So Dog Corpses Count as Quests?

Time goes back to one hour ago.

"Luck probably follows the law of conservation of energy too."

Tylen thought to himself.

Two days ago, he pulled a gold card in the draw, and his mentor gave him the Purple Diamond Carving Knife. It seemed today's luck had been drained clean.

Today, every time he found a suitable corpse, someone else snatched it away.

Especially after rumors of "cost-cutting and efficiency" started spreading, even apprentices with the slightest connections turned into sharks that smelled blood, prowling the city like mad.

At nine in the morning, Tylen found a young man's body in a back alley of the slums. Cause of death: overwork and sudden collapse. The corpse was in excellent condition.

But before he could even pull out his Corpse Bag, three apprentices in matching uniforms rushed over.

The leader was a thug with a face full of meat, a badge pinned to his chest representing the "Brunei Kane" faction.

Brunei Kane, a Level 6 wizard, Markley Kane's cousin. Their relationship was neither good nor bad.

"First come, first served! Magnus." The leader, a grinning Level 1 apprentice, reached out for a polite handshake.

As they shook hands, his two underlings had already loaded the body into the cart.

Ike of Thousand Mountain City. Word was this guy had decent talent, and unlike Haige, he had an easygoing personality that got him far.

Tylen sighed. "You guys are fast."

Ike sighed back. "Can't help it. Times are tough for everyone. Next time I run into one, I'll let you have it."

Tylen didn't really expect there to be a next time, but he said nothing and smiled, gripping the other's hand. "You're too kind."

Ike lowered his voice. "I'll treat you to a meal sometime. You taking out Haige did me a big favor."

Tylen smiled. "Sure! Then I'm eating well!"

They exchanged a few more words and went their separate ways.

At eleven in the morning, a carriage accident in the commercial district killed a vagrant.

This time, Tylen moved fast. But just as he was loading the body onto his cart, a group in gold-trimmed robes appeared.

People from the Blazing Sun Wizard Tower.

The leader was a Level 2 apprentice, nose in the air, followed by three burly attendants.

"This corpse is ours."

The Level 2 apprentice jabbed a cheap, gemless Magic Wand at Tylen's chest, his tone as contemptuous as shooing away a fly.

"Trash from Cain Tower. Get lost if you don't want to die."

Tylen looked at the wand poking his chest, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Then he simply let go, letting them drag the body away like a dead dog.

No argument. No threats.

Tylen just silently pulled out the little notebook in his heart labeled "Grudges" and made a heavy mark.

"Weakness is the original sin."

"The foolish do not contend with the wise; the weak do not contend with the strong."

"You won't stay strong forever, and I won't stay weak forever."

Two snatches in a row made Tylen realize that resource competition within the city had gotten fierce.

To meet his quota, he had to find another way.

"If the city won't work, then outside the city."

Tylen turned his horse around and drove toward the public cemetery on the outskirts.

He wasn't planning to rob graves—though he wouldn't mind if it came to that.

But that place was where poor people often secretly dumped bodies from the underworld.

These corpses included spies from other gangs, their own people who'd messed up, and gamblers killed for failing to pay their debts.

It was the gray zone within the gray zone.

The outskirts cemetery was desolate.

Dead trees stretched like ghost claws toward the gray sky. Crows rose and fell among the tombstones, letting out hoarse cries.

Tylen parked his cart at a distance and approached on foot.

As he rounded a patch of bushes, a thick smell of blood hit him.

By a collapsed grave, a pack of wild dogs was tearing into something.

A body that had been hastily buried and then dug up again.

Over a dozen dogs, their fur patchy and bodies gaunt, but their eyes flickering with a chilling red light.

"Tch. Too late."

Tylen frowned.

"But since I'm here, I can't leave empty-handed."

"If I drive these mutts off, maybe I can still salvage a whole corpse."

Tylen pulled the Bone-Cleaving Knife from his waist, magic surging through his body as he prepared to activate [Magic Thorn Art] to scare off the beasts.

But then.

Just as he took a step and let out a shout.

The pack of wild dogs, which had been buried in their meal, lifted their heads in unison.

Over a dozen pairs of bloodshot eyes, filled with savagery and greed, locked onto Tylen.

No fear. No retreat.

Only the excitement of spotting fresh prey.

Leading them was a massive black dog with one blind eye.

A half-arm still dangled from its jaws as a low growl rumbled from its throat.

"Grrr—woof!"

At the pack leader's command, the dozen wild dogs fanned out instantly, encircling Tylen in a semicircle.

That practiced tactical coordination. Those bloodthirsty eyes.

These weren't dogs—they were wolves in dog skins!

Cold sweat broke out on Tylen's forehead.

He immediately raised both hands, took a half-step back, and said with utmost sincerity:

"Dog bro, I was wrong!"

