The man froze when he heard that, his eyes shifting from the trembling woman on the floor back to Negut. He stammered, "O-Of course! But… give me some water and a little food, and I'll let her serve you for one night."
Negut frowned, his voice turning cold. "Are you deaf? I said leave her here. I did not say I wanted to make a deal with you."
"Damn it!" the man shouted. "Are you messing with me? That's my wife!"
"So?" Negut smirked mockingly.
The man insisted, "She's my wife, she's still a virgin. If you give me all the food and water you have, I'll let her serve you for one night."
"I only need the supplies. She's beautiful, just needs a wash. You'll even get to enjoy her first time."
Negut narrowed his eyes and asked lightly, "You are her husband?"
"Yes." The man stuttered. "I… I… I just… focused on work, I never cared about emotions. I only married her because my family forced me to."
Negut's eyes swept over the man's thin frame, the sunken cheeks, the sickly appearance. A knowing smile appeared on his face.
*So that's it… impotence.* He cursed inwardly.
Even without love, no normal man would restrain himself after marrying such a beautiful woman.
If she was still a virgin, there were only two possibilities: One, the man was gay. Two, his thing only worked for peeing.
Judging by his frail, twig-like body, Negut immediately knew which answer was correct.
"So what?" Negut said indifferently. "Either get out… or die."
The man trembled. He gritted his teeth and tried to drag the woman away.
Whoosh!
BANG!
"ACK!" The man screamed as Negut hurled the ashtray on the table straight into his chest.
He collapsed, terrified, then scrambled away on all fours, fleeing pathetically.
Negut glanced toward the door. The reason he didn't kill the man was not mercy, he simply had more interesting matters to deal with.
"Have you watched enough?" Negut said coldly.
The door had been cracked open at some point, and Selviera peeked out with wide eyes before slowly pushing it open.
Seeing her, Negut said, "Bring her inside."
"Ah!" Selviera pouted, annoyed, but when she saw the woman's miserable condition, she quickly lifted her up.
With her 210 cm height and greatly strengthened body, carrying the woman was effortless.
Negut followed them in, but Selviera immediately stepped in front of him, frowning. "Ma… Master, this is a girl's room, you cannot…"
Before she could finish, Negut's cold gaze, filled with killing intent, made her fall silent. She stepped aside and let him enter.
He walked to the bed and saw the woman lying motionless, her breathing faint. Suspicion rose in his heart.
'Why isn't the System giving me any notification?'
[Ding! Because this person has no significant potential, the System judges she would not be of much help to you. If you wish to repair her, the cost will be low. But attempting to enhance her or awaken a talent will cost a great deal.]
Negut looked around the room. There was nothing left except the mattress. Even the bedsheets were gone, and only a few pieces of clothing remained.
The cosmetics on the dressing table were still neatly arranged, untouched, but the drawer beneath had been pulled out and rummaged through so violently it looked as if a thief had searched it moments ago.
Negut glanced around the room, then looked at the woman lying on the bed and asked inwardly, 'System, how many points are needed to repair this woman?'
[Ding! To repair her back to her original state, the cost is: 20 points. After the repair, System guarantees her loyalty will reach 70.]
'That cheap?'
[Ding! Because her original condition was already poor, with many underlying health issues and injuries from prolonged abuse. To repair her to a perfect state would require 40 repair points and would grant 3 bonus days of lifespan.]
Negut stroked his chin, thinking for a moment, then asked, 'How many points to keep her alive in this state for one more day?'
[Ding! Only 4 points.]
Negut smirked. 'Then… spend 4 points.'
[Ding! Payment successful. Remaining Repair Points: 225.]
The woman on the bed was still trembling and breathing weakly, but Negut knew she could endure for another day.
He sat down beside her and asked, smiling, "What is your name?"
"Sa… Salina…" Her voice was faint, but somehow, she felt less pain, just enough to speak.
Negut continued, "Don't worry. You can hold on for one more day. Your husband abandoned you. Now you're nothing more than a stray dog no one wants."
