Wu Shuang walked over to the operating table. Looking at the filthy grime covering it, he realized this was probably Helena's bed in the cellar, and the chains piercing through her flesh were anchored here as well.
The ability to perform surgery proved that the local medical technology was decent, meaning they at least had ways to treat infections.
He squatted down to inspect the operating table and discovered a metal shelf underneath stacked with various items. Covered in filth or rust, it was impossible to tell how long they had sat idle or what kind of foulness had touched them, but they included scissors, scalpels, hemostatic forceps, and bandages.
But after all the rust and contamination, these things were completely unusable unless they were refurbished and boiled in water for sterilization. There was no need to take them for now.
Wu Shuang pulled everything off the shelf, including four dark brown bottles—three small ones and one large one. The small ones seemed to contain the same liquid, while the large one was half full. Though the labels had long corroded beyond recognition and the bottles themselves were filthy, the liquid inside might not be contaminated. He decided to take them along; they might turn out to be disinfectant.
Lastly, there was a hard-to-describe iron tin. Its lid wasn't closed properly, and it was greasy inside, filled with a paste-like ointment. It had a pungent smell, remarkably similar to the sour, rancid stench of a slaughterhouse mixed with blood—very strange.
"What on earth is this?"
Wu Shuang muttered in confusion. It felt like some sort of topical ointment, and there was even a scoop mark inside left by someone's fingers.
Hesitating for a few seconds—since it involved whether he should take it back and if it could be used—he spent his last charge of the Appraisal Spell on it to get its item information.
【Name: Spoiled Holy Blessed Grease】
【Quality: Poor】
【Description: Holy Blessed Grease that was poorly preserved and has spoiled, but still contains traces of Humanity inside. It possesses anti-inflammatory and healing-promoting effects on wounds, with certain efficacy for open trauma, burns, and bruises. Can be used in combination with other medications.】
...
"Humanity..."
Wu Shuang's eyes widened.
Finding medical supplies was great, but seeing the word "Humanity" written so prominently gave him an uncomfortable feeling.
Uncontrollably, he looked back toward the female doctor, Helena, lying on the stairs—that gaunt monster who was reduced to little more than a layer of skin over bones.
"This... couldn't be, right?"
Wu Shuang muttered to himself, feeling it was unlikely. This was probably some sort of magical medicine. Since it carried the words "Holy Blessed," it might be tied to deities, like holy water or something similar.
Whatever the case, Wu Shuang really needed it, so he prepared to take it along with the other bottles and jars.
As for the rest of the items, he searched through the collapsed shelves and cabinets, only finding heaps of grime, glass shards buried in the dirt, and unrecognizable pieces of cloth.
He didn't want to know how these things had turned into such a state anyway, as both the wooden shelves and planks bore unsettling teeth marks.
Only this metal operating table had been too tough for her to chew on, and due to her angle of view, she hadn't noticed the items underneath; otherwise, everything would have suffered the same fate.
Carrying these items, he went upstairs, genuinely ready to leave this time. He cleared out his backpack, ditching a few tools to make room for the medicine. He threw away the big iron box that held the gun, slotting the firearm directly into the cup holder on the side of his backpack. He kept a few paper cartridges and percussion caps in his pockets and stowed the rest inside the bag. Altogether, it definitely exceeded ten items.
Slinging the backpack onto his shoulders again and securing his bow and weapons, Wu Shuang glanced at the damaged shovel.
It probably needed repairs, but substituting it with a hoe wouldn't be a problem either.
He prepared to grab the hoe and folding ladder to leave, but before stepping out, he decided to check the situation on the street outside. Stealthily, like a thief, he tiptoed toward the window.
Speaking of which, Gulf Town really was quiet. Up until now, aside from the "goblin," it seemed Wu Shuang was the one who had made the biggest...
...racket?!!
Wu Shuang's eyes widened in horror. Pulling back a corner of the curtain, he was greeted by a massive, bulging fish eye occupying almost the entire window frame. It seemed to be staring right back at him, making every hair on his body stand on end.
It was an absurdly giant, slimy fishman... No, it had to be the monster, Goblin!
