A day has passed.

Another day passed.

And another.

And another.

And another.

And another.

And another.

And another.

Before long, I lost count of how long I was stuck here eating grass every day.

My sense of time was probably lost within the first few minutes of arriving in this place.

Since I have accepted, albeit grudgingly, the fact that I became a slime, a long time had passed.

The first concern on my mind was food and water.

Once I had found a place where my body felt an abundance of grass, I tried to see how long I could last without eating.

Since there was no value of time, I had to count manually.

It was also a way to keep myself sane. Counting numbers like this helped a little.

I was beginning to talk to myself more often than usual, and the symptoms triggered from being alone were getting worse.

It felt like even if I could finally see and interact with other people, I would be permanently damaged emotionally some way or another.

In the end, it took me 54,621 seconds to become hungry again after having my fill.

That amounted to around 15 hours.

Also I found out that the first fill of grass I had led to no urges to excrete the wastes accumulated inside of my body, so I concluded that I simply didn't need to in this body.

Race Instinct triggered; Monster Aptitude has been raised by 3%. [4%]

When I became hungry again after trying to hit my extreme limitations, the voice that sounded like Ruler resounded inside the back of my head again.

What exactly was this Monster Aptitude? I kind of remembered it being inside the window I had seen before, but I skimmed through it the first time so I couldn't be sure.

I tried to medidate, count sheep, count prime numbers. Everything that kept me from going insane in isolation.

I never tried to venture anywhere, because I wasn't sure if I wanted any kind of sudden developments that may endanger my life with any kind of basic motion I did.

One thing I am still uncertain about was the existence of animals around me.

There have been no signs of them until now.

But that's probably just because I had no sense of sight, hearing, or smell.

I couldn't rule out the possibility entirely.

But as for now, there have been none close by until now, since I haven’t been attacked by one since I arrived here.

Thanks to that, without fearing for my life, I am leisurely living.

Not.

My mind was in painful agony.

Although I needed to eat, and could secure grass as a source of food, I didn't need water to supplement it.

Nor did I need sleep.

This, was not a blessing in disguise.

I wanted to sleep.

I wanted to sleep so badly.

I am starting to feel uneasy about myself.

I was feeling dizzy as days(?) passed.

Every single day(?) was another day when I feared for my own sanity.

I was afraid I would no longer exist as time passed slowly.

I grazed on grass.

I tried to distract myself from the mundanity in this place.

I grazed on grass.

I tried to think of something happy.

Nothing.

There's nothing happy.

No happy thoughts.

This place is empty.

This place doesn't have people.

Humans.

No.

Animals.

At least, let there be animals.

I want to talk to someone. Something. Anything.

Is anything even here?

I was feeling desperate, as I sometimes tried to starve myself just to hear that inorganic voice again.

It sounded like listening to a recorder, but I prepared different lines for each person each time.

Race Instinct triggered; Monster Aptitude has been raised by 3%. [7%]

Ah, there you are again! It's been awhile. I'm sorry it took me a little longer this time!

I couldn't find any more grass so I had to move somewhere else to eat first.

Eh? You're ignoring me?! Petty...

Race Instinct triggered; Monster Aptitude has been raised by 3%. [16%]

Kinda feels like a journal now huh? Might as well let you in on what I've been doing recently. Do you know chess?

Yeah, chess! See, I found a way to play inside of my head! Isn't that incredible?

Race Instinct triggered; Monster Aptitude has been raised by 3%. [31%]

Yes, thank you for coming by again. How are you doing lately?

I had lunch. It was grass. Again. Well~ It felt pretty nice though. I recently found a hobby in lying on them.

Who knew prickly sensations can feel so good when you try to relax? Right? Right!

Race Instinct triggered; Monster Aptitude has been raised by 3%. [67%]

Hear this, hear this! I think I heard something around here! There must be someone right?

It's probably someone trying to find me~ Hehe~ I'm sorry, I'll be leaving first soon. Well, don't worry about it~

I'll tell you stories about my journey when I'm back!

Race Instinct triggered; Monster Aptitude has been raised by 3%. [77%]

Potential Absorption LV1 has fully assimilated: Grass.

Passive Skill obtained: Herbalism Potential

Potential Absorption? That's something new! I see you're finally tired of counting down~

It seems like I've eaten a little too much grass for you to say something like this heh~

Herbalism as well? That sounds interesting! I can't wait to make some herbs when I'm out of this place!

Ooh! It's getting close to 100 too huh? Aren't you excited too? Yeah, I'm feeling excited too!

I can't wait! Haha! Don't be impatient you, we'll get there soon! Speaking of which, have you had lunch?

Race Instinct triggered; Monster Aptitude has been raised by 3%. [97%]

Mm, I think I should relocateee again. What do you thinkkk?

It's not a good ideaaa?

Yeah, that's trueee. Let's wait a little longer thennn?

Alright~ I'll staaay here with you properlyyy~

My thoughts began to slur itself without my knowledge, as I spent the entire day(?) eating grass which seemed to almost run out soon.

Just when I was still talking to Ruler while sucking up some grass into my body, I heard some faint rustling sound.

And I felt something against my body.

I didn't feel pain, ...but was extremely surprised from this reaction.

What was that?

Did I bump something? Is there... Is there someone there?!

I could hear something.

Wait, my sense of hearing...?!

It suddenly became clearer, as if I became capable of hearing again.

But it was not a feeling of hearing it. Rather, it was something complicated that was using the entirety of my body to sense that sound.

I could not make out what had triggered it, and before I had the chance to understand the new phenomenon and the thing that had touched me, a string of announcements accompanied my new senses.

Race Instinct triggered; Monster Aptitude has been raised by 3%. [100%]

Foreign Element: Monster Aptitude has been updated and removed.

Foreign Element: Monster Instinct has been obtained.

Title updated: Monster

Title acquired: Awakened Monster

Passive Skill obtained: Monster Evolution LV1

Passive Skill obtained: Monster Questline LV1 Passive Skill obtained: Slime's Sense LV1 World Function #17: Questline has been activated. Quest: Obtain Monster Evolution LV1, has been completed.

Experience gained: 100

You have leveled up.

+10 Skill Points