Chapter 5

I quietly bowed my head and slightly opened my mouth.

A dark red bloodline gushed out from the open hole.

Beneath it was someone’s corpse.

My prey, killed by me.

The corpse of a monstrous creature, with an arm exaggeratedly as big as me.

Pain and pleasure were felt simultaneously.

The difference in ability stats was indeed significant.

Even though I had used magic power, just a glancing blow had brought me to the brink of death.

Despite several stat increases and level-ups, I still feel severe pain in my ribs and spine.

It must be an injury that requires time to heal.

I placed the steel spear and leather armor I had bought on the ground, then closed my eyes slowly, catching my breath.

The armor now seems like rags, difficult to reuse.

I’ll buy new ones. I’ve earned a lot of money.

Actually, there’s something I want to buy even before the armor.

[Premium Void Storage (150kg limit)][15,000 Coins]

[Coins Owned: 6,122]

Even though I don’t know how it functions, the nuance from the name clearly suggests ‘inventory.’

Inventory.

That thing various isekai protagonists use as if it’s a given.

A cheat ability born for the convenience of the plot, making one tilt their head upon deeper thought.

Of course, what I’m planning to buy probably doesn’t have all the functions of an inventory, but even if it only allows storage, it would significantly change my survival strategy.

Most of the basic living issues would disappear.

Ah, I want it.

With that, I feel like I could really do anything.

I earned 6000 coins from hunting that monster, so if I catch one more similar, I might see a chance…

[From now on, such large amounts of coins won’t be given.]

Then, Belva poured cold water on my plans.

“Why?”

[Analyzing the monster you just killed, it seems to be a rare species. A special monster not easily found in any other dimension.]

Belva, who is actively interacting with other dimensions, now fluently uses words like ‘monster.’

Moreover, is this rare?

Creatures like this are usually just fodder for heroes.

[It’s not about combat power, but about evolution.]

The problem of evolution.

Explained that way, it makes sense.

Abnormally swollen fat layers.

A habit of hiding in caves.

All characteristics that make it easy to endure in one place for a long time.

Despite its appearance, it might not have been a creature that liked to fight.

Thinking about it, maybe I’m the bad one.

This creature was just trying to protect its territory.

But I felt no guilt.

Under the laws of this world, morality is faintly pushed aside.

After a moment of staring at the dead monster, I opened my status window.

+

<Yuyeona Lv.5>

Strength: 25

Agility: 25

Stamina: 25

Magic Power: 50

Skills: [Devour Ω] [Stealth III] [Swiftness II] [Lightning II] [Breathless I] [Body Transformation I] [Suggestion I] [Monstrous Strength I]

[Gender│Female]

[Height│175cm]

[Weight│71kg]

[Alignment│Evil]

+

What’s this?

Why has so much changed?

[···Heh. I’ve been diligently updating!]

I carefully observed the changed status window.

The stat changes were immediately noticeable.

Strength, Agility, and Stamina all neatly adjusted to 25.

Leveling up is indeed good.

However, isn’t the Magic Power too high?

[It’s because you’ve grown through methods other than leveling up or Devour.]

Other methods… It must be that.

[Yes. You momentarily stepped into the next realm and controlled it, causing a surge in Magic Power. The circuits themselves have thickened.]

That’s good.

Also, the levels added to the skills make them easier to understand, and displaying height and weight adds flavor compared to the blandness before.

But one thing I don’t understand.

“Isn’t the weight too high? I don’t have any belly fat.”

I knew I was taller compared to before, but I didn’t expect my weight to be that high.

[It can’t be helped.]

It can’t be helped?

[The muscles have been compressed several times. Plus, Magic Power has weight. And also… the chest.]

“No, no. I get it. I understand.”

Even knowing my original gender, she subtly tries to deal damage.

I waved my hand and nodded.

It was a sufficiently convincing explanation.

Now, just one more question and I’ll end it.

Belva becomes particularly sensitive when discussing my physical characteristics.

She also tends to overly focus on certain parts.

Does she have some complex?

What’s the problem, since she doesn’t even have a physical form?

I imagined Belva, cheerfully monitoring me like a CCTV.

Being trapped in such a world, only my imagination skills are improving.

Let’s see, probably a small figure reaching about my neck.

Even in well-fitting clothes, there are no curves.

Characteristics like these.

