow the cup-shaped astrology tradition, as they will choose a more comfortable appearance based on their own preferences and needs.
Not to mention that this "gardener" was once an apostle.
“But your sister has perished. That means Karmion is now able to travel to the core of the secret realm.”
"exactly."
The gardener casually rubbed the back of her neck, seemingly unconcerned that this action would reveal the graceful curves of her armpits and collarbone. Plump, fair-skinned, and delicate—by human standards of beauty…this was indeed an extremely alluring and impeccable body.
“He certainly deserves it. Of course, my not-so-bright sister doesn’t think so.”
“However… if he were to force the ritual to complete now, he would have to pay a considerable price. Originally, I would have stopped you here to buy that guy some time. But since one of you also possesses the legacy of the ‘old self,’ remaining on the sidelines might be a better choice.”
As she spoke, she raised her hand and gently fiddled with her fingernails. The light in her eyes dimmed, and she returned to a state of complete indifference to everything around her.
“My sister has returned to dust, and you happen to possess her remnants, which can be considered an invitation. Therefore, I will send you to the deepest part of the flower garden... just as I did for that plunderer.”
"Of course, there can only be you."
As she spoke, the gardener looked directly into Fran's eyes, seemingly trying to glean some hidden emotion from his amber gaze… but to no avail. There was no stirring of desire, nor a shift in thought.
"Um……"
Fran lightly touched her lower lip, and after a moment, she agreed to the other party's proposal.
"Okay, then I'll go alone."
"How does this work?"
The first to raise an objection was Bartlett, who had been waiting for a long time.
After undergoing drug treatment and a period of rest, the funeral director has now largely recovered his combat capabilities and spirituality.
"The Hunters never send medical personnel alone to dangerous places. The Medical Court can no longer afford to lose any excellent physicians. In any case, she should have an escort capable of protecting her safety..."
"Sigh...you guys are always so keen on making all sorts of inappropriate demands."
The gardener's eyelashes fluttered slightly as he blinked. Finally, he waved his hand, seemingly resigned.
"Fine. After all, you are the hunter who killed my sisters, so this request isn't unreasonable. I can tolerate it."
"But a maximum of two people, that's my bottom line. If you're still not satisfied, I can take back my promise. Then you'll know that not every gardener is as weak and frail as my sisters..."
"I accept."
Bartley readily agreed, as if worried the other party might change their mind. After speaking, he turned to the others and grinned, revealing a rugged and cunning smile.
Although this hunter preferred to resolve problems with pure force, he had grown up in the bustling city of Foy and was accustomed from a young age to using bargaining tactics in transactions and striving to gain the best possible advantage for his side.
However, this was also because Bartley knew the least about Fran among them. His impressions of the doctor were limited to two things: "exquisite medical skills" and "mysterious." The others didn't make such demands of him simply because they trusted Fran's abilities.
The inchworm next to it even twitched its lips a few times before forcibly suppressing the surging sense of absurdity.
Karmion went to great lengths and endured countless hardships, all for the sake of ascending to the Sixth Step and becoming an Apostle. Meanwhile, the Hermit Lady had already reached the Apostle level countless years ago. Damn it, are you seriously considering her safety?
The gardener didn't say much, only pursed his lips, which was taken as tacit approval.
"Now, please choose one of your companions, Doctor."
Upon hearing this, Fran didn't hesitate for long. He simply turned around and looked at Haida beside him. No matter the situation, having a head nurse with strong martial spirit by one's side would make things much easier... and she could even serve as a temporary vehicle in emergencies.
"You'll have to work hard this time too, Sister Haida."
"Don't worry about it, Dr. Fran. It's within my job responsibilities."
Haida nodded slightly, not surprised. She had many experiences with this kind of two-person teamwork during her previous cross-disciplinary medical visits, and could already handle it with ease.
Bartley nodded secretly with satisfaction at Fran's choice. Although he also longed to continue fighting, Sister Heda was undoubtedly a more suitable companion.
