NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1
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My Simons bed was supposed to be steady, but it was shaking like crazy. No, it felt like someone was shaking my body. My parents are the only ones with spare keys; did they come to visit after a long time?
“I just want to sleep a little longer.”
I couldn’t even produce a mumble. Was my throat hoarse? I tried to speak again, but no sound came out. I tried to sit up in shock, but I couldn’t even open my eyes. Why couldn’t I even open my mouth?
That’s when I realized it.
I had no arms, no legs, no mouth, no eyes, no nose—nothing.
“What the hell is this?”
Is this some kind of ghost helicopter?
While it might have been intriguing in a movie, the panic set in when I realized this was happening to me for real.
What snapped me out of my panic was the fact that I was still shaking. But soon I realized that it wasn’t someone else shaking me; I was wobbling around on my own. It felt like my whole body had turned into liquid. As I tried to move somehow, I felt something slithering around.
And then it slipped right into my body. Could it be a parasite?
[Consuming leaves of the Witch Hazel… 19%]
“Witch Hazel? What the heck?”
I think I learned about that in biology class. It’s an organ that amoebas, those single-celled organisms, use to engulf and digest food.
Was I reincarnated as an amoeba? But then again, no; that didn’t make sense. Amoebas are so tiny you can’t even see them… But swallowing leaves? So I’m a mutated version? Or what?
“I’m not a biologist here…”
There’s no point in thinking about problems I can’t solve. While I was trying to figure out how to escape this situation, another voice suddenly came through.
[Finished consuming Witch Hazel leaves. Satiety is increasing.]
The announcement about my increasing satiety suddenly made me think of a game. Did I just die and get thrown into a game world? Game… game… game?
“A game?!”
That’s when it hit me—what I had become. Probably a slime.
The only large single-celled organism that can swallow leaves is a slime. So does that mean I’ve been reincarnated as a slime? Or is someone experimenting on me?
Slimes, which only appear in fantasy tales, began to shift my fear into curiosity bit by bit.
Above all, I never thought a slime could feel hunger, but I was starving beyond imagination. I needed to eat something.
This hunger felt like I hadn’t eaten for two days; it was unbearable.
……
[I have consumed some Sedge. Satiety is increasing.]
If I had eyes, they’d probably be bloodshot. I didn’t even have time to feel disgusted about eating flowers and weeds; I started gobbling them down.
[I have consumed Wild Pepper Fruit. Regeneration is increasing.]
[I have consumed Witch Hazel leaves. Satiety is increasing.]
…
[Satiety has reached its maximum level.]
[The satiety from the skill ‘Predation (F) Lv.1’ is converted into experience.]
And just like that, I felt a ridiculous hunger creeping back in.
It was as if everything I had in my stomach was snatched away, and I felt an overwhelming sense of loss and emptiness.
But gaining experience was some good news amid all this aggravation.
I didn’t know how much experience I had, but if I kept eating, I could level up for sure.
Maybe I could even evolve. Not as a slime, but as another creature… perhaps even a human. If I can’t go back, that’s my only way out right now.
But to do that, I need to keep eating.
Having only sensitivity left and no other senses, I couldn’t feel how much time passed, but just as I was starting to feel bored, a pleasant voice rang out again.
[Satiety has reached its maximum level.]
[The satiety from the skill ‘Predation (F) Lv.1’ is converted into experience.]
[Experience has reached its maximum. Lv.1 → Lv.2.]
[The mastery of the skill ‘Predation (F) Lv.1’ has reached its maximum. Predation (F) Lv.1 → Predation (F) Lv.2.]
The joy that came with the feeling of fullness. As my level increased, my amorphous body stretched out even further. The slime loosened up and spread out like liquid, then gradually returned to its slime state over time. It was an experience unlike anything I had ever felt in my life.
If only I had eyes, I could see what I looked like, but I couldn’t even see that. With levels and skills, there must be a status board, but it wasn’t appearing.
“Status board. Status. My info. Skill board. Item board…”
It was a futile struggle.
I wriggled around, but nothing happened. Reluctantly, I decided to stop and think about eating something while feeling around for the leaves, when suddenly a notification chimed in my head.
[You have acquired the skill ‘Tentacle (F) Lv.1.’]
“Tentacle? Seriously?”
I chuckled awkwardly. It seemed like I inadvertently created a tentacle while trying to feel around for arms. It looks like my brain has gotten too mushy with this slime life; all I can think of when I hear ‘tentacle’ are not-so-innocent thoughts…
[I have consumed a pine needle leaf. Satiety is increasing.]
[I have consumed a Green Tea Leaf. Satiety is increasing.]