Wearing a boxy T-shirt feels like wearing dad’s clothes.

Drinks a cup of milk every night, hoping to grow taller.

Above all, cute.

Hmm…

Not bad for something made up on the spot.

No, it really seems to suit Belva, am I a genius?

[You’re thinking something strange again!]

Startled by the sharp voice, I shook my head abruptly.

“I didn’t do it. By the way, can you tell me about my tendencies? Why am I evil? There’s no penalty or anything, right?”

[…Really didn’t do it?]

“I didn’t.”

Lately, you’ve been getting way too sharp with your instincts.

Could it be that you’re reading my thoughts?

No way. When Belva reads my thoughts, I get a tingling sensation in my head.

That was just pure instinct.

It’s terrifying.

[Hmm. Anyway, you don’t need to worry too much about your tendencies. That’s based on a standard across dimensions, not just this world.]

Oh ho.

So it’s a psychological test targeting all dimensions.

Very interesting.

If other intelligent beings were to be born and survive, I wonder what results they’d get.

Well, in a place where it’s either kill or be killed, there’s no chance of any other tendencies showing up.

“Then most people here must be evil, huh?”

[That’s right. Pretty much.]

“Oh. So, if it were another world, would I have been considered good?”

[······.]

“···Hey.”

Ugh, seriously.

This is really ridiculous.

*

[Breaking news!!!!!!!!!!!!]

“Ah, crap.”

I opened my eyes, startled by Belva’s sudden loud voice.

The sun hadn’t even risen yet.

My sleep was already light, and hearing that shouting woke me up instantly.

Suppressing a rising irritation, I asked.

“What’s going on?”

[Another intelligent being has just been born! And this time, it’s two of them! Even paired as male and female!!!!!!]

“Whaaaat?!”

This is the first birth news in a long time! And with such great news!

“What’s their race? Is it a race that exists in other dimensions too?”

[Yes! It’s a race known for its strong reproductive abilities!]

Holy cow.

Finally, can I meet beings I can actually talk to?

Of course, they’ll be far away, but that doesn’t matter.

Even if they’re harmful races like vampires or succubi, I’d be willing to provide blood and essence right now.

We need to keep them alive.

I feel like controlling their brainwaves, telling them to hide somewhere safe and just reproduce while waiting for me.

“What are they called? They’re not humans, right?”

[They’re a super famous race!]

“So what are they?!”

As I shouted, Belva, also caught up in the excitement, shouted back.

[Orcs!]

Finally, orcs in this land… orcs?

…Orcs?

Wait, what?

[They’re one of the most common intelligent beings found across dimensions! Orcs!]

“Ah.”

[Totally awesome, right?!]

…Totally f***ing not.

I couldn’t hide my disappointment and grabbed my forehead.

The excitement drained away, and the quiet night air felt cold.

Belva, sensing my reaction, cautiously asked.

[You… don’t like them?]

“Yeah.”

Orcs are intelligent beings.

Orc families, orc villages, orc nations. They appear in various forms.

But, having a peaceful conversation or coexisting with orcs would be difficult.

I’ll have to see for myself, but I’ll probably feel disgusted right away.

Even with a superhuman body, my senses are still human.

It’s physiological.

I felt the same way seeing scaly dinosaurs or two-legged monsters.

They were just disgusting and unpleasant.

And to me, orcs are more like monsters to be killed than intelligent beings to communicate with.

The risk of betrayal can’t be ignored either.

Honestly, I just don’t like them.

Orcs. Of all things, orcs. It could have been anything else.

[Um… you know.]

But what can I do?

I’ll have to go meet them with a sliver of hope.

Who knows? Maybe my mind has completely snapped, and I can get along with orcs.

[You don’t need to go now.]

Then, Belva said to me in a slightly hollow voice.

I was momentarily puzzled.

No need to go? But I still need to see them…

Ah. That’s it.

“Are they dead?”

[Yes.]

“Both of them are dead?”

[Both of them are dead.]

I hurriedly unwrapped the leather bundle I had just packed.

The sun still hadn’t risen.

Nothing had changed.

Surprisingly so.

The killer will live on without knowing what they killed.

The dead won’t be much different.

Thinking like that, even my existence felt trivial, so I closed my eyes and circulated my magic power.

A warm sensation spread heavily around my chest,

pushing away the deep-rooted anxiety and fear, even if just a little.