The eccentric doctor never makes a misdiagnosis!

Page 347

"Such a strong smell of blood, is this where the woodcutter stored the corpses?"

Sigrid meticulously searched the underground chamber. The space was spacious, and some writing was faintly visible on the walls. Judging from the smell, color, and the degree of erosion of the writing, it was undoubtedly written in blood.

These sentences use old-fashioned common language, and although there are some differences in affixes and grammar, they pose no reading problem for her. What is more concerning is the meaning these words intend to convey, well… quite explicit.

[This is the most exhilarating moment of my life!]

Si [He's far more of a man than you are; his size is twice yours...]

As Sigrid gazed at the long-dried blood-written words, she narrowed her eyes slightly, her expression subtle. It was probably written by a woman, but what she intended to express remained uncertain.

Based on the description in the woodcutter's letter that "wild beasts took away my wife and my dignity," it is not difficult to guess what happened in this house.

Thinking of this, Fei couldn't help but feel some sympathy for the woodcutter.

A husband's wife has submitted to another man, both physically and mentally, and doesn't even perceive it as oppression caused by violence, but rather as "love." This would be an unbearable blow to any husband.

Those with unusual fetishes are not within the scope of our discussion.

Sigrid had no intention of delving into the woodcutter's marital relationship. She then stopped paying attention to the vulgar messages on the wall and followed the increasingly pungent smell of blood to the depths of the secret chamber.

This is a separate little room, with an asymmetrical ring symbolizing the Old Gods carved into the floor. Seated on a square chair to the side is an old woman, the source of the room's putrid atmosphere.

Her skin was withered and dry, with a leaden-blue hue, clearly indicating that she had been dead for a long time.

"So, she is that woodcutter's wife?"

Sigrid stuck out her index finger and scratched her cheek.

To be honest, she was willing to believe that the woodcutter's wife's infidelity and other strange behavior stemmed from external psychological influences, but this was, after all, a rather subjective matter, and as an outsider who did not know the true nature of the events, it was ultimately difficult to make a judgment.

After gathering her thoughts, she noticed that the woodcutter's wife was holding a piece of paper, so she took it and unfolded it.

In another world, my beloved and I will finally be reunited.

It is obvious that the "lover" she was referring to was not the woodcutter.

Although it wasn't really her concern, Sigrid found herself inexplicably interested in the "beast" the woodcutter had mentioned. Was this creature human, or, as the name suggested, some kind of beast-like, non-human being?

Inside the secret room, besides the asymmetrical rings on the floor, there was a row of bookshelves. Driven by her thirst for knowledge about the hidden secrets of this worldview, she also searched the room quite meticulously.

The final gain is still a book of superficial wisdom.

[The Skin Bible - The Chapter of Rael].

Like the previous chapter on Vinushka, this book is also written by Enki Ankarian. It is evident that he is a highly learned and accomplished mystic, capable of analyzing deities with such depth and without any reservations.

Sigrid had seen some books on Fran’s bookshelf that described the origins and background of the gods. The words were rigorous and detailed, as if the things described in the text were not magnificent colossi hanging high in the sky, but experimental subjects waiting to be studied.

In the writings of this mystic named Enki, she vaguely found some traits similar to Fran's.

That is the cold rationality that eliminates blind obedience, ignorance, and religious worship, and the "absolute freedom" that comes after truly touching the realm of the gods.

The "Skin Bible - Chapter on Rael" describes a primordial, independent Old God, namely the moon god Rael.

He is a god symbolizing deceit, intrigue, and madness, capable of revealing the true nature of humanity and other living beings beneath their filth through his cold, pale light. (Six)

However, this reality is most often manifested as a dual alienation of the spirit and the body. God's mercy is always elusive; no one knows whether it is a curse or a blessing, or whether there is no essential difference between the two.

"In this worldview, the moon goddess symbolizes deception and madness—how unfriendly! However, it seems our sect isn't quite qualified to judge others..."

After finishing reading the "Bible of the Body," Sigrid sighed softly, as if struck by a profound thought.

As a craftswoman born in the industrial city of Norrington, she had little connection with the nature deity Vinushka. However, the moon god Rael, a celestial deity, shared some similarities with the deity she worshipped, which unsurprisingly piqued her interest.

Even she was unaware of the authority of the Primordial Sun, having only heard vague fragments from the elderly disciples within the tower. Their vocabulary was remarkably similar, revolving around concepts like primordial, supreme, and unique, and mostly vague. Yue

The Sun of Forging, now venerated by the Order, symbolizes the principle of remolding and reshaping. She tirelessly executes the cyclical spiral of creation and destruction, cold and cruel, just as fierce and merciless as her love. Feynman

"Speaking of which, Mordway's Moon Clan also worships the Moon Goddess, or rather, the Moon's Diviner. But the 'Moon of Metamorphosis' herself does not wield the power of deception; her power is more manifested in the alternating metamorphosis of reality and illusion, and in the interplay of beauty and shattering."