He could already tell that this young funeral maid was even stronger than when the supervisor had assessed her... She was skilled, experienced, and even carried some of the former chief hunter's air about her.
"Alright, let's get started. You've dawdled long enough; that plunderer might have already seized all the spoils of this feast..."
"Back then, he wouldn't have minded just eating the food that was delivered to his door."
The gardener swayed the branches of the surrounding lilies and tulips, shaping them into a magnificent and ornate gate. Pure white smoke swirled within, and through the hazy mist, one could vaguely discern the path leading to the mountain peak, as if floating in the clouds.
Without hesitation or second-guessing, Fran and Heida stepped through the flower-lined doorway.
However, upon closer inspection, one would notice that someone was missing... Sigrid was nowhere to be seen. And Fran now carried a Sunforged Sword radiating warmth at his waist.
-
At the top of the long path through the clouds is a simply decorated open-air banquet hall. It blends almost perfectly with the mountain flowers, without the slightest sense of disharmony.
At this moment, Nightmare was kneeling on the ground, trembling as he gnawed on what was in his hands.
Those were countless flower buds with their stems and leaves removed, revealing delicate stamens nestled within. The concentration of spiritual essence and the fragrance of sensual flowers in the banquet hall far surpassed that of the surrounding flowerbeds; even holding one's breath, one could still feel the rich, sweet aroma penetrating one's lungs as if it were alive.
"The one who created the flowers already knew my desires, has satisfied my longings, and at the same time, has taken away my fragile and foolish mortal nature. I will no longer be a withered branch waiting to wither, I will become a crown bud waiting to bloom."
“I have touched what all people crave, once again. And this time I will rise to even greater heights.”
His breathing was short and heavy, and his consciousness was clearly blurred. But he continued to murmur prayers to the deity he worshipped.
"Unseen, unreachable, unattainable. Beautiful dreams, dazzling and alluring, are as fleeting as smoke and veil; those who are lost in them will never gain anything..."
Just as Nightmare Guest was about to read the next part, a soft female voice clearly entered his ears.
"Indulging in beauty, getting drunk on deception, and drowning in pleasure. Even the most delightful and tender nights are fleeting, and once lost, they can never be found again."
The visitor was Fran.
Seemingly due to his passion for collecting all sorts of esoteric Buddhist texts, this doctor could fluently and smoothly recite any prayer he encountered.
At this moment, she appeared relaxed and natural, her white doctor's coat spotless and immaculate. She didn't look like someone who had climbed along the path through the clouds. In fact, she hadn't climbed any mountains at all.
If the two walk at a normal pace, it would take about half an hour to reach the banquet hall at the top of the mountain. However, if Sister Heda carries her along at a brisk pace, this time can be reduced to about a quarter of the original time.
Even considering the timeliness and the possibility that Fran might feel embarrassed, this plan was actually proposed by Haida herself...
"There it is, an 'obstacle'. Once again."
Nightmare Guest let out a long sigh, his expression tinged with an inscrutable melancholy and weariness.
“Every time I am about to reach the end of the road, you appear. As if it were destiny. First, there was that fool Gloria, who falsely accused my ideas of heresy, forcing me to wander in the cold tomb for nearly two hundred years, hiding from pursuit like a stray dog…”
"Then came King Hezmut of Heil. I had successfully ascended to the rank of King, but he killed me. The beautiful, torn remnants in the flowerbed are proof of my past success."
"And another thing! That man named 'Murphy,' who flows with the blood of Galonson, also received my remains and gifts. That guy should have reached a higher level, but his head was devoured by a red wolf soaked in the blood of its own kind..."
He spoke extremely fast, using indistinct words. Although he was using the common language, he frequently interspersed it with Old Attila and some outdated Golmouth slang. His mental state was approaching delirium.
"Carmion, you are more fragile than I thought."
Facing the nightmare guest whose spiritual disorder was so extreme it seemed about to burst forth from his body, Fran's expression remained unchanged, as composed as ever. Even the corners of his glossy lips held a hint of mockery.
