Death and me.

There I was, contemplating biting my tongue off to free myself from the clutches of the psychopath on top of me. The wound across his chest dripped fresh blood onto my skin as I debated the value of my life. Which was going well until recently, but now feels meaningless and void.

I was part of a search party. It should have been a good experience for my apprenticeship, especially if any dungeons were involved. We were out near Mount Morte and had been looking for six-missing adventurers. Spending the night in the woods, our camp was ambushed by mercenaries just after dawn.

Sixty seconds was all it had taken and every one of the men that I had been travelling with were dead. Heroically, they had managed to fight back. Wounding the enemies, who had silently crept upon us. Even though we had the numerical advantage, in the end, it meant nothing.

Unfortunately, one of the mercenaries possessed the terrifying skill, Dark Slash. He carved through everyone and everything in the clearing. Friend or foe meant nothing to him. Black slashes tore through the air until he had run his mana down, painting the whole camp red.

Covered in fresh blood and with no control over my own body, I dropped to the ground unable to move a muscle. The fear that had set in was too strong to control and it overwhelmed me. My eyes felt like they were bulging as I tried to analyse what had transpired in that brief minute but my whole body was shaking with a force that I barely registered. Brought on from the scene of despair and helplessness before me.

That's when the tears began.

In my mind, I was about to die and yet still put up no effort to stop the approaching threat. How could I after he had just killed eight armed-men and all the mercenaries that accompanied him? Each one was a damn-sight stronger than I am in combat?

With no fightback and tears smearing the blood on my face, I lay limp as he ripped through my clothes as if they were paper. He set himself upon me with a malicious smile that made my blood curdle and body convulse.

I was defiled.

By a monster.

In human skin.

Just as I was about to commit the atrocious act of suicide, that was dominating my mind due to the pitiful state of my existence, salvation was granted to me and I was hardly even aware of it happening. I was lost in a spiral of despair and misery, unaware that the person causing the grim-related thoughts had actually turned his attention away from me. When he finally removed himself, granting me the freedom I had been wishing for, I was covered in a fresh coat of blood. My abuser's neck was slit end to end by what looked like a dark angel.

As the blood covered my shameful body, I noticed that it was not an angel who saved me from my torment, but a beautiful female assassin and her partner. I watched as two people gathered the head-mercenary's belongings, as well as his body, before disappearing into the forest and leaving me alone in the crimson-coloured clearing. I was worried that my two silent saviours had saved my life only to leave me here to die alone afterwards and I was right. I tried to replay the situation that had just happened, but with the events that took place in it I failed miserably and began crying again.

I didn't want to relive that moment.

I still don't, but this is important.

Willing my body, after constant attempts, my legs obeyed my commands and finally started moving. I gathered the cuirass of a decapitated ranger and the pants from another. Even though neither matched, looking stupid was better than entering town naked. Once clothed I finally began moving and arrived in Orad before nightfall.

I was still steeped in shame and despair, but somehow managed to inform the chief that we were unsuccessful at locating the adventurers. I also explained why returned alone, but left out my traumatic ordeal and that two people that ended it.

Hopefully, I can forget the feelings of death that I was debating. That's not something I want to carry with me for the rest of my life. For some reason, I find myself thinking about my saviours.

I have been ever since I made the journey back.

I just want to see my two, shady-assassin heroes again.

Even if they came off as scary, I want to know who they are.

To say thank you.

Or maybe to ask why not me?

Why did I get to come back?

I don't know if I can face anyone else here after today. It was hard enough with the chief and I've just straight up ignored Elric since returning to my room.

I'm wondering about going back out tomorrow, even if I am still in torment over today's events.

Will I come back if I go out again?

This apprenticeship has only just started and I'm already regretting it.

If I ever want to be a Categorisation Expert, I'm going to have to move past my fear.

There is nowhere I should be afraid to go!

Diary of Katrina Katova.

29th sun of Aun. 1956

Holy Shit.