"Sorry to interrupt. You guys keep eating. I'm leaving now."

But clearly, these beasts, having already tasted human flesh, weren't about to let this dessert slip away.

"Woof woof woof!"

Frantic barking echoed across the graveyard.

Three wild dogs lunged from the left, right, and center simultaneously, their foul breath nearly spraying Tylen's face.

"Damn it!"

Tylen cursed under his breath, instinctively ready to unleash Magic Thorn Art and fight head-on.

But the next second, reason took over.

"No good! Too many dogs!"

"A pack of dogs is like a pack of wolves—just as the saying goes!"

"Even if I take down these three, the rest will tear into me."

"If I get bitten and catch rabies, in a world without vaccines, that's a death sentence!"

Run!

Tylen spun and bolted.

Dry twigs snapped underfoot with sharp cracks.

Wind howled past his ears—the sound of fangs slicing through air.

Just as Tylen nearly tripped from a sneeze, a spotted dog on his left closed in, baring its teeth as it lunged for his thigh.

Life hung by a thread.

Tylen's heart rate spiked to 170 in an instant.

Luckily, his body had been strengthened by training.

"Get lost!"

Instead of dodging, Tylen twisted his body with the momentum of his sprint.

The Bone-Cleaving Knife in his right hand, enchanted with Magic Thorn Art, traced a cold arc like a viper's strike.

The past few days of physical training and stretching had given his coordination a qualitative leap.

If this had been his old self, the stiffness in his movements would have made him miss.

Shhk!

The blade sliced cleanly through the spotted dog's soft belly.

Like a hot knife through butter.

The spotted dog let out a piercing shriek, still midair as its stomach split open.

A torrent of blood, mixed with colorful entrails, splattered messily across the ground.

"Working out really does work!"

"Otherwise, with my old scrawny build, forget turning the tables—I probably wouldn't have even gotten away and would've been torn apart by these dogs on the spot!"

Tylen's heart was wild with joy, but his feet didn't dare slow down. He planned to use the momentum of that strike to break away from the battlefield.

Yet.

Right then.

A golden system prompt suddenly flashed across his retina.

[Magic Beast Killed: 1/10]

[Weekly Quest Progress Updated]

"Huh!?"

Tylen stared at the line of text, his mind racing.

"Well, well..."

"These strays that've been eating dead human flesh and hanging around places thick with yin energy for so long—the system's actually classified them as Magic Beasts now?"

Tylen glanced back at the pack of dogs still chasing him relentlessly.

The fear from moments ago vanished in an instant.

In its place was the greed of a man staring at walking experience bundles.

"These dogs are dangerous, sure, but compared to real Magic Beasts? They're adorable."

"Since you all count as Magic Beasts, I won't hold back."

"This weekly quest—I'm farming it!"

At that moment, seeing their companion killed in one blow, the dogs behind didn't feel fear.

On the contrary, the scent of blood only stoked their savagery.

Led by the One-Eyed Dog King, the remaining thirteen dogs charged forward like mad.

The distance between them was less than ten meters.

Tylen wasn't stupid enough to stand his ground and fight them all head-on.

He burst into speed again, charging toward the carriage parked by the roadside.

"Old pal, mind if I borrow your rear!"

Tylen grabbed a spare Corpse Bag from the carriage and quickly wrapped it around his right arm as makeshift armor.

Then, with a leap, he vaulted onto the driver's seat.

Smack!

The reins in his hand cracked hard against the old horse's rump.

"Giddyup!"

The horse yelped in pain, let out a whinny, and broke into a gallop.

Tylen yanked the reins sharply, steering the carriage through a drift-like turn on the narrow dirt road.

Seeing the massive contraption lurch into motion, the pack of wild dogs was immediately drawn to this bigger, more enticing prey.

"Woof!"

The One-Eyed Dog King led the charge, lunging straight for the horse's neck.

"Looking to die!"

Tylen sat high on the driver's seat, looking down from above.

Riding the carriage's momentum, the old horse instinctively bolted forward, its sheer impact sending two dogs trying to intercept it flying.

Just then, two more dogs seized the chance to leap up, their blood-soaked claws scraping against the carriage's edge as they opened their jaws wide to bite at Tylen's legs.

"Get off!"

Tylen's eyes went cold as his blade fell.

His right arm, wrapped in the Corpse Bag, blocked one dog's bite, while the Bone-Cleaving Knife in his left hand stabbed precisely into the other dog's eye socket.

Squelch!

The blade twisted, brain matter splattered, and the dog yelped as it tumbled off the carriage.

In the next instant, Tylen reversed his knife and slashed the throat of the dog still clamped onto his right arm.

Blood sprayed across the driver's seat, only spurring the old horse to run faster.

The next five minutes were a one-sided game of cat and mouse.

Tylen drove the carriage in wide circles around the wilderness near the graveyard.

