"Customer! I've finished calculating your bill. You received a total of 21 injections at 100 coins each, totaling 2100 coins. The arterial bandaging is complimentary. I've counted the money on your table - one Black Skull Coin and seven hundred Skeleton Coins."
"You're still 400 coins short."
Lynn maintained his smiling expression.
The Goat-Headed Monster instinctively patted his pouch, then placed another small bag of coins on the table.
Lynn counted them and smiled:
"Still 100 coins short."
The Goat-Headed Monster immediately began frantically searching his entire body.
Buzz—
Instantly.
The Goat-Headed Monster went completely still."No... nothing left..."
A brief silence fell.
Lynn pushed a catalog toward him, saying seriously:
"Please take a look. We accept more than just currency for payment here."
The Goat-Headed Monster looked at the catalog pushed toward him.
It read:
【Kidneys】: 1000 coins (average)
【Eyeballs】: 200 coins each (average)
【Arms】: 250 coins (average)
【Dick】: 500 coins.
Etc, etc.
Goat-Headed Monster: "!!!"
Lynn picked up his scalpel, smiling kindly: "I recommend keeping your eyeballs. Once you've earned enough money in the future, you can come redeem them anytime. We'll keep them properly preserved for you."
"Wait!"
The Goat-Headed Monster immediately (ΩДΩ) thrust out his hand.
"I have some other items that could cover the debt. Take a look!"
Saying this.
He quickly pulled an object from his pouch and placed it on the table.
"I found this while wandering outside a few days ago. It seems to be some kind of component. I thought it might be valuable, so I kept it!"
Lynn paused.
His gaze fell on the object the Goat-Headed Monster had placed on the table.
It appeared silver overall, like a fragment of some container, with scorch marks around the edges.
And instantly, information about the object appeared before Lynn's eyes.
【Mithril Skull Fragment】
【Quality】: Rare Material
【Description】: High-strength skull fragment crafted from special mithril. This specially processed mithril is extremely precious, often used by the Demonkin Association to create powerful biological weapons.
Demonkin Association?!
Lynn's pupils instantly contracted.
His expression turned serious as he examined the fragment, asking: "Where exactly did you find this?"
The Goat-Headed Monster looked bewildered: "Some hills to the west, about a hundred kilometers away. When I arrived, there seemed to have been a recent battle. I didn't dare stay long, so I grabbed some components and ran off quickly."
As he spoke.
He pulled out several other severely burned fragments from his pouch.
Without exception, all descriptions were related to the Demonkin Association.
Lynn pondered.
......
Several minutes later.
【Ding! Congratulations on completing the task. You received rewards: 200 Skeleton Coins, 100 basic EXP, special reward: Radiated Severed Fingers x2】
【Radiated Severed Fingers】
【Type】: Consumable
【Description】: Additional limbs grown by an unknown creature after radiation exposure. Consumption temporarily generates massive radiation in the body.
Lynn smilingly saw the Goat-Headed Monster out.
Then he quickly grabbed his own Left Hand and hurried back inside the shop.
"Truce!"
Lynn said with a serious expression.
"Eating me isn't really an option for you right now either. I suggest we postpone resolving our issues - I have more urgent matters at hand."
"Only an idiot would listen to you!"
Instantly, the Left Hand swelled dramatically, opening a massive bloody maw right toward Lynn.
Sharp teeth loomed dangerously close, its long Tongue making terrifying sizzling sounds.
Swish—
Almost instantly.
Lynn's entire head was engulfed in its mouth.
But then the Left Hand paused, mumbling vaguely: "Why aren't you dodging?"
Lynn crossed his arms, his head still inside its mouth, calmly saying:
"I know you don't dare eat me. Drank a bit too much pesticide earlier, my mind wasn't clear. Now that I've calmed down, I understand - you simply can't eat me."
Left Hand sneered: "Is that so, huh?!"
Lynn said calmly: "Because we're probably in a relationship where we rise and fall together. Since I react when you drink pesticide, and you react when I drink pesticide, then if you eat my head, you probably can't survive alone either, right?"
Left Hand paused.