Sigrid pondered the possible connections and similarities between the deities, becoming somewhat lost in thought.

It wasn't until Flamel coughed a few more times that she realized she had probably been in this stuffy, deadly place with the little one for too long. Feeling a pang of guilt, she ended her reverie and began working on her to-do list before leaving.

“Flamemer, can you use the asymmetrical rings here to summon the Lady of the Mist?”

"My connection with her is not yet strong enough."

Flamel shook his head and gave a concise explanation.

"That's it."

Sigrid nodded slightly, indicating that she understood.

Based on the Lady in the Mist's earlier revelation, drinking the wine might amplify Flamel's already considerable psychic abilities, leading to some kind of change. However, the specific effects are still unclear. There is also no need to conduct experiments here.

Although the Lady of the Mist cannot be summoned again, it seems wasteful to leave the asymmetrical rings here unused. Should she try to inscribe the emblem of the ancient gods of this place? Through those two leather Bibles, Sigrid now possesses the symbols of Vinushka and the moon god Rael.

Judging from the descriptions of the "gods" and their deeds in the aforementioned books, they are all filled with unpredictable dangers, and it might be unwise to make contact with them rashly.

However… on the other hand, making such attempts is also the most efficient way to understand the deep secrets hidden beneath the surface of this world. Perhaps because Flamel was by her side, Sigrid's decisions became more conservative, but being hesitant and timid ultimately went against her nature.

After a brief moment of deliberation, she decided to use the old divine ring.

As for which god's symbol to inscribe, that wasn't too difficult a question for Sigrid. She instinctively wanted to understand Rael, the moon god, as a celestial deity, rather than Vinushka, who symbolized nature.

Normally, chalk is needed to draw the emblems on all ritual rings, but Sigrid hadn't found any before. However, this wasn't too much of a problem... As a perfect alchemical being, it was a piece of cake for her to use the surrounding rocks to sinter some gypsum and calcium carbonate on the spot.

When she has an abundance of spiritual energy and materials, she can even handcraft gold, not to mention minerals that are already easy to obtain.

Just moments later, Sigrid picked up the newly made chalk and finished drawing the Rael emblem.

Almost the instant the symbol was fully formed, an indescribable, strange feeling immediately enveloped the entire secret room. It was as if the calm surface of water was suddenly rippling with the wind, and the light of the lantern and the shadow beneath it suddenly rippled with waves.

Very familiar, extremely familiar with...!

The molten golden light in Sigrid's eyes seemed to burn tangibly, and the source of this sense of familiarity was quickly revealed.

This is the feeling of experiencing scene changes on an unmanned train, almost exactly the same. In other words, the surrounding scenery kept jumping around without warning... Was it the work of the moon god Rael?

Her doubts didn't last long. As the ethereal and mysterious spirit gradually dissipated, the secret room transformed into a wooden structure resembling a workshop on a train. Perhaps this was a dream, or perhaps a special interface independent of the material world.

"Follow me."

Sigrid couldn't help feeling a little nervous, and she gripped little Flamel's hand tighter as well.

If only the craftswoman were to enter this place alone, she could have fewer concerns, but with young Fran accompanying her... she had to focus all her attention on his safety.

"don’t worry."

Unexpectedly, Flamel did not remain silent as usual, but instead spoke up to soothe Sigrid's emotions.

There is no real malice here, at least... not now.

Although she herself did not know the basis for this conclusion, she did not doubt the accuracy of her judgment.

Compared to Fran in her normal state, Flamel is undoubtedly much more vulnerable, to the point of being similar to that of an ordinary young human. And the price of this vulnerability is an unimaginable sharpness in her spiritual awareness... To her now, things as ethereal as spirit and destiny are visible and even tangible.

"If your feelings change, please let me know again."

Sigrid paid considerable attention to her nine words. This eased her tense expression slightly, but she remained cautious and vigilant.

The two proceeded through the secret chamber altered by the moon goddess's emblem, encountering no enemies along the way, though some barrels contained food supplies. Sigrid collected everything without hesitation, only stopping when her maid's apron pocket was overflowing.

Upon reaching the end of the secret room, a tall man wearing an eagle-beak hat and a black cloak came into view.

Judging from his expression, he seemed to have been waiting for a long time.

“Another one who has called me. Remember, it is you who has called me, not the other way around.”

"Now tell me, you naive one... do you believe in that darkness as black as ink?"

Sigrid paused slightly upon hearing this, but did not respond immediately.

Oh, this is the first time she has encountered an individual here who is completely non-aggressive, speaks rationally, and has no abnormal characteristics. She is so bewildered that even the other party's cryptic and nonsensical questions sound much more pleasant.