He used the carriage's speed and height advantage to lead the pack of wild dogs on a merry chase.

Whenever a dog dared to get close, it was met with a lethal Magic Thorn Art.

Finally.

When the last One-Eyed Dog King was pinned dead to the ground by Tylen's knife, the world fell silent.

Fourteen wild dogs lay sprawled across the wilderness, every single one dead.

Tylen jumped down from the carriage, panting heavily.

Aside from a bit of dog blood on him, he was almost completely unharmed.

Old Horse's rump had a few shallow scratch marks, and he was snorting uneasily.

"Good work, old buddy."

Tylen patted the horse's neck to calm him down.

Just then, the system panel popped up again.

code
[Magic Beast Killed: 10/10]
[Experience Gained: 500]
[Grand Monthly Card Level Up: Lv.5 → Lv.6]

"Nice!"

Tylen clenched his fist.

Just as he was about to step forward and take the half-eaten human corpse away—

Whoosh—

A chill wind suddenly blew from deep within the cemetery.

The surrounding temperature dropped several degrees in an instant.

Every hair on Tylen's body stood on end, and a feeling of being watched by some terrifying presence surged within him.

"Wraith!"

He realized it immediately.

The little boy he'd collected the day before yesterday had died because he was playing near the cemetery and got possessed by a wraith.

Something unclean was definitely lurking here, and it had been drawn by the smell of blood.

"Retreat!"

Tylen made a snap decision and abandoned the human corpse.

He moved quickly, tossing the dozen or so dead dogs on the ground into the Corpse Bag and throwing them onto the carriage.

Then he jumped aboard and drove off without looking back, racing all the way back into the city before that chilling feeling finally faded.

Only then did Tylen breathe a sigh of relief.

But when he checked his haul this time, even more unexpected gains appeared.

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[Corpses Collected Detected: 14]
[Daily Quest: Collect Three Corpses (Completed)]
[Weekly Quest: Accumulate 15 Corpses Collected (Completed)]
[Experience Gained: 300+700]
[Grand Monthly Card Level Up: Lv.6 → Lv.7]

Tylen stared at the panel, frozen for a second.

Then the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up wildly, and he even let out a laugh.

"So that's how it works!"

"The system's definition of 'corpse' isn't limited to human corpses!"

"As long as it's the corpse of a living creature, it counts!?"

"Damn! Why didn't you say so earlier!"

Tylen's mind suddenly buzzed with excitement.

The quest judgment for this Grand Monthly Card didn't seem as strict as he'd imagined.

6:00 PM.

Tylen drove the fully loaded carriage back to his Morgue.

He looked at the pile of dead dogs stacked like a small hill on the floor, a gleam in his eyes that could only be called the light of grinding quests.

"Come on, little darlings."

[Slacker Saint Body] passive activated.

Tylen picked up the Bone-Cleaving Knife and turned into a merciless butcher.

First, dismemberment, cutting open the bellies...

Under 30x efficiency, his movements were so fast they left only afterimages.

Next, he picked up the needle and thread.

"The weekly quest also includes [Sew 10 Dismembered Corpses]."

"I was worried about where to find that many body parts, but now..."

"If there are no dismembered corpses, I can just create them myself!"

Humming a little tune, Tylen began sewing the dog legs he had just cut off back onto the dogs.

Even out of boredom, he deliberately mixed and matched parts from different dogs.

A single chopped-up dog took only two minutes to stitch back together.

Twenty minutes later.

Ten bizarrely shaped "Frankenstein Dogs" covered in dense stitching were born.

[Weekly Quest: Sew 10 Dismembered Corpses (Completed)]

[Experience Gained: 500]

"Just as I thought—a ruthless guy like me should create difficulties for myself when there are none, just to complete the quest!"

With the task done, Tylen quickly tidied up the dog carcasses and stored them in the cold storage.

Though the dog meat couldn't be eaten (possibly toxic), the bones were excellent practice material, and the pelts could be sold to a tanner—nothing could go to waste.

Then, he stripped off his blood- and mud-stained robe.

Changed into a fresh set of clothes.

At the water basin, he activated 30x laundry speed!

All the old clothes, along with the dirty ones from yesterday, were washed clean in under two minutes.

His rubbing hands moved so fast they looked like a smoking washing machine agitator.

"Maxed-out life skills."

After everything was done, Tylen felt his stomach growl again.

He headed to the cafeteria, grabbed two large bowls of oatmeal porridge and a big bowl of thick bean soup, and snagged some fuel on the way.

Back in the Morgue, he lit the stove.

From the cold storage, he retrieved the iron pot containing the stir-fried onion and pork belly he had made yesterday.

As the temperature rose, the solidified fat melted, and that overpowering aroma of meat once again filled the entire basement.

7:00 PM.

Flap, flap!

