Lynn nodded.
Then he took out the bill, thought for a moment, and said:
"Though this really isn't the time to bring this up, I still have to tell you."
"The surgery costs 300 Skeleton Coins in total, but since this was my first time, I can give you twenty percent off, bringing it to 240 Skeleton Coins. Stitching costs extra, so the total comes to 280 coins. Would you mind signing?"
"Oink-oink-"
The Pighead Demon let out miserable squeals, his mind on the verge of collapse.
"Stitch it up! Stitch it up!" he said, trembling.
Lynn nodded, then pointed at the various threads on the wall. "We have hemp thread, yarn, cotton thread, iron wire, and steel wire. Each is priced differently. Which would you like?"
A tear rolled from the corner of the Pighead Demon's eye as he murmured:
"Hemp thread..."
Lynn nodded and took down the hemp thread. "Would you also like..."
"Stitch it! Stitch it!!" he roared.
Lynn nodded, deftly picked up his steel needle, flicked the hemp thread, and walked over to the Pighead Demon. He bit the end of the thread and pulled.
"Stay calm. Bear with it for a moment. I'm about to begin."
[Sewing skill experience +1] [Sewing skill experience +1] [Sewing skill experience +1]
Finally.
A dozen or so minutes later.
Lynn took out his scissors, snipped the thread, and patted the bow he had tied on top. He poured a potion into his mouth, then sprayed it over the demon's belly.
The stitched flesh immediately began to close, healing rapidly.
[Ding! You have completed a hidden quest. You received 50 Skeleton Coins, 50 surgery experience, and Eye Diagnosis experience +50!] [Ding! Pighead Demon's fear of you +200] [Ding! Your renown in Wandering Soul Alley +10]
Lynn removed his mask, unlocked the cuffs on the operating table, and held the little ghost in his arms as he smiled.
"Congratulations. The surgery went very smoothly. As you saw, this really was a routine case of Evil Spirit Parasitism. Luckily, you ran into me, or you would've been in serious trouble!"
Whoosh-
In an instant, Lynn felt something blur before his eyes.
Then he saw a trembling black shadow shoot off the operating table, clutching his belly and bolting for the door at an unimaginable speed.
Never again!
He swore he would never come here again!
He cut people open like he was slaughtering pigs! One fucking visit to the doctor had left him psychologically scarred!
"Sir! You forgot your daughter! This is a Potion Shop! We don't babysit!"
Lynn hurried after him, shouting, and chased him all the way to the front door.
But when he looked again, there was no trace of the pig-headed monster in the darkness.
Lynn sighed.
After some thought, he shouted into that eerie darkness anyway:
"Sir, if your stomach acts up again, come back and I'll operate on you again! I promise I'll use anesthetic next time! Also, come pick up your newborn daughter as soon as possible!!"
In an instant.
The formerly bustling darkness fell eerily silent.
Lynn turned and returned to his Potion Shop.
Then he rushed to the counter, rummaged through the drawers underneath, and pulled out a small bottle of potent recovery potion. He poured it over his right eye in a steady stream.
The eyeball he had forcibly gouged out slowly regained its vitality.
Though it still hurt terribly.
The results were good.
Lynn rubbed his reddened eye socket and murmured:
"Living in this world really keeps you on edge..."
He had dared to gouge out his own eye not because he was truly ruthless, but because he knew the shop had advanced potions that could rapidly heal injuries.
However, these were expensive products he couldn't make himself. They were part of his teacher's stock.
They were normally reserved for personal use and weren't for sale.
[Ding! Several of your abilities can be upgraded. Your reputation in Wandering Soul Alley has improved. Please check your panel.]
Lynn paused, then opened his system panel.
[Lynn] [Level]: 3 [Race: Human] [Strength]: 4 [Agility]: 5 [Intelligence]: 8 [Constitution]: 4 [Available points]: 4 [Basic skills] [Intermediate housekeeping proficiency: 909/1000] [Basic potion crafting: 90/100] [Intermediate surgical ability: 203/1000] [Basic knife skills: 26/100] [Basic diagnostic ability: 55/100] [Skeleton Coins]: 250 [Renown]: 15 [Description]: The somewhat disturbed apprentice of the Bloodsaw Apothecary. Several patients have experienced tremendous malice at his hands. He seems to be gradually inheriting his teacher's twisted ways...
Lynn: "..."
What was that last comment supposed to mean?
Wasn't that just insulting?
It wasn't objective or fair at all.
Aside from not using anesthetic, he had been very responsible toward all his patients. This was nothing short of blatant malice from the system!
Lynn shook his head.
But he soon noticed that he had leveled up.
He had gone from level 2 to level 3 and gained four more points to allocate.
He had to admit.
In that respect, the panel this system provided really did feel like something from a cheap online game.
But he knew perfectly well that this wasn't an online game. This was a vicious, dark otherworld, and if you died, you stayed dead.
Lynn didn't hesitate.
He allocated all four attribute points to Constitution.
There was no other reason.
To become a qualified doctor, he needed a strong enough constitution. Especially in this chaotic world, a frail body could become the final straw that cost him his life at any moment.
No matter what.
Survival was the first priority in this world.
"Confirm."
Immediately, Lynn felt a warm current flowing through his body.
He knew those four attribute points had begun to take effect.
The fatigue from performing the surgery quickly vanished beneath that warmth, replaced by seemingly inexhaustible strength.
He took off his coat.
He looked down at his abdomen.
In just those few short minutes, the outlines of several abdominal muscles had appeared on his previously flat stomach.
Lynn experienced the wonderful feeling of having a healthy body.
"Waa-waa-"
The ghost infant's cries came from the counter behind him.
Lynn immediately walked over to the counter, picked up the blood-drenched ghost infant, and examined her. That single look was enough for him to spot a problem.
Because she wasn't fully developed, she was only about the size of four adult fists.
Aside from a mouth that resembled a black hole, her entire face was smooth and featureless, as though covered with a piece of silk.
[Evil Spirit Blood Infant (Unformed)] [Sex]: Female [Level: 2]
Lynn: "???"
The ghost infant had only been level 1 earlier, yet in this tiny span of time, she had already risen to level 2?
Did that mean this ghost infant was rapidly taking form?
Just then, a system notification sounded in his mind.
[Ding! You have triggered an optional hidden quest: Ghost Infant Breaking Form. Because the ghost infant was born prematurely, the ghostly energy within her is rapidly distorting her appearance. The more terrifying her appearance becomes, the greater the malice she will display upon awakening!]
Before you continue