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Page 45
Fran smiled slightly, clearly having anticipated this.
"Don't worry. There are a few cubicles next to the operating room that can be used as a ceremony venue. As for the alchemy workshop... you can just use mine. In addition, I will provide you with materials and technical support."
——仲ＵUn:ˇ№四∵8∠缌∪◎棱
July's beauty has faded, and August is fast approaching.
Inside the newly built forging room, Sigrid stood amidst a sea of fire, hammering the red-hot swords with mechanical precision.
The ground beneath her feet was inscribed with several nested Sunforging System Category III rituals, with liquid fire flowing within the ritual array, and the blazing flames swirling around her like the solar wind accompanying the breath of a star.
The entire room, even the air, was several hundred degrees Celsius, but Sigrid's alchemical creation allowed her to ignore this high-temperature environment, which was enough to wipe out carbon-based life forms.
She should have felt an instinctive loathing for her monstrous self, but the craftswoman had completely forgotten everything except the blade in her hand... including herself.
With the final forging complete, she began to inscribe her Sun-Forging Prayer on the sword, and the alchemical program was activated. Several blood-red Philosopher's Stones transformed into an indescribable fluid and merged into the blade.
"hiss--"
The exhaust valve in the casting chamber started operating, and the hot air in the entire room rapidly escaped, allowing the sword blade to begin cooling before quenching.
Sigrid ran her palm across the already formed blade, and a fluid that could not be called blood gushed from the wound, pouring onto the blade and then bursting into a violent steam.
Even though she was an experienced craftswoman, she felt tense and excited at this moment. There seemed to be a sound resonating and surging in her ears, like an uncontrollable heartbeat.
Sigrid couldn't tell whether the source of the pain was herself or the reborn blade before her, but neither she nor the sword... should have a beating heart.
Soon, the entire foundry returned to normal temperature. Fran, dressed in a heavy-duty hazmat suit, then stepped inside.
"We've finally reached the last stage."
She let out a soft sigh of relief, picked up a rectangular metal box, and placed it into the groove in the center of the straight sword. The metal box unfolded and fitted as if it had a life of its own, finally becoming a seamless part of the sword.
This is a living metal reconstructed according to [Mechanical Biology]. Although it's not as simple and brutal as a decomposition field, it can fill the technological gaps on the sword, which is worse than nothing.
"Souls of this place, heed my call! To save my people, I am willing to bear any curse... I am willing to pay any price."
Fran stroked the sword hilt and recited Arthas's famous quote with a strange sense of amusement.
"Um... Dr. Fran, what are you talking about?"
Sigrid narrowed her eyes slightly, glancing at Fran beside her. Over this period of time, she had become quite accustomed to his occasional strange words and actions, and had gradually come to take them for granted.
“My dearest Miss Sigrid, these are the words spoken by a dutiful foreign prince upon receiving his destined sword. They were just words uttered on a whim… please don’t take them to heart.”
Fran offered a brief explanation but did not rush to pick up the sword. She was more concerned about Sigrid's mental state.
"How do you feel now?"
“I’m so happy. I never imagined I could complete a casting of this size… it’s like a dream.”
Sigrid's interest was visibly high, so much so that a smile was visibly appearing on her face.
Fran slightly pursed his lips, gradually suppressing his usual smile. His gaze was calm and gentle.
“Sigrid, look, you still have things you love and cherish, and all is far from hopeless. The fanatics who pursued the forbidden have already been killed... As a sacrifice, you have no need to condemn yourself.”
Sigrid's initial high spirits gradually cooled, like a sword blade that had just been tempered. She shook her head in bewilderment, refusing to accept Fran's explanation.
“But I am not Sigrid… I am the sword of the ‘false sun’. I am a creation forged from the souls of my fellow members of the Sunforge Order.”
"You can say that."
Fran did not object to this; on the contrary, he nodded in agreement.
"But not everyone has the chance to be reborn. Even if you don't want to admit it, you are still a continuation of Sigrid's life."
“Do you remember what you said to me in the streets before? ‘Please end my suffering.’ But it is also cruel to doctors to take away a life that still has hope. But sometimes, we really have to witness something vibrant die with our own eyes… or even do it ourselves.”
As she spoke, she winked rather charmingly.
"Sorry……"
Sigrid lowered her head and apologized to Fran.