The sound of crow wings beating came from the window.

Tylen, who was wolfing down his meal with a bowl in hand, quickly set down his utensils, stood up, and bowed respectfully:

"Master!"

The black crow flew into the room and landed, transforming into Makley in his black robe.

The moment he touched down, the seasoned formal wizard froze for a second.

His keen nose twitched.

"What is this..."

A peculiar fragrance drilled into his nostrils.

He could identify the smell of onions and the greasy scent of pork.

But this aroma—where the onion's pungency had been transformed into a caramel-like sweetness, perfectly fused with the meat's savoriness—was something he had never encountered before.

Compared to the expensive, spice-laden roasts at noble banquets, this seemed to have... a soul?

Makley's gaze fell on the still-burning stove.

He saw the half-eaten carrot in Tylen's hand and the remaining golden, glistening stir-fried meat in the iron pot.

His face showed undisguised surprise and curiosity.

"I thought you'd take the money I gave you and treat yourself to a couple of big meals at the best tavern in town."

Makley couldn't help but ask with a smile:

"Instead, you're cooking for yourself here?"

"And... it smells pretty damn good."

Tylen quickly swallowed the food in his mouth and scratched his head a little sheepishly:

"To be honest, Master, the food in town is both terrible and expensive."

"A decent meal costs two or three Purple Gold Coins, and it doesn't even taste that great."

"Better to just buy ingredients and cook myself—saves money and suits my taste."

"You know, I grew up poor. Saving a little wherever I can matters."

Makley listened, a glint of approval flashing in his eyes.

Knowing restraint, knowing how to manage life.

This kid's character was far superior to those fools who only knew how to squander.

He walked slowly to the iron pot, his nose twitching involuntarily again.

"Didn't expect you could cook?"

Tylen gave a simple, honest smile:

"Lots of kids at home, parents always busy. Sometimes when I got hungry, I had to do it myself. Practice made perfect."

Makley grunted an acknowledgment, raising a finger.

Shapeless magic wove itself into a dexterous, invisible hand.

That translucent palm gently pinched a piece of braised pork belly from the pot, suspending it before his eyes.

Makley examined it closely.

Alternating fat and lean, glossy red in color, coated in an enticing blend of oil and salt.

He didn't eat it, only probed it with Mental Power, then returned it to the pot.

"Is this pork?"

"Yes, Mentor," Tylen replied respectfully.

"This cooking method of yours is good."

Makley nodded, a hint of approval in his voice:

"Being able to handle such ordinary ingredients and make them this appealing—that's a unique skill in itself."

Tylen naturally caught the unspoken thought lurking in Makley's mind.

He was interested in the food, but his status made it awkward to ask for a taste of his student's leftovers.

So Tylen seized the opening, speaking with deference:

"Mentor, if you don't mind your student's crude and unclean ways..."

"I would be most willing to cook a meal especially for you, to express my gratitude and indebtedness."

"I'll use the freshest ingredients and make you a specialty from my hometown."

Hearing this, the corner of Makley's mouth lifted slightly; his mood was clearly good.

"I'm glad you have such a thought."

He waved a hand in refusal:

"But not for now. You're already busy—focus your energy on the important matters."

"Once this storm passes, perhaps I'll get to taste your skill."

With that, his expression turned serious, shifting into teaching mode:

"Enough idle talk."

"How's your practice with rune carving on bone?"

Tylen turned at once, picked up a prepared shoulder blade bone from the table, and handed it over with both hands.

"I feel... I've grasped some of the basic techniques."

Makley took the bone.

When his eyes fell upon the delicate, uniformly deep, and perfectly unobstructed magic circuit of the [Sturdy] rune carved into it—

This seasoned, well-traveled formal wizard's eyes suddenly flickered with surprise.

"Is this... carved today?"

He could hardly believe it.

This level of proficiency usually required an apprentice to practice intensively for at least a week before they could replicate it on bone.

And Tylen had done it in just one day!?

Tylen nodded respectfully, his face betraying no flush, his heart no quickened beat, as he smoothly offered the excuse he'd prepared:

"Yes, Mentor."

"You know, my father is a blacksmith."

"Most of the time, after he finishes forging something, he carves his name or a pattern into it."

"I grew up watching and learning, and sometimes I'd help him with that."

"So when it comes to carving into hard surfaces, I have some... muscle memory tricks."

"On top of that, the Purple Diamond Carving Knife you gave me is incredibly easy to use—it's like divine aid."

Makley's palm toyed with the delicate bone fragment engraved with a Runic Frame, his fingertips tracing the smooth lines.

After a long moment, he let out a sound of admiration:

"It seems this carving knife really suits you!"

"Good! Very good!"

"Since your foundation is this solid, we can speed up today's lesson a bit."

"Tonight, we'll begin attempting to construct the core circuit of Bone Domination!"