The eccentric doctor never makes a misdiagnosis!

Haida had to admit that none of the arcane arts she had ever seen had such dazzling light and shadow effects. The Ivenne who had just cast the spell truly gave her the feeling of a "magician" from ancient texts.

"It's just basic spells, and I only know one or two..." Ivani said somewhat embarrassedly.

“But your casting speed is a bit slow. Could you make it faster?” Haida began to offer some practical suggestions.

There were too many flaws in Ivanie's spell just now. She had no fewer than ten ways to stop the opponent from casting the spell from five meters away.

This includes, but is not limited to, throwing knives, creating sandstorms, and firing guns... Before Ivenny summons this little comet with its less-than-ideal bullet velocity, Heda can empty her magazine at least twice.

Ivy pondered for a moment before replying, "It should be possible, but I'll need to concentrate quite well..."

Fran approached Ivani, took the stargazing cane from her hand, skillfully twirled it between his fingers, and then pointed it at the wall.

The azure academy emblem suddenly appeared, and the stardust shot out like arrows, instantly piercing through the thick stone wall and leaving a light-transmitting hole.

She gracefully breathed softly at the pyroxene at the tip of her cane, dispersing the lingering smoke of battle.

"I can teach you a thing or two about casting spells."

Chapter Twenty-Six: The Shepherd's Song (Old Man's Ring)

The simple yet fulfilling training regimen lasted for a week.

Evonne's complexion visibly began to improve, mainly thanks to Fran's precise control over her nutrition... and his impeccable cooking skills.

Cooking wasn't really Fran's hobby; it was just one of the many skills she possessed.

If possible, she wouldn't mind being waited on hand and foot and having her life easier... but right now, with the patients' health at stake, she has no choice but to take on the responsibility herself and become both cook and nutritionist.

After all, the only difference between Evonne and the ape-men in terms of food handling was that she could make fire.

Haida is someone who carries her own personal rations and has received formal wilderness survival training... She can accept "high-quality protein" that would make most ordinary people feel physically uncomfortable just by looking at it.

"Evonne, do you remember today is which day of your training?"

Fran approached Ivani, but instead of teaching her how to channel her mind and magic more quickly as usual, he first asked her about the time.

"Today is the seventh day, Dr. Fran."

Evangeline touched her lips, thought for a moment, and then answered. Since her diet and daily routine had become more regular, her thinking and sense of time had also become clearer, and she was no longer as dazed as before.

"Today we're going to review the progress we've made over this period... Simply put, I'll be giving you a short quiz."

"Okay, sure. But... what are the specifics?"

Ivani readily agreed to Fran's request. She had been receiving almost all of his care these past few days, which made her feel a little embarrassed... so she could only work even harder on her physical training and studying the magic of the Radiant Stone.

"It's very simple. There's a 'neighbor' near the church who rides a horse and wears golden armor... You should have seen him, right?"

"...You mean the knight with the tree tattoo on his armor?"

"It's him. This knight has lost his mind and only follows his long-held instincts to stop any Faded One who intends to go to the royal city..."

"Go and end his mission."

Fran clasped his hands together slightly, his eyes filled with a kind smile.

You've mastered the basics of weapon use and can now cast simple gem magic. Go challenge the Great Tree Guardian...

"But isn't it a bit too fast?"

Even Haida was somewhat surprised by the question Fran had given her.

In her eyes, Ivani's combat skills were no different from those of an ordinary citizen. Even though she was a Faded One, born with the talent of a warrior... seven days was still too short.

A hunter must undergo at least two years of training to be officially appointed, including passing several unscheduled practical tests until they have the reflexes for life-or-death combat ingrained in their very being.

"It is indeed a bit rushed. If we want Ivanie to have a theoretical chance of winning... it should take at least a month."

Fran readily admitted this, but she had no intention of changing her mind.

"So, I allow you to 'fail.' Try to feel death... After that, I will bring you back."

Fran breathed softly, gazing quietly at Ivanie. His deep amber-gold eyes were calm and peaceful, seemingly smiling... yet carrying a hint of undeniable authority.

"Of course, I respect your choice. If you think it's impossible... then our agreement ends here."

"No, no! But... I still..."

Evonne could genuinely feel a sense of warmth and familiarity from Fran and Heqida; the brief time they spent together these past few days had already given her the illusion of being back home.