"Don't blame yourself. What's wrong with wanting to end your suffering? But if living isn't entirely suffering for you, if you can still find some enjoyment in your spare time... then please don't speak lightly of death."
As he spoke, Fran took out a parchment contract and a quill pen from the lining of his white coat and handed them to her.
"There is probably no place for you in the Sunforge Order anymore, unless you are willing to lose your freedom forever. If you don't mind, stay at the Fog Street Clinic. You will have plenty of time to think about how to use your long life."
"Dr. Fran, would you let me stay here?"
"Hmm... I happen to be short of a maid."
Sigrid instinctively took the pen and paper, her bright golden eyes flickering slightly, revealing a hint of complexity. Finally, she signed her name on the parchment.
"Contract established. Welcome to Fog Street Clinic... Sigrid."
Fran was actually a little worried about failing to recruit her, but fortunately the artisan did not give up in the end.
Rain: "Is this what a 'contract' feels like?"
Sigrid looked at her hands with some curiosity, as if an invisible thread connected her to this place.
A: "Can you sense the contract?"
N. Fran touched his cheek, seemingly somewhat surprised. This was just a routine he was going through according to his own habits.
"This contract points directly to the soul. And the fact that you can connect with it using your true name means that 'Sigrid's' soul is still in your body and did not dissipate during the sacrifice."
"So that's how it is..."
Sigrid felt a sense of surprise, followed by an inexplicable feeling of absurdity and amusement.
7 Because she realized that she didn't actually care whether her soul was pure or not, and her previous resounding words... probably really came from the instinctive desire to escape at all costs.
The newly appointed maid patted her face, trying her best to cheer herself up.
tumor--
After finishing Sigrid's psychological counseling, Fran began to examine the reforged sword. The guard was flat, the hilt straight, sharp and profound, with a minimalist feel.
【nirvana】
Private [Quality: Excellent (12% away from 'Flawless')]
[Effect: This blade can self-repair. This blade can self-evolve. This blade... possesses self-awareness.]
[Note: "Exquisite gold and living metal, forging and alchemy, the Philosopher's Stone and the blood of the false sun. They blend together perfectly."]
"It's almost flawless quality... I'm almost reluctant to give it away."
Fran's glossy fingernails tapped lightly on the sword, and a faint metallic hum echoed through the air.
Chapter Forty-Eight: The Corona Rider
"Hello, dear viewers. I am Fran Hesser. Next is the technical summary of this casting process."
"First of all, the main material of the power sword is Adamantium, a unique and precious material. It has an almost incomprehensible physical strength, even higher than strong interaction materials, which is higher than 'water droplets'."
"This makes conventional casting and engraving virtually impossible. But the rituals of the Suncasting system can specifically reconstruct the metal at the microparticle level... which makes this repair feasible at the most basic level."
Fran tapped the blackboard lightly with his knuckles, like a young lecturer highlighting key points for his students.
"Secondly, there is a living metal box made according to the Space Necromancer's [Mechanical Biology]. The technology of living metal originates from the Star God. It is a material with mystical properties, possessing unparalleled ductility and malleability... Even in my collection room, there are only about a hundred grams of it."
"Using it to fill the sword slot can, to some extent, make up for the technical deficiencies and give the sword a certain degree of 'biological activity.' Perhaps it will make the machine spirit more active?"
"Finally, I had Sigrid use alchemy to add the Philosopher's Stone, which will make the combination of all the materials harmonious."
Fran took off his silver-rimmed round glasses, put them in a small box, and then put them back in the pocket of his white coat.
"Alright, that concludes the technical summary." - Ba
"...Dr. Fran, what are you doing?"
Sigrid, dressed in a black and white maid's outfit, stood beside Fran, looking at her with some confusion. (Seven)
Because the subject of the doctor's lecture was actually a small metal box... the scene certainly looked strange. 6
Although Sigrid was already used to Fran's many somewhat peculiar habits, she still couldn't help but ask about them every time they met.
Sometimes she's simply having fun, while other times... every word and action of hers might have a deeper purpose, a "prelude" to a certain outcome.
"This is a 'technical manual' containing [Mechanical Biology]. It can not only project holographic images, but also record in real time."
Fran gently tapped the artifact of the cosmic necromancer's technology, and a projection identical to her instantly appeared beside her, only to vanish without a trace in an instant. 4
"It's perfect for recording my thoughts, and it can also be used to create learning materials."
