"Because I noticed your complexion looks poor—dark circles under your eyes, pale face, cold wrists. Recently, no matter how much you eat, you never feel full, right? And you frequently experience hunger pangs?"

The Pig-Headed Demon hesitated before sitting back down. Though this guy had seemed unreliable earlier, he'd hit the nail on the head. Lately, he'd indeed been constantly hungry, with even binge eating failing to satisfy that gnawing emptiness.

"How did you know?"

Lynn remained expressionless as he stood, retrieving a wooden basin from the back room. He filled it with clean water, then took out a pale green potion from under the counter and poured it in.

Whoosh—

A wisp of green smoke shaped like a skull billowed from the basin.

Lynn clapped his hands together. "This is Summoning Demon Potion. Put your hand in. If there's truly an evil spirit parasitizing you or other supernatural mutations inside, this potion will reveal some truths."

The Pig-Headed Demon gave him a doubtful look. He extended his pig snout to sniff the liquid. After determining it seemed harmless enough, he tentatively dipped his hand in.

Instantly, an icy sensation began creeping up from his abdomen.

"Th-this is!" His expression changed slightly.

The green water started boiling violently as tendrils of eerie black mist slowly emerged from his body.

Then in the next moment—

A sharp cramp twisted his stomach as a grinning face bulged grotesquely against his belly skin.

"Tehehe! Tehehe!"

"Oink—OINK—" The Pig-Headed Demon's (ΩДΩ) hair stood on end. "MY STOMACH! MY STOMACH!!"

The laughing voice suddenly warped into eerie wailing.

"Waaah—waaah—"

Witnessing this, the Pig-Headed Demon completely lost it. "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS THING?!"

BANG—

Lynn decisively grabbed a nearby frying pan and smashed it flat against the protruding face, pancaking the bulge against the demon's abdomen. The crying and laughter cut off instantly.

Thud—

The Pig-Headed Demon collapsed onto the stool, stammering, "Th-that..."

Lynn pushed the basin aside calmly. "Preliminary diagnosis confirms evil spirit parasitism. Judging by that frying pan's effectiveness just now, this little ghost hasn't fully matured yet. You're incredibly lucky to have met me."

Now thoroughly convinced, the Pig-Headed Demon dropped to his knees with a thud, trembling. "Little brother! This old pig was too rude earlier! Please don't take it to heart! Save me! PLEASE save me!"

He was genuinely terrified! If this were a straightforward fight against an evil spirit, he wouldn't fear anything. But a spirit growing inside his belly? He was completely helpless!

Lynn picked up a pen calmly. "Do you remember eating anything unclean?"

The Pig-Headed Demon shivered. "A month ago when I was out, I remember swallowing some imp whole in one gulp. Other than that, I only eat pigs and humans."

Lynn pondered briefly before looking up seriously. "Let's operate and see!"

......

Some time later.

In the dim operating room.

Several candles and bronze mirrors focused light on the Pig-Headed Demon's greasy belly as he trembled on the uncomfortable operating table.

"You're really deciding to operate just like that?! Shouldn't you examine me more thoroughly first?!"

Lynn donned gloves and a mask, calmly sterilizing his scalpel. "Cutting the Gordian knot is the truest solution. Have faith in my diagnostic skills and professional ethics. I'll make an incision in your belly—if it's removable, I'll excise it. If not..."

The Pig-Headed Demon trembled. "Then I'll EXCISE you!"

Lynn shook his head. He retrieved his teacher's Boning Knife and began sharpening it right before the demon's eyes.

Screech—screech—

The Pig-Headed Demon lay paralyzed, staring at the array of meat hooks dangling from the ceiling and the jars of terrifying monster specimens lining the walls.

For some reason, he felt like a hog awaiting slaughter on a butcher's block.

Screech—screech—

Sparks flew.

"STOP SHARPENING IT! STOP THAT AWFUL SOUND!!" The Pig-Headed Demon roared, unable to bear the grating noise.

"Soon."

Lynn rinsed the razor-sharp scalpel in disinfectant. When he lifted it again, the blade gleamed dangerously.

Approaching the operating table, Lynn pressed his ear against the greasy belly, listening intently. Then with professional precision, he used a pencil to mark a cross on the lower abdomen.

"Are you ready?" Lynn asked calmly.

"R-ready..."

CLANK CLANK CLANK—

Lynn hit a button under the table, instantly shackling the demon's limbs with iron restraints.

"OINK—OINK—" The Pig-Headed Demon (ΩДΩ) screamed in terror.

Lynn frowned, scalpel in hand. "Don't scream, I haven't started yet. These restraints prevent struggling that could compromise the surgery. It's for your own good."

The Pig-Headed Demon quivered. "Have you...ever performed surgery on anyone before?"

Lynn clattered his sharpened tools casually. "I've watched my teacher slaughter pigs. You're my first patient, but it's basically the same. I'm quite confident in my surgical skills."

"......"

A beat of silence.

"OINK—OINK—I DON'T WANT THIS! LET ME GO! LET ME GO!!" The Pig-Headed Demon (ΩДΩ) thrashed violently.

Lynn's eyes turned fierce as he barked: "Are you joking?! After I sharpened everything?! Aren't you afraid your belly will keep swelling until that spirit bursts out?! Once you're on my operating table, I take responsibility! Today this surgery WILL happen—whether you want it or not!"

SCHLICK—

OIIIIIIINK—

......

Thirty minutes later. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs novel✦fire.net

[Knife Skills EXP +10]

[Knife Skills EXP +10]

[Surgical Ability +1]

The Pig-Headed Demon lay twitching on the table, having lost count of how many times he'd passed out from pain and regained consciousness.

Then—

"Waaah!"

A piercing infant's cry echoed through the operating room.

Lynn smiled, wiping sweat as he cradled the tiny spirit. "Congratulations, the surgery was perfectly successful."

A status window materialized before him:

[Evil Blood Infant (Unformed)]

[Race]: Wicked Spirit

[Alignment]: Chaotic Evil

[Level: 1]

[Description]: A ghostly entity condensed from resentment and spectral energy, further nourished by consuming livestock life essence. Upon maturing, it devours the host's soul and flesh, growing into a calamitous entity.

The Pig-Headed Demon mumbled dazedly: "Sew...me up..."