I was not expecting the cute pink Slime to turn into such a hot babe. I wonder if that's my dungeon power?

Come visit Abi and become beautiful just by being inside her.

Sometimes Abi, just sometimes, you could refrain.

I'm sorry, Me. I was a little shocked.

"How are you able to transform?" I ask the slime-woman. She has even gathered the attention of the Wolves, although this time I think Trixie might refrain from eating her.

"I do not know... this is the first time it has... happened but I quite... like it." Is what I get in response as she curiously checks out her new body, feeling it all over.

How can I take that as an answer? Her words definitely make me think I was the cause, or that something might possibly be wrong inside her head?

"Erm, I'm sorry about Trixie and what happened before." I feebly manage to get out, knowing that my words may turn this wonderful creature against me.

"What is... a Trixie," she leans closer to my ball of light, "and what... happened before? I did not... possess eyes then such as... I do now."

Oh yeah. Slimes are blind. "How did you avoid the traps in my dungeon if you couldn't see?"

Slimes have an inherent abili...

Shshhshhshshhh, the cute Slime can tell me, Me. Stop hogging the spotlight.

"Slime have the... ability to detect danger in our... surrounding due... to the nature of our genetic form.... Oh, I didn't even realise I... knew that. How fascinating."

Maybe I was lucky she was able to tell me. How did she know if she didn't actually know? I'm confused. It's a good job she's beautiful because that brain isn't going to take her very far.

"Hey, erm... I don't know your name, but what are your plans for the moment?"

The slime stares at me for a second while wobbling wonderfully before finally replying, "Silly... I don't have... a name. I'm... just a Slime."

Whilst she's fondling her newfound Slime body, I'm wondering about something Me mentioned before. I'm also extremely glad that there's no one else here right now except for me and the Wolves

How do I contract a monster, Me?

Now you need me?

Come on, Me. She's new and I've never seen a pink Slime before. I just wanted to talk to her.

Don't feel sore about it...

OK. I'm sorry.

I do not feel sore. Fine, if you name her then you will infuse her with some of your mana, that means she will be linked to you and you will no longer earn DP from her being here.

I was earning DP from her?

You earn DP from any being that enters you.

Why didn't you tell me that before?

It hasn't been relevant until now and you would probably make a dirty joke about it.

Who? Me?

Yes.

Can't fault his logic.

Fair enough, that's a valid point, what about dead things then, do I earn DP from them?

Really, Abi?

Well, what do you expect? I didn't know that living beings earning me DP a moment ago either so I thought I may as well ask. I thought that it was only when I absorbed things that I gained points. Also, contracts can't really be that easy can they? Just give her name and she's mine?

No, she will not be yours. Either one of you can cancel the contract at any given time. It is mutually beneficial. You provide her somewhere to live with a steady stream of mana and in return, she will defend your dungeon if you are attacked.

Feeling stupid and even more like a dictator than before, I return my attention to the Slime in the room. "Would you like a name? It would mean you can stay here in my dungeon?" As I pose the question to the sweet Slime, my Core pulses.

Please say yes. Please say yes. Please say yes.

"Would I be able to... stay like I am now? In this form?" She asks with her lovely version of a voice. "I quite like it."

"Are you joking? Of course you can. Well, sort of. You can still be human-shaped, but you have to put some clothes on if you can or you might distract my Rogues."

She tilts her head to the side, her lady-slime brain thinking over my offer. "I am ok with that. What... would you call me?"

Hmm...

"How about Peaches?"

Peach is more of a yellowy pink whereas she is vibrant.

Yes, and you are You.

No, I am Me.

Hehe, it's so easy.

"I love it." She squeals as I tease my ever gullible assistant.

It doesn't matter what her colour is. Peaches just sounds right and she loves it apparently so it's set.

Hehehe.

They should call me 'The Namesmith'.

Don't get too full of yourself, there is still much to do.

I know. I was just enjoying the appreciation of my naming skills. It's not often I get the chance. I'm usually wallowing in despair so I've gotta take these opportunities whenever I can, Me.