"cough."

Once her emotions had calmed down a bit, Sigrid began to think about how to answer the other person's question.

This is a rather peculiar question, its specific meaning vague and unclear, making it difficult to provide a definitive, standardized answer. Therefore, what she needs to consider is... which type of answer the other party is actually seeking.

After a moment's consideration, Sigrid gave her answer.

"I believe in darkness because it exists objectively. When the density of light is insufficient to support the visual composition of an image, what remains is only darkness."

"Hey……"

The man in the black cloak let out a low chuckle, but it seemed to have no mocking meaning.

If the person who summoned him had been just an ordinary person or a mystic, the questioning would have ended there. However, he raised the brim of his hat, looked at Sigrid with a scrutinizing gaze, and began asking questions again.

"Why with: "Han■∷:PaWuQi〓／"Lu∩He∮Si～∷Ear?

“I can feel that your soul and thoughts are so burning, as if they are radiating intense light, almost burning through my skin even though it is covered by flesh and blood… Why do you believe in darkness?”

Sigrid narrowed her eyes, a hint of wariness in her expression.

It's rare to meet a "normal person" in Preshville. Surely he wouldn't act like the woodcutter and start a fight before even exchanging a few words.

"Why not? No matter how dazzling the stars are, they can never illuminate the entire night sky. And even though the sun brings daylight, it is only one of many celestial bodies, with distant, deep spaces beyond the reach of its light and heat."

Her words at this moment were entirely based on her own knowledge and understanding, and not on temporary fabrications made to please the other party.

This time, the man in black didn't chuckle; instead, he expressed his approval in a serious tone.

"Yeah, that's it."

"This is the rule, the principle, and destiny."

"Perhaps I should offer you some practical help, but I know you don't need it. Here's what I can do: I can give you a hint... A terrible uninvited guest has arrived deep within the New God's Banquet Hall, and no one knows why he has appeared."

"If you find a raven carcass in Preshville and happen to find an imperfect ring, also known as a new god ring, you might as well try summoning that guy. You might be pleasantly surprised."

After he finished speaking, everything around him blurred and faded at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the scene returned to the secret room.

-

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soup!

Chapter Fifty: Dusk Settles [The Final Sacrifice]

"Raven carcasses, and an imperfect ring?"

Despite the hints given by the man in black, Sigrid was still completely bewildered and couldn't guess his intentions.

According to him, the Imperfect Ring should be a ritual array to summon a new god, and the raven's carcass should be a sacrifice or a medium. But what kind of deity would need to use such a strange and unclean thing as the raven's carcass for summoning?

Admittedly, the man in black did not show any malice throughout the conversation.

His demeanor was calm, and his speech was steady, just like that of a normal person.

But that doesn't mean he can trust it.

In a completely unfamiliar environment, suspicion and vigilance are indispensable survival rules, as well as unspoken "etiquette" among people. Even if Sigrid does attempt the ritual after fulfilling the conditions... she still needs to maintain a necessary level of caution.

After San explored this underground chamber, the exploration of the woodcutter's dwelling came to an end.

This trip was quite fruitful.

A single artificial soul, some regular food, two books on the art of skinning, and the seemingly profound reminder from the man in black in the Rael's Mystic Realm. For now, they might not offer much help, but they did help Sigrid deepen her understanding of the mystical framework of this place.

Stepping out of the abandoned house, Sigrid raised her head and looked up at the sky.

The sun was shrouded in a hazy mist, its outline barely visible. But thanks to her sensitivity to changes in light intensity, telling the time was still effortless for her.

The daylight has now completely lost its midday heat, slowly taking on the golden-red hues of dusk, and growing dimmer and weaker as time goes by.

Night will fall in at most another hour.

Sigrid loved dusk as much as she loved midday when the sun was at its brightest; for her, every moment of day held its own special meaning. However… watching the sun slowly sink was ultimately not a thrilling experience.

Driven by some premonition, or perhaps by a psychic revelation, an extremely strong thought arose in Sigrid's mind.

After nightfall, Preshville undergoes a change.

Although this place is inherently fraught with danger and undercurrents, I suspect I haven't yet encountered the truly worst-case scenario. This isn't entirely speculation, but rather a deduction based on known conditions and my own feelings…

The most important factor among them is "malice".

Ever since she opened her eyes in the deserted train, she had a vague feeling of being locked onto by a gaze. The observer was incredibly distant and unfathomable, harboring a subtle mockery and sarcasm, which subtly influenced her emotions.

"We must get into Presville before nightfall, no matter what."

"Although there may have been a large-scale sacrifice or some kind of natural disaster in that city, it is still easier to hide in the Virgin Forest with a lot of buildings."