Hyakki felt uncertain as he painstakingly deciphered the Chinese characters on the gift package.

“The plot can be corrected?”

This was an automatic reward issued by the system, not a reward from the Time Travel Department?

In the internship contract he signed with the Time Travel Department, there was a clause stating that if an intern encountered a fatal danger, the department would provide protection once. However, it had been so long that he couldn’t clearly remember the details. Could it be that the Time Travel Department stored the protective power in the system, and in case of an emergency, the system unlocked the protection feature?

Thinking about it this way, D-level employees of the Time Travel Department were much better off than D-level employees of the SCP Foundation…

Bullshit.

Hyakki couldn’t think of any other curse words, feeling utterly helpless. He thought, “I’ve sent out so many emails, not a single reply, and the first one I receive is an automatic reward from the system!”

Where is everyone? What about all those employees at the Time Travel Department?!

He wanted to file a complaint with the Time-Space Management Bureau: their branch, the Time Travel Department, neglected the safety of interns, throwing them into plot worlds without addressing subsequent issues! He was relatively lucky, able to trigger the main mission. But what about those struggling in high-risk worlds, unable to survive long enough to trigger the main mission?

【Do you want to open the gift package?】

【Yes/No.】

Hyakki read through the system’s text very carefully, clicking to open the gift package with a glimmer of hope.

【Yes…】

The gift package jumped out from the inbox, bursting open with game-like fireworks effects.

The system scattered a large amount of beautiful gold dust.

In the air, the gold dust formed rows of Chinese characters, no longer cold, but offering a glimmer of hope.

【The main storyline of the “Dororo” world involves defeating the Twelve Demon Gods. All other events are side quests. The system has detected that the intern has advanced 1/12 of the main storyline but has not yet regained any body parts. There was a detection error. A level correction gift package is awarded, allowing the intern to choose the part to be corrected.】

【Option 1: Obtain the first organ from the original storyline (right leg).】

【Option 2: Return to your adoptive father, Jukai, and defeat the demon god Rajoumon, continuing the storyline two years later.】

【Option 3: Erase the memory of up to 100 people regarding you.】

【Choose one of the three options.】

Hyakki’s gaze fixed intently on the first option, then, thinking of his adoptive father, he reluctantly looked at the second option. The third option was not within his consideration.

Should he choose the organ or return to the main storyline…

Starting over at sixteen?

In the real world, Hyakki felt comforted, as if consoled by Dazai, and stopped his lament. Apart from not wearing a mask, his appearance was no different from usual. The illusion only gave him a beautiful human skin, making him closer to an ordinary person but not altering his original features.

Facing Dazai, who had unusually overcome his aversion to human faces, Hyakki saw him wave his hand.

“Hyakki, let go and let the illusion on you restore.”

This way, you will be able to speak.

Dazai thought even a repeated “Dororo” sounded melodious. Even in crying, there should be an opportunity to cry, but after losing his tongue and vocal cords, Hyakki truly couldn’t make a sound while crying.

Hyakki clutched Dazai’s fingers, his prosthetic limb’s joints flexing adeptly, gripping tightly.

Suddenly,

“Hyakki, your right foot?!” Mori exclaimed in shock.

Dazai looked at Hyakki in confusion. Hyakki, sitting in the chair, was convulsing. His prosthetic right leg unexpectedly fell to the ground. New bone sprouted from the stump, pushing aside the prosthetic, and muscle quickly covered the bone. The newly grown, crimson toes firmly touched the floor!

This scene of regrowth was extraordinarily mystical, comparable only to the power of “No Longer Human.”

Hyakki released Dazai’s hand and, without realizing it, reached out to touch his newly grown right foot. The freshly grown foot, stripped of skin, appeared slender and straight, with muscles suggesting explosive strength.

Dazai circled the hospital bed, squatting in front of Hyakki to examine him.

“Dazai, gloves!” Mori tossed a pair of medical gloves to Dazai, who quickly put them on to prevent bacterial infection. With his rudimentary medical knowledge, he began to examine Hyakki’s right leg.

He repeatedly confirmed that this was a real limb, not an illusion created by some supernatural ability.

“This is incredible…”

Dazai’s hands moved from the knee to the thigh under the yukata. The crimson muscle fibers had warmth and blood vessels, yet there was no sensation of pain or touch, unlike any normal leg deprived of skin.

The black-haired boy sat in the chair, looking bewildered. Even his monstrous face appeared innocent.

Even if he is a monster, he must be the most harmless and the most heartwarming existence.

However, sensing something, Hyakki suddenly shivered and swatted away Dazai’s hand.

**[Dororo, what are you fumbling around in my clothes for?!]**

“Hey, Dazai…”

Mori quickly intervened to stop Dazai’s inappropriate actions, looking embarrassed. “I have instruments here. You won’t be able to determine anything with just your hands. Why don’t we use the instruments to examine the newly grown right leg?”

Dazai turned and scolded the troublesome adult, “What perverted thoughts is Mr. Mori having?” He accused, “My sense of aesthetics is perfectly normal. How could I possibly have such thoughts about Hyakki!”

Mori forced a smile and rolled his eyes inwardly: Dazai, you can face Hyakki normally, and you still think your sense of aesthetics is normal? A normal person wouldn’t hold hands with such a monster.

The underworld doctor who doubles as the Port Mafia boss went to start the instrument, leaving the two youngsters some space to interact.

Dazai watched in amazement as Hyakki wiggled his toes.

“Your toes can move.”

Such a simple thing brought immense joy to Hyakki.

Hyakki had ultimately chosen the first reward, reclaiming an original body part. He didn’t expect the first organ to be his right foot, feeling both joy and regret that it wasn’t his eyes or ears. He wanted to see “her,” to hear “her” voice, just as humans naturally crave warmth.

As Hyakki tried to get used to his right foot, he made an effort to stand up. His body wobbled as he struggled to maintain balance, a clumsiness that made Dazai want to laugh, realizing that Hyakki might never have walked on his own two feet before.

Memory can be there from birth, and language can be learned in infancy, but…