If I had eyebrows, I would have raised them.

Hey, that's my line... for your jokes that is.

I quickly check on the cutie Trixie to see her frolicking with the other wolves. They already seem to have lost interest in the intruder/not-an-intruder so I inform them of the third floor forest that I have already created specifically for them. I hype it up to the max and hope they appreciate it as much as Peaches likes her name. With that they disappear, off to the newest, and hopefully last, location of the Wolves Den.

"Come with me, Peaches. I'll show you where you will be staying for the moment." I need to hype this next part up too.

Moving close to the pretty pink Slime, I teleport us both to the first floor Boss room. As Peaches is now contracted to me I can teleport her anywhere I like within my dungeon, just like my other monsters. I would like to put her in my Core Room with Colin, but I'm scared she might hurt my core somehow unknowingly or that my ever-lovable Mimic might eat her. Maybe in the future we can look into it.

Upon our arrival, Veris rushes over to is. Her ponytail flapping around behind her as she shouts ecstatically.

"I love my door! Thank you. Thank you." Veris seems really happy over the small feature and I let out a sigh of relief, even though I don't possess lungs. I then change the subject as I still don't have anything else to offer her feature wise.

"Veris, this is Peaches. She's going to be staying with you for a while until I can unlock or upgrade more features." I can't afford to create a Slime room yet so she's going to have to bunk here with the first floor Boss for a while. Plus, it gives Veris someone to talk to until I can obtain the other items she wants. Maybe I'll try my hand with creating things myself again. I suppose it can't go wrong until I confirm it, right?

"Peaches, this is Veris. She's the Boss of the first floor. You will be staying with her for a while and if anyone other than my monsters enter this room you are to do as she says, ok?"

"Yes. Veris... I love to meet you... I'm new but I... will do my best." Peaches jingles happily at her new roommate.

"Yeah, sure," Veris tilts her head at Peaches before she looks at me. "Boss, is she ok?"

"Yeah she's fine, don't worry about it. As you can tell she's a Slime, but has never had a human half before. Not until coming here that is, so she's still adjusting." I inform Veris of Trixie and Peaches incident while the latter checks out one of the dark corners in the room.

"It's very dark over, here!" She yells out as she disappears completely in the corner.

"You have the weirdest taste in sexy monsters, Boss," Veris giggles in glee as she watches Peaches jump in and out of the shadow.

"Hey, don't say that while cackling to yourself," I call out. "Also as soon as I have some spare DP, I'm going to create something for you myself. Is there anything you want?"

She stares up at the ceiling for a moment. She thinks very carefully before answering and when she finally does, it's with something I was definitely not expecting.

"I want a garden with a pond and a Lobe Hound, and a house with a really-big comfy bed and a nice kitchen for Ali to cook in cause she's awesome, and a tea set to serve tea with when the others come round. And a gazebo to drink my tea under with my friends who will definitely come round, and I want lots of stuffed animals too for my bedroom, like Unicorns or Direwolves or Alzams. Oh and I also want a..."

Her list went on and on and my time spent waiting for my DP to refill was used listening to all the things that Veris wants for her room. To be honest, I doubt it would all fit. Peaches seemed to fall asleep listening at some point and if I could sleep myself, then I might have followed suit.

What does she think this is anyway?

Dungeon Core heaven?

The only other person who has asked for anything so far was Ali and even that was so she didn't die of starvation.

Giving in to the white-haired beauty, I tell her, "I'll try my best, but I make no promises that everything will be exact. Ok?" I make sure she knows that there is a chance that what she wants is not necessarily what she might get before I leave the two women to get acquainted after giving Peaches a quick reminder about putting clothes on once again.

Light and Dropper should be home anytime soon so I head up to the Watch House to await their return with Mira and Hana. The two blonde bombshells are standing outside as frankly, the inside is a dump. It is a complete ruin littered with rubble and before anyone goes in there it will need fixing up, as it stands, all my other buildings are usable at the moment except for this one and it's one of my major features. It's meant to be an early detection sign for intruders, even though Me and I can tell when something or someone enters my dungeon. It's always good to have more eyes.

