[This is an occult other world.]
[Vampires, werewolves, technology, potions, ghosts, cyborgs, divination, puppets—every terrifying element you can think of exists here.]
[Always carry a lamp when going out.]
[Never wander far.]
[Step ten meters beyond the door, and the darkness outside will devour you.]
[Stay calm, no matter if the patient is human, ghost, or patchwork abomination.]
[Lose your composure, and it will turn hostile.]
By the flickering glow of a dim lamp, Lynn sat at a tattered wooden table, quill in hand, jotting down the survival rules he'd learned over two years in this bizarre realm.
"Lynn! Time's up—hang the lamp outside and get ready to open!"
A rasping voice, like bones being gnawed, cut through the air. Lynn shook his head. That was the apothecary's owner—his master, who'd saved him two years ago and taken him in as an apprentice.
"Coming!" Lynn called back.
But just then, a cold, synthetic voice echoed in his mind: [Ding! Your master, the Bloodsaw Maniac, has issued a quest: Open for business and hang the Soul Lamp at the door. Reward: 10 Skull Coins, 5 Basic XP, 100ml Pure Human Blood.]
Lynn froze.
That voice… a system? Had he finally awakened a cheat code after two years in this world?
He didn't dare dwell on it—he knew all too well that disobeying his master's order would mean death. Lynn hurried out of the dim attic.
He was met by his master dragging a bisected, unidentifiable creature's corpse toward the adjacent operating room, scarlet blood trailing a long streak across the moldy floor.
Squelch—squelch—
Moments later, the shrill whine of a chainsaw erupted from the operating room. The gnawing voice returned: "After opening, sort out yesterday's expired potions and feed them to the 'little darling' in the backyard. Hurry it up!"
[Ding! Your master, the Bloodsaw Maniac, has issued a quest: Sort expired potions and feed them to the "little darling" in the backyard. Reward: 10 Skull Coins, -10 Little Darling Affinity, +1 Housework Proficiency.]
Lynn's eyes narrowed. His hunch was correct—this was his system, capable of turning every encounter into a quest. He masked his shock, listening to the faint chewing sounds behind him, and forced a calm expression.
Squeak—squeak—
The dilapidated floorboards creaked under his feet. Lynn reached the front hall, grabbed an oil lamp from the corner, and twisted its winding key. Drops of scarlet blood dripped from the lamp's interior onto the wick.
Whoosh—
A crimson flame flared to life. If one listened closely, faint, agonized screams could be heard from within the lamp. Lynn remained impassive as he carefully opened the door.
Thick darkness loomed outside, swirling with mist, and eerie giggles drifted from the shadows. Staying calm, he hung the lamp on the doorpost, casting a dim red light on the tattered sign beside it: [Bloodsaw Apothecary.]
[Ding! Quest completed. Rewards obtained: 10 Skull Coins, 5 Basic XP, 100ml Pure Human Blood.]
Lynn turned to head back inside, but a low, menacing laugh echoed from the dark: "Young man… good morning. Got any useless trash for this old woman? I'll give you a fair reward, hehehe…"
Faint glimmers emerged from the darkness. A haggard old woman, clad in tattered burlap, pulled a cart forward, her face twisted into a kindly smile. But Lynn saw the truth clearly: she held a lantern made of human skin, and the rusted cart was fused directly to her arm.
[Ding! The Skin-Cloaked Scavenger has issued an optional quest: Deliver "useless trash" to the scavenger. Reward: +10 Scavenger Affinity, 20 Skull Coins, 1 Scavenger's Reward.]
Maintaining his composure, Lynn nodded: "Sure, wait a moment."
He rushed back inside, grabbed two black sacks from the doorway—they reeked of thick blood, and something inside wriggled, letting out hoarse whimpers. Lynn calmly placed the "useless trash" on the old woman's cart.
"Thank you, young man—such a kind soul." Her smile never faded as she slowly raised a gnarled finger and plucked two bloody eyeballs from her sockets. "This is your reward, dear."
[Ding! Optional quest completed. Rewards obtained: +10 Scavenger Affinity, 20 Skull Coins!]
[Ding! You may accept or refuse the scavenger's reward. Refusal will result in -50 Scavenger Affinity.]
Lynn stared at the steaming eyeballs, then reached out and took them calmly: "Thank you."
The old woman grinned wider, her empty eye sockets sending chills down his spine. "Good, good!" With that, she pulled her cart and vanished into the darkness.
[Ding! Scavenger's Reward obtained: Tailor's Eyeball ×1, Butcher's Eyeball ×1, +20 Scavenger Affinity.]
Lynn kept his face blank but silently exhaled in relief as he hurried back inside. He knew from his master that the tailor across the street worked with human skin, and the butcher sold human flesh—and those eyeballs belonged to them.
This was another rule he'd learned: [Never offend the wanderers of the dark.]
Lynn turned, forcing down his unease, and sorted the expired potions—dark red and inky black—into a portable case before heading to the backyard. The chainsaw's squelching continued from the operating room; he knew better than to disturb his master now. Otherwise, he might be the next on the table.
Reaching the backyard, Lynn opened the cellar door. A stench of rotting flesh and waste flooded out. "Hiss—hiss—" Eerie hisses came from the depths—the "little darling" his master spoke of. No one knew its true form except the master himself.
Lynn poured all the expired potions into the cellar.
[Ding! Quest completed. Rewards obtained: 10 Skull Coins, -10 Little Darling Affinity, +1 Housework Proficiency.]
Roar—roar—
Shrill, enraged roars erupted from below, accompanied by a wave of putrid blood. Lynn slammed the cellar door shut and sighed again.
This was his daily morning routine as the apothecary's apprentice. His survival for two years boiled down to absolute obedience—never questioning, only acting. Disobedient apprentices were dismembered and fed to the "little darling" long ago.
Lynn steadied his nerves and tentatively called out in his mind: "System?"
In the next instant, a translucent pale blue panel materialized before his eyes