Keeper's POV

Outside Maleck’s study, I was standing with my back against the door and [Slayer] at my side. What!? Is it wrong for me to name my own sword!?... [Slayer] I named it so because of its great size. Looking like it could split a giant in half. [Slayer] was heavy and I had to use both my hands to wield [Slayer], but it was well worth it. The only unfortunate part was slayers dullness and rust. I believe my new partner had seen better days, but I will make him a great sword once more.

(Playing on puns; since Slayer is a type of sword called Claymore. Which is classed as a great sword.)

As I cherished [Slayer] by my side, I stare far down the small dark tunnel of the cave narrowing down only wide enough to accommodate one or two people at a time.

Staring at the opposite stone wall I look at where some glowing mushrooms grew. This was where the tunnel turns and my room ends. Yes, I have been bestowed a "room" by my master, am I not lucky? And not only that I was also bestowed a bucket sitting beside me for... feces and other waste.

As I was bestowed this “room”, he also bestowed me with millions of rules. Or at least that what it felt like. Rules such as when I could hunt for food, how I'm not allowed to let anyone into the study except for Maleck himself. And then~ the best rule of them all, when I could poop.

You might wonder how I was supposed to be able to relieve myself when I'm covered with a layer of black metal armor as if my second skin covering me from top to bottom. Well, it's simpler than one might think. If I must go, I can and just have to do it. The prosses is still somewhat a mystery but it seems like the irremovable black armor is, in fact, a magic armor created by Maleck, to aid in my new job as a guardian. And thus bend to my needs. Not that I'm the least thankful to that old wicked mage. As it was an excruciatingly painful process. Oh! How I long for the day when my hands are around his weak, fragile neck.

Today like many other days I was waiting, waiting for just that specific moment. The moment when I could reveal myself. Why do you ask? So, I could lure my arch nemesis here of course!

After finally revealing myself inside the bucket I placed it at the end of the tunnel where my room ends. Looking far down the endless tunnels which I may not set foot in until I could hunt. Looking, seeing if I could see any movement in the distance. But there were none. Then I went back sitting with my back against the wooden door, waiting.

From time to time I could hear Maleck's faint voice inside the studies as I imagine several ways to kill this mage in my mind. Often, I could not hear him but at times I could. Sometimes he swore loudly after he fails with something. Other times I can hear him chant magic, but mostly I could not hear him in there.

The best time of the day is when I hear an explosion from within the study as the cave trembles drastically — hoping that this time for sure, the mage has finally been able to kill himself. But unfortunately, my hopes have never come to fruition so far as I here the old mage from inside a few minutes later.

At this moment in my train of thought, I see something moving way ahead in the tunnel where my bucket sat as bait. Hours had suddenly flown by and “he” had finally come.

I take my blade [Slayer] and run towards the slow-moving organic creature which is devouring my bucket. And with a swell swoop of [Slayer], I slice him. Then again and again and again and again...and again... and again and~ again..........

He’s a tough little thing as everything I do seems to do nothing on him... then again calling it "he" is not precisely the right term, I can't even call it; "her." As it seemingly has no gender. It's body only a big slimy blob of blue goo with a bucket of feces drowning inside of it. I could call it Blue, as that was the primary color of its body.

This was a slime, “cave maids” as Maleck described them, whatever now a maid was... They're useful because they eat anything and I literally mean anything! Breaking whatever is in it down in its acid body. Blue seems to like feces and ever since I meet it I have tried to kill Blue!

Why? Well, I don't have anything against this slime... but working out my stress and chopping at this little one, it just makes me feel good.

And if only with a tiny bit, my clumsy two-handed swordsmanship has improved.

After an hour of hacking at the little slime, it is finally done devouring the feces and spits out the bucket which was still intact. Something about a rune spell... an enhancement engraved on it to stop it from deteriorating -and thus was indigestible for Blue-. Then Blue left, Leaving me alone again, well it was fun as long as it lasted. I went back with the bucket and sat with my back against the door, waiting for the time I could hunt for food.

That's how my days repeated themselves; I went around as much as I could in the winding mazes of tunnels. Until the time I get forced back by my own body.