Dr. Fran was always smiling, yet sometimes seemed enigmatic, but overall he was a very gentle person. Sister Heda, though rarely smiling, was actually quite perceptive and attentive to every detail about those around her…

Their help was genuine; as a faded person burdened with the destiny of becoming king, she should have mustered her courage.

But whenever the grotesque, mangled faces of corpses and the ever-spreading death appeared in her mind, fear would uncontrollably grow within her.

“It was never my intention to upset the patient. But... I need to give you a deeper understanding of reality.”

Fran became unusually serious. Although a smile still lingered on his moist lips, his eyes were calm to the point of being cold.

"What lingers before the throne is not a magnificent staircase, but intrigue and death, corpses and bloodshed. If you cannot resolve to climb among the jagged bones, then you should not presume to lay your hands on the throne... This is a doctor's advice."

Evonne bit her lip tightly, seemingly instinctively wanting to back away, but ultimately didn't.

After a moment of hesitation, she said to Fran, "I understand... I will go."

Then, Ivanni fell silent and walked straight out of the Church of Elektra. She began searching for the heavily armored tree guardian.

……

Upon seeing Evian leave, Fran's serious expression relaxed and dissipated.

If she could, she wouldn't want to treat patients this way. But Ivanie's personality was somewhat weak, and she had to be pushed firmly at the right time.

"Ah... another day without any clue. Miss Ivani is so unwell."

Fran rolled around on the soft cotton cushions laid out inside the church, his eyes downcast, muttering to himself with a hint of complaint. Even the feathers on his ears drooped softly.

Haidaer naturally knew what this doctor was troubled about... because this was the first time in days that she had fallen into this state of deep contemplation without any results. She just never showed it to Ivy.

"Still can't find the 'disease' in her body?"

"There is no trace of it, neither psychological nor physiological."

Fran hugged the cushion, his pale eyelashes slightly furrowed, as if he were a little sleepy.

"Perhaps we've targeted the wrong person? Or maybe she really isn't sick... or she's already recovered?"

Haida began to speculate on other possibilities.

"Impossible. The target is correct, and I can sense that she has some kind of illness. It's just that I don't know it yet."

Fran categorically denied Haida's conjecture, appearing extremely confident.

But she really didn't know where to begin with this patient. She could only observe him... at worst, she could treat the illness while simultaneously supporting a new king's ascension to the throne.

-

The tree guardian stood guard and patrolled quietly. He was dressed in full-body golden cavalry heavy armor, holding a halberd in one hand and a shield in the other.

These enormous and heavy metal weapons would probably require two hands to wield, yet he lifted them with effortless ease, as if he were already accustomed to them. Even the warhorse beneath him was clad in exquisite golden horse armor.

He exuded a solemn and heavy aura, like some ancient palace sculpture... or a deadly weapon of war.

But the knight has gone mad.

Since the ring of magic was shattered, reason has been slipping from his mind day by day. Now, he is left only with the instinct to follow his duty. He will attack anyone who tries to cross this place at all costs, but if you secretly take a detour... he will selectively ignore you.

A slender, azure stardust, trailing a long tail, struck the tree guard's helmet precisely, then shattered into starlight. A deep dent appeared on the back of his helmet.

He turned around abruptly, tightened his grip on his shield, and entered combat mode.

Another "Radiant Stone Shard" was projected from the shadows on one side. Lu, however, had already realized that he was being attacked and immediately raised his heavy shield.

A dazzling golden circle suddenly flashed, almost perfectly intercepting the spell, and then transforming it into a golden arrow that shot towards the caster.

"Well……"

Evangeline fled the bushes where she had been hiding, and the next moment the area was reduced to scorched earth.

"Calm down, calm down, don't be afraid... Evonne."

Despite her trembling hands and legs, Ivani wielded her slender stargazing staff and unleashed "Radiant Arc".

The azure waves spread toward the tree guardian, but the guardian made no move to dodge. He held a shield in one hand in front of him and raised a heavy halberd in the other to charge forward.

The arc-shaped cyan wave, relying on the properties of magic, partially penetrated the armor, but the remainder was easily shattered. After all, this was just a basic radiance stone spell…

Moreover, we are in the real world now, where there are no game "mechanics." The Tree Guardian can simply keep its shield raised until it's at a sufficient distance... then finish off this annoying spellcaster with a single stab.