[The satiety from the skill ‘Predation (F) Lv.2’ is converted into experience.]
With nothing to concentrate on, this was surprisingly fun.
The initial fear completely faded, and curiosity grew. Slowly, I lifted a Witch Hazel leaf with my newly formed tentacle. I was teasing the leaf that had lived in the nurturing embrace of the tree, as though it was like a potted plant…? I couldn’t resist.
Gently stroking its veins, I directed it right into my gut.
Just like that, the greedy stomach gobbled up the unsuspecting Witch Hazel leaf whole.
A never-ending abyss… The path towards corruption was all that remained for that leaf. Despite its valiant struggle, the leaf ultimately couldn’t resist my gullet.
[I have consumed Witch Hazel leaf. Satiety is increasing.]
‘……’
In the midst of my promised “wait time,” I found it hard to restrain my feelings of self-loathing.
I wasn’t some twisted soul with a plant obsession; I should maintain my humanity no matter how little there was left.
“This is strange.”
Despite only having one remaining sense, which was touch, the notifications kept coming, and I felt a strange sensation each time. I devoured plants in a reckless frenzy due to that addictive nature and a hint of desperation.
[Experience has reached its maximum. Lv.2 → Lv.3.]
[The mastery of the skill ‘Tentacle (F) Lv.1’ has reached its maximum. Tentacle (F) Lv.1 → Tentacle (F) Lv.2.]
How much had I eaten? After consistently eating and eating, I finally reached level 3.
Considering the variety of plants around, it was most likely a mountain or a forest. I could feel it simply through my sense of touch, but now that I was level 3, my body had grown nearly half the size it was when I first became a slime. If one leaf was roughly 5cm, that would mean my mass was close to 20cm.
[You have acquired 1 skill point.]
What a wonderfully game-like notification. I didn’t know how to use the skill point, so I just sat there blankly until the system seemed to catch onto my indecisiveness and sent me another notification.
[Would you like to view the list of available skills?]
“Sure.”
[Available Skill List]
1. Tentacle (F)
2. Sensitivity (F)
3. Presence Detection (F)
4. Heat Detection (F)
5. Weak Regeneration (F)
It was oddly not a voice or visual, but rather it felt like a picture was drawn in my head.
Despite that being intriguing, I questioned its usefulness. Tentacle was a skill I already had. Why would it include skills I already owned? At that moment, as if my thoughts were read, the reply came, “You can increase skill proficiency.”
If you’re going to be this helpful, could you at least explain why I’m stuck here? Of course, no answer came.
Thinking back on it, it seemed that the author had a grudge and turned me into a slime out of spite.
The voice—and the system—were slightly different from what I’d known in novels, yet they did hold some resemblance. [Thank you! I’ll be counting on you], and then they turn you into a slime? I swear, if I ever go back, I’m finished.
“So does this mean that I’m in a story…?”
Wouldn’t it make more sense that this was some crazy scientist’s experiment rather than some twist that I turned out to be a slime?
“…It’s over.”
If it had been a happy ending, I wouldn’t have cursed in the first place.
I’m in a dismal world where everything could collapse any moment. If my thoughts are right, I’ve been thrown as a helpless slime into a dire countdown scenario. All I can think is that it’s over.
If there’s a shred of decency, they should’ve reincarnated me as a human… all I could do was sigh.
[Current remaining skill points: 2]
But that doesn’t matter.
The system just ignored my complaints and kept doing its job. I had gained 1 skill point, yet I had 2 remaining skill points.
I must have gotten it at level 2, but I didn’t hear any notification back then.
[Current remaining skill points: 2]
“…They crossed the line.”
The only thing I have is this neglectful system. My future looks bleak already.
After contemplating which skills from the system’s list to acquire, I decided to go for detection-related skills.
In most media, slimes are the weakest monsters. That was no different in the novels I read, but especially here, it seemed to be on a whole other level. I couldn’t even guarantee I’d win against a cat. In fact, calling me a monster felt embarrassing.
“I need to get bigger.”
For stable leveling up, I need detection skills. Survival is the most urgent matter.
I deliberated between Presence Detection and Heat Detection, but it seemed Heat Detection was far more practical since it looked like it would work on all things rather than just animals.
So then,
[You have acquired Heat Detection (F) Lv.1.]
From that point on, I could feel heat radiating throughout my body.
But it was different from the vague expectations I had. I imagined heat detection to be like night vision goggles or infrared sensors.
I hoped my vision would become clearer, but there didn’t appear to be any dramatic changes. I could just sense temperature differences around me.
Most likely, I was picking up the body heat or temperature of objects.