"Such advanced technology. It doesn't even have a trace of mystery about it; it's purely incredible..."
Sigrid wanted to touch the metal box, but hesitated, worried that her improper movements might damage this extremely precise instrument.
"No need to be so careful, you can be a little rough with it. Even a chainsaw probably wouldn't be able to open this thing..."
Seeing her cautious manner, Fran slightly curled the corners of his lips and gave her some instructions.
"Alright, Sigrid, I'm going to the Order of the Mystics next... Let's get ready and set off."
"Is it to deliver the sword to Sister Heda? Can I go? But... will it be dangerous?"
She was actually quite happy to be able to return to Norrington, but the thought that the Sunforge Order was still searching for her made her hesitate.
She is a forbidden creation forged from the souls of everyone in the entire tower.
Even with Sigrid's appearance and personality, she represents taboo and uncontrollability in the eyes of the secret order. She must be contained and rendered harmless as much as possible, and then studied.
Perhaps the decision-makers at the Suncasting Order's headquarters will not execute her, but it is highly likely that they will designate her as a "sacred relic" and then seal her away permanently.
"Don't worry, I can easily disguise you. And my mode of transportation is very discreet... so there shouldn't be any problems?"
"And even if there is danger, he won't be able to catch you."
As Fran spoke, he took a dark gray work ID from the pocket of his white coat and hung it around Sigrid's slender neck.
"As long as you have this work pass, you can always return to the clinic through the fog. If you encounter danger, remember to look for the door immediately, or even the shadows on the street corner."
She then went to the wardrobe, took out a black robe for a funeral maid, and showed it to her briefly.
"This suits you very well. Although the size is a little off, it should be wearable if the stitching is altered."
As he spoke, Fran picked up the tailor's knife and began to modify the specifications.
After roughly cutting a few stitches, she held the thread end to her lips for a moment, then deftly threaded it through the needle.
The sewing process possessed a certain precise and efficient beauty; her movements were incredibly meticulous, as if her hands were not handling tough leather, but rather the patient's skin awaiting stitching.
After a brief period of busy work, Sigrid changed into the combat uniform of a funeral attendant. Apart from her striking long, molten gold hair and eye color, she looked no different from an ordinary hunter.
"It fits perfectly. It seems my skills haven't deteriorated too much."
Fran looked her shoulders, chest, waist, and abdomen over, and after confirming that they fit well enough, he squinted his eyes with satisfaction.
"As for disguise... Sigrid, do you prefer makeup or surgery? The Red Cup's three types of secret arts, [Transformation], are also an option; I'm quite familiar with them..."
Sigrid sensed a hint of danger in Fran's excited eyes. She pursed her lips and politely declined.
"Um, Dr. Fran, actually I can change my appearance to some extent. So you don't need to bother..."
"I see... Then let's set off once you're ready."
Fran put away the scalpel and the book of skins with a slight regret, then sat back on the velvet sofa, swinging his legs as he began to wait.
-
After finishing her day of training, Haida wiped the sweat from her face with a towel and prepared to go to the bathroom to freshen up.
She had just opened the bathroom door when she noticed wisps of pale dust rising from the crack. But due to inertia, the door still opened... and then a familiar figure bumped right into her.
“Ah, I’m sorry, Sister Da. It seems the timing of this visit is a bit inappropriate…”
Fran staggered back a step, slightly dazed from the impact.
Heda's ribs had formed bone plates comparable to those used for bulletproof shrapnel, but fortunately, there was still soft fatty tissue that provided some cushioning, preventing a concussion.
"...It's alright, please don't worry about it."
Heda immediately reached out and steadied her. "Dr. Fran, what brings you here today?"
Based on her understanding of Fran, the doctor would most likely choose to stay at the Fog Street clinic when he had free time. He would only go out if he had a house call or something that interested him.
This is what is known as "not visiting the temple unless there is a reason".
“I intend to keep my promise and give you one of my collections. Of course, you’ve already seen it beforehand, so it’s hardly a surprise anymore.”
As Heda stepped aside from the bathroom door, Franvi entered her bedroom. Accompanying her was a dark-haired girl dressed as a funeral maid, with an ordinary appearance and nothing particularly noteworthy.