Chapter 73: Malicious Intent

After confirming that the girl was a new student, Caren didn't raise any other objections, as this was a request made by the Dark Elf Lord, she had no way to resist it.

The giant crow kicked the toy away with one foot, gave it a gentle peck, and then it became completely motionless.

"Akko Kagari—" Caren gestured for the girl to move her hand away. She washed her hands in the sink, then sat back down, pried open the girl's upper and lower eyelids to confirm the extent of the injury.

"Yes, yes, I'm Akko. Ever since I saw the traveling circus when I was little, I've dreamed of becoming a great mage, or rather, it's not just a dream but a destiny? This year, I traveled a really long distance to enroll in the legendary magic academy—do you know about that? It's the famous Blue Flame Circus, they say they can traverse war-torn areas unscathed, in the city of Darujhistan, the City of Blue Flame—"

So noisy.

Feeling irritated.

Caren tightened her gloves, then pressed her index finger against the swollen eye socket.

"IT HURTS!!" The girl let out a painful howl.

Feeling slightly better.

"Lower your voice, if you startle me, and I might accidentally press your eyeball in." She looked into the girl's pupils at a very close distance, her expression unchanged, her breathing steady. She maintained this for a few minutes, then slowly nodded, "Minor scratch, and some bruising, but it won't have much impact."

"How did you get injured?" Caren leaned back in her chair and asked, her tone carrying a routine flavor. It was clear she wasn't particularly concerned.

"My roommate! A girl named Sucy! I only tried to talk to her, then she dripped some potion on my doll, and it turned into this."

"Your roommate was quite restrained, so it's not a serious injury. Next time, you can try talking to some drunks at the tavern in the Lower City," Caren glanced at the painting on the wall, "Then I can help you remove the necrotic eyeball and repair the damage to your limbs."

"But that's so mean!" She completely failed to understand the logical connection between talking to drunks and limb damage, so she also didn't grasp how sharp this woman's tongue was.

"Oh, is that so? Actually, I also find your overfamiliarity quite excessive, it really ruins my mood—" Caren said nonchalantly, "Take a look at the paintings over there. If you think they're beautiful, you might want to learn some surgical knowledge."

The girl paused for a moment, then turned towards the wall as directed: it was covered with layers of various paintings and diagrams, most of them depicting horrifying human bodies with skin or muscles removed. The one closest to her made her heart skip a beat—a naked male, limbs outstretched, cut from the top of his scalp down to his crotch, the lifelike skin peeled open to reveal all his internal organs and bones, even the details of the wrinkles and blood vessels were drawn clearly.

"......"

Her face turned pale as she shifted her gaze away, probably feeling a bit nauseous.

"Your guest has arrived," the giant crow suddenly said.

"Is the guest... also a patient? Or a student here?" Akko asked, her mood recovering unusually quickly.

"Could be my guest, could be not." Caren seemed too lazy to change her tone. "The one outside, no need to knock."

As these words were spoken, the footsteps on the wooden floor paused for a moment. The person outside pushed open the medical room door, very slowly. The ear-piercing creaking sound echoed from one room to another, lingering under the stone vault in the somewhat empty hall.

It was a tall and robust man, but unlike the cook, his muscles were more evenly proportioned. His skin was somewhat rough, and he had a full beard, his black eyes listless and indifferent; his black hair, like flax, was neither long nor short, appearing as if it hadn't been taken care of.

Caren gazed into the man's eyes for a while—they seemed peculiar, appearing indifferent yet also flickering with a sickly light. She felt that there was a subtle madness in his eyes, but it was deeply suppressed—suppressed by his rationality.

"Are you the nun?"

Caren saw him ask her with an expressionless face.

"There shouldn't be a second nun here."

"Aren't you the married, aloof uncle with a kid from yesterday! You mages are so unfriendly!" Akko almost jumped up from her chair.

"Brat, I don't know you, don't talk nonsense," he shook his head, dismissing it with a snort.

After saying that, he tossed a parchment scroll over, which landed right on the table beside Caren.

"The token."

Somewhat familiar.

Caren casually picked up the scroll—bound with a blue ribbon, the last time she saw something like this was on another continent—when she was transferred due to embezzlement of public funds.

The girl named Akko also eagerly came over, but she couldn't understand the content, as it was written in encrypted text used within the Church.

After fully unfolding the parchment, Caren's eyes showed a bit of interest: she quickly read through the text and saw the emblem of the Steel Magistrate Taxar at the end;—as for the actual content: semi-demonized, loyal to La Pucelle of France, recently escaped from the Warren of the Evil Gods, suspected of being a spy, in general, it required evaluation and investigation. After browsing through the entire content, her expression returned to calmness.

Caren nodded slightly, almost imperceptibly:

"Welcome, Salser Bettrafio. Although this place is just a shabby hut, I will do my best to welcome you. This is the time for... right. If your throat is thirsty, how about something to drink?"

"I see malicious intent in your eyes."

"...Is that so? It seems you're also good at observing emotions." Caren nodded nonchalantly, neither confirming nor denying, "Unfortunately, I don't know any other ways to welcome you. If you have any needs, you can mention them, but I may not necessarily help."

"Cut the chatter, I have a question. How exactly is the evaluation and investigation to be carried out?"

Of course, it's up to my pleasure. I'll carry it out however I want, and I'll interpret it however I want.

Caren looked at him expressionlessly, "You don't need to delve into the specifics. Although I am just a nun, I have some insights in demonology, and on this continent, to assess your danger—the Church wouldn't have anyone more suitable."

He spoke unfriendly, enunciating each word, "But in reality—doesn't that mean all interpretative rights belong to you alone? Who knows if you might act arbitrarily?"

With a loud crack, Caren stood up and took a step forward, startling Akko.

She came up to Salser without warning, her expression unchanged, and raised her arms, extending her hands—the hands in medical gloves that smelled of disinfectant—and pressing them hard against his cheeks on both sides.

"Your tone is quite hurtful to others' feeling, and it seems you have doubts about this matter," Caren looked up at him, her eyes devoid of emotion meeting Sasser's gaze, "I am, after all, a representative of the church in the city of Cast, and it wouldn't be a problem for me to declare you an imperial spy directly. Personally speaking, would you prefer the guillotine or a execution by musket? If you don't mind, you can take a look at the anatomical diagrams on the wall; they are part of my belongings brought over on the steamship, used to explain the mysteries of the human body. Afterwards, I can help dissect your corpse and preserve it perfectly as a specimen for a thousand years."

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