The eccentric doctor never makes a misdiagnosis!

Sigrid waved her hands in a fluster, instinctively making excuses. Although she was working as a maid, she had actually been the one being taken care of by Fran during this time.

Fran was not surprised; she simply looked at the artisan lady in front of her with interest.

"First of all, I'm simply choosing a more suitable owner for an object. Secondly, since you feel uneasy about it being a 'gift,' let's consider it 'salary.' Consider it your payment for your services this year."

"thank you……"

Sigrid could clearly accept this explanation. Compared to gifts given without reason, "earned money" made her feel much more at ease.

Seeing that she had agreed, Fran began to explain its effects.

"This raw material from the abyss is called 'Stairway to Light,' and the finished product after processing is called 'Gangway.' It can drive light and heat to generate autonomously searching and scattering beams, and will only burn the locked targets."

"Even if it causes a large-scale scattering, it will not cause accidental harm to people nearby."

"What is the source of its light energy?"

Sigrid stepped forward with some curiosity, seemingly wanting to poke the bright and clear cube.

"Judging from the description of being 'sun-oriented,' it probably originates from accumulated sunlight."

"Then why is it getting brighter and brighter, and expanding more and more?"

"and many more!"

Despite wearing heavy protective gear, Fran moved incredibly fast.

She picked up the cubes, wrapped them in a surgical handkerchief, and threw them into the shadows under the counter like hand grenades.

A silent burst of light suddenly flashed, and the silk towel that wrapped it instantly turned into burning fibers that scattered.

Surprisingly, the scattered light did not cause any damage to the surrounding environment; there wasn't even a trace on the wall.

"What happened?"

Seeing the sudden turn of events, Sigrid was somewhat at a loss. She wanted to help Fran up, but she was worried that her current alchemical state might burn him.

"Oh, no need to worry. It's just a minor, harmless incident. You see, no one was hurt."

As he spoke, Fran placed the pieces of the [Stairway to Light] into his medicine box, blocking out the light source.

"I almost forgot, although there is no sunlight in the operating room, there is still a... living sun beside me."

Fran patted himself off, seemingly cleaning off the dust.

In fact, the purification process in her operating room is extremely rigorous, with less than a hundred microparticles per unit volume, making it impossible for ash to exist.

"If we hand it over to Sigrid, at least we won't have to worry about the energy aspect. However, we need to find a way to isolate it to prevent overcharging from causing a secondary explosion..."

She pondered the next steps in the treatment plan, her fingertips tapping rhythmically on the edge of the operating table.

-------

This update mishap has disrupted my writing rhythm. What used to be two chapters has been condensed into one, and it also affects my attendance bonus for the next day (although there's no longer an attendance bonus this month), but it's still very annoying.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Chapter Fifty-Two: Ascending to Stardom

[Gangway]

[Source: Abyss Relic (created by Fran Hesser)]

[Effect: Releases highly refracted light prisms with moderate controllability and autonomous enemy targeting. This relic has been fitted with several heat valves by a doctor to effectively prevent overheating and internal melting. However, users are still advised to control the energy output; otherwise, damage may still occur.]

[Note: "Although a certain doctor said he didn't want to get closer to being a pervert, he actually kept some materials to make someone's helmet, probably to put together a complete set for emergencies."]

-

Fran gazed at the light-cast ring on Sigrid's right index finger, which was gradually cooling, and let out a long sigh.

Fortunately, this finished product withstood the unintentional release of the "Primordial Sun" fragments without exploding, and its shape remained very stable.

This ring is the result of a collaboration between Fran and Sigrid. Fran was responsible for the fabrication and theoretical guidance, while Sigrid was responsible for the design and casting.

Fran had to admit that the craftswoman possessed a greater talent for forging than he had. After all, interest is the best teacher.

However, she still needs some time to accumulate experience and skills before she can reach her current level.

"Dr. Fran, is the finished product up to standard this time?"

Sigrid pursed her lips, her hands hanging down in front of her abdomen, her golden eyes filled with a hint of trepidation.

Their previous products seemed to have no problems in terms of design. They were beautiful, practical, and full of classical artistry... but they ultimately suffered an uncontrollable self-destruction when used.

"Very good. The current strength is almost the limit that this raw material can achieve."

Fran hummed a light and cheerful tune, looking relaxed and happy.

