Hours had passed since they began teaching me the basics of their powers. At first, I was terrified of them. They were unbelievably handsome, their faces almost too perfect to be real—but at the same time, there was something in their gaze, in their presence, that made my chest tighten. They were beautiful… and terrifying.
"How was it?" Sloth's slow, deliberate voice broke the silence. I looked up, still sitting on the floor, my hands trembling slightly.
"Every one of us has different powers," he continued. "Like Gluttony… if you master his ability, you could devour monsters and absorb their strength."
"R-really?" I asked, my voice shaky and filled with worry. The thought of that much power made my stomach twist.
"You'll understand everything as you grow stronger," Sloth said calmly, as if reading my mind.
"Why don't you start by registering as an adventurer and hunting monsters?" one of them suggested, the voice playful but commanding.
I swallowed hard, realizing something. Even though they were dangerous—more dangerous than anything I had ever imagined—I had no choice but to accept this path. To survive, to grow, to gain the strength I had always wanted… I had to stay.
Why do I have to suffer all of this to get it? I thought bitterly. If there's a god… why me? I grew up alone. I begged for food, I stole, sometimes I got beaten. And now… this.
"Seems like you've finally decided to choose," Wrath said, smirking. His presence pressed lightly against me, like invisible hands steadying me, reminding me I wasn't alone.
"Here. Take this." One of them stepped forward and handed me a small, beautifully crafted ring. I stared at it.
It was no ordinary ring. It glimmered faintly with a soft inner light, etched with intricate patterns that seemed almost alive. Pride spoke, his voice low but confident: "This is a special ring, made by all seven of us. It will allow you to enter our realm… our home… whenever you need. A place to train, rest, and prepare. And other things too"
I swallowed, my fingers trembling as I reached for it. "Th… thank you," I whispered, my voice barely audible. Slowly, I picked up the ring, feeling the subtle pulse of their energy running through it, almost like the Seven themselves were alive inside it.
The first rays of the sun finally spilled over the city walls, painting the streets in golden light. The Seven had returned to their realms, leaving me alone for the first time in hours. I hadn't slept, my body still humming with the strange energy coursing through me, but there was no time to rest. Today, I would take the next step: registering as an adventurer.
I stepped onto the bustling streets. Merchants shouted their greetings, food stalls filled the air with the aroma of fried bread, grilled meats, and sweet pastries. People moved in every direction, some laughing, some haggling, others simply walking with purpose. My eyes darted around nervously as I navigated through the crowd, my hands clutching the small satchel with my belongings.
A while later, I arrived at the Adventurers' Guild. The building was tall and imposing, its stone walls etched with the symbols of countless heroes who had come before. I took a deep breath and pushed open the heavy doors.
"Good morning! Are you here to register as an adventurer?" a cheerful voice asked. I turned to see a young woman with brown hair and kind eyes looking up at me.
"A-ah, yes," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Alright, fill this form out first," she said, handing me a parchment. "You only need to put your name, age, and your talent. But if you don't want to reveal your talent, that's perfectly fine. We respect the privacy of adventurers here."
I nodded and took the form, pen in hand. My heart thumped as I wrote carefully:
Name: Renji Yamashiro
Age: 18
Talent: —
I hesitated a moment, then left the talent section blank. I handed the form back to the woman.
"Alright, hmm… Renji," she said, scanning the parchment. Her eyes lifted, warm and encouraging. "Welcome to the Adventurers' Guild. We're looking forward to seeing the achievements you'll make."
She handed me a small card, its surface smooth and cool to the touch. "Here's your Adventurer's Card. You're starting at E-rank."
"Th-thank you," I said, gripping the card tightly.
"Oh, by the way," I asked cautiously, "where should I start hunting monsters?"
She smiled gently. "Since you're still a beginner, I recommend starting in the nearby forest. There are mostly slimes and goblins there. But don't go too deep—stronger monsters live further inside, and only higher-ranking adventurers are allowed to go there."
"I understand. I'll be careful," I said, my voice steadier than I expected.
I stepped out of the guild, the morning sun warming my shoulders. The streets were alive with motion, the city buzzing with opportunity and danger alike. I held the Adventurer's Card tightly in my hand.
When I reached the edge of the forest, I felt it immediately.
The air was different here — heavier, quieter. The sounds of the city were gone, replaced by rustling leaves and distant echoes I couldn't recognize. Even though the guild receptionist said only low-level monsters appeared here… it didn't make it any less frightening.
I swallowed.
This is it. My first real fight.
I stepped forward carefully, pushing past branches and tall grass. The forest smelled damp, earthy. My heart was beating louder than my footsteps.
Then I saw them.
Two slimes.
They were about knee-height, semi-transparent bodies wobbling as they moved. Inside their gelatinous forms, faint cores glowed dimly. They didn't look terrifying — but they were monsters.