Another gleaming stone shard struck his helmet, slightly revealing his withered face hidden in the shadows. But the charging cavalry paid no heed to these minor, fly-bite-like wounds.

"Neigh!" The warhorse let out a deep neigh. He began a near-frenzied charge.

With the acceleration of the galloping hooves, the distance between the knight and the girl was instantly reduced to its shortest, only a few feet apart!

Being hit head-on by a train traveling at full speed... that's probably what it feels like.

The towering knight's shadow alone was enough to envelop Ivanie. Her ears were filled with the howling wind, and the sheer force of the wind, combined with its unstoppable momentum, made it seem as if she would be crushed into mincemeat at any moment.

She would die, without a doubt. What was the world like after death? Was it reincarnation or a desolate void? A revolving lantern of thoughts even began to flash through Ivani's mind.

Instead of charging straight down, the Tree Guardian used the momentum of his charge to thrust out his heavy, axe-shaped halberd, aiming directly at Ivanie's chest.

"Almost over."

Fran, who was standing nearby, picked up his first-aid kit to prepare for first aid. He looked calm and didn't seem too surprised.

Fran didn't care whether Ivenne won or lost this challenge; he only needed her to demonstrate her resolve. After all, supporting a faded one to become king required a great deal of time and energy, and also involved many unnecessary risks…

To win her over, you have to demonstrate some qualities that make you worth betting on.

"If Evangeline can remember what I taught her, perhaps she can hold on a little longer."

Haida, holding a gun, aimed at the large tree guarding it.

Although the ammunition carried is limited, and it's unclear whether pistol-sized bullets can penetrate armor... it's still possible to attract the enemy's attention by shooting at crucial moments.

In the moment of life and death, everything moves slowly, like a slow-motion shot.

Ivani stopped wielding her stargazing staff; her two remaining spells were insufficient to solve the problem. And time was running out…

She turned and drew the royal army straight sword she had captured from its scabbard at her side, swinging it with both hands to meet the heavy halberd from the side. At this moment, the hilt of the sword truly felt more real to her than the slender staff.

A sharp, clanging sound erupted as the two figures crossed paths.

The result of the clash was that Ivani was sent flying, sword and all, her hands a bloody mess, and her straight sword shattered into countless fragments under the weight of the halberd.

She fell heavily to the ground, her bones creaking and groaning as if she were struggling under the weight.

"call……"

She gasped for breath, tears streaming uncontrollably from her eyes, mingling with the blood that kept seeping from her mouth and nose.

Was it the fear of dying? No, it was the relief of surviving.

It's unbelievable that I survived that attack... so much so that every breath and every heartbeat afterward feels like a precious gift.

Is this what it feels like to be alive? Even if it's so fleeting, even if it could end in the next second...

The tree guardian stared at the stargazer who had brandished her sword at him, hesitated for a moment, then raised his heavy halberd high, ready to pin her to the ground.

"Please stop here, Mr. Guard, your armor is very cool."

Unbeknownst to them, Fran had already arrived before the tree guardian. (Six)

She raised her wrist, and the black tentacles of "Reaching for the Moon" shot out, deflecting the golden halberd that was about to pierce Ivenne. She then performed a graceful bow.

Heda pulled the trigger at that moment.

Although she hit several weakly armored key joints with her superb marksmanship, the man's armor was almost solid steel, making it difficult to penetrate with just a pistol. Death.

"Hoh..." The tree guardian let out a meaningless roar, violently pulling on its heavy halberd.

This forced Fran to retract the tentacles of "Reaching for the Moon." She didn't want to compete in arm strength with such a behemoth; if her hand were to be pulled off, it would be quite a hassle to put it back.

"Don't be angry, calm down."

Fran tilted her head, maintaining a relaxed smile. Her pale, frosty earlobes curled slightly, as if to indicate that she was in a good mood.

She deftly picked up the stargazing staff that Ivenne had discarded in the moment of crisis. She removed the azure chalcedony from it and replaced it with another crystal, jet black and clear... It appeared to be a highly purified Originium crystal.

“Mr. Tree Guardian, look, you happen to have a brain that doesn’t work very well.”

"And I happen to possess an ancient technique for people who aren't quite right in the head... What a coincidence!"

She murmured softly, and with the ancient talent of the Liberi people, began to sing the "Song of the Shepherds."