It was such a bargain that Sigrid's salary for the year was solved with a piece of jewelry made from ordinary materials... even though her employment contract with Sigrid didn't actually specify a particular salary.

If she wanted, she could easily don a top hat, grow a mustache, and instantly transform into a street lamp ornament that steals the remaining value.

Unfortunately, Fran is a staunch supporter of the eight-hour workday and vehemently dislikes overtime. Her attitude towards her employees is essentially akin to that of Megatron, who aspires to enslave humanity…

"call."

Fran removed his white, sweat-soaked rubber gloves and tossed them into a nearby trash can. Then, frowning as if remembering something, he left the foundry and rushed into the kitchen.

"I forgot to set an alarm. I hope the pigeon I bought yesterday won't burn..."

Sigrid then followed Fran out of the foundry.

She stroked the still-warm ring on her hand, her hands trembling slightly with excitement... This forging was truly a challenge for her.

While in the religious order, she mostly dealt with metal materials, and in most cases, she could use the rituals of the Suncasting System to melt and shape them.

Even when reforging the power sword [Nirvana] and facing "refined gold" she had never seen before, she showed no fear whatsoever.

If a single gold-melting ritual is not strong enough, then multiple rituals are used and stacked up until the metal, which has almost absolute physical strength, changes its form.

While the [Stairway to Light] appears to be a solidified cube, it is actually soft and living biomass. Using such a thing to craft tools... is indeed a bit of a challenge for her.

At this moment, Fran, standing in the main hall, was wearing oven-safe gloves and a white lab coat with a small bear apron over it. The air around her smelled of roasting meat, clearly indicating that she had just salvaged tonight's dinner from the kitchen oven.

"Alright, let's try out this enemy-detection feature that can automatically distinguish friend from foe? I'm quite curious about how it works..."

"Dr. Fran, now? Hmm...right here?"

Sigrid looked at Fran, who was eager to try, and felt a little worried.

The Order of the Sunforge also possessed the secret art of manipulating prisms, which she was familiar with. However, that art could melt through steel plates, and its effect did not change based on the identity of the person hit.

After all, in the real world, there's no such thing as disabling friendly fire...

"Of course, there's no need to worry."

Fran drew a circle on the center of his chest with thick, heat-resistant gloves, as if preparing a bullseye for Sigrid.

"Then I'll begin. Dr. Fran, please be careful..."

Sigrid raised her index finger adorned with the "Ascending to Stardom" badge, and in an instant, a clear beam of light struck Fran's chest before her thoughts could even process, piercing her body through.

But she then stopped and gently touched the spot where she had been pierced. There was no wound, and even her clothes were undamaged. The beam of light was like an intangible phantom, passing right through her after meeting her.

"It did hit the target. However, the heat carried by the light energy did not travel through the material; instead, it passed directly through the solid. Perhaps this material is worth further study."

Fran pondered for a moment, then set the matter aside for the time being. He'd design the research project based on that later... there were more important things to do now.

“Sigrid, it’s been a long time since I’ve cooked by baking… let’s see if my skills have deteriorated.”

She eagerly lifted the tray and showed Sigrid to today's dinner—freshly roasted pigeon, cooked to perfection.

The pigeons skewered on the grill have crispy skin, tender and juicy meat after being thoroughly roasted, and are filled with the rich aroma of apricot branches and mead.

"Hmm. But actually, I don't need to eat anything, you don't need to take care of me like this..."

Sigrid's cheeks flushed slightly, and she instinctively swallowed, looking somewhat embarrassed.

During this period, Fran fed her almost like her grandmother back in her hometown. If her life form hadn't been fundamentally altered, she might actually be worried about gaining weight.

Fran gently shook his finger, slowly sat down at the table, and began to explain to her in the tone of someone who had been through it all.

“Dear Sigrid, sometimes these seemingly meaningless actions are a kind of ritual in themselves. Eating, proper exercise, enough sleep, and reading before bed... everything you do becomes an anchor point for stabilizing your ‘humanity’.”

"So the first thing you need to learn is... to enjoy life."

-

General Affairs Division, the office of Director Alvin.

Alvin, Silver Hydra, and Black Banyan, who has been temporarily suspended, are holding a routine management meeting.

"I'm no longer the head of the funeral home, so why are you calling me into this kind of meeting? Is it so hard to let an old man enjoy his twilight years? You don't want to give him a pension, do you?"