And they were coming toward me.
I panicked for a moment. My grip tightened around the sword the Seven had given me.
They had said they personally forged it — a weapon made to be wielded by someone chosen.
The blade was elegant but deadly. Slightly curved, with a dark silver sheen that reflected light like liquid metal. Faint crimson lines ran along the edge, pulsing softly like veins. The guard resembled spread wings, and the hilt was wrapped in deep black leather that fit perfectly in my palm — as if it had been made only for me.
When I held it, it felt light… but powerful.
I raised it clumsily as the slimes drew closer.
"Calm down… calm down…" I whispered to myself.
I swung.
Too slow.
The slimes bounced aside easily, their bodies shifting shape to avoid the strike.
I swung again, panic rising.
Miss.
Before I could recover, one of them opened a small mouth-like split in its body and launched a splash of acidic fluid toward me.
"Aghh—!"
It hit my hand.
Pain exploded across my skin. It burned like fire, like my flesh was melting. I stumbled back, clutching my hand as the acid sizzled against it.
"It hurts…!"
My vision blurred from the sting. The skin on my hand turned red, raw, and blistered.
I'm going to lose… to slimes? On my first hunt?
The second slime lunged again, spraying another stream of acid. I barely dodged, rolling to the side, dirt scraping against my robe.
Think. Think!
I forced myself to breathe.
The Seven's training echoed in my mind.
Feel the flow. Don't fight it. Let the power move with you.
The slimes wobbled forward again.
This time, I didn't rush.
I steadied my stance. My grip tightened. The sword hummed faintly in my hand — responding.
The first slime jumped.
I stepped to the side.
And swung.
The blade cut cleanly through its gelatinous body.
For a second, nothing happened.
Then the slime split in half and collapsed into a puddle of dissolving liquid, leaving behind a small, glowing core on the forest floor.
"I… I did it."
The second slime screeched and lunged.
I didn't hesitate this time.
I pivoted and struck downward with all my strength.
The blade connected. The crimson lines on it flashed briefly.
The slime burst apart and dissolved just like the first.
Silence returned to the forest.
I stood there, breathing heavily, sword trembling in my grip.
Then my legs gave out, and I dropped to the ground.
"Hah… hah…"
My hand throbbed again, and I looked down at it.
The burn was still there — raw, red.
But as I watched… it began to change.
The pain slowly dulled.
The damaged skin tightened, then smoothed. The redness faded. The blistered flesh restored itself before my eyes.
Within moments… my hand looked normal.
Unharmed.
I flexed my fingers in disbelief.
"What…?"
I stared at the glowing slime cores lying on the forest floor.
They pulsed faintly, like tiny hearts made of light.
The warmth in my chest hadn't disappeared. If anything, it was stronger now — tugging at me.
Devour.
The word wasn't spoken aloud, but it echoed clearly in my mind.
I swallowed.
"Gluttony… is this you?" I whispered.
A low, amused chuckle brushed against my thoughts.
You felt it, didn't you? The healing. That was only a fragment.
My eyes returned to the cores.
They didn't look threatening anymore. They looked… tempting.
I slowly reached down and picked one up.
It was warm. Soft. The light inside it flickered like it was alive.
"Do I just… crush it?" I muttered.
No, the voice replied smoothly. Don't destroy it. Absorb it. Let it become part of you.
I hesitated.
This was the moment.
The guild would call this normal monster hunting. Adventurers would sell these cores for coins.
But I wasn't normal.
I closed my eyes and focused on the warmth inside my chest.
The pulse answered immediately.
A faint dark-red glow traced along the veins in my hand, spreading toward the core I was holding. The air around my palm shifted slightly, like heat rising from flame.
"Okay… I'm doing it…"
Instead of squeezing, I relaxed my grip.
I let the energy move.
The core began to dissolve — not into liquid, but into light.
The glow seeped into my skin.
I gasped.
It didn't hurt.
It was strange — like drinking something cold and warm at the same time. The energy flowed up my arm, into my chest, spreading through my body in thin, branching streams.
I could feel it.
The slime's properties.
Its elasticity. Its resistance. Its simple instinct to survive.
It wasn't intelligence.
It was raw function.
And it was merging with me.
My breathing grew heavier.
The second core vibrated on the ground beside me — reacting.
Without thinking, I reached for it too.
Careful, Gluttony's voice murmured, amused. Don't be greedy… unless you can handle it.
"I can handle it," I muttered stubbornly.
I absorbed the second core.
This time, the energy surged stronger.
My muscles tightened. My skin tingled.
For a split second, my body felt… unstable. Like it might melt or lose shape.
I gritted my teeth.
"Hold it together… hold it together…"
The warmth in my chest flared — then stabilized.
The foreign energy settled.
Silence returned.
I slowly opened my eyes.
The forest looked the same.
But I didn't feel the same.
