When Lin Ran was awakened in the middle of the night by that strange sensation, his consciousness hadn’t fully returned yet, but his body tensed up first.
And the one orchestrating all of this was the silver-haired, red-eyed Autonomous Automaton.
She was expressionless, her red eyes staring straight at him.
Her white dress was slightly disheveled from movement, the hem brushing against his leg.
“Wa…wait?! What are you…?”
Lin Ran snapped awake, trying to struggle, but found the strength of those small automatons was astonishing.
His body, even after enhancement, couldn’t break free for a moment.
“These… these are my controlled automatons… You can’t escape for now…”
The Autonomous Automaton’s voice remained steady, but as she spoke, steam kept puffing out from the top of her head.
He didn’t know how long it lasted, but suddenly, the pressure on his body lightened, as if his soul was about to be sucked out.
The small automatons simultaneously released him, nimbly jumping off the bed.
The Autonomous Automaton also got off him, standing by the bed, meticulously tidying her disordered dress.
However, the white steam above her head only grew thicker——
Meanwhile, Lin Ran had already shrunk into the corner of the bed, head drooping, wrapped in a thin blanket.
He felt like a pure maiden just defiled by an evil landlord, or a female knight captured by goblins.
Facing someone like An Mengyue, a timid yet lecherous boastful king, Lin Ran could usually take the upper hand, kicking her out with a serious face.
But the Autonomous Automaton barging into his room at night with her underlings, tying him up without a word, and then… defiling him on the spot…
That dealt a tiny but critical blow to his fragile male pride.
“In any case, I apologize for the inconvenience, but this is a survival method that organisms adopt in post-apocalyptic environments according to my Database.”
The Autonomous Automaton stood at the bedside, her tone calm and light, as if nothing had happened.
Hmm… Logically, it’s not wrong.
Most creatures awaken their instincts and try to leave offspring in extreme environments.
“I’m not blaming you… It’s just that in the middle of the night, being tied up by a bunch of small automatons… my dignity as a man feels a bit…”
Lin Ran answered weakly, eyes wandering, clearly still not over what had just happened.
“But I don’t understand! I’ve collected your Genetic Sample, and I can use it later to produce specialized medicines or for biological research.”
“From the outcome, it’s mutually beneficial, a win-win situation. After all, you also experienced physical… ple… pleasure…?”
The Autonomous Automaton said the first half as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
But the latter half, she hesitated for a long time, searching her Database for the word “pleasure”.
After speaking, she suddenly turned away, covering her face, going offline for a while as wisps of steam rose from her head.
“All right, all right, I’m not teasing you anymore, I’m not blaming you…… Eh, wait, does this mean you can make medicine?”
Lin Ran, halfway through his sentence, raised his head.
If she could make medicine, then sacrificing a bit of chastity was nothing!
Come on! Hit me head-on!
“Yes. After all, I’m a higher mechanical life form. My Database contains methods for producing medicine. Once your DNA sample is detected, I can manufacture the corresponding medicine.”
“However, rather than calling it medicine production, the principle is closer to alchemy. It might be less effective for curing diseases, but basic colds and fevers are no problem.”
“The main application is for things like healing injuries and Body Enhancement. If your sample is used on you, the effects are several times stronger. But all of this requires the corresponding raw materials…”
Lin Ran’s eyes grew brighter.
Never mind colds and fevers—for Body Enhancement alone, it was a matter of life and death in the waves of attacks to come!
The second wave being Mechanism Monsters was fine, but if Stat Monsters came next, strengthening his physical stats would be essential!
Most crucially…
If he could sell medicine, he might have a source of income.
Thinking this, Lin Ran tossed aside the blanket and jumped off the bed, full of energy.
Just as dawn was breaking, he called up Lim and the others.
“Now, I declare! The first Round Table Meeting of the Committee for Harmonious Human-Monster Development is now in session!”
Lin Ran cleared his throat, speaking solemnly.
“Owner, I’m sleepy.”
Lim yawned, sprawling bonelessly on the table.
Hmm, come to think of it, she might really not have any bones…
“Tsk… That damn automaton even knows how to force herself on people. I really should dismantle her.”
An Mengyue crossed her arms, shooting a sour glance at the Autonomous Automaton.
“Oh? Miss Dream Eater Tapir with zero combat ability, how exactly do you plan to dismantle me, someone who doesn’t dream? I’m quite curious.”
The Autonomous Automaton retorted mercilessly, and sparks flew instantly.
“Owner, owner, what do you want to talk to us about?”
The only one to answer him seriously was the little Slime he’d rescued.
She’d transformed into a little girl, raising her hand earnestly to ask, prompting Lin Ran to pick her up and pinch her cheeks, making her turn all pink.