With 4 hours worth of DP under my belt, I go ahead and purchase the upgrade. It costs me 80DP but a good amount of the outer building gets fixed up and all traces of rubble and debris that lay within have gone. Broken walls inside the structure have been repaired and two sturdy doors have been added on opposite ends of the building.

Watch House has been upgraded to Guard House

The reputable Rogues that operate this building will protect the dungeon until their dying breath with a fortitude shown by no other defenders across the land

New features have been unlocked:

Customisable Banners: 2DP

Decorative Shields: 2DP

Tea Set: 10DP

Reward:

8 XP

No way!

She's messing with me now, Me!

Who now?

The Damn System! She thinks she can screw with me by giving me features.

Ok, but you always unlock features. What is the difference now?

This time she is giving me things I actually want!

I am still failing to see what the problem is?

I...

She...

Well Damn. You're right.

Should I be grateful instead then? Veris is the only needy monster I possess so far and these items are obviously intended for her. I could show a little appreciation to the system for giving me the items Veris wants I suppose, but what about everything else she's done to me though?

Such as?

...

She turned me into a dungeon for one.

Yes, but you were already dead. It's not as though she killed you herself, not to mention that you are progressing relatively well as a dungeon too.

...

What about the question marks, huh?

Now you are nitpicking. I understand being a dungeon is not the ideal scenario for you, but the sooner you fully accept who you are now then your higher your odds of survival will be.

Awwww! It always comes back to death though.

Why can't I just wail like I used to back in the good old days?

That's because the good old days were, in fact, less than two days ago and because if Dropper and Light return while you still have dungeon points then any excess will go to Stockpile.

Yeah, yeah, I know.

I need all the points I can get right now and stockpile needs well over 1000DP to level up again. That's a high number of points that I can't afford to waste at the moment.

Fine.

I choose to upgrade the Campground as it's the closest feature. I dont expect much from tents but the whole area transforms on a large scale. Fire pits remain scattered throughout the centre and multicoloured, plyboard homes line every space around the outside wall that doesn't feature an entrance or exit. Each shack has two sleeping mats on the floor with no other features inside the small abodes.

Camp Ground has been upgraded to Shack City

Crude homes that can't bear too much force or prevent the travel of noise through your walls but it's better than sleeping in a tent right

New features have been unlocked:

Cheap sleeping mat: 2DP

All rooms can now be customised with Shack City for no extra cost

Reward:

8 XP

Really?

I try to ignore the fact that the system just asked me a direct question through that description and focus on how awesome the feature is instead. I mean, yes Shack City looks like the crappiest slum ever, but more housing options for my monsters and for free too can't be a bad thing.

I don't even feel like rising to her taunts.

I create four more Vagabonds which all come out with sandy brown hair just like the last six and confirm the optionable Mini-Boss notification. I don't really know what I'm going to do with these four yet as I only created them to selfishly push for the third evolution of the Rogue line. For now, I send them off to Veris with six cheap Sleeping Mats and a set of new Steel Daggers for her too before checking out my new monster.

Being a provider is tough you know.

A new monster has been unlocked:

Shadow Walker: 40DP

Capable of teleporting through shadows this monster is not to be taken lightly as it will signify death for anyone that makes this foolish mistake

Not going to lie, I would be quite scared of a shadow monster myself, especially in a dungeon where shadows are in abundance. Not that I can afford one, I wonder if they'll all be female like the Vagabonds?

Not to mention there's still so much I haven't purchased yet.

That spree left me a sole dungeon point and nothing to do with it, 1 DP purchases are useless now. The thought of having ten thousand dungeon points one day excites me, but then I imagine my purchases will be equally expensive at the same time and it sours my dream a little.

Screw waiting here, I'm going to go see some cuties until they get back.

It shouldn't be too long now.