Immediately as I awoke, something felt off.
First of all, Mana Sense is turned off, and I never turn off passive skills. Second, instead of the comfortable bed underneath me, below me was some sort of slimy texture. And not the Slime slimy, mind you, more like a disgusting paste unlike what I'd ever felt before.
So! What in the world is happening? Last I remember, I evolved in the inn... Hm.
No use sitting on the floor (?) forever! I stand up, almost slipping because of the slimy attribute of the ground.
Okay, before anything, I should activate Mana Sense.
...
I can't activate it.
What.
EXCUSE ME?!
Um, hello? I kinda wanna use my skills! What is even happening?!
Gamma? Alpha? Helloooo? Is anybody there? Oh, god, oh, god...
Alright, me, calm down! Think, do I remember anything that happened before this? Okay, I was lying in my bed, and then I evolved and fell asleep! THAT'S ALL THAT HAPPENED!
Without my skills, I'm basically useless! Not even Gluttony or the System are working...
Ugh! I hate this! I can't even explain what is happening, which makes it even worse!
Guess there's nothing else for me to do except wait until my skills come back...
...
Two hours went by without anything happening.
Alright, I might be one with incredible patience, but that has its limit! You know? For two hours I've been waiting here, and my skills have still yet to come up!
Seriously, could I at least get a little sympathy here? I've been plopped in this random place without half of my senses (Mana Sense, remember?), and now after waiting for two hours, nothing has happened!
Hmph! Ma--
Without even my realization, I appear back into my room. How do I know this? Well, Mana Sense automatically turned itself back on.
Huh...?
Come again, please. What just happened?
I was just in some faraway place, right? How'd I get back here now?! Hellooo?
Listen, I don't exactly appreciate not getting on answer out of you!
[What the hell do you want.]
Oh, Gamma! Can't say I missed you, but it was weird not having your words distract me every three seconds.
[I... I'm just not going to ask.]
Great, in the meantime, it's time to check my status!
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Name: Shiro
Species: Arch-Mage-Slime
Lv: 1
Health: 55/55
Mp: 0/999
Strength: 12
Agility: 19
Vitality: 11
Defence: 7
Intelligence: 27
Wisdom: 18
Charm: 4
Skills: {Gluttony}, {System}, {Demon lizard breath >LV 6<}, {Camouflage >Lv 3<}, {Magic sense}, {Fly >LV 3<}, {Echolocation}, {Defense Form}, {Punching attacks enhancement >LV 4<}, {Bloodsucking >LV1<}, {Mimic}, {??????? >???<}, {Icicle blast >LV 3}, {Paralysis bite >Lv 3<}, {Swimming >LV 2<}, {Separation >LV 2<}, {Appraisal], {Dig >LV 3<}, {Dirt consumption >LV 3<}, {Gust >LV 3<}, {Body manipulation >LV 4<}, {Leader >LV 1<}, {Lesser Regeneration >LV 2<}, {Mana Operation >LV 1<},
Affinities: {Ice}
Spells: {N/A}
Forms: {Demon lizard >LV 9<}, {Giant Bat >LV 4}<, {Vampire >LV 1<}, {Ice Wolf >LV 17<}, {Ork >LV 1<}, {Earth Digger Worm >LV 2<}, {Kobalt >LV 1<}, {Lesser Roc >LV 4<}, {Lesser Troll >LV 1<}.
Credits: 2050
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Woah! Wisdom rose a bunch, and so did intelligence! Well, I guess that's to be expected from a magic oriented species... Wait a minute, how large did that say my mana capacity is? 999?! Why is it so high?!
{Inquiry detected. Due to evolution, you have gained a Mana Core. The Mana Core has an incredible capacity for mana, but the only way you can gain mana with one is by taking and consuming the mana cores of other monsters.}
Oh, thanks for the answer, I guess... But that's such a hassle! I'll have to constantly be killing strong monsters to get their cores! Hah... Guess there's nothing I can do about that, though.
Wait a minute, couldn't I just buy Mana Cores? Great idea me! Absolutely genius! Maybe having to get mana that way won't be so bad after all.
So, after looking over my new status, I've come up with what we should do today!
One, Accept some new requests at the guild and do them.
Two, Buy some Mana Cores.
And three, get some books on how to actually use magic!
And that's all I could think of. What? I'm not some genius at planning, and it's not like I have anything else that needs to be urgently done! So, with the day now upon us, it's time to head out.
Apparently, Ai was awake, just sorta watching me internally monologue, so I won't have to wait for her or anything.
We head out back to the Adventurers Guild, to be greeted by a guild worker upon reaching our destination.
"Adventurer Shiro, the Guild-Master desires to have a word with you, please come with me."
Eh...? The Guild-Master? Like, THE Guild-Master? You're saying the guy, who I assume, has the highest position in the guild, wants to talk with me?! Why in the world would that be? I'm just some lowly F-rank adventurer in their eyes! Unless... Okay, I don't want to jump to conclusions, but maybe they know I'm a monster. That's just a guess, though! So maybe not...
Anyways, it looks like I can't really say no, huh? I follow the Guild Worker further in, reaching a room like the one where we got registered as adventurers. Unlike that room, there sat in a desk a blonde-haired man, one with pointed ears and a smile most unnerving. He wore a leather tunic underneath a dark green coloured vest.
By the way, Ai had to stay outside since this matter only involved me, which only put me off more.
"Hello... Shiro, was it? What an interesting name. My name is Triance Maple, current Guild-Master in this region. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Triance had a soft and gentle voice, but behind that was a hint of malice, which to be perfectly honest, unsettled me more than anything.
"Yeah, it's nice to meet you too," I spoke with little to no emotion, I definitely didn't want to make an enemy out of this guy, such, speaking in my usual tone could be a little dangerous.
"Hm, you're one that dislikes conversation, aren't you? If so, I'll cut to the chase. You're a monster, and I want to know what you're doing trying to become an adventurer in my guild." His tone became ever so slightly more aggressive, his eyebrows furrowing.
Silence filled the room for several seconds, I, trying to break this silence, spoke up.
"I... Uh, don't hold any hate or animosity to any of you guys, and I just want to make a living, you know?" No use lying, this guy would probably see through any lies I told anyways.
"Oh? If so, would you have no issue with me using appraisal on you to see if you're a tamed monster or not?"
"Go ahead."
The room once again went silent, him probably appraising me, looking over the results.
"It seems you're really not a monster tamed to infiltrate the guild, hm. Well, if you're really just trying to live the life of any other sapient species, I shall allow you to continue your work as an adventurer. In fact, I'm quite interested in you."
"Great, I'll be taking my leave then." I turned to leave from the door, only to be stopped by Triance.
"Hold on, I'm not completely done with you."
"Oh, um, sorry then." Jeez, dude, come on! Can't I just leave already? I've got stuff to do!
"That is quite alright. Now, allow me to ask, do you have any information regarding the Demon Lord."
"The... Demon Lord? Nope, I have no idea what you're talking about." Soo, there is some Demon Lord in this world, huh? But why would I know anything about that, and why would it even matter?
"Hm, I see. You may leave now, then, but do remember I'll be keeping on eye on you, my friend." His smile widened a bit as he gestured for me to leave.
Finally! I leave as quickly as I came in, not wanting to deal with whatever that was.
I sigh, continuing on back into the main room of the Guild with Ai.
Immediately as we reach the request board, a voice yelled out to the both of us... What now?
"Hey! You! The guy that beat Seralt! I wanna have a word with you!"
[Chapter 26, end.]