"Vulnerable, vulnerable...vulnerable?"
Karmion chanted and chewed on the word repeatedly, and his expression, which had been bordering on madness, visibly turned confused.
"Yes."
Fran took Heda's hand and led her to a long rectangular table in the banquet hall, where they chose a comfortable spot to sit. Only then did he slowly begin to explain his earlier statement.
"You never give up, nor do you ever truly perish. Even if you give it your all every time, and fail every time, you still perpetuate yourself by any means necessary, in order to plan for 'the next time'."
"In this process, you become more and more frantic, more and more hysterical. Karmion, you should know without me saying it yourself, that the desire for ascension has become an obsession that has penetrated your very soul."
"However, you don't even know who the real 'obstacle' is."
As Ai finished speaking, Fran raised her hand to cover her lips, her eyes curving into a shallow crescent moon. The smile in her eyes was obvious and hard to hide.
"The real obstacle?"
Sankarmien's mind had not yet fully grasped what the woman in front of him meant, but his body had already begun to tremble slightly, as if some kind of instinctive fear had been quietly awakened.
"After gaining the name of the glandular scales and becoming the 'gardener' favored by the Flower of Creation, what have you lost?"
At this moment, Fran resembled an extremely patient psychologist, gently guiding the bewildered patient to realize the plague lurking deep within their spirit.
Looking at the scene before her, Haida's expression was quite subtle. She noticed that Fran had taken out a brass pocket watch from his sleeve at some point and was holding it in his palm, stroking it repeatedly.
"What's lost?"
Upon hearing this, Karmion frantically recalled the feelings he had when he stepped onto the sixth step. In the instant his wish was fulfilled, he seemed to be immersed in endless joy, but was quickly pulled away from it. Emptiness and daze followed one after another.
However, the gardener at that time had no time to realize the changes in himself, and then he encountered Heizmut of Heil and was subsequently killed.
"I lost my will to live as a mortal, my yearning for secrecy, and my desire to reach something higher..."
At that moment, he finally understood.
Fran gently swirled a champagne glass he had casually taken from the banquet table, then affirmed Carmine's assessment.
“That’s right. What was stripped from you was desire, humanity, or rather… the ‘color’ that constitutes your very existence.”
"Forever lingering before the longed ascension, forever failing, yet forever barely surviving. To your god, you are a rare plaything. Every defeat and setback you suffer is a delicious delicacy that He cannot resist."
"Isn't this in line with the principle of 'being out of reach and unattainable'?"
-
-
Soup! Oh my!
Chapter 128 Adhering to the Order of Dust
In fact, Haida and Fran had a conversation on the Cloud Path before arriving at the Banquet Hall at the summit.
"Dr. Fran, that gardener lady seems a bit strange."
"Strange? Hmm...where exactly?"
At that moment, Fran was wrapped around Haida's neck, lying comfortably on her back, and asked a question in a seemingly casual manner.
"She acted too detachedly. Unlike the servants in the cup, who displayed an obvious arrogance, she seemed completely indifferent to the death of her 'sister.' It was as if nothing mattered to her, and she didn't even have the most basic will to survive."
"And Carmelm 9 is a ruthless scoundrel who will stop at nothing to survive. In order to advance to the fifth rank, he has used almost every means at his disposal."
"To split himself apart using the [intercalation] technique in order to revive his remaining spirit, to study the ancient banyan tree in the ruins of the library in order to prolong his life, and to sacrifice almost all of Morion's life to build the flower garden and make sacrifices..."
"There is an undeniable sense of separation between the Gardener and Karmion. It is as if something within him was ripped away after he became an apostle, transforming him into a completely new individual who abandoned the past."
As she said this, Haida narrowed her gray-chestnut eyes slightly, a hint of confusion in her expression.
"Is this an exception, or is this the process that everyone goes through to become an apostle?"
Without much thought, Fran answered the question decisively and confidently.