"Stop testing!" he ground his teeth, clutching his flask tightly with his free hand. "Use these two knives and debride me now! Drag your feet any longer, and I'll blow your brains out!"
He revealed the gleaming silver revolver holstered at his waist.
"But…"
"No 'buts'! Move on to the next step—now!" He slammed his fist on the counter, his expression ferocious.
"Very well," Lynn sighed, adjusting his monocle helplessly.
Under the demon hunter's gaze, Lynn strode through the curtain to the backyard. As the hunter wondered what nonsense he was up to now, Lynn emerged dragging a small stove.
Sizzle—
He stirred the hot coals with one of the knives, then stuck all his tools into the fire.
[Demon Hunter's Sanity: -1]
"What are you doing?" the hunter's eyes twitched uncontrollably.
Lynn calmly picked up a red-hot knife. "Sterilizing. Black Butterfly is an extremely corrosive venom—we need to prevent it from seeping into your healthy tissues during debridement."
"High heat is the best way to neutralize it. It might sting a little, but the effect is unparalleled."
Clink—
Lynn tapped the red-hot scalpel, sending sparks flying. The hunter suddenly felt his throat go dry, a cold shiver running down his spine.
Logically, Lynn was right. He'd used high heat to cauterize wounds before to stop infection… but why did this still feel so untrustworthy?
"Have you ever done this before?" he hesitated.
Lynn nodded earnestly. "I haven't done it myself, but I worked with my master for two years—I watched him do it countless times!"
The hunter let out a sigh of relief.
Lynn added: "Especially when shaving hair off pigs. A quick swipe with a red-hot knife, and all the hair comes off cleanly."
Demon Hunter: "?!!!"
...
A few minutes later, Lynn pulled the two red-hot knives from the stove, walked steadily behind the hunter, and said firmly: "Here we go! It might hurt a little—bear with it."
The hunter clenched his fists tightly, closed his eyes, and ground his teeth. "I can bear it. But tell me—what the hell are all these plates doing on the counter?!"
"Are you gonna cook me?!" he roared, pointing at the plates in front of him and the cloth Lynn had tied around his neck.
To anyone who knew, he was here for surgery; to anyone who didn't, he looked like he was here for a meal!
Lynn said seriously: "You're overthinking it, sir. These plates are for the necrotic flesh we'll cut off. We need to measure the exact amount of tissue removed to prepare the right dose of flesh-regenerating potion."
"If we miscalculate the dosage, you might grow unnecessary tissue on your shoulder. This is for your own good."
The hunter ground his teeth loudly.
"Cut already!!"
If this weren't the only place for medical potions within hundreds of kilometers, he swore he'd never step foot in this hellhole. It felt like a total racket!
"Got it! Let's start!" Lynn's expression turned solemn.
In an instant—
Squelch—Squelch—
The sound of two knives sinking into flesh echoed, followed by the continuous sizzle of cutting and cauterizing.
Roar—
The hunter's eyes bulged in agony (ヾ????????).
Pain! Unbearable, soul-crushing pain! It wasn't just the slash of the knife—it burned like fire, with a faint, inexplicable twinge of agony deep down. Dammit!
It was a layered pain, like hacking through tough, gristly meat!
[Knife Skill XP: +1]
[Knife Skill XP: +1]
[Knife Skill XP: +1]
"If it hurts, we can still use anesthesia!" Lynn called out earnestly, wondering why he was gaining knife skill XP instead of surgical experience.
"Get lost!" the hunter roared.
"When do you see me hurting?! I don't feel a thing!" He clung to the counter, trembling, his face as pale as a sheet.
Lynn adjusted his monocle, slashing away with the knife in his other hand. He cleared his throat: "Could you loosen your grip on my counter, please? And move your nails—they're digging into the edge. This is fine ancient wood; it's very expensive."
"I'll pay double! So what?! Can't I hold on?!" the hunter screamed. "Cut! Cut harder! Drag your feet again, and I'll chop off your hands!"
Lynn gripped the two knives firmly. "That's all I needed to hear. I'll really let loose now!"
The hunter froze.
"Wait a sec—!"
Swish—Swish—Swish—Swish—
The hunter's eyes widened in horror (ヾ????????).
"God! God! Oh my God!"
He watched in disbelief as slices of blackened, faintly fragrant necrotic flesh flew neatly onto the plates. His knife work was flawless—whether slicing noodles or meat, anyone would praise it. But…
"Are you performing surgery on me, or torturing me to death with slow cuts?!" He slammed his fist on the counter, his eyes rolling back, sweat pouring down his body.
"You're wasting your talent not being an executioner! The slices are even in thickness!"
"Stop! Stop right now!"
Lynn grew flustered. He slammed the counter, exasperated: "Why are you complaining so much?! You're unhappy if I cut slow, unhappy if I cut fast, and you refuse anesthesia—what more do you want?!"
The hunter clung to the counter, screaming: "Can't you just scoop out the rotten flesh in one go?! Why slice it piece by piece—are you in a hurry to send me to my grave?!"
Lynn scolded: "Scooping it out in one go—isn't that just a sloppy one-and-done job?!"
...
The hunter stared blankly: "What did you say?"
Lynn glared: "I mean, precision matters! Scooping blindly might hit your aorta—and I guarantee you'll die faster than you are now!"
"I'm a doctor—a white-robed angel! Trust me! I treat my patients like my own children. I'd never let my child die from shoddy treatment!"
The hunter trembled, his lips quivering. He finally snapped: "Cut! Just cut! I'll never set foot in this damn racket again!"
"Don't worry—after this surgery, you'll fall in love with my knives!"
Swish—Swish—Swish—Swish—
Swish—Swish—Swish—Swish—
[Knife Skill XP: +1]
[Knife Skill XP: +1]
...
Ten-odd minutes later, the hunter lay sprawled over the counter like a dead pig, foaming at the mouth, his eyes rolled back so far only the whites showed. His body twitched uncontrollably—he'd clearly passed out from agony.
Gurgle—Gurgle—
In his stupor, he dreamed of a demon standing behind him, grinning, slicing him into pieces with two sharp knives… and placing the meat on plates in front of him to "appreciate."
"All done!" Lynn announced.
"Preliminary debridement is complete."
He picked up the hunter's flask, mixed in some medical alcohol, swirled it around in his mouth, and spat it directly onto the hunter's shoulder wound.
"Aaaah—!"
A shrill, horrified scream tore from the hunter's lips.