“Ahem.”
Lin Ran played with the little thing for a while before regaining his serious composure.
“Simply put, it’s a naming issue.”
He spoke while holding the little Slime.
“Eh?”
At this, the three unruly monster leaders were surprisingly in sync.
“Isn’t it about making medicine?”
“Yeah, I thought we were going to discuss how to sell medicine and get rich.”
The Autonomous Automaton and An Mengyue were oddly aligned on this, as if they’d already discussed it.
But Lim was the most agitated of them all.
“Owner… Please don’t change my name. What did I do wrong…?”
She instantly sobered up, gazing at Lin Ran pitifully.
Currently, Lim was the only one Lin Ran had named, so it wasn’t hard to understand her reaction.
After sorting out his words, Lin Ran finally spoke.
“It’s not your name. I’m talking about the Autonomous Automaton, the little Slime, and the small automatons.”
At this, silence fell for several dozen seconds.
Then came a tidal wave of cheers.
“Yay!”
“We get names!”
“Owner, owner, hurry, hurry, hurry!”
Even Lim joined the little Slimes in cheering, celebrating not having to change her name.
Although the small automatons couldn’t make any sound, they scrambled onto Lin Ran, the leader already patting him gently with her tiny wooden hand.
The Autonomous Automaton translated in her emotionless mechanical tone:
“Happy, thank you, excited.”
Yep, that’s the automaton’s style.
“I thought you were going to talk about medicine first. Guess this has nothing to do with me.”
An Mengyue somehow produced a can of beer, drinking alone and acting uninvolved.
Lin Ran shook his head, his gaze sweeping over every member present.
“Medicine is also a crucial issue, but precisely because of that, I want to give you all names.”
He paused, his voice exceptionally serious.
“Because I hope this is the [giving] I do for you first.”
“Because what follows is [taking].”
Lin Ran took a deep breath, laying out all the raw materials he and the Autonomous Automaton had discussed and could currently procure.
[Slime Mucus], [Automaton Hair], [Corrosive Liquid], [Wood Ash].
Two of these—liquids—could be obtained from Slimes, and since they were renewable resources, it was relatively okay.
But Automaton Hair and Wood Ash undoubtedly had to be taken from the small automatons, and both were nonrenewable.
Especially Wood Ash.
Since the wooden house couldn’t be dismantled and replenishing it required crystal cores, it was almost equivalent to carving off part of their bodies.
Lin Ran was actually very worried, afraid that the little Slimes or automatons would refuse.
Because just thinking about it hurt.
And before he even finished, the small automatons had already scurried over, scratching at his face.
Were they angry?
Lin Ran thought to himself, was taking Wood Ash too much?
But in the next second, the Autonomous Automaton spoke up.
“They’re telling you to hurry up. They can’t wait any longer.”
“They also say that trading a little for a name is totally worth it.”
Lin Ran couldn’t quite grasp the value system of monsters.
But since they liked it, let’s begin!
“Alright! First, let me state, my brain capacity is limited, I’m terrible at naming, so names might be a bit formulaic—don’t mind! We’ll go one by one!”
“You! From now on, you’re R-1, short for Automaton No.1. You few who get along, follow as R-2, R-3…!”
“The one who pinned me hardest at midnight, yes, you! You’ll be Automaton Boss No.1! D-1! How’s that!”
“Those socially anxious ones hiding in the corner—if you don’t come over, I’ll call you S-1 and S-2! Social anxiety No.1, No.2!”
Witnessing this heartwarming scene, the little Slimes were filled with anticipation.
Meanwhile, An Mengyue was so stunned she couldn’t speak, nearly crushing her beer can.
“That magic capacity… Is he really human? Naming costs magic, doesn’t he know?”
She grabbed the Autonomous Automaton beside her, disbelief written all over her face.
“I’ve analyzed the Genetic Sample from earlier. There’s no doubt Mr. Lin Ran is human.”
“You damn automaton, are you showing off?”
An Mengyue shook her head, unable to comprehend.
She knew better than anyone: bestowing a name on a monster required a massive infusion of magic.
Once successful, it meant a surge of power—possibly even evolution.
Lim’s ability to stand out among the little Slimes was partly due to her rare constitution.
The other part was that she was the only Slime with a name.
The small automatons were desperate for names for exactly this reason.
As for what the names actually were, it didn’t matter at all.
Lin Ran’s pitiful naming ability didn’t get any complaints.
But Lin Ran… was naming them one after another without showing any signs of fatigue.
Was his magic inexhaustible?
And Lin Ran continued naming.
“Hey, Autonomous Automaton, you’re up next!”