Lynn closed his eyes, saying calmly: "Am I right?"
A brief silence.
The Left Hand slowly opened its mouth, revealing his head again, returning to its original size, facing Lynn with a single fang exposed.
Lynn wiped the saliva from his head, narrowing his eyes:
"Seems I was right."
The Left Hand opened its mouth, chattering its teeth clatteringly, saying: "No, I'm just uncertain what bad reactions might occur if I bite your head off. But that doesn't mean I won't eat you, huh!"
Clearly.
The previous pesticide incident had left significant psychological trauma.
【Ding! Your mission: Body's Reaction, current completion: 50%】
【Description: Through massive pesticide consumption, you've made the Mutant doubt whether it can survive after killing you. However, the Mutant still maintains strong hostility toward you.】
【Ding! You triggered the second phase mission. Mission time limit removed. Mission objective: Survive while coexisting with the Mutant. Don't let the Mutant discover the truth that killing you actually won't affect it.】
Lynn: "???!"
Wait.
Does that mean it actually CAN survive alone if it kills me?!
No... no way!
If it had actually bitten down just now, wouldn't I have died for nothing?!
【Lynn's SAN -10】
"Hmm?" The fang-bearing Left Hand twitched, examining the suddenly sweating Lynn menacingly.
But Lynn wasn't just anyone.
Years of cultivated composure allowed him to quickly maintain his previous calm expression.
Lynn said calmly: "Since you're uncertain, I advise against testing it. Otherwise, it would be two deaths for one corpse - dying while dragging your family along. I don't think you want to end up killing yourself."
"If this got out, people would laugh their heads off!"
"(〝▼皿▼) Eek—"
Though Lynn appeared steady as an old dog on the surface, internally he was panicking intensely.
But Lynn knew.
He had to remain composed.
If he showed fear, this mutated Left Hand would bite his head off without hesitation.
"Let's discuss serious matters first!"
Lynn forced composure as he put on his monocle, the lens reflecting a cold white light.
He played with the mithril fragments on the counter, saying quietly:
But then the Left Hand paused, mumbling vaguely: "Why aren't you dodging?"
"Though I don't know what happened..."
Lynn pondered:
"But based on last night's experience, my teacher most likely developed serious conflicts with this association. That Flesh Puppet from yesterday actually came here to eliminate everyone. It just didn't find my teacher - it found me instead."
Left Hand (▼ヘ▼#) said: "Hmph—"
Left Hand sneered: "Is that so, huh?!"
"Moreover, judging by these fragments, the Demonkin Association's influence has reached nearby areas. After we eliminated that puppet last night, the association must have learned about what happened here through special means."
Left Hand (╬◣д◢) said: "I eliminated it, not you!"
Lynn ignored its comment, pacing thoughtfully:
"And if I were them, I would definitely send more people to investigate here - either for reconnaissance or cleanup. If they discover I'm just an ordinary human, they'll undoubtedly crush me without hesitation."
Lynn suddenly looked up, expression calm:
"Either tonight or tomorrow, we'll definitely face a second wave of crisis!"
Lynn delivered his profound analysis and conclusion.
Left Hand said angrily: "What's that got to do with me?"
Lynn glanced at it, adjusting his monocle: "Don't think you can stay out of this. We rise and fall together now. If I get killed, you'll kick the bucket too!"
Left Hand (▼ヘ▼#) said: "Hmph!"
Lynn then showed a relieved expression, patting its dog head (back of hand), saying:
"Calm down first. Though I don't know how you mutated into existence, you're still part of my flesh, and moreover my most frequently used left hand. Logically speaking..."
"You should be quite affectionate toward me."
【Soothing EXP +1】
The Left Hand opened its mouth, chattering its teeth clatteringly, saying: "No, I'm just uncertain what bad reactions might occur if I bite your head off. But that doesn't mean I won't eat you, huh!"
Left Hand (▼ヘ▼#) said: "Then let's be clear - I get to eat whoever comes, none for you! Also, no drinking pesticide! Cooperation only lasts these two days!"
Lynn adjusted his monocle, it gleaming as he said: "Deal!"