More than ten minutes later.
Ding! Task completed. Rewards: 50 Skeleton Coins, Surgical Ability EXP +50, Special Reward +1.
Ding! Due to uncontrollable special circumstances, Pig-Head Demon's favor converted to fear. Pig-Head Demon Fear +50.
The Pig-Head was shaking uncontrollably, sitting there in a daze.
Across the counter, Lyn sat calmly in a white coat, feather pen in hand, leisurely writing his medical report.
He slid a small stack of potions forward. "Half oral, half topical. Twice a day, on schedule. In about two days, your eye should regain basic vision. Of course, if you want faster-acting potions, the price jumps ten times."
"Checkout time. Including surgery fee, potion fee, nursing fee—you already paid for the eyeball. Total: 546 Skeleton Coins. If that's fine, sign here."
Lyn looked up, dead-fish eyes friendly. "Thumbprint works too."
The Pig-Head shakily extended a hand and pressed a thumbprint onto the form.
He pulled a large coin pouch from his coat and placed over five hundred Skeleton Coins on the counter. "…Can I go now…?"
Lyn counted the coins, then glanced at the still-bulging pouch.
But his gaze was instantly drawn to the Pig-Head's big, round belly.
Ding! Hidden Quest Triggered: Abnormal Belly. Completion reward: Skeleton Coins +50, Surgical Ability EXP +50, and unlocks Diagnostic Vision.
The Pig-Head turned to leave.
Lyn suddenly reached out, stopping him. "Wait!"
The Pig-Head flinched.
"What now?!" He turned back, just in time to see Lyn adjust his monocle—clack—the eyeball fell onto the table, and Lyn calmly picked it up and popped it back in.
SAN -1
Lyn shook his head. "I've spotted a new issue with you. If we don't diagnose it, it could cause unknown harm."
The Pig-Head bared his tusks. "Don't lie to me! I hate being lied to!"
Lyn's tone grew serious. "I'm a doctor. I don't lie. Everyone who enters my shop is my patient. I'm responsible for their health. If I spot a problem and say nothing, that's unethical."
Seeing Lyn's solemn, earnest eyes, the Pig-Head reluctantly sat back down on the stool. "…Where's the problem? I feel perfectly healthy."
Lyn put on his mask. "Extend your hand. I'll take your pulse."
Hesitantly, the Pig-Head laid his hairy arm on the counter. He decided, against better judgment, to trust him one more time.
Lyn's expression stayed neutral as he placed his fingers on the pulse and felt carefully.
Diagnostic EXP +1
Diagnostic EXP +1
Diagnostic EXP +1
Gradually, the Pig-Head saw Lyn's brows furrow. His own heart leapt into his throat.
"Is it really serious?" he asked nervously.
He hated it when doctors frowned—it never meant anything good.
Lyn withdrew his hand, looked at the Pig-Head gravely, and frowned. "Problem's not tiny, but not massive either. Depends on how we handle it."
The Pig-Head tensed. "What is it?"
Lyn said gravely, "Ectopic pregnancy."
"..."
"..."
A brief silence. A gust of cold wind whistled in through the door.
The next second, the Pig-Head roared, grabbed Lyn's collar, and yanked him up in a fury. "Are you kidding me?! Quack! Are you mocking me?! I'll give you one more chance to phrase that right!!"
Lyn stayed calm. He adjusted his eyeball and said seriously, "That's what the pulse tells me. No mistake. Trust my medical expertise."
The Pig-Head howled, "My pulse says you're full of——!! I'll say it again—I'm a boar!!"
Lyn nodded solemnly. "Which is why it's an ectopic pregnancy. If it's real, that's even worse—we'd need deeper gender correction surgery. Your burden would be heavier."
"..."
"..."
The Pig-Head trembled, let go of Lyn's collar, and plopped back onto the stool.
"What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking how to chop you up!" The Pig-Head's eyes nearly bulged, grinding his teeth in humiliation and rage.
"Let's not waste time on that." Lyn smoothed his collar, sat at the counter, pulled out a case sheet, and said calmly, "Recently, have you felt abdominal bloating, nausea, loss of appetite, bleeding in various places?"
The Pig-Head slammed the table, fighting tremors and shame. "Explain how I bleed!! How do I bleed?!"
Lyn kept writing, adjusted his eyeball, and said, "Patient, please stay calm. Just routine questions. Besides bleeding from down there, have you had any of the other symptoms?"
The Pig-Head ground his teeth, veins bulging. "So what if I have? You think I can't just have a bad stomach?"
Lyn adjusted his eyeball and glanced at him. "How long has it lasted?"
"A month!"
Lyn continued writing, calmly. "When was your last… encounter? Any bad habits, like excessive activity or using questionable props?"
The Pig-Head stood there, frozen, arm trembling. "…Try asking another question."
Clearly enraged by that line.
Lyn calmly raised a hand to stop him. "Alright, skip that. Next question."
"During your most recent encounter, did you feel…"—Lyn made an exploding gesture—"…something like tearing pain?"
This time, the Pig-Head truly snapped.
He seized Lyn's collar and roared, humiliated and furious, "I've put up with you long enough!"
"Define 'tearing pain'! Define it for me! What the hell is 'tearing pain'?!"
Lyn placed a hand on the Pig-Head's chest and shook his head. "Easy now. Further diagnosis needs proper equipment. This is just standard procedure—for your health! For your own good!"
"I'm sure you don't want any lasting damage, right?"
The Pig-Head snorted through his nostrils, chest heaving, face contorted with rage, but finally lowered Lyn after his soothing.
Calming EXP +1
Calming EXP +1
Calming EXP +1
Lyn straightened his collar again, put down his pen, glanced at the Pig-Head, and shook his head.
Speeding up, he said, "There's one other possibility—you might've accidentally ingested something containing monstrous energy, causing a mutation inside you that mimics pregnancy!"