Wu Shuang's brain momentarily froze, going completely blank as if scared witless.
As for the "goblin," it twitched its nostrils and lifted its hideously ugly head, which closely resembled an anglerfish. Rising from its near-crawling stance, its left hand gripped half a corpse. Judging by the clothing, it was likely the hunter, half-eaten already. The monster had probably been crouching there, munching while watching to see if anyone was inside.
"How... I clearly didn't hear a sound... Right, I was in the cellar just now. That place had great soundproofing, I..."
While Wu Shuang was frantically putting the pieces together, the goblin moved. Though it appeared bloated, the muscular definition on its arms was strikingly clear—each arm easily twice as thick as Wu Shuang's waist.
In its right hand, it wielded a giant ship anchor over a meter long, encrusted with numerous barnacles. Raising it high, its intention was all too clear.
Wu Shuang recalled the collapsed houses in the street, and his soul nearly flew out of his body.
"Fuck!"
Ignoring the ladder and hoe, he instantly spun around and bolted for the exit.
Just as he flung the door open, a terrifying crash echoed behind him, shaking the ground beneath his feet.
BOOM!!!
Debris flew everywhere as wooden splinters showered the air.
A gap was ripped straight through the house's wall, causing nearly half of it to collapse completely and exposing the second floor, reducing it to a condemned structure.
A thick, monstrous hand reached inside, sweeping back and forth. It grabbed twice, but feeling nothing right, retreated.
Lowering its body again, the goblin poked its head in to look. It caught sight of Wu Shuang picking himself up off the ground outside the doorway in embarrassment and sprinting toward the estate.
With hardly any stamina left, there was no way he could play cat-and-mouse with the goblin. He probably wasn't even faster than it. One slip of luck and he'd end up dead—or worse, get buried alive inside a house when the goblin smashed it to pieces with that anchor. Running aimlessly wasn't an option.
His only path of escape was the mansion inside the estate.
It was likely the largest and sturdiest building in Gulf Town. He could squeeze through a ground-floor window, while the goblin would be too big to follow. By the time the goblin managed to tear down that thick stone wall, he would be long gone.
So he couldn't panic, couldn't give in to fear. He had to dash right past the goblin and vault over that iron fence!
And so, under the goblin's somewhat surprised gaze, Wu Shuang—stumbling like a frantic rat—slipped past its side, aiming straight for the collapsed section of the iron fence to climb into the estate.
ROAR!!!!
An indefinable strange screech sounded like a broken horn.
But Wu Shuang didn't dare look back. Gasping for air, he forced his leaden legs forward.
He had delayed for too long, and his stamina was heavily drained. He should have headed back earlier.
On top of that, his injuries had gone untreated for too long. His back throbbed with growing pain, and carrying the heavy backpack only ground against the wounds agonizingly.
He vaulted over the iron fence and ran toward the mansion, but immediately after, the sound of tearing, deforming metal echoed behind him, accompanied by heavy footsteps right at his heels.
"Damn it!!"
Wu Shuang felt like cursing up a storm, but he didn't even have the breath for it now. For some reason, his backpack was growing heavier and heavier.
I can't go on like this—I'll die! I'm about to collapse!
He could almost feel the phantom weight of the anchor hanging over his head, making his scalp tingle as if bracing for the blow.
At this critical juncture, he slipped off his backpack, remembering Argus.
It was the only thing that could save him now. Ditching the backpack would save stamina—survival came first!
But just as his hand reached into the bag, out of the corner of his eye he spotted the goblin's giant hand reaching out. He rolled forward frantically; the backpack flew to the side, and he pulled out the firearm named Argus.
Missing its grab, the goblin looked at Wu Shuang rolling awkwardly on the ground. Instead of anger, it showed delight, treating him like a fun toy as it reached out again.
Meanwhile, trembling in panic, Wu Shuang dug out the percussion caps from his pocket. Scrambling backward, he began fitting them on, oblivious to the caps and bullets dropping to the ground.
Just as the giant hand reached for him once more, he finally completed the loading process and hurriedly raised the outrageously styled giant gun...
Rate on N.U.