I stood up cautiously.
My body felt lighter.
Stronger.
When I flexed my fingers, I noticed something subtle — my skin seemed slightly more resilient. When I pressed my thumb hard against my palm, it didn't hurt as easily.
I picked up my sword and swung it once.
Faster.
Smoother.
My balance felt better.
"This is… insane."
A quiet chuckle echoed in my mind again.
Now you understand. We do not simply give you power.
"Now then… why don't you use the slime's skill?" Gluttony's voice slid smoothly through my mind.
I blinked. "Use it? You mean… the acid?"
Of course, he replied lazily. You absorbed the core consciously. That means the trait is now integrated into your body. You merely need to access it.
"I don't know how."
A low hum echoed in my head, almost patient.
Close your eyes. Feel your mana. The slime's acid is not magic in the traditional sense. It is a secretion. A transformation of internal energy into corrosive fluid. Imagine your mana compressing in your palm… then liquefying.
I frowned. "Liquefying?"
Yes. Do not force it outward immediately. First, gather it. Then alter it.
I took a slow breath.
"Alright… I'll try."
I raised my right hand in front of me.
The forest air felt cooler against my skin. I focused inward — toward the warmth in my chest, the place where the cores had dissolved.
There.
A faint pulse.
I guided it down my arm.
It felt strange — like moving a muscle I never knew I had.
The energy pooled into my palm, tingling sharply. My fingers twitched as if holding invisible water.
Condense it, Gluttony instructed.
I clenched slightly.
The warmth compressed, growing denser — thicker.
Then it changed.
The sensation shifted from warmth to something sticky… heavy… reactive.
A faint sizzling sound echoed.
My eyes widened.
A translucent, greenish liquid began to bead across my palm.
"I—I did it!" I whispered.
The acid dripped off my fingers.
It hit the ground with a soft hiss, melting into the soil and smoking faintly.
But it didn't project forward.
It just… fell.
"I did it," I repeated, staring at my hand.
Good, Gluttony said calmly. That was only the first step. Creation.
The liquid faded as my concentration broke.
Once you master compression and release, you will be able to project it. Shape it. Control its velocity. For now, your body is merely learning the conversion process.
I flexed my fingers, still amazed.
By the way, Gluttony added casually, why don't you hunt more? If you keep absorbing every core, you will have nothing to sell to the guild. How do you intend to eat?
My stomach dropped.
"I—I forgot."
The excitement drained a little.
"I'm sorry…"
Do not apologize to me, he replied dryly. Apologize to your empty stomach later.
I let out a quiet sigh and began walking deeper along the edge of the forest.
A few minutes later, I spotted them.
Six slimes clustered near a tree, wobbling slowly across the roots.
I immediately crouched behind a thick bush.
"Six…" I muttered. "That's more than before."
You are no longer what you were before, Gluttony reminded me.
Two of the slimes slowly drifted away from the group — heading closer to my hiding spot.
Opportunity.
I tightened my grip on the sword the Seven had forged for me.
I didn't hesitate.
I lunged out from the bushes and swung in one clean horizontal arc.
The blade sliced through the first slime effortlessly. Its gelatinous body split apart, collapsing into liquid before dissolving.
Without stopping, I twisted my wrist and cut downward.
The second slime burst apart just as quickly.
Two cores clinked softly onto the ground.
The remaining four froze for half a second.
Then they rushed me together.
This time, I didn't panic.
They lunged in different angles — two from the front, one from the left, one trying to circle behind.
Before, I would have been overwhelmed.
Now?
Everything felt slower.
Clearer.
My legs moved instinctively, sliding backward just enough to avoid the first acid spit. I pivoted on my heel and brought the sword up in a rising slash, cutting through one mid-leap.
I shifted my weight, letting the second slam into my forearm.
It hurt slightly — but far less than before.
My skin endured it.
I drove the blade straight through its core mass.
Two left.
One tried to latch onto my leg.
I reacted instantly, channeling mana to my palm.
This time, I didn't let the acid drip.
I compressed and snapped my hand forward.
A short burst of green liquid shot outward — clumsy, uneven — but enough.
It splashed onto the slime's surface.
The creature shrieked silently as its own body began dissolving from the outside.
I stepped forward and finished it with a downward strike.
The last one hesitated.
I didn't.
One precise thrust.
Silence.
Six cores lay scattered at my feet.
My chest rose and fell steadily — but I wasn't gasping.
"I… I can't believe it."
I looked at my hands.
At the sword.
"At this rate… I can fight groups."
A slow smile formed on my face.
After absorbing the cores earlier, my body had clearly changed.
Stronger muscles. Better reaction speed. Greater endurance. Even my tolerance to acid had increased.
This wasn't just growth.
It was evolution.
I knelt and carefully picked up the cores.
This time, I didn't absorb them.
I placed them into my small pouch.