Hei Rong complained irritably, but his childish and clear voice made his words very unconvincing.

"I would have felt guilty if you had said that two months ago. But now... I just feel like you're showing us your less-than-stellar sense of humor. Besides, you're even a year younger than me, where did you get your pension?"

Alvin narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at Black Rong, who was sitting upright on the leather sofa, gently swinging his legs.

He was quite uncomfortable with Hei Rong's handsome and refined appearance, to the point that every time he saw him, he instinctively wanted to rub his eyes to make sure he wasn't dreaming or experiencing some strange hallucination.

Funeral Home even commissioned a hunter's uniform in his current size.

The leather suit jacket paired with the burgundy tie gave him a youthful look, making this seasoned hunter, who had faced death many times, appear like an innocent young master...

"I was just showing off that I'm younger than you, like you used to like doing. Let's see who's the older one now?"

Hei Rong looked at Alvin with amusement. He himself hadn't fully adapted to his current body, but he felt inexplicably pleased every time he saw the other's incredulous expression.

"Alright, dear Supervisor Alvin, let's get down to business. Everyone's time is very precious..."

Silver Hydra was lounging lazily on the sofa, her long, wavy crimson hair slightly disheveled. She casually adjusted her makeup, holding a mirror in one hand and an eyebrow pencil in the other.

“Oh, I forgot, one of you is a retired injured funeral home worker who has been suspended from his post, and the other is a retired general affairs officer who sits in the office all day drinking goji berry tea... I'm the only one who's busy to the point of exhaustion every day.”

"cough."

Alvin coughed lightly, seemingly wanting to offer some rebuttal. However, considering that what the other party said was all fair and truthful... he ultimately abandoned this potentially self-humiliating plan.

"Were there any noteworthy developments in the previous Suncasting Cult case?"

"Didn't you already see the files and mission reports we submitted? Why do you need to ask again?"

Silver Hydra raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of mockery in its eyes.

"I want to know the parts that cannot be written in a written report."

"That's it~"

Silver Hydra deftly put away the dressing mirror, gradually concealing her languid expression.

“I was with ‘Sun Rider’ Somur at the most crucial moment, so there were many things I didn’t witness firsthand. However, judging from the burns on Heda’s body afterward, she must have had a direct confrontation with Anderson, who was wielding an alchemical artifact.”

"And she won. When I came back, I saw her throw Anderson out the door like a dead dog."

“Hyda is not facing an ordinary ‘Sun Rider’… The alchemical artifact that Anderson is holding consumed the souls of almost everyone in the Sunforge Tower just from the sacrificial ritual alone… To be honest, I can no longer see how far that child has grown.”

As she spoke, Silver Hydra seemed to want to take out a women's cigarette from her chest and light it, but considering that this was Alvin's office, she ultimately refrained from doing so.

"What's so strange about that?"

Hei Rong glanced at Yin Yuli with slight disdain and interrupted her.

“Didn’t Sister Haida strike the ‘Servant in the Cup’s’ undeveloped heart twice, forcing him to detonate his body? No matter how powerful Anderson’s weapon is, he’s still just a human being.”

"Even if he stuffs a bunch of alchemical organs into his stomach, he'll still die if his head is blown off or his chest is opened."

"All right."

Alvin shrugged slightly, his resolute gaze revealing a hint of complexity.

"The issue concerning Haida and Dr. Fran can be temporarily set aside. The opinion of the upper echelons of the General Affairs Department is that we don't need to worry about it for now..."

"What I'm really interested in is the alchemical program in the secret room of the Sunforge Tower. What kind of alchemy could turn everyone in the entire Sunforge Tower to ashes overnight? And who will be the next sacrifice?"

"If this happened at the Hunters' headquarters, would we be able to stop it before it's finished?"

Silver Hydra yawned, unconcerned about Alvin's worries.

"The alchemists of the Secret Court have observed the site. The alchemical process is fragile and cumbersome in the preparation stage, and requires a huge amount of Philosopher's Stones... Most importantly, it can only harvest the souls of those who believe in the sun."

"This is the latest news. It was supposed to be sent to the General Affairs Department in a few hours... You got a good deal."

"I see."

Alvin, who received a reply from the silver-feathered hydra, did not breathe a sigh of relief. He seemed to be thinking about something else, his brows still furrowed.