Hot heat meant it was an animal. Animals are typically more active and produce more heat than plants.
So what’s this down below?
[I have consumed a Korean Red-Breasted Ant. Satiety and experience are increasing.]
This ant, with a name I’ve never heard, intrigued me. Interestingly, since it’s an animal, I gained experience along with satiety, unlike the leaves.
Before Heat Detection, it had been difficult to distinguish between ants and dirt, but once I acquired the heat sense, I could now consume insects.
[I have consumed a Fire Ant. Satiety and experience are increasing.]
[I have consumed a Jirisan Cicada. Satiety and experience are increasing.]
[The mastery of the skill ‘Predation (F) Lv.2’ has reached its maximum. Predation (F) Lv.2 → Predation (F) Lv.3.]
While eating insects or bugs was somehow resistant, with no sight, sound, or taste, it was manageable.
“The Jirisan Cicada…?”
Could it be from Jirisan? But I can’t be sure. Even if it had the name of a mountain, bugs can live in various places. As long as there’s no barrier in place… Just as I wondered that, I suddenly felt a surge of warmth. It was hotter than the ants I ate earlier, and surely it could be a rat or a rabbit? Something like that was coming right at me.
Should I run or wait?
No need to think too hard; whatever was coming didn’t even give me time to decide and closed the distance in an instant, sinking its teeth into me.
‘……!’
It didn’t hurt. I seemed to lack even pain receptors. However, the sensation of being bitten was vividly registered in my mind, and I lashed out with my tentacles in retaliation. My Lv.2 tentacles grazed the creature, but I could inflict no damage.
No matter how you looked at it, it felt like I was just petting it. Then something that seemed to be its front teeth pierced me, and I began to panic.
It was the moment I realized just how weak I truly was. Here I was, facing death from just a tiny rat… I was embarrassed to even call myself a monster.
With all my strength, I lifted my squishy body and crashed down onto the creature. The rat tried to flee out of surprise, but I held on tight to its muzzle, refusing to let go. I twisted and turned my body so it couldn’t escape while covering it entirely.
“Not yet! I can’t put it into my gut just yet—it’ll burst!”
While I could digest plants without a hitch, the rat was struggling to escape my insides. Every time it thrashed about, my body area diminished.
With death looming, I sought out any means of survival and opened the available skill list.
[You have acquired the skill ‘Weak Regeneration (F) Lv.1.’]
That delayed the rat’s attempt to escape. But at this rate, it would surely break free soon. I rolled myself up tightly, using all my slimy strength.
As I rolled around—degu-ru-ru― it started to sluggishly attempt escape as if it was dizzy.
As its teeth found their way outside of me, I hastily reinforced that spot with slime, and it began to whimper painfully. I couldn’t give it any chance at all. This was my only option.
Begging for the rat to just die, I kept struggling.
After a desperate struggle, the movements of the rat finally ceased. Even though there was a nagging thought that it might be a trick, I continued rolling for a while, and when it didn’t move, I could finally confirm it was dead.
I think this might be the first time I’ve fought this hard in my life. What an awe-inspiring battle… though I didn’t even have time to feel that before I quickly tossed it into my gut.
[I have consumed a Wild Rat. Satiety and experience are increasing.]
[Experience has reached its maximum. Lv.3 → Lv.4.]
Here I was, a Lv.3 being with human intelligence, struggling against something like this. Other slimes would probably never even dream of defeating a rat.
Those terrifying creatures that spread the Black Death… rats are nothing to scoff at. Once I consumed it and reached Lv.4, I felt my diminished body area restoring and even growing larger.
“Well, at least that’s restored.”
I realized just how valuable size could be in combat and felt the need to level up. If it had been a rabbit instead of a rat, there would’ve been absolutely no chance of victory.
[Current remaining skill points: 1.]
I just got a skill point from leveling up. Back to the possible skill list, I saw more options.
[Available Skill List]
…
6. Weak Hardening (F)
7. Weak Stealth (F)
Just by looking at the names, I could guess what abilities they held. Based on my current status, Stealth seemed much more crucial to me.
If I learned Hardening, I might gain a tiny bit of strength, but it wouldn’t be enough to win against a rabbit. In that case, hiding would be the right choice.
[I have acquired the skill ‘Weak Stealth (F) Lv.1.’]
Using it made my body feel a bit lighter. I felt like a balloon that had lost its air.
Next level is 5. In RPGs and novels, special things often happen at levels 5 or 10. At the very least, it should be an opportunity to gain a more useful skill.
So despite everything, I found out I could handle rats after all.
With my size increased at level 4, hunting should become considerably easier…
Like it or not, my proper slime life had officially begun.
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