Every time exploring for food. The usual menu was bugs or somewhat eatable plants. Except for those green berries which made me puke… remember, never eat the green berries!

Days became months -Not that I had a concept of time down here-. I got more familiar with the tunnels as time passed, but I never had the time to find the end of them.

It quickly became a boring routine, until one day.

On that day, I heard an unusually nasty explosion from within the studies, followed by a horrible roar coming from within Maleck's study.

"ARRAARRRRHHH" [???]

I must say that I got curious. I was sure it was not originating from Maleck himself, and my hunch was proven right as my master called for me.

“KEEPER! GET IN HERE!” [Maleck]

He yelled in a panicked voice. My body didn't even need to force me, as I hurriedly entered the studies.

As I entered the studies which were way messier than the first time I was here, -with tables and bookshelf flipped and broken everywhere- far in the back was a big mass of naked body parts connected in a very twisted and strange way with several duplicates of arm's, legs, and heads.

I noted to my bewilderment that every part of this horrendous monster was for some reason women parts. Showing its naked fanservice here and there in a way, way~ disgusting way. My master isn't just a wicked person, he's a perverted person too... I don't know how I knew its gender since I have never encountered a female and... what's fanservice???

“ATTACK IT!” [Maleck]

My master orders me as his blue magic shield, which had previously stooped my stray arrow long ago. Now got pummeled by the many hands and arms of the deformed monster leaving white cracks in his blue magick shield.

Oh! How I wished that I could just stand here and watch him die. But unfortunately, his word is law, and my body feeling my resistance ignored me and instantly jumped the monster, cutting it limbs as purplish blood sprays everywhere.

Almost instantaneously the monster’s attention was directed at me. I diligently tried to evade its attack, but with a force behind its punches uncommon for these thin arms. I was hit and flung back into the cave wall, then I fell helplessly down to the cave floor with the monster stomping its way towards me.

Oh shit!... Or not?

It did not hurt! It had been a tremendous hit, but I felt nothing. It hadn't even scratched me. For the first time, I felt grateful for this tar black magic armor which Maleck had bestowed on me.

I rose back up again, facing the deformed monster. Excited over the idea of fighting this big monster without consequence to my own personal safety, ready to go another round. But all fun must end, and in this case, it was Maleck who ended it.

“Move away!” [Maleck]

At the same time as I had distracted the deformed monster, Maleck had prepared a spell and was now ready! As soon as I was out of the way he unleashed it, as a burst of air emitted from his hand.

Nothing happened to the monster. Instead, it turned around and faced Maleck ones more, ready to strike.

Rising one of its limbs to attack, but instead of raising, the arm fell off. In the same process, wounds started to appear all over its body, as gushing blood spurted out, and then it burst with a gory explosion.

… Forget that I was ever grateful to this old man, perverted fool! He had destroyed my fun and I, together with the rest of the room was covered in this nasty, gory remains of the previously deformed monster, now only a mass of sticky purple goo everywhere! The only one escaping this was Maleck as the gore only covered his magic shield surrounding him like a big ball.

A burst of air emitted from Maleck yet again, flinging gory goo in every direction with him at the epicenter... I who just had gotten most of it off...

“What a mess” [Maleck]

'Oh? You don't say...'

The ones un-tidy but organized room was now in utter and complete chaos. I wouldn't be able to find [Slayer] -which I luckily still held in my hands- if I placed it down anywhere here.

Maleck sighed then he looked at me -which still tried to get off the sticky and uncomfortable gore from my body-. One lousy thing about my magic armor was that I could still feel everything through it... except for pain which seemed to get suppressed to a certain limit.

Yea feels pretty much like I get tickled or get a quick bolt of lightning in the area which gets struck...

“Help me find the stone!” [Maleck]

'The stone?' [Keeper]

“What stone?” [Keeper]

I said looking around at the gore-covered stone floor which was littered with them of various sizes and picked up the first one I saw.

“No, no, no! Idiot! Not a normal stone, the philosopher stone. PHILOSOPHER STONE! It's what that thing dropped.” [Maleck]

Looking around again at the chaotic mess. I wondered how in a million years I, in this chaos would be able to find a stone amongst all these rocks and pebbles. But then my eyes got drawn to something.