Standing behind him, Selviera shivered when she heard those words. The scene felt oddly familiar.
She had a feeling his next question would be asking whether the woman wanted revenge.
But instead…
"From now on, you will be my woman. If you serve me, if you remain loyal to me, I will give you the good life you've always dreamed of."
"Huh?!" Selviera's eyes widened, her expression filled with confusion and disbelief as she stared at Negut.
This man forced her to become a servant, a dog, and coerced her to obey him in every way.
So why… why was he being gentle with this woman? Why was he treating her like someone special?
Why was she treated like trash, while this woman was treated like something precious?
She didn't understand. A strange, unpleasant emotion rose inside her, jealousy.
Negut smiled. Of course he wouldn't use the same method on every woman.
Anyone with eyes could tell this woman had been a victim of domestic violence. The injuries on her body weren't new. Even before the apocalypse, her life had already been a hell without exit.
After being abused for so long, she had developed fear, timidity, and a tendency to rely on others. Even if given a chance for revenge, she wouldn't dare to take it.
No, she probably wouldn't even dare think about revenge. All she wanted was to escape from that man.
Treating Salina the same way he treated Selviera would destroy her completely. Her mind was already too close to breaking.
He needed a different method, a lighter one.
But not 'too' gentle. Just enough light for her to see, like a sky of endless darkness where suddenly, a single thin streak of brightness appears.
Salina trembled slightly, her hand moving just a little before falling still again. In her eyes was a faint trace of hesitation.
"If you're afraid of him, I can guarantee he will never harm you again." Negut said with a smile. "You have one day to think. If you don't dare step out of the darkness, then you can die. I have no use for trash."
After speaking, Negut watched Salina for a moment, but seeing her lips tightly pressed together in indecision, he eventually stood up to leave.
"I… I…"
Suddenly, a faint voice escaped Salina's mouth.
"I… accept…"
"Save… me…"
Hearing that, Negut smiled in satisfaction and said softly, "Selviera, get out."
"Huh?!" Selviera pouted in displeasure, but she still left the room.
Now only Negut and Salina remained. However, he did not rush to repair her. Instead, he smiled and asked, "If I give you the chance to take revenge on your husband… will you?"
Salina's lips trembled. Her pupils quivered. Her hands clenched, then loosened weakly.
"N… no."
Negut had expected that answer, but he still wanted to confirm it, whether someone pushed off a cliff for so long could ever climb back up on their own.
The answer was no.
Or more precisely… Selina's answer was "no."
"Then I'll give you a chance." Negut said with a smile. "Remember this clearly. You already died. Everything you could ever give your husband, you already gave… including your life."
"This is your second life. This life exists because of me. Which means from this moment on, you belong to me. Eternally. Understood?"
Selina shivered, then bit her lip and whispered weakly, "I… I understand…"
Negut smiled, satisfied, and spoke inwardly, 'System, repair her. Restore her to her most perfect state.'
[Ding! You need to pay 40 Repair Points. Do you agree?]
'Agree!'
[Ding! Deduction successful. Remaining points: 185. Beginning repair!]
Instantly, the wounds covering Selina's body began to heal. Her rough skin gradually became smooth and pale like snow, leaving no scars behind.
Her tangled hair softened, glowing with a healthy sheen. Her face transformed into one as beautiful as a movie star's.
Her slightly plump figure slimmed down into soft, alluring curves.
She widened her eyes in shock. The pain she had lived with for years vanished completely, replaced by a comfort she had never experienced in her entire life.
Before, after countless beatings, her lungs and stomach had developed problems. Her abdomen constantly ached, and even breathing grew more difficult.
But now… All the pain was gone. Her breathing flowed freely, as if she had removed countless suffocating layers and could finally taste real air.
Selina lowered her head, staring at her transformed body, uninjured, flawless, more beautiful and balanced than before she ever married.
She trembled, tears gathering as she looked at the young man before her and stammered, "You… you are… a god?"
"No." Negut laughed crazily. "I am a demon. I offer you a bargain. I give you a second life… and you become my slave."