It wasn’t an unconscious thing as by order, nor was this something which stood out as everything covered in purple gore.

But my eyes got drawn to it anyway. I slowly bent down to pick it up whipping the gory remains away.

Instead of stone I would more like to call it a gem, an unrefined ruby glowing a faint, pure red. I could hear something from this gem, weak whispers as if trying to seduce me yet I could not discern any one voice. It was more like several voices speaking to me at the same time, all telling me the same thing. It was odd, really odd. It almost felt like this was a part of me... or I a part of it.

Malek is not going to have this!

Without a second thought, I did the only thing I could do. I devoured it, I could feel a heat surging through me as it breaks down inside my body. As I stood there seemingly not doing anything of use. Maleck looked my way. Frustration clearly seen in his ecstatic movements.

“You damn useless guardian, if you're not going to help then; leave!” [Maleck]

As ordered I left, placing myself outside the door again. Inside I heard Maleck cast some of his spells swearing curses as he could not find the stone. Making a smile come to my pale lips. As he continued to loudly curse inside the study, which had a surprisingly calming effect on me as I slowly drifted to sleep.

Voice of the world... Initiating.

...Active!

Devourer of 1000 soules

By devouring the impure philosopher stone imbued with thousand soules you have gained the title "Devourer of 1000 soules."

This title will contribute to your strength.

Currently Devouring;

Impure Philosopher stone

1000 damned souls residing within a gem.

Time until devouring:

completion; 20 cycles.

Not long after I woke up as -coloring me surprised- Maleck exited the door for the first time in forever, facing me.

“I will leave for a while to resupply. Stay on high alert and let no one, under any circumstances, enter my study! Kill them at sight if necessary.” [Maleck]

Well, that's an order which I would gladly comply with, too bad that there probably will be no chance for me to execute it. I gave him a solemn nod as he left. And there I sat now truly all alone.

Several day’s past without a word from Maleck as I went through my daily routines hunting, eating and play... training with the slime. I had almost started to miss Maleck... if only to wring his neck, as he suddenly one day came around the corner of the tunnel. With him, he had several boxes floating in front of him which he let fly into the study.

Just before Maleck himself entered, I had noticed a little shadow following behind him. A small thing just a little bit over one-third of Maleck height, almost reaching his waist, or what I think is Maleck's waist... he’s so bent and crooked that it is hard to tell.

The little thing followed carefully behind Maleck just out of my sight. But as they got closer, I finally got a better look. It was a small skinny humanoid creature, with barely any muscles to speak of.

With only a rag covering it's neater regions, displaying its jade green skin in full view. It had pointed green ears, a somewhat big nose, and bug prominent curious eyes with a hint of fear in them.

As I locked eyes with the little creature, it looked back at me bewildered, seemingly getting scared and hastily followed Maleck into the study.

As soon as the little humanoid went over the threshold with his first foot, I drew [Slayer] my trusty sword and swung it in a downwards arc, slashing at the creature.

To my surprise, the little humanoid manages to evade my attack. As the creature had desperately jumped into the study to avoid my swing. My eyes glowing red, bloodshot with killing intent, as I hurriedly took chase after the slippery creature which laid inside on the rugged stone floor.

I raised my sword ready to strike the feeble creature when---

“STOP! You are not allowed to hurt MY goblin!” [Maleck]

No fun! And with those words, I stopped as abruptly as I had started and I seethed [Slayer]. The so-called goblin had been lucky!

“Now leave and don't enter here again!” [Maleck]

I took a last look at the creature on the floor. 'Goblin hu?' Yet again looking at me, shivering uncontrollably as tears were just about to fall from his eyes, this little weak goblin was scared half to death lying in a pool of his own piss. I at this moment noticed a weird leather collar around its neck, which in my startled surprise earlier had escaped me.

I no longer found any joy in tormenting this weak creature and thus I left.

The little goblin inside that study was Maleck's new pet and slave, maybe even test subject. But I did not bother to care as I sat back down in my spot outside the door